Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson has said the problems affecting Zimbabweans in South Africa emanate from an immigration crisis in the region.

According to President Chamisa, thousands of Zimbabweans are running away from the political turmoil in the country.

He also blamed the Zanu PF regime for the deepening social unrest in Zimbabwe.

” To all Zimbabweans living in South Africa: we are concerned about you, your challenges and seized with your situation.

We have opened platforms of engagement. Ultimately we must fix our home base and that which has destroyed our beautiful and great country.

The immigration crisis facing the region is as a result of too much diplomacy and too little action on rigging of elections, governance deficits and multiple rights violations.

In order to solve the immigration challenges we must end elections rigging & citizens repression,” said President Chamisa.

He also posted a message of hope to the nation:

“I’ll go in the strength of the Lord God;I’ll make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.O God,You’ve taught me from my youth;And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.…O God, do not forsake me, until I declare your strength to this generation,Your power to everyone who is to come. Psalms 71:16-18 #Godisinit.”

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson has said the problems affecting Zimbabweans in South Africa emanate from an immigration crisis in the region.

According to President Chamisa, thousands of Zimbabweans are running away from the political turmoil in the country.

He also blamed the Zanu PF regime for the deepening social unrest in Zimbabwe.

” To all Zimbabweans living in South Africa: we are concerned about you, your challenges and seized with your situation.

We have opened platforms of engagement. Ultimately we must fix our home base and that which has destroyed our beautiful and great country.

The immigration crisis facing the region is as a result of too much diplomacy and too little action on rigging of elections, governance deficits and multiple rights violations.

In order to solve the immigration challenges we must end elections rigging & citizens repression,” said President Chamisa.

He also posted a message of hope to the nation:

“I’ll go in the strength of the Lord God;I’ll make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.O God,You’ve taught me from my youth;And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.…O God, do not forsake me, until I declare your strength to this generation,Your power to everyone who is to come. Psalms 71:16-18 #Godisinit.”

08-01-2022

The spirit of comradeship was in the air and solidarity was on display as the people’s hero, pro-democracy activist and MDC Alliance Youth Assembly NEC member, Makomborero Haruzivishe was today finally released from Emmerson Mnangagwa’s concentration camp of Harare Remand Prison after spending close to a year in the doldrums.

True to our social democratic values, the Assembly leadership attended in full force to welcome a brother, a democrat and a revolutionary.

Despite disturbances and unnecessary threats from rogue police elements to disperse the friends of Cde Mako, the Youth Assembly braved the raining weather conditions to welcome the People’s Revolutionary.

Afte waiting for more than 24 hours since yesterday, Cde was finally released at around 1630 hrs.

Cde Mako is in good spirits and not even the prison walls could break his spirits.

Welcome home the People’s Hero!

DefyorDie

RegisterToVoteZw

NgaapindeHakeMukomana

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

By-The Doves Funeral Services driver involved in the Nyanga empty coffin scandal, Sam Chitsike, was fired on 31 December on allegations of negligence of duty, a report claims.

When contacted for a comment by H-Metro, Doves Holdings group public relations manager, Innocent Tshuma, said full details would be provided after police investigations are completed. Said Tshuma:

I am not in any position to comment on any development at the moment. As we said, we are letting the police do their work and we all make sure this issue is put to bed.

Doves came under scrutiny last year after it gave the relatives of the deceased Maxwell Chimwamurombe an empty coffin for burial.

The body was allegedly kept in a morgue for six months, between March and August last year, long after the coffin supposedly containing Chimwamurombe’s remains had been buried in Nyanga’s Matoropoto Village.

The body was later given a pauper’s burial, at Granville Cemetery.

Chitsike is being accused of concealing the mix-up and later notifying the Chimwamurombe family of the alleged faulty burial.

He, however, claimed that he was merely a transporter and the fault was with the morticians.

Chitsike said he had collected the body from Parirenyatwa, together with two plastic bags, which contained the deceased’s belongings.

Meanwhile, the body was later exhumed from Granville Cemetery for reburial.

More: H-Metro

By- A 33-year-old man allegedly committed suicide in a holding cell at a Plumtree police station on 30 December last year but his relatives suspect foul play.

Conscious Sibanda was found lying face up with the rope around his neck still intact, suggesting that he might have been strangled.

His relatives are not convinced with claims that he took his own life since the rope that he is alleged to have used to hang himself was not broken.
The deceased’s friends and relatives believe he was murdered and are waiting for the results of a post-mortem, which was conducted at United Bulawayo Hospitals on Tuesday. Talent Sibanda, a relative of the deceased said:
There was some kind of foul play in the whole exercise. Something is not adding up and this is very worrisome. Apparently, they are hiding something from us.
Sibanda had been arrested for shoplifting. He allegedly tried to sodomise a man he was sharing a cell with.
He reportedly killed himself after charges of sodomy were laid against him.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the case is under police investigation. Said Nyathi:
We are investigating the death of the suspect in police cells. There are reports that he tried to sodomise his cellmates. We are also investigating those allegations.

B-Metro

By- The MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa said they are engaging the South African authorities of the ongoing permit crisis Zimbabweans in that country are facing.

The opposition leader said this Friday on his Twitter handle, adding that they were very much concerned about the plight of Zimbabweans in South Africa.

” To all Zimbabweans living in South Africa: we are concerned about you, your challenges and seized with your situation. We have opened platforms of engagement. Ultimately we must fix our home base and that which has destroyed our beautiful and great country,’ he tweeted.

South Africa recently terminated Zimbabwe Exemption Permits that benefited about 200 000 Zimbabweans living and working in the neighbouring country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa administration on Friday gave Zimbabweans with ZEP up to the end of this year to apply for other Visas.

By- The trial of Goodness and Mercy Ministries founder, Tapiwa Freddy continued with audio in which a man believed to be Freddy is begging the complainant not to report the matter to the police.

The trial which kicked off on Thursday continued this Friday with the state playing a one-hour 38-minute-long audio recording in which Freddy allegedly met the complainant and her aunt in Chendambuya discussing the way forward on the alleged rape case.



In the audio, a man believed to be Freddy is heard repeatedly begging the complainant not to report the matter to the police opting for an out of court settlement.

Freddy is also heard in the audio begging for forgiveness from the complainant and describing the issue at hand as very sensitive.

In his defence through his legal representative, Freddy initially argued that it is premature to use that audio as evidence before questioning the authenticity of the audio.

Freddy is facing two counts of rape and one of assault and the complainant testified this Thursday that she was threatened with a spiritual curse if she refused. 

The court heard that Freddy told the complainant that even if she reports the case, it was going to suffer a stillbirth since he was connected to officials from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the National Prosecuting Authority. 

More: ZBC News

By- The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) is now examining and assessing more than 60 houses in Chiredzi whose roofs were blown off by the wind during the New Years Eve violent storm.

Chiredzi District Development Coordinator Mr Lovemore Chisema, who is also the district CPU chairperson, said Government modalities are already in place to provide food and tents to the affected households.

“The violent storm winds swept across the district on New Year’s Eve and blew off an excess of 60 rooftops in wards 20,27;and 29.

“The situation is dire and the CPU is almost complete with infrastructural damage assessment, with a view to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to the affected families,” said Mr Chisema.
Beside rooftops that were blown off, some large trees fell on motor vehicles. Mr Chisema, however assured the district that the situation would soon get to normality.
“Government and its development partners are working tirelessly to restore normality in the district, and people need not panic,” he said.

-State media

By- Police in South Africa said they are worried by reports that Zimbabwean soldiers operating at the Beitbridge border post were accepting bribes from border jumpers and allow them to cross to their country illegally.

This was announced by SABC Friday after SA police intercepted a pickup truck with 14 illegal immigrants, mostly women, from Zimbabwe in Gauteng.

SABC reports that the undocumented immigrants said that they each paid the driver R1 500 to transport them to Johannesburg.

SAPS also arrested the driver for bribery after he allegedly offered the law enforcement a certain amount for them to be allowed to go through. SAPS posted on Twitter:sapsGP 14 illegal immigrants travelling from Zimbabwe to Gauteng were arrested by Gauteng police during operation #OkaeMolao. The driver was also arrested for bribery after he offered law enforcement officials an amount of money for them to be allowed to go through. ML

This comes after South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi last week accused Zimbabwe’s security forces deployed at the Beitbridge Border Post of taking bribes to let undocumented immigrants into that country.
Motsoaledi claimed that South Africa border security authorities told him that Zimbabwean soldiers were receiving bribes from border jumpers to allow them into the neighbouring country.
An SANDF officer told Motsoaledi that they had communicated with the Zimbabwean army commanders about the issue of corrupt soldiers, but apparently, nothing was done to address it.

By- Police in South Africa has announced that they have intercepted a pickup truck with 14 illegal immigrants, mostly women, from Zimbabwe to Gauteng.

SABC reports that the undocumented immigrants said that they each paid the driver R1 500 to transport them to Johannesburg.

SAPS also arrested the driver for bribery after he allegedly offered the law enforcement a certain amount for them to be allowed to go through. SAPS posted on Twitter:

sapsGP 14 illegal immigrants travelling from Zimbabwe to Gauteng were arrested by Gauteng police during operation #OkaeMolao. The driver was also arrested for bribery after he offered law enforcement officials an amount of money for them to be allowed to go through. ML

This comes after South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi last week accused Zimbabwe’s security forces deployed at the Beitbridge Border Post of taking bribes to let undocumented immigrants into that country.
Motsoaledi claimed that South Africa border security authorities told him that Zimbabwean soldiers were receiving bribes from border jumpers to allow them into the neighbouring country.
An SANDF officer told Motsoaledi that they had communicated with the Zimbabwean army commanders about the issue of corrupt soldiers but apparently nothing was done to address it.

By – The state broadcaster reports that there was audio of Goodness and Mercy Ministries founder Tapiwa Freddy begging a radio DJ accusing him of raping her not to report the matter to the police.

Freddy is accused of rapping a ZBC DJ Rutendo Makuti.

 The trial kicked off on Thursday.

The trial continued this Friday with the state playing a one-hour 38-minute-long audio recording in which Freddy allegedly met the complainant and her aunt in Chendambuya, discussing the way forward on the alleged rape case.

In the audio, a man believed to be Freddy is heard repeatedly begging the complainant not to report the matter to the police opting for an out of court settlement.

Freddy is also heard in the audio begging for forgiveness from the complainant and describing the issue at hand as very sensitive.

In his defence through his legal representative, Freddy initially argued that it is premature to use that audio as evidence before questioning the authenticity of the audio.

Freddy is facing two counts of rape and one of assault and the complainant testified this Thursday that she was threatened with a spiritual curse if she refused. 

The court heard that Freddy told the complainant that even if she reports the case, it was going to suffer a stillbirth since he was connected to officials from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the National Prosecuting Authority. 

More: ZBC News

By-South Africa has extended the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) granted to Zimbabwean nationals living and working in that country to the end of this year.

The country’s Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi signed off the extension on 29 December. It was published in a government notice on Friday.

The special permits were set to expire on 31 December 2021 after the South African Government announced in late November that it was not going to renew them.

On Thursday the South African cabinet said it had decided to grant the grace period. It said:

During this period the holders of this permit should apply for other permits appropriate to their particular status or situation.

This decision was motivated by our desire to ensure eligible Zimbabweans can regularise their stay in SA.

We appeal to the holders of this permit to use the 12 months to regularise their status in SA.

This entails that the nearly 180 000 Zimbabweans who hold the permit, have been granted a further 12 months (until December 31 2022) to obtain other visas to legally remain in South Africa.

More: TimesLive

By-A Nigerian pastor based in Cotonou, Benin Republic, has shared pictures of an “angel” which he says was captured on camera in his church.
Posting on his Facebook page, Pastor Ekuma Uche Philips said the “angel” was caught on camera during his church’s cross-over service on January 1, at exactly 12:13 am. He wrote;

I have never seen such thing since l was born,.
We are in the day of great WONDERS.
This is God,
Thank you Jesus. For your great visitation and double wonders in Faith foundation ministries Porto Novo. Benin Republic.
Social media users quickly noticed that the “supposed angel” was wearing airforce sneakers. Check the pic below:
While some said the picture was doctored saying angels cannot appear wearing those sneakers, some said those mocking the picture were agents of the devil. In recent years, some other pastors including Pastor Bushiri have done things claimed to be divine that left members of the public divided. Bushiri, known as Major 1 posted a video in which he is seen coming down the stairs at his mansion in South Africa.
The fascinating part is when he gets to the last step to connect with the bottom floor, his feet do not touch the ground and he continues to walk slowly in the air and finally touches the ground.
A South African pastor with an unprintable name and a Zimbabwean pastor, Talent Madungwe, claim they went to heaven, separately, where they dined with God while gold reportedly rained at one of Emmanuel Makandiwa’s services.
Some believe that miracles are happening in this era and age while some say those claiming to be performing them are just fooling their followers to fatten their pockets.

-Agencies

By- Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has paid off all the retirees, farmers, Council and Tazara workers.

HH, also increased salaries for civil servants by 12%, implemented free education from primary to secondary, paid farmers before increasing the Constituency development fund from K1.6 million Kwacha to K25.7 million.

Voice of Africa reports that the UPND administration is set to recruit over 30000 teachers and 11000 health workers.

“The recruitment exercise is a 2022 plan only. Meaning in the second year of 2023, the New Dawn Administration will make insane positive strides that will joyously shock everyone because no government in Zambia or indeed in Africa has crazily performed like the one in Zambia in just months of being in office,” said Voice of Africa.

©️Voice of Africa

By A Correspondent| Government has gazetted has revised its earlier move to have passport application fees paid via CBZ Bank in a move that was unfairly benefitting the Kudakwashe Tagwirei linked financial institution.

This is contained in the newly gazetted Statutory Instrument 3 of 2022 which set the e-passport application fees at US$100 and US$200 for normal and urgent application fees respectively.

In a major change of approach the US$20 that had earlier been gazetted to be paid to CBZ Bank for processing the application forms has been removed in what spells of major victory for citizens who voiced out their disapproval of the move.

Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust (ZEAT) Communications

The persecution of Batsiranai Ngugama, a teacher at Serima High in Gutu by Chief Serima, ZANU PF MP John Paradza and CIO operatives makes sad reading.

His “crime” is the democratic right to support a politcal party of choice.

Section 58 of the constitution guarantees freedom of association and assembly as a fundamental right.We once again reiterate our displeasure about the uncouth,and dissident behavior of our traditional chiefs in our rural communities.

Chiefs are supposed to be doyens and custodians of the constitution through the promotion of peace and coexistence of all citizens regardless of politcal differences .In equal measure,the CIO must stop preying on innocent citizens and concentrate on their constitutional obligation.

As ZEAT we view this as ploy to intimidate voters as we move towards by elections in March.We are closely watching this development as we implore relevant authorities to intervene and restore sanity.ZEAT…fostering democratic elections!

RegisterToVoteZim

By A Correspondent| Opposition National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) Spokesperson Madock Chivasa has demanded that the 2023 elections be stopped until electoral reforms are instituted.

Posting on Facebook following the proclamation of by-election dates by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Chivasa said Zimbabwe should have real elections in 2023 not rituals as has become the norm.

Chivasa decried the fact that there are no meaningful reforms put in place despite the country being one year away from the next elections which are due in July 2023.

“Zimbabwe is now one year away from the general election legally due in 2023.If there is no meaningful electoral reform put in place then that election in 2023 must not be boycotted as I hear most stakeholders saying but it must be stopped. Zimbabwe must have a real election in 2023 not mere rituals mistaken for elections,” said Chivasa.

Meanwhile, the NCA is still to come up with a position on whether to participate in the by-elections.

NCA leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku told the state media that his party will meet over the weekend to deliberate on its position but seemed to suggest that they are ill-prepared financially with the major elections a year away.

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says those who think he has run out of political strategies are totally lost.

The regime has assigned social media characters to denigrate President Chamisa to no avail.

One such character is a DJ Towers who claims he has chased away President Chamisa from social media streets.

President Chamisa urged citizens to ignore negative comments about the people’s struggle.

“Dear Zimbabwe: When we appear muted we are pressing the buttons, ahead of the game, in charge and in control. Blessed day to you,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|Suspected government agents abducted MDC Alliance official John Mupanduki on Friday morning at Nyika Growth Point, Bikita.

According to Media Centre Masvingo, Mupanduki’s whereabouts are unknown.

“MDCA in Masvingo revealed that their member John Mupanduki 29 was abducted by unknown assailants in the wee hours of today at his home at Nyika growth point. His whereabouts a still not known. # political hand suspected.# Human rights violations.
@ProfJNMoyo
@usembassyharare,” Media Centre wrote on Twitter.

Thousands of opposition supporters were murdered by Zanu PF hooligans and State security agents during the 2008 Presidential Election runoff.

The MDC Alliance is making frantic efforts to locate Mupanduki.

By- Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has paid all farmers, retirees, and Council workers.

HH, also increased salaries for civil servants by 12%, implemented free education from primary to secondary, paid farmers before increasing the Constituency development fund from K1.6 million Kwacha to K25.7 million.

Voice of Africa reports that the UPND administration is also set to recruit over 30000 teachers and 11000 health workers.

-Voice of Africa

By – The state broadcaster reports that there is audio of Goodness and Mercy Ministries founder Tapiwa Freddy begging a radio DJ accusing him of raping her not to report the matter to the police.

Freddy is accused of raping a ZBC DJ Rutendo Makuti.

 The trial kicked off on Thursday.

The trial continued this Friday with the state playing a one-hour 38-minute-long audio recording in which Freddy allegedly met the complainant and her aunt in Chendambuya, discussing the way forward on the alleged rape case.

In the audio, a man believed to be Freddy is heard repeatedly begging the complainant not to report the matter to the police opting for an out of court settlement.

Freddy is also heard in the audio begging for forgiveness from the complainant and describing the issue at hand as very sensitive.

In his defence through his legal representative, Freddy initially argued that it is premature to use that audio as evidence before questioning the authenticity of the audio.

Freddy is facing two counts of rape and one of assault and the complainant testified this Thursday that she was threatened with a spiritual curse if she refused. 

The court heard that Freddy told the complainant that even if she reports the case, it was going to suffer a stillbirth since he was connected to officials from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the National Prosecuting Authority. 

More: ZBC News

By-Top hotel proprietor, Mr Obert Manombe Dube, popularly known for his chain of lodges, Omadu Lodged, has died.
He was 75.

On Tuesday, Mr Dube succumbed to kidney failure at Premier Hospital in Hillside, Bulawayo.

Tomorrow, he will be buried at his rural homestead at Gohole village in Maphisa.

Family’s spokesperson and nephew to the late businessman, Mr Andrew Ncube, said the body of Mr Dube will leave Bulawayo for Maphisa this afternoon.
“We are saddened with the passing on of Mr Dube who had been ill for a while. He will be buried at his homestead in Maphisa. His body will leave from 113 Matopos Road, Famona,” said Mr Ncube.
By the time of his death, Mr Dube was running a chain of lodges in Beitbridge and Maphisa after the one in Plumtree was sold.

Mr Dube is known for his big role in developing small-town lifestyles through taking initiatives of casinos to rural Matobo and Plumtree.

-State media

By-A Nigerian pastor based in Cotonou, Benin Republic, has shared pictures of an “angel” which he says was captured on camera in his church.
Posting on his Facebook page, Pastor Ekuma Uche Philips said the “angel” was caught on camera during his church’s cross-over service on January 1, at exactly 12:13 am. He wrote;
THIS IS DOUBLE WONDERS INDEED.
An ANGLE was captured on Camera during our cross over Night, on Friday 31th Dec,
Exacting 12: 13am,
I have never seen such thing since l was born,.
We are in the day of great WONDERS.
This is God,
Thank you Jesus. For your great visitation and double wonders in Faith foundation ministries Porto Novo. Benin Republic.
Social media users quickly noticed that the “supposed angel” was wearing airforce sneakers. Check the pic below:
While some said the picture was doctored saying angels cannot appear wearing those sneakers, some said those mocking the picture were agents of the devil. In recent years, some other pastors including Pastor Bushiri have done things claimed to be divine that left members of the public divided. Bushiri, known as Major 1 posted a video in which he is seen coming down the stairs at his mansion in South Africa.
The fascinating part is when he gets to the last step to connect with the bottom floor, his feet do not touch the ground and he continues to walk slowly in the air and finally touches the ground.
A South African pastor with an unprintable name and a Zimbabwean pastor, Talent Madungwe, claim they went to heaven, separately, where they dined with God while gold reportedly rained at one of Emmanuel Makandiwa’s services.
Some believe that miracles are happening in this era and age while some say those claiming to be performing them are just fooling their followers to fatten their pockets.

-Agencies

By- forty-six passengers have been injured when a CAG-owned bus overturned in Kamativi last night.

The overloaded bus carrying 97 passengers was coming from Binga and heading to Bulawayo when the accident happened on Tuesday.

The driver is said to have lost control of the bus as he descended part of the treacherous Kamativi road built on a mountain and dropping into a hill.

The road which meanders the slope has claimed many lives over the years.

Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Glory Banda, confirmed the accident and said the 46 injured passengers were taken to St Patrick’s hospital for treatment.

“On 6 January 2022 at around 2230 hours, Andrew Hlatshwayo was driving a Yutong bus registration number ADC1141 owned by CAG from Binga to Bulawayo with 97 passengers on board. Upon approaching 26km peg on the said road, he lost control of the bus and it veered off the road to the left. It landed on its left side. The driver escaped unhurt and a total of 46 passengers were injured. Injured passengers were taken to St Patricks’ Hospital in Hwange. The police are investigating the cause of the accident,” said Insp. Banda.

He urged drivers to exercise caution when driving at night and avoid overloading passengers saying that increased the risks of an accident.

“Drivers should exercise caution when driving during the night and when it is raining. We urge motorists not to cross flooded rivers. Transport operators should prioritize human life over money and carry only the number of prescribed carrying capacity of the bus.”

Insp. Banda said almost all survivors had escaped with no life threatening injuries.

“Generally there were no life threatening injuries. I only noticed one victim who sustained a broken hand, whilst many had sustained visible different injuries. Some were just complaining of general pains on their bodies.”

A survivor of the accident told CITE that they were lucky to be alive as the bus only fell on its side before they got to the dangerous and slippery areas of the road.

“Everything happened so fast; we were descending the Kamativi slope around a bend when the bus suddenly fell on its side. A lot of people were lucky to have escaped with just injuries as by God’s grace the bus never overturned,” said one passenger.

Another survivor said the end of the holiday season and the need to return to work had put pressure on the transport system resulting in some operators trying to cash in on the development by overloading.
-CITE

By- An online portal reports that the bombings of Gukurahundi memorial plaques at the Bhalangwe mass graves site, Matabeleland South province, could have been plotted by the Central Intelligence Officials (CIO)
The bombings happened Tuesday, and no one has since been held responsible for the explosions.

The plaques, aimed at remembering the victims, were erected by pressure group Ibetshu Likazulu.

Its coordinator Mbuso Fuzwayo told NewZimbabwe.com that the development followed similar destructions last year.

As I speak right now, I am in Bhalagwe. Unknown people used explosives to bomb the plaques. We have already made a formal report to the police.
There has been concern over theft and vandalism of Gukurahundi memorial plaques.
Suspected state security agents have been accused of stealing Gukurahundi memorial plaques erected by Ibetshu Likazulu in Silobela and Bhalagwe in memory of thousands of people who were killed during the atrocities.
The plaques were erected in memory of thousands of people killed by the North Korean trained Fifth Brigade in the Midlands and Matebeleland provinces just after independence.
Commenting on the development, oppopsition MDC Allince said the continued destruction of Gukururahundi plagues and cites is a cause for concern. Added the party:
The regime in Harare cannot treat people in this manner and expect continued silence. The past must be resolved.
An MDC Alliance Govt will formulate a comprehensive programme of Transitional Justice (TJ) and National Healing (NH).
Our programme will be based on: i. Victim-centred approach, and ii. Comprehensive, inclusive, consultative participation of all stakeholders, particularly survivors and victims.
We emphasize the duty of the State to apologise for all atrocities. We further call for truth telling and justice, compensation and reparations in the spirit of national healing and reconciliation.
The party added that its programme will be based on the Victim-centred approach, and will be comprehensive, inclusive, adding that there shall be consultative participation of all stakeholders, particularly survivors and victims.

By A Correspondent- The government on Friday revised passport fees and set them at US$100 and US$200, respectively.

Kazembe Kazembe, the minister responsible for Home Affairs portfolio, which the passport offices fall under, said the US$100 is for an ordinary passport and US$200 for an emergency passport.

He announced this in Statutory Instrument 3 of 2022 cited as Citizenship (Passport Fees) Regulations of 2022.

By- Beitbridge Regional Magistrate Mr Innocent Bepura has convicted three men believed to be part of an armed robbery gang terrorising illegal immigrants and smugglers along the Limpopo river.

Magistrate Bepura jailed the trio for an effective ten months after they were found in possession of an assortment of firearms and ammunition along the river.

Munyaradzi Ncube (27), Elphas Chigudugudze (34), and Tafara Moyo (30) of Kwekwe, Gwanda, and Buhera respectively were busted by the national security task force while coming from South Africa through an illegal crossing point near the Chinyampanze area.
They had two Berretta Gordon Gardiner pistols, one Vektor CPI Pistol, and an assortment of ammunition.

The trio was convicted on their own plea of guilty when they appeared before Magistrate Bepura.

Ncube and crew have another pending armed robbery case which is set for trial on January 25.
The trio was left with an effective 10 months to serve when the magistrate conditionally suspended five months of the 15-month term for five years.
The firearms and ammunition were forfeited to the State as part of the sentence.

Prosecuting, Mr Ronald Mugwagwa said on September 27 last year, Ncube and his accomplices arrived in the country via the Limpopo River carrying firearms and small satchels.
He said they were then intercepted by the police who were patrolling around the Chinyampanze area who then recovered the three firearms and an assortment of ammunition.
They asked the trio to produce licences, by they failed, resulting in their subsequent arrest.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) yesterday triggered a storm after announcing plans to remove 35 085 names of deceased persons from the voters’ roll, two months after identifying only 22 000 deceased voters on the roll.

Zec’s new figures announced yesterday sparked a fresh public outcry amid fears that the figures were being “cooked up” to disenfranchise potential voters ahead of by-elections in March, and the 2023 plebiscite.

The uproar over Zec figures came barely a week after opposition political parties and civic groups challenged its statistics on newly-registered voters, after claiming that only 2 000 virgin voters were registered last year, but later revised the number to 2 971.

In a notice on its official Twitter handle yesterday, Zec said: “35 085 files will be removed from the voters’ roll because Zec has been notified that the registrants are deceased. Unless an objection to the proposed removal is received within seven days of the date of the gazetting of the notice. Please find notice and form of objection.”

Zec then attached a Government Gazette to the statement, General Notice 3 561 of 2021, dated December 31, 2021, where the electoral body’s chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said people whose names were appearing on the deceased list, but were alive, needed to lodge a complaint at the Zec offices within seven days.

“It is hereby notified in terms of section 33(4) read with section 27(1) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], that voter registration officers have reason to believe that persons whose names are listed in the First Schedule, and who were registered as voters for the constituencies, wards and polling stations listed therein have died,” Silaigwana said.

“The names of the person will be removed from the voters’ roll unless a notice of appeal is given to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.”

Zec’s inconsistencies pertaining to the voters roll has resulted in calls for an audit before the forthcoming elections.

Opposition political parties have also called for the electoral body to provide them with an electronic voters’ roll to enhance transparency and accountability by the body.

Piers Pigou, a consultant for International Crisis Group, also weighed in on Twitter saying: “Zimbabwe’s voters roll needs to be audited independently. It is as simple as that when the election management body leaves so many serious questions unanswered.”

Last week, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) produced evidence that Zec’s figures of new voters were inconsistent.

Local civic group Project Vote 263, which claimed that it had facilitated registration of 9 635 new voters throughout the country last year, wrote to Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba on Tuesday demanding an electronic and hard copy of the voters’ roll.

Women Academy for Leadership (Walpe), which claimed that it had registered 175 women through its 2,2 million votes for the women election campaign, also castigated Zec over its voter registration figures, saying they did not reflect the true number of people that registered during the whole year.

Zimbabwe Election Support Network chairperson Andrew Makoni said there was need for Zec to open the voter registration system to the public so that they could inspect it to promote transparency.

“It is very worrisome that Zec gives statistics that are inconsistent when the nation is heading for key polls. Zec is giving conflicting figures on the registrants, which becomes problematic on issues to do with transparency and accountability,” he said.

“Zec is currently under a crisis for failing to retain public confidence in its operations. It should open up their system for scrutiny and inspection so that political parties or other interested stakeholders are free to access the voters’
roll.”

Opposition MDC-T also expressed disappointment over lack of credibility on the statistics being released by Zec.

“Zec has it all to do in order to convince the electorate that it is committed to conducting free, fair, credible and legitimate elections,” MDC-T party spokesperson Witness Dube said.

“It is disappointing that they seem to be recklessly throwing around figures on electoral processes without any logical explanations as to why their projections keep changing. This does not endear this body to the confidence of the electorate.”

But Zec insisted that despite the uproar over its inconsistencies on figures, it was satisfied with public confidence over its mandate.

“Contrary to the views on this platform (Twitter), the majority of registered voters have confidence in the electoral commission,” Zec tweeted.

“Zec assures potential registrants being targeted by the voter registration blitz in the next few weeks, all our valued voters who (are) already on the voters roll or have applied to be placed on the voters roll that barring any anomalies, they will be placed on the voters roll in time to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections.”-newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF Makoni district co-ordinating committee (DCC) chairperson Albert Nyakuedzwa, who recently lost to Mike Madiro in the Manicaland provincial chairperson race, has claimed that his rival used intimidatory tactics to win the elections.

Nyakuedzwa, who garnered 14 748 votes against Madiro’s 16 263 votes yesterday said he was in a “state of shock” as his supporters were constantly calling him saying they were being victimised.

“I want to put it on record that I don’t own any supporter in Zanu-PF. People who voted for me are Zanu-PF supporters,” Nyakuedzwa said.

“I am just told that people who voted for me are being victimised in Chipinge. I have received calls that Madiro is removing those people in leadership positions and is putting his supporters. I am further told that even those in leadership positions who won in my basket have received threats that they will be removed. Surely, this is not
democracy.

“In fact, Madiro should also (not abuse) me because I also have powers in the province. All that we want is to unite the province and win the 2023 elections.”

Nyakuedzwa also claimed that Madiro’s electoral victory was assisted by his “rigging of the elections”, a claim that Madiro has disputed.

Efforts to get a comment from Madiro were fruitless while the party’s provincial spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka directed all questions related to the just-ended elections to the party headquarters in Harare.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has said fifty-five journalists and media professionals were killed worldwide in 2021, with nearly nine in 10 killings since 2006 still unresolved.

UNESCO said impunity is “alarmingly widespread.” UNESCO Director-General Audrey said:

Once again in 2021, far too many journalists paid the ultimate price to bring truth to light.Right now, the world needs independent, factual information more than ever. We must do more to ensure that those who work tirelessly to provide this can do so without fear.

Although the number of victims stands at its lowest for a decade, UNESCO underlined the many dangers that reporters face in trying to cover stories and expose wrongdoing.  

In 2021, as in previous years, journalists faced high rates of imprisonment, physical attack, intimidation and harassment, including when reporting on protests. UNESCO said:

Women journalists continue to be particularly at risk as they are subjected to “a shocking prevalence of harassment online.”

UNESCO cited data that showed that nearly three-quarters of female media professionals surveyed had experienced online violence linked to their work. 

According to the UNESCO Observatory of Killed Journalists, two-thirds of victims in 2021 died in countries where there is no armed conflict.  

This marks a complete reversal of the situation in 2013 when two-thirds of killings took place in countries experiencing conflict. 

Most deaths in 2021 occurred in just two regions, Asia-Pacific – with 23 killings, and Latin America and the Caribbean – with 14. 

On Wednesday, Ms. Azoulay condemned the killing of Myanmar journalist Sai Win Aung.

-New.un.org

Tinashe Sambiri|Suspected government agents abducted MDC Alliance official John Mupanduki on Friday morning at Nyika Growth Point, Bikita.

According to Media Centre Masvingo, Mupanduki’s whereabouts are unknown.

“MDCA in Masvingo revealed that their member John Mupanduki 29 was abducted by unknown assailants in the wee hours of today at his home at Nyika growth point. His whereabouts a still not known. # political hand suspected.# Human rights violations.
@ProfJNMoyo
@usembassyharare,” Media Centre wrote on Twitter.

Thousands of opposition supporters were murdered by Zanu PF hooligans and State security agents during the 2008 Presidential Election runoff.

The MDC Alliance is making frantic efforts to locate Mupanduki.

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says those who think he has run out of political strategies are totally lost.

The regime has assigned social media characters to denigrate President Chamisa to no avail.

One such character is a DJ Towers who claims he has chased away President Chamisa from social media streets.

President Chamisa urged citizens to ignore negative comments about the people’s struggle.

“Dear Zimbabwe: When we appear muted we are pressing the buttons, ahead of the game, in charge and in control. Blessed day to you,” President Chamisa wrote on Twitter.

By A Correspondent- Authorities from Zimbabwe and Kenya are working on paperwork to repatriate a seven-year-old boy from Nkayi who was kidnapped and taken to Kenya in 2016 in a case of human trafficking.

The boy, Awakhiwe Ackim Ncube was abducted while playing with other children in Nkayi’s area of Hompani and his parents only learnt that he was in Kenya through pictures circulating on social media.

He was last seen in his grandparents’ backyard.

Awakhiwe was found at Happy Children’s Home in Nairobi.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said a full statement will be issued today.

The mother Mrs Nobekezelo Maseko was recently quoted in the media saying, “One of the neighbours in Nkayi brought a picture which was sent by his son who is in South Africa. They went with it to show the grandfather of the child who saw without doubt that it was his grandson.”

She then reached out to the orphanage and a woman who runs it confirmed that her Awakhiwe was a resident at the home.

“I sent her a picture and Awakhiwe identified me. The mother, who keeps them, asked us which name are we using when we call him, we said Kim, which is short for Ackim. She then called him by that name and he answered back,” Mrs Maseko said.

Awakhiwe was kidnapped and drugged with two other children by the kidnappers who were headed to Kenya. The other two children were not Zimbabwean.

Upon reaching the border to Kenya, Awakhiwe is said to have started crying and demanding to be returned to his mother. Alert border officials became suspicious and detained the kidnappers as Awakhiwe was speaking in isiNdebele.

They thought the child was Zimbabwean or South African.

The suspected kidnappers, Margaret Juma Magero and David Ochieng Omentho, believed to married were arraigned before senior principal magistrate, Ms Diana Mochache in Shanzu Principal courts on December 13, 2016.

Ms Mochache directed that Awakhiwe and the two children be placed under the custody of Happy Children’s Home until their parents are found.

The other two children have since been identified, extradited to their home countries and reunited with their families.

However, the paperwork to bring back Awakhiwe is still being processed by the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Kenya.

In June last year, police managed to locate and bring back into the country from South Africa, a one-year-old baby boy who was kidnapped last December by a woman from Ushewokunze suburb in Harare.

The suspect who has been identified as Fortunate Tanyanyiwa has since gone into hiding in South Africa and police, working with Interpol are still looking for her.

Detectives from CID Homicide travelled to Polokwane, South Africa with the boy’s mother, Yvonne Machingo (21) and reunited the two following investigations.

Machingo, who also resides in Ushewokunze, approached Tanyanyiwa, alias Mai Tatenda, sometime in December last year saying she wanted to be led to a traditional healer who could attend to her then six-month-old baby who was not feeling well.

It is alleged that on December 12, 2020, the two went to Block 11, Shawasha Flats in Mbare where a traditional healer could assist Machingo.

Machingo was ordered to stay outside while Tanyanyiwa went with the child inside the healer’s house, but she never returned. After a few hours, Machingo tried to locate her, but to no avail.

She even tried calling, but her phone was switched off and a report was made to the police.

Police failed to locate Tanyanyiwa.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZ) CEO, Tafadzwa Chinamo, will leave the country’s capital market regulator at the end of this month after 10 years in the role.

Chinamo joined SECZ as CEO in 2011.

His departure is in line with the new Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Part 1V), which states that CEOs of public entities should serve for a maximum term of five years, renewable once only, to make it 10 years.

Chinamo confirmed the development. He Chinamo told Business Times on Thursday:

It’s true, my term comes to end this month.

I joined SECZ in August 2011  and my departure is in line with the new Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. I only performed the CEO’s duties in the last six months waiting for the conclusion of the process to select the new CEO of SECZ.

Chinamo, however, refused to reveal the identity of the new SECZ CEO.

He said:

The announcement will be published very soon on the new CEO taking over from me since the process is near complete.

Over the past 10 years, Chinamo said SECZ implemented several initiatives including the automation of the capital markets.

By A Correspondent- Eight people were injured and are currently admitted at Bindura hospital after speeding Mtenzi hashtag  bus they were traveling in overturned yesterday.

The driver Semu Paradzai (35) failed to control the bus registration number AEL 0982 at 75 kilometer peg along Bindura- Mukumbura highway.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the accident.

“I can confirm a serious road accident at 75 kilometer peg along Bindura-Mukumbura highway yesterday, seven people were seriously injured and 15 others escaped with minor injuries,” Mundembe said.

He said the driver is being charged for negligent driving.

Police warned drivers of public transport to be more vigilant on the road and safe precious life.

Government has gazetted has revised its earlier move to have passport application fees paid via CBZ Bank in a move that was unfairly benefitting the Kudakwashe Tagwirei linked financial institution.

This is contained in the newly gazetted Statutory Instrument 3 of 2022 which set the e-passport application fees at US$100 and US$200 for normal and urgent application fees respectively.

In a major change of approach the US$20 that had earlier been gazetted to be paid to CBZ Bank for processing the application forms has been removed in what spells of major victory for citizens who voiced out their disapproval of the move.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), which last year blew over US$33 million to probe graft cases and fund its other operations, has admitted that it only secured four convictions while four other cases were dismissed by the courts of law.

In a statement posted on its website yesterday, the anti-corruption body named the convicts as Taurai Murenga (fraud), Maxwell Mahota (impersonation), Josiah Magume (fraud) and Richard Arnold (contempt of court).

Those acquitted are Vutete Mazorodze Hapanyengwe, Simbarashe Chikore, Remigio Nenzou, Adam Zvandasara and Gilfern Moyo.

Civic society organisations criticised  Zacc for targeting “small fish” and failing to secure convictions for the “big fish” accused of bleeding the economy.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition spokesperson Obert Masaraure told NewsDay that the cases successfully prosecuted by Zacc were of “small fish”, which  showed that high-level corruption was yet to be seriously dealt with.

“This level of corruption emanates right within the corridors of Zacc because the moment an organisation built for the sole reason of stamping out corruption ignores high-level corruption and opts to root out small fish, this is a reflection of the corrupt nature of our State institutions,” Masaraure said.

“First of all, corruption is corruption whether low level or high level, but this idea of ignoring the bigger fish is a product of the catch-and-release system and considering the fact that Zacc on its own pronounced that it spent US$32 million in fighting corruption — that is when you see that the numbers do not add up vis-a-vis convictions.

“The nature of the Zimbabwean justice system has been exposed since time immemorial and now with Zacc, it seems it is a case of new wine and old bottles, and this is suffocating the country. The centre is corrupt to root out corruption.

“We have to reconfigure the centre. The ruling elite is running the corruption enterprise,” he said.

But Zacc spokesperson John Makamure rubbished the claims by CSOs that they were not effectively fighting graft.

“Such concerns do not hold water. Of the 180 dockets submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority for prosecution in 2021, 40% are high-profile. Our cases are thoroughly investigated and the dockets are of high quality. Of the Zacc cases that have been finalised in the courts, 70% are convictions and the remaining 30% are acquittals,” Makamure said.-NewsdayZimbabwe

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe has been granted a ZW$20 000 bail.

Among other conditions, Haruzivishe was ordered to report twice a week at the Police’s Law and Order offices, and to reside at his given address. Speaking on the development, MDC Alliance national spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere said:

Mako has been granted bail. To report twice a week at Law and Order, reside at his given address, pay $20,000. Thank you, Jesus.

We have confirmed with the clerk of court at Rotten Row that there are no outstanding cases or warrants of arrests against Mako. Subject to all formalities, @MakomboreroH will be going home today. Thank you to everyone who campaigned for his freedom. Mako is now free.

Haruzivishe has been facing a number of charges including inciting public violence and kidnapping.

He denies violating any law, and his party says “these are trumped-up charges” must be viewed as the government’s attempt to crack down on dissent.

The former students unionist has been in detention for the past ten months.

By A Correspondent- In an incident that has left villagers in Chinamhora shell-shocked, a 43-year-old man died after setting himself ablaze at his in-laws’ residence.

Abel Chivandire, of Ndoro village, under Chief Chinamhora, died at his in-laws’ residence after his wife deserted him over a domestic dispute.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii confirmed the incident.

He said in the event of misunderstandings, people should seek guidance and advice “from trusted elders, professional counsellors and even at nearest police stations”.

According to police, on January 2 at around 8am, Chivandire visited his in-laws where his wife Isabel Mabiza (38) had fled to her parents’ home following a domestic dispute.

Chivandire, who reportedly had petrol, is said to have barricaded himself inside a Blair toilet and set himself ablaze after failing to reconcile with his wife.

He died on the spot after villagers failed to douse the fire.

Chinamhora police attended the scene and took the body to Makumbe Hospital for post-mortem.

He left behind his wife and three children.

Tinashe Sambiri |Zimbabwe Electoral Commission( ZEC) credibility is under scrutiny after the release of false information about the voter registration exercise across the country.

In a statement, Team Pachedu accused ZEC deliberately misleading the nation in a bid to create voter apathy.

In the same statement, Team Pachedu called for the immediate resignation of ZEC Commissioner Joyce Kazembe, turning 72 this year.

Below is Team Pachedu’s presentation:

ZEC Commissioner, Joyce Kazembe, turns 72 years old this year, being born on 31 May 1949.

Gogo, it’s time for you to enjoy your pension!

She has been with ZEC from as far back as 1999 and oversaw all the chaotic, shambolic and disputed elections in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2013 & 2018.

She is not fit for purpose and must resign!

ZEC lied that only 117 women from Manicaland Province registered to vote in 2021.

… samples of just 125 women; 113 of which were from Mutasa District ALONE and ONLY registered to vote between September and December.
Any comment?

By A Correspondent- Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga has reshuffled his deputies to new portfolios as part of efforts to strengthen the organisation’s performance “in line with government’s vision 2030”.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the reassignments in a statement yesterday.

Part of the statement read: “Deputy Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba from operations has been transferred to administration as the deputy Commissioner-General (administration). Deputy Commissioner-General Mind Elliot Ngirandi from crime has been reassigned to the human resources department as Deputy Commissioner-General (human resources).

Deputy Commissioner-General Learn Ncube from administrations has been reassigned to operations as Deputy Commissioner -General (operations) and Deputy Commissioner-General Lorraine Chipato from human resources has been reassigned to crime as Deputy Commissioner-General (crime).”-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A massive corruption scandal has erupted at the Zanu-PF national headquarters in Harare after it emerged that senior executives smuggled a private an inept company through the back door to land a lucrative contract for the printing of ballot papers used in the recently held provincial elections at the expense of a party owned company.

The ruling party has since launched an internal investigation to establish circumstances under which a company known as VGP Technologies ended up snapping the money-spinning company at the expense of Jongwe Printers which has always been used to do such tasks.

Jongwe Printers is wholly owned by Zanu-PF while some party officials are believed to have interests in VGP Technologies.

Sources said the issue has since resulted in Zanu-PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke requesting State Security minister Owen Ncube to deploy Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives to carry out investigations into the scandal, in which executives are suspected to have pocketed huge sums of money in kickbacks.

The CIO investigation, sources said, recommended further probes on Zanu-PF director of administration Dickson Dzora, whose head is now on the chopping block.

In fact, the sources said, the CIOs found out that Jongwe Printers had the contract taken away from them well after it had completed printing press the ballot papers and all necessary materials.

Ironically, there were reports of shortages of ballot papers in some areas.

A CIO report submitted to Matuke at the end of the investigation, sources further said, revealed that VGP Technologies, based at Engineering House in Harare’s CBD, did not even have the capacity to print the materials and had to sub-contract another company which NewZimbabwe.com was yet to know by the time of publication as it was not named in the report.

Interestingly, upon being questioned, Dzora reportedly said Jongwe Printers had the contract taken away from them on account of “unsustainably high costs”.

However, our investigation established that there were official negotiations over the prices which resulted in Jongwe Printers offering to reduced the cost to the same level as VGP Technologies, yet still the latter got the deal.

A source at the party headquarters confirmed the investigation and gave details on how the decision to revoke Jongwe Printers’ contract was explained.

“Jongwe Printers had initially, as per tradition, been granted the contract but it was surreptitiously taken away from them on the pretext that it was overpriced,” a highly placed Zanu-PF source said.

“Jongwe then offered lower prices to match that which was being offered by the other company but was still denied. Matuke then requested for a CIO investigation into the matter and that is when it was discovered that VGP Technologies did not have the capacity to do the job and had clandestinely subcontracted another company to do the job.

Another source said: “There is obviously a lot of deceit in this deal. Why did they do that to Jongwe Printers. Dzora and his colleagues have to be thoroughly investigated in this issue.”

Dzora declined to comment on the issue saying NewZimbabwe.com had no business in what happens at the Zanu-PF headquarters.

“What has that got to do with you, why would you want to know that? It is not newsworthy at all,” Dzora said.

“The people who are complaining about the matter have no right to be poking their noses into business contracts. It is a business issue, and it is entirely up to us,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Matuke were fruitless as calls on his mobile number went unanswered.

By A Correspondent- Some schools in Bulawayo have been demanding fees for candidates that are writing Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations, a practice that has been condemned by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

Normally, pupils finish writing public examinations by mid-December, but last year’s exam timetable spilled over into this year due to learning disruptions caused by Covid-19.

O and A Level exams took a two-week break on December 17 and resumed on January 3.

The exams are expected to end on January 31.

In light of this, some schools have written to parents demanding 33 percent of full-term fees so that they conduct examinations for the papers that spilled into year.

“You are expected to pay before or on the third of January 2022, being 33% of the fees of a normal 60-day term.

Please, pay timeously so that the examinations are run smoothly and efficiently,” read one message from Gifford High School.

At Milton High School the situation is the same as parents say they were told to pay $2 000. It is a different case at Eveline High School as pupils were supposed to pay $6 000 for the third term and because of the extension by 20 days of the term, they are now paying an extra $2 100.

According to the schools, this money covers utility bills, fuel- exams collected and delivered daily, purchase of sanitisers and disinfectants, cleaning materials and salaries of grounds staff.

Some schools are threatening to withhold results should parents not pay.

One parent said:

“We are hard pressed for money and I thought my child would finish their exams this month as normal. I paid examination fees but I was surprised as were other parents that we had to pay over $2 000 for the consumables. It’s impossible for me to do that because I have already paid rent and other things,” said the parent.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro said parents with day scholars are not expected to pay.

“As for day scholars they have a contract with Zimsec. They are just going to the centre; they write their exam and they’re dismissed. There’s no need for money for this and that, they just write and they are dismissed,” said Mr Ndoro.

“This is why they pay examination fees, which are supposed to cover all that and if they have any issues, it’ll be prudent to refer them (schools) to Zimsec.”

Mr Ndoro said it was understandable that parents with children writing at boarding schools pay for their children’s upkeep.

“The boarders pay for their upkeep because the school can’t keep them there without getting them something to eat.

They will probably use electricity in the evening to study. They’re certain schools that pro rata these fees on a daily basis, while others on a weekly basis,” he said.

“Other parents will say, look, my child is going to write only two papers so I will take my child to write the exam.

Then take them back home and then return them for the other exam. Which is actually cheaper (than the pupil staying in boarding).”

Mr Ndoro said if schools and parents agree on a fee, the figure should be nominal.

“If there’s a day school that’s actually charging, any utilities I can use are just a token, perhaps for cleaning the toilets, it’ll be very nominal. It’ll be a figure that you will also want to pay if you use a public toilet. Because you are at the school and you want to use the toilet and who is going to clean it,” said Mr Ndoro.

“The figure is very nominal, but this is where the problem is, what do they want the $2 500 for? Perhaps one learner is in in upper six and is writing one exam and you want them to pay $2 500.”

Mr Ndoro said schools should sympathise with parents who are already struggling.

“We don’t want our institutions to look like corrupt institutions. Because this starts to raise red flags and we should have discipline in terms of how these levies are to be collected. These learners already paid their examination fees which will cater for the overheads. Obviously, there is a conciliatory tone that we can have and say if you are waiting, pay at least $100 per day for the school to be able to clean the ablution facilities,” said Mr Ndoro.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa has extended her philanthropic work and empowerment initiatives to sex workers in Gweru where she donated farming inputs so that they could embark on farming projects.

Amai Mnangagwa donated the agricultural inputs through the Gweru Women’s Aids Prevention Association (GWAPA), an organisation that works with commercial sex workers in the city.

GWAPA has over two hectares of land to be used for farming activities to benefit its primary target; commercial sex workers.

Midlands Province has over 7 000 registered sex workers who are getting assistance from Government departments and other development partners like the Centre for Sexual Health HIV and Aids Research Zimbabwe.

The First Lady, who was represented by Midlands Provincial and Devolution Minister Larry Mavima, on Wednesday donated maize seed and fertiliser for this agricultural season.

The piece of land was provided to GWAPA by Gweru City Council, while Government will complement the efforts through provision of a tractor for tillage purposes through the District Development Fund (DDF).

The group expressed gratitude for the empowerment initiatives being facilitated by the First Lady in the face of adversities they face in their day to day lives.

Ms Miriam Nyathi who has been in the business for close to a decade commended the First Lady for the donation, which she said will uplift them.

“Most people fail to understand that for us to end up on the streets, it is not by choice. Circumstances differ. Some of us had children when we were still young. We need to feed these children. It’s not easy to come out in front of people and declare my profession as being a prostitute. I want to thank Amai Mnangagwa for this great initiative. We need more self-help projects,” she said.

Another sex worker, Ms Rita Mausengwe, said she was highly honoured to have Amai Mnangagwa taking time to think about their needs and sending her representatives with donations.

“This is a day to remember and hopefully we will have good rains so that we have a good yield. It’s not every day that we are remembered by powerful offices like this one of the First Lady. We want to thank you Amai and may you continue to assist us. We also want to take this opportunity to express our harassment at the hands of law enforcement agents. We are pleading with you to allow us space and arrest us if we violate the lockdown rules.

“We also face problems when we want to report our clients over abuse. The clients might be having money and end up walking scot free. We hope such challenges will be addressed,” she said.

Representing Amai Mnangagwa, Minister Mavima said Government has promised to empower sex workers through various initiatives such as the availing of farming inputs and a tractor by the First Lady to GWAPA.

“The First Lady said you also need to be empowered despite your profession. These things are coming from the President and presented to the First Lady to give to you. We want accountability in the distribution of these inputs and we want them to be properly utilised for farming not for you to resell. Show us somewhere where you are going to plant and we will give you the inputs,” he said.

Minister Mavima said they are going to provide land to GWAPA for them to embark on farming.

“It might be five to 10 hectares but if it’s worked on properly, you will harvest something that will uplift you. If you might come in groups, we will identify more land for you. I have heard your plight at the hands of the law enforcement agents. Prostitution is not a one-man band. It’s a two-way thing. The offence is not one sided. Why is it troubling only one part? Take them all. That way we get equality,” he said.

Midlands provincial chairperson for Young Women for Empowerment Development Mrs Farai Sipani said it was high time that young women came together and worked as a unit.

She said united, young women will develop in business and general livelihood.

“We are saying women, come let’s work together. Women don’t stay behind. The First Lady has passion for us. Let’s work and prove it’s worth it. All your concerns can be addressed through a collaboration with you to uplift your lives so you realise your dreams. We can provide training on various projects you might want to embark on. We can also collaborate and come up with good partnerships,” said Mrs Sipani.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC-T leadership, Douglas Mwonzora Thursday, had a closed-door meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House.

In the meeting, Mwonzora pushed for a national dialogue. 

MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube said this in a statement:

Pursuant to our call for genuine, inclusive and unconditional dialogue as a solution to solving Zimbabwe’s myriad of challenges, our President Douglas Mwonzora met State President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House today. He was accompanied by Secretary-General Paurina Mpariwa and Treasurer General Dr Tapiwa Mashakada. 

On the 11th of June last year the initial meeting took place at State House whereat our President presented concrete proposals for national dialogue to President Mnangagwa. On the 161h of September 2021, President Mnangagwa formally responded to the MDCT proposals. Some of the issues raised in President Mnangagwa’s letter led to our party embarking on a nationwide dialogue consultative program during which party structures were briefed on same. They were afforded an opportunity to make representations on how they wanted the dialogue process to take place and the timelines involved. They also contributed on the substantive issues to be covered by the dialogue. 

Following these consultations, the National Council of the Party met on the 26th of November, 2021 and adopted a final position on dialogue. The meeting then mandated President Mwonzora and the Party leadership to go and formally present the party’s response to President Mnangagwa at State House. 

President Mnangagwa, who was accompanied by ZANU PF Secretary for Finance, Mr. Patrick Chinamasa and Acting Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Mr. George Charamba, promised to respond to the MDCT’s final position as soon as possible after their own internal consultations within the government and their party. The meeting was a huge success and our leaders expressed that the dialogue that Zimbabweans have long waited for is slowly becoming a reality.

Witness Dube Secretary for Information and Publicity

By- A senior Zanu PF official in Harare province is threatening to evict vendors from vending stalls he used to lure votes from vendors.

The same official allegedly paid voters US$3 to vote for him in the chaotic party provincial elections held last week, which he lost.

Emmanuel Mahachi contested for the Harare provincial youth league chairperson post and reportedly paid US$3 to some party supporters to vote for him, and also threatened to take over vending stalls in the event that vendors refrained from voting for him.

Mahachi controls several stalls in Harare, mainly in the populous Mbare suburb. One of the party supporters told NewsDay:

We voted for the candidate who gave us money. Mahachi gave me US$3 and other people who promised to vote for him. The amount may seem little but it’s worthwhile considering that most youths are unemployed like me.

Apart from the money, I was also pushed to vote for Mahachi through fear to lose my vending stalls. We were warned prior to the elections that if we don’t go out to vote, we were going to lose the stalls. Thus, I participated in the elections to protect my vending area.

Mahachi however refuted the allegations professing ignorance about the reports. He added:

I don’t know anything about that. Such bad news is coming from my opponents who I defeated during elections. They are finding ways to tarnish me. I just asked people to vote for me and in return, I just promised to do some projects with youths in the province. As of now, no one has been officially endorsed as the winner.

ZANU PF held its provincial elections last week as the restructuring process continues.

While the party argues that the outcome of the polls signifies that internal democracy was enhanced, some cite chaotic scenes and reports of rigging to brush off the party’s claims.

More: NewsDay Zimbabwe