By A Correspondent- VP Constantino Chiwenga’s estrangled wife Marry has made a plea for the custody of her minors accusing the VP of violating the laws of the country.
She made the plea on twitter where she posted:
“Allowing Constantino Chiwenga into any country with my children is accepting human trafficking as they are young children. Are my children still there, I wonder. He is breaking the laws that they put in place and breaking them…”
By A Correspondent- Self-exiled former Zanu PF Politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo says Zimbabwe’s political environment is toxic, with citizens divided by personality politics rather than the politics of ideas.
Moyo received a public backlash on social media after he suggested that the US$120 000 raised by Zimbabweans in the diaspora for the purchase of a bullet-proof car for MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa be diverted towards training polling agents for the 2023 elections.
Posting on Twitter, Moyo described the decision to purchase the bullet-proof car as “irrational”, saying the MDC Alliance should prioritise enhancing its institutional and administrative capacities. He wrote:
The one major reason why Zimbabweans, as a body politic, are ill-prepared to deal with the country’s deteriorated political conditions is that they are balkanised by the politics of affection; driven by principals over principles, wherein personalities always trump up ideas!.
As a telling example of the toxic tragedy of Zimbabwe’s politics of affection today, last week I found myself in the ire of cultic anger after I dared challenge the wisdom of the US$120 000 GoFundMe for a VIP bulletproof car for @nelsonchamisa.
Notably, the trolls did not offer much of an argument nor really want me to explain myself; all they were about was to demonise me, as a person.
Objectively speaking, it’s irrational for a party with no institutional capacity and in desperate need of administrative support, within the calendar cycle of a general election, to prioritise the purchase of a VIP bulletproof car for its leader.
Meanwhile, MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the fundraising drive was not a party initiative and citizens have the right to set their priorities.
Said Mahere:
The fundraising we have seen by the diaspora across the world is citizen-driven not party-driven.
The citizens have the right to set their priorities and take action in the manner they see best to support the struggle.
The clear message from the people is that they will own, scaffold and support the struggle.
They will stand shoulder to shoulder with Chamisa and the movement as we face persecution.
The fundraising campaign was launched after Chamisa’s convoy came under attack during his meet-the-people tours in rural areas in October.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police said they are investigating a case in which six armed robbers masquerading as police officers raided a house in Kadoma on Tuesday and got away with US$20 000 cash, a car, a gun and various property.
The robbers were armed with two pistols when they raided the house in Eiffel Flats.
They also stole jewellery and a Samsung cellphone.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and said no arrests have been made yet.
“The ZRP is investigating a case of robbery which occurred in Eiffel Flats, Kadoma on December 22, 2021, where six unknown male suspects masquerading as police officers, pounced on a family and robbed them of property valued at US$26 000.
“The suspects brandished two unknown pistols before demanding for valuables. They stole US$20 000, a 9mm pistol loaded with eight rounds, jewellery, a Sumsung cellphone and a blue Toyota Vits vehicle (ACV 9037),” he said.
Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Meanwhile, police have confirmed the arrest of Ruramai Chingoma (35), Joseph Zhuwawo (48), Jairos Muropa (38), Smart Machagi (36), Kudakwashe Bhibho (31) and Tinotenda Tavengwa (21) for illegal mining activities at Hotburn Mining Site in Shamva on Monday.
Police had to use teargas to disperse a violent mob that attempted to attack police officers in a bid to free the suspects.
The suspects are still assisting with investigations and will appear in court soon.
-Herald
By- The police last week blocked Zapu’s 60th anniversary celebrations that were set to take place at the home of the late Father Zimbabwe Joshua Nkomo in Kezi, Matabeleland South province.Nkomo led PF Zapu from 1961 as its founding leader until the party merged with Zanu PF in 1987 following the signing of the Unity Accord.
He died in 1999.
His son, Sibangilizwe, said police blocked the planned celebrations scheduled for Nkomo’s St Joseph homestead in Nyongolo area citing, COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings. Various organisations and political parties from across southern Africa were expected to grace the event.
“We notified the police a month ago about the celebrations that were expected to be held on December 18 with only about 200 people expected to attend,” Nkomo said.
“We had to cancel the event, what surprises me is that they had an event at Makorokoro in the same week about 50km from Nyongolo area where there were about a thousand cars, including helicopters and people that were bussed there just to witness the commissioning of a garden.
“Does that mean they cannot be affected by COVID?”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa was in Makorokoro last week to launch what the State-run ZBC described as the “Matabeleland South marketing project.”
He toured the vegetable garden and addressed a rally attended by hundreds of Zanu PF supporters, many of them bussed from neighbouring villages and some from as far as Plumtree and Maphisa.
On Wednesday in Bulawayo police also stopped a Gukurahundi memorial that was set to take place at Stanley Hall, Makokoba suburb.
On Monday, armed police also disrupted a Christmas party for the elderly and vulnerable that was being hosted by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.
-Newsday
By-Bulawayo, police have arrested more than 100 people who were drinking beer in shebeens and bars after curfew hours.
On Tuesday, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga issued a solid warning to bars and shebeens operating outside the law.
Zimbabwe is under a level two lockdown and businesses are supposed to close at 7PM.
The curfew runs from 9PM to 6AM.
A drive around Bulawayo revealed that some bars, nightclubs and shebeens in and around the city are operating at full throttle, with others holding shows that stretch into the wee hours of the morning.
Police are raiding the bars and shebeens after 7pm, but many reopen soon after the police leave.
Bulawayo police provincial spokesperson, Inspector Abednego Ncube has conceded that operators of some nightspots and shebeens are defiant despite police raids.
“We keep on raiding but some bars and shebeens reopen soon after we leave and we are contemplating prosecuting the owners instead of just arresting revellers.
“We have a problem with a shebeen in Old Magwegwe, it’s being raided regularly but it continues to operate.
“We need cooperation from the community and residents of Old Magwegwe are having problems because of this shebeen,” said Insp Ncube.
Recently residents of Suburbs in the city wrote a letter to the Bulawayo City Council complaining that a night spot in the area is depriving them of their sleep and its activities threaten their security as it opens until the wee hours of the morning.
The residents said they did not understand why the nightspot is allowed to violate curfew hours.
The BCC threatened to revoke the night spot’s licence and a show with two South African artistes which was billed for the nightspot had to be moved at the last minute to the outskirts of the city.
Insp Ncube said police will continue arresting people who violate the regulations and so far more than a 100 have been arrested.
“We will enforce the lockdown regulations as directed by Commissioner General of Police.
“We are warning those that continue to be defiant that they will not only be arrested but will also be prosecuted including bar owners and shebeen queens.
“They shouldn’t cry foul when we descend on them,” said Insp Ncube.
— Chronicle
ANALYSIS | Emmerson Mnangagwa has held a meeting with the forces of reality, following his wish to exhume the late businessman and imperialist Cecil John Rhodes.#
Mnangagwa wants to
The prolific US based writer Bvumavaranda opened the thread by outlining his own views saying Rhodes has to be exhumed.
Bvumavaranda said:
Cecil John Rhodes had a deep understanding of the ways of ancient Egypt. Some may very well say his knowledge was esoteric. Indeed, I have come across whisperers who say Rhodes was a Freemason. The so-called secret information and sacred knowledge are not that esoteric, I think. Rhodes had initially wanted to be buried at Great Zimbabwe, a stone monument falling on the same longitude as ancient Egyptian monuments at Giza, Nabta Playa and Karima. According to the information given to the late historian, Professor Ranger, someone disclosed the spiritual and cosmological significance of the place where Rhodes was ultimately buried.
As is evident in the picture, he was buried paruware. Typically, such a place is used as a threshing floor for processing grain. The leader the ancient Egyptians saluted as the Great Lord, but mispronounced by the alien but respectful Greeks as Osiris, is said to have been buried beneath a threshing floor. The place was chosen as an ideal place for hiding the Great Lord’s body from his enemy and murderer. Indeed, we are told that the ancient Egyptians considered a burial an act of concealment. As an aside, the Karanga term for burial I am familiar with is KUVIGA, meaning to hide.
Anyhow, the Egyptian Great Lord’s burial/concealment/kuvigwa beneath pachipuriro/paruware was replayed upon the death and burial of Nyatsimba Mutota. Mutota is said to have been concealed beneath paruware, according to what was shared by Adrian Nyakwava and historian Jim Latham. The latter teaches us that eight baobab trees were strategically planted around Mutota’s grave. Each tree was a proxy or representative of each of Mutota’s eight councilors or ministers. Tuwuyu tusere, the eight baobab trees, and the concealed body of Mutota lead us to one of the ancient Egyptian customs. We know, or are taught, that the ancient Egyptians understood the Heavenly court to be presided by a chief G_B_/G_V_ and eight assistants. The burial of Mutota gives tantalizing hints at what looks like a link to an ancient Egyptian custom.
In the Bible, when Jacob dies in Egypt, his sons taken him back to Canaan. On arrival, the mourners take Jacob’s mummified body to a threshing floor. As they conduct the funeral service, the onlooking Canaanites tell us they were witnessing an Egyptian funeral.
Going back to Nyatsimba Mutota and the Tuwuyu Tusere, I seem to notice some boulders around Rhodes illegal and sacrilegious grave. From what I can make, there seems to be seven boulders. Are there eight boulders? If there are, were they naturally there before Rhodes’ burial? I ask this question bearing in mind that we call the site of Rhodes’ burial MARINDADZIMU because we say our Karanga ancestors sleep at place since deep antiquity.
Along this vein, I hear Mnangagwa is contemplating the long-overdue exhumation and removal of the body of Cecil John Rhodes. It is all well and good for as long as it is not a political gimmick deeply steeped in gross ignorance. I express this fear given what has been happening at the similarly significant Dambarare. That place, important as it is in terms of its spiritual, historical, and cultural significance, has been ravaged in the hard-to-understand establishment of what I hear will be a city named after some one-horse village in Scotland. I do not think even a cursory archaeological study was conducted at Dambarare before the Chinese earth-moving equipment were dispatched to Dambarare. These gimmicks leave me completely scared, especially coming from ignorant “leaders.”
My hope is that we do not repeat the sacrilege we are witnessing at Dambarare. Marindadzimu is way too important to be mishandled in like manner. We will have to understand every historical, spiritual and associated protocols as we seek the restoration of the spiritual and cosmological role of this Holy place. At that place, we can ill-afford to mess around like the nonsense we are witnessing at Dambarare.
Response from Simba Chikanza |
Interesting points raised here, though I have a few contentions:
While you’re busy trying to exhume Rhodes’ skeleton which is not even there, do you not have a real Rhodes who invaded State House in 2017-18, and who’s currently directing your rage towards Matobo? You’re already currently trying to pull out Mugabe’s skeleton from Zvimba. By year end, how many will you have exhumed, and how much money blown that could have saved lives?
Instead of monumentalising Cecil John Rhodes as a National Asset, the way US, UK, Australia have of their own, you are here busy looking for a skeleton which is not even there. This same Rhodes you call a curse, literally assembled this country out several scattered chieftainships which had little connection or strategy to the outside world. How many Rhodes are there right now buried in US, a country that does belong to them, but yet transformed that jungle into a superpower that’s now greater than its mother nation, Britain? If they are a curse to the nation, how many Rhodes characters are right now buried in New Zealand, Canadian, and Australian mountains? This man was a businessman, no matter his failings, and if you had monumentalised him, would Zimbabwe not by bow have produced thousands of its own black Rhodes going round the world conquering the planet for this nation, the way the tiny nation of Britain did?
How many Cecil John Rhodes would you have produced? Right now the only to only two to talk about are Strive Masiyiwa, and Douglas Munetsi (murdered this year). The last remaining Rhodes, Masiyiwa won’t come back because he will be killed or become dispossessed, or both, once landing in his country of birth, and after that you will go after his corpse also?
BY A CORRESPONDENT| After making headlines in 2018 when his unprincipled interference and bullying of a female Harare Magistrate was laid bare for the world to see, Deputy Prosecutor General Michael Reza has torched another storm.
Reza has been caught with his hands in the cookie jar and now stands accused of siding with controversial land baron, Ken Sharpe in his long running court battle against Harare businessman George Katsimberis.
In his answering affidavit deposed before the High Court, Katsimberis who is seeking for a review of Harare Magistrate Letwin Rwodzi’s ruling which dismissed his application for referral of his case to the Constitutional Court said Reza and another state prosecutor Tafara Charambira had failed the objectivity test by siding with Sharpe and his accomplices.
The Harare developer accused Reza of developing an incestuous relationship with a Pokugara official named Tatiana Aleshina.
“My complaints against the prosecution were that they developed a health and incestuous relationship with complainants in particular a woman known as Tatiana Aleshina.
“The state would spend hours with this woman even though she was not a state witness,” said Katsimberis.
He further objected and questioned the basis of Charambira swearing an affidavit on behalf of the state without authority from his boss Mr Kumbirai Hodzi.
“I object to Tafara Chirambira making an affidavit on behalf of the state. The head of the state is the head of the national prosecuting authority. Therefore only Mr. Kumbirai Hodzi can swear in this affidavit
“In circumstances where he cannot swear for whatever reason, then the opposing affidavit filed by the state must indicate the authority from Mr Hodzi and why he is unable to make and swore an affidavit for and on behalf of the state,” added Katsimberis.
He also expressed concern over the tone of the opposing affidavit deposed by Charambira on behalf the state saying he had no knowledge of the matter in question but responded in a way that raised question marks on his relationship with Pokugara Properties and Sharpe.
“Besides the tone of the affidavit is not neutral. Firstly Mr Tafara Chirambira has no knowledge of the facts and of the dispute between myself Michael Van Blerk, Pokugara and Kenneth Raydon Sharpe.
“Yet he swears this affidavit as if he is aware of the facts and is in fact an official of Pokugara Properties,” said Katsimberis.
By-Police in Bulawayo have arrested more than 100 for drinking at bars and shebeens after curfew hours.
On Tuesday, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga issued a strong warning to bars and shebeens operating outside the law.
Zimbabwe is under a level two lockdown and businesses are supposed to close at 7PM.
The curfew runs from 9PM to 6AM.
A drive around Bulawayo revealed that some bars, nightclubs and shebeens in and around the city are operating at full throttle with others holding shows that stretch into the wee hours of the morning.
Police are raiding the bars and shebeens after 7pm but many of them reopen soon after the police leave.
Bulawayo police provincial spokesperson, Inspector Abednego Ncube has conceded that operators of some nightspots and shebeens are defiant despite police raids.
“We keep on raiding but some bars and shebeens reopen soon after we leave and we are contemplating prosecuting the owners instead of just arresting revellers.
“We have a problem with a shebeen in Old Magwegwe, it’s being raided regularly but it continues to operate.
“We need cooperation from the community and residents of Old Magwegwe are having problems because of this shebeen,” said Insp Ncube.
Recently residents of Suburbs in the city wrote a letter to the Bulawayo City Council complaining that a night spot in the area is depriving them of their sleep and its activities threaten their security as it opens until the wee hours of the morning.
The residents said they did not understand why the nightspot is allowed to violate curfew hours.
The BCC threatened to revoke the night spot’s licence and a show with two South African artistes which was billed for the nightspot had to be moved at the last minute to the outskirts of the city.
Insp Ncube said police will continue arresting people who violate the regulations and so far more than a 100 have been arrested.
“We will enforce the lockdown regulations as directed by Commissioner General of Police.
“We are warning those that continue to be defiant that they will not only be arrested but will also be prosecuted including bar owners and shebeen queens.
“They shouldn’t cry foul when we descend on them,” said Insp Ncube.
— Chronicle
By- The Zimbabwe Republic Police said they are investigating a case in which six armed robbers masquerading as police officers raided a house in Kadoma on Tuesday and got away with US$20 000 cash, a car, a gun and various property.
The robbers were armed with two pistols when they raided the house in Eiffel Flats.
They also stole jewellery and a Samsung cellphone.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and said no arrests have been made yet.
“The ZRP is investigating a case of robbery which occurred in Eiffel Flats, Kadoma on December 22, 2021, where six unknown male suspects masquerading as police officers, pounced on a family and robbed them of property valued at US$26 000.
“The suspects brandished two unknown pistols before demanding for valuables. They stole US$20 000, a 9mm pistol loaded with eight rounds, jewellery, a Sumsung cellphone and a blue Toyota Vits vehicle (ACV 9037),” he said.
Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Meanwhile, police have confirmed the arrest of Ruramai Chingoma (35), Joseph Zhuwawo (48), Jairos Muropa (38), Smart Machagi (36), Kudakwashe Bhibho (31) and Tinotenda Tavengwa (21) for illegal mining activities at Hotburn Mining Site in Shamva on Monday.
Police had to use teargas to disperse a violent mob that attempted to attack police officers in a bid to free the suspects.
The suspects are still assisting with investigations and will appear in court soon.
-Herald
By-The United States of America will on 31 December lift restrictions on travellers from Southern African nations, imposed last month in a bid to slow down the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
White House’s assistant press secretary, Kevin Munoz, said that the restrictions will be lifted in line with a recommendation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Munoz tweeted on Friday:
On Dec. 31, [President Joe Biden] will lift the temporary travel restrictions on Southern Africa countries. This decision was recommended by [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention].
The restrictions gave us time to understand Omicron and we know our existing vaccines work against Omicron, [especially] boosted.
The US ban applied to South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.
Al Jazeera quoted a senior White House official as saying with Omicron present across the US and globally, international travellers from the eight affected countries would not have a significant effect on US cases. Said the official:
During the travel pause, President Biden reduced the time for pre-departure testing to one day as opposed to three days … travellers from these eight countries will be subject to these same strict protocols.
By-The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority said that 71 people lost their lives due to human-wildlife conflict between January and December this year.
The organisation’s spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, said crocodiles and elephants account for the bulk of the fatal attacks.
“Elephants and crocodiles account for most of the deaths although here and there we have incidences that involve other animals such as buffaloes and others. This year alone we recorded 71 deaths while 50 people were injured by wild animals compared to about 60 deaths and 40 injuries last year,” he said.
Mr Farawo said Zimparks is carrying out awareness campaigns in affected areas to reduce cases of human- wildlife conflict.
He urged people to report the presence of problem animals in their areas at the nearest police station or Zimparks offices.
“We should appreciate that the elephant herd for example continues to grow but the land remains the same. At the same time human population is also growing hence the increased cases of human- wildlife conflict,” said Mr Farawo.
Zimbabwe is home to more than 100 000 elephants against a carrying capacity of about 45 000.
Mr Farawo said the population of elephants keeps growing making it difficult to monitor and track them.
He said wild animals usually get into human communities in search of water.
“Naturally elephants will move into human territory in search of water and food. When they do so, their interaction with human beings increases and cases of people being killed by them increase,” he said.
POLICE are still searching for 12 COVID-19 positive inmates who escaped from a quarantine centre in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South province last Friday.
The inmates were put on mandatory quarantine after they tested positive to the novel virus. They had been deported from neighbouring South Africa.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told NewsDay yesterday that the hunt for the escapees was still on.
“The deportees are still on the run. We are still investigating the circumstances surrounding their escape,” he said.
There is mandatory quarantine for returning citizens regardless of the results of their COVID-19 tests.
In a statement last week, Nyathi described the escapees as COVID-19 “super-spreaders”.
“The ZRP warns members of the public against intentionally spreading COVID-19 pandemic to unsuspecting relatives, peers and the general public.
“The police will ensure that the law takes its course on the suspects and anyone who puts the lives of citizens at risk,” Nyath said.
He identified the escapees as Danis Chikora (36) Chief Nhema, Masvingo, Takunda Makuvaro (44) Makuvaro village, Masvingo, Cephas Dube (25) Chipanga village, Chipinge, Nonhlanhla Dhlamini (19) Khoza Primary School, Matopo, Primerose Manheya (24) 2906 Uve, Rusape and Danial Maringa (30) 4616 Kuwadzana, Harare.
Felix Nkosi (47) 4042 Magwegwe North, Bulawayo, Mathemba Simbamba (34) Stand 17 Portbery, Harare, Edgar Kubere (30) of Chitungwiza, Thamsanqa Sibanda (30) 14890 Nkulumane, Bulawayo, Meno Pouline Mahara (22) of South Down, Chipinge and Lee Mathema (42) Mbereko village in Mberengwa also escaped.- NewsDay
By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police has announced that they are investigating another case of an armed robbery involving a cross border bus coming from Harare to South Africa.
“1/2 On 23/12/21 at 0345 hours, ZRP Ngundu recorded an armed robbery case involving a MB Transport bus today at 0230 hours. Three suspects disguising as passengers, robbed all the bus occupants property valued at ZAR 566 245, US$11 520 and an Itel P37 cellphone, ” ZRP announced via their Twitter account.
POLICE are still searching for 12 COVID-19 positive inmates who escaped from a quarantine centre in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South province last Friday.
The inmates were put on mandatory quarantine after they tested positive to the novel virus. They had been deported from neighbouring South Africa.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told NewsDay yesterday that the hunt for the escapees was still on.
“The deportees are still on the run. We are still investigating the circumstances surrounding their escape,” he said.
There is mandatory quarantine for returning citizens regardless of the results of their COVID-19 tests.
In a statement last week, Nyathi described the escapees as COVID-19 “super-spreaders”.
“The ZRP warns members of the public against intentionally spreading COVID-19 pandemic to unsuspecting relatives, peers and the general public.
“The police will ensure that the law takes its course on the suspects and anyone who puts the lives of citizens at risk,” Nyath said.
He identified the escapees as Danis Chikora (36) Chief Nhema, Masvingo, Takunda Makuvaro (44) Makuvaro village, Masvingo, Cephas Dube (25) Chipanga village, Chipinge, Nonhlanhla Dhlamini (19) Khoza Primary School, Matopo, Primerose Manheya (24) 2906 Uve, Rusape and Danial Maringa (30) 4616 Kuwadzana, Harare.
Felix Nkosi (47) 4042 Magwegwe North, Bulawayo, Mathemba Simbamba (34) Stand 17 Portbery, Harare, Edgar Kubere (30) of Chitungwiza, Thamsanqa Sibanda (30) 14890 Nkulumane, Bulawayo, Meno Pouline Mahara (22) of South Down, Chipinge and Lee Mathema (42) Mbereko village in Mberengwa also escaped.- NewsDay
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has described rising armed robbery cases across the country as a threat to personal and national security and has threatened a shoot-to-kill policy to deal with the criminals.
Of late, armed robbers have been targeting homes, businesses, mines, and motorists on highways, getting away with tens of thousands of United States dollars.
More worryingly is the fact that some of the suspected robbers are serving and former army and police officers who pounce on their victims armed with AK-47 rifles.
In his 2021 Unity Day message, Mnangagwa said armed robberies are becoming a menace, warning that “those who dabble in arms will soon fall by the sword”. He said:
Lately, we have witnessed an upsurge in gun-related crimes. There is a clear upsurge in the abuse of firearms, including violent armed robberies.
The government now treats this as a grave threat to personal and national security.
Decisive measures have now become necessary to put an end to this growing menace that threatens our otherwise peaceful, law-abiding nation and citizenry.
Those who dabble in arms will soon fall by the sword. Let them be warned.
Earlier this month, a retired detective, Joseph Nemaisa gunned down three armed robbers who were part of a five-man gang that had held his family hostage, demanding cash at his Chadcombe home.
It was later established that a soldier and a former police officer were among the dead while another serving soldier and former cop escaped and but were later arrested.
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Emmerson Mnangagwa has been inspired by the former detective, Joseph Nemaisa, who recently shot and killed three armed robbers and said that government would soon adopt a shoot and kill policy on robbers.
Nemaisa gunned down a soldier and former cop at his Chadcombe home in Harare after attempting to rob his family.
“Lately, we have witnessed an upsurge in gun-related crimes,” Mnangagwa said in his Unity Day message.
“There is a clear upsurge in the abuse of firearms, including violent armed robberies. The government now treats this as a grave threat to personal and national security.”
“Decisive measures have now become necessary to put an end to this growing menace that threatens our otherwise peaceful, law-abiding nation and citizenry. Those who dabble in arms will soon fall by the sword. Let them be warned.”
Reports indicate that the criminals were taking advantage of porous borders to bring ammunition to Zimbabwe from neighbouring South Africa.
Other robbers are said to be using their service firearms to engage in violent crimes.
Top police and military brass have confirmed that some of their members and former officers were engaging in criminal activities.
By -Police in Zvishavane is looking for three local men who allegedly murdered a 23-year-old man over an undisclosed issue at Donga Business Centre.
The body of Shelton Kayali (23), of Ndumani village under chief Wedza in Zvishavane, was discovered near the business centre, police said on their official Twitter account.
“The Police is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of 3 suspects involved in the murder of Shelton Kayali (23) of Ndumani Village, Chief Wedza, Zvishavane.
“The suspects had an altercation with the victim over an undisclosed issue at Donga Business Centre, Zvishavane and resultantly the suspects attacked the victim with opens hands on the face whilst one of them stabbed him with a knife on the left collar bone.
“The body of the victim was discovered some metres away from the scene. Anyone with information to contact any nearest Police Station,” said the police.
Police in Bulawayo on Wednesday blocked a Gukurahundi commemorative event held by pressure group, Ibhetshu LikaZulu, at Stanley Square.
The annual event is held on 22 December to remember the 20 000 victims of the 1980s Gukurahundi atrocities.
Ibhetshu LikaZulu had planned to march from Stanley Square to the Joshua Nkomo statue in the city centre but police details were deployed to block the event.
This year’s commemorations were held under the theme: “Can there be healing without truth-telling and justice?”
Speaking in an interview with CITE, Ibhetshu LikaZulu Secretary-General Mbuso Fuzwayo said the police conduct was not surprising. He said:
We are not surprised by the conduct of the police. They are part of the security forces that were responsible for the genocide.
It is sad that President Emmerson Mnangagwa always reiterates that people can now discuss openly Gukurahundi but every time when we hold commemorations they come and block us.
However, that is not going to stop the people from holding such events.
On 22 December 1987, the late ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo signed the Unity Accord with the late ZANU PF leader Robert Mugabe.
The agreement brought to an end the State-sponsored Gukurahundi massacres in the Matabeleland region and parts of Midlands province.-CITE
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has pointed out that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s brutality is beyond measure.
According to Hon Biti, Mr Mnangagwa is an epitome of callousness.
The nation is grappling with relentless economic turmoil, violation of human rights and social unrest.
“The callousness of this regime , it’s brutality and heartlessness is beyond measure .
We have a duty to undo the undemocratic anomaly that Emmerson represents.We have a duty to rescue our country from the jaws of capture chaos & crassness.
Things certainly can’t go on like this,” argued Hon Biti.
Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s full statement on Unity Day:
This day, some 34 years ago, the founding fathers of our Nation, late Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo and Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, appended their signatures to the iconic Document we know as the Unity Accord.
This momentous event of 22nd December 1987, extinguished fires of conflict which threatened our Nation, thus laying a strong foundation for the durable peace and unity we enjoy to this day.
It was a fine moment in the nation-building project, one whose priceless bequest has endured since, creating circumstances for stability, peace and national development.
On this day we thus stand back and reflect on the development which turned the fortunes of our Nation, indeed which spared our Nation the hurtful misunderstandings interposed, threatening peace and stability in those delicate, early years of our Independence.
We celebrate that reason eventually prevailed, giving us the glorious day we commemorate and celebrate today.
The key lesson from this preceding era of internal conflict should never be lost to us. Whatever differences and contradictions we face, or are likely to face in the future, these should always find resolution through peaceful dialogue in the interest of peace and national unity.
Nothing beats sitting down as one people to iron out any differences that exist or might arise. Peace in our Nation remains the foremost prize for which no price is too big to pay, no cause or ego too big to bend.
We are one, indivisible People, circumscribed by this our one Nation, built on this the only geopolitical space we can ever have as Zimbabweans.
As I address you, efforts continue to be deployed to build on that precious legacy of peace and national unity which the Unity Accord bequeathed us.
I have made it a personal mission to engage our citizens and our communities in the conflict zones of that unfortunate time of early Independence.
We have to boldly confront and tackle the aftermath of that era; heal wounds it left in its wake, and where possible, assuage persistent difficulties and challenges traceable to it.
This, I am resolved to do until we remove whatever bitter memories may still exist, and are likely to linger.
We are the generation that must resolve issues of early Independence conflict, so we release our children to move forward and ahead as a united people.
On countless occasions, I have met and interacted with interest groups, community and traditional leaders from Matabeleland and parts of Midlands, all with a view to establishing what needs to be done / so the after-effects of this regrettable era are put behind us.
Our traditional leaders, led by our Chiefs, have a great role to play in this regard. They preside over communities affected by the conflict; those hurt by the conflict are their subjects.
They know the hurts; hear all the cries from the era and have suggestions on what needs to be done.
As we give space to our traditional leaders to lead processes of reconciliation and repair, we should guard against those negative elements which aim to re-ignite frozen differences in order to throw us back into renewed conflict.
As always there are sinister forces that seek to profit from a divided and divisive past. They must not succeed.
We have built national institutions for conflict prevention, management and resolution. We have introduced in our daily workings, mechanisms to prevent conflicts, however minor or localised.
Above all, we continue to monitor and find answers to new, emerging situations of potential conflict so these are obviated before they occur. It is from such mechanisms, through such vigilance, that peace is forged and won, and that Nations get durably built.
A key area requiring and receiving serious attention is that of balanced, inclusive development which leaves no one and no community behind. Oftentimes, feelings of marginalisation or persistent inequities breed resentment and eventual conflict.
Examples abound on our continent, examples from which we must draw key lessons. Our cardinal policy on decentralised and devolved development is the answer.
That policy cedes decision-making and resources to communities who are empowered to draw up and implement plans for their own development and transformation.
That policy ensures broad-based, even development which ensures no person or community is left behind.
Through it, we address imbalances of history: both colonial and post-independent. Through it, we return Agency for development to individuals and communities.
Indeed through that far-reaching policy, we spread the benefits of growth and development evenly, thus avoiding the bane of a predatory State at the centre, vastly removed from the aspirations of individuals and communities.
We have started witnessing the benefits of Devolution. Across the length and breadth of our Nation, there is hardly any community in which some development activity is not taking place. Roads are being built; dams are being constructed and, lately, signature projects for rural industrialisation and development are being rolled out.
Fellow countrymen and women, we are well on the road to putting content to the Unity Accord whose interpretation must now go beyond conflict resolution, to encompass peace-building through even development.
The Unity Accord of 1987, today stands out as an Accord enabling spatially balanced, inclusive, community-driven development.
It is never an Accord or concept frozen in time or history. Rather, it is a dynamic that interacts with time and circumstances as our Nation evolves along its chosen trajectory.
Even though the signatories to the Unity Accord were two Sister Liberation movements, the threat and menace which that Accord cured and resolved was a national one.
Equally, the benefits accruing from it remain national in character. Those two considerations alone, make the Unity Accord larger than the two signatories, catapulting it into the coveted status of a National Gain, Resource and Heritage.
This, in effect, means the Unity Accord is our asset together as Zimbabweans. There should never be barriers of politics, colour, creed, language, region or tribe standing between us and its collective ownership.
Illustratively, all political formations in the country confirm it, one way or the other, through their structures and leadership choices.
That makes the Unity Accord a common possession, indeed a timeless guiding ethos. Our Nation stands by it or perishes for want of it.
Lately, we have witnessed an upsurge in gun-related crimes. There is a clear upsurge in the abuse of firearms, including violent armed robberies.
The government now treats this as a grave threat to personal and National Security. Decisive measures have now become necessary to put an end to this growing menace that threatens our otherwise peaceful, law-abiding Nation and citizenry. Those who dabble in arms will soon fall by the sword. Let them be warned.
As we celebrate this milestone Unity Accord, I want to remind us all that we still face the threat of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
We must act responsibly, always bearing in mind we are each other’s keepers. Only when we all heed those precautions – getting vaccinated; masking up; observing social distance; adhering to hygienic standards and getting tested regularly, and treated when affected – do we then ensure our collective safety as a Nation. This is especially important as we break for the festive period.
As I conclude, I once again pay tribute to the two great men and two Liberation Movements which gave us peace and national unity.
We all must validate these historic efforts by working for the same, indeed working to ensure National Unity is forever at the core of our National Ethos.
On behalf of you all, and of our entire Nation, I want to pay tribute to our two visionary leaders, and to all those they worked with in forging and making this glorious day.
Indeed so much work went into making this elusive development a reality. So many meetings; countless false starts; seemingly insurmountable points of differences, yet all getting resolved in the end, against the firm resolve to work for, and win the peace and national unity for our Nation. We are truly grateful to these two great men.
The two Liberation Movements, ZANU and PF-ZAPU, rose to the challenge of reuniting the very Nation they had wrestled from settler colonialism and were poised to jointly rebuild from the ashes of a bloody, protracted armed struggle. But the grave cycle of internal conflict has characterised post-Liberation Africa.
I wish you a pleasant Christmas break and a happy and promising New Year ahead. Above all, I urge you to enjoy yourselves responsibly; and to exercise due care as you drive to and from your rural homes and holidays.
Happy Unity Day, Dear Zimbabweans!
God Bless our Nation
Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe Centre for Equal Opportunities president Paddington Japajapa has threatened to mobilize football fans to protest at the Sports and Recreation Commission’s decision to suspend the ZIFA board.
Japajapa, a veteran football administrator and former Caps United public relations manager, blasted the Sports and Recreation Commission for bringing the game of football into disrepute.
Below is part of Japajapa’s argument on the feud between ZIFA and the Sports Commission…
Whilst Mhlotswa who has got no experience at all in dealing with Soccer administrative issues, a former Chairman of Polo Association of Zimbabwe is better Placed in dealing with horse riding issues than soccer, we demand that he must stop messing up with the world,s most Beautiful Game, as enaunciated by Brazilian Soccer legend Adson Arantes Donacimento, better known as Pele.
The clueless and direction less Gerald Mlotswa SRC Board wants to be seen to be doing something, after years of failing to achieve anything meaningful for Sports in the Country.
All previous SRC Boards in Zimbabwe have got well documented historical evidence of failure in terms of Sports Administration, in the country, ever since attainment of Independence from 1980, up to date. Instead of SRC disbanding the ZIFA Board actually the Government must disband the SRC Board itself,for doing nothing in terms of Sports Development.
For the Mhlotswa Administration to vent its anger at an innocent ZIFA Board, that has been working very hard under very difficult Circumstances,created by the harsh economic environment that has been brought about by the ever misfiring and corrupt Zanu PF Regime, lead by President Mnangagwa, is so surprising and a shame.
Surely what else does this helpless and clueless SRC Board expect from the Felton Kamambo Zifa Board, after they managed to qualify for the January 2022, Africa Nations Cup finals in Cameroun.SRC cannot accuse Kamambo,s Board for failing to qualify for the world Cup finals, in Quatar in 2024, because ever since Independence in 1980, no Zimbabwean National Soccer team has ever qualified for the World Cup Finals.
Perfomance of all previous Zifa Boards that have ever held ZIFA office since 1980, is judged by Qualification of the National Soccer teams for AFCON after every two years.
The spurious accusations that have been levelled against Kamambo,s Zifa Board do not constitute commission of serious offence, that warrants disbandment.
The SRC Board falsely accused the Zifa of financial misappropriation,an accusation that has been rebutted by the Magistrate Courts and Police Investigations.
kamambo and his Board Members were recently exonerated by the courts after a full trial, if there was any true misappropriation of funds, then the Courts were suppose to find them guilty and convict them to jail sentence.Mhlostwa and his rag tag SRC gang also tried to mislead the Nation by falsely accusing the ZIFA Board Members of Sexual harassment of female referees, why is there not even one single Report with ZRP, by the alleged victims of the said sexual harassment, sexual harassment qualifies for criminal prosecution under the Criminal Law Code and reform Act, which means its all cooked up stories, in an attempt to tarnish the good images of the current ZIFA Board Members.
As Zimbabweans we cannot allow our Beautiful game of Soccer to be destroyed by a bunch of misguided SRC Board, who are using there political connections to ban innocent ZIFA Board Members.As ZCEO we are demanding for the immediate revocation of the SRC banishment order imposed on the Felton Kamambo ZIFA Board, and immediate reinstatement of the Board to their previous Status Quo.
We cannot allow ourselves to be abused and taken advantage of by Gerald Mhlotswa’s Political connections with the first family.
Failure to lift the illegal and unlawful ban of the ZIFA Board by the clueless bunch at SRC, means we shall be left with no option.
As Zimbabweans who want to see our National Soccer team participating at AFCON Finals in January 2022, we shall apply for Permission under (MOPA) Maintenance of Public Order Act, to the Officer Commanding Harare Police District,for permission to demonstrate against those SRC Board Members, so that they can resign and leave office with immediate effect. Millions of Soccer loving Zimbabweans cannot be prejudiced of their constitutional right to watch their beloved National Soccer team playing at AFCON Finals in January 2022.
Most of theose SRC Board Members have never played soccer since childhood, hence they understand little about Soccer Administration.
On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern (VOC), on the basis of advice from WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution.
The variant has been given the name Omicron. Omicron variant is a highly divergent variant with a high number of mutations, including 26-32 in the spike protein, some of which are concerning and may be associated with humoral immune escape potential and higher transmissibility
As of 16 December 2021, the Omicron variant has been identified in 89 countries across all six WHO regions.
Current understanding of the Omicron variant will continue to evolve as more data becomes available.
The overall threat posed by Omicron largely depends on four key questions, including: (1) how transmissible the variant is; (2) how well vaccines and prior infection protect against infection, transmission, clinical disease and death; (3) how virulent the variant is compared to other variants; and (4) how populations understand these dynamics, perceive risk and follow control measures, including public health and social measures.
Public health advice is based on current information and will be tailored as more evidence emerges around those key questions.
There is consistent evidence that Omicron has a substantial growth advantage over Delta.
It is spreading significantly faster than the Delta variant in countries with documented community transmission, with a doubling time between 1.5–3 days. Omicron is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of population immunity and it remains uncertain to what extent the observed rapid growth rate can be attributed to immune evasion, intrinsic increased transmissibility or a combination of both. However, given current available data, it is likely that Omicron will outpace Delta where community transmission occurs.
There are still limited data on the clinical severity of Omicron. More data are needed to understand the severity profile and how severity is impacted by vaccination and pre-existing immunity.
Hospitalizations in the UK and South Africa continue to rise, and given rapidly increasing case counts, it is possible that many healthcare systems may become quickly overwhelmed.
Preliminary data suggest that there is a reduction in neutralizing titres against Omicron in those who have received a primary vaccination series or in those who have had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection , which may suggest a level of humoral immune evasion.
There are still limited available data, and no peer-reviewed evidence, on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness to date for Omicron.
Preliminary findings of vaccine effectiveness studies (test-negative design) were obtained from South Africa and England, the United Kingdom. Available preliminary data to be interpreted with caution as the designs may be subject to selection bias and the results are based on relatively small numbers.
Results from England indicate a significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease for Omicron compared to Delta after two vaccine doses of either Pfizer BioNTech-Comirnaty or AstraZeneca-Vaxzevria vaccines. There was, however, higher effectiveness two weeks after a Pfizer BioNTech-Comirnaty booster, which was slightly lower or comparable to that against Delta. A non peer-reviewed study by South Africa researchers using private health insurance data reported reductions in vaccine effectiveness of the Pfizer BioNTech-Comirnaty vaccine against infection, and to a lesser degree against hospitalization. Details about the methods or results were not available at the time of writing.
The diagnostic accuracy of routinely used PCR and antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) assays does not appear to be impacted by Omicron. Most Omicron variant sequences reported include a deletion in the S gene, which can cause an S gene target failure (SGTF) in some PCR assays. Though a minority of publicly-shared sequences lack this deletion, SGTF can be used as a proxy marker to screen for Omicron. However, confirmation should be obtained by sequencing, as this deletion can also be found in other VOCs (e.g. Alpha and subsets of Gamma and Delta) circulating at low frequencies globally.
Therapeutic interventions for the management of patients with severe or critical COVID-19 associated with the Omicron variant that target host responses (such as corticosteroids, and interleukin 6 receptor blockers) are expected to remain effective.
However, preliminary data from preprint publications suggest that some of the monoclonal antibodies developed against SARS-CoV-2 may have decreased neutralization against Omicron. Monoclonal antibodies will need to be tested individually for their antigen binding and virus neutralization, and these studies should be prioritized
To view previous versions of this technical brief, please see the links below. The current version of all WHO information products and publications is authoritative.
Credit: WHO
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The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) intends to suspend 23 Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) councillors accused of accepting bribes from aspiring candidates in the association’s elections held in December 2018.
All the 23 councillors reportedly admitted to receiving money from candidates, especially from suspended ZIFA president Felton Kamambo, but said it was not a bribe but for “lunch and transport needs”.
The FIFA Code of Ethics prohibits any inducements or gifts by persons covered by the code.
Anyone involved in such inducements, and even failure to report such actions, attract FIFA sanctions.
In a letter to ZIFA acting chief executive officer and spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela, SRC acting director-general Sebastian Garikai said:
We are in possession of various statements compiled by the Zimbabwe Republic Police for use in the ongoing criminal trial of ZIFA president Felton Kamambo.
In all of these signed statements, the ZIFA councillors, copied in this correspondence, all admit to receiving inducements in one form or the other from the above-accused person, as well as other candidates running for office during the December 2018 ZIFA elections.
In terms of Section 30 of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act, notice is hereby given to the association by the Commission that it intends to suspend from office all of the ZIFA councillors copied in this correspondence.
The reason for the intended suspension is that each or all of them have admitted to accepting an inducement by whatever name from contestants to an electoral process, especially the current president of ZIFA.
The SRC has given the councillors up to midday on Friday to state, in writing, why they shouldn’t be suspended for their actions.
The accused councillors are Thomas Marambanyika, Pithias Shoko, Nkosilathi Ncube, Doubt Ncube, Stanley Chapeta, Patrick Hill, Stanslous Nyachowe, Mhloro Tavaziva, Edward Chekure, Olivarth Guvuriro, Tafadzwa Mujuru, Givemore Chidakwa, Brenda Gorejena, Artwell Moyo, Beaullah Msara, Kudakwashe Chisango, Kudakwashe Remba, Ropafadzo Matemavi, Dennis Tshuma, Mehluli Thebe, Francis Ntutha, Andrew Tapela, Pervious Mathe.
Meanwhile, the matter involving Kamambo and the ZIFA councillors is currently in court.-Chronicle
By- The Zimbabwe Republic Police said they are investigating a case in which six armed robbers masquerading as police officers raided a house in Kadoma on Tuesday and got away with US$20 000 cash, a car, a gun and various property.
The robbers were armed with two pistols when they raided the house in Eiffel Flats.
They also stole jewellery and a Samsung cellphone.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and said no arrests have been made yet.
“The ZRP is investigating a case of robbery which occurred in Eiffel Flats, Kadoma on December 22, 2021, where six unknown male suspects masquerading as police officers, pounced on a family and robbed them of property valued at US$26 000.
“The suspects brandished two unknown pistols before demanding for valuables. They stole US$20 000, a 9mm pistol loaded with eight rounds, jewellery, a Sumsung cellphone and a blue Toyota Vits vehicle (ACV 9037),” he said.
Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Meanwhile, police have confirmed the arrest of Ruramai Chingoma (35), Joseph Zhuwawo (48), Jairos Muropa (38), Smart Machagi (36), Kudakwashe Bhibho (31) and Tinotenda Tavengwa (21) for illegal mining activities at Hotburn Mining Site in Shamva on Monday.
Police had to use teargas to disperse a violent mob that attempted to attack police officers in a bid to free the suspects.
The suspects are still assisting with investigations and will appear in court soon.
-Herald
By – A Masvingo man, Nickel Chikwanda, who was caught pants down with his brother’s 12-year-old daughter, has been sentenced to 16 years in jail.
Chikwanda, from village 15B Chamanhure, raped the girl on several occasions after he initially enticed her by promising her some zap nax.
Chikwada appeared before Magistrate Patience Madondo.
The court heard that the complainant’s mother used to entrust her daughter with the accused to the extent that she would send her to assist Chikwanda with household chores, including washing plates.
It is on one of these missions that the accused promised to buy the complainant some zap nax and had sex with her. He then had sex with the complainant on several other occasions before he was caught.
On the fateful day on March 12 this year, the accused was tasked to escort the complainant to her grandmother’s house because it was dark. The accused diverted the route and took the complainant to his house and had sexual intercourse with her. He then asked the complainant to spend the night with him.
At around 7pm a call was made to the grandmother to confirm if the complainant had arrived safely. The grandmother responded negatively and some relatives went and checked at the accused’s house.
One of the relatives knocked on Chikwanda’s bedroom and the accused took time to respond and the relatives peeped through the window only to see the two naked.
The matter was reported to Police after the girl narrated everything that was happening.
Liberty Hove prosecuted.
Three years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence for the next five years.
-Mirror
By-A notorious top Zvishavane gold dealer who pelted his two wives with stones after they refused to shake their bums for him in public has been sentenced to nine months in prison or a fine of RTGS$50 000.
Five months were suspended from three years on condition he doesn’t commit such a crime.
Samson Gondwe (48) assaulted his wives on December 4, 2021 when the gold dealer who is popularly known as Sam Dread was drinking beer with wives Precious Mushaikwa and Popadopoules Droder Mollin.
Gondwe ordered his wives to shake their buttocks in front of men who were also drinking beer at the place but they refused. The accused then threw stones at the wives hitting their heads and legs.
In Mitigation the Gondwe said he has four wives including the complainants and 13 children under his care. Twelve of those are going to school and he pays their fees. A custodial sentence would therefore affect them negatively. He employs 60 workers at his mine and six at his farm who all depend on him for income.
In passing sentence Matura said Gondwe he is a first offender and he gave a guilty plea hence he did not waste the court’s time.
Five months were suspended for three years on condition he doesn’t commit such a crime.
Samson Gondwe (48) assaulted his wives on December 4, 2021 when the gold dealer who is popularly known as Sam Dread was drinking beer with wives Precious Mushaikwa and Popadopoules Droder Mollin.
Gondwe ordered his wives to shake their buttocks in front of men who were also drinking beer at the place but they refused. The accused then threw stones at the wives hitting their heads and legs.
In Mitigation the Gondwe said he has four wives including the complainants and 13 children under his care. Twelve of those are going to school and he pays their fees. A custodial sentence would therefore affect them negatively. He employs 60 workers at his mine and six at his farm who all depend on him for income.
In passing sentence Matura said Gondwe he is a first offender and he gave a guilty plea hence he did not waste the court’s time.
-Mirror
By A Correspondent-The Zimbabwe Republic Police has announced that they are investigating another case of an armed robbery involving a cross border bus coming from Harare to South Africa.
“1/2 On 23/12/21 at 0345 hours, ZRP Ngundu recorded an armed robbery case involving a MB Transport bus today at 0230 hours. Three suspects disguising as passengers, robbed all the bus occupants property valued at ZAR 566 245, US$11 520 and an Itel P37 cellphone, ” ZRP announced via their Twitter account.
By-President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he is committed to dealing with the aftermath of Gukurahundi so that present and future generations can move forward.
Gukurahundi refers to mass killings that Mnangagwa and Robert Mugabe initiated and executed in Matabeleland and Midlands in the 1980s.
The military attacks on unarmed civilians claimed more than 20 000 people, mainly from the Ndebele ethnic group.
In his 2021 Unity Day address at State House on Wednesday, Mnangagwa said he has met with interest groups and chiefs from the affected areas to establish what needs to be done to deal with the emotive issue.
He said:
We must boldly confront and tackle the aftermath of that era, heal wounds it left in its wake, and where possible, assuage persistent difficulties and challenges traceable to it.
This, I am resolved to do until we remove whatever bitter memories may still exist and are likely to linger.
We are the generation that must resolve issues of early independence conflict, so we release our children to move forward and ahead as a united people.
On countless occasions, I have met and interacted with interest groups, community, and traditional leaders from Matabeleland and parts of Midlands all with a view to establishing what needs to be done so the aftereffects of this regrettable era are put behind us.
He said chiefs have an important role to play in resolving the Gukurahundi issue and should lead in the process of reconciliation. Mnangagwa said:
Our traditional leaders led by our chiefs have a great role to play in this regard. They preside over communities affected by the conflict, those hurt by the conflict are their subjects.
They know the hurts, hear all the cries from the ear and have suggestions on what needs to be done.
As we give space to our traditional leaders to lead processes of reconciliation and repair, we should guard against those negative elements which aim to re-ignite frozen differences to throw us back into renewed conflict.
As always there are sinister forces that seek to profit from a divided and divisive past. They must not succeed.
Gukurahundi was carried out between 1982 and 1987 by the North Korean trained 5th Brigade which was an elite regiment of the Zimbabwe National Army.
Mnangagwa was the State Security Minister in the late Robert Mugabe’s government during the dark era. Mugabe was Prime Minister at the time.
By-The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority said that 71 people lost their lives due to human-wildlife conflict between January and December this year.
The organisation’s spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, said crocodiles and elephants account for the bulk of the fatal attacks.
“Elephants and crocodiles account for most of the deaths although here and there we have incidences that involve other animals such as buffaloes and others. This year alone we recorded 71 deaths while 50 people were injured by wild animals compared to about 60 deaths and 40 injuries last year,” he said.
Mr Farawo said Zimparks is carrying out awareness campaigns in affected areas to reduce cases of human- wildlife conflict.
He urged people to report the presence of problem animals in their areas at the nearest police station or Zimparks offices.
“We should appreciate that the elephant herd for example continues to grow but the land remains the same. At the same time human population is also growing hence the increased cases of human- wildlife conflict,” said Mr Farawo.
Zimbabwe is home to more than 100 000 elephants against a carrying capacity of about 45 000.
Mr Farawo said the population of elephants keeps growing making it difficult to monitor and track them.
He said wild animals usually get into human communities in search of water.
“Naturally elephants will move into human territory in search of water and food. When they do so, their interaction with human beings increases and cases of people being killed by them increase,” he said.
ANALYSIS | Emmerson Mnangagwa has held a meeting with the forces of reality, following his wish to exhume the late businessman and imperialist Cecil John Rhodes.
Mnangagwa wants to
The prolific US based writer Bvumavaranda opened the thread by outlining his own views saying Rhodes has to be exhumed.
Bvumavaranda said:
Cecil John Rhodes had a deep understanding of the ways of ancient Egypt. Some may very well say his knowledge was esoteric. Indeed, I have come across whisperers who say Rhodes was a Freemason. The so-called secret information and sacred knowledge are not that esoteric, I think. Rhodes had initially wanted to be buried at Great Zimbabwe, a stone monument falling on the same longitude as ancient Egyptian monuments at Giza, Nabta Playa and Karima. According to the information given to the late historian, Professor Ranger, someone disclosed the spiritual and cosmological significance of the place where Rhodes was ultimately buried.
As is evident in the picture, he was buried paruware. Typically, such a place is used as a threshing floor for processing grain. The leader the ancient Egyptians saluted as the Great Lord, but mispronounced by the alien but respectful Greeks as Osiris, is said to have been buried beneath a threshing floor. The place was chosen as an ideal place for hiding the Great Lord’s body from his enemy and murderer. Indeed, we are told that the ancient Egyptians considered a burial an act of concealment. As an aside, the Karanga term for burial I am familiar with is KUVIGA, meaning to hide.
Anyhow, the Egyptian Great Lord’s burial/concealment/kuvigwa beneath pachipuriro/paruware was replayed upon the death and burial of Nyatsimba Mutota. Mutota is said to have been concealed beneath paruware, according to what was shared by Adrian Nyakwava and historian Jim Latham. The latter teaches us that eight baobab trees were strategically planted around Mutota’s grave. Each tree was a proxy or representative of each of Mutota’s eight councilors or ministers. Tuwuyu tusere, the eight baobab trees, and the concealed body of Mutota lead us to one of the ancient Egyptian customs. We know, or are taught, that the ancient Egyptians understood the Heavenly court to be presided by a chief G_B_/G_V_ and eight assistants. The burial of Mutota gives tantalizing hints at what looks like a link to an ancient Egyptian custom.
In the Bible, when Jacob dies in Egypt, his sons taken him back to Canaan. On arrival, the mourners take Jacob’s mummified body to a threshing floor. As they conduct the funeral service, the onlooking Canaanites tell us they were witnessing an Egyptian funeral.
Going back to Nyatsimba Mutota and the Tuwuyu Tusere, I seem to notice some boulders around Rhodes illegal and sacrilegious grave. From what I can make, there seems to be seven boulders. Are there eight boulders? If there are, were they naturally there before Rhodes’ burial? I ask this question bearing in mind that we call the site of Rhodes’ burial MARINDADZIMU because we say our Karanga ancestors sleep at place since deep antiquity.
Along this vein, I hear Mnangagwa is contemplating the long-overdue exhumation and removal of the body of Cecil John Rhodes. It is all well and good for as long as it is not a political gimmick deeply steeped in gross ignorance. I express this fear given what has been happening at the similarly significant Dambarare. That place, important as it is in terms of its spiritual, historical, and cultural significance, has been ravaged in the hard-to-understand establishment of what I hear will be a city named after some one-horse village in Scotland. I do not think even a cursory archaeological study was conducted at Dambarare before the Chinese earth-moving equipment were dispatched to Dambarare. These gimmicks leave me completely scared, especially coming from ignorant “leaders.”
My hope is that we do not repeat the sacrilege we are witnessing at Dambarare. Marindadzimu is way too important to be mishandled in like manner. We will have to understand every historical, spiritual and associated protocols as we seek the restoration of the spiritual and cosmological role of this Holy place. At that place, we can ill-afford to mess around like the nonsense we are witnessing at Dambarare.
Response from Simba Chikanza |
Interesting points raised here, though I have a few contentions:
While you’re busy trying to exhume Rhodes’ skeleton which is not even there, do you not have a real Rhodes who invaded State House in 2017-18, and who’s currently directing your rage towards Matobo? You’re already currently trying to pull out Mugabe’s skeleton from Zvimba. By year end, how many will you have exhumed, and how much money blown that could have saved lives?
Instead of monumentalising Cecil John Rhodes as a National Asset, the way US, UK, Australia have of their own, you are here busy looking for a skeleton which is not even there. This same Rhodes you call a curse, literally assembled this country out several scattered chieftainships which had little connection or strategy to the outside world. How many Rhodes are there right now buried in US, a country that does belong to them, but yet transformed that jungle into a superpower that’s now greater than its mother nation, Britain? If they are a curse to the nation, how many Rhodes characters are right now buried in New Zealand, Canadian, and Australian mountains? This man was a businessman, no matter his failings, and if you had monumentalised him, would Zimbabwe not by bow have produced thousands of its own black Rhodes going round the world conquering the planet for this nation, the way the tiny nation of Britain did?
How many Cecil John Rhodes would you have produced? Right now the only to only two to talk about are Strive Masiyiwa, and Douglas Munetsi (murdered this year). The last remaining Rhodes, Masiyiwa won’t come back because he will be killed or become dispossessed, or both, once landing in his country of birth, and after that you will go after his corpse also?
By-Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has released inmates from Marondera and Connemara Open Prisons to go on Christmas holiday leave.
A total of 45 inmates were released for the holiday that starts today to December 28.
11 inmates from Marondera female open prison went home at 8am while 34 inmates were released from Connemara Open prison at 2pm.
Another batch of 29 males and 10 female inmates will be released on December 29 for New year’s holiday.
ZPCS officer in charge at Connemara, Superintendent Thandani Ndlovu said open prison was different from closed cells and inmates have some liberties.
“Open prison is meant for preparing ex-offenders to be reunited back with their families and communities where they have committed crime. We release them every year for Christmas holidays as part of the re-integration process,” he said.
One of the prisoners, who was convicted of abuse of office, Robert Tapfumaneyi told the NewsDay that Connemara Open Prison had shaped them to be the new members of society.
“Open prison has transformed us into new human beings”
“This is not the first time to go on holiday and maybe the first experience might have been difficult for some but now we are going again. We expect to be welcomed and be happy with our families this festive season,” Tapfumaneyi said.
Lovemore Chikwanda, director for Jedidiah Trust, a non-profit making organisation that was formed to empower inmates and their families during and after incarceration said the Christmas holiday for inmates would restore broken relations between children and their parents who were incarcerated.
“The holidays granted to male and female inmates in open prisons rekindles the dying flame between mother and child relationship as well as father and child relationship. With the festive mood, broken relationships are mended,” he said.
-NewsDay
The Warriors will end the year outside the Top 100 of the FIFA World Rankings following the release of the latest table on Thursday.
The national team started the 2021 football calendar on number 108 but slumped thirteen spots along the way to position 121 despite their qualification to the 2021 Afcon tournament.
The dismissal performance in the World Cup qualifiers, CHAN and the COSAFA Cup did the biggest damage, and the country will finish the year in their lowest position in five years since reaching number 126 in May 2016.
Zimbabwe played fifteen competitive games in four competitions and only managed one win and four draws.
On the African table, the Warriors dropped four places in 2021 to finish on number 31.
The national team’s overall point tally also fell by 42.56 points. – Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Warriors team manager Wellington Mpandare has revealed the exact reason behind Tendayi Darikwa’s withdrawal from the Warriors squad for Afcon 2021 scheduled for January in Cameroon.
The Wigan Athletic defender was not included in the team after excusing himself to attend to personal problems.
According to Mpandare, Darikwa is dealing with some issues and does not want to be away from his family for a long time.
“Darikwa requested that he be excused for personal reasons, as he has a lot going on right now,” Mpandare was quoted as saying by the Chronicle.
“The guy stays over 400km away from Wigan, and he travels, literally, every day just to be with his family.
“So for him to be away from his family for such a long time would be something else.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern (VOC), on the basis of advice from WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution.
The variant has been given the name Omicron. Omicron variant is a highly divergent variant with a high number of mutations, including 26-32 in the spike protein, some of which are concerning and may be associated with humoral immune escape potential and higher transmissibility
As of 16 December 2021, the Omicron variant has been identified in 89 countries across all six WHO regions.
Current understanding of the Omicron variant will continue to evolve as more data becomes available.
The overall threat posed by Omicron largely depends on four key questions, including: (1) how transmissible the variant is; (2) how well vaccines and prior infection protect against infection, transmission, clinical disease and death; (3) how virulent the variant is compared to other variants; and (4) how populations understand these dynamics, perceive risk and follow control measures, including public health and social measures.
Public health advice is based on current information and will be tailored as more evidence emerges around those key questions.
There is consistent evidence that Omicron has a substantial growth advantage over Delta.
It is spreading significantly faster than the Delta variant in countries with documented community transmission, with a doubling time between 1.5–3 days. Omicron is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of population immunity and it remains uncertain to what extent the observed rapid growth rate can be attributed to immune evasion, intrinsic increased transmissibility or a combination of both. However, given current available data, it is likely that Omicron will outpace Delta where community transmission occurs.
There are still limited data on the clinical severity of Omicron. More data are needed to understand the severity profile and how severity is impacted by vaccination and pre-existing immunity.
Hospitalizations in the UK and South Africa continue to rise, and given rapidly increasing case counts, it is possible that many healthcare systems may become quickly overwhelmed.
Preliminary data suggest that there is a reduction in neutralizing titres against Omicron in those who have received a primary vaccination series or in those who have had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection , which may suggest a level of humoral immune evasion.
There are still limited available data, and no peer-reviewed evidence, on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness to date for Omicron.
Preliminary findings of vaccine effectiveness studies (test-negative design) were obtained from South Africa and England, the United Kingdom. Available preliminary data to be interpreted with caution as the designs may be subject to selection bias and the results are based on relatively small numbers.
Results from England indicate a significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease for Omicron compared to Delta after two vaccine doses of either Pfizer BioNTech-Comirnaty or AstraZeneca-Vaxzevria vaccines. There was, however, higher effectiveness two weeks after a Pfizer BioNTech-Comirnaty booster, which was slightly lower or comparable to that against Delta. A non peer-reviewed study by South Africa researchers using private health insurance data reported reductions in vaccine effectiveness of the Pfizer BioNTech-Comirnaty vaccine against infection, and to a lesser degree against hospitalization. Details about the methods or results were not available at the time of writing.
The diagnostic accuracy of routinely used PCR and antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) assays does not appear to be impacted by Omicron. Most Omicron variant sequences reported include a deletion in the S gene, which can cause an S gene target failure (SGTF) in some PCR assays. Though a minority of publicly-shared sequences lack this deletion, SGTF can be used as a proxy marker to screen for Omicron. However, confirmation should be obtained by sequencing, as this deletion can also be found in other VOCs (e.g. Alpha and subsets of Gamma and Delta) circulating at low frequencies globally.
Therapeutic interventions for the management of patients with severe or critical COVID-19 associated with the Omicron variant that target host responses (such as corticosteroids, and interleukin 6 receptor blockers) are expected to remain effective.
However, preliminary data from preprint publications suggest that some of the monoclonal antibodies developed against SARS-CoV-2 may have decreased neutralization against Omicron. Monoclonal antibodies will need to be tested individually for their antigen binding and virus neutralization, and these studies should be prioritized
To view previous versions of this technical brief, please see the links below. The current version of all WHO information products and publications is authoritative.
Credit: WHO
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Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe Centre for Equal Opportunities president Paddington Japajapa has threatened to mobilize football fans to protest at the Sports and Recreation Commission’s decision to suspend the ZIFA board.
Japajapa, a veteran football administrator and former Caps United public relations manager, blasted the Sports and Recreation Commission for bringing the game of football into disrepute.
Below is part of Japajapa’s argument on the feud between ZIFA and the Sports Commission…
Whilst Mhlotswa who has got no experience at all in dealing with Soccer administrative issues, a former Chairman of Polo Association of Zimbabwe is better Placed in dealing with horse riding issues than soccer, we demand that he must stop messing up with the world,s most Beautiful Game, as enaunciated by Brazilian Soccer legend Adson Arantes Donacimento, better known as Pele.
The clueless and direction less Gerald Mlotswa SRC Board wants to be seen to be doing something, after years of failing to achieve anything meaningful for Sports in the Country.
All previous SRC Boards in Zimbabwe have got well documented historical evidence of failure in terms of Sports Administration, in the country, ever since attainment of Independence from 1980, up to date. Instead of SRC disbanding the ZIFA Board actually the Government must disband the SRC Board itself,for doing nothing in terms of Sports Development.
For the Mhlotswa Administration to vent its anger at an innocent ZIFA Board, that has been working very hard under very difficult Circumstances,created by the harsh economic environment that has been brought about by the ever misfiring and corrupt Zanu PF Regime, lead by President Mnangagwa, is so surprising and a shame.
Surely what else does this helpless and clueless SRC Board expect from the Felton Kamambo Zifa Board, after they managed to qualify for the January 2022, Africa Nations Cup finals in Cameroun.SRC cannot accuse Kamambo,s Board for failing to qualify for the world Cup finals, in Quatar in 2024, because ever since Independence in 1980, no Zimbabwean National Soccer team has ever qualified for the World Cup Finals.
Perfomance of all previous Zifa Boards that have ever held ZIFA office since 1980, is judged by Qualification of the National Soccer teams for AFCON after every two years.
The spurious accusations that have been levelled against Kamambo,s Zifa Board do not constitute commission of serious offence, that warrants disbandment.
The SRC Board falsely accused the Zifa of financial misappropriation,an accusation that has been rebutted by the Magistrate Courts and Police Investigations.
kamambo and his Board Members were recently exonerated by the courts after a full trial, if there was any true misappropriation of funds, then the Courts were suppose to find them guilty and convict them to jail sentence.Mhlostwa and his rag tag SRC gang also tried to mislead the Nation by falsely accusing the ZIFA Board Members of Sexual harassment of female referees, why is there not even one single Report with ZRP, by the alleged victims of the said sexual harassment, sexual harassment qualifies for criminal prosecution under the Criminal Law Code and reform Act, which means its all cooked up stories, in an attempt to tarnish the good images of the current ZIFA Board Members.
As Zimbabweans we cannot allow our Beautiful game of Soccer to be destroyed by a bunch of misguided SRC Board, who are using there political connections to ban innocent ZIFA Board Members.As ZCEO we are demanding for the immediate revocation of the SRC banishment order imposed on the Felton Kamambo ZIFA Board, and immediate reinstatement of the Board to their previous Status Quo.
We cannot allow ourselves to be abused and taken advantage of by Gerald Mhlotswa’s Political connections with the first family.
Failure to lift the illegal and unlawful ban of the ZIFA Board by the clueless bunch at SRC, means we shall be left with no option.
As Zimbabweans who want to see our National Soccer team participating at AFCON Finals in January 2022, we shall apply for Permission under (MOPA) Maintenance of Public Order Act, to the Officer Commanding Harare Police District,for permission to demonstrate against those SRC Board Members, so that they can resign and leave office with immediate effect. Millions of Soccer loving Zimbabweans cannot be prejudiced of their constitutional right to watch their beloved National Soccer team playing at AFCON Finals in January 2022.
Most of theose SRC Board Members have never played soccer since childhood, hence they understand little about Soccer Administration.
Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe Centre for Equal Opportunities president Paddington Japajapa has threatened to mobilize football fans to protest at the Sports and Recreation Commission’s decision to suspend the ZIFA board.
Japajapa, a veteran football administrator and former Caps United public relations manager, blasted the Sports and Recreation Commission for bringing the game of football into disrepute.
Below is part of Japajapa’s argument on the feud between ZIFA and the Sports Commission…
Whilst Mhlotswa who has got no experience at all in dealing with Soccer administrative issues, a former Chairman of Polo Association of Zimbabwe is better Placed in dealing with horse riding issues than soccer, we demand that he must stop messing up with the world,s most Beautiful Game, as enaunciated by Brazilian Soccer legend Adson Arantes Donacimento, better known as Pele.
The clueless and direction less Gerald Mlotswa SRC Board wants to be seen to be doing something, after years of failing to achieve anything meaningful for Sports in the Country.
All previous SRC Boards in Zimbabwe have got well documented historical evidence of failure in terms of Sports Administration, in the country, ever since attainment of Independence from 1980, up to date. Instead of SRC disbanding the ZIFA Board actually the Government must disband the SRC Board itself,for doing nothing in terms of Sports Development.
For the Mhlotswa Administration to vent its anger at an innocent ZIFA Board, that has been working very hard under very difficult Circumstances,created by the harsh economic environment that has been brought about by the ever misfiring and corrupt Zanu PF Regime, lead by President Mnangagwa, is so surprising and a shame.
Surely what else does this helpless and clueless SRC Board expect from the Felton Kamambo Zifa Board, after they managed to qualify for the January 2022, Africa Nations Cup finals in Cameroun.SRC cannot accuse Kamambo,s Board for failing to qualify for the world Cup finals, in Quatar in 2024, because ever since Independence in 1980, no Zimbabwean National Soccer team has ever qualified for the World Cup Finals.
Perfomance of all previous Zifa Boards that have ever held ZIFA office since 1980, is judged by Qualification of the National Soccer teams for AFCON after every two years.
The spurious accusations that have been levelled against Kamambo,s Zifa Board do not constitute commission of serious offence, that warrants disbandment.
The SRC Board falsely accused the Zifa of financial misappropriation,an accusation that has been rebutted by the Magistrate Courts and Police Investigations.
kamambo and his Board Members were recently exonerated by the courts after a full trial, if there was any true misappropriation of funds, then the Courts were suppose to find them guilty and convict them to jail sentence.Mhlostwa and his rag tag SRC gang also tried to mislead the Nation by falsely accusing the ZIFA Board Members of Sexual harassment of female referees, why is there not even one single Report with ZRP, by the alleged victims of the said sexual harassment, sexual harassment qualifies for criminal prosecution under the Criminal Law Code and reform Act, which means its all cooked up stories, in an attempt to tarnish the good images of the current ZIFA Board Members.
As Zimbabweans we cannot allow our Beautiful game of Soccer to be destroyed by a bunch of misguided SRC Board, who are using there political connections to ban innocent ZIFA Board Members.As ZCEO we are demanding for the immediate revocation of the SRC banishment order imposed on the Felton Kamambo ZIFA Board, and immediate reinstatement of the Board to their previous Status Quo.
We cannot allow ourselves to be abused and taken advantage of by Gerald Mhlotswa’s Political connections with the first family.
Failure to lift the illegal and unlawful ban of the ZIFA Board by the clueless bunch at SRC, means we shall be left with no option.
As Zimbabweans who want to see our National Soccer team participating at AFCON Finals in January 2022, we shall apply for Permission under (MOPA) Maintenance of Public Order Act, to the Officer Commanding Harare Police District,for permission to demonstrate against those SRC Board Members, so that they can resign and leave office with immediate effect. Millions of Soccer loving Zimbabweans cannot be prejudiced of their constitutional right to watch their beloved National Soccer team playing at AFCON Finals in January 2022.
Most of theose SRC Board Members have never played soccer since childhood, hence they understand little about Soccer Administration.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has threatened a shoot-to-kill policy to deal with the growing threat of armed robberies, amid reports that security officers were also involved in such crimes.
Recently, armed robbers have been targeting houses, companies and motorists on the highways with most of them being reportedly serving and former army and police officers.
Reports indicate that the criminals were taking advantage of porous borders to bring ammunition to Zimbabwe from neighbouring South Africa.
Other robbers are said to be using their service firearms to engage in violent crimes.
“Lately, we have witnessed an upsurge in gun-related crimes,” Mnangagwa said in his Unity Day message.
“There is a clear upsurge in the abuse of firearms, including violent armed robberies. The government now treats this as a grave threat to personal and national security.”
“Decisive measures have now become necessary to put an end to this growing menace that threatens our otherwise peaceful, law-abiding nation and citizenry. Those who dabble in arms will soon fall by the sword. Let them be warned.”
Top police and military brass have confirmed that some of their members and former officers were engaging in criminal activities.
Recently, a former police detective Joseph Nemaisa gunned down a soldier and former cop at his Chadcombe home in Harare after they attempted to rob his family.
Several cases of armed robberies in the recent past have implicated security services personnel.
-Newsday
Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s full statement on Unity Day:
This day, some 34 years ago, the founding fathers of our Nation, late Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo and Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, appended their signatures to the iconic Document we know as the Unity Accord.
This momentous event of 22nd December 1987, extinguished fires of conflict which threatened our Nation, thus laying a strong foundation for the durable peace and unity we enjoy to this day.
It was a fine moment in the nation-building project, one whose priceless bequest has endured since, creating circumstances for stability, peace and national development.
On this day we thus stand back and reflect on the development which turned the fortunes of our Nation, indeed which spared our Nation the hurtful misunderstandings interposed, threatening peace and stability in those delicate, early years of our Independence.
We celebrate that reason eventually prevailed, giving us the glorious day we commemorate and celebrate today.
The key lesson from this preceding era of internal conflict should never be lost to us. Whatever differences and contradictions we face, or are likely to face in the future, these should always find resolution through peaceful dialogue in the interest of peace and national unity.
Nothing beats sitting down as one people to iron out any differences that exist or might arise. Peace in our Nation remains the foremost prize for which no price is too big to pay, no cause or ego too big to bend.
We are one, indivisible People, circumscribed by this our one Nation, built on this the only geopolitical space we can ever have as Zimbabweans.
As I address you, efforts continue to be deployed to build on that precious legacy of peace and national unity which the Unity Accord bequeathed us.
I have made it a personal mission to engage our citizens and our communities in the conflict zones of that unfortunate time of early Independence.
We have to boldly confront and tackle the aftermath of that era; heal wounds it left in its wake, and where possible, assuage persistent difficulties and challenges traceable to it.
This, I am resolved to do until we remove whatever bitter memories may still exist, and are likely to linger.
We are the generation that must resolve issues of early Independence conflict, so we release our children to move forward and ahead as a united people.
On countless occasions, I have met and interacted with interest groups, community and traditional leaders from Matabeleland and parts of Midlands, all with a view to establishing what needs to be done / so the after-effects of this regrettable era are put behind us.
Our traditional leaders, led by our Chiefs, have a great role to play in this regard. They preside over communities affected by the conflict; those hurt by the conflict are their subjects.
They know the hurts; hear all the cries from the era and have suggestions on what needs to be done.
As we give space to our traditional leaders to lead processes of reconciliation and repair, we should guard against those negative elements which aim to re-ignite frozen differences in order to throw us back into renewed conflict.
As always there are sinister forces that seek to profit from a divided and divisive past. They must not succeed.
We have built national institutions for conflict prevention, management and resolution. We have introduced in our daily workings, mechanisms to prevent conflicts, however minor or localised.
Above all, we continue to monitor and find answers to new, emerging situations of potential conflict so these are obviated before they occur. It is from such mechanisms, through such vigilance, that peace is forged and won, and that Nations get durably built.
A key area requiring and receiving serious attention is that of balanced, inclusive development which leaves no one and no community behind. Oftentimes, feelings of marginalisation or persistent inequities breed resentment and eventual conflict.
Examples abound on our continent, examples from which we must draw key lessons. Our cardinal policy on decentralised and devolved development is the answer.
That policy cedes decision-making and resources to communities who are empowered to draw up and implement plans for their own development and transformation.
That policy ensures broad-based, even development which ensures no person or community is left behind.
Through it, we address imbalances of history: both colonial and post-independent. Through it, we return Agency for development to individuals and communities.
Indeed through that far-reaching policy, we spread the benefits of growth and development evenly, thus avoiding the bane of a predatory State at the centre, vastly removed from the aspirations of individuals and communities.
We have started witnessing the benefits of Devolution. Across the length and breadth of our Nation, there is hardly any community in which some development activity is not taking place. Roads are being built; dams are being constructed and, lately, signature projects for rural industrialisation and development are being rolled out.
Fellow countrymen and women, we are well on the road to putting content to the Unity Accord whose interpretation must now go beyond conflict resolution, to encompass peace-building through even development.
The Unity Accord of 1987, today stands out as an Accord enabling spatially balanced, inclusive, community-driven development.
It is never an Accord or concept frozen in time or history. Rather, it is a dynamic that interacts with time and circumstances as our Nation evolves along its chosen trajectory.
Even though the signatories to the Unity Accord were two Sister Liberation movements, the threat and menace which that Accord cured and resolved was a national one.
Equally, the benefits accruing from it remain national in character. Those two considerations alone, make the Unity Accord larger than the two signatories, catapulting it into the coveted status of a National Gain, Resource and Heritage.
This, in effect, means the Unity Accord is our asset together as Zimbabweans. There should never be barriers of politics, colour, creed, language, region or tribe standing between us and its collective ownership.
Illustratively, all political formations in the country confirm it, one way or the other, through their structures and leadership choices.
That makes the Unity Accord a common possession, indeed a timeless guiding ethos. Our Nation stands by it or perishes for want of it.
Lately, we have witnessed an upsurge in gun-related crimes. There is a clear upsurge in the abuse of firearms, including violent armed robberies.
The government now treats this as a grave threat to personal and National Security. Decisive measures have now become necessary to put an end to this growing menace that threatens our otherwise peaceful, law-abiding Nation and citizenry. Those who dabble in arms will soon fall by the sword. Let them be warned.
As we celebrate this milestone Unity Accord, I want to remind us all that we still face the threat of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
We must act responsibly, always bearing in mind we are each other’s keepers. Only when we all heed those precautions – getting vaccinated; masking up; observing social distance; adhering to hygienic standards and getting tested regularly, and treated when affected – do we then ensure our collective safety as a Nation. This is especially important as we break for the festive period.
As I conclude, I once again pay tribute to the two great men and two Liberation Movements which gave us peace and national unity.
We all must validate these historic efforts by working for the same, indeed working to ensure National Unity is forever at the core of our National Ethos.
On behalf of you all, and of our entire Nation, I want to pay tribute to our two visionary leaders, and to all those they worked with in forging and making this glorious day.
Indeed so much work went into making this elusive development a reality. So many meetings; countless false starts; seemingly insurmountable points of differences, yet all getting resolved in the end, against the firm resolve to work for, and win the peace and national unity for our Nation. We are truly grateful to these two great men.
The two Liberation Movements, ZANU and PF-ZAPU, rose to the challenge of reuniting the very Nation they had wrestled from settler colonialism and were poised to jointly rebuild from the ashes of a bloody, protracted armed struggle. But the grave cycle of internal conflict has characterised post-Liberation Africa.
I wish you a pleasant Christmas break and a happy and promising New Year ahead. Above all, I urge you to enjoy yourselves responsibly; and to exercise due care as you drive to and from your rural homes and holidays.
Happy Unity Day, Dear Zimbabweans!
God Bless our Nation
Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has pointed out that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s brutality is beyond measure.
According to Hon Biti, Mr Mnangagwa is an epitome of callousness.
The nation is grappling with relentless economic turmoil, violation of human rights and social unrest.
“The callousness of this regime , it’s brutality and heartlessness is beyond measure .
We have a duty to undo the undemocratic anomaly that Emmerson represents.We have a duty to rescue our country from the jaws of capture chaos & crassness.
Things certainly can’t go on like this,” argued Hon Biti.
Tinashe Sambiri| A documentary about President Nelson Chamisa’s 2018 campaign has been shortlisted for an Oscar award.
The documentary was done by iconic British Zimbabwean actress Thandiwe Newton.
The documentary mirrors the shooting of innocent citizens on August 1 2018.
Soldiers acting on Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s directive shot dead six civilians following protests at massive election- rigging.
The documentary was produced after filmmaker Camilla Nielsson and her crew followed Chamisa and his campaign team for four weeks leading up to the election.
Fifteen films were voted for by Members of the Documentary Branch and advanced in the Documentary Feature category. The films were picked out of the 138 films that were eligible.
President was shortlisted alongside 14 other documentary features; ‘Ascension’, ‘Attica’, ‘Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry’, ‘Faya Dayi’, ‘The First Wave’, ‘Flee’, ‘In The Same Breath’, ‘Julia’, ‘Procession’, ‘The Rescue’, ‘Simple As Water’, ‘Summer of Soul’, ‘The Velvet Underground’ and ‘Writing with Fire’.
The annual Academy Awards honor ‘outstanding artistic and scientific achievements in theatrically released feature length motion pictures.’
President Chamisa commented:
“We have made history. This is BIG. Awesome.”
By A Correspondent| Retired Army Brigadier General Dr David Chiweza is demanding a constitutional review of the country’s judicial system which he feels is prone to manipulation after being left homeless by two Supreme Court judgements over ‘judge and lawyer mistakes’ that denied him his constitutionally guaranteed right to justice.
In a hard-hitting review of his cases, Chiweza feels the judicial system has yawning loopholes that the rich and politically connected exploit to circumvent justice.
This comes after he lost two houses valued at nearly US$1 Million, in two successive working days, to Nicholas Van Hoogstraten’s Divvyland Investments businessman and Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs Paul Mangwana on November 5 and 8 consecutively.
In a scathing statement, Chiweza said the Supreme Court allowed itself to be used to perpetrate an injustice.
“It is unjust to use the justice system to wriggle out of personal obligations let alone to deprive others of their rights.
“It is unjust for the justice system to be willing partners in delivering the fruit of injustice. This cannot be justice but corruption,” he said.
He added that while he had succeeded in proving his right to the properties several times in terms of substantive law in the High court, the Supreme Court gave them away in “controversial procedural law judgments” that he now wants tested for constitutional legitimacy.
“On the merits of my cases, I successfully defended my interests seven times in the High Court of Zimbabwe, once in the Labour Court, once in an Arbitration Tribunal and once in the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe.
“I proved my rights in these courts and my nemesis’ lies failed.
“Justice was therefore served on the merits by the lower courts and I was similarly sure that it would be served in the Supreme Court.
“However, the Supreme Court judgments of 5 and 8 November 2021 (SC 250/19 and SC 33/21) have compelled me to raise some important national issues affecting our constitutional and justice system today,” said Chiweza.
The retired top soldier cum businessman further argued that the burden of judicial process mistakes cannot be imputed on an individual’s right to justice.
“My argument for examination and rethink is that judges and lawyers are part of the justice system. In the constitutional declaration of the right to justice, these entities were not enjoined to a person’s rights to justice.
“These are entities whose knowledge and action one has no control over yet their actions and failures determine the success or failure of litigation and likewise, an individual’s justice.
“…It was the permissible technical errors attributed to a judge or a lawyer that were exploited.”
Chiweza said unlike the right to liberty, which is waived on some circumstances – albeit for a greater good, the constitutional right to justice is not qualified.
“As such, judicial process mistakes ought not nullify anyone’s right to justice.
“Our constitution does not give exceptions to the right to justice and yet we have judge and lawyer errors giving such unconstitutional exceptions. Where, in the constitution, does a judge or lawyer mistake override my right to justice?,” he said.
By A Correspondent| A recently released film on opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s 2018 elections campaign titled ‘President’ has been shortlisted for an Oscar Award.
The film produced by a British Zimbabwean actress Thandiwe Newton gives the world a rare glimpse into the 2018 elections.
The documentary was produced after filmmaker Camilla Nielsson and her crew followed Chamisa and his campaign team for four weeks leading up to the election.
Nielsson who knows her way around the Zimbabwean political scene in 2014 documented the creation of a new Zimbabwean constitution in ‘Democrats’
This comes after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced shortlists for the 94th Academy Awards.
Fifteen films were voted for by Members of the Documentary Branch and advanced in the Documentary Feature category. The films were picked out of the 138 films that were eligible.
President was shortlisted alongside 14 other documentary features; ‘Ascension’, ‘Attica’, ‘Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry’, ‘Faya Dayi’, ‘The First Wave’, ‘Flee’, ‘In The Same Breath’, ‘Julia’, ‘Procession’, ‘The Rescue’, ‘Simple As Water’, ‘Summer of Soul’, ‘The Velvet Underground’ and ‘Writing with Fire’.
The annual Academy Awards honor ‘outstanding artistic and scientific achievements in theatrically released feature length motion pictures.’
By A Correspondent| Thursday morning, MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has posted a picture of himself holding three umbrellas colored orange, yellow and blue.
The picture had the following caption;
“Colour is a language! Colour lights up the environment and illuminates the atmosphere. The future is exciting. We must be different. But which colour is the future? Green, Red, Blue,Orange, White or Yellow??.”
Chamisa’s tweet ignited a debate that had died down on whether the MDC Alliance is going to adopt a new name or stick with the same old one currently under dispute with a rival faction headed by former party Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora.
By A Correspondent- A woman who claims to have paid her husband’s fees until he got a University degree was shocked on Friday when she found the latter wedding another woman at Chiredzi Magistrate Courts.
Albert Nhada is trying to desert his wife of 14 years and their two kids for Nobuhle Masuku. Diana Netsai Masendeke told The Mirror that she sold tomatoes and vegetables to raise money to send her husband to university.
The wedding was cancelled by Magistrate Judith Zuyu after it was opposed.
After completing his degree, Masendeke’s parents then allegedly invited their son-in-law who was staying in rural Chivi to Chiredzi where they got him a good paying job. Nhada then bought a car and from then on, he started seeing a lot of women, said Masendeke.
Nhada told The Mirror not to write about his private life without his consent, when a reporter called him for a comment.
However, there was drama at Chiredzi Magistrate Courts when Masendeke found her husband on the verge of exchanging vows with Masuku.
Magistrate Zuyu had to stop the wedding after calling for anyone opposed to the marriage, Masendeke, the two kids and her father stood up. Masendeke told Magistrate Zuyu that she was married to Nhada under the Customary Marriages Act.
The magistrate then stopped the wedding.
It is understood that Nhada had planned a white wedding at Mkwasine Country Club which was supposed to take place on Saturday (18 December) soon after the vows at the Court.
“I have been married to Nhada for the past 14 years and we have been together ever since. He like most men has been promiscuous but I never thought it would get to this,” said Masendeke.
“You are from The Mirror and why are you asking me about my private life, yes my ex disrupted my wedding but do you have consent from me to write the story,” said Nhada.
Masuku said she was going to pursue the matter and she did not mind that her fiancé is a married man.
“I don’t mind that Nhada had a wife and we will continue with the wedding no matter what,” said Masuku before she hung the phone.
“Nhada was a good man before we had money, I married him when he had nothing and we were living in the rural areas at Mseba in Chivi. We had nothing and I was selling fruit and vegetables to fend for the family.
“In 2010, he enrolled at university and I used money from vending to pay his fees until he finished. In 2015 my parents called us to Chiredzi and they got a job for him.
“I am heartbroken. I have been with him through thick and thin and this is his way of thanking me,” said Masendeke.-mirror
Three men have been arrested in connection with a brazen attempt to steal petrol at a Gauteng police station on Wednesday.
The men allegedly targeted 9 000 litres of petrol contained in a Transnet petrol tanker that had temporarily been stored at the Brackendowns police station.
On Tuesday, Transnet officials arranged to tap out some of the petrol but couldn’t take it all, police spokesperson Warrant Officer Gerhard Cornelius said.
The following morning, three men pretended they needed to view the petrol tanker. The men were driving a Mercedes-Benz minibus, Cornelius said.
While they were at the police station, an officer noticed the men tampering with the tanker tap and attaching pipes. On closer inspection, he discovered the men were stealing fuel from the tanker, Cornelius added.
“The three [men] were immediately arrested as they do not work for Transnet and detained at SAPS Brackendowns,” Cornelius said.
-News24
By A Correspondent- Former President Robert Mugabe’s daughter Bona Mugabe-Chikore has urged Zimbabweans not to be carried away by the Christmas craze otherwise they will be stranded in January.
Writing on Facebook, Chikore urged parents not to pretend to be good parents for a day while they failed throughout the year.
Read her unedited post below:
The children that demand expensive clothes for Christmas will be the same children who need school fees in January. The very friends you spend money on are the same friends who will be laughing at you while your children are not going to school. Enjoy responsibly.
Don’t get too excited, Christmas is only one day. Spend with future in mind. Don’t compare yourself with anyone. Enjoy according to what you have. If you don’t control your budget, January will have 60 days to you. Don’t try to be a good parent for one day while you have failed for a year.
Do the best for those who really need it. But remember that Christmas is only one day. Spend responsibly
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has described rising armed robbery cases across the country as a threat to personal and national security and has threatened a shoot-to-kill policy to deal with the criminals.
Of late, armed robbers have been targeting homes, businesses, mines, and motorists on highways, getting away with tens of thousands of United States dollars.
More worryingly is the fact that some of the suspected robbers are serving and former army and police officers who pounce on their victims armed with AK-47 rifles.
In his 2021 Unity Day message, Mnangagwa said armed robberies are becoming a menace, warning that “those who dabble in arms will soon fall by the sword”. He said:
Lately, we have witnessed an upsurge in gun-related crimes. There is a clear upsurge in the abuse of firearms, including violent armed robberies.
The government now treats this as a grave threat to personal and national security.
Decisive measures have now become necessary to put an end to this growing menace that threatens our otherwise peaceful, law-abiding nation and citizenry.
Those who dabble in arms will soon fall by the sword. Let them be warned.
Earlier this month, a retired detective, Joseph Nemaisa gunned down three armed robbers who were part of a five-man gang that had held his family hostage, demanding cash at his Chadcombe home.
It was later established that a soldier and a former police officer were among the dead while another serving soldier and former cop escaped and but were later arrested.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) member Arimon Tendai was attacked by four unidentified men whom he had offered transport from Harare to Mvurwi on Sunday.
Tendai was robbed upon approaching Mutsigwa turn off when one of the four unidentified passengers required to be dropped,when he stopped that’s when the other three forced him from the drivers seat and they drove him to Blanco farm.
Tendai was found the following day tied up in the bush and his car was recovered in Norton without ignition key.
Police are still investigating the matter.
By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean truck driver was arrested in Bluetown, Botswana on 3 December this year after being caught smuggling seven children from Zimbabwe to South Africa through that country.
Eric Mpofu (29) appeared before Botswana Magistrate Chandapiwa Molefi on Monday charged with the ill-treatment of children.
The children are aged between 9 and 12 and none of them had a passport.
Investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Meshack Mosika told the court that they were still trying to ascertain if Mpofu was not a trafficker.
Mpofu had told Botswana police that he had permission from the legal guardians and parents of the children to take them to South Africa. Said Mosika:
Since the accused was only arrested last week Friday, our investigations are at their initial stages.
Our investigations so far show that the accused was in transit from Zimbabwe to SA through Botswana.
He has no permanent place of residence in Botswana, he does not have any gainful employment in Botswana and he is facing a very serious offence.
We are yet to ascertain charges that could later be levelled against Mpofu since his current charge has an element of human trafficking.
We also fear that the accused is a flight risk. We also believe that the process of investigation will be protracted since it may involve authorities from Zimbabwe and SA.
Mosika opposed the granting of bail to Mpofu saying there is a high likelihood that he will abscond. He said:
There is also the likelihood of having to carry out DNA tests to confirm if the people who will come forward to claim that they are parents of the children are, indeed, their parents.
We are afraid that if the accused is granted bail, he is unlikely to fulfil his bail conditions.
The children are currently in the care of the police.
Mpofu was remanded in custody pending the finalisation of investigations by the police.-Newsday
By-A police crack team in Beitbridge has arrested five members of a gang of robbers that has been preying on motorists on major highways leading from Beitbridge to Bulawayo and Harare.
The team uses spikes and also pounces on motorists who would have had breakdowns. The gang allegedly patrols the highways in vehicles and attacks targets any time after 9pm.
It is understood that they are operating on a radius of between 50km and 80km on both roads from the border town.
The spikes are being used mostly on a stretch near the Bubi area where the road is being upgraded and there is a detour.
Along the Bulawayo Road, the criminals are pouncing on the victims between the Bishopstone turn-off and the Musane turn-off.
Three of the gang members, Believe Shumba alias Chipanga (32), John Bhunu (34) and David Ratsauka (29), were recently released from Khami Maximum Prison after serving five years on a similar offence.
They had robbed a Malawian traditional healer of R98 000 cash and an assortment of clothes and groceries all worth R160 000.
The other two suspects are Ntanganedzeni Muleya (28) and Nigel Pandukai (27) all of Beitbridge town.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the five will soon appear in court charged with robbery.
“We confirm the arrests of five suspects in Beitbridge on Tuesday after the police managed to trace one of the red Honda Fit vehicles they were using to pounce on motorists,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“Let me warn such criminals that we are alert and ready for them. In fact, their days are numbered since we have increased surveillance and patrols along all the highways countrywide.”
Further investigations are underway, said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Since the beginning of December, police have recorded five robberies along the roads leading from Beitbridge to Bulawayo and Harare, which are believed to have been orchestrated by the gang.
An assortment of stolen goods was recovered from the gang and some of the goods have been positively identified by the complainants.
However, Asst Comm Nyathi encouraged motorists to observe the obtaining curfew regulations and travel during the day.
“You will note that most of the complainants are lone motorists robbed during the curfew time. Where possible they must drive in convoys during the day,” he said.
The curfew, aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19, runs from 9pm to 6am daily.
Presently, there is a relative increase in motorists using the two major roads which connect Beitbridge and the rest of the country, as more Zimbabweans arrive from Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa for Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Figures from the Department of Immigration indicate that an average of 4 000 people are using the border daily since December 10.
Most of the travellers are using private vehicles, while a sizeable number is using buses.
Buses have also become targets for armed robbers, with a number of people having lost varying sums of money at night in the recent past.
-Herald
By- A Zimbabwean truck driver has been arrested in Bluetown, Botswana, after being caught smuggling seven children from Zimbabwe to South Africa through that country.
The incident happened on 3 December.
Eric Mpofu (29) appeared before Botswana Magistrate Chandapiwa Molefi on Monday, charged with the ill-treatment of children.
The children are aged between 9 and 12, and none of them had a passport.
Investigating officer Assistant Superintendent Meshack Mosika told the court that they were still trying to ascertain if Mpofu was not a trafficker.
Mpofu had told Botswana police that he had permission from the legal guardians and parents of the children to take them to South Africa. Said Mosika:
Since the accused was only arrested last week Friday, our investigations are at their initial stages.
Our investigations so far show that the accused was in transit from Zimbabwe to SA through Botswana.
He has no permanent place of residence in Botswana, he does not have any gainful employment in Botswana and he is facing a very serious offence.
We are yet to ascertain charges that could later be levelled against Mpofu since his current charge has an element of human trafficking.
We also fear that the accused is a flight risk. We also believe that the process of investigation will be protracted since it may involve authorities from Zimbabwe and SA.
Mosika opposed the granting of bail to Mpofu saying there is a high likelihood that he will abscond. He said:
There is also the likelihood of having to carry out DNA tests to confirm if the people who will come forward to claim that they are parents of the children are, indeed, their parents.
We are afraid that if the accused is granted bail, he is unlikely to fulfil his bail conditions.
The children are currently in the care of the police.
Mpofu was remanded in custody pending the finalisation of investigations by the police.
By- Police in Bulawayo besieged Stanley Hall in Makokoba and stopped a Gukurahundi memorial event from taking place.
Police cordoned off the venue as early as 8:30am where the event was expected to be held and graced by various human rights’ groups pushing for redress of the 1980s killings.
The event was meant to coincide with the signing of the Unity Accord between the late former President Robert Mugabe and Zapu leader Joshua Nkomo on December 22 1987, to mark the end of the Gukurahundi killings.
The commemorations were supposed to start with a march from the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo statue in the city centre, organisers of the event said.
“We had notified the police about the commemorations, but were surprised that the police could not allow the event to go ahead,” one of the organisers, Ibhetshu LikaZulu co-ordinator Mbuso Fuzwayo said.
“They (police) said the gathering cannot go ahead and this is contrary to what the President is saying that the emotive issue must be talked about freely.”
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube was not answering his phone when reached for comment.
-Newsday
Activist and blogger, Jean Gasho has been threatened by her Ghanaian husband that she will soon end up like Pokello Nare.
Gasho made a report saying her husband has threatened to take away her kids and she produced some of the communication records. She said he is demanding that she stops doing her Facebook blogging.
Below is her public statement:
Kofi contacted me last night via Instagram video call after I went to the pub alone without an escort. He’s warned me that I should stop sharing intimate details about him online during lives otherwise he’s solicitors will get in touch with me regarding that and in the long run I will lose children to him permanently if I continue what I’m doing on Facebook.
I asked him if him calling me meant we are back together but he said that’s not important at the moment and couldn’t help but cry because he’s now messing with my head when I’ve just started to move on or try to gain some sort of independence.
He said people are telling him about my Live where I spoke about my intentions of pleasing myself without him and he’s disgusted and embarrassed by my behaviour and those videos will be online forever because people would have saved and downloaded them. He said I’m trying so hard to get fame and I’m going to end up like Elikem ex-wife a laughing stock of Ghana
He said he cries when he sees me crying so He said he’s going to call me every night and sing for me until I sleep and he’s cried last night because I was crying. He took these pictures when I slept and sent me on WhatsApp where he finally unblocked me and said I should call him when I wake but been up he’s not picking.
I had such a good positive day yesterday, now I’ve been banned from doing Facebook Live videos or going out without an escort he said if I’m going to the pub I should go with his driver.
Will delete post at sunrise just wanted to let it out since he’s banned me from going live.
By-About 1 400 Gutu villagers on Tuesday last week forced Ward 8 councillor Lazarus Hute to take back 400 bags of fertilizer which was not enough to go around all of them.
The incident happened at Vutsinda Business Center and five villagers were supposed to share one 50kg bag of fertilizer amongst them.
Hute confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with The Mirror adding that the matter was reported to the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira.
The villagers loaded the bags back into the lorry after caucusing amongst themselves and their village heads, said Hute. The lorry had to go back to Mpandawana with its untouched contents.
The incident comes at a time when there are reports of rampant fraud involving Presidential inputs by both elected and unelected Zanu PF officials. So far there have been no arrests of such culprits.
Gutu North MP Yeukai Simbanegavi hang her phone when The Mirror called her for comment. Chadzamira’s phone went unanswered.
Provincial Agritex officer Aaron Muchazivepi said it was not proper for villagers to share Pfumvudza inputs in such a manner as each household is supposed to get 2 x 50kg bags of fertilizer, one D and another top dressing. The farmers are also supposed to get 10kg of maize seed under the same programme.
A village head who spoke to The Mirror on condition of anonymity accused Hute of trying to impose his will on the villagers. Hute allegedly threatened to take away the fertilizer if the villagers refused it and the supposed beneficiaries then unanimously agreed to disperse and leave him with the truck and the bags.
“Hute told us that we either shared the fertilizer or if we refused he was going to take it to the next distribution centre. It is a mockery to give a farmer 10kg of fertilizer, so we did the practical thing by ordering him to take back his inputs.
“The irony is that we have received zero inputs this year and we are almost getting halfway into the rainy season,” said the village head.
Hute said that the problem was not his as he was given 1 000 bags from GMB to share at three distribution centers.
“I was given 1 000 bags of fertilizers which were not enough to share at three centres. I suggested to the headman who were present that five villagers share a bag of fertilizer since there was not enough. I did not force anyone to share fertilizer.
“After the villagers refused the fertilizer, we communicated with Minister Chadzamira who instructed us to give the fertilizer to villagers who were gathered at Runyowa and they each got a bag and a bottle of pesticide. Some of them did not get anything because they were over a thousand,” said Hute.
Gutu GMB manager Onwards Zvataiona refused to comment when contacted for a comment.
Efforts to get a comment from Gutu District Agritex officer August Karedzera were fruitless.
“Hute told us that we were either to share the fertilizer and if we refused he was going to take it to the next distribution centre. Our people cannot get 10kg of fertilizers when they are supposed to get 50kg each,” said another village head.
Gutu RDC chairperson Nicholas Zambara said councillors are given inputs matching registered villagers for the Pfumvudza Programme, Masvingo.
-Mirror
By – A Masvingo man, Nickel Chikwanda, was caught pants down with his brother’s 12-year-old daughter.
Chikwanda, from village 15B Chamanhure, raped the girl on several occasions after he initially enticed her by promising her some zap nax.
Chikwada appeared before Magistrate Patience Madondo.
The court heard that the complainant’s mother used to entrust her daughter with the accused to the extent that she would send her to assist Chikwanda with household chores, including washing plates.
It is on one of these missions that the accused promised to buy the complainant some zap nax and had sex with her. He then had sex with the complainant on several other occasions before he was caught.
On the fateful day on March 12 this year, the accused was tasked to escort the complainant to her grandmother’s house because it was dark. The accused diverted the route and took the complainant to his house and had sexual intercourse with her. He then asked the complainant to spend the night with him.
At around 7pm a call was made to the grandmother to confirm if the complainant had arrived safely. The grandmother responded negatively and some relatives went and checked at the accused’s house.
One of the relatives knocked on Chikwanda’s bedroom and the accused took time to respond and the relatives peeped through the window only to see the two naked.
The matter was reported to Police after the girl narrated everything that was happening.
Liberty Hove prosecuted.
Three years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence for the next five years.
-Mirror
The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) intends to suspend 23 Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) councillors accused of accepting bribes from aspiring candidates in the association’s elections held in December 2018.
All the 23 councillors reportedly admitted to receiving money from candidates, especially from suspended ZIFA president Felton Kamambo, but said it was not a bribe but for “lunch and transport needs”.
The FIFA Code of Ethics prohibits any inducements or gifts by persons covered by the code.
Anyone involved in such inducements, and even failure to report such actions, attract FIFA sanctions.
In a letter to ZIFA acting chief executive officer and spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela, SRC acting director-general Sebastian Garikai said:
We are in possession of various statements compiled by the Zimbabwe Republic Police for use in the ongoing criminal trial of ZIFA president Felton Kamambo.
In all of these signed statements, the ZIFA councillors, copied in this correspondence, all admit to receiving inducements in one form or the other from the above-accused person, as well as other candidates running for office during the December 2018 ZIFA elections.
In terms of Section 30 of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act, notice is hereby given to the association by the Commission that it intends to suspend from office all of the ZIFA councillors copied in this correspondence.
The reason for the intended suspension is that each or all of them have admitted to accepting an inducement by whatever name from contestants to an electoral process, especially the current president of ZIFA.
The SRC has given the councillors up to midday on Friday to state, in writing, why they shouldn’t be suspended for their actions.
The accused councillors are Thomas Marambanyika, Pithias Shoko, Nkosilathi Ncube, Doubt Ncube, Stanley Chapeta, Patrick Hill, Stanslous Nyachowe, Mhloro Tavaziva, Edward Chekure, Olivarth Guvuriro, Tafadzwa Mujuru, Givemore Chidakwa, Brenda Gorejena, Artwell Moyo, Beaullah Msara, Kudakwashe Chisango, Kudakwashe Remba, Ropafadzo Matemavi, Dennis Tshuma, Mehluli Thebe, Francis Ntutha, Andrew Tapela, Pervious Mathe.
Meanwhile, the matter involving Kamambo and the ZIFA councillors is currently in court.-Chronicle
By-Villagers in Binga District, Matabeleland North are illegally crossing the border through make-shift boats as Zimbabwe economy bites.
Binga District Development Coordinator (DDC) Mr Farai Marinyame told the state media that due to the length of Lake Kariba or Zambezi River, it is increasingly difficult for the Government to deploy law enforcement agents to prevent illegal crossing.
Mr Marinyame said the movement of people from Zambia to Zimbabwe using illegal points could easily lead to undetected transmission of Covid-19.
He said to address the problem of border jumping, Government should fast track the construction of Kasambabezi Border Post in Binga to service the district.
-State media
The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) intends to suspend 23 Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) councillors accused of accepting bribes from aspiring candidates in the association’s elections held in December 2018.
All the 23 councillors reportedly admitted to receiving money from candidates, especially from suspended ZIFA president Felton Kamambo, but said it was not a bribe but for “lunch and transport needs”.
The FIFA Code of Ethics prohibits any inducements or gifts by persons covered by the code.
Anyone involved in such inducements, and even failure to report such actions, attract FIFA sanctions.
In a letter to ZIFA acting chief executive officer and spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela, SRC acting director-general Sebastian Garikai said:
We are in possession of various statements compiled by the Zimbabwe Republic Police for use in the ongoing criminal trial of ZIFA president Felton Kamambo.
In all of these signed statements, the ZIFA councillors, copied in this correspondence, all admit to receiving inducements in one form or the other from the above-accused person, as well as other candidates running for office during the December 2018 ZIFA elections.
In terms of Section 30 of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act, notice is hereby given to the association by the Commission that it intends to suspend from office all of the ZIFA councillors copied in this correspondence.
The reason for the intended suspension is that each or all of them have admitted to accepting an inducement by whatever name from contestants to an electoral process, especially the current president of ZIFA.
The SRC has given the councillors up to midday on Friday to state, in writing, why they shouldn’t be suspended for their actions.
The accused councillors are Thomas Marambanyika, Pithias Shoko, Nkosilathi Ncube, Doubt Ncube, Stanley Chapeta, Patrick Hill, Stanslous Nyachowe, Mhloro Tavaziva, Edward Chekure, Olivarth Guvuriro, Tafadzwa Mujuru, Givemore Chidakwa, Brenda Gorejena, Artwell Moyo, Beaullah Msara, Kudakwashe Chisango, Kudakwashe Remba, Ropafadzo Matemavi, Dennis Tshuma, Mehluli Thebe, Francis Ntutha, Andrew Tapela, Pervious Mathe.
Meanwhile, the matter involving Kamambo and the ZIFA councillors is currently in court.-Chronicle
By-State security agents were sold a dummy by the MDC-Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa, Tuesday after they looked for him in the town for a party gathering that never was.
State security agents making up the Joint Operation Command, JOC, spent the better half of Tuesday searching for Chamisa in Chinhoyi after reports that he was having a meeting in the Mashonaland West provincial capital.
JOC comprise Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agents, Zimbabwe Military Intelligence, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, and the Airforce of Zimbabwe.
In fact, the party’s national organising secretary, Amos Chibaya, visited Chinhoyi, where he planted a tree at Sunningdale Trust Old People’s Home around mid-morning.
Chibaya later donated grocery hampers at the MDC Alliance party offices in the Mzari suburb.
He, however, failed to make a scheduled donation at Good Shepherd Children’s Home after Zanu PF supporters sealed off the place for an alleged Pfumvudza inputs distribution exercise.
Speaking at the party offices, Chibaya said he encountered about 50 roadblocks from Harare to Chinhoyi as the “panicky” Government attempted to block Chamisa from donating foodstuffs to vulnerable members of society.
Said Chibaya:
From Harare to Chinhoyi, we encountered something like 50 roadblocks. What’s the reason for this panic?
They heard that the people’s president, Chamisa, was coming to give you food. This is the reason they flooded the highway with roadblocks.
In the entire town of Chinhoyi there are CIOs, soldiers, police… what are you looking for?
Is it a crime for Chamisa to come and donate food? Why are you so scared of allowing Chamisa to move around freely?
He said Chamisa had sourced the grocery hampers to bring relief to vulnerable members of society as the prices of basic foodstuffs were now beyond the reach of many.
The beneficiaries included the elderly, orphans, disabled and victims of political violence.
Chibaya implored Zimbabweans to go and register to vote in the 2023 harmonised elections.
By A Correspondent- The ZANU PF politburo has reportedly disqualified businessman James Makamba from contesting the party’s Mashonaland Central provincial chairman post after security chiefs raised concern over his candidature.
Makamba’s disqualification leaves businessman Tafadzwa Musarara taking on incumbent Kazembe Kazembe in the polls set for 28 December this year.
In his post-Politburo meeting press conference yesterday, ZANU PF national political commissar Mike Bimha confirmed the disqualification of some of the aspiring candidates for provincial posts but did not give any names. Said Bimha:
All aspiring candidates have been considered this afternoon (Tuesday). The majority have passed that stage.
We are not in a position to announce names because they are still subject to vetting by the security department.
The politburo went through the rules and regulations and the decision that has been made will also affect whether those who have aspired can actually appear on ballot papers.
NewZimbabwe.com reported politburo sources as saying Makamba was one of the big names who were blocked from contesting. Said the source:
There were several people who were disqualified for one or two reasons, the most notable one being James Makamba who was eyeing the Mashonaland Central provincial chairmanship. So he will not be able to stand.
His main problem was that he got an extremely adverse security report and there was no way he could have sailed through.
The Mashonaland Central provincial joint operations command (JOC) reportedly expressed its concerns over Makamba’s candidature in its meetings, particularly over his previous alleged romantic affair with former first lady Grace Mugabe which resulted in him fleeing the country. Said a source:
There is a strong belief among the security chiefs that he is daring, reckless and excitable. This is from a security point of view.
So basically, whether it’s true or not, they have concluded that he can do anything for power.
In one of the meetings, a contributor said he could have gone for any other woman, but chose her.
It means a lot, that is the first scenario given.
The source also said there are genuine fears that Makamba could be working for or with G40 since he hails from Mt Darwin.
Other issues raised include Makamba’s desire to get his farm back which was taken by Presidential Guard commander Brigadier General Fidelis Mhonda.
The other matter is that of Telecel Zimbabwe where Makamba is still fighting to win back his shares in the company.
The consortium which won those shares is represented by the president’s son-in-law Gerald Mlotshwa.
By A Correspondent- Four United Nations officials have written a letter to the Zimbabwe Government warning Harare against enacting a law that bars NGOs from receiving external funding or involvement in partisan politics.
The four UN special rapporteurs wrote a letter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa dated 17 December 2021, raising concerns on the amendment bill.
The officials are Clément Nyaletsossi Voule Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Irene Khan Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mary Lawlor Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, and Fionnuala Ní Aoláin Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
They raised concern over the existing definition of “private voluntary organization” in Section 2(1) of the PVO Act. The UN officials said:
We are concerned this might create uncertainty about the law’s scope and make it difficult for organizations to discern their legal obligations and act accordingly.
This could also lead to broad interpretations from relevant administrative and judicial bodies, giving them wide discretionary powers to apply the law and impose burdensome requirements on a diverse group of community and informal associations that are currently excluded from regulation.
Moreover, Clause 2 of the Amendment Bill also reforms exemptions for common law Universitas organizations and Trusts registered before the High Court, which are currently excluded from registering under the PVO Act.
The President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration is working on the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill, 2021, which according to activists, will interfere with the operations of NGOs if passed into law.
The Government says proposed amendments seek to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism in Zimbabwe through Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs).
This day, some 34 years ago, the founding fathers of our Nation, late Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo and Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, appended their signatures to the iconic Document we know as the Unity Accord.
This momentous event of 22nd December 1987, extinguished fires of conflict which threatened our Nation, thus laying a strong foundation for the durable peace and unity we enjoy to this day.
It was a fine moment in the nation-building project, one whose priceless bequest has endured since, creating circumstances for stability, peace and national development.
On this day we thus stand back and reflect on the development which turned the fortunes of our Nation, indeed which spared our Nation the hurtful misunderstandings interposed, threatening peace and stability in those delicate, early years of our Independence.
We celebrate that reason eventually prevailed, giving us the glorious day we commemorate and celebrate today.
The key lesson from this preceding era of internal conflict should never be lost to us. Whatever differences and contradictions we face, or are likely to face in the future, these should always find resolution through peaceful dialogue in the interest of peace and national unity.
Nothing beats sitting down as one people to iron out any differences that exist or might arise. Peace in our Nation remains the foremost prize for which no price is too big to pay, no cause or ego too big to bend.
We are one, indivisible People, circumscribed by this our one Nation, built on this the only geopolitical space we can ever have as Zimbabweans.
As I address you, efforts continue to be deployed to build on that precious legacy of peace and national unity which the Unity Accord bequeathed us.
I have made it a personal mission to engage our citizens and our communities in the conflict zones of that unfortunate time of early Independence.
We have to boldly confront and tackle the aftermath of that era; heal wounds it left in its wake, and where possible, assuage persistent difficulties and challenges traceable to it.
This, I am resolved to do until we remove whatever bitter memories may still exist, and are likely to linger.
We are the generation that must resolve issues of early Independence conflict, so we release our children to move forward and ahead as a united people.
On countless occasions, I have met and interacted with interest groups, community and traditional leaders from Matabeleland and parts of Midlands, all with a view to establishing what needs to be done / so the after-effects of this regrettable era are put behind us.
Our traditional leaders, led by our Chiefs, have a great role to play in this regard. They preside over communities affected by the conflict; those hurt by the conflict are their subjects.
They know the hurts; hear all the cries from the era and have suggestions on what needs to be done.
As we give space to our traditional leaders to lead processes of reconciliation and repair, we should guard against those negative elements which aim to re-ignite frozen differences in order to throw us back into renewed conflict.
As always there are sinister forces that seek to profit from a divided and divisive past. They must not succeed.
We have built national institutions for conflict prevention, management and resolution. We have introduced in our daily workings, mechanisms to prevent conflicts, however minor or localised.
Above all, we continue to monitor and find answers to new, emerging situations of potential conflict so these are obviated before they occur. It is from such mechanisms, through such vigilance, that peace is forged and won, and that Nations get durably built.
A key area requiring and receiving serious attention is that of balanced, inclusive development which leaves no one and no community behind. Oftentimes, feelings of marginalisation or persistent inequities breed resentment and eventual conflict.
Examples abound on our continent, examples from which we must draw key lessons. Our cardinal policy on decentralised and devolved development is the answer.
That policy cedes decision-making and resources to communities who are empowered to draw up and implement plans for their own development and transformation.
That policy ensures broad-based, even development which ensures no person or community is left behind.
Through it, we address imbalances of history: both colonial and post-independent. Through it, we return Agency for development to individuals and communities.
Indeed through that far-reaching policy, we spread the benefits of growth and development evenly, thus avoiding the bane of a predatory State at the centre, vastly removed from the aspirations of individuals and communities.
We have started witnessing the benefits of Devolution. Across the length and breadth of our Nation, there is hardly any community in which some development activity is not taking place. Roads are being built; dams are being constructed and, lately, signature projects for rural industrialisation and development are being rolled out.
Fellow countrymen and women, we are well on the road to putting content to the Unity Accord whose interpretation must now go beyond conflict resolution, to encompass peace-building through even development.
The Unity Accord of 1987, today stands out as an Accord enabling spatially balanced, inclusive, community-driven development.
It is never an Accord or concept frozen in time or history. Rather, it is a dynamic that interacts with time and circumstances as our Nation evolves along its chosen trajectory.
Even though the signatories to the Unity Accord were two Sister Liberation movements, the threat and menace which that Accord cured and resolved was a national one.
Equally, the benefits accruing from it remain national in character. Those two considerations alone, make the Unity Accord larger than the two signatories, catapulting it into the coveted status of a National Gain, Resource and Heritage.
This, in effect, means the Unity Accord is our asset together as Zimbabweans. There should never be barriers of politics, colour, creed, language, region or tribe standing between us and its collective ownership.
Illustratively, all political formations in the country confirm it, one way or the other, through their structures and leadership choices.
That makes the Unity Accord a common possession, indeed a timeless guiding ethos. Our Nation stands by it or perishes for want of it.
Lately, we have witnessed an upsurge in gun-related crimes. There is a clear upsurge in the abuse of firearms, including violent armed robberies.
The government now treats this as a grave threat to personal and National Security. Decisive measures have now become necessary to put an end to this growing menace that threatens our otherwise peaceful, law-abiding Nation and citizenry. Those who dabble in arms will soon fall by the sword. Let them be warned.
As we celebrate this milestone Unity Accord, I want to remind us all that we still face the threat of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
We must act responsibly, always bearing in mind we are each other’s keepers. Only when we all heed those precautions – getting vaccinated; masking up; observing social distance; adhering to hygienic standards and getting tested regularly, and treated when affected – do we then ensure our collective safety as a Nation. This is especially important as we break for the festive period.
As I conclude, I once again pay tribute to the two great men and two Liberation Movements which gave us peace and national unity.
We all must validate these historic efforts by working for the same, indeed working to ensure National Unity is forever at the core of our National Ethos.
On behalf of you all, and of our entire Nation, I want to pay tribute to our two visionary leaders, and to all those they worked with in forging and making this glorious day.
Indeed so much work went into making this elusive development a reality. So many meetings; countless false starts; seemingly insurmountable points of differences, yet all getting resolved in the end, against the firm resolve to work for, and win the peace and national unity for our Nation. We are truly grateful to these two great men.
The two Liberation Movements, ZANU and PF-ZAPU, rose to the challenge of reuniting the very Nation they had wrestled from settler colonialism and were poised to jointly rebuild from the ashes of a bloody, protracted armed struggle. But the grave cycle of internal conflict has characterised post-Liberation Africa.
I wish you a pleasant Christmas break and a happy and promising New Year ahead. Above all, I urge you to enjoy yourselves responsibly; and to exercise due care as you drive to and from your rural homes and holidays.
Happy Unity Day, Dear Zimbabweans!
God Bless our Nation
Tinashe Sambiri|A senior MDC Alliance official died on Tuesday night after being run over by a motor vehicle.
According to the MDC Alliance, Chegutu West treasurer general, Gift Siyaduva died on the spot.
We have just received a message about the death of our Chegutu west Treasurer General Gift Siyaduva.He died on the spot .
The entire MDC Alliance family has been plunged into mourning,” said a senior party official.
Tinashe Sambiri|A senior MDC Alliance official died on Tuesday night after being run over by a motor vehicle.
According to the MDC Alliance, Chegutu West treasurer general, Gift Siyaduva died on the spot.
“We have just received a message about the death of our Chegutu west Treasurer General Gift Siyaduva.He died on the spot .
The entire MDC Alliance family has been plunged into mourning,” said a senior party official.
Tinashe Sambiri|A fearless Gutu man has openly declared that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa murdered thousands of innocent citizens during the Gukurahundi era.
Mnangagwa’s former boss Robert Mugabe described Gukurahundi as a ” moment of madness.”
The Gutu man described Mnangagwa as “a failure and murderer.”
Read full article published by The Mirror newspaper below:
A 47-year-old man from the Munhende area in Gutu appeared before a magistrate on Tuesday facing charges of undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa after calling him a failure and a murderer.
The suspect, Douglas Chauke was granted ZWL$10 000 bail when he appeared before Gutu Magistrate Andrew Panevanhu.
Chauke allegedly said President was not going to change much because he was doing exactly what the late former president Robert Mugabe was doing.
He is also alleged to have blamed Mnangagwa for the Gukurahundi massacre when 20 000 civilians were massacred by the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) between 1982 and 1987 in Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.
Chauke reportedly made the comments while drinking beer at Machinya Bar at Mpandawana at around 12 pm on Wednesday last week. According to the State outline, Chauke said:
Mnangagwa haana chaachachinja muZimbabwe ari kutevedza zvakasiiwa naMugabe. Iye chaakakwanisa kuvuraya mandebele nguva yeGukurahundi.
As part of his bail conditions, Chauke was ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and report every Friday at Gutu CID.
He is being represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and he will be back in court on 31 December.
Tinashe Sambiri| Tough-talking MDC Alliance vice chairperson, Hon Job Sikhala, has declared that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is wasting time by trying to arrest the People’s struggle.
According to Sikhala, Mnangagwa wants to use State security agents to ban the popular movement.
Hon Sikhala argued:
The ED regime’s attempt to ban us won’t work. We are the voice of the people.
We are in the hearts of the people. Whatever shenanigans won’t work.”
“With Odinga…He was telling me never to give up fighting.
He laughed when I told him that,it could have been him whom I was worried would give up.
Fighting for a cause should never make u surrender. Fighting should flow in the blood,” he added.
A Matabeleland South borehole drilling project is now in limbo following the theft of funds and buying of old equipment which has seen it missing its deadline.
Amanzi Mat-South Cooperative Society borehole drilling project had targeted to drill 420 boreholes for the same number of members in 18 months.
However, the theft of R1,1 million by South African -based former trustee Mr Tshidzani Ncube has stalled progress.
Some of the members are pushing for the arrest of Mr Ncube while others are against the move and this has divided the members.
Each of the 420 members contributed R17 000 towards the project which was meant to improve water supplies in Matabeleland South.
Most of the members are based in South Africa hence the decision to open a bank account in the neighbouring country.
Following the theft of the funds, Amanzi Mat-South Cooperative Society members booted out their executive which was led by prominent Bulawayo lawyer Mr Prince Butshe Dube.
The acting chairman Mr Nkosinathi Sibanda said there are a lot of irregularities that they are dealing with to get the project back on track.
“I know there is fear, anxiety and that is why we are listening to all the members as we seek the way forward. We were targeting to drill 420 boreholes and so far 30 boreholes have been drilled.
“The timelines lapsed a long time ago because this project was supposed to be implemented in 18 months,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said it has been difficult to get Mr Ncube arrested as the theft case was complicated.
A member who spoke on condition of anonymity said they are worried that some of them might not benefit.
“The project was meant to transform our lives since we are in drought prone Matabeleland region hence we were enticed to join,” said the member.-Chronicle
MASVINGO – In an unprecedented move against Zanu PF, 1 400 Gutu villagers on Tuesday last week forced Ward 8 councillor Lazarus Hute to take back 400 bags of fertilizer which was not enough to go round all of them.
The incident happened at Vutsinda Business Center and five villagers were supposed to share one 50kg bag of fertilizer amongst them.
Hute confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with The Mirror adding that the matter was reported to the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira.
The villagers loaded the bags back into the lorry after caucusing amongst themselves and their village heads, said Hute. The lorry had to go back to Mpandawana with its untouched contents.
The incident comes at a time when there are reports of rampant fraud involving Presidential inputs by both elected and unelected Zanu PF officials. So far there have been no arrests of such culprits.
Chadzamira’s phone went unanswered.
Provincial Agritex officer Aaron Muchazivepi said it was not proper for villagers to share Pfumvudza inputs in such a manner as each household is supposed to get 2 x 50kg bags of fertilizer, one D and another top dressing.
The farmers are also supposed to get 10kg of maize seed under the same programme.
A village head who spoke to The Mirror on condition of anonymity accused Hute of trying to impose his will on the villagers.
Hute allegedly threatened to take away the fertilizer if the villagers refused it and the supposed beneficiaries then unanimously agreed to disperse and leave him with the truck and the bags.
“Hute told us that we either shared the fertilizer or if we refused he was going to take it to the next distribution centre. It is a mockery to give a farmer 10kg of fertilizer, so we did the practical thing by ordering him to take back his inputs.
“The irony is that we have received zero inputs this year and we are almost getting halfway into the rainy season,” said the village head.
Hute said that the problem was not his as he was given 1 000 bags from GMB to share at three distribution centers.
“I was given 1 000 bags of fertilizers which were not enough to share at three centres. I suggested to the headman who were present that five villagers share a bag of fertilizer since there was not enough. I did not force anyone to share fertilizer.
“After the villagers refused the fertilizer, we communicated with Minister Chadzamira who instructed us to give the fertilizer to villagers who were gathered at Runyowa and they each got a bag and a bottle of pesticide. Some of them did not get anything because they were over a thousand,” said Hute.
Gutu GMB manager Onwards Zvataiona refused to comment when contacted for a comment.
Efforts to get a comment from Gutu District Agritex officer August Karedzera were fruitless.
“Hute told us that we were either to share the fertilizer and if we refused he was going to take it to the next distribution centre.
Our people cannot get 10kg of fertilizers when they are supposed to get 50kg each,” said another village head.
Gutu RDC chairperson Nicholas Zambara said councillors are given inputs matching registered villagers for the Pfumvudza Program.https://www.masvingomirror.com
FIFA has told SRC to overturn a suspension on the ZIFA board after failing to find proof of the allegations against the administration.
The Felton Kamambo-led board was suspended on 16 November by the SRC on several charges, chief among them failure to account for public funds.
The FA then launched an appeal at FIFA, as it sought to nullify the ban.
The world football governing body has responded and revealed that it has found no proof in the allegations raised by the SRC.
FIFA also said it set up a virtual meeting with both parties to discuss the situation but SRC chairman Gerald Mlotshwa declined to participate.
The commission has now been given until 3 January to reverse the suspension, or the nation would face potential sanctions.
The SRC has also been instructed to dissolve the Restructuring Committee it appointed last week.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent- Local government minister July Moyo has booted out Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume from Town House and replaced him with Stewart Mutizwa of the MDC-T.
Moyo said he suspended Mafume because he had pending criminal cases of corruption.
The state is also accusing Mafume of arranging the allocations of Westlea stands to his sister and secretary at his law firm as well as bribing a potential key witness in the matter.
By-About 1 400 Gutu villagers on Tuesday last week forced Ward 8 councillor Lazarus Hute to take back 400 bags of fertilizer which was not enough to go around all of them.
The incident happened at Vutsinda Business Center and five villagers were supposed to share one 50kg bag of fertilizer amongst them.
Hute confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with The Mirror adding that the matter was reported to the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira.
The villagers loaded the bags back into the lorry after caucusing amongst themselves and their village heads, said Hute. The lorry had to go back to Mpandawana with its untouched contents.
The incident comes at a time when there are reports of rampant fraud involving Presidential inputs by both elected and unelected Zanu PF officials. So far there have been no arrests of such culprits.
Gutu North MP Yeukai Simbanegavi hang her phone when The Mirror called her for comment. Chadzamira’s phone went unanswered.
Provincial Agritex officer Aaron Muchazivepi said it was not proper for villagers to share Pfumvudza inputs in such a manner as each household is supposed to get 2 x 50kg bags of fertilizer, one D and another top dressing. The farmers are also supposed to get 10kg of maize seed under the same programme.
A village head who spoke to The Mirror on condition of anonymity accused Hute of trying to impose his will on the villagers. Hute allegedly threatened to take away the fertilizer if the villagers refused it and the supposed beneficiaries then unanimously agreed to disperse and leave him with the truck and the bags.
“Hute told us that we either shared the fertilizer or if we refused he was going to take it to the next distribution centre. It is a mockery to give a farmer 10kg of fertilizer, so we did the practical thing by ordering him to take back his inputs.
“The irony is that we have received zero inputs this year and we are almost getting halfway into the rainy season,” said the village head.
Hute said that the problem was not his as he was given 1 000 bags from GMB to share at three distribution centers.
“I was given 1 000 bags of fertilizers which were not enough to share at three centres. I suggested to the headman who were present that five villagers share a bag of fertilizer since there was not enough. I did not force anyone to share fertilizer.
“After the villagers refused the fertilizer, we communicated with Minister Chadzamira who instructed us to give the fertilizer to villagers who were gathered at Runyowa and they each got a bag and a bottle of pesticide. Some of them did not get anything because they were over a thousand,” said Hute.
Gutu GMB manager Onwards Zvataiona refused to comment when contacted for a comment.
Efforts to get a comment from Gutu District Agritex officer August Karedzera were fruitless.
“Hute told us that we were either to share the fertilizer and if we refused he was going to take it to the next distribution centre. Our people cannot get 10kg of fertilizers when they are supposed to get 50kg each,” said another village head.
Gutu RDC chairperson Nicholas Zambara said councillors are given inputs matching registered villagers for the Pfumvudza Programme, Masvingo.
-Mirror
By-A 33-year-old man from Nkayi District in Matabeleland North Province died after jumping off a moving vehicle and was hit by its trailer, police have confirmed.
Matabeleland North provincial spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda said the accident happened on Saturday.
He said the deceased is Ntandoyenkosi Dube of Mujena Village in Nkayi under chief Skhobokhobo.
Insp Banda identified the driver as Darlington Dube.
It could not be established if the driver was related to the passenger.
“The fatal road accident occurred along Lupane-Nkayi road around 0320 hours on 18 December 2021.
Circumstances are that Darlington Dube a male aged 36 of Mujena Village under chief Skhobokhobo was driving a white Toyota Hilux double cab towing a double axle trailer with nine passengers on board.
Upon reaching the 83km peg on the said road the now deceased who was seated in the load box fitted with a canopy, opened the canopy door and jumped out of the moving vehicle,” said Insp Banda.
He said the driver was alerted by one of the passengers who witnessed Dube jumping out of the vehicle.
Insp Banda said the driver only managed to stop the vehicle after 35 metres.
He said the trailer ran over Dube’s chest.
-Chronicle
By-A Correspondent-Zanu PF supporters in Chinhoyi, Tuesday, invaded a meeting venue that the MDC-Alliance had booked to donate Christmas goods to orphans.
The barbaric eventuality happened on Tuesday after the MDC-Alliance’s national organising secretary, Amos Chibaya, had visited the Mashonaland West’s provincial capital.
Chibaya was also on a tree planting mission in Chinhoyi at Sunningdale Trust Old People’s Home.
He failed to hand over the donation at Good Shepherd Children’s Home after Zanu PF supporters sealed off the place for an alleged Pfumvudza inputs distribution exercise.
Chibaya was forced to make the donation, which included grocery hampers at the MDC Alliance party offices in the Mzari suburb.
Speaking at the party offices, Chibaya said he encountered about 50 roadblocks from Harare to Chinhoyi as the “panicky” Government attempted to block Chamisa from donating foodstuffs to vulnerable members of society.
Said Chibaya:
From Harare to Chinhoyi, we encountered something like 50 roadblocks. What’s the reason for this panic?
They heard that the people’s president, Chamisa, was coming to give you food. This is the reason they flooded the highway with roadblocks.
In the entire town of Chinhoyi there are CIOs, soldiers, police… what are you looking for?
Is it a crime for Chamisa to come and donate food? Why are you so scared of allowing Chamisa to move around freely?
By-In an unprecedented move against Zanu PF, 1 400 Gutu villagers on Tuesday last week forced Ward 8 councillor Lazarus Hute to take back 400 bags of fertilizer which was not enough to go around all of them.
The incident happened at Vutsinda Business Center and five villagers were supposed to share one 50kg bag of fertilizer amongst them.
Hute confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with The Mirror adding that the matter was reported to the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira.
The villagers loaded the bags back into the lorry after caucusing amongst themselves and their village heads, said Hute. The lorry had to go back to Mpandawana with its untouched contents.
The incident comes at a time when there are reports of rampant fraud involving Presidential inputs by both elected and unelected Zanu PF officials. So far there have been no arrests of such culprits.
Gutu North MP Yeukai Simbanegavi hang her phone when The Mirror called her for comment. Chadzamira’s phone went unanswered.
Provincial Agritex officer Aaron Muchazivepi said it was not proper for villagers to share Pfumvudza inputs in such a manner as each household is supposed to get 2 x 50kg bags of fertilizer, one D and another top dressing. The farmers are also supposed to get 10kg of maize seed under the same programme.
A village head who spoke to The Mirror on condition of anonymity accused Hute of trying to impose his will on the villagers. Hute allegedly threatened to take away the fertilizer if the villagers refused it and the supposed beneficiaries then unanimously agreed to disperse and leave him with the truck and the bags.
“Hute told us that we either shared the fertilizer or if we refused he was going to take it to the next distribution centre. It is a mockery to give a farmer 10kg of fertilizer, so we did the practical thing by ordering him to take back his inputs.
“The irony is that we have received zero inputs this year and we are almost getting halfway into the rainy season,” said the village head.
Hute said that the problem was not his as he was given 1 000 bags from GMB to share at three distribution centers.
“I was given 1 000 bags of fertilizers which were not enough to share at three centres. I suggested to the headman who were present that five villagers share a bag of fertilizer since there was not enough. I did not force anyone to share fertilizer.
“After the villagers refused the fertilizer, we communicated with Minister Chadzamira who instructed us to give the fertilizer to villagers who were gathered at Runyowa and they each got a bag and a bottle of pesticide. Some of them did not get anything because they were over a thousand,” said Hute.
Gutu GMB manager Onwards Zvataiona refused to comment when contacted for a comment.
Efforts to get a comment from Gutu District Agritex officer August Karedzera were fruitless.
“Hute told us that we were either to share the fertilizer and if we refused he was going to take it to the next distribution centre. Our people cannot get 10kg of fertilizers when they are supposed to get 50kg each,” said another village head.
Gutu RDC chairperson Nicholas Zambara said councillors are given inputs matching registered villagers for the Pfumvudza Programme, Masvingo.
-Mirror
By-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been dragged to the courts by a Harare man, this time for the illegal appointment of a public official.
Tichaona Mupasiri, filed a Constitutional Court (ConCourt) application against Mnangagwa’s appointment of Patrick Chinamasa as director and chairman of the embattled Air Zimbabwe, arguing that it was inconsistent with the Constitution.
Mnangagwa appointed Chinamasa to head the AirZimb board in June 2019.
Mnangagwa is cited as the first respondent, while prominent Harare lawyer Edwin Manikai is the second respondent, according to papers filed at the ConCourt on December 17.
In the application, Mupasiri, indicated in his founding affidavit that no relief was being sought from Manikai as he is cited to assist the court in determining the matter in the interest of justice.
He said at the core of the application was Mnangagwa’s actions concerning the affairs of SMM Holdings (Private) Limited (SMM), AirZim (Private) Limited and Hwange Colliery Company (HCCL).
“This application is concerned about holding public office bearers to account for their conduct and ensuring that the first respondent’s conduct is subject to public scrutiny and interrogation,” he said.
Mnangagwa and Manikai have not yet responded to the application.
In his application, Mupasiri said Mnangagwa appointed Chinamasa to head AirZim, a company whose control and management was divested from its directors and shareholders.
He said the control was vested in an administrator appointed by the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister pursuant to the operation of the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act 2005.
“By engaging in a self-help scheme, interposing himself as a shareholder of Air Zimbabwe, the first respondent failed to fulfil his obligations in terms of s90(1) and s90(2)(c) by clothing himself with the right to amend to the Reconstruction Act that specifically vests the control and direction of the company under the administrator,” the court papers read.
“By knowingly and intentionally appointing Chinamasa to be a chairman of Air Zimbabwe, a juristic entity in its own right, the first respondent had no title to do and usurped the power and authority of shareholders of the company, to the extent that the then Companies Act could operate concurrently with the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act.
“By unilaterally and arbitrarily involving himself in the affairs of Air Zimbabwe (under reconstruction), the first respondent knowingly and intentionally offended the fundamental rights and freedoms of shareholders and creditors involved in the affairs of the company by appointing a representative of the company who was not accountable to shareholders but him.”
Mupasiri argued that Mnangagwa failed to take cognisance of the fact that the right to appoint directors fell within the scope of the exercise of fundamental rights which was inconsistent with duties imposed on him under the Constitution rendering his conduct unconstitutional and invalid.
“By allowing and actively participating in the appointment of Chinamasa whose effect was to create an absurdity of a company having two centres of control, the first respondent acted ultra vires s6 of the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act and in so doing failed to uphold, defend, obey and respect the Constitution…”
He argued that Mnangagwa had constructive knowledge that in relation to SMM, at the time he assumed the office of President, that shares had already been issued to Nicdale Investment, a purported proxy for the State as contemplated in the Reconstruction Act.
“Notwithstanding this knowledge, (he) has failed, refused and neglected to ensure that no agency can exist between an administrator in respect of a reconstructed company as would have been the case prior to the issuance of any shares to the State as prescribed by the Act.
“In the premise, the failure to divest the administrator of the control and management of a reconstructed SMM constitutes a material violation of the Reconstruction Act and the Constitution in terms of s90(1) and s90(2)(c) of the Constitution as the role of the administrator in relation to SMM during the first respondent’s tenure has no legal authority to support it,” he said.
“This conduct has the effect of undermining the doctrines of separation of powers and equality on which the rule of law as set out in s90(2)(c) is premised. Accordingly, the first respondent failed to fulfil his obligations in terms of s90(1) as well.” Newsday
By Lifestyle Reporter | It’s so beautiful, true love is there, Chie Masiziba explains how many women are falling into the trap of becoming side chicks, when they could easily find their own who they can grow up with.
Chie says let’s just call a spade a spade: there’s nothing cool about being a side chick, because deep down in your heart you know that there’s no woman who doesn’t want their own man. A man will rent you a flat in the avenues, and they will even give you $1,000 but if you could only look further to see what they have in their possession which has been built by their loyal woman. Instead of settling for a secret relationship why not look for your own man who you can build?
AT THE END OF IT ALL, DOES IT PAY TO BE A SIDE CHICK?
By A Correspondent-Rowdy Zanu PF supporters have blocked MDC-Alliance from handing over a Christmas donation to orphans in Chinhoyi.
The barbaric eventuality happened on Tuesday after the MDC-Alliance’s national organising secretary, Amos Chibaya, had visited the Mashonaland West’s provincial capital.
Chibaya was also on a tree planting mission in Chinhoyi at Sunningdale Trust Old People’s Home.
He failed to hand over the donation at Good Shepherd Children’s Home after Zanu PF supporters sealed off the place for an alleged Pfumvudza inputs distribution exercise.
Chibaya was forced to make the donation, which included grocery hampers at the MDC Alliance party offices in the Mzari suburb.
Speaking at the party offices, Chibaya said he encountered about 50 roadblocks from Harare to Chinhoyi as the “panicky” Government attempted to block Chamisa from donating foodstuffs to vulnerable members of society.
Said Chibaya:
From Harare to Chinhoyi, we encountered something like 50 roadblocks. What’s the reason for this panic?
They heard that the people’s president, Chamisa, was coming to give you food. This is the reason they flooded the highway with roadblocks.
In the entire town of Chinhoyi there are CIOs, soldiers, police… what are you looking for?
Is it a crime for Chamisa to come and donate food? Why are you so scared of allowing Chamisa to move around freely?
FIFA has told SRC to overturn a suspension on the ZIFA board after failing to find proof of the allegations against the administration.
The Felton Kamambo-led board was suspended on 16 November by the SRC on several charges, chief among them failure to account for public funds.
The FA then launched an appeal at FIFA, as it sought to nullify the ban.
The world football governing body has responded and revealed that it has found no proof in the allegations raised by the SRC.
FIFA also said it set up a virtual meeting with both parties to discuss the situation but SRC chairman Gerald Mlotshwa declined to participate.
The commission has now been given until 3 January to reverse the suspension, or the nation would face potential sanctions.
The SRC has also been instructed to dissolve the Restructuring Committee it appointed last week.- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Guinea national team coach Kaba Diawara has named his final squad for the 2021 Afcon tournament in Cameroon next month.
Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita headlines the 27-man selection, along with Florentin Pogba, brother of Manchester United and France midfielder Paul, and Amadou Diawara of Roma.
Syli National are in Group B and will take on Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Malawi.
Guinea squad for Afcon 2021:
Goalkeepers: Aly Keita (Ostersund, Sweden), Ibrahima Kone (Hibernians, Malta), Moussa Camara (Horoya, Guinea).
Defenders: Saidou Sow (St Etienne, France), Ibrahima Conte (Niort, France), Florentin Pogba (Sochaux, France), Ousmane Kante (Paris FC, France), Mohamed Aly Camara (Young Boys, Switzerland), Pa Konate (Botev Plovdiv, Bulgaria), Issiaga Sylla (Toulouse, France), Antoine Conte (Universitatea Craiova, Romania), Mikael Dyrestam (Sarpsborg 08, Norway).
Midfielders: Amadou Diawara (Roma, Italy), Ibrahima Cisse (Seriang, Belgium), Mory Konate (Sint-Truidense, Belgium), Ibrahima Sory Conte (Bnei Sakhnin, Israel), Ilaix Moriba (RB Leipzig), Mamadou Kane (Neftci, Azerbaijan), Morlaye Sylla (Horoya, Guinea), Aguibou Camara (Olympiacos, Greece), Naby Keita (Liverpool, England).
Forwards: Seydouba Soumah (Kuwait SC, Kuwait), Morgan Guilavogui (Paris FC, France), Mamadou Diallo (Grenoble, France), Jose Kante (Kairat, Kazakhstan), Mohamed Bayo (Clermont France), Sory Kaba (OH Leuven, Belgium).- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern (VOC), on the basis of advice from WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution.
The variant has been given the name Omicron. Omicron variant is a highly divergent variant with a high number of mutations, including 26-32 in the spike protein, some of which are concerning and may be associated with humoral immune escape potential and higher transmissibility
As of 16 December 2021, the Omicron variant has been identified in 89 countries across all six WHO regions.
Current understanding of the Omicron variant will continue to evolve as more data becomes available.
The overall threat posed by Omicron largely depends on four key questions, including: (1) how transmissible the variant is; (2) how well vaccines and prior infection protect against infection, transmission, clinical disease and death; (3) how virulent the variant is compared to other variants; and (4) how populations understand these dynamics, perceive risk and follow control measures, including public health and social measures.
Public health advice is based on current information and will be tailored as more evidence emerges around those key questions.
There is consistent evidence that Omicron has a substantial growth advantage over Delta.
It is spreading significantly faster than the Delta variant in countries with documented community transmission, with a doubling time between 1.5–3 days. Omicron is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of population immunity and it remains uncertain to what extent the observed rapid growth rate can be attributed to immune evasion, intrinsic increased transmissibility or a combination of both. However, given current available data, it is likely that Omicron will outpace Delta where community transmission occurs.
There are still limited data on the clinical severity of Omicron. More data are needed to understand the severity profile and how severity is impacted by vaccination and pre-existing immunity.
Hospitalizations in the UK and South Africa continue to rise, and given rapidly increasing case counts, it is possible that many healthcare systems may become quickly overwhelmed.
Preliminary data suggest that there is a reduction in neutralizing titres against Omicron in those who have received a primary vaccination series or in those who have had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection , which may suggest a level of humoral immune evasion.
There are still limited available data, and no peer-reviewed evidence, on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness to date for Omicron.
Preliminary findings of vaccine effectiveness studies (test-negative design) were obtained from South Africa and England, the United Kingdom. Available preliminary data to be interpreted with caution as the designs may be subject to selection bias and the results are based on relatively small numbers.
Results from England indicate a significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease for Omicron compared to Delta after two vaccine doses of either Pfizer BioNTech-Comirnaty or AstraZeneca-Vaxzevria vaccines. There was, however, higher effectiveness two weeks after a Pfizer BioNTech-Comirnaty booster, which was slightly lower or comparable to that against Delta. A non peer-reviewed study by South Africa researchers using private health insurance data reported reductions in vaccine effectiveness of the Pfizer BioNTech-Comirnaty vaccine against infection, and to a lesser degree against hospitalization. Details about the methods or results were not available at the time of writing.
The diagnostic accuracy of routinely used PCR and antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) assays does not appear to be impacted by Omicron. Most Omicron variant sequences reported include a deletion in the S gene, which can cause an S gene target failure (SGTF) in some PCR assays. Though a minority of publicly-shared sequences lack this deletion, SGTF can be used as a proxy marker to screen for Omicron. However, confirmation should be obtained by sequencing, as this deletion can also be found in other VOCs (e.g. Alpha and subsets of Gamma and Delta) circulating at low frequencies globally.
Therapeutic interventions for the management of patients with severe or critical COVID-19 associated with the Omicron variant that target host responses (such as corticosteroids, and interleukin 6 receptor blockers) are expected to remain effective. However, preliminary data from preprint publications suggest that some of the monoclonal antibodies developed against SARS-CoV-2 may have decreased neutralization against Omicron. Monoclonal antibodies will need to be tested individually for their antigen binding and virus neutralization, and these studies should be prioritized
To view previous versions of this technical brief, please see the links below. The current version of all WHO information products and publications is authoritative.
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MASVINGO – In an unprecedented move against Zanu PF, 1 400 Gutu villagers on Tuesday last week forced Ward 8 councillor Lazarus Hute to take back 400 bags of fertilizer which was not enough to go round all of them.
The incident happened at Vutsinda Business Center and five villagers were supposed to share one 50kg bag of fertilizer amongst them.
Hute confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with The Mirror adding that the matter was reported to the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira.
The villagers loaded the bags back into the lorry after caucusing amongst themselves and their village heads, said Hute. The lorry had to go back to Mpandawana with its untouched contents.
The incident comes at a time when there are reports of rampant fraud involving Presidential inputs by both elected and unelected Zanu PF officials. So far there have been no arrests of such culprits.
Chadzamira’s phone went unanswered.
Provincial Agritex officer Aaron Muchazivepi said it was not proper for villagers to share Pfumvudza inputs in such a manner as each household is supposed to get 2 x 50kg bags of fertilizer, one D and another top dressing.
The farmers are also supposed to get 10kg of maize seed under the same programme.
A village head who spoke to The Mirror on condition of anonymity accused Hute of trying to impose his will on the villagers.
Hute allegedly threatened to take away the fertilizer if the villagers refused it and the supposed beneficiaries then unanimously agreed to disperse and leave him with the truck and the bags.
“Hute told us that we either shared the fertilizer or if we refused he was going to take it to the next distribution centre. It is a mockery to give a farmer 10kg of fertilizer, so we did the practical thing by ordering him to take back his inputs.
“The irony is that we have received zero inputs this year and we are almost getting halfway into the rainy season,” said the village head.
Hute said that the problem was not his as he was given 1 000 bags from GMB to share at three distribution centers.
“I was given 1 000 bags of fertilizers which were not enough to share at three centres. I suggested to the headman who were present that five villagers share a bag of fertilizer since there was not enough. I did not force anyone to share fertilizer.
“After the villagers refused the fertilizer, we communicated with Minister Chadzamira who instructed us to give the fertilizer to villagers who were gathered at Runyowa and they each got a bag and a bottle of pesticide. Some of them did not get anything because they were over a thousand,” said Hute.
Gutu GMB manager Onwards Zvataiona refused to comment when contacted for a comment.
Efforts to get a comment from Gutu District Agritex officer August Karedzera were fruitless.
“Hute told us that we were either to share the fertilizer and if we refused he was going to take it to the next distribution centre.
Our people cannot get 10kg of fertilizers when they are supposed to get 50kg each,” said another village head.
Gutu RDC chairperson Nicholas Zambara said councillors are given inputs matching registered villagers for the Pfumvudza Program.https://www.masvingomirror.com
Tinashe Sambiri|A fearless Gutu man has openly declared that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa murdered thousands of innocent citizens during the Gukurahundi era.
Mnangagwa’s former boss Robert Mugabe described Gukurahundi as a ” moment of madness.”
The Gutu man described Mnangagwa as “a failure and murderer.”
Read full article published by The Mirror newspaper below:
A 47-year-old man from the Munhende area in Gutu appeared before a magistrate on Tuesday facing charges of undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa after calling him a failure and a murderer.
The suspect, Douglas Chauke was granted ZWL$10 000 bail when he appeared before Gutu Magistrate Andrew Panevanhu.
Chauke allegedly said President was not going to change much because he was doing exactly what the late former president Robert Mugabe was doing.
He is also alleged to have blamed Mnangagwa for the Gukurahundi massacre when 20 000 civilians were massacred by the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) between 1982 and 1987 in Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.
Chauke reportedly made the comments while drinking beer at Machinya Bar at Mpandawana at around 12 pm on Wednesday last week. According to the State outline, Chauke said:
Mnangagwa haana chaachachinja muZimbabwe ari kutevedza zvakasiiwa naMugabe. Iye chaakakwanisa kuvuraya mandebele nguva yeGukurahundi.
As part of his bail conditions, Chauke was ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and report every Friday at Gutu CID.
He is being represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and he will be back in court on 31 December.
Tinashe Sambiri|A fearless Gutu man has openly declared that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa murdered thousands of innocent citizens during the Gukurahundi era.
Mnangagwa’s former boss Robert Mugabe described Gukurahundi as a ” moment of madness.”
The Gutu man described Mnangagwa as “a failure and murderer.”
Read full article published by The Mirror newspaper below:
A 47-year-old man from the Munhende area in Gutu appeared before a magistrate on Tuesday facing charges of undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa after calling him a failure and a murderer.
The suspect, Douglas Chauke was granted ZWL$10 000 bail when he appeared before Gutu Magistrate Andrew Panevanhu.
Chauke allegedly said President was not going to change much because he was doing exactly what the late former president Robert Mugabe was doing.
He is also alleged to have blamed Mnangagwa for the Gukurahundi massacre when 20 000 civilians were massacred by the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) between 1982 and 1987 in Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.
Chauke reportedly made the comments while drinking beer at Machinya Bar at Mpandawana at around 12 pm on Wednesday last week. According to the State outline, Chauke said:
Mnangagwa haana chaachachinja muZimbabwe ari kutevedza zvakasiiwa naMugabe. Iye chaakakwanisa kuvuraya mandebele nguva yeGukurahundi.
As part of his bail conditions, Chauke was ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and report every Friday at Gutu CID.
He is being represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and he will be back in court on 31 December.
Tinashe Sambiri|A senior MDC Alliance official died on Tuesday night after being run over by a motor vehicle.
According to the MDC Alliance, Chegutu West treasurer general, Gift Siyaduva died on the spot.
We have just received a message about the death of our Chegutu west Treasurer General Gift Siyaduva.He died on the spot .
The entire MDC Alliance family has been plunged into mourning,” said a senior party official.
Tinashe Sambiri|A senior MDC Alliance official died on Tuesday night after being run over by a motor vehicle.
According to the MDC Alliance, Chegutu West treasurer general, Gift Siyaduva died on the spot.
We have just received a message about the death of our Chegutu west Treasurer General Gift Siyaduva.He died on the spot .
The entire MDC Alliance family has been plunged into mourning,” said a senior party official.
Tinashe Sambiri| Tough-talking MDC Alliance vice chairperson, Hon Job Sikhala, has declared that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is wasting time by trying to arrest the People’s struggle.
According to Sikhala, Mnangagwa wants to use State security agents to ban the popular movement.
Hon Sikhala argued:
The ED regime’s attempt to ban us won’t work. We are the voice of the people.
We are in the hearts of the people. Whatever shenanigans won’t work.”
“With Odinga…He was telling me never to give up fighting.
He laughed when I told him that,it could have been him whom I was worried would give up.
Fighting for a cause should never make u surrender. Fighting should flow in the blood,” he added.
By A Correspondent- A Glen Norah rapist prophet has been nabbed for sexually violating a Glen Norah woman on the prtext that he was solving her marital challenges.
Read a communique seen by ZimEye:
Complainant: (name withheld to protect her identity) NR Not Held aged 22 Years Res Address Old Canaan Highfields, Harare
Accused: Trymore Nyaunde NR not held male aged 27 Res Address 1020 GlenNorah A, Harare
Date/Time: 181230B P.O.O Glen Norah Park
Circumstances: Complainant was seated in Glen Norah Park with her husband trying to settling their marital differences since the two are not living together. The accused approached them and started prophesizing complainant’s husband.
He then invited the two to come and meet him at his shrine the following day for a cleansing evil spirits affecting their marriage. The following day, the 19th of December 2021 at around 1200hours complainant phoned her husband asking him to meet at the Park so that they could proceed to Madzibaba’s shrine which is situated within the Park.
Complainant’s husband refused citing he had no time and he wanted to go to work. Complainant decided to go by herself.
Upon arrival, he met the accused person who told him that his husband was bewitched by his girlfriend so the deliverance process required her to look for a boyfriend and have sexual intercourse with him then wipe the semen with a cloth.
She would then bring back the semen to him for the deliverance process. Complainant told the accused that she could not go and look for a boyfriend thus the accused offered to take the part of the boyfriend.
The accused asked complainant to lie down and remove her pant to which she complied. The accused then had sexual intercourse with complainant once without her consent.
After the act complainant used a white cloth which the accused had given her, to wipe the semen. The accused then laced the cloth with some smoking snuff (Bute) before burning it at the shrine.
The accused then gave complainant some smoking snuff (Bute) to smear on her face and stomach before leaving for her husband’s place as she had been promised by the accused that her husband would automatically accept her back.
When complainant arrived at her husband’s place, her husband refused to take her back and she realized that she had been duped.
The following day, the 20th of December 2021 complainant went back to see the accused and told him that his process did not work but instead, the accused requested to have sexual intercourse with her again.
Complainant refused and left the shrine to Christ Life International Church where she narrated her ordeal to Pastor Simbarashe Kamudede (NFPK) who then visited the shrine together with complainant where they located the accused.
They then tipped ZRP CPU Harare South District. Acting on the tip off, members from CPU Harare South attended the scene and arrested the accused.
Accused is currently detained at ZRP Glen Norah under DB1758/21. ZRP Glen Norah RRB4964457 refers
21 December 2022
YoungLEAD the youth wing off Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats joins all Zimbabweans to celebrate Unity Day.
For us unity means being integrated into governance structures and having our voices heard. Unity Day, demonstrates the necessity of appreciating one another in a way that improves societal values.
This is the day that defines us as a unique people who value national development over selfish personal interests.
We are grateful to our President Mambokadzi Linda wekwaMasarira who continuously supports and advocates for the inclusion of young people in all governance positions. There is no democracy without young people.
When we speak of unity, we speak of generational convergence to cross pollinate ideas to build a transformative developmental state which can sustain human development and economic growth.
Let us embrace each other in our diversity and work for the common good of our country.
LEAD is leaving no youth behind.
Happy Unity Day Zimbabweans
Petty Mazenge YoungLEAD Secretary for Information and Publicity
By A Correspondent- Police in Beitbridge have arrested five suspected robbers in connection with a robbery incident that occurred on 5 October around 11 PM.
In a post on their Twitter page, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said the suspects pounced on a man who was driving a Toyota Hiace Kombi from Beitbridge to Rutenga.
The robbery incident occurred along a bush road connecting Beitbridge -Masvingo Highway near the railway line when the complaint had stopped to secure his luggage. The ZRP said:
The suspects attacked the complainant, who was driving a Toyota Hiace Kombi from Beitbridge to Rutenga and stole ZAR 200 cash, a cellphone, various groceries, two tyres as well as electric tubing pipes.
The complainant had stopped the vehicle to tighten a rope that was securing a bed that was on top of the vehicle when the suspects emerged from the bush.
Police identified the suspects as Ntanganedzani Muleya (28), Believe Shumba alias Chipanga (32), John Bhunu (34), Nigel Pandukai (27) and David Ratsauka (29). They were all arrested yesterday.
By A Correspondent- Officers from various State security arms inundated Chinhoyi on Tuesday after gathering false intelligence that MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa was going to hold a rally in the town.
Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agents, military intelligence operatives as well as members of the police intelligence reportedly spent the greater part of the day looking for Chamisa who did not set his foot in the town yesterday.
It was the MDC Alliance national organising secretary, Amos Chibaya, who visited Chinhoyi yesterday where he planted a tree at Sunningdale Trust Old People’s Home around mid-morning.
Later that day, Chibaya donated grocery hampers at the MDC Alliance party offices in Mzari suburb.
He, however, failed to make a scheduled donation at Good Shepherd Children’s Home after ZANU PF supporters sealed off the place for an alleged Pfumvudza inputs distribution exercise.
Speaking at the party offices, Chibaya said he encountered about 50 roadblocks from Harare to Chinhoyi as the “panicky” Government attempted to block Chamisa from donating foodstuffs to vulnerable members of society. Said Chibaya:
From Harare to Chinhoyi, we encountered something like 50 roadblocks. What’s the reason for this panic?
They heard that the people’s president, Chamisa, was coming to give you food. This is the reason they flooded the highway with roadblocks.
In the entire town of Chinhoyi there are CIOs, soldiers, police… what are you looking for?
Is it a crime for Chamisa to come and donate food? Why are you so scared of allowing Chamisa to move around freely?
He said Chamisa had sourced the grocery hampers to bring relief to vulnerable members of society as the prices of basic foodstuffs were now beyond the reach of many.
The beneficiaries included the elderly, orphans, disabled and victims of political violence.
Chibaya implored Zimbabweans to go and register to vote in the 2023 harmonised elections.
