By A Correspondent- Hailstorm hit parts of Mutare rural and left a trail of destruction with over 100 homesteads, schools and clinics, among other infrastructure heavily damaged.

Mutare Rural district development co-ordinator Wilson Boore said the hailstorm hit the area on Monday.

“The hailstorm affected ward 20, Jaricha and Revesai villages, where 28 households were destroyed. It also affected ward 34 in Nyagundi village, where 54 households were destroyed,” he said.

“Most houses had their roofs ripped off, while walls were damaged. Councillors and traditional leaders are still compiling a list of those affected by the hailstorm.”

Boore said Munyarari and Chinyauhwera primary schools were also affected by the hailstorm.

“As I speak, teachers at these schools are staying in the open. However, their issues are being addressed.  Munyarari Clinic was severely damaged. The clinic has six rooms which were destroyed. These include the labour, drug, HIV and observation rooms,” he said.

Boore urged government to swiftly respond to natural disasters and assist the affected families, while also pleading for assistance from development partners.

By A Correspondent- Retired Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Colonel Mutero Johane Masanganise whose Bushmead mansion was recently gutted by fire is appealing for financial support to refurbish his property.

The mansion that caught fire at around 2pm on October 12 was extensively damaged while properties worth millions of dollars were burnt to ashes.

A veld fire is alleged to have originated from a residential stand which is under construction next to Rtd Col Masanganise his home.

The Retired service chief said he has been receiving heart-warming support from the community and appealed for financial support for him to be able to reconstruct the mansion.

“My community stood by me since tragedy struck. I was given clothes, a stove, pots, a fridge and all kinds of utensils and above all emotional support.

“The people of Bushmead really showed me what love is and I am very grateful for that. I appeal to anyone who feels in their heart to help me and my family to rebuild our home to come forward,” said Masanganise.

Masanganise added that efforts to stop the fire did not reap the desired results as it had destroyed property worth over ZW$9 million.

“The neighbours called the Fire Department which arrived at the scene within half an hour but damage had already been done. I lost a lot because the value of the damaged structures is over ZW$9.7million,” added Masanganise.

Sources however allege that contract workers who were working on the next house that is owned by an unnamed United Kingdom based person started the fire and failed to control it.

By A Correspondent- A Harare man was rushed to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals yesterday after he fell while posing for some photographs at a footbridge along Julius Nyerere Way.

The man, only identified as Vincent, sustained head injuries and his photographer disappeared from the scene.

Scores of people took turns to record Vincent while writhing in pain only to receive comfort from his wife after he instructed one of the sympathisers at the scene to call her.

“I was posing for some photographs when I slipped from the footbridge,” said Vincent writhing in pain.

“Someone is calling my wife,” he added.

Vincent’s wife and one of the relatives refused to entertain the press.

Paramedics attended Vincent and rushed with him to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

Julius Nyerere Way footbridge has protective rails by its sides and Vincent could have climbed up the rails presumably to capture a moment leading to the fall.

By A Correspondent- The trial of controversial journalist Hopewell Chin’ono who is being charged with obstructing justice might be postponed to February 2022 after the State asked for further remand on the basis that they are now wanting to contact Twitter over the charges.

Chin’ono is accused of breaching his bail conditions by tweeting about the court outcome of a gold smuggling scandal despite a ban on him posting on Twitter.

The charge is linked to the arrest of Zimbabwe Miners Federation head Henrietta Rushwaya at Harare Airport on October 26 as she was about to board a flight to Dubai with six of gold in her hand luggage.

In a tweet, Chin’ono said he had talked to prosecutors about Rushwaya, an act which the state said had jeopardised “the integrity of the case against himself and that of Rushwaya”.

Said Chin’ono:

The State has asked for further remand on the basis that they are now wanting to contact Twitter. They have applied for a long remand to February 2022. This is meant to just keep me constrained! We are now waiting for the magistrate to make a ruling on the state’s request

This is the tweet that resulted in my arrest on November 3, 2020. I spent 23 days in Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

By A Correspondent- Tendai Ndoro’s former wife, Thando Maseko, has said she is not the woman who kicked him out of their home and took possession of all the couple’s vehicles. Ndoro is reported to have registered all the couple’s properties in his wife’s name.

A weekly publication identified Thando Maseko as Ndoro’s South African wife but Maseko reached out to iHarare and denied being the woman at the centre of Ndoro’s woes.

She stated that her marriage to the footballer ended in 2018 and that she never stayed at the palatial Kyalami Estates, from which Tendai Ndoro was recently kicked out.

She revealed that before their marriage collapsed in 2018, the couple stayed at a rented house in Boksburg and Ndoro was not the owner of the property. Thando furnished iHarare with documents to back what she is saying. Said Thando:

“I just wanted to clear the air. On the issue that was posted about me, This lady in the picture is not me. People are mistaking me for the lady Tendai was dating after our marriage ended in 2018.

“I’ve not seen Tendai since then, and I’ve never lived in Kyalami. When I was staying with him, we were in a rented house in Boksburg, and he didn’t own that property.”

Maseko added that she only started seeing the footballer driving luxurious cars after her marriage had collapsed when he began seeing someone else.

After the marriage ended, Thando was evicted from the rented Boksburg house, as Ndoro had stopped paying rentals.

On the issue of the photos making the rounds online, Thando revealed that the lady in question is not her. She said that contrary to the claims being made, the lady in question is actually a Zimbabwean and not a South African as alleged.

Thando Maseko reiterated that she is not looking to spoil her ex-husband’s name. She feels that he is going through a lot and does not want to add to his woes. She said she is only looking to clear her name and to do right by her family.-IHarare

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday addressed an almost empty auditorium at the Climate Change (COP26) summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

Mnangagwa made his address before empty seats, as did all the leaders who delivered their addresses during the 9am to 1pm slot.

Over 120 heads of State and 25 000 delegates are attending the summit.

As Mnangagwa was addressing, scores of United Kingdom-based Zimbabweans were picketing outside the conference room, denouncing him over the country’s bad human rights record, while others extolled him for his re-engagement efforts in the face of adversity.

This is not the first time Mnangagwa has addressed an empty auditorium.In September 2019, he addressed a near empty 1 800-seater auditorium at the 74th United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.

It is not customary that State Presidents would address packed auditoriums as many leaders would be following proceedings from other venues or attending other ongoing events elsewhere.

In his address yesterday, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was battling the effects of climate change which had resulted in severe droughts and cyclone-induced floods.

“It is most unfortunate that the impact of climate change is disproportionately borne by vulnerable communities that have contributed the least to the current stock of atmospheric carbon,” he said.

“Vulnerable countries must, therefore, be capacitated to mitigate, adapt and build resilience to climate change. The expectation is that the major emitters will scale up mitigation action and show greater interest in adaptation.

“Decisions at this COP26 should strengthen the implementation of current nationally determined contributions.

“It is further imperative that the set emission reduction targets are anchored on supporting, financing and equipping countries to gradually and sustainably migrate from fossil to renewable energy.”

He added: “Notwithstanding that as a country we are ‘a net sink’, I am pleased to highlight that Zimbabwe has revised its nationally determined contributions, a committed conditional 40% per capita greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by 2030.

“Comprehensive strategies are being implemented towards mainstreaming climate change adaptation and resilience across all sectors of our economy.”

Mnangagwa repeated the call for the lifting of sanctions.

Social media users reacted differently to Mnangagwa’s address, with some saying he did not deserve an audience at the climate change summit since his government was contributing to environmental hazards.

Mnangagwa’s government has been widely criticised for approving the construction of houses on wetlands and unsustainable mining activities, particularly by Chinese companies, with detrimental effects to the environment.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba, posting on his @Jamwanda2 Twitter handle, said there was nothing untoward about the empty auditorium during Mnangagwa’s address.

“Absolute confusion in terms (of) who the audience for UN summits are,” he said.

“The unschooled think the audience is in the immediate auditorium of delivery. Quite sad, embarrassing in fact!!!!”

Meanwhile, opposition MDC alliance leader Nelson Chamisa said his party had a clear climate change policy that spoke to the creation of new jobs in renewable energy industries.

“To reduce the frequency of extreme weather shocks like cyclones, bold acceleration towards more sustainable methods of generating energy, manufacturing goods, transportation, urban development, and farming need to be taken by all countries. Net zero emissions by 2050 is the target,” Chamisa said in a statement.

“As the next government, our climate change policy is clear. While the journey to net zero by 2050 appears daunting, it represents a unique opportunity for Zimbabwe to create new jobs in new industries like renewable energy, electric vehicles, smart farming and green manufacturing.”

-Newsday

An independent election watchdog has said the discord between the Health ministry and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) over pending by-elections is clear confirmation of confusion on who is in charge of the polls.

Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba told diplomats a fortnight ago that the electoral body was ready to conduct by-elections, and was waiting for Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga to lift his statutory instrument suspending the polls.

Chiwenga’s deputy John Mangwiro, however, last week said the ministry had nothing to do with elections.

“Worryingly, this discord is disturbing and a sure sign of policy inconsistency and confusion on who authorises or suspends the holding of by-elections. In turn, this affects the credibility of elections and is contrary to promoting democracy and relevant human rights,” the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) said in a statement yesterday.

“The continued suspension of by-elections is non-compliant to regional and international instruments that govern the conduct of democratic elections that Zimbabwe is signatory to.”

There are 28 vacancies in Parliament and 105 in local government following the recall of MDC Alliance legislators and councillors by Douglas Mwonzora’s MDC-T.

Observers and election watchdogs have argued that suspending elections can never be an option whatsoever the circumstances, arguing that such a practice was an assault on democracy.

According to Zesn, there is no reason why elections remain suspended when large public gatherings are being allowed, citing a church gathering of the African Apostolic Church on October 23 in Harare South which attracted over 16 000 congregants.

Last week, Mnangagwa addressed a bussed crowd of thousands in Mwenezi, Masvingo province, on the anti-sanctions day as the number of oversubscribed political party gatherings continue to surge.Last week, Zanu PF held a conference in Bindura, Mashonaland Central province, which was attended by over 250 delegates.

“This brings into question the sincerity of the continued suspension of by-elections on account of the protection of public health, especially as by-elections are due in only selected wards and constituencies where only local voters will participate and turnout is usually low in by-elections,” Zesn added.

Neighbouring South Africa, which has the highest COVID-19 deaths in Africa, held municipal elections on Monday. A number of countries have also held elections under the COVID-19 pandemic.

-Newsday

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has been accused of abusing powers enshrined in the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act to make autonomous pronouncements that violate human rights

.This was revealed in a 2020/21 report on civic society submissions to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) which stated that since he assumed power in 2017, Mnangagwa has been unnecessarily invoking the Act, and has made 25 proclamations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

APRM is Africa’s governance self-assessment tool by civic society organisations (CSOs) which aims to improve governance on the continent by advocating for the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability.

The report said Mnangagwa’s COVID-19 pronouncements resulted in by-elections being postponed.

It said the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act usurped the law-making function ordinarily vested in Parliament.  The Act can only be used in exceptional circumstances.

“The President invoked this Act to counter the COVID-19 crisis which gave him the power to implement unilateral regulations without Parliamentary oversight,” the CSOs said in their submissions.“The Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Deferral of Rent and Mortgage Payments during National Lockdown) Regulations, 2020 is a typical example of the unilateral implementation of regulations by the President.

“For the better part of 2020 and 2021, the country was operating at various degrees of the national lockdown implemented through presidential powers without Parliamentary approval.

“While it is understandable that the country and the world were tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and that extraordinary measures needed to be taken, the overuse of presidential powers to implement over 25 regulations impacted citizens’ rights to representation,” the report read.

It said giving sweeping powers to the President to enact regulations on issues that should be regulated through an Act of Parliament was an affront to the principle of separation of powers.

The report further raised alarm over the continued shrinking of civic space and the ploy by the Mnangagwa’s administration to silence dissenting voices through abuse of law enforcement agents in a bid to retain power.

The CSOs also said on October 22, 2020, Mnangagwa vowed to push for crafting of the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill to muffle non-governmental organisations and private voluntary organisations.

“Similarly, the proposed introduction of a Patriotic Bill, which intends to criminalise the work of CSOs and opposition party supporters, is another worrisome development. When viewed in unison, these developments point to a systematic attack on CSOs and democratic spaces, by threatening civic activity and limiting freedom of speech.”

The CSOs said a COVID-19-induced state of disaster was not a state of emergency.

-Newsday

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu PF have been served with court papers in a case where a member of the party’s youth league is challenging the constitutionality of his ascendancy to power following the 2017 coup.

Sybeth Musengezi filed papers at the High Court in October seeking an order declaring as illegal the November 19, 2017 Zanu PF central committee meeting that removed the late Robert Mugabe as party leader.After the meeting, Mugabe was forced to resign as the party leader and President and replaced by Mnangagwa.

In his court challenge, Musengezi argues that Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to power after the “kangaroo” special committee meeting violated the Zanu PF constitution, hence it was illegitimate.

Musengezi cited Zanu PF, Mnangagwa, secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa, former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko and ex-finance secretary Ignatius Chombo as first to fifth respondents, respectively.“Copy of court application for a declarator in terms of section 14 of the High Court Act for the second respondent served on the responsible person Mr Ziyambi Ziyambi (Justice minister) at 0955 hours,” reads in part a signed note from the court sheriff after the delivery of the papers to Mnangagwa on Monday.

Musengezi, who is represented by his lawyer Nqobani Sithole, wants the High Court to declare the central committee meeting that confirmed Mnangagwa president “unlawful and null and void”.

He argued that Mugabe was not incapacitated to preside over a lawfully convened session of the central committee in terms of Article 7 section 38 of the party’s constitution.

Musengezi’s court challenge is seen as part of a wider power struggle between Mnangagwa and a faction loyal to his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A suspected mental patient went berserk and allegedly stoned four cars at an overnight car park in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb before torching two of them, reducing them to shells.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday at a car park situated at the intersection of Nketa Drive and Hyde Park in Mpopoma.

One of the burnt cars, a Mazda BT50 twin cab is valued at US$20 000 while the value of the other one, a Toyota Hilux twin cab could not be ascertained. However, the market price for a brand-new Toyota Hilux D-4D 2013 model is US$50 000.
The Toyota Hilux belongs to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) while the Mazda BT 50 is owned by an individual.

The owner of the Mazda BT50 who declined to be named was at the scene when the Chronicle crew arrived. He refused to comment. He said:
I can’t talk to you right now as you can see that I am not emotionally sound. Talk to the owner of the car park.
Sources said firefighters from the Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Services department were called to the scene and quelled the fire, which had already extensively damaged the two cars.
The owner of the car park, Mr Sibangani Malunga said the incident occurred between 1 AM and 2 PM. He said:

The incident occurred between 1 AM and 2 AM and it appears a mentally ill man strayed into my premises while my two security guards were fast asleep. He damaged four cars before burning two other cars, one of which belongs to an NGO.
This is my only source of living and, therefore, with this unfortunate incident, some of my loyal clients are likely to ditch me. This has cost the owners of the cars a fortune and it is clear that this has affected them emotionally.
Police are now handling the matter, but on my side, I will also find ways of getting to the bottom of this mater.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said investigations were underway adding that no arrests have been made.

-State media

By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa has said it will not retaliate against violence perpetrated against its supporters by Zanu PF activists during the opposition party’s rural voter mobilisation meetings.

Chamisa is on a countrywide tour of rural areas, where he is meeting community leaders as he solicits for support ahead of the 2023 elections.

During his visits to Mutare, Masvingo and Nyanga last month, his convoy was attacked.

The party also alleges that there was an attempt on his life in Mutare which saw his vehicle being shot at.

MDC Alliance secretary for rural mobilisation Happymore Chidziva yesterday told NewsDay that the opposition party would not retaliate physically.

Chidziva said the rural mobilisation exercise was meant to deal with fear of violence in the countryside during electoral periods.

“Our strategy is simple. We do not respond to violence with violence. The reason why Zanu PF is using violence is due to panic as we penetrate the rural areas once perceived to be its stronghold. Our response is more work in rural areas and we will stretch it because we have the energy, the time and the age,” Chidziva said.

After the attacks on Chamisa in Masvingo, Zanu PF acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa said the violence was triggered when Chamisa tried to “impose’ himself on the people”.

Chidziva said Zanu PF had run out of ideas, hence it was resorting to violence.

He said people in rural areas were eager to meet Chamisa.

“The people are clear, the old, the women and the youth are all converging to support Chamisa. We are overwhelmed by calls from citizens in the rural areas who just want to see our president,” he said.

Zanu PF is also on mobilisation campaign of at least five million votes while the MDC Alliance is targeting six million votes.

Last week, the ruling Zanu PF party said it had already secured four million registered voters.

• NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has staged Zambia’s new President Haikainde Hichilema to have pictures with their party leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in Glasgow and use the same for propaganda.

Hichilema is the MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s ally, and Zanu PF has done this to portray as if Mnangagwa is closer to the new Zambian leader.

Before he became the President of Zambia, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba posted an image of HHand Chamisa labelling them sell-outs.

On Tuesday, Zanu PF information director Tafadzwa Mugwadi said Mnangagwa and HH were friends.

He tweeted:

Zim & Zambia share lots in common Our democratic dispensations need cool heads to steer the ship Noisymakers can make whistles in the graveyard like stray ghosts but they are too small to shake these fraternal relations. Sit down!! Good Evening Cdes

By A Correspondent-A man from Sizinda Village, Kezi, Matabeleland South, lost ZAR500 000 and over US$1 000 cash to axe-wielding robbers who invaded his home on the 31st of October this year.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) which is now investigating the case announced the development appealing to members of the public who might have information on the assailants. Pindula News presents the police statement.
The ZRP is investigating a robbery case that occurred on 31/10/21 at about 2300 hrs, at Sizinda Village, Kezi, where four unknown male adults who were armed with an axe, flick knife and knobkerrie pounced at the complainant’s house and demanded cash.
The complainant surrendered safe keys, cash amounting to ZAR 500 000 and US$1 100 to the suspects. Anyone with information to contact any Police Station.

Meanwhile, some said such huge amounts of cash must be kept at the banks where it is safer.
Some members of the public are, however, afraid that they might not be able to withdraw their money since the treasury can change policies as it did in 2019 when it declared that the U.S. dollar was now equivalent to the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) dollar

By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa has said it will not retaliate against violence perpetrated against its supporters by Zanu PF activists during the opposition party’s rural voter mobilisation meetings.

Chamisa is on a countrywide tour of rural areas, where he is meeting community leaders as he solicits for support ahead of the 2023 elections.

During his visits to Mutare, Masvingo and Nyanga last month, his convoy was attacked.

The party also alleges that there was an attempt on his life in Mutare which saw his vehicle being shot at.

MDC Alliance secretary for rural mobilisation Happymore Chidziva yesterday told NewsDay that the opposition party would not retaliate physically.

Chidziva said the rural mobilisation exercise was meant to deal with fear of violence in the countryside during electoral periods.

“Our strategy is simple. We do not respond to violence with violence. The reason why Zanu PF is using violence is due to panic as we penetrate the rural areas once perceived to be its stronghold. Our response is more work in rural areas and we will stretch it because we have the energy, the time and the age,” Chidziva said.

After the attacks on Chamisa in Masvingo, Zanu PF acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa said the violence was triggered when Chamisa tried to “impose’ himself on the people”.

Chidziva said Zanu PF had run out of ideas, hence it was resorting to violence.

He said people in rural areas were eager to meet Chamisa.

“The people are clear, the old, the women and the youth are all converging to support Chamisa. We are overwhelmed by calls from citizens in the rural areas who just want to see our president,” he said.

Zanu PF is also on mobilisation campaign of at least five million votes while the MDC Alliance is targeting six million votes.

Last week, the ruling Zanu PF party said it had already secured four million registered voters.

• NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has addressed an empty auditorium at the ongoing climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Mnangagwa took to the podium late Tuesday morning and only to address a few delegates, including ushers.

This shows that world leaders attending the COP26 are not interested in his presence at the climate change conference.

Yesterday, Mnangagwa came face to face with demonstrations staged by Zimbabweans in the UK lobbying the British Prime-minister, Borris Johnson, to deport him.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has unveiled a comprehensive climate change policy.

This comes at a time the current regime is carrying out perilous coal-mining activities in Hwange.

Below is President Chamisa’s presentation on the COP26 Climate Change Conference.

COP26, the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),kickstarts today 1 until 12 November 2021 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

For Zimbabwe, this landmark conference could not have come at a more appropriate time. In recent years our beloved country has been ravaged by several catastrophes directly linked to climate change, including Cyclone Idai, which in 2019 claimed about lives in Zimbabwe.

At COP26,we expect serious & binding commitments by the world’s wealthiest countries towards reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Rich countries contribute the most to the precarious state of the world’s climate,as such,responsibility for the crises must fall where it must.

To reduce the frequency of extreme weather shocks like Cyclones,bold acceleration towards more sustainable methods of generating energy,manufacturing goods, transportation,urban development, & farming need to be taken by all countries. Net zero emissions by 2050 is the target

As the next government,our climate change policy is clear.Whilst the journey to net zero by 2050 appears daunting, it represents a unique opportunity for Zimbabwe to create new jobs in new industries like renewable energy,electric vehicles,smart farming and green manufacturing.

At a minimum, we expect significant contributions to investment funds (e.g., Green Climate Fund: https://greenclimate.fund), earmarked for less developed countries, like Zimbabwe to access the green finance required to build resilience and adapt to climate change…

nelson chamisaFlag of Zimbabwe
@nelsonchamisa
·

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has staged Zambia’s new President Haikainde Hichilema to have pictures with their party leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in Glasgow and use the same for propaganda.

Hichilema is the MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s ally, and Zanu PF has done this to portray as if Mnangagwa is closer to the new Zambian leader.

Before he became the President of Zambia, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba posted an image of HHand Chamisa labelling them sell-outs.

On Tuesday, Zanu PF information director Tafadzwa Mugwadi said Mnangagwa and HH are friends.

He tweeted:

Zim & Zambia share lots in common Our democratic dispensations need cool heads to steer the ship Noisymakers can make whistles in the graveyard like stray ghosts but they are too small to shake these fraternal relations. Sit down!! Good Evening Cdes

By A Correspondent- The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has acknowledged political violence perpetrated by the ruling Zanu PF party on the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

NPRC said it would not launch an inquiry on the matter as it has not yet received a formal complaint.

This was disclosed by NPRC deputy chairperson Lilian Chigwedere yesterday on the sidelines of the commission’s preventive dialogue meeting held in Harare.

Chigwedere’s utterances follow reports by Chamisa’s MDC Alliance that its leader survived an assassination attempt during his visit to Mutare last month, while his convoy was attacked in Masvingo and Nyanga where he had gone to conduct rural outreach programmes to garner support ahead of the 2023 elections.

Zanu PF acting spokesperson Mike Bimha has denied the alleged attacks, while acting party political commissar Patrick Chinamasa claimed that Chamisa was attacked because he provoked Zanu PF supporters by encroaching into their territory.

Chigwedere told NewsDay that the NPRC investigation team was on standby and could not immediately act on the matter without a complaint having been lodged with the

commission.

She, however, acknowledged that there were political conflicts between Zanu PF and the opposition MDC Alliance.

“With regards to elections, these discussions we are having here are meant to come up with different ways of dealing with election-related conflicts.  With regards to the clashes, that is a conflict that is already taking place. As a commission, the way we work is that we send our investigation team to find out what is exactly taking place.

“While we are doing this (discussions), we are in the process of getting a team. But our team usually goes to do investigations if there have been reports made to the commission. We just don’t say there is a conflict and rush to do investigations. No one has come to the commission with a complaint. We are just hearing it from the media, but as a commission, we are just putting our team on standby.”

She said there was need for the NPRC, together with peace committee members, to work towards curtailing recurrence of political violence in the country.

“Currently, there was an increasing shift in focus on the 2023 elections.  In order to guarantee non-recurrence of perennial election-related conflicts, the onus is on you to engage robustly and deliberately in preventive dialogues with all stakeholders, to ensure that re-emergence of past experiences are curtailed.

“The setting up of peace committees  to contribute towards the promotion of peace through dialogue, mediation and conciliation of disputes among communities, individuals and groups as well as the implementation of programmes deemed necessary for the prevention of conflicts all fall squarely with the constitutional mandate of the NPRC.”

Chigwedere urged government and citizens to work together to end political conflict.

Meanwhile, in a speech read on her behalf by her deputy director Kumbirayi Chimusoro at the NPRC event, Mashonaland East Provincail Affairs minister Aplonia Munzverengi raised concern over the recurrence of election violence in the country.

She urged the NPRC to facilitate grassroots dialogue to promote peaceful elections.

“As you are aware, the country is now  geared up for the election period and it is my hope that the peace committees will take the necessary preventative measures  to facilitate local level dialogue on how to deal with  the cyclical  electoral violence, uncertainties  and contestations usually associated with our county’s elections,” she said. NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance says its President Nelson Chamisa has the key to unlocking relations which Zimbabwe has been sidelined from by the west over human rights abuses.

Ostalloz Siziba, the party’s deputy spokesperson, claimed that even the ruling Zanu PF was aware of that fact.

He told NewZimbabwe:
Ironically when Zanu-PF funds its people and thugs to carry placards and ask Nelson Chamisa to help them end Zimbabwe’s international isolation, they recognize his legitimacy and capacity to resolve these issues and they are very correct.
For the first time I have seen Zanu-PF articulating in their own protests a clear message, it acknowledges that Chamisa is the only one who can give them jobs, end international isolation, yes give him the responsibility to govern and he will have multilateral and bilateral conversations with the international community.

He said Zimbabwe is isolated from the international community because of violence and terror, corruption and extraction of economic-political order, legitimacy questions associated with the ZANU PF government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
He said once the MDC Alliance comes to power, it will “make a clear program of re-engagement which is born out of the domestic resolution of our own problems so that we get to the community of nations.

-NewZimbabwe

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic has confirmed a shooting involving its officers in Bulawayo Monday.

In a statement posted on their Twitter account, the Police said the robbers managed to flee.

Tweeted ZRP:
The ZRP confirms a shooting incident that occurred near the Naik area at corner H Chitepo and 5th Avenue Byo on 29/10/21 at 1910 hrs. Police Detectives fired two shots on a Toyota twin cab with suspects for robbery cases that occurred in Gwanda in a bid to stop them.
The suspects did not stop and sped away in the vehicle. Anyone with information to contact any nearest Police Station.

In a different case, Police arrested Elias Muchemwa (25) and Tapiwa Mutevedzi (37) on 29 October 2021 at the 71km peg along Harare – Mutare Road in connection with robbery cases that occurred on 22 October this year at Maintu Farm, Marondera.
The suspects reportedly attacked a couple and stole goods worthy US$390 and ZWL$49000. Said the Police:
The suspects and their accomplice only identified as Para who is still at large were travelling in a Honda fit vehicle when they were intercepted by the Police while evading the Police checkpoint.

The arrest led to the recovery of some of the stolen items including three solar panels, 75 litres of diesel, various groceries, clothes, blankets and 50kg maize seed.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic has confirmed a shooting involving its officers in Bulawayo Monday.

In a statement posted on their Twitter account, the Police said the robbers managed to flee.

Tweeted ZRP
The ZRP confirms a shooting incident that occurred near the Naik area at corner H Chitepo and 5th Avenue Byo on 29/10/21 at 1910 hrs. Police Detectives fired two shots on a Toyota twin cab with suspects for robbery cases that occurred in Gwanda in a bid to stop them.
The suspects did not stop and sped away in the vehicle. Anyone with information to contact any nearest Police Station.

In a different case, Police arrested Elias Muchemwa (25) and Tapiwa Mutevedzi (37) on 29 October 2021 at the 71km peg along Harare – Mutare Road in connection with robbery cases that occurred on 22 October this year at Maintu Farm, Marondera.
The suspects reportedly attacked a couple and stole goods worthy US$390 and ZWL$49000. Said the Police:
The suspects and their accomplice only identified as Para who is still at large were travelling in a Honda fit vehicle when they were intercepted by the Police while evading the Police checkpoint.

The arrest led to the recovery of some of the stolen items including three solar panels, 75 litres of diesel, various groceries, clothes, blankets and 50kg maize seed.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is investigating a murder case in which a 15-year-old secondary school girl was stabbed to death during a fight with another learner aged 16 over a boyfriend.
The deceased died on Friday last week in Nkayi.
According to a statement by the ZRP issued on Monday, the victim was stabbed with a kitchen knife during the tussle. Read the statement:
Police in Gwelutshena are investigating a murder case in which a learner (15) died while fighting over a boyfriend with another learner aged 16 on October 29 2021 at Mawala, Ngwaladi area.
The suspect stabbed the victim with a kitchen knife, which she was given by her cousin (14).

This comes at a time when the police have continued to express concern over the rising cases of murder, particularly those involving minors.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has addressed an empty auditorium at the ongoing climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Mnangagwa took to the podium late Tuesday morning and only to address a few delegates, including ushers.

This shows that the world leaders attending the COP26 are not interested in his presence at the climate change conference.

Yesterday, Mnangagwa came face to face with demonstrations staged by Zimbabweans in the UK lobbying the British Prime-minister, Borris Johnson, to deport him.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has unveiled a comprehensive climate change policy.

This comes at a time the current regime is carrying out perilous coal-mining activities in Hwange.

Below is President Chamisa’s presentation on the COP26 Climate Change Conference.

COP26, the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),kickstarts today 1 until 12 November 2021 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

For Zimbabwe, this landmark conference could not have come at a more appropriate time. In recent years our beloved country has been ravaged by several catastrophes directly linked to climate change, including Cyclone Idai, which in 2019 claimed about lives in Zimbabwe.

At COP26,we expect serious & binding commitments by the world’s wealthiest countries towards reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Rich countries contribute the most to the precarious state of the world’s climate,as such,responsibility for the crises must fall where it must.

To reduce the frequency of extreme weather shocks like Cyclones,bold acceleration towards more sustainable methods of generating energy,manufacturing goods, transportation,urban development, & farming need to be taken by all countries. Net zero emissions by 2050 is the target

As the next government,our climate change policy is clear.Whilst the journey to net zero by 2050 appears daunting, it represents a unique opportunity for Zimbabwe to create new jobs in new industries like renewable energy,electric vehicles,smart farming and green manufacturing.

At a minimum, we expect significant contributions to investment funds (e.g., Green Climate Fund: https://greenclimate.fund), earmarked for less developed countries, like Zimbabwe to access the green finance required to build resilience and adapt to climate change…

nelson chamisaFlag of Zimbabwe
@nelsonchamisa
·

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has unveiled a comprehensive climate change policy.

This comes at a time the current regime is carrying out perilous coal-mining activities in Hwange.

Below is President Chamisa’s presentation on the COP26 Climate Change Conference.

COP26, the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),kickstarts today 1 until 12 November 2021 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

For Zimbabwe, this landmark conference could not have come at a more appropriate time. In recent years our beloved country has been ravaged by several catastrophes directly linked to climate change, including Cyclone Idai, which in 2019 claimed about lives in Zimbabwe.

At COP26,we expect serious & binding commitments by the world’s wealthiest countries towards reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Rich countries contribute the most to the precarious state of the world’s climate,as such,responsibility for the crises must fall where it must.

To reduce the frequency of extreme weather shocks like Cyclones,bold acceleration towards more sustainable methods of generating energy,manufacturing goods, transportation,urban development, & farming need to be taken by all countries. Net zero emissions by 2050 is the target

As the next government,our climate change policy is clear.Whilst the journey to net zero by 2050 appears daunting, it represents a unique opportunity for Zimbabwe to create new jobs in new industries like renewable energy,electric vehicles,smart farming and green manufacturing.

At a minimum, we expect significant contributions to investment funds (e.g., Green Climate Fund: https://greenclimate.fund), earmarked for less developed countries, like Zimbabwe to access the green finance required to build resilience and adapt to climate change…

nelson chamisaFlag of Zimbabwe
@nelsonchamisa
·

Scores of disgruntled Zimbabweans successfully blocked Emmerson Mnangagwa from attending a Zanu PF gala in Glasgow, Scotland.

Mnangagwa was supposed to attend the gala on Tuesday.

According to authorities in that country Mnangagwa should be confined to the COP26 Climate Change Conference…

This means he cannot even purchase anything …

ON International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) calls upon the public to condemn impunity for crimes against journalists in Zimbabwe and the rest of the world.

ZLHR also calls upon the authorities to adopt reform measures to prevent attacks and violence against journalists, and to investigate all crimes against journalists and prosecute all perpetrators to promote justice and accountability.

The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is celebrated every year on 2 November. It is an opportunity for everyone to publicly condemn impunity for crimes against journalists and a chance to demand the prosecution of perpetrators of these crimes by governments around the world. The 2021 International Day to End
Impunity for Crimes against Journalists seeks to emphasise the instrumental role of prosecutorial services in investigating and prosecuting crimes and threats of violence against journalists.

Journalists play an instrumental role in the effective functioning of democratic governments. They promote access to information which enables citizens to demand and assert all their civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights. In sharing information,
journalists also enhance accountability as they empower people with information. They inform the general populace of the decisions and or actions or omissions of the executive and legislature.

All over the world, journalists and members of the media are vulnerable to attacks and violence, there is a disturbing trend of threats, killings, arrests of journalists, despite their vital importance in democracies. These attacks have a detrimental effect on the effective functioning of democracies, freedom of expression and access to information. Violence against journalists has a chilling effect on society and the journalists themselves. The heinous crimes against journalists are seldom investigated by the authorities and
many perpetrators of these crimes and attacks are rarely brought to justice.

In Zimbabwe, journalists have regrettably not been immune to some of these attacks. Journalists have been exposed to arbitrary detention, arrest and prosecution, assaults, harassment, abductions, confiscation of their tools of trade and other equipment and threats of unspecified action.

There has also been a disturbing culture of impunity for attacks and crimes against journalists which serves to embolden perpetrators and encourages them to continue with their evil acts.

Journalists have often been victimised for their work in ensuring that the authorities remain accountable to the public. ZLHR has provided legal support to several  journalists who have been targeted when carrying out their journalistic work. These include but is not limited
to Hopewell Chin’ono, Kumbirai Mafunda, Edgar Gweshe, Leopold Munhende, Thomas Madhuku, Nyashadzashe Ndoro, Robert Tapfumaneyi, Marshal Bwanya, Gaddaffi Wells, Adrian Matutu, Tongai Mwenje, Tinashe Muringai and Desmond Munemo among others.

ZLHR remains concerned that the authorities are failing to fully recognise that journalists play an invaluable role in exposing human rights violations, corruption and other illegal activities by state and non-state actors. Equally compelling is the failure by the prosecutorial authorities to take any appropriate action to hold all perpetrators of these illegal attacks accountable for their crimes.

On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, ZLHR reminds the authorities that ending impunity for crimes against journalists is essential for the protection of the rights to freedom of expression and access to information that enables the enjoyment of all other rights.

Further, ZLHR reminds the government of Zimbabwe to implement the recommendations made by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) on 7 August 2020 in the Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in the Republic of Zimbabwe – ACHPR/Res. 443 (LXVI) 2020.

The African Commission specifically called on the government to guarantee protection of the rights of amongst other players; journalists including from arbitrary arrest and detention.

Res.443 also calls on the government of Zimbabwe to ensure that measures taken by its law enforcement agents do not lead to violations of fundamental rights and freedoms, including expression, association and assembly.

On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, ZLHR calls upon:

•       The public to condemn all acts of impunity for crimes against journalists in Zimbabwe and the rest of the world;
•       The government of Zimbabwe to implement the recommendations made by the African Commission in Resolution 443.
•       The  authorities to adopt measures designed to prevent attacks and violence against journalists and other members of the media;
•       The authorities to investigate all crimes against journalists and prosecute all perpetrators in order to promote justice and accountability.

By A Correspondent- A 15 year old Gwelutshena girl lost her life after she was fatally stabbed by her 16-year-old rival when the two had a misunderstanding over a boyfriend.

The girl died after she was stabbed with a kitchen knife.

The incident happened last week on Friday.

In a statement that was released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on its Twitter page, the law enforcement agents said investigations are still underway.

Below is the full statement by ZRP:

“Police in Gwelutshena are investigating a murder case in which a learner (15) died while fighting over a boyfriend with another learner aged (16) on 29/10/21 at Mawala, Ngwaladi area. The suspect stabbed the victim with a kitchen knife which she was given by her cousin (14).”

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean born Scottish legislator, Maggie Chapman, has said she was not endorsing the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa when she wore Mnangagwa’s scarf recently.

This comes after the circulation of her picture in which she was wearing the scarf with Zimbabwean colours. The scarf is seen more as a ZANU PF regalia than a Zimbabwean one.

Zimbabwe’s Information Secretary, Nick Mangwana, also commented on the photo:

Comrades and friends are still arriving in Scotland. Here they are seen with Scottish MP, Maggie Chapman, who made raves when she took her oath in Shona to show she still has links with Zimbabwe. Good to see her adorning the beautiful scarf.

Responding to an anonymous person, Maggie Chapman refuted claims by some that she was endorsing the Mnangagwa regime. She said:

As I said to Mike: Thanks for your message and apologies for the photos. They are in no way an endorsement of ZANU PF or the regime in Zimbabwe which I deplore. I bumped into some Shona speakers at the end of my street and had a conversation about Zimbabwe – as I always do with any Shona speakers. I am sorry I didn’t recognise them as individuals or the scarf. They did recognise me, which is why it turns out they were so keen on the photos.

The endorsement would have been a boost to the Zimbabwean government which is pushing the engagement and re-engagement agenda after being isolated for over two decades.

By A Correspondent- Vegetarianism is gaining traction in Zimbabwe at a time the world celebrates World Vegan Day which comes every year on 1 November.

Veganism is a lifestyle that excludes all animal products and attempts to limit the exploitation of animals as much as possible.

According to local nutritionists and environmentalists, veganism is of immense benefit to humans and the natural environment.

Reported Anadolu Agency:

Tynos Muhalaphe, a Harare-based nutritionist told Anadolu Agency that vegans live longer, healthier lives and rarely contract diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

He said:

Vegans are the true practical example of what people should do when they want to lead healthier longer lives. They hardly contract diseases like cancer, diabetes and many others.

For Zimbabwean environmental experts like Doson Hamandishe, vegans are helping to save the environment.

Said Hamandishe:

They plant fruit trees for their fruits which is part of their diet, and this means trees are safe with vegans as they practice afforestation.

They also don’t eat meat or any animal products, meaning wildlife is safe in the hands of vegans, as they grow their own vegetables throughout the year.

As vegetarianism gains fame across Zimbabwe, vegan restaurants are emerging in major cities like Harare, Masvingo and Victoria Falls.

In Harare, there is the Chisipite vegan restaurant owned and run by Mikaela, who is vegan.

Business is booming for Mikaela, with many affluent clients coming to the restaurant and Harare’s high-profile residents eager to change their life around with a plant-based diet.

But for residents from the low-income suburbs of Harare, like 24-year-old Elina Chuma, nothing is fascinating about eating vegetables because she said vegetable-eating is a sign of poverty.

Said Chuma:

In my family, we rarely have meat, not because it’s by choice, but because we can’t afford it. Yet we also would love to eat meat every day if we could afford it.

… I battled high blood pressure as a teenager and after getting advice on diet from a close friend who is a vegan, I said let me give it a try and here I’m now with zero blood pressure.

Global Vegan celebrations are attributed to Louise Wallis, who proposed the idea in 1994 as Chairman of the Vegan Society in the UK and now Vegan Day is celebrated in different parts of the world to advocate veganism and its way of life.

By A Correspondent- A 34 year old Zimbabwean man was on Friday shot and killed by South African police in the Erasmia area.

The man is reported to have been part of a gang of suspects, aged between 26 and 51 years, who were caught red-handed by the police cutting steel pipes at a plot in Mooiplas.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson, Ms Grace Langa said the matter was now under investigation.

However, she could not readily reveal the now deceased’s identity.

“We are investigating a case of death as a result of pgunolice action and our team has already attended the crime scene,” said Ms Langa.

“It is alleged that two on-duty police officers reacted to a complaint about some suspects who were cutting steel pipes at the plot in Mooiplas. Upon arrival, they found the complainant who then pointed out the suspects.”

The four suspects were apprehended.

More suspects, driving an Isuzu pick-up truck, arrived at the scene and were also identified as being part of the crew by the complainant.

She said the two policemen stopped the car and ordered all the passengers to disembark and lie on the ground.

“They all went down except one suspect who is a 34-year-old Zimbabwean national. He walked towards the back of their bakkie (pick-up truck) and pulled a firearm.

“He was spotted by one of the policemen who immediately pulled out his service pistol and shot him (the suspect Zimbabwean national) on the head,” said Ms Langa.

She said while the two police officers were busy checking on the man who had been shot, his accomplices got into the vehicle and fled from the scene.

Paramedics, she added, were contacted and certified the man dead on the scene.

Ms Langa said investigators from IPID collected the Police officer’s state firearm as well as the deceased’s unlicensed firearm after being summoned to the scene.

“Further investigations into the matter are underway,” she said.-statemedia

Former Warriors striker Tendai Ndoro has lost ‘everything’ after he was kicked out of his home and taken to the cleaners by his South African wife, Thando Maseko. The former Chicken Inn and Orlando Pirates forward is reported to have registered all his properties in his wife’s name.

Following a massive fallout between the two, Maseko is said to have thrown Ndoro out of the couple’s home in the upscale Kyalami Estates in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is also reported to have taken full possession of all of the couple’s vehicles, as they were registered in her name.

The issue of Tendai Ndoro being taken to the cleaners by his South African wife was revealed to local weekly publication B-Metro by one of Ndoro’s confidantes. The source who spoke to the publication on condition of anonymity said,

“It appears Ndoro’s property in South Africa is not registered in his name, so when things were not going well with his wife, he was kicked out of their Kyalami Estate home. The biggest mistake he made was not registering the house and cars in his name, and that will be his downfall.

“Ndoro’s family in Bulawayo are distraught about the situation because it can’t be easy to watch their son lose everything he worked hard for in South Africa and Saudi Arabia to his estranged wife.”

Ndoro has been making headlines of late after images leaked online in which the footballer appeared to have lost a lot of weight. The photos suggested that Ndoro may be struggling with his health. According to the online publication Soccer24, the footballer had been recuperating in the mining town of Shamva, in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland Central province.

Following the circulation of the images and reports of Ndoro’s ill-health, some opined that the former Orlando Pirates striker is struggling.

This prompted South African businessman and former Mpumalanga Black Aces owner George Morfou to offer to help the footballer. George and his brother Mario were responsible for introducing the 36-year-old striker to the SA Premier Soccer League (PSL) when they signed him from Zimbabwean football club Chicken Inn in 2013.

However, last week, Ndoro denied reports that he was struggling financially. He also insisted that he was only in Zimbabwe briefly to visit his mother and that he would soon be returning to his family in South Africa.

“I don’t want to speak to the media. I’m in Bulawayo. I came back from South Africa to visit my mother. I’m actually in Bulawayo, and I will be going back to South Africa soon. My family is in South Africa, and why should I stay long in Zimbabwe,” claimed Ndoro.

On the other hand, the source insisted that Ndoro is struggling and had been given a cash bailout by his close football associates. The good Samaritans who came to Ndoro’s rescue include Aston Villa midfielder Marvellous Nakamba and Supersport midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi.

“Just last week, when the Warriors were in camp, several players that include Marvelous Nakamba and Kudakwashe Mahachi pampered Ndoro with cash. The players openly expressed their concern about Ndoro’s plight hence the gesture of giving him cash.”

By A Correspondent- Communities have called for improved security at waiting mothers’ shelters following reports of the rap_ing of a teenager at Manama Mission Hospital and other women that were robbed at Matobo District Hospital waiting mothers’ shelter in Matabeleland South Province.

A nine months preg_nant teenager was rap_ed by an unknown suspect at Manama Mission Hospital waiting mothers’ shelter in June.

The culprit was armed with a knife and gained access into the shelter through an unlocked door at night. The expectant mothers fled the scene, but the suspect caught up with the teenager, whom he dragged to a bushy area where he assaulted and rap_ed her several times overnight.

The teenager sustained a broken arm during the attack.

At Matobo District Hospital, a suspect broke into the waiting mothers’ shelter and tried to rap_e one woman before robbing several women of their belongings.

There have also been reports of rap_e and robberies at waiting mothers’ shelters and maternity wards in the past.

A Chronicle news crew visited Manama Mission Hospital and spoke to some expectant mothers, who expressed concern at the absence of security at the shelter.

Ms Thandolwenkosi Ndlovu from Magaya Village said the rap_e incident has left her unsettled at the shelter.

“While I’m here at the waiting mothers’ shelter, I’m afraid that the culprit might strike again and attack us. I heard that someone invaded the shelter, chased the women who were there and went on to rap_e one of them. Maybe if the culprit had been arrested it could have been better, but the incident has shown that we are at risk as expectant mothers,” she said.

Ms Lydia Ncube said although there were now security guards at the shelter, they were not efficient.

“There are some security people who guard the shelter, but I don’t have faith in them because sometimes they arrive way after 10PM, which means that before that we will be exposed. They won’t be around during some nights as well. We once looked for the security guard when one of the ladies went into labour, but we couldn’t locate any,” Ms Ncube said.

Ms Tibelo Ngulube of Magaya Village said the rap_e incident was concerning to her and felt the safety of all female patients at the hospital was at stake, as the culprit could strike at any time due to lax security.

Ms Ngulube said as long as the culprit was still on the loose, the security of all women at the shelter and in the community remains highly compromised.

Makwati Village head Ms Adrina Moyo said her young sister is one of the women that managed to evade the rap_e attack.

“My young sister was at the waiting mothers’ shelter when the incident occurred. She said the rap_ist pushed open the door while they were sleeping and brandished a knife and threatened to stab them and they all fled from the room. He pursued them and from there my sister doesn’t know what happened. When they went back to the shelter, they noticed that one person was missing. Something needs to be done to ensure the safety of women because as it is, some people are afraid to sleep at the shelter,” she said.

Andrew Moyo, a neighbourhood watch committee member, said the suspected rap_ist is from a neighbouring ward and they had tried to track him down in vain.

Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director, Dr Rudo Chikodzore, recently told a meeting that each district had been tasked to identify security gaps in each health facilities and propose how best they can be addressed.

“Some facilities need a perimeter fence to secure the waiting mothers’ shelter, some need locks and other security features. We have asked the District Medical Officers to meet with their teams and identify security gaps and suggest how they can be addressed,” she said.

During a recent visit to Manama Mission Hospital, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro said there was a need for health facilities to improve their security as they were putting the lives of patients at risk.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police has announced that it has arrested 1, 2 million people for violating Covid-19 regulations since the start of the lockdown in March last year.

In their twitter page, police said 2 934 people were arrested on October 31 for breaching Covid-19 regulations.

“The ZRP reminds members of the public that Covid-19 safety regulations are still in force. As at 31 October a total of 1 225 225 people were arrested for various offences related to Covid-19 since 30 March 2020. On 31 October, 2934 people were arrested for breaching Covid-19 regulations,” said the police.

The country is currently under level 2 of the lockdown.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on September 7 relaxed the lockdown from Level 4 to Level 2.
Under the current regulations intercity travelling is now permitted under strict Covid-19 regulations. Public gatherings are permitted with maximum of 100 people. Workplaces have been decongested to 50 percent of the workforce.
Bottle stores are to sell take aways until 4PM. Beer outlets and nightclubs will remain closed during Level 2 lockdown.

Business time is now from 8AM to 7PM while curfew is now from 10PM to 5AM.

By A Correspondent-The South African Cabinet will soon announce a decision on the renewal of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) for nearly 180 000 Zimbabweans based in the neighbouring country.
Zimbabweans have benefitted from special permits since 2010 when the Dispensation of Zimbabweans Project (DZP) was introduced.
DZP was aimed at regularising Zimbabweans residing in the neighbouring country to reduce pressure on the asylum management system.
The permits expired in 2014 before South Africa introduced the Zimbabwe Special Permit (ZSP) which lapsed at the end of 2017.

It was followed by the ZEP, which will expire on December 31.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa David Hamadziripi said Government has been engaged in high-level meetings with South Africa over the permit issue.
“The matter of the ZEP is part of the agenda of the discussions held between Zimbabwe and South Africa in the context of the Bi-National Commission (BNC). Concerning the extension of the permits, the Embassy has had discussions with the relevant authorities in South Africa since the first quarter of the year,” said Ambassador Hamadziripi.
“In May 2021, there was further discussion of the issue when the two countries’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs met in Cape Town. In all these interactions, the government of South Africa informed us that the decision on the renewal of the permits would be taken by their Cabinet and that processes towards that end were in motion.”
Zimbabwe Community in South Africa chairperson Mr Ngqabutho Mabhena said most Zimbabweans were anxious as the year is coming to an end.

“We are waiting for the South African government to make an announcement. We were informed that a decision will be made in November so we are waiting. We do not know what is going to happen, but, of course, people are worried about what is likely to be announced by the Minister of Home Affairs when he decides to make an announcement,” said Mr Mabhena.
He said financial institutions and some employers have started demanding that permit holders renew their permits.
“We have been engaging with both the Zimbabwean and South African governments and made submissions that holders of the ZEP should be granted permanent residence status because they have been resident here for more than 10 years and continue to contribute to the South African economy,” said Mr Mabhena.
“The second option is that if they are not granted permanent residence, they should be granted a long-term visa which is about 10 years or a normal renewal be an option.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Health officials in Bulawayo have confirmed a flu outbreak in the city that has resulted in hundreds of children seeking medication, a development which experts say is a result of fluctuating weather conditions.

Bulawayo director of Health Services Dr Edwin Sibanda told Chronicle in an interview that the flu is a common viral infection that affects the nose, throat and airways.

The flu usually resolves within seven to 10 days but has COVID-19 like symptoms which put a lot of parents and guardians in panic mode.

Some children also vomit and lose appetite and parents are saying the symptoms cannot be cleared by over-the-counter medication.

Sibanda confirmed that the flu has affected a large number of children in Zimbabwe’s second-largest city but could not give the exact number of those who have been affected. He said:

There is an outbreak of the upper respiratory tract infection and it is affecting many children in Bulawayo but I do not have the exact numbers now. There were suspicious that the flu was in fact COVID-19.

Residents should take their children to health centres though under normal circumstances flu goes away without treatment. This flu due to weather changes has been spreading easily.

With the changes in weather, it is expected that these symptoms will increase. The prevention measures are the same as for COVID-19, it’s a matter of strengthening what we are doing for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory said influenza testing had been halted in Zimbabwe due to shortages of test kits. Chronicle

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched an operation targeting what they are calling errant and reckless motorists breaking road rules during peak hours.

ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said some of the these people will be driving parastatal and Government vehicles. He said:

There is an ongoing operation that has nabbed a number of motorists. They are being sent to court without an option of paying admission of guilt fines at police stations.
… We are disturbed by that behaviour and it’s now common in the Southerton area, Chiremba Road, Samora Machel Avenue, Arcturus Road and Seke Road in Harare.
…. We have arrested a number of motorists who drive against traffic in Government vehicles.
Some will be driving vehicles belonging to parastatals and we have since called some parastatals imploring them to reign in on their drivers.
That sets a bad example and we cannot have a Government vehicle being used to break the law.

By A Correspondent -Zanu PF supporters based in Scotland Sunday welcomed President Emmerson Mnangagwa with expensive whiskeys.

Videos posted online showed Zanu PF supporters buying expensive whiskeys from a supermarket, eliciting a tweet from Zimbabwe’s government spokesman Nick Mangwana, who wrote: “Tonight there is a massive welcome party held in honour of HE President Mnangagwa.

“Glasgow is the place to be as Zimbabweans from all corners of the UK attend this shindig and welcome their president. The party will sill over to the streets tomorrow.”

One of the men seen pushing a trolley laden with alcohol from a COSCO supermarket has been identified as Kudzai Makuku, a construction manager with Network Rail, a company that manages most of Britain’s rail network.

“We are ready, viva Zanu PF! Welcoming our president ED Mnangagwa in Scotland UK!” Makuku says on the video clip while pushing a trolley full of whiskies, including at least six Glenfiddich 12 bottles worth ‎£40 each. They also carried other whiskies, cases of beers and cognacs.

By A Correspondent- Police at the weekend blocked a group of South African DJs, Major League, from performing in Harare.

Major League was also dumped at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport by their plane after forcing it to break Zimbabwe’s aviation and COVID-19 protocols.

The group’s had a show in Bulawayo on Sunday after its gig in Harare on Saturday was stopped by the police.

Business Times reported eyewitnesses and aviation sources at the Joshua Nkomo Airport as saying the Major League entourage had insisted on flying back to Harare at 10 PM after a gig in Bulawayo.

However, the pilot advised the crew of Zimbabwe’s strict aviation and COVID-19 lockdown regulations and prevailing weather conditions as reasons not to proceed with the flight.

Socialite Tazvi Mhaka who is part of the Major League entourage reportedly tried to convince the charter pilot to fly against the stipulated aviation regulations but to no avail. Said a source:

It was a scene at the airport in Bulawayo and the Major League entourage which also included Mike Chimombe who is the President of Affirmative Action Group was looking at flying back to Harare during the night against the country’s COVID-19 regulations as well as the prevailing unpredictable weather.

So the pilot refused to fly at that time which forced the entourage to try and entice the pilot with some money which was rejected in full view of airport staff and some passengers.

The pilot and the aviation firm, who could not be named for professional reasons, reportedly terminated the flight.

The pilot flew back to Robert Mugabe International Airport leaving the entourage stranded at the Joshua Nkomo Airport.

When contacted for comment by Business Times, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airports manager Passmore Dhewa said he was not at the airport since it was a Sunday. He said:

Who is the pilot and I was not at the airport it’s a Sunday but I heard that the pilot flew back to Harare.

Chimombe did not respond to messages sent to him through text and WhatsApp, Business Times reported.

By A Correspondent- A 49-year-old Nyazura man reportedly died from an overdose of sex-enhancing pills at her girlfriend’s house last week.

Shepherd Chiwara of Marowa Village in Nyazura died three hours after spending some time with his girlfriend, Stella Mafarachisi.

It was Mafarachisi who reported the matter to police in the wee hours of the following day and no foul play is suspected in Chiwara’s death.

Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the incident which happened in Maurendi Village last Saturday night.

He said:
We can confirm that Shepherd visited his girlfriend, Stella Mafarachisi and spent time together before they retired to bed around 11 PM.

He woke up around midnight complaining of chest pains. His condition deteriorated and died about an hour and a half later.

Mafarachisi rushed to Nyazura Police Station where she made a report. No injuries were found on the body, and no foul play is suspected.

By A Correspondent- Chief Justice Malaba last week made an appearance at Zanu PF’s annual conference in Bindura.

Below is the statement by Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust:

“We are shocked to note that Chief Justice Luke Malaba is part of the delegation at a ZANU PF conference currently underway in Bindura. His involvement in partisan political activities jeopardizes electoral processes and render the whole Judiciary system biased thereby denting it’s Integrity.

Furthermore, his conduct has bastardized the maxim and principle of separation of powers.

Section 165 sub section 4d of the Constitution prohibits members of the judiciary from attending political meetings.

This is a gross violation of the Constitution by a person who is entrusted as a doyen and custodian of the law. We, therefore, call for his immediate resignation and a quick return to order and sanity in the Judiciary system. ZEAT…. fostering democratic elections!

By A Correspondent- Police at the weekend blocked a group of South African DJs from performing in Harare.

The group, Major League, was also dumped at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport by their plane after forcing it to break Zimbabwe’s aviation and COVID-19 protocols.

The group’s had a show in Bulawayo on Sunday after its gig in Harare on Saturday was stopped by the police.

Business Times reported eyewitnesses and aviation sources at the Joshua Nkomo Airport as saying the Major League entourage had insisted on flying back to Harare at 10 PM after a gig in Bulawayo.

However, the pilot advised the crew of Zimbabwe’s strict aviation and COVID-19 lockdown regulations and prevailing weather conditions as reasons not to proceed with the flight.

Socialite Tazvi Mhaka who is part of the Major League entourage reportedly tried to convince the charter pilot to fly against the stipulated aviation regulations but to no avail. Said a source:

It was a scene at the airport in Bulawayo and the Major League entourage which also included Mike Chimombe who is the President of Affirmative Action Group was looking at flying back to Harare during the night against the country’s COVID-19 regulations as well as the prevailing unpredictable weather.

So the pilot refused to fly at that time which forced the entourage to try and entice the pilot with some money which was rejected in full view of airport staff and some passengers.

The pilot and the aviation firm, who could not be named for professional reasons, reportedly terminated the flight.

The pilot flew back to Robert Mugabe International Airport leaving the entourage stranded at the Joshua Nkomo Airport.

When contacted for comment by Business Times, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airports manager Passmore Dhewa said he was not at the airport since it was a Sunday. He said:

Who is the pilot and I was not at the airport it’s a Sunday but I heard that the pilot flew back to Harare.

Chimombe did not respond to messages sent to him through text and WhatsApp, Business Times reported.

By A Correspondent- South African police have shot dead a 34-year-old Zimbabwean man in the Erasmia area in South Africa.

The deceased, whose identity has not yet been revealed, is reported to have been part of a gang of suspects, aged between 26 and 51 years, who were caught red-handed by the police cutting steel pipes at a plot in Mooiplas.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson (IPID), Grace Langa said the matter was now under investigation. She said:
We are investigating a case of death as a result of police action and our team have already attended the crime scene.
It is alleged that two on-duty police officers reacted to a complaint about some suspects who were cutting steel pipes at the plot in Mooiplas.
Upon arrival, they found the complainant who then pointed out the suspects.

She said the four suspects were apprehended but more suspects, driving an Isuzu pick-up truck, arrived at the scene and were also identified as being part of the crew by the complainant.
Langa said the two policemen stopped the car and ordered all the passengers to disembark and lie on the ground. She added:
They all went down except one suspect who is a 34-year-old Zimbabwean national. He walked towards the back of their bakkie (pick-up truck) and pulled a firearm.
He was spotted by one of the policemen who immediately pulled out his service pistol and shot him (the suspect Zimbabwean national) on the head.

She said while the two police officers were busy checking on the man who had been shot, his accomplices got into the vehicle and fled from the scene.
Paramedics, she added, were contacted and certified the man dead on the scene.

-State media