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

Tinashe Sambiri|Hundreds of Zimbabweans on Monday protested at the presence of Emmerson Mnangagwa in Glasgow.

Mr Mnangagwa is accused of violating human rights and brutalizing hapless citizens…

PICTURE- @edmnangagwa in #Glasgow @COP26 pic.twitter.com/eWCGvP1D6g

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 1, 2021

Live from Glasgow ?

Watch the #COP26 Opening Ceremony live ?#TogetherForOurPlanethttps://t.co/btmQk6qYrd

— COP26 (@COP26) November 1, 2021

By A Correspondent- Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has come out guns blazing accusing journalist Hopewell Chin’ono of being a credit card fraudster who is pushing the West’s agenda in exchange of his freedom against criminal charges.

We publish below the full text by Mliswa:

“@daddyhope I don’t need to be told anything about you. I know you and you know that. We were together in Slough in the UK with Supa and while some of us went for double shifts you never did. Why, because you made money fraudulently through credit card fraud

2/ Your narrative of being a correspondent for BBC is a fallacy because you were there on attachment. You are not a Christiane @camanpour or some such international journalists as you sell yourself to be as justification for the life you have

3/There was never anything special about your being a journalist as to have the kind of life you have. The reason is that you made money through credit card fraud and selling the country out to the West

4/ Resultantly, you have protected yourself against criminal charges by bootlicking the West whilst attacking your own country. Your bitterness with the government is also about how you lost out on the promised ZBC CEO position

5/ We were together in Operation Restore Legacy as you supported the new dispensation. You had been given assurances that you would take over at ZBC and had even struck some deals with foreign channels. However, that did not happen and you have become bitter

6/That has been inspiration for you to get on the payroll of foreign powers so as to hit back at the government. That’s why you are quiet on issues to do with whites whilst you are constantly ranting against the country. It’s your insurance against criminal charges from the West.

7/The issue of payments for legislators is about dignity, integrity and credibility of the office. The office cannot be compromised in its role of oversight. It’s not about the personalities that are occupying it.

8/Your lack of appreciation or acceptance of people occupying offices does not entail that you also lack respect for the office itself.

9/My argument about equipping and capacitation of Legislators has nothing to do with self-enrichment. It’s about the importance of the office, and shielding it from being compromised.

10/Some of us have been empowered through government programs& have no dependence on Parliament salary. In fact it’s the opposition MPs who are seriously compromised by the poor remuneration because for one to be effective as a legislator you have to fork out money

11/We spend more from our pockets than we are paid. We are paid around ZW$70 000 yet at some point in a year I spent over US$200 000, from my pocket, in the constituency because there is insufficient support of the MP’s office.

12/It’s short-sighted and anomalous to attack the office of the legislator just because you don’t like the personnel in it. Your preferred candidates will also find it hard to operate in it as long as it is not respected and capacitated as I’m advocating for

13/You are simply pulling things out of context to create a false proportion because that’s how you get paid. Some of us we do things out of principle and passion and are not on anyone’s payroll

14/When you were arrested I defended you as a matter of principle and not because I was being paid. Iwe unongoda zvevarungu manje nyangwe wakatsvuka hauyite murungu.

You can’t be a person who shoots everything about his country down. In Nigeria, @AlikoDangote has made millions but there is no talk of capturing the state which, at times, is an expression of inferiority complex, seeing a successful black person. Be patriotic

@daddyhope I don’t need to be told anything about you. I know you and you know that. We were together in Slough in the UK with Supa and while some of us went for double shifts you never did. Why, because you made money fraudulently through credit card fraud.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

2/ Your narrative of being a correspondent for BBC is a fallacy because you were there on attachment. You are not a Christiane @camanpour or some such international journalists as you sell yourself to be as justification for the life you have.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

3/There was never anything special about your being a journalist as to have the kind of life you have. The reason is that you made money through credit card fraud and selling the country out to the West.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

4/ Resultantly, you have protected yourself against criminal charges by bootlicking the West whilst attacking your own country. Your bitterness with the government is also about how you lost out on the promised ZBC CEO position.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

5/ We were together in Operation Restore Legacy as you supported the new dispensation. You had been given assurances that you would take over at ZBC and had even struck some deals with foreign channels. However, that did not happen and you have become bitter.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

6/That has been inspiration for you to get on the payroll of foreign powers so as to hit back at the government. That’s why you are quiet on issues to do with whites whilst you are constantly ranting against the country. It’s your insurance against criminal charges from the West.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

7/The issue of payments for legislators is about dignity, integrity and credibility of the office. The office cannot be compromised in its role of oversight. It’s not about the personalities that are occupying it.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

8/Your lack of appreciation or acceptance of people occupying offices does not entail that you also lack respect for the office itself.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

9/My argument about equipping and capacitation of Legislators has nothing to do with self-enrichment. It’s about the importance of the office, and shielding it from being compromised.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

10/Some of us have been empowered through government programs& have no dependence on Parliament salary. In fact it’s the opposition MPs who are seriously compromised by the poor remuneration because for one to be effective as a legislator you have to fork out money.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

11/We spend more from our pockets than we are paid. We are paid around ZW$70 000 yet at some point in a year I spent over US$200 000, from my pocket, in the constituency because there is insufficient support of the MP’s office.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

12/It’s short-sighted and anomalous to attack the office of the legislator just because you don’t like the personnel in it. Your preferred candidates will also find it hard to operate in it as long as it is not respected and capacitated as I’m advocating for.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

13/You are simply pulling things out of context to create a false proportion because that’s how you get paid. Some of us we do things out of principle and passion and are not on anyone’s payroll.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

14/When you were arrested I defended you as a matter of principle and not because I was being paid. Iwe unongoda zvevarungu manje nyangwe wakatsvuka hauyite murungu.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

You can't be a person who shoots everything about his country down. In Nigeria, @AlikoDangote has made millions but there is no talk of capturing the state which, at times, is an expression of inferiority complex, seeing a successful black person. Be patriotic.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) November 1, 2021

Our Zambian delegation is in Scotland with a clear mandate – to discuss global issues & being fully aware that #Cop26 is an International summit where global leaders meet to discuss 21st century challenges. Its not a rally where party T-shirts are offered to perfect strangers !!

— Joseph Kalimbwe (@joseph_kalimbwe) November 1, 2021

Tottenham have released a statement confirming the dismissal of Nuno as their manager:

‘The Club can today announce that Nuno Espírito Santo and his coaching staff Ian Cathro, Rui Barbosa and Antonio Dias have been relieved of their duties.’Fabio Paratici, Managing Director, Football, said: “I know how much Nuno and his coaching staff wanted to succeed and I regret that we have had to take this decision.’“Nuno is a true gentleman and will always be welcome here. We should like to thank him and his coaching staff and wish them well for the future.”’A further coaching update will follow in due course.’

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a Zanu-PF victory two years ahead of the general elections, telling party supporters at the just-ended annual conference in Bindura that his party will elbow out the opposition from all urban councils.

The opposition MDC Alliance has won in most towns and cities in recent previous elections, with Zanu-PF’s stay in power predicated on its rural strongholds.

However, Mnangagwa told the party faithful that he had already sealed the 2023 victory.

“The mantra musangano kumacell (the party is stronger in cells) will undoubtedly see us predetermine and realise our resounding 2023 harmonised general election victory. The organisational reach of our party must continue to widen, capturing the greater part of our nation. We are, indeed, winning our election before election date,” Mnangagwa said.

He then blasted urban councils led by the opposition, describing them as corrupt and incompetent.

“Residents in urban areas have been abused by corrupt and incompetent opposition elements, and it is time for them to go,” he said.

But MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere dismissed Mnangagwa’s 2023 electoral victory claims, saying tables will turn in favour of opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.

“The opposition party is going to win the 2023 elections, and it is going to do so resoundingly. We are currently carrying out an intensive voter registration campaign in villages, towns and cities to ensure we galvanise six million citizens to vote for change,” she said.

“We are mobilising the citizens to turn out to vote in their millions and defend that vote vigilantly.

“We are building a polling agent defence system to ensure the vote is protected from rigging through a polling station-based mobilisation and monitoring programme.”

Mahere said the opposition was not sitting on its laurels and would run the biggest electoral campaign that the country has never witnessed.

“We will run the biggest electoral campaign that’s never been seen in the region and ultimately win Zimbabwe for change. This is why our new candidate selection procedures will give communities the power to decide which leaders will represent them,” she
said.

The Zanu-PF camp feels that it is gaining traction on the diplomatic front after Mnangagwa was invited to COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, in the United Kingdom (UK).

Mnangagwa, who flew out to Scotland yesterday, told delegates at his party conference that he would likely meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in what he described as a diplomatic victory for his government.

“I travel to Glasgow in the United Kingdom after over two decades have passed without Zimbabwean leadership going to the UK. I have been invited by Boris Johnson and he has indicated he might meet me in Glasgow one-on-one as well as other leaders like Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi), and we will be meeting others on Monday or Tuesday,” he said.

Mnangagwa claimed Zanu-PF had been vindicated by the report released on Thursday by the United Nations special rapporteur Alena Douhan, who said targeted sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union were affecting Zimbabwe.

“We should congratulate ourselves that we have never been wrong and we shall continue always being right,” he said.

“And those who have been found outside the law should reckon and take their position.”-Newsday

By A Correspondent- An elections official in South Africa was reportedly caught committing electoral fraud on Sunday, a few hours before the country was due to hold municipal elections.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal said it had roped in the police to investigate allegations that one of its presiding officers was allegedly caught stuffing marked ballots into a ballot box.

It was not immediately clear which party the officer was trying to aid by committing the alleged offence and whether he has been relieved of his or her crucial role. The Commission said on Sunday:

In Ward 93, Kusakusa Primary School, in the Mbumbulu area in eThekwini Metro Municipality, a presiding officer was allegedly discovered by party agents, stuffing marked ballot papers into a ballot box.

This remains an allegation and SAPS are still investigating. Members of the media will be updated as soon as the full report is received from SAPS.

The first electoral official to be convicted (for five years) for electoral fraud post-1994 was Sindisiwe Ncube of Ulundi.

In the 2009 general elections, Ncube was allegedly caught stuffing marked ballots and the ballots were allegedly in favour of the IFP.-IOL

By A Correspondent- Teachers unions yesterday vowed to take legal action against government for withholding salaries of their members who were not reporting for work because of “incapacitation”.

Some teachers claim they have gone for 10 months without salary after headmasters forwarded their names to the Public Service and Labour ministry for not reporting for duty. The unions told NewsDay that the move was unconstitutional.

Educators Union in Zimbabwe president Tafadzwa Munodawafa said the union had started processes to seek legal recourse.

“We have two such cases as a union and we have forwarded them to our lawyers,” Munodawafa said.

In a statement yesterday, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said:

“(Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul) Mavima must be schooled to respect the law so that should he assume that teachers have absconded from work as he did, he must order the Primary and Secondary Education ministry to summon teachers for hearings rather than use the colonial Master and Servant Act to dock teachers’ salaries under a misplaced ruse of ‘no work, no pay’.

“We, therefore, want to overemphasise the point that the so-called absenteeism must be clearly taken in its proper perspective of incapacitation. We, therefore, urge teachers whose salaries have been docked to contact unions of their choice in order to embark on natural justice in defence of the teaching profession.”

Zhou also warned school heads deliberately frustrating teachers by submitting their names to government to have their salaries docked.

“A considerable number of some school heads are also Nicodemously sending names of teachers to education offices without the courtesy of informing teachers who are surprised to find themselves without pay on payday. The system is also used to settle old scores in schools.”

He urged teachers whose salaries were docked to check the reasons that were cited by their school heads.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said:

“There is Matsine Secondary School in Wedza where teachers’ salaries were docked and Zimta is encouraging other unions to come on board to defend the rights of teachers because it’s what we exist to do.”

Amalgamated rural teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure  said:

“It is true that government has docked salaries of our members who are ordinarily incapacitated and failing to report for duty. It is not because they don’t want to, but it is because they are not capacitated. We don’t want to rely on the courts of law because we know the law has never favoured the working class.”

He said his union would mobilise forces to resist exploitation of teachers through protests targeting examination time.

Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro recently told NewsDay that minister Evelyn Ndlovu promised to improve the conditions of service of teachers.

By A Correspondent- Chiefs’ Council president Fortune Charumbira has claimed that traditional leaders were not bound by the Constitution because the chieftainship institution was in existence before the country’s charter was crafted.

After telling delegates at the Zanu-PF annual conference that chiefs would not leave the ruling party, he told NewsDay yesterday that he was openly violating the Constitution because chiefs could not be bound by any law as their institution was there before laws were made.

“What Constitution? What came first, the Constitution or the chiefs? We came first as chiefs before the Constitution,” he said.

“I exhausted that in my speech and all those criticising me do not know anything,” he added while insisting there was nothing amiss about his declaration of support for Zanu-PF.

On Friday last week, Charumbira told delegates at the Zanu-PF conference in Bindura that the traditional leaders were the owners of the party.

“We come as owners of the party. The reason for the existence of Zanu-PF is all about traditional leadership and it is about injustice,” Chief Charumbira said.

Chapter 15.2 of the Constitution stipulates that traditional leaders are not allowed to bear allegiance to any political party or to participate in partisan politics.

Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana claimed that although chiefs were not allowed to dabble in politics, they had a right to express their views.

“They are saying they associate themselves with the philosophies which underpin Zanu-PF. Every political party can also articulate its philosophies in line with what the traditional leaders want,” he said.

“They are not supposed to interfere in the political space, but they have a right to participate and associate themselves with a political party of their choice. You have to balance between the right to interfere in the political space and express a view which is in line with a particular political part.”-newsday

Eight “prophets” from Vadzidzi VaJeso apostolic sect drowned yesterday in Mazowe River in Rushinga while competing to retrieve a “holy stick” in deep water during a ritual to select a Baptist.

The provincial development coordinator Mr Timothy Maregere confirmed the incident and said the deceased are all male and the bodies have been retrieved.

The group consisted of 10 “prophets” and only two survived.

By A Correspondent- Over half a million young people have left the country for greener pastures in 2020 alone, a recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report has established.

The report, titled Labour Market Diagnostic Analysis (LMDA), states that the number does not consider net migration, which has been negative, with numerous workers leaving the country in search of better work opportunities in neighbouring countries and further afield. The report says:

It is estimated that in 2020, net migration the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants was close to 580 000 people. Although there is no accurate data on the number of the working-age population, leaving the country to work abroad.

The most recent study suggests that 72% of outgoing migrants fall in the 20 to 34 years age group. In addition, 40% were women and 73% completed secondary education.

The majority of emigrants cited a lack of employment opportunities as the major reason for leaving the country. Most worked in the agricultural sector before their departure. South Africa was the leading destination chosen by emigrants, followed by Botswana.

Unfortunately, due to their irregular status, most Zimbabwean emigrants appear to occupy low-quality jobs characterised by the absence of employment contracts and social protection.

The report observes that other things being equal, women and young workers are four times more likely to be inactive than men and adult workers respectively.

Youth who enter the labour market may also face additional barriers to finding a job, partly due to a lack of work experience, difficulties signalling their skills to employers, fewer opportunities to access capital and lower levels of social capital.

More: The NewsHawks

By A Correspondent- Sibangilizwe Michael Nkomo, son of the late national hero and vice president of Zimbabwe Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, has won the Zapu presidential election replacing the late Dumiso Dabengwa, who died in 2019.

Nkomo, who is from Matabeleland South Province, won the presidency in a drama-filled elective congress on Saturday after he garnered 793 votes, against former party Secretary-General Strike Mkandla who only received 22 votes while the youngest candidate, Bernard Magugu managed 52 votes.

The three-day ZAPU elective congress comes after a series of postponements due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Derek Katsenga from Mashonaland East was elected vice president after winning 309 votes, against Isabel Murambiwa with 284 votes and Buster Magwizi with 152 votes.

For the post of National Chairperson, former Treasurer General, Mark Mbayiwa emerged the winner with 431 votes, defeating Magwizi (54 votes), the party’s national organising secretary – Zolani Dlamini (47 votes), Patron Nketha (44 votes) and Richard Chitiyo with (23 votes).

The Secretary-General post was won by Mthulisi Hanana with 590 votes, against Vuyani Hlazo who polled 54 votes.

Former Deputy Secretary for International Relations, Future Msebele grabbed the Treasurer General post with 152 votes against Grace Noko with 90 votes, Bongani Halimane with 79 votes and Khethiwe Silundika with 79 votes as well.

More: CITE

By A Correspondent- Nearly 580 000 Zimbabwean youths left the country for greener pastures in 2020 alone, a recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report has established.

The report, titled Labour Market Diagnostic Analysis (LMDA), states that the number does not consider net migration, which has been negative, with numerous workers leaving the country in search of better work opportunities in neighbouring countries and further afield. The report says:

It is estimated that in 2020, net migration the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants was close to 580 000 people. Although there is no accurate data on the number of the working-age population, leaving the country to work abroad.

The most recent study suggests that 72% of outgoing migrants fall in the 20 to 34 years age group. In addition, 40% were women and 73% completed secondary education.

The majority of emigrants cited a lack of employment opportunities as the major reason for leaving the country. Most worked in the agricultural sector before their departure. South Africa was the leading destination chosen by emigrants, followed by Botswana.

Unfortunately, due to their irregular status, most Zimbabwean emigrants appear to occupy low-quality jobs characterised by the absence of employment contracts and social protection.

The report observes that other things being equal, women and young workers are four times more likely to be inactive than men and adult workers respectively.

Youth who enter the labour market may also face additional barriers to finding a job, partly due to a lack of work experience, difficulties signalling their skills to employers, fewer opportunities to access capital and lower levels of social capital.

More: The NewsHawks

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.

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa is the nation’s hope for a better future…

In Mashonaland West Province, villagers and local residents rejected Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF and expressed overwhelming support for President Chamisa.

MDC Alliance has pointed out people in rural parts of the country are ready for change.

“Compatriots in deep rural parts of Mashonaland West province are ready for change. Citizens are unshakeable despite the regime’s continued use of violence. President
@nelsonchamisa
is the hope for a better Zimbabwe.”

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba also said:
“Our central objective is to attain political power, govern differently and transform the concrete realities of the suffering masses of Zimbabwe. We here to tell that story, fellow countrymen we press on.”

ECHOES OF CHANGE EVERYWHERE…Settings in the rural areas of Mash West. Happy Sabbath Zimbabwe!! pic.twitter.com/ANH4xK8DZa

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) October 30, 2021

Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa is the nation’s hope for a better future…

In Mashonaland West Province, villagers and local residents rejected Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF and expressed overwhelming support for President Chamisa.

MDC Alliance has pointed out people in rural parts of the country are ready for change.

“Compatriots in deep rural parts of Mashonaland West province are ready for change. Citizens are unshakeable despite the regime’s continued use of violence. President
@nelsonchamisa
is the hope for a better Zimbabwe.”

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba also said:
“Our central objective is to attain political power, govern differently and transform the concrete realities of the suffering masses of Zimbabwe. We here to tell that story, fellow countrymen we press on.”

ECHOES OF CHANGE EVERYWHERE…Settings in the rural areas of Mash West. Happy Sabbath Zimbabwe!! pic.twitter.com/ANH4xK8DZa

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) October 30, 2021

How old is this officer who is at ZRP Kadoma @PoliceZimbabwe ? pic.twitter.com/mmlfcD1Eug

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 31, 2021

By A Correspondent- The situation on the Zimbabwean side of the Beitbridge Border Post is back to normal after days of chaos caused by upgrades at the country’s busiest port of entry.

Truck drivers were spending up to 10 days in snaking queues at the border after Zimbabwe introduced new toll fees pegged in foreign currency.

Traffic was also slowed down by construction works amid fears the chaos would see transporters opting for more convenient routes, prejudicing Beitbridge.

ZimBorders spokesman François Diedrechsen said insignificant short-term movement in commercial from Beitbridge to Kazungula and other routes was observed during the crisis.

“While there may be some short-term movement from one border crossing to another, we believe our improved processes and crossing speed resulted in time and money savings to our clients,” Diedrechsen said in an interview.

“We have received comments from various transporter groups where they made comparisons pointing out that some had sent trucks in both directions at the same time.

“Those going through Beitbridge had fast turnaround time than the alternative routes.”

ZimBorders Consortium is undertaking the US$300 million Beitbridge’s modernisation project that will see new terminal buildings being constructed.

A fortnight ago, South Africa expressed frustration at the congestion and delays at the Beitbridge Border post with that country’s Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi piling blame on Zimbabwean authorities.

Truckers were spending several days at the border owing to attendant delays resulting from recently introduced processing procedures by Zimbabwean authorities, Motsoaledi said.

He described the new measures by Zimbabwean authorities such as demanding United States dollar toll fees in cash without engaging their South African counterparts as a mockery to African Union agreements on free trade.

The toll fees are pegged at US$200 and $340 for small trucks and abnormal trucks respectively.-standard

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has threatened to descend heavily on party members engaged in violence as Zanu-PF continues to burn amid reports that the party’s restructuring exercise has divided membership.

The restructuring exercise has led to violence erupting with elections for new district structures failing to take off due to infighting.

Addressing a Zanu-PF Central Committee meeting ahead of the 19th National People’s Conference in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the restructuring exercise should serve as a springboard for strengthening party structures.

“I want to reiterate that we are a united, disciplined and peaceful party. Violence, political chicanery and divisive elements have no place in our colossal party.

“Under the Second Republic, we will scale up programmes that enhance dialogue, social cohesion and national unity. We are indeed diverse but one people,” he said.

Battles to control Zanu-PF structures have been raging across Zimbabwe with the ruling party leadership struggling to complete the formation of district structures ahead of the conference.

Several district elections failed to take off while violence has erupted in some provinces in the weeks ahead of the ruling party’s first-ever hybrid conference in the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The party itself has not been spared from the pandemic, which has claimed lives of its leaders including Cabinet ministers. The annual gathering will also be held at 10 different venues across Zimbabwe.

Politburo members will be at the main venue in Bindura with other members following proceedings virtually, between October 25 and 31, with all delegates expected to produce Covid-19 vaccination cards.

However, it is the raging battles that have engulfed Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF amid reports that besides the scuffles reported in provinces, the fissures go straight up to the Presidium.

Mnangagwa acknowledged the chaotic situation in the revolutionary party threatening to descend heavily on unruly members violating the constitution.

The party has recorded turmoil in the host province, Mashonaland Central. Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Manicaland, Harare, Masvingo and the Midlands provinces have also been rocked by the factional fighting.

Party sources told the Zimbabwe Independent early this week that while the house was burning those battling to control the structures have also aligned themselves to, either, Mnangagwa or his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga.

According to sources, battles in Zanu-PF start at the district committee level where leaders fight for control of the districts whose members make up the provincial committee and structures.

Zanu-PF structures start with a cell of 50 members with 10 cells making a branch and this would now have 500 people or members.

“The district will coordinate all these structures. The district will have 40 members from the Main Wing, 40 from the Women’s League and 40 from the Youth League, meaning it has 120 members. The district structure has a direct link to the members in the cells and branches,” the sources revealed.

However, the restructuring exercise has divided the party with President Mnangagwa acknowledging the challenges facing his party.

-TheIndependent

By A Correspondent- Eight prophets have drowned in bid to retrieve a “Holy Stick” in Mazowe River.

The, eight “prophets” from Vadzidzi VaJeso apostolic sect drowned yesterday ( Saturday) in in Rushinga while competing to retrieve a “holy stick” in deep water during a ritual to select a Baptist.

More details follow.

CHIEFS’ Council president Fortune Charumbira yesterday openly defied the national Constitution which forbids traditional leaders from dabbling in partisan party politics after he publicly declared that chiefs were the owners of the ruling Zanu PF party.

Addressing delegates at the party’s annual conference in Bindura, Charumbira, who was once taken to court for urging chiefs to support Zanu PF, said “we come as owners of the party”.

“On behalf of all chiefs and headmen, I want to say, we are together with Zanu PF,” Charmubira said.

“We got invited through a letter and that letter showed who we are. We were invited as delegates, but if you go to the start, we are the owners of Zanu PF.”

Chapter 15.2 of the Constitution forbids traditional leaders from being members of any political party or in any way participate in partisan politics, act in a partisan manner, further the interests of any political party or cause or violate the fundamental rights and freedoms of any person.

“We come as owners of the party, the reason for the existence of Zanu PF is all about traditional leadership, and it is about injustice,” Charumbira said.

“This party is ours, which is the truth. War veterans, you fought the war, you are shareholders, but we are the owners, and others are members, which is the truth.”

Traditional leaders have often been accused of forcing their subjects to support Zanu PF during elections to the extent of threatening to take away their land for supporting the opposition, or denying them government-sourced food aid.

A fortnight ago, Zanu PF supporters in Charumbira’s village in Masvingo attacked MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s convoy during the opposition leader’s tour of the province.

Charumbira yesterday pleaded with delegates at the Zanu PF conference to uphold peace, saying the ongoing internecine fights in the ruling party were a sad reminder of the late former President Robert Mugabe’s era of violence and intolerance.

He played down the alleged power struggle between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga, saying the alleged fallout was a creation of ambitious party members angling to land key positions leveraging on their proximity to the two leaders. – NewsDay

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested Maxwell Guvava, a police officer, for telling ZANU PF supporters that “Nyika Yaora” [the country is now rotten].

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) who are representing Guvava said their client was released from custody after paying a ZWL$5 000 bail. Said ZLHR in an update on the matter:

In Zim, authorities step up onslaught against dissent as they arrest detain& charge Maxwell Guvava, a police officer with insulting or undermining authority of President Mnangagwa by telling some ZANU PF party supporters that “nyika yaora” (Zim is a rotten country) & questioning his capability to solve the country’s economic crisis. Guvava is represented by Godfrey Mupanga of @ZLHRLawyers

Our lawyer Dr Godfrey Mupanga got Maxwell Guvava, a police officer, released from custody on ZWL5 000 bail after he was arrested Thursday for allegedly insulting/undermining authority of President Mnangagwa by telling some ZANU PF party supporters that he is incapable of solving

Zimbabwe’s economic crisis. Guvava has been ordered to report at a police station once every week as part of his bail conditions.

Guvava’s arrest comes barely weeks after another police officer was arrested for singing along to Blessing Shumba’s song “Munyu Hauchavava” [The salt is no longer tasty/sour].- Pindula News

By A Correspondent- A self-proclaimed prophetess has been arrested after he allegedly gave a teenage girl muti to terminate her pregnancy causing her to bleed excessively from her private parts.

The 17-year-old pregnant teenage girl from Magombo compound in umguza district approached the self-proclaimed prophetess, Caroline Ndlela (25), who gave her a concoction which she drank.

After taking the concoction, the teenager suffered stomach complications and bled excessively, said a source. The teenager felt intense pain in her stomach and private parts as blood oozed out. She had to frequent the toilet and left blood stains and that sold her out.

A family member reported the matter to the village head of the area, Enita Ngwenya.
Ngwenya confirmed the incident : “I received such a report and the matter is being handled by the police.”

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident and urged such offenders to seek help from health institutions rather than to seek help from bogus prophets or traditional healers.

By A Correspondent- The Zanu-PF juggernaut rolled into the small mining town of Bindura as the party’s politburo and senior government officials arrived in their chauffeur-driven luxury cars to attend the 19th annual conference.

President  Emmerson Mnangagwa and his two lieutenants, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi flew in on two helicopters.

It was the top of the range SUVs and other all-terrain vehicles that caught the eyes of the people of Bindura.

Politburo members, cabinet ministers and other senior party and government officials chose to attend the conference from Harare, hence the influx of the wide variety of vehicles that rolled into the mining town.

However, with proceedings going on at the Bindura University of Science Education, the ordinary people chose to go on with their business as usual, indicating that the sideshow was an unnecessary distraction as they decided to seek the elusive money with poverty levels quite high in the province.

Mashonaland Central remains one of the poorest provinces in Zimbabwe despite being home to large deposits of gold, nickel and chrome, among other minerals.

In interviews around the town, residents said the Zanu-PF conference was for the top officials who were not worried about looking for money while the people were struggling to make ends meet.

“We have to earn a living and the good thing is that they have limited the numbers because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but all the same that is a meeting for the rich and famous so we would rather be working as usual,” a vendor Anesu Chanetsa said.

A foreign currency dealer at one leading retail shop expressed ignorance of the proceedings at the annual conference, adding that the roadshow had nothing to do with the ordinary people.

“We do not gain anything from that meeting and all the same these chefs are not even staying here and have chosen to drive themselves in their luxury cars from Harare,” he said.

Cecilia Kudzwayi, an informal trader, said the levels of poverty in the province was very high, calling on the leaders, both in government and the ruling party to consider the plight of the ordinary folks.

“People are struggling even to afford a single decent meal on a day and our leaders should meet the people to understand their plight before they hold these conferences while enjoying themselves,” she said.

Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga highlighted the challenges faced by people in the province.

The province does not have even a provincial hospital.

Two of the districts in Mashonaland Central, Mbire and Muzarabani, do not have government hospitals, according to Mavhunga.

Provincial chairman, Kazembe Kazembe also highlighted challenges associated with unequal distribution of resources, saying there were fights among youths on the various mines in the province.-standard

By A Correspondent- Precabe farm in Sherwood, Kwekwe was struck by fire which emerged from lightning   resulting in 13 hectares of wheat burnt to ashes, yesterday.

Issabelo Jamupamanda (45) who was at the farm witnessed the incident. He said:

“I was doing my routine duties when it started raining. There was a strong wind and lightning struck electricity lines before the fire started.”

Jamupamanda mobilised a team to put off the fire. They however failed to contain it.

The matter was reported under RRB 4903658.

By A Correspondent- Cabinet this week announced that the number of new Covid-19 infections among learners in schools continues to decrease.

The travel of boarders during the term exeat, as well as general non-compliance with standard operating procedures for the prevention and management of Covid-19 and other influenza-like illnesses, has contributed to outbreaks in schools.

“It has been observed that some private schools are not fully observing the provisions of the Education Act as evidenced by the continued practice of allowing parents to withdraw boarders from school for exeat weekend or for half-term school breaks during the pandemic, and that enforcement of the Public Health Act on such unsanctioned movement of learners during the pandemic will be evoked and strengthened,” the post-cabinet briefing reads.

As at 25 October 2021, the country’s cumulative Covid-19 cases stood at 132 688 with 127 433 recoveries and 4673 deaths.

The recovery rate was 96% with 582 active cases reported. A total of 303 cases were reported as compared to the 572 the previous week, showing a 47% decrease in cases.

“This is an indication that the national response efforts continue to bear positive results in containing the pandemic,” the briefing reads.

Regarding the national vaccination programme, as at 22 October 2021, a total of 3 275 033 first doses had been administered, while 2 545 717 people had received their second dose.

“Cabinet also noted the need to ramp up vaccination to attain the national herd immunity by year-end as targeted.

“To this end, a programme of activities and schedule is being compiled in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

“The government urges all citizens and urges all citizens who are yet to be inoculated to present themselves for vaccination,” the briefing reads.

Previously, schools in the Midlands battled Covid-19 infections after an outbreak in Mberengwa district, which sent students and parents into panic mode.

The government intervened and carried out Covid-19 tests at the affected schools, including Masase, Mnene, Chegato and Musume, before isolating pupils who tested positive.

-Independent

By A Correspondent- Truant Form Two female pupils allegedly sneaked out and went on a drinking binge in the company of male partners from the community in a juvenile delinquency case that rocked St Patrick’s High School in Nyanyadzi recently.

Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba, confirmed that the Chimanimani District Schools Inspector was told by the school authorities that “nothing like that even happened at the school”.

“I have just talked to the DSI, and he says the authorities at the school say there is nothing like that,” said Mr Shumba.

However, School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson, Mr Canaan Matiashe, confirmed the incident.

“We are worried as the SDC that the standards of discipline are deteriorating at St Patrick’s High School. The authorities at the school are not even engaging the SDC on how best we can assist each other on pupils’ disciplinary issues.

“The incident you are talking about happened on October 6. It is a public secret around Nyanyadzi as the pupils in question were seen partying with male companions from the community.

“A lot is happening at the school without any checks and balances,” said Mr Matiashe.

Sources told this newspaper that the trio — two boarders and a day-learner — all in Form Two, allegedly paid a security staff member at the school to find their way out of the school.

That the pupils are no longer at the school has left many around Nyanyadzi assuming that they were expelled without any legal interventions to allegations of se_xual abuse believed to have been committed when the young girls sneaked out.

Mr Shumba said: “What normally happens, according to Education Policy 35, is that if a child is involved in any form of mischief, he or she is suspended for two weeks pending investigations into the matter at hand. The parents or guardians are brought into the picture. You do not expel a child just like that.”

The school chaplain, Father Eugene Okere, refused to discuss the matter with this reporter on Wednesday afternoon.

“Every institution has rules that it follows. The same applies to us here at St Patrick’s Mission. Go back to your sources, and get the correct information, and then call the education secretary who is there in Mutare. You can even walk from your offices to the Cathedral, you can find him there,” he said.

When contacted for comment, Roman Catholic Church Mutare Diocese’s education secretary, Mr Lawrence Chibvuri, who initially was not aware of the matter before reaching out to Father Okere on Wednesday afternoon, said: “I managed to talk to our official on the ground after you made that inquiry. He said he had been trying to call me after you (this reporter) had phoned him.

“He confirmed that the incident happened, and they advised the parents of the involved children to find alternative schools for their children because it would be difficult for the three children to continue at St Patrick’s.

“It appears the removal of the pupils was after mutual consent by parents and the school authorities. I will have to go there and be on the ground to carry out my own investigations. That is when I can give a comprehensive comment. What I have given you is only based on what the chaplain told me over the phone this afternoon after you had made an inquiry into the matter.”-ManicaPost

By A Correspondent- A Waterfalls woman who alleged swindled £134 977 and US$70 000 from Jairosi Jiri Association is facing civil imprisonment.

Lynette Shumba, who was ordered to reinstate the association last year, has failed to do so and has been dragged to court by her former bosses, the Trustees of the Geoffrey Jekyll Trust.

Shumba was found guilty of the fraud after she authored four letters requesting Jairos Jiri’s offshore investment administrator, FIM Capital Limited, to deposit the money into her relatives Suwisai Musundire South Africa bank account.

Now the trustees are seeking her imprisonment for failing to honor the judgment.

“You Lynette Shumba are called upon to pay the sum £134 977, 92 and US$70 000 together with interest thereon at the rate of five percent per annum calculated from the 28th June 2018 to the date of payment.

“You are required to pay this amount by virtue of a judgment obtained against in the High Court on June 4, 2020, under which you were ordered to pay 134 977 and US$70 000 together with interest thereon at the rate of 12 percent per annum from June 28, 2018, to date of payment in full,” reads the summons.

During the commission of the offence, Shumba forged her boss Lainah Banda and Peter Lloyd signatures fully aware that the two trustees were eligible to give directions to the bank.

She then directed the UK based financial institution to transfer £21 516, 67 and £63 461, 25 to Musundure’s SA bank account in December 2017 while claiming that the relative has been appointed a trustee.

The court heard that she forwarded the copies of the memorandum via Banda’s email address to Mary Tait of FIM Capital without the authority of the two trustees.

Acting on the misrepresentation, FIM Capital deposited £21 516, 67 and £63 461, 25 to Musundure’s bank account.

Again, under the same false pretense, FIM Capital, transferred £50 000 on April 23, 2018, and another USD70 000 on June 28, 2018, to Musundure’s account.

Shumba then collected the money from Musundure’s bank account and converted it to her own use.

The decision is still pending.-Mirror

By A Correspondent- Nudity scandal has once again rocked the camp of the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe pageantry. Another beauty queen has found herself in the midst of a nude scandal after her nudes were leaked on social media.

21-year-old model Chipo Mandiudza who was controversially crowned Miss Tourism Zimbabwe (MTZ) 2021 on Tuesday has been dethroned just two days after reigning as Miss Tourism Zimbabwe.

After her nude pictures were leaked, Chipo immediately sent in her resignation letter to the organizers of the MTZ after the organizers allegedly pressured her to relinquish the crown to protect the image of the pageant. She wrote;

“It is with humility and regret that I step down and cede my reign as Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2021. The past two days have been both a win and a lesson for me.

I thank you for the honour that had been bestowed upon me but I am stepping down because of bad publicity that I feel will further hinder both the MYZ brand and mine, therefore I apologise to the organisers and Zimbabwe at large, for the inconvenience caused. As I step down, I will continue focusing on my studies as a marketing management student and my modelling career.”

Speaking during an interview, following Chipo’s dethronement, the MTZ chairperson and former top model, Sibusisiwe Dube told Sunday News that Chipo did the honourable thing to relinquish the title.

“After her pictures emerged, there was no need for me to really comment further because she made our job easier as she stepped down on her own. Miss Tourism Zimbabwe remains a pageant that respects humankind and we cannot be associated with some of the things that can damage our brand.

“As you know that it’s an ongoing pageant and we would want to keep crowning people who come from different backgrounds, especially those from Christian background, and all so it’s unfortunate that we had to let her go,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chipo’s reign as Miss Tourism Zimbabwe was marred with controversy as the organizers  crowned Chipo as queen without holding a contest.

This comes after the search for MTZ queen was cancelled in 2019 when some of the 19 finalists got injured in a road accident in Vumba on their way to Eden Lodge for a boot camp.

Chipo was set to represent Zimbabwe in the Miss Tourism International that will be held virtually on December 15.

By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance is developing a new candidate selection template to use in candidate selection for the 2023 harmonised elections and beyond.

The party’s deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba yesterday told The Standard that if the template is adopted, the MDC Alliance will choose its 2023 contenders outside its structures in consultation with community members.

He said the party will select its council and parliamentary candidates in 2022, a year before the next elections to give the contenders ample campaign time. Said Siziba:

We are basically strengthening the deployment of candidates because the key objective to be achieved by this template is to make sure that we deploy people that are committed to serving and wanted by the grassroots and community leaders outside our party structures.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that the template, which is being crafted by the MDC Alliance elections directorate led by Ian Makone, is being frowned upon by mostly sitting legislators, councillors and other top officials who fear being side-lined once the proposal is adopted.

This comes after opposition voters have raised concern over some sitting legislators and councillors’ lack of visibility in their constituencies.

Analysts have warned the MDC Alliance that it risked alienating the party from its grassroots support base if it adopted an “elitist template”. Analyst Effie Ncube said:

It may have the unintended consequences of derailing the party from its goal of securing the seat of government because those you consider to be the least educated and the unemployed for example are the most enthusiastic of the support base of the MDC.

It creates an elitist approach to politics, something that is completely unwarranted.

-The Standard

By A Correspondent- The former first lady Grace Mugabe’s G-40 Zanu Pf faction is hunting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF party.

The party said the term G40 was being abused in the party’s factional fights and restructuring exercise, with losers resorting to accusing victors of being aligned to the group to block them from taking leadership positions.

G40 was a Zanu PF faction that had links with the late former president Robert Mugabe, which in 2017 pushed then vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa out of the party before he seized power with the help of the military.

Mike Bimha, the acting Zanu PF spokesperson, said the ruling party’s annual conference that ended in Bindura yesterday addressed the G40 fears.

“Our colleagues must accept defeat and stop calling others G40 as a way of fighting back,” Bimha told journalists in Bindura.

“The issue of G40 members was addressed long back and, therefore, we cannot continue to label those more successful than us G40 members and as the acting national political commissar Patrick Chinamasa put it, we must not give the devil what does not belong to him.”

G40 comprised of former first lady Grace Mugabe and ex-ministers such as Saviour Kasukuwere, Jonathan Moyo, Patrick Zhuwao, and Walter Mzembi.

The majority of the faction’s members were hounded out of the country by the military and police.

By A Correspondent- Norton MP, Temba Mliswa on Friday confronted armed police officers who were harassing former liberation warfighters at the Harare Magistrates courts.

The war veterans had just been released on bail and were on their way to their respective homes.

Mliswa was at the court and had paid the bail deposits fr all the 39 war veterans. The war veterans were arrested for demonstrating against poor pension pay-outs.

Posting on his Twitter handle, Mliswa said he challenged the police officers to respect the war veterans they were harassing.

 Posted Mliswa:

Going out of the court I had to stop& admonish some 

@PoliceZimbabwe

 officers harrying and ordering the War Vets to run& get away from the area. They were heavy-handed. I told them you can’t do that, these are aged people, some are disabled, allow them to walk at their pace

Going out of the court I had to stop& admonish some @PoliceZimbabwe officers harrying and ordering the War Vets to run& get away from the area. They were heavy-handed. I told them you can't do that, these are aged people, some are disabled, allow them to walk at their pace. pic.twitter.com/BIvkZq8JiE

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) October 30, 2021

By A Correspondent-MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa’s driver has been arrested for allegedly forging a foreign number plate.

Mhaka Chishanga is the driver and was arrested last week in Makoni , Manicaland province.

He was arrested arrested for driving a Toyota Fortuner displaying Mercedes Benz registration plates.

Chishanga was granted $25 000 bail with reporting conditions by Rusape magistrate, Rufaro Mangwiro, who adjourned the matter to 4 November.
Prosecuting, Justice Masanganise, said Chishanga also had affixed another number plate on the windscreen, which belongs to Bestbake Foods. He said:
The accused person is employed by MDC Alliance as a driver and is a holder of a valid driver’s licence.
On October 21, Chishanga was driving a Toyota Fortuner, Registration Number AEC8562, and was arrested by police details who were manning a roadblock for failing to affix a rear number plate.
The motor vehicle was impounded and referred to Rusape Central Police Station.
While at the police station, an inspection was made on the accused person’s vehicle by the police, and it was observed that the third number plate AEC8562 was different from the affixed front number plate, ACO3818.

Further checks were made with the Central Vehicle Registry, which revealed that the affixed front number plate – ACO3018 – belonged to a Mercedes Benz, which was allocated to Nelson Chamisa whose given address was Number 2623, Kuwadzana, Harare.
The third number plate which was on the front windscreen, belongs to Bestbake Foods of Number 18, Spurn Road, Ardebeine, Waterfalls, Harare.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF 2023 Presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa said his party has already won the 2023 elections.

Mnangagwa said this was so because his party gained popularity over the past few years.

Addressing delegates at the just-ended party’s National People’s Conference in Bindura this Saturday, Mnangagwa said:
Our structures are vibrant with more active members, supporters and sympathizers. The organisational reach of our party must continue to widen, capturing the greater part of our nation. We are indeed winning our election before election date. Our expansive membership attests to the ever-growing faith, trust and allegiance, which the people have to the revolutionary party.

He added that Zanu PF “under the Second Republic has shown that it is the only party capable of delivering a better and more prosperous future for the people of our great country.”

By A Correspondent – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa-Chiwenga, has exposed the power struggles between the former Army General and his Boss President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Marry posted on her tweeted account last week that Chiwenga does not take orders from Mnangagwa.

Marry posted.
It is most disturbing and disheartening as I write this piece of message, I write for the world to see, to know that the clock might be ticking for me, for those that wish to end my life, I have been followed, my cars have been burged, my parents are being followed, all those that have assisted me have been threatened, some beaten up and some dismissed from work.
I have not committed a sin against those that persecute me, this persecution can be in the line for an oscar nomination for best fiction. I want the world to know that if I die today, it is not the will of God but the will of the one with access to state human resource that can eliminate without hesitation and on the instruction.

They don’t hide themselves, they tell me the are “sorry”, his lawyer tells me that he is “sorry” and sends his wife to see me in my current home, to tell me that he has tried his best and “claims” that he has come underfire from his client because of wanting to reason with him, telling me that he is adamant and has become an animal.
If I am exterminated today, I want the world to know the truth, it is my prayer for God to review the truth and preserve my life. I have been denied access to my children that are minors for the last 2years and have also not spoken to them, children aged 10,9 and 7, I don’t know if they are still alive or if they are dead because all access has been blocked, I just hear from the grapevine that they were being sexually abused and verbally abused by the maid that was given custody of them, the same maid that has taken me to court, I am in pains and my health deteriorating because of the amount of torture that I am receiving from the other side.

I will not mention the things that are before the courts but the issue of my children was dismissed by the Supreme Court, I was given custody of my children by the High Court which is the custodian of all minor children in Zimbabwe according to our “Constitution” and was thrown out the door by the above, same Superior court dismissed Frank Buyanga’s appeal to denie his wife access to their minor son and ordered to bring him back.
I am have been dubbed a drug addict by the one that introduced them to me as he was taking them, is it possible for me to have been doing that with him just observing, who was administering, even those that work with him know that he is the biggest user of opioids including his deputy in the health department.
I have approached the current many times, he has done nothing and has completely ignored me, citing reasons that his subordinate does not take instructions from him, who is the boss now??? If E.D.M wanted to help me, he would have done so, a long time ago because he knows there is no grain of truth in all these fabrications, he has put me out in the open to be terminated, he promised vehicles, security, accommodation since I am being denied access to my homes and all my bullet proof vehicles taken from me, money and all but Absolutely Nothing..

His private doctor E.D.M even advised him 18months ago to send me outside the country for my hands to be operated and he completely ignored it, my own President can’t save me, ELIMINATION IS AT MY DOORSTEP. I AM SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM ALL THOSE THAT ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS TO BE GIVEN MY CHILDREN BEFORE I AM KILLED, DEAD OR ALIVE, I WANT THEM IN MY CUSTODY. I will write again if the opportunity arises, I thinking I am being persecuted for “operation restore legacy”, the truth will be revealed come rain and come thunder. God help me… I am suffering.
Her remarks come amid reports that Chiwenga leads a faction that is pushing for Mnangagwa’s ouster. The ruling party acknowledges that there are frictions within the party but denies that there is bad blood between Mnangagwa and his deputy.

Online

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance activists were Friday injured after Zanu PF supporters attempted to block opposition leader Nelson Chamisa from meeting villagers in Zvimba.

Chamisa was in Zvimba West, winding up his three-day bloody whirlwind “Meet The People Tour” of the province.

Among the injured was 75-year-old Morgan Machingura, who was seriously injured on the face.

MDC Alliance Mashonaland West province spokesperson, Blessing Mandava confirmed the incident.

He said: “Zanu PF has proved once again that it is a cult of blood-thirsty vampires who always seek to spill blood at every whim and turn.

“In a bid to shut out MDC Alliance president Chamisa from accessing former Zanu PF strongholds, they hired and bused militia to Zvimba West where our president was set to commiserate with the family of one of our staunch members who is unwell after losing his daughter, mother, and brother within a space of three weeks.”

Mandava said the rowdy Zanu PF youths barricaded roads leading to the MDC Alliance member’s house with rocks.

The assailants, he added, were bused in by one Leeroy Nyamukanga.

Lovemore Gumbochuma, a 2008 independent parliamentary candidate who is also a retired British Army soldier, allegedly sponsored the attackers.

Added Mandava: “The visibly intoxicated youths ganged up and attacked our members with stones and fired catapults without any provocation whatsoever.

“The militia stole a tent which had been pitched at the venue. They also destroyed the roof and eleven window panes of a four-roomed house, while four villagers who had also attended to pay their condolences were seriously injured.”

The same gang had earlier camped at Zuva Petroleum at Murombedzi business centre where they planned to waylay Chamisa’s motorcade.

The Zanu PF youths also allegedly abducted Zvimba South constituency MDC Alliance treasurer, Maria Wemba, assaulted and stripped her naked, before leaving her for dead.

She was reportedly rushed to hospital by some Good Samaritans.

“We would like to salute all our members who defended fellow member’s property, family, and elderly villagers from this marauding Zanu PF militia which was baying for blood,” said Mandava.

-Online

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF 2023 Presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that his party will win the 2023 elections.

Mnangagwa said that his party had gained popularity over the past few years.
He attributed the party’s growth and success to “its ability to accelerate the transformation of the socio-economic conditions of Zimbabweans.”
Addressing party members at the end of the his party’s National People’s Conference in Bindura this Saturday, Mnangagwa said:
Our structures are vibrant with more active members, supporters and sympathizers. The organisational reach of our party must continue to widen, capturing the greater part of our nation. We are indeed winning our election before election date. Our expansive membership attests to the ever-growing faith, trust and allegiance, which the people have to the revolutionary party.

He added that Zanu PF “under the Second Republic has shown that it is the only party capable of delivering a better and more prosperous future for the people of our great country.”

By A Correspondent- Norton MP, Temba Mliswa on Friday confronted armed police officers who were harassing former liberation warfighters at the Harare Magistrates courts.

The war veterans had just been released on bail and were on their way to their respective homes.

Mliswa was at the court and had paid the bail deposits fr all the 39 war veterans. The war veterans were arrested for demonstrating against poor pension pay-outs.

Posting on his Twitter handle, Mliswa said he challenged the police officers to respect the war veterans they were harassing.

 Posted Mliswa:

Going out of the court I had to stop& admonish some 

@PoliceZimbabwe

 officers harrying and ordering the War Vets to run& get away from the area. They were heavy-handed. I told them you can’t do that, these are aged people, some are disabled, allow them to walk at their pace

Going out of the court I had to stop& admonish some @PoliceZimbabwe officers harrying and ordering the War Vets to run& get away from the area. They were heavy-handed. I told them you can't do that, these are aged people, some are disabled, allow them to walk at their pace. pic.twitter.com/BIvkZq8JiE

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) October 30, 2021

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has violence will not stop the wave of change sweeping across the country.

Despite the violent attacks, President Chamisa took the vibrant community engagement programme to Mhondoro, Mubaira and Zvimba.

He held successful engagement meetings with community leaders in the areas.

“Great Communities and Leaders Interface meetings these past two days in Mhondoro,Mubaira, Ngezi,Chegutu,Neuso & Zvimba.

Pushing under tough conditions, violations, violence and intimidation but the job must be done.Change must just happen.The mood is electric.

A New Great Zimbabwe is loading..Thank u Mash West.Thank u Zimbabwe,” President Chamisa said in a statement.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe plans to splurge millions of United States dollars to procure about 1 000 brand new vehicles for the security services sector next year, to bolster their operations in a move that is likely to crowd out spending into critical social and infrastructure services.

The move, announced by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube during a pre-budget seminar in Victoria Falls at the weekend, came amid growing concerns that the government has only been focusing on pacifying the army, police and other security sector departments at the expense of crucial interventions into social services like procuring drugs for the country’s undersupplied hospitals and learning materials for millions of pupils and students.

Urban sanitation infrastructure has collapsed due to Zimbabwe’s long-running economic crisis, as well as poor prioritisation by government and local authorities.

“I fully acknowledge the need to ensure that our security services are fully funded to enable them to effectively execute their mandate and reduce crime which is on the rise in communities as well as creating a conducive environment for development,” Ncube said in his speech to legislators in Victoria Falls.

“A programme towards procurement of operational vehicles is underway targeting 920 vehicles with additional ones targeted in 2022.

“Additionally, the government has embarked on upgrading and rehabilitation of infrastructure of the security sector whose implementation will be further enhanced in 2022, leveraging on their in-house expertise among other quick-win implementation modalities,” he added.

Zimbabwe’s security services sector has traditionally been pampered with pay rises and luxury vehicles for top securocrats ahead of crucial elections, which critics see as a strategy to help the ruling Zanu-PF maintain its stranglehold on power.

Analysts view Ncube’s move as a ploy to boost security service morale ahead of a key election in 2023, whose campaign has recently been gaining traction, with MDC Alliance president, Nelson Chamisa’s recent whirlwind tour of two provinces in the past week. But even outside elections, the government has always prioritised funding to security agencies during a time when key infrastructure including roads and dams, have been collapsing due to lack of funding.

In the past year, commuters have been hit by serious transport problems after the government banned commuter omnibus operators to contain the spread of Covid-19.

But the state-run Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco), which was expected to fill the gap left by the omnibus operators, is uncapacitated to serve increasing demand as more people migrate to urban areas.

Ncube said the government would be procuring more buses in 2022.

“Government is aware of the challenges faced by the commuting public as a result of inadequate transport services. Currently, the government has provided funding for delivery of 388 buses with additional procurement to augment the current capacity planned for 2022,” the Finance and Economic Development minister said.

There has been a push in Zimbabwe’s prebudget meetings for government to come up with an expenditure plan that leans towards growth stimulating capital projects, like roads and dams, in order to re-ignite waning consumer demand that has been precipitated by de-industrialisation, with firms winding down or shutting operations.

Zimbabwe has tried to make up for the industrial carnage by encouraging people to start small-scale enterprises, but with the financial system extremely cautious to lend to unregistered firms, millions who have entered the small-to-medium enterprises sector have found the going tough.

Ncube is committed to the introduction of turnover taxes as part of efforts to increase revenues. Intensification of the Intermediated Money Transfer Tax has also been listed as among the commitments to tax the informal sector going forward as the economy remains largely informal.

This adds to a presumptive tax regime, in place since January 2021, on unregistered professionals such as engineers, doctors, architects, lawyers and realtors, with a view to expand the tax base.

Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga said at the pre-budget seminar that a tax on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages could be introduced.

Chiwenga proposed that beer drinkers and cigarette smokers be taxed more to enable the country to improve its dilapidated health system. Ncube has also committed to reintroducing student loans, promising to engage relevant stakeholders. He said the government would increase funding to support social welfare programmes targeting vulnerable groups, particularly, persons with disabilities and the elderly.-newshawks

Yvonne Musarurwa’s presence in Glasgow raises eyebrows…

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By A Correspondent- The Zanu-PF Midlands provincial elections pitting State Security minister Owen Mudha Ncube (pictured) and incumbent Daniel McKenzie Ncube has taken a new dimension, amid reports the former has chickened out to pave way for his ally, The NewsHawks can report.

Initially, Mudha Ncube had shown interest in challenging the current provincial chairperson Mackenzie Ncube as the battle for the control of the Midlands intensifies.

But in a sudden turn of events, Mudha Ncube has given a nod to former youth league leader Edison Chakanyuka to contest Mackenzie Ncube.

Mudha Ncube’s supporters have since redirected their campaign in support of Chakanyuka.

Key Mudha Ncube campaigner Philemon Safalan last week notified party members to support Chakanyuka, saying he was now the “key candidate for Midlands provincial chairperson post”.

“Cde Ncube has utilised all intelligence to pave the ground for Cde Chakanyuka and let us all support Cde Chiherenge Chakanyuka as he is now our provincial chairman candidate,” Safalan notified party members of a WhatsApp group dubbed “Endorsement of Mudha”.

Following his announcement there has been a spirited campaign for Chakanyuka, with one party member declaring that “Owen Mudha Ncube and Chakanyuka were one and the same thing”.

The ruling party cadres sympathetic to Mudha Ncube have also said Zvishavane Runde legislator Cuthbert Mpame should deputise Chakanyuka.

The bruising fight between the State Security boss and Mackenzie Ncube has been intensifying in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s backyard as the protagonists battle for the control of the province.

Contacted for comment on whether he was interested in the provincial chairperson’s post, Chakanyuka would neither confirm or deny his interests. “Please be patient (we) will talk (over the issue),” Chakanyuka told The NewsHawks.

But further probes by this publication showed Chakanyuka had already designed campaign material for dissemination via the socoal media group created by party members for Mudha Ncube, an indication that he has been given the greenlight to contest for the post.

Although Mackenzie Ncube has since taken a swipe at his adversaries for adopting “dirty tactics” in the pending party provincial elections, indications on the ground show a grand plan to oust him from his post.

“The Owen Ncube team are leaving no stone unturned as they move to consolidate their grip on the Midlands province,” a party insider said.

“Remember, Ncube is being backed by Moyo (July) (Local government minister) and they are fighting tooth and nail to make sure Mackenzie’s backers, including Joram Gumbo, are weakened in the Midlands province,” the source added.

Both protagonists however declare undying loyalty to Mnangagwa although events on the ground point to a vicious fight which may inflict political scars on both camps.

Sources within Zanu-PF told The NewsHawks that Mudha Ncube had intended to contest for the provincial chairmanship, but had since decided to field his trusted ally Chakanyuka.
They said the plan was to ensure that party members loyal to the State Security minister would redirect their support towards the group’s preferred candidate.

The Midlands Zanu-PF provincial elections have been nasty, with members embarking on a campaign to soil each other’s images as they fight for influential posts.

Efforts to contact Mudha Ncube were fruitless, with a source close to him saying he had adopted a “watch-and-see” approach.-newshawks

By A Correspondent- Police commissioner-general Godwin Matanga’s name has been dragged into an unlawful entry and theft case involving US$152 000 in cash and valuables, pitting prominent corporate executive Grace Muradzikwa and flamboyant socialite Luminitsa Kimberly Jemwa, amid fears of name-dropping and obstruction of the course of justice.

Those involved in the case say Muradzikwa has been using Matanga’s name to intimidate Jemwa, who is fighting with the corporate executive’s son Kundai, accused of unlawful entry into his family tenant – Jemwa’s home – and stealing US$32 000 in cash and valuables amounting to US$120 000.

According to court papers, early this month, Kundai Muradzikwa, son to Insurance and Pension Commission (Ipec) commissioner Grace Muradzikwa, who was Nicoz Diamond managing director, allegedly gained unlawful entry into their tenant, Jemwa’s house at N0. 4 Quinnington Road in Borrowdale Brooke, an upmarket housing estate in Harare’s northern suburbs, after forcing her maid to vacate the premises over delayed payment of rentals of US$1 700 per month.

Jemwa – who is based in Johannesburg, South Africa – had promised to pay the rent in cash upon her return to back to Harare, which she did.

However, before Jemwa’s return, Kundai had allegedly forced out her maid, seized the keys and gained illegal entry into the house and stole US$32 000, designer handbags and jewellery – personal ornaments such as necklaces, rings and bracelets – amounting to US$120 000.

After that, Kundai then called Jemwa, claiming her maid had stolen her goods and left without telling her. Jemwa, top local footballer Nyasha Mushekwi’s former wife, who is now a businesswoman, rushed back to Harare and found her money and valuables gone. In the company of relatives, she went for a surprise visit to her maid Musodzi Pafiwa’s home in Domboshava, only to find that there was nothing to suggest she had stolen money, as her home did not even have groceries. Jemwa then got both Kundai and her maid arrested, even though she had not found anything at her helper’s home.

The maid told Jemwa that Kundai had forced her out and took control of the house keys. It is alleged that once he got the keys, Kundai unlawfully entered Jemwa’s rented property and made off with US$32 000, four pairs of designer shoes for men, three pairs of designer shoes for women, bags and tracksuits, two diamond-encrusted Rolex wrist watches, as well as one pair of diamond earrings, among other things.

However, no sooner had Kundai been arrested than his mother Grace Muradzikwa, a prominent insurance industry executive, started allegedly interfering with police and investigating officers, saying she was well-connected, as she knew Matanga and had “immunity” from the law. She allegedly claimed her son also had “immunity”.

After the interference and intimidation directed at Jemwa and police, she allegedly got her son released from custody unlawfully, while the maid remained detained.

Police officers indicated they were unable to proceed because of Muradzikwa’s interference and name-dropping. Grace is married to veteran journalist and Zimbabwe Media Commissioner member Henry Muradzikwa. She claimed because she and her husband were commissioners, their son could not be arrested.

It is alleged that Grace even tried to stop police from taking her son to court, citing her claimed contacts with Matanga and other powerful people. There were even claims that the Office of the President and Cabinet was involved on her side.

But Kundai was taken to court and remanded to 15 November.

“The accused person, Kundai Muradzikwa, seized the keys from the maid and ordered the maid to vacate the premises because her boss had delayed paying rent by six days in the absence of the complainant and the accused person unlawfully entered the complainant’s home without her knowledge or approval and stole complainant’s money amounting to US$32 000 cash, two Rolex watches, gold and diamond jewellery, clothes and bags valued at US$152 000,” Nomatter Magaba, an investigating officer handling the case, wrote.

“Witness statement confirming that the accused person ordered the maid to vacate the place and handover the keys to him. Accused person was in possession of complainant’s household keys during the time in which the money was stolen and . . . the accused person entered the complaint’s bedroom where the money was and took photographs and sent to the complainant, saying you can check your maid might have stolen some items from you.

“The accused’s mother (Grace Muradzikwa) already interrupted the investigations by influencing the release of the accused person from the cells in the night well after the release time had passed. Since then, the accused’s mother prevented us from carrying searches at his place of residence and influenced by being released from police custody within 2 hours of detention.

“The accused persons are facing serious offences, which if convicted, will face a jail sentence and the state has a strong case against this accused person, since he is the only person who entered the complainant’s house and it is proved through investigation that the crime was carried out by the accused person, since there is no break-in which took place.”

Additional information also indicates that the dockets went missing, not once, but twice, due to interference by Muradzikwa, after she threatened to rope in Matanga. And the release of Kundai from police cells hours after the arrest remains a mystery after calls were allegedly made by Muradzikwa to higher offices.

Asked about her purported links to Matanga, interference or possible name-dropping, Grace Muradzikwa, who was attending a meeting at the time, decline to comment. “As you might be aware, I’m in a meeting and I don’t think I can comment because the matter is before the courts. You said which paper are you from?” she asked.

Matanga’s phone went unanswered. However, we sent him a WhatsApp message, seeking clarity on the issue, but did not get a reply at the time of writing.

Jemwa, who is back in Johannesburg for now, said she could not comment as the matter was still sub judice.-newshawks