By A Correspondent- The Women’s Reform Network Representative yesterday handed over their petition to the Parliament of Zimbabwe and Ministry of local government over the women’s representation in local government.

The organization is imploring the government to reverse its decision to add 587 seats to cater for women Qouta in addition to the already existing 1958 seats for local government.

 In their petition they argued that the increase in seats will add unnecessary burden to the tax payers hence they want a 50/50 representation based on the already existing seats.

‘Now thereforethe petitioners beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to implore the Executive to uphold the Supreme Law of the land by ensuring that Zimbabwe’s legal framework is reviewed in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution as it relates to 50/50 gender equality in elected and appointed positions.

The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo, recently proclaimed at a Women in Local Authorities symposium that the Government of Zimbabwe shall be passing a law to create a 30% women’s proportional representation quota in all local authorities outside of the already existing 1958 wards.

This proposed amendment will see additional women only 587 seats across all the country’s local authorities added on top of the current 1958 seats. As the Women’s Reform Network, we appreciate the need for interventions to increase women’s representation in elected and appointed leadership at all levels.

However, we believe that any intervention must firstly be informed by the Constitutional provisions of Sections 17, 56 and 80 which expressly envisages and demand a legal framework which implements 50/50 gender equality at all levels in Zimbabwe. In addition, it is our considered view that any quotas must be allocated within the existing number of seats. Women empowerment in leadership must never create a burden on the taxpayers whose net effect would affect the adequacy and accessibility of quality gender responsive service delivery which would in turn adversely impact the very same women who must be empowered’ read part of the petition .

The women also implored that the Parliament should make a comprehensive legal framework in order to attain the 50/50 gender equality as enshrined in the 2013 constitution of Zimbabwe.

‘Parliament must insist on a comprehensive review of the legal framework as it relates to attaining 50/50 gender equality in elected and appointed representation. This is important because the Constitution demands it, in Sections 17, 56 and 80, and the Hon. Minister of Local Government and Public Works must adhere to the Constitution and Parliament must exercise oversight over his proclamations so that they do not violate the Constitution which he swore to uphold.

If the Government insist on implementing the proposal of 30% women’s proportional representation quota in local authorities, the 587 seats should be within the already existing 1958. The WRN stands ready to assist the Government with models for implementing the quota within’ added the statement.

The Women’s Reform Network (WRN) Women’s Reform Network Representative coalition of 25 women’s rights organisations and women-led Community Based Organisations with an interest in the integrity of electoral processes.

The government allegedly spent over US$200 000 on Finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s accommodation after his two-year stay at Miekles Hotel where an executive room costs US$200 per night. 

This expenditure of taxpayers’ money comes when Zimbabwe’s economy is still recovering following decades of poor performance.

Ironically, Ncube has since his appointment in 2018, been introducing austerity measures that were meant to cut public expenditure, and promote saving and economic resuscitation.

A senior civil servant Thursday dismissed suggestions that Ncube lived at the Meikles hotel for over two years. The source said:

The honourable minister stayed at the hotel for just three months whilst his house was still being occupied by tenants. As soon as the tenant’s lease was duly terminated, he moved into his personal home.

However, a source in the tourism sector told the Independent that “Ncube stayed at Meikles for a very long time”.

It will not be the first time though after former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko also lodged at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in the capital for many years and the government paid the US$619 000 bill.

Mphoko’s reason for staying at the 5-star hotel was that the house that he was allocated by the government did not match his high office.

He finally moved into a US$2 million mansion built by the government.

-Independent

By A Correspondent- An Indonesian official has reiterated the Southeast Asian country’s interest to secure deals in Zimbabwe’s various economic sectors such as pharmaceuticals, rubber and the railways.

A representative of the Indonesian embassy in Zimbabwe, Rahma Mardina, told the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) special bulletin of her country’s interests:

We are interested in the transportation field by proposing the revitalisation of the railroad with NRZ to fulfil the market needs in Zimbabwe, especially and or regional market as a whole. On our part, we also have a range of products for Zimbabwe.

These include rubber, coffee, pharmaceutical products, palm sugar, red brick machines, transportation aircraft, electric motors with friendly energy, locomotives, concrete and solar panels.

In 2019, Indonesia Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Juniarta Sastrawan, said that his country, through the Indonesia International Economic Co-operation Programme, intends to capacitate the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) by finding investors from all over the world for the parastatal.

NRZ, which recently signed a memorandum of understanding with a Turkish construction firm Yapi Merkezi, is struggling to keep afloat due to out-of-date equipment, among other challenges.

The NRZ requires about US$1.9 billion to rehabilitate its track, acquire locomotives, wagons and upgrade information communication technology to enable the parastatal to increase freight volumes.

In 2019, the government cancelled a US$400 million NRZ recapitalisation programme signed two years ago with the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group after the group reportedly “failed” to comply with contractual timelines.

-Independent

By A Correspondent- A Zanu PF official has said President Emmerson Mnangagwa has no mandate to lead the ruling party after he “arbitrarily” postponed the 2019 elective extraordinary congress to 2022.

These remarks come amid reports that Mnangagwa’s deputy, Constantino Chiwenga is leading a faction that seeks to dislodge him from power.

A local publication, was told by an anonymous senior official in ZANU PF that the situation has rendered Mnangagwa”s leadership shacky. 

Said the official:

Legally, Mnangagwa has no mandate from congress to currently lead Zanu-PF.

He basically avoided the 2019 congress, when it was constitutionally due, and postponed it to 2022. Currently, he is running on empty: the mandate he got from the 2017 extraordinary congress expired. It was for the interregnum only.

Subsequently, there was no other extraordinary congress to allow him and all those in the structures elected in the last regular congress in 2014 to continue.

It was an arbitrary postponement, hence illegal arrangement. So his mandate is illegitimate in terms of the Zanu-PF constitution.

Mnangagwa was installed Zanu-PF leader by the party’s central committee on 19 November 2017 at the height of the military coup and confirmed through an extraordinary congress on 15 December 2017.

The Zanu-PF constitution does not give power to the central committee to remove an elected leader.

If the position becomes vacant, an extraordinary congress is held to fill it in.

Another official said while it appears at face value like Mnangagwa is consolidating power; in reality, there is no consolidation to talk about.

The official said Mnangagwa is now surrounded by political opportunists and he has lost control of the party.

The anonymous official said the glaring factionalism in Midlands and Masvingo, his strongholds, while he is watching “helplessly,” is enough evidence to suggest he had lost control.-Newshawks

By A Correspondent- Psychiatric units at Harare’s two major referral hospitals, Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, are overwhelmed by the rising number of mental health cases linked to drug and substance abuse.

Most patients have complications arising from crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as “mutoriro”, “dombo” or “guka.”

Most abused drugs include ganja cakes, a prohibited cough syrup called BronCleer (bronco), mbanje and illicit beers known as “musombodhiya” in street lingo.

President Mnangagwa recently expressed concern over drug abuse in the country, and he appointed a task force to hunt down drug peddlers.

Parirenyatwa Hospital attends to about 800 mental health patients monthly with most of the ailments being related to drugs.

Admission is only for those with serious illnesses that they cannot go back home while most of them are sent back home after treatment.

The senior nursing officer at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital Mr Nelson Makore said mental health cases linked to drug abuse have since overtaken traditional causes like depression. He added:

Almost 70 percent of the patients we attend to, have problems related to drug abuse and mutoriro is the new drug that is selling more than anything else. It is highly addictive and it affects the mental health of the people.

While some drug and substance abusers cite economic hardships in the country as push factors, Mr Makore said drug abuse also affects the haves as drugs are expensive.

He said medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, police officers, soldiers and officers from the central intelligence organisation, university and college students and pupils from boarding schools constitute a large part of affected people. 

The clinical matron at Sally Mugabe psychiatric unit Ms Enety Mahove said women were also among those with drug-induced mental ailments.

Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals spokesperson Mr Linos Dhire said the increase in the number of youths coming for assistance has caused a huge workload at the hospital because most of these patients present as psychiatric emergency cases, especially with aggression and suicide attempts.

He indicated that there is pressure on the part of practitioners to urgently fill the knowledge gap on how to handle new forms of drug and substance abuse adding that there was a need for more staff.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has said it has not yet acknowledged the existence of the newly formed Citizens Convergent for Change (CCC) political party.

On Monday, a Bulawayo resident with strong Zanu-PF links, Varaidzo Musungo, wrote to Zec notifying the commission of the formation of the CCC, a name that has been widely used by opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

Zec spokesperson Joyce Kazembe said it was impossible to acknowledge receipt of CCC as a political party because it did not provide enough details upon notifying the commission of its existence. He said:Zec does not register political parties, but it simply receives notifications upon formations of new parties.

The commission received a notification from the CCC political group, but since it was incomplete, we did not acknowledge its existence. There are no contact details such as emails or phone numbers, hence it was impossible to acknowledge receipt upon the notification of their existence.

There has been debate around the need to register political parties in Zimbabwe, with some people advocating for conditions on party registration.

Former Zec commissioner Qhubani Moyo said the biggest challenge over years was that there were no regulations that defined the registration of political parties in Zimbabwe.

Moyo said the country should copy what other countries do when a new party registers to contest elections to avoid confusion. He added:

I am told that there is also another party that has written to Zec under the name Zimbabwe Alliance for Movement Unit, and I think this is the Chamisa brigade trying also to create confusion on the name of Zanu-PF.

Moyo added that other countries demand proof of a certain number of registered members before a political party is successfully registered.

In the run-up to the 2018 polls, Zec acknowledged the existence of 123 political parties in the country with some saying the majority were proxies of the ruling party meant to divide urban votes where the opposition has been getting most of its votes.

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe has one of the most transparent systems in Africa in terms of the appointment of judges of the superior courts.

He made the remarks on Friday while addressing the Southern Africa Chief Justices’ Forum jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia in Victoria Falls.

He also said the Second Republic would continue respecting the independence of the Judiciary and the principle of separation of powers in line with the tenets of constitutional democracy.

He said:

Allow me to emphasise that my Government respects the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the Judiciary as a cornerstone of a constitutional democracy. We have one of the most transparent judges’ appointment systems in which prospective judges are subjected to public interviews by the Judicial Service Commission.

Government, therefore respects the decisions and orders of the courts and has put in place mechanisms to enforce those orders. This is indeed a fundamental aspect of the rule of law.

An accountable and transparent Judiciary is one that people can have uttermost confidence in and one that is free of corruption while also expeditiously dealing with and finalising matters before the courts.

Judiciary independence is guaranteed as the essence of the rule of law on condition that the principles of transparency and accountability are observed in the performance of judicial functions.

He speaks when the opposition is saying the “judiciary, like all other state institutions,” is captured by the ruling ZANU PF and the executive arm of government.

In Zimbabwe, prospective judges are supposed to be subjected to public interviews in terms of Section 180 (4) of the Constitution.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has to invite nominations of qualified and experienced lawyers, and members of the public can make these nominations, who are then short-listed for interviews, which are held under the public glare.

Promotions from the High Court to the Supreme and Constitutional Courts no longer require interviews.

In May, President Mnangagwa extended Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s term of office by a further 5 years beyond his retirement age thereby triggering outrage and lawsuits.

He cited the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 2, which among other things gives the president authority to make key judicial appointments, he had signed two days earlier as the basis for the extension.

The High Court nullified the extension but the Constitutional Court later set aside the ruling saying no law had been violated.

Critics said the extension was meant to ensure that Malaba influences court decisions on the 2023 elections the matter spills into courts like in 2018.-statemedia

Various civil society organisations associated with Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition met on Thursday, September 23, 2021 to deliberate on the issue of a national convergence for transformation in light of the  deepening multi faceted crisis in Zimbabwe.

The meeting resolved to, among other issues, strengthen citizen agency and to rally ordinary Zimbabweans, including youths, women, farmers, marginalised populations, ethnic minorities and people living with disabilities to dialogue under the national convergence for transformation process.

The meeting also raised concern over the continued looting of natural resources by political elites and the lack of political will to engage in a genuine all stakeholders dialogue which will unlock the Zimbabwean crisis. 

The meeting noted with concern the exclusive and elite nature of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) platform as well as the deepening intransigence of the state as necessary conditions for ordinary Zimbabweans to step up and define the Zimbabwe they want.

The convergence process will include all Zimbabweans, including the diaspora and across political party lines. 

The common denominator of this dialogue process is the dignity, happiness and freedom of ordinary Zimbabweans

By A Correspondent- A Nyanga sangoma is in the eye of a storm after admitting to have supplied goblins and wealth-enhancing charms to a local businessman.

The goblins have brought nightmares to the Kamutate family by causing deaths and misfortunes.

The sangoma, Edgegot Matiashe, after being cornered by the businessman, Joseph Nyamusa Kamutate’s nephews to exorcise and cleanse the family, demanded and forcibly took away eight beasts from the family as payment for the services.

Matiashe sold some of the beasts.

However, tables have since been turned against the sangoma after Kamutate filed stock theft charges against him.

Matiashe was arrested and is set to appear in court facing stock theft charges.

Police confirmed the incident that happened in Sarutani Village in Chief Hata’s area, saying Kamutate’s nephews — Lionel Wonder Nyamusa (46), Memory Nyamusa (34), Lovemore Nyamusa (36) and Blessing Nyamusa (43) — were also arrested for allegedly assaulting Kamutate.

The quartet allegedly assaulted Kamutate, accusing him of causing one of the relatives’ mental illness among other misfortunes the family is experiencing.

A villager privy to the matter who requested anonymity, said so tense was the situation that Kamutate could have been fatally assaulted by the enraged nephews.

“The nephews are troubled. Deaths and misfortunes bedevilling the family have left them so agitated. Tempers flared after they realised that their uncle was behind all their misfortunes. Some of the villagers believe in Matiashe’s powers and in turn, he (Matiashe) has been grabbing their cattle as payment for his services.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda said on the day in question, the Nyamusa quartet proceeded to Kamutate’s homestead and challenged him to come out of his house.

“They accused Kamutate of causing misfortunes and deaths in the family. They further alleged that Kamutate had obtained goblins from Matiashe in 1996 which were behind all the calamities befalling the family.

“He denied possession of the goblins. This further angered the Nyamusas and they severely assaulted him. They dragged him to another traditional healer in Mapako where Kamutate was fingered as the source of the family’s challenges.

“The feuding parties later confronted Matiashe who admitted to have supplied Kamutate with the goblins sometime in 1996. He demanded eight beasts for his services which include repossessing the goblins and cleansing the whole homestead,” said Inspector Chananda.

It is alleged that when the quartet returned home, they furthered assaulted Kamutate.

“They forced him to release the eight beasts to Matiashe. Under duress, Kamutate released the beasts. His nephews handed the beasts to Matiashe who promised to cleanse the homestead and ensure that the family leads peaceful and normal lives.

Kamutate reported the matter at Nyanga Police Station and the quartet was arrested. Matiashe was also arrested the following day. Investigations revealed that Matiashe had already sold six of the eight beasts,” said Inspector Chananda.

He urged members of the public to consult the elderly or police to solve contentious matters.

He said families should amicably solve any problems than resorting to violence.-Manicapost

By A Correspondent- A man was tackled and led away by state security agents on Thursday after shouting “huya pano iwewe” in the direction of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa, accompanied by his deputy Constantino Chiwenga and a bevy of security guards, had just finished a tour of exhibition stands at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair and was walking to the Office of the President and Cabinet pavilion when the incident happened.

A man walking in the periphery of the VIP party shouted “huya pano iwewe!”, a forceful way of saying “you, come here!” The incident was witnessed by a ZimLive correspondent, and at least one other witness.

It was not clear who was the target of the shout, or if Mnangagwa heard him.

A uniformed police officer grabbed the man and slapped him once. He was joined by Mnangagwa’s plain clothes close protection officers who led the man away.

In the commotion which was over within seconds, Mnangagwa continued walking and chatting, appearing unperturbed

There were immediate questions whether the man – who is dark-skinned and appeared to be in his 30s – has mental health issues.

One of the organisers of the ZITF said: “I didn’t see the incident myself, but I can tell you that security was very tight today because the president was coming, and in any case the ZITF has only been open to exhibitors, government officials, emergency workers and the media so far. Someone with mental health issues is very unlikely to have made it through.”

George Charamba, the spokesman in the presidency, was unreachable.

By A Correspondent- A 28 year old soccer coach from Gqeberha has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for se_xually assaulting four boys between 2017 and 2018.

Sizwe ‘Lali’ Mphini was sentenced in the Port Elizabeth Regional Court on Thursday.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mphini saw young boys playing soccer in an open field in Gqeberha in 2016. He asked if they had a soccer coach, to which they replied “no”.

He volunteered to be their coach and promised to buy soccer jerseys. The children were excited and they agreed to his proposal to play for the “Mighty Eagles” team.

“However, the children testified in court that Mphini never bought soccer jerseys. He instead f0ndled their private parts,” NPA regional spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani said.

Ngcakani added that, during practice time, he would call the boys one by one, to play with their private parts.

Mphini would invite the boys to his house for food and to watch cartoons.

He would call the boys, one by one, to his bedroom and play with their private parts.

He also instructed the boys not to disclose the se_xual assault to anyone.

“The four boys testified that their private parts would be painful and swollen,” Ngcakani added.

They said, at first, they were too afraid to tell their parents. The court also heard that Mphini abused other boys, not just the four who came forward. It is alleged the other boys were afraid to report the crimes.

The NPA added that rumours about Mphini started to spread – and it all erupted when one parent found her boy at Mphini’s house, along with other young boys.

She questioned her 10-year-old son, who then disclosed the sex_ual assault, and stated that Mphini did the same to other boys.

A community meeting was held and, when other boys came forward, the community opened a case at Walmer police station.

The court found Mphini guilty of four counts of se_xual assault.

He was sentenced to five years imprisonment for each count.

“The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, meaning that he will serve five years direct imprisonment,” Ngcakani said.

The youngest of his victims, during the period he committed the crimes, was eight years old, and the oldest was 14.

-News24

 By A Correspondent- Gweru man who fatally assaulted his teenage sister after finding through her cellphone that she was dating many boyfriends was yesterday jailed for an effective seven years after pleading guilty to culpable homicide before Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Maxwell Takuva.

Terrence Tarisai (27) of Clifton Park in Gweru had pleaded not guilt to murder when he appeared before Justice Takuva who was sitting in Gweru on circuit. Murder is when you intend death or so reckless that such an intention can be construed. Culpable homicide is when you take action that a reasonable person would realise could lead to serious injury or death.

Justice Takuva found him guilty of culpable homicide after a full trial where he bemoaned increase in crimes committed by parents or guardians as they apply excessive force in an attempt to discipline children

“There is need for parents and guardians to avoid excessive force when disciplining their children because it leads to unnecessary loss of life. A young life was lost unnecessarily. The accused is found guilty of culpable homicide and is sentenced to eight years in prison. A year of his sentence is suspended on condition of good behaviour,” said Justice Takuva as he handed down the judgement on the sombre looking Tarisai.

Prosecutor Ms Shalom Ndamuka Chikuni presented the evidence that Tarisai fatally assaulted his 16-year-old sister Tryphine using a belt and a cord after accusing her of being promiscuous. She was in Form 3 at Ascot High School in Gweru.

On July 22 last year, Tarisai arrived home and discovered that Tryphine was not at home and had left her 10-year- old sister alone. She came home at around 6pm told her brother she had gone to the shops. He was not satisfied and took her cellphone and went through the young sister’s WhatsApp messages and then threatened to beat her after finding messages from boys she was dating.

Tryphine fled home and stayed overnight at her aunt’s place in Mtapa Section 7, Gweru. The following morning, the aunt, Fungai Mugabe, accompanied her back home and found Tarisai at home. Tarisai said he was going to beat his sister before ordering her to lie on the sofa facing downwards. He took a black cord and assaulted his sister on the buttocks, legs and arms for about 10 minutes.

Tryphine then confessed that she had six boyfriends before he ordered her to call all the boyfriends to end the relationships.

Tarisai took a black belt and continued to assault the girl. Tryphine then complained that she was feeling cold and was put on a bed by her aunt. At about 3pm the same day, it was discovered that she had died in her sleep and a report was made to the police leading to Tarisai’s arrest.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent-War veterans in Chiredzi war veterans have blocked the minister of State for Masvingo Ezra Chadzamira from attending a party meeting and demanded his removal from office.

The war veterans are accusing Chadzamira of corruptly allocating land in the district to outsiders while sidelining locals.

On Monday, the war veterans held a protest at Palm Tree Hotel in Chiredzi, where Chadzamira and other ruling provincial party leaders were about to attend a meeting.

They also called for the removal of all the provincial leaders to enrich themselves instead of serving the people.

The development came a few days after investigators from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc)briefly arrested Chadzamira for alleged abuse of office involving the allocation of land in the province, but prosecutors turned the case down after President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s intervention.

Chadzamira is Mnangagwa’s political ally.

The Mnangagwa faction believes a faction led by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga instigated Chadzamira’s arrest as part of a ploy to oust him from the provincial leadership.

Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association (ZLWVA) Chiredzi district chairperson Killer Makuni confirmed the demonstration to The NewsHawks.

 He said the demonstrators, who wielded placards, are members of his association who are unhappy with the parcelling out of land in Chiredzi.

Makuni said the allocations were done without input from the Chiredzi district lands committee and should be reversed. He also confirmed that war veterans had approached senior government officials, including Chiwenga, to register their displeasure. NewsHawks

By A Corresondent- The late Cleto Zvirikuzhe has been described as a humble and dedicated cadre whose death will be felt in the ruling party Zanu PF and the nation at large.

He was 60.

At the time of his death, Zvirikuzhe was Zanu PF deputy director of Finance.

In a statement, the party’s acting spokesperson Dr Mike Bimha said Zvirikuzhe’s death is a big loss to the revolutionary party.

“Zanu PF Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu and the director Administration Cde Dickson Dzora, the entire party leadership and staff would like to send their heartfelt condolences to the Zvirikuzhe family, friends and relatives on the passing on of the party’s deputy director of Finance Cde Cleto Zvirikuzhe. A humble and one of the longest party civil servant, Cde Zvirikuzhe’s untimely death is a huge loss to the Zanu PF family and the people of Zimbabwe to whom he dedicated a life of service. May His Dear Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.”

Zvirikuzhe, who died September 22 will be buried today in Mashonaland West.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent-The government, through the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC), has launched an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of girls and child marriages in various Apostolic sects around the country.

ZGC chairperson Mrs Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe announced the commencement of the investigation in yesterday’s Government Gazette under General Notice 2733 of 2021.

“The ZGC intends to investigate complaints of the institutionalisation of sexual exploitation and abuses of girls and child marriages in the Apostolic sect, Zimbabwe,” she said.

“Further to the above notice, an invitation is hereby given to any victims or witnesses to any act of sexual exploitation and abuse and child marriages by members of any Apostolic Church to present to the Commission written complaints, witnesses statements and any other supporting documents or evidence which can assist in the investigation. “Oral hearings will commence thereafter on dates to be advised by the commission.”

She said any person who wishes to make any submissions regarding the investigation should visit the Commission Offices in Harare at First Floor Pax House and/or submit them in writing before October 25.

There was national outrage following the death of 14-year-old girl, Memory Machaya during childbirth at a Johane Marange Apostolic Sect shrine in Mutare in August.

The girls husband Hatirarame Momberume has since been arrested on murder charges and having sex with a minor.

Her parents, Edmore Machaya and Rachel Mabika have also been arrested on obstruction of justice charges after they lied about the girl’s age in an attempt to protect Momberume.

Meanwhile, the ZGC will hold its 2021Annual National Gender Forum on November 23.

Mrs Mukahanana-Sangarwe made the announcement under General 2732 of 2021 in yesterday’s Government Gazette.

The proposed agenda for the Forum is “Action towards the eradication of harmful practices which breed child marriages and sexual exploitation and abuse of young girls.”

She said organisations and individuals with interest in gender equality, gender equity and gender mainstreaming to submit suggestions of topics to be included in the agenda for discussion at the forum.

By A Correspondent- Controversial Radio and TV personality Tino Katsande has shared stories on why she is partaking in drugs and her leaked S_x tape.

In the same story on YouTube, Katsande, who said her health was deteriorating, also spoke about why she started the eggs business, what happened to her after ZiFM fired her eight years ago for a leaked S_x tape.

By A Correspondent- Former South African President Jacob Zuma is said to be back at his Nkandla home.

He has reportedly been discharged from a hospital in Gauteng where he had surgery for an undisclosed ailment.

This week, it was placed on record at the Pietermaritzburg High Court that an NPA-appointed medical team claimed that Zuma was fit to stand trial.

Zuma’s advocate says the former president continues to be concerned about the alleged leaking of his confidential medical information to a journalist.

It’s being reported that Zuma will return to Johannesburg for further treatment.

Recently, the Constitutional Court dismissed his application to have his 15-month jail term set aside. 

He was imprisoned for refusing to appear before the Zondo Commission of Enquiry that is investigating him for corruption he allegedly committed while he was still president.

Advocate Dali Mpofu, his lawyer, had argued in July that his client is the only prisoner in the country who was jailed without trial.

The Constitutional Court dismissed the application to have the sentence rescinded and be set aside. 

Zuma is, however, on medical parole after the Department of Correctional Services received and considered his medical report. 

According to South African laws, offenders can be granted medical parole if they are terminally ill or are physically incapacitated. 

-eNCA

By A Correspondent-Chiredzi war veterans have called for the removal from office of minister of State for Masvingo Ezra Chadzamira, accusing him of corruptly allocating land in the district to outsiders while sidelining locals.

On Monday, the war veterans held a protest at Palm Tree Hotel in Chiredzi, where Chadzamira and other ruling provincial party leaders were about to attend a meeting.

They also called for the removal of all the provincial leaders to enrich themselves instead of serving the people.

The development came a few days after investigators from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc)briefly arrested Chadzamira for alleged abuse of office involving the allocation of land in the province, but prosecutors turned the case down after President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s intervention.

Chadzamira is Mnangagwa’s political ally.

The Mnangagwa faction believes a faction led by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga instigated Chadzamira’s arrest as part of a ploy to oust him from the provincial leadership.

Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association (ZLWVA) Chiredzi district chairperson Killer Makuni confirmed the demonstration to The NewsHawks.

 He said the demonstrators, who wielded placards, are members of his association who are unhappy with the parcelling out of land in Chiredzi.

Makuni said the allocations were done without input from the Chiredzi district lands committee and should be reversed. He also confirmed that war veterans had approached senior government officials, including Chiwenga, to register their displeasure.

-NewsHawks

By A Correspondent- Former South African President Jacob Zuma is said to be back at his Nkandla home.

He has reportedly been discharged from a hospital in Gauteng where he had surgery for an undisclosed ailment.

This week, it was placed on record at the Pietermaritzburg High Court that an NPA-appointed medical team claimed that Zuma was fit to stand trial.

Zuma’s advocate says the former president continues to be concerned about the alleged leaking of his confidential medical information to a journalist.

It’s being reported that Zuma will return to Johannesburg for further treatment.

Recently, the Constitutional Court dismissed his application to have his 15-month jail term set aside. 

He was imprisoned for refusing to appear before the Zondo Commission of Enquiry that is investigating him for corruption he allegedly committed while he was still president.

Advocate Dali Mpofu, his lawyer, had argued in July that his client is the only prisoner in the country who was jailed without trial.

The Constitutional Court dismissed the application to have the sentence rescinded and be set aside. 

Zuma is, however, on medical parole after the Department of Correctional Services received and considered his medical report. 

According to South African laws, offenders can be granted medical parole if they are terminally ill or are physically incapacitated. 

-eNCA

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been fingered in the arrest of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s close ally Ezra Chadzamira.

Chadzamira is also the Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairman and the Minister of Masvingo provincial affairs.

Chadzamira, who is considered a strong ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was arrested early this month on allegations of corruption.

Sources close to his arrest said Chadzamira was arrested the same week Chiwenga had visited Masvingo.

“A day before Chadzamira’s arrest, the vice president was in Masvingo, where he addressed sugarcane farmers. It is from this meeting that Chadzamira’s corruption allegations appeared to have emanated from. After the meeting, the VP ordered the arrest of Chadzamira.

By A Correspondent- Samora Machel Avenue is set to be re-opened on Monday the 27th of September following the completion of the construction work at the Mbuya Nehanda statue site in Harare.

The closure of the intersection was necessitated by the works on the statue and the architectural structures to support it.
Harare Metropolitan Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Oliver Chidawu confirmed that the project is now complete.
He said:

The synchronization of traffic lights and a lot of services which had been disrupted by the construction had not been completed and we are now all so excited as it reduces the congestion.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa earlier this year said the government will not end with the construction of the statue of the spirit medium of Nehanda Nyakasikana whose words sparked the Second Chimurenga.
He promised more statues of national heroes which he said will act as a reminder of the history of the country.
Government critics said while the cause was noble, the construction of statues when the country has other financial needs showed that the government’s priorities are misplaced.

Leaked government documents suggest that the galvanised steel statue of Mbuya Nehanda which weighs 64 000kgs is valued at 2 184 575.44 South African Rand.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been implicated in the arrest of Ezra Chadzamira, the Minister of Masvingo provincial affairs.

Chadzamira, who is considered a strong ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was arrested early this month on allegations of corruption.

Sources close to his arrest said Chadzamira was arrested the same week Chiwenga had visited Masvingo.

“A day before Chadzamira’s arrest, the vice president was in Masvingo, where he addressed sugarcane farmers. It is from this meeting that Chadzamira’s corruption allegations appeared to have emanated from. After the meeting, the VP ordered the arrest of Chadzamira.

Sparks flew in the Ministry of Mines this week, as the long-running dispute over Ran Gold Mines, a 122-year-old asset in Bindura, took a new twist, with an angry party to the deadlock accusing Mines minister Winston Chitando of overturning a Supreme Court order.

The broadsides were fired after Chitando, who last week came under fire from the President’s Office to act on a sea of disagreements over minerals claims, ruled on Monday that the gold mine at the heart of confrontations between mining executive Jack Murehwa’s G&P Industries and Ran Mines and businesswoman, Angeline Munyeza’s Blackgate Investments belonged to the Murehwa consortium.

“The ground that Blackgate pegged was not open to prospecting and pegging according to Section 31 of the Mines and Minerals Act at the time that Blackgate purports to have repegged and subsequently registered the claim known as Kimberley 18, which belongs to Ran Mine and G&P Industries,” Chitando said in the determination, which came over a decade after the parties began fighting over the goldfields.

“In light of these findings, the certificates issued to Blackgate Investments were issued in error. I hereby cancel certificates of registration numbers 36 375 and 37 353 respectively,” Chitando said.

But yesterday, an angry Munyeza rejected the ruling. She accused Chitando of avoiding slipping into contempt by avoiding a key Supreme Court order in coming up with the determination.

She said the dispute over Ran Mines was fraught with irregularities from the start when “your ministry adamantly stood by the fraudulent ‘letter’ produced by Jack Murehwa in a hearing held on February 6, 2020.

“Your determination has made us question the constitutional adherence of your office as this action is detrimentally groundbreaking and unheard of. It implies the precedence of a minister overturning an order from the highest court in the land, thus depicting your office as a supposed superior arm of the law which acts above the law itself.

“It is rather baffling that a whole minister can use the word ‘error’ to adjudicate a dispute that has been ensuing for more than a decade and deem it as conclusive. We are a business which was built on a patriotic mantra and we believe that your decision could only be equivalent to staging a coup d’etat . . . this is appalling in professional conduct for a minister to overturn a ruling made by an esteemed bench of judges that sits in the highest court in the land. In culmination from our assertion your determination is unlawful in the sense that you have not fulfilled the Supreme Court order hence it renders the Ministry of Mines in contempt of court and continues to be the instigator of this never-ending spiral of injustice that prejudices the nation of the much-needed development,” Munyeza said.

Fighting reached a tipping point two weeks ago when G&P Industries said it was pressing ahead to extract its first bullion at the mine in 22 years, while rivals at Blackgate Investments warned that sinking shafts at the operation was illegal until the government makes a determination over ownership.

Documents seen by the Zimbabwe Independent indicated that Blackgate holds permits demonstrating ownership to the goldfields, which have now been cancelled.

The Independent reported last week that in a 76-page letter submitted to President Mnangagwa in December, Blackgate claimed that G&P Industries had warned them to tread carefully as the asset belonged to the feared late strongman, Robert Mugabe and his family. The letter claimed that after Mugabe unceremoniously left power in 2017, G&P somersaulted and claimed that Mnangagwa had taken over the asset, which collapsed in 1999 before attracting armies of artisanal miners.

G&P has indicated that it has a US$6,5 million war chest to rebuild Ran Mines, which made headlines in November, after its shafts collapsed under heavy flooding as torrential rains swept through Zimbabwe.

In her letter to Mnangagwa, Munyeza said Zimbabwe lost about US$500 million in potential gold exports during the prolonged dispute. She said Blackgate identified Ran Mines after previous owners left, but ran into problems after being swamped with complaints that it had intruded into G&P claims. She said in November the government took the warring to the mine, but she was shocked when G&P said she must “keep quiet because the mine belongs to the first family”. Munyeza is seeking clarity if it was true that Ran Mines’ ownership had transferred from Mugabe to Mnangagwa.

“It is in your best interest that I bring your attention to an issue of paramount importance that if left derelict, could derail and negate the efforts that are being made towards establishing a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023 — fighting the scourge of corruption that could ultimately result in the perpetuation of the abuse of your name and family by cunning, unscrupulous individuals within society,” Munyeza said.

“The dispute in question has been a prolonged one . . . emanating in 2008 . . . characterised by alarming levels of corruption within the Ministry of Mines and gross abuse of the name of the late President Robert Gabriel Mugabe as well as yours and your family members. These occurrences have led us to seek clarity…and…impartial recommendation as this matter infringes negatively on your reputation and integrity as you are the chief steward of the country,” Munyeza said.

Last week, presidential spokesman, George Charamba said there was a worrying trend of conflicts over claims that the Mines ministry has failed to address.

“I cannot confirm that we have received the letter as the President’s Office,” Charamba said.

“Maybe it is still on its way, but this is a clear message to the Ministry of Mines that the whole regime of assigning titles to claims must be tided up. I am sure there is a need for intervention from the high office,” Charamba told the Independent.

-Zim Independent

Tinashe Sambiri|Only genuine and sincere dialogue can resolve the country’s political stalemate, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.

Speaking in an interview with Heart and Soult Tv in Harare on Thursday, President Chamisa described POLAD as a platform created by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to dictate his political will…

He also accused the Zanu PF regime of stifling meaningful development in local authorities.

“Zanu PF is stifling development in local authorities by politicizing the approval of key budgets. We cannot be be blamed for the problems that are affecting citizens in urban areas because Zanu PF controls the allocation of resources to local authorities.
If anything you can only blame Mr Mnangagwa’ s administration for sitting on budgets and initiatives.Roads are now rivers ( as it were) because of potholes.They are stealing ZINARA funds,” said President Chamisa.

He added:”Zanu PF has created its own opposition led by Douglas Mwonzora so you cannot say we have lost the right to use the MDC brand.

We have not lost the leadership dispute- don’t worry about Zanu PF surrogates. We are the real deal and we are the genuine game in town.
Actually Zanu PF is strengthening us.

They want to force us to disclose our strategies and we will not do that – don’t listen to Zanu PF political rhetoric. Zanu PF can convince you that monkeys are donkeys …
Mr Mnangagwa has subtly admitted that we are in charge.”

On the so called defections he said :”Who wants a basket full of bad apples ?
Mr Mnangagwa has failed to unite country- he is immature.
He cannot separate politics from national issues.He is only concerned about clinging to power.”

President Chamisa said POLAD was created to sanitize Mr Mnangagwa’s stolen mandate.

” It’s Mr Mnangagwa’s own creation, he is the prefect of the platform.
We are not puppets – POLAD is a discredited platform – we want honest dialogue facilitated by a neutral player.”

Tinashe Sambiri|Only genuine and sincere dialogue can resolve the country’s political stalemate, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.

Speaking in an interview with Heart and Soult Tv in Harare on Thursday, President Chamisa described POLAD as a platform created by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to dictate his political will…

He also accused the Zanu PF regime of stifling meaningful development in local authorities.

“Zanu PF is stifling development in local authorities by politicizing the approval of key budgets. We cannot be be blamed for the problems that are affecting citizens in urban areas because Zanu PF controls the allocation of resources to local authorities.
If anything you can only blame Mr Mnangagwa’ s administration for sitting on budgets and initiatives.Roads are now rivers ( as it were) because of potholes.They are stealing ZINARA funds,” said President Chamisa.

He added:”Zanu PF has created its own opposition led by Douglas Mwonzora so you cannot say we have lost the right to use the MDC brand.

We have not lost the leadership dispute- don’t worry about Zanu PF surrogates. We are the real deal and we are the genuine game in town.
Actually Zanu PF is strengthening us.

They want to force us to disclose our strategies and we will not do that – don’t listen to Zanu PF political rhetoric. Zanu PF can convince you that monkeys are donkeys …
Mr Mnangagwa has subtly admitted that we are in charge.”

On the so called defections he said :”Who wants a basket full of bad apples ?
Mr Mnangagwa has failed to unite country- he is immature.
He cannot separate politics from national issues.He is only concerned about clinging to power.”

President Chamisa said POLAD was created to sanitize Mr Mnangagwa’s stolen mandate.

” It’s Mr Mnangagwa’s own creation, he is the prefect of the platform.
We are not puppets – POLAD is a discredited platform – we want honest dialogue facilitated by a neutral player.”

Tinashe Sambiri|Only genuine and sincere dialogue can resolve the country’s political stalemate, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.

Speaking in an interview with Heart and Soult Tv in Harare on Thursday, President Chamisa described POLAD as a platform created by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to dictate his political will…

He also accused the Zanu PF regime of stifling meaningful development in local authorities.

“Zanu PF is stifling development in local authorities by politicizing the approval of key budgets. We cannot be be blamed for the problems that are affecting citizens in urban areas because Zanu PF controls the allocation of resources to local authorities.
If anything you can only blame Mr Mnangagwa’ s administration for sitting on budgets and initiatives.Roads are now rivers ( as it were) because of potholes.They are stealing ZINARA funds,” said President Chamisa.

He added:”Zanu PF has created its own opposition led by Douglas Mwonzora so you cannot say we have lost the right to use the MDC brand.

We have not lost the leadership dispute- don’t worry about Zanu PF surrogates. We are the real deal and we are the genuine game in town.
Actually Zanu PF is strengthening us.

They want to force us to disclose our strategies and we will not do that – don’t listen to Zanu PF political rhetoric. Zanu PF can convince you that monkeys are donkeys …
Mr Mnangagwa has subtly admitted that we are in charge.”

On the so called defections he said :”Who wants a basket full of bad apples ?
Mr Mnangagwa has failed to unite country- he is immature.
He cannot separate politics from national issues.He is only concerned about clinging to power.”

President Chamisa said POLAD was created to sanitize Mr Mnangagwa’s stolen mandate.

” It’s Mr Mnangagwa’s own creation, he is the prefect of the platform.
We are not puppets – POLAD is a discredited platform – we want honest dialogue facilitated by a neutral player.”

Namibia based Zimbabwe medical doctor Tavaziva Onisimos Musariri has reportedly died in a horrific road traffic accident which occurred between Rehoboth and Windhoek this Friday morning.

This is according to a tweet by Namibia’s New Era Newspaper.

Details of the tragedy are not yet clear.

Rehoboth is a town in central Namibia just north of the Tropic of Capricorn.

It is located 90 kilometres south of the Namibian capital Windhoek,

As women’s rights organisations we are concerned and worried at the ongoing saga involving the Vice President Dr CGN Chiwenga and his wife Mary Chiwenga. We note that private matters such as divorce should remain within the realm of private life, it is equally important that parties involved treat these issues as such. It would be worrisome if parties used their proximity to State institutions to push these to settle personal challenges with their spouses.

Since the Chiwenga couple’s divorce proceedings commenced over the last several months, the nation has been gripped by what is turning out to be an embarrassing yet disquieting turn of events. It must be noted that the couple have had a blissful marriage life which has been blessed with children and prior to the ugly turn of events they appeared in public blossoming in the sunshine of their love. It is therefore disturbing that since their fall out things have turned terribly nasty especially for Mary Chiwenga.

She has been arrested and arraigned before the courts and eventually granted bail after long proceedings at the High Court. If she is guilty of the offences for which she was arrested for then justice will take its course but in the meantime, she should enjoy her presumption of innocence.

While we are not medical practitioners, our sense of humanity informs us that Mary Chiwenga is visibly unwell and in need of medical attention which may not be readily available in Zimbabwe. It is therefore in the best interest of her right to life that at a minimum she goes for treatment. We understand that this is a matter before the courts and will therefore only give our opinion and not instruct the courts as to the determination they must make on this matter.

Further, we appeal to the HHHonourable Vice President CGN Chiwenga to allow Mary Chiwenga access to their children. As women, some of us being mothers, we understand the pain of being separated from children hence our call for the couple to find common ground where they can share in the growth of their kids.

In the final call, we also note that State institutions must not be used to settle domestic differences. This is in respect of allegations by Mary Chiwenga that some sections of the security forces were used to remove her property from one of the couple’s homes. We therefore urge the couple, while stature attract national attention, to resolve their differences amicably and to give their children an enabling environment for them to grow and attain their full potential as they themselves have been able to do

the statement was issued by the following organisations, WALPE, FEMPRIST, Rural Young Women Support Network and CHITREST.

By A Correspondent| The High Court has ordered Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda to reinstate recalled MDC Alliance legislators including Tendai Biti, Willias Madzimure and three others.

This follows a High Court ruling which nullified the recall instituted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Lucia Matibenga.

The court ruled that the recalled MPs who include Vice President Tendai Biti and five others were not part of the party which recalled them.

Earlier, Mudenda refused to reinstate the recalled legislators following an earlier default ruling made by the High Court after PDP failed to file opposing papers to the appeal.

By A Correspondent- A Lower Gweru juvenile allegedly raped two sisters and three cousins aged between six and eight years, and ran away when the crimes were discovered.

The boy allegedly raped his two sisters aged seven and eight respectively as well as three cousins, one aged seven and the other two, six years.

Both the boy (15) and the complainants lived with their grandmother when the alleged rape incidents occurred.

According to a police memo from the Gweru Rural Police Station addressed to the officer commanding Gweru rural district, the boy disappeared after the alleged last rape incident on September 8.

It is alleged that on the day he disappeared at around 11pm at a plot in Lower Gweru, the 60-year-old granny heard the five minor girls making noise in their bedroom hut.

One of the children said she had screamed during a rape ordeal, waking the others up.

Upon being discovered, the juvenile took off and was never seen again.

The other children also narrated their ordeals at the hands of the juvenile.

On September 14, the granny went to Insukamini police base where she filed a report.

Two police constables took the girls to Gweru Provincial Hospital for medical examination.

The matter is being investigated under Gweru rural RRB number 4629720.

By A Correspondent- Tapiwa Makore Senior, who was arrested last September in Murehwa on accusations of killing his Seven-year-old nephew and namesake Tapiwa Jnr, was Thursday denied bail pending trial by the High Court.

The judgement was delivered by High Court judge Justice Mhuri, who said that there is a probability that Makore would try to escape the consequences of his crimes which are likely to be serious.

“Applicant is facing a murder charge of a juvenile aged 7 … murder by its nature is a very serious offense which invariably calls for a very severe penalty, and as submitted by respondent may attract a death penalty, life imprisonment or a very long definite prison term. This will induce the applicant to abscond,” Justice Mhuri said

Justice Mhuri had further decreed that granting Makore bail would not be welcomed by the public and it would make people lose confidence in the courts and judicial system.

“…it is my considered view that it will not be in the best interest of justice to grant the applicant bail. Granting applicant bail will lead the public to lose confidence in the criminal justice system. I am persuaded that there are compelling reasons not to grant the applicant the liberty he is seeking pending his trial. To that end therefore, I will not grant the indulgence he is seeking. It is, in the result, ordered that the application for bail pending trial be and is hereby dismissed,” the judge said.

Makore, was arrested and jailed last year together with his twin brother Thanks, their sister-in-law, Maud Hunidzarira and a herdsman by the name of Tafadzwa Shambawere. They were accused of abducting the boy while he was attending to the family’s vegetable garden on Sept 17.

After his arrest, Shamba confessed to the police that he kidnapped, drugged, and mutilated the boy so he could sell his body parts to a witch doctor for $1,500 (U.S.).

The four were remanded in prison by Harare Magistrate and were advised to file for bail at the High Court.

Thanks and Hunidzarira were granted bail application by the High Court in December last year and Tapiwa senior also approached the court with the application of his own arguing that there was no real risk he would abscond as he has a family and is of fixed abode and wanted to be treated the same with co accused persons.

By A Correspondent- It was an exceptional long weekend for 9-year-old Rodwell Khomazana, as he received his prosthetic nose at the Capital Prosthodontics and Henk Cronje of Dura Art Dental Laboratory in Pretoria.

The brave Zimbabwean boy was ecstatic to receive this gift after he was brutally attacked by a hyena at a night vigil he had attended with his grandmother outside Harare late in May.

The Smile Foundation and outstanding medical practitioners, who included Dr Avish Jay Jagathpal and his team, sponsored Khomazana with a prosthetic nose and made sure he received pro bono services throughout his implanting surgery.

“From the day I had met Rodwell, I knew that making him a prosthetic nose will be a challenge. The biggest hurdles to overcome were the multiple grafts from different parts of his body that introduced many different colours to the palette, and his age meant that the size of his face will change drastically over the years to come,” said Jagathpal.

It had taken three weeks to record the positions of the missing nose, the topography of the grafted skin, and the positions of each of the implants, he said. And when Khomazana puts it on, it forms a seal that enables him to breathe through it.

“The maxillofacial surgeon had fortunately placed implants into the upper jaw that we had used to construct a cobalt-chromium bar with magnets on it.

“This bar would remain in place over the years, but the silicone nose would easily be changed with time as his grafted skin shrinks and his face grows,” explained Jagathpal.

His mother, Shamiso Mabiko has been educated on how to clean the inside magnetic bar – the nose clips on and off like a magnet.

“My son’s confidence has been restored after the procedure. I am very happy about Rodwell’s new nose. He gave a big thumbs up for a successful operation,” said Mabiko.

In a few years’ time, Khomazana will undergo reconstructive surgery for a new nose. The medical experts who have been on his journey to success describe him as a “hero without a cape”

-TheStar

IF you’re the unfaithful, get it, read it and carefully consider the advice. If you’re the betrayed, give it to your unfaithful spouse.

Never sleep with a married person.

In a devastating turn of events, a Bulawayo man, who allegedly bedded and impreg_nated a married woman, got more than what he had bargained for when he was slapped with a US$50 000 adultery lawsuit by his alleged lover’s husband.

Mthulisi Dube from Nkulumane 14 suburb came to realise that there is no joy in bedding a married woman when he was sued by Lawrence Mqondisi Ncube for allegedly engaging in an adulter0us relationship with his wife Cynthia Ncube (nee Muzamba).

In his summons filed by his legal practitioners, Sauramba SP Attorneys at the Bulawayo High Court under case number HC1293/21 Lawrence who is based in South Africa, said as a result of the adulter0us relationship between Dube and his wife he lost the services and comfort that come with a “blissful” marriage.

He said the tryst between his wife and her lover started sometime in 2019.

“Plaintiff (Lawrence Mqondisi Ncube) was married to Cynthia Ncube nee Muzamba on the 8th of August 2016 at Bulawayo in terms of the Marriage Act (Chapter 5:11). The marriage still subsists.

“Since 2019 defendant committed adult_ery with plaintiff’s spouse. The adult_ery resulted in a child and breakdown of the plaintiff’s marriage. Plaintiff has instituted divorce proceedings,” Lawrence’s summons read in part.

As a result of the adult_ery plaintiff has suffered the following damages.

“Contumelia inflicted upon the plaintiff in the amount of US$25 000 payable at ZWL equivalent at the bank rate prevailing on the day of payment and loss of consortium in the amount of US$25 000 also payable at ZWL equivalent at the bank rate prevailing on the day of payment.

Whereof plaintiff’s claim against the defendant is payment of US$50 000 or at ZWL equivalent at the bank rate prevailing on the day of payment”.

Dube is yet to respond to the summons.

The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) has announced that trains will be free of charge this Friday to thank those who have been using the train service.

ZUPCO made the following announcement on Thursday.

Please note tomorrow Friday 24/9/21 all the afternoon Zupco-Nrz train services will be free. (Afternoon only) This is to thank all of us who have used the service thus far and importantly to request that all of us try the convenient ride home. Once you try you will never stop!

By A Correspondent- There was drama in Nkulumane suburb when one man almost killed his 14-year-old daughter by choking her after suspecting that she had lost her virgi_nity.

The minor was reportedly saved from Coolboy Sikhumbuzo Moyo’s grip by two men who were passing by.

After the incident, the girl’s grandmother, Naomi Ndlovu immediately applied for a protection order barring Moyo from physically and verbally abusing his daughter.

In Ndlovu’s application, the girl also took the opportunity to narrate the horrendous incident: “It was on 11 June 2021, at around 3pm when I was coming from the shops in the company of my friend when I met my father by the gate of our home.

We greeted him and he greeted us back then he immediately told my friend to go away and that he did not want to see her near me,” she said.

She added that as she was talking to her father he began twisting her arm, at the same time asking whether she was still a virg_in or not.

“I felt the pain and loosened myself from his grip and opened the gate trying to get into the yard, but he got hold of me again,” she said.

She said her father only released her when her grandmother intervened.-BMetro

By A Correspondent- A survey conducted by the Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights has exposed that 18 out of the 21 ministries have websites.

“The survey results established that:18 out of 21 government ministries have websites; only 13 out of 21 government Ministries have their organogram on websites; of the 18 government Ministries with websites, only 1 did not list its email contacts and only 2 listed provincial email contacts,” reads the survey.

“Of the 21 ministries, 20 have Twitter Accounts; All the government Ministries had telephone numbers in their websites and only 4 provided provincial telephone contacts; Only 22% of the government Ministries provided mobile contacts in their websites; A total of 20 ministries have Facebook accounts but only 12 have active accounts with some not updated as from 2017 and All the ministries do not have whatsapp contacts on their websites.”

The survey state that  the specific recommendations to individual government Ministries, the survey recommends that all government Ministries have updated websites and new digital media accounts.

“In websites of government ministries, the names of principals and senior leadership and their direct contacts should be displayed. Cellphone and WhatsApp contacts of key focal persons in the government Ministries be provided for in the websites,” reads the survey.

“It is anticipated that the implementation of these suggestions will enhance e-government, civic engagement, transparency and accountability in Zimbabwe thus aiding the protection and promotion of human rights and a strong social contract between government and its stakeholders.”

By A Correspondent- A Lower Gweru juvenile allegedly raped two sisters and three cousins aged between six and eight years, and ran away when the crimes were discovered.

The boy allegedly raped his two sisters aged seven and eight respectively as well as three cousins, one aged seven and the other two, six years.

Both the boy (15) and the complainants lived with their grandmother when the alleged rape incidents occurred.

According to a police memo from the Gweru Rural Police Station addressed to the officer commanding Gweru rural district, the boy disappeared after the alleged last rape incident on September 8.

It is alleged that on the day he disappeared at around 11pm at a plot in Lower Gweru, the 60-year-old granny heard the five minor girls making noise in their bedroom hut.

One of the children said she had screamed during a rape ordeal, waking the others up.

Upon being discovered, the juvenile took off and was never seen again.

The other children also narrated their ordeals at the hands of the juvenile.

On September 14, the granny went to Insukamini police base where she filed a report.

Two police constables took the girls to Gweru Provincial Hospital for medical examination.

The matter is being investigated under Gweru rural RRB number 4629720.

By A Correspondent- Health officials have engaged traditionalists and churches following reports that suspected goblins are se_xually abusing minor girls at Tsholotsho District Hospital, a development that has resulted in the community shunning the health facility for services.

Three staff members’ families who share a house within the hospital cottages are alleged to have been tormented by the goblins for the past two weeks.

Three minor girls staying at the house have reportedly been seeing “strange things” and each morning there would be blood stains on their privates.

Hospital authorities with the help of Tsholotsho Senator Cde Alice Dube, District Medical Officer Doctor Mbonisi Nyathi and the District Development Co-ordinator’s office have found alternative place of residence for the three girls at a guest house at the Tsholotsho Centre.

Dr Nyathi said hospital services have not been affected so far although some members of the public are now generally scared to visit the health facility.

“These things are confined to the three families living at that house and others are not affected. So far stakeholders and local leadership are helping and have engaged traditionalists while churches are also conducting prayer sessions,” he said.

Senator Dube said the minor girls need help.

“What’s happening is painful. I visited the hospital last Friday and the girls are really tormented, they need help. I saw it happening with my own eyes as one of the girls started screaming that it was tying her legs and we could see her being tied yet we couldn’t see the creature. We wait to hear from traditional leadership and we hope a solution will be found soon,” she said.

The goblins are said to be so daring such that at one point they tied one of the girls’ legs with some earphones code in full view of a crowd during a prayer session.

In another incident, the goblins allegedly locked one of the girls in a toilet and tied her hands with a string before gagging her and se_xually abusing her.

Community leaders have since sought assistance from churches and traditionalists with a cleansing prayer ceremony planned for Wednesday next week.

A group of Zionist prophets have been conducting prayer sessions at the hospital for the past few days.

A tsikamutanda who was engaged last week reportedly failed to exorcise them.

The suspected goblins have been throwing mostly kitchen utensils out of windows.

The Chronicle was told that the goblins followed the girls to the guest house and their families found a strange written warning note threatening to kill them if they are not returned to the house at the hospital.

The girls were then taken back to the hospital but have since gone back to the guest house after the intervention of prophets.

Chief Magama said:

“There is real trouble here. We have tried all avenues and we await to see what will happen. We have brought in church pastors and traditionalists but nothing has happened so far. A hospital is an important place for services hence we can’t have such things happening as this will disturb services. Zionists prophets have arranged a service on 29 September and we hope this will be solved,” said Chief Magama.

— Chronicle

By A Correspondent- A 33 year old Mazowe Henderson Research security guard drowned yesterday at Mazowe dam where he was allegedly caught poaching fish by Zimbabwe National Parks (ZimParks) officials.

Martin Chisimba’s body was retrieved this afternoon by the police sub-aqua unit.

A witness who identified himself as Moto told a local publication that Chisimbe was illegally fishing in the dam using nets and a canoe when Parks officials approached him using a speed boat and he drowned after being told to go outside the dam.

“PARKS Officials who were using a speed boat approached the guard who was fish poaching and ordered him to go outside the dam and as they drove off Chisimbe drowned we are not sure if he drowned as a result of a splash of the wave from the boat or it was just fear.”

According to Parks and Wildlife Act the use of fishing nets without a permit is a criminal offense under section 85.

Here is the Coronavirus/ COVID-19 Situation Report or Update for Zimbabwe by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) on 23 September 2021:

• New cases: 330
• Local Cases: 330
• Returnees: 0 {High number of cases constituting 69% of cases reported today Mash East (26), Midlands (28), Manicaland (14) and Masvingo (48), Mat North (23), Bulawayo (1), Mash Central (89) are from outbreaks detected in schools}.
• Deaths: 8
• Vaccinations: 15 897 (first dose); 27 089 (second dose)
• Total Cumulative Vaccinations: 3 008 335  (first dose); 2 157 642 (second dose)
• Tests: 5 245 (Positivity today was 6.3%)
• As of 22 September 2021, 01500hrs there were 103 hospitalised cases: New Admissions 4, Asymptomatic 23, mild to moderate 62, severe 24 and 4 in Intensive Care Units.
• Recoveries: 188; National Recovery Rate: 94%
• Active Cases: 2 693
• Total Cumulative Cases: 129 134
• Total Recoveries: 121 841
• Total Deaths: 4 600

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa said his party would get back everything it lost to a rival faction, including the party’s Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (MRT) headquarters.

He said the MDC Alliance did not react radically to the “illegal State-assisted” takeover of the party headquarters by the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T faction because it wanted to give peace a chance.

Speaking in an interview with HSTV, Chamisa opened up on his relationship with Mwonzora, disclosing that he had to negotiate with Giles Mutsekwa to step down and pave way for his former secretary-general turned tormentor to be Senator for Manicaland after he begged him.

“If you have people getting open support from the State to take over illegally and criminally the headquarters of the party and of course, we are waiting for the Supreme Court to determine this issue, you know that kind of act is criminal, flagrant violation of the law,” Chamisa said.

“We have not responded in a radical manner because we want to give peace a chance, but we will get back everything that was taken away from the organisation.”

The MDC-T took over the MRT house last year with the aid of the military and armed police after a controversial Supreme Court ruling that declared Chamisa’s presidency of the opposition party illegal.

The MDC Alliance challenged the takeover of the party headquarters and the Supreme Court is still to make a determination.

Chamisa said he served Mwonzora embarrassment after he had lost primary polls to represent the people in Manicaland. Mwonzora, Chamisa said, begged him to accorded a senatorial position.

“I am the one who appointed Mwonzora on bended knees after he had failed to secure a seat as a Member of Parliament in Nyanga,” Chamisa said.

“He then came to me and said, look, Mr President, can you accommodate me on the list of proportional representatives in the Senate because I don’t have where I would serve the people of Zimbabwe from.

“I said fine, that’s fine, we had to convince Giles Mutsekwa in Manicaland because he was the one on the list after provincial consultations to actually step aside for Mwonzora because he was senior in the party.

Chamisa said he did the same for Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri.

“They pretend as if they were parachuted from nowhere to be senators, we appointed them, but you know borrowed robes are very temporary, watch this space,” he said.

Referring to the 2014 congress held in Harare where Chamisa lost to Mwonzora for the secretary-general post, MDC Alliance said the MDC-T leader never won against him.

“Which election, we don’t want to go into it. They know what they did in 2014 when they claimed they won. I don’t want to speak ill of the dead,” Chamisa said.

“They know what they did, including the role of the State. They released money at night without following procedure from CBZ and the Reserve Bank and that money was released to some people in the party as a way of stopping Chamisa. This project of trying to fight the people’s representatives started way back.”

Chamisa said after his defeat to Mwonzora, he had talks with Tsvangirai over the issue.

He said Zanu PF had always targeted the MDC for infiltration.

“I have said that because we are a big organisation, the bigger the size, the bigger the risks and hazards of infiltration, an elephant will always have an elephant of problems, a rat will always have a rat’s problems. Size determines the size of your challenges,” Chamisa said

By A Correspondent- Three men have been arrested in connection with the murder of Bulawayo businessman Mr Bevan Peters in January this year.

Mr Peters, the owner of Peter’s Bargain Centre, was attacked by Clever Dube (29) of Pumula suburb, Brian Mutandwa (22) and Jabulani Ngwenya (25) both from Entumbane suburb and they got away with US$12 000 and two gold watches.

On Saturday police received a tip-off that Dube was the one who went with his team to the Bellevue suburb where they killed Mr Peters and stole his money. Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Inspector Abedinico Ncube said:

Police reacted to the tip-off and managed to arrest the accused person who admitted that they committed the offence. Dube implicated the other three as his accomplices and two were arrested in their houses.

The trio admitted that they robbed and killed the now deceased.

It is reported that Dube, Mutandwa and Ngwenya entered Mr Peters’ house using the kitchen entrance and struck him with a golf stick on his head and they dragged him into a corridor where they killed him.

They went to Mr Peters bedroom where they opened his fitted wardrobe and stole his money, cellphone and a watch and left him for dead in his corridor.

Mr Peters was found dead by his friend, facing upwards, blood oozing from one side of the head and his legs and hands were tied with a rope.

Neighbours made a report to the police, who took the body to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) mortuary for post-mortem.

Police expressed gratitude to members of the public for providing information that led to the arrest of the accused persons and appealed for information on the whereabouts of the fourth accused person Thembani Ncube.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Zimeye Twitter Spaces will tonight feature the National Constitutional Assembly President Professor Lovemore Madhuku.

The meeting will be at 730PM-930PM and Professor Madhuku will be addressing the following issues:

-Transformation of the National Constitutional Assembly to a political party
-NCA relationship with MDC (as a founding partner).
-NCA relations with the government given its history with the late President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF, NCA’s position on POLAD.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has declared the former Public Service Commission chairman, Mariyawanda Nzuwah, a national hero.

Nzuwa died in Harare on Tuesday.

He was 68.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe announced the conferment of the status on Nzuwah.

“I have received the message that Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwah has been declared a national hero,” said Minister Kazembe in a brief statement.

Nzuwah succeeded Mr Malcolm Thompson in 1992 as chairperson of the then Civil Service Commission and served for 26 years before his retirement in 2018, making him the longest-serving member of the Commission.

By A Correspondent- Police said they had arrested 50 301 people under an operation aimed at fighting cross border crimes and 48 235 others under an operation targeting illegal mining activities.
 
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police would continue to intensify efforts to apprehend suspects under these operations.
 
The two operations were launched in January as part of efforts to contain cases of smuggling and border jumping that are rampant in the country as well as illegal mining activities and violence being caused by machete gangs.
 
“There is an operation which is ongoing where we have deployed our personnel to man all the country’s points of entry and exit. We have also increased patrols in mining areas. As at 20 September we had arrested 50 301 since operation, ‘No to Cross Border Crimes/ Fhasi Ngamilandu Yamukanoni Yamashango/Mhosva Pamiganhu Ngadzipere/Amacala Kawaphele Emingceleni Yelizwe,’ began in January 2021,” he said.
 
“We also arrested 48 235 people under the operation, ‘Chikorokoza Ngachipere/ Isitsheketsha Kasiphele’ and No To Machete Gangs. “
 
He urged members of the public to alert the police whenever crimes are being committed.
 
Government continues to lose millions of dollars in potential revenue as unrelenting smugglers and border jumpers continue to defy Covid-19 lockdown regulations by escalating their illegal activities. With borders closed many traders have resorted to smuggling their goods into the country for sale.
 
Illegal crossing points are used as major conduits for smuggling goods in and out of the country such as cigarettes, beer, groceries and household property among other commercial goods.
 
The country also continues to record cases of violence in mining areas caused by machete gangs. The gangs will be targeting miners intending to rob them while in some instances the violence is caused by tensions among rival mining groups. Chronicle

By A Correspondent- The High Court reinstated MDC Alliance vice president and former finance minister Tendai Biti and five other former PDP officials as MPs recalled from parliament early this year by MDC-T.

The high court ruled that the six’s recall from parliament by Mwonzora was null and void.

Biti who was in 2018 elected the Harare East legislator was together with other People’s Democratic Party (PDP) parliamentarians recalled in Parliament in March this year.

The Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda said he had received notice from the PDP recalling Biti and several other opposition lawmakers.

In April, Justice Amy Tsanga ruled that Benjamin Rukanda, the man who initiated the recall of Biti, William Madzimure of Kambuzuma, Settlement Chikwinya — Mbizo, Kucaca Ivumile Phulu — Nkulumane, Sichelesile Mahlangu — Pumula and Regai Tsunga — Mutasa South was not a legitimate member of the PDP.

Rukanda then appealed against the order by Justice Amy Tsanga but the appeal was dismissed by Justice Tawanda Chitapi who found that it failed to comply with the rules.

Mwonzora has been recalling MDC Alliance MPs and Councillors since the March 2020 Supreme Court ruling on the MDC leadership crisis
which observed that Nelson Chamisa had violated the party’s constitution to attain the presidency.

MDC Alliance accuses the ruling Zanu PF of orchestrating the recalls to weaken the opposition party.

By A Corresponded- A picture of an Unidentified Harare man with knitted beards has gone viral…

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says he is feeling very strong and determined to fight for change.

The Zanu PF regime is using pseudo opposition elements in a desperate bid to neutralize President Chamisa’s rising popularity.

Political observers have predicted victory for the youthful leader in the 2023 polls.

Writing on Twitter, President Chamisa urged citizens to remain hopeful as the struggle for freedom continues.

“I’m feeling very strong. Stronger than ever before! Thank you for walking with and in HOPE.”