By A Correspondent | Anti fraud investigators probing the controversial UK licensed immigration-sponsor and CEO of Lorac, have found the company truly defrauded people, as earlier reported by ZimEye, in a development that has seen the first of refunds being processed.

Lorac is a company that for 4 months has been collecting thousands of dollars from struggling Zimbabwean job seekers promising them work in Britain.

In July, Caroline Nyakudya avoided a media question on the recruitment cap she has on her sponsorship facilitation from the British government.

Two days later, Nyakudya went to the extent of claiming friendship with a journalist while avoiding an interview over the matter. On Saturday, she promised she would answer the question during her Monday webcast.

A few days later, there was a shift when she blatantly refused to answer to any other question other than those she has handpicked. She announced that she is only engaging those who have paid her USD100 fee. it is believed that she has so to date gained tens of thousands of US dollars from desperate job seekers.

She failed to explain discrepancies on company documentation she has been advertising, and also failed to disclose her limitations.

Back then, Nyakudya while on a broadcast, said:

I will pick out some questions shortly…so the rest of the team, if you can look out for any questions that might be there, from candidates, okay, so from existing candidates who are going through the process…those candidates who are going through the process, who have decided Lorac International is the model that they are going with. Those to us are our priority and those to us are the people that we really need to ensure understand the system, and understand how it runs. And understand how to contact and to communicate. So we want to make sure that when you are trying to contact us you are contacting us, A: on the correct numbers…You’re also contacting us, in terms of the correct pathways. So we are not really, we will not be responding to information that is not passed through our correct channels. That is not information that we are paying out any attention to at all; we will be responding to any information that is directed to us with regards to our official channels. And that is where we stand.

Yesterday the first ever customer to obtain a refund following the investigation by this news network came up to narrate her story.

She wrote saying:

Hello Hanzvadzi
Just to help someone out there ! I had paid $100 for someone , after having realised that it was money making program ,

“I filed a dispute with PayPal! Lorac health never responded but the PayPal dispute wing took it over !

“I received the refund in full ! See below ! I advise those who went through the same predicament to demand their refund through PayPal! ! ”

We publish below some of the concerns and questions posted by customers on the Lorac International’s facebook page after Carol did a live on July 19 on the International recruitment process.

The concerns and questions have not been addressed to date.

Lucia Madzorers : Thank you Carol patiently waiting for the consultant s response

Bethany Geets  Lucia Madzorers if you don’t mind me asking, has a consultant bn already assigned to you?What exactly is happening

Chio Gore  · 13:09Hello Carol I am very patient asi iii it’s been a month now I paid you guys with no contact

Sisa TshabalalaDo you realize you have always been repeating the same message over the past 3 videos nhayi CEO?I understand vanhu munemashandiro enyu, but how can everyone be on the same stage yet we applied at different times? Is there one consultant that one has … 

Milz Kafamauro  · 12:45Maybe Simba was right you apply you are told stories

Sharon Moyo  · 22:50What if you have IELTS Academic , do you still need to do General ?

Zai Regondo  · 28:23Ko makazotiiko nemaths veduwe, ndokumbirawo mudzibvise

Aretha Tinashey Chapfiwa  · 34:06Mercy Karonga huya unzwe

Noma Zulu  · 15:20So can pay the application fee and become unsuccessful. Why not go through the screening process and then let the successful candidates pay10

Brian Masube  · 1:15I got a Consultant but he hasn’t sent me the secret code

Fatima Nyahunguwo  · 2:47Hello Carol

Chio Gore  · 14:03All ihave is ww are still going to give u a consultant

Grace Ona  · 37:52From your office in harare. They mentioned that the recuitment process is 18months pliz clarify on that what it means. Coz the first group of 10 people are going early august or last july 2021. So does that mean the next group will be taken after 18 months

Nolusindiso Lisa MacandaWhat is stage 1??

Martin Manatsa  · 0:45No reply yet from any consultant

On its homepage Lorac International claims that the organisation are Leaders in Health
& Social Care UK Job Market.

The organisation says they are a Specialist recruitment organisation for UK Home Office approved providers.

“We excel in providing specially trained quality staffing for the UK market. We pride ourselves in being an ethical and equal opportunities employer.”

In the UK, its physical address is 2 Parsons Street, Dudley, England, while in Zimbabwe, it is located at Number 24 Harvey Brown avenue in Milton Park Harare.

Efforts to get a comment from Nyakudya was work in progress by the time of writing.

By A Correspondent- Tonganyika Trust, a local organisation founded by Harare South MP Tongai Mnangagwa (Zanu-PF), yesterday launched an empowerment project in the capital aimed at equipping young women with critical skills for self-sustenance.

The project will also be supported by Women’s and Empowerment banks.

The two banks will provide loans to young women to start their own businesses upon completion of training.

Mnangagwa said through the project, he would open a platform for women to speak freely about the challenges they are encountering.

“The project will open a platform for women to air out their problems to me. Protection is guaranteed,” he said.

“There is also a mentorship programme to groom adolescent women to become leaders and I will personally accord them the opportunity to come to Parliament and witness first-hand how Parliament business is conducted.”

He added that both the handicraft project and the mentorship programme were open to interested teen girls and young women.

Tonganyika Trust will pay all the costs incurred in the project.

By A Correspondent- The Ministry has started the construction of Destiny  road to Hob House tarred road.

The construction of Hob House road was initiated by the recalled ward 17 Councillor John Nyamhoka and the late town Clerk Joshua Maligwa had signed for it in 2020.

The road was supposed to be constructed using 2019 budget, unfortunately, ZINARA failed to release funds to Council in time. This led to the construction of Dream House to Hob House tarred road very late. 

However, the Ministry of Roads is now fulfilling what was agreed on using money from  ZINARA.

Speaking to John Nyamhoka, he said he is happy that what he pushed during his time has been finally fulfilled.

“I am happy because we are going to have a tarred road in Hob House soon. This is what i and other residents of Hob House pushed about three years back. It was my wish to have a better roads in my ward. Most of the buses were avoiding Hob House because of poor roads”, said Nyamhoka.

Meanwhile, Zanu pf is on the ground, trying to take the credit, lying that it is its project.

Speaking to a resident who asked for anonymity said Zanu pf aspiring candidates are trying to lie to us that Zanu pf is constructing the road.

He said, “Zanu  pf is now on the ground using this as a campaign tool. All zanu pf aspiring candidates are now seeing on the ground, the likes of Mutengo and Esau Mupfumi.

“They think that we are sleeping and do not know what is taking place. When budgets meeting were done we attended. We all knew that soon or later there is going to be a tarred road from Destiny to Hob House. 

“Infact the road was supposed to be from Jeff road to Hobhouse via Dream House. 

“So these Zanu pf people think that we are not aware that it is the Ministry of Roads which is constructing roads with the money from ZINARA. The money that was supposed to be given to Mutare City Council so that it would do the same job”, he said.

The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has overturned a High Court order issued July this year declaring the extension of Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s term of office beyond his retirement age of 70 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa was unconstitutional.

This means Malaba can stay on for the next five years as the country’s topmost judge with his services most likely to come in handy should there be another disputed elections in 2023.

Malaba is viewed as a close ally to Mnangagwa, whose 2018 poll victory was upheld by the judge after being challenged in the ConCourt by arch-rival Nelson Chamisa of MDC Alliance.

By Jane Mlambo| Controversial Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has challenged Zanu PF Mashonaland West Youth Chairperson Vengai Musengi to a boxing match and has offered him 10 beasts should he go beyond 30 seconds in the boxing ring.

Mliswa said proceeds from the bout will go towards supporting party youths in the province impoverished by Musengi’s lack of leadership.

Mliswa claimed that Musengi called and threatened him over an issue he did not disclose.

“I was called by Mash West Youth Chair Vengi Musengi who threatened me. As a young person he seems to have too much erratic energy. Thus I have sought to channel that energy towards a constructive end. I have challenged him to a clean bout in the ring until one of us surrenders,” said Mliswa.

The firebrand former Mash West chairperson said the boxing match should be televised with front row seats going for US$100.

He added that if Musengi lasts more than 30 seconds in the boxing ring, he will get 10 cattle as an incentive.

“No machetes, guns and thuggish acts, just a refereed fight. We sign indemnity forms, he chooses whether we do gloves or bare hands or any martial arts discipline and people pay to watch. Live television& front row seats US$100. We channel the proceeds to charity.

“The money we realize from this will be shared between the youths in Mash West who have suffered his lack of leadership. The other half we give to Norton. As an incentive I have put 10 cattle on the table if he can last beyond 30 seconds,” added Mliswa.

Bulawayo police yesterday disrupted International Peace Day commemorations organised by Ibhetshu LikaZulu, a local civic group seeking restorative justice and redress of the Gukurahundi issue.

Police stormed the meeting in central Bulawayo and briefly detained event organiser Mbuso Fuzwayo for allegedly convening an unsanctioned meeting.

Fuzwayo was released after the intervention of his lawyer Nqobani Sithole.

“As an organisation, we still have a position, and we are not convinced it is the best thing for us, especially when we are talking about the past injustices, to go and ask for permission from the police, CIO and the army; the reason being that they are the main perpetrators,” Fuzwayo told NewsDay.

“We have engaged the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, even when we appeared before the jury where we raised that concern that we are not comfortable to either ask or inform these institutions because of the role they played in the past injustices.

“So our position is that if they want to have someone who they will be asking or informing, they have to create a structure for us to inform them about our activities around Gukurahundi,” Fuzwayo said.

The International Peace Day is a United Nations-sanctioned event commemorated on September 21 every year by observing a 24-hour period of non-violence.

The theme for this year’s commemorations was Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Former First Lady Grace Mugabe suffered another blow as a Chinhoyi magistrate threw out her bid for judicial review of Chief Zvimba’s ruling ordering the exhumation of the late former President Robert Mugabe’s remains.

Chief Zvimba in May ordered the exhumation of Mugabe’s remains for reburied at the National Heroes Acre.

Grace, who was in Singapore, gave her daughter Bona, powers of attorney to represent her in the court case to have the chief’s judgment reviewed on technicality.

The former First Lady want-ed Chief Zvimba’s order to be suspended because he served the papers at Mugabe’s Borrowdale mansion instead of his rural Zvimba home. She also wanted the ruling to be suspended on the grounds that the chief ordered her to pay a fine with cattle that are not in his area of jurisdiction. Grace also questioned the chief ‘s jurisdiction over the matter.

But yesterday, Chinhoyi magistrate Ruth Moyo said Bona had no right to apply for judicial review of the ruling that was handed down by Chief Zvimba in the case between Grace and Tinos Manongovere.

This is the second defeat for the Mugabe family.

Early this month, Moyo dismissed an application by Mugabe’s children, Bona, Tinotenda Robert Jnr and Bellarmine to suspend Chief Zvimba’s ruling.

Mugabe’s children have since appealed against Moyo’s ruling.

“An application must be deposed on the basis of the funding affidavit’ in casu, the court has a determination that when Bona Mutsahuni filed the founding affidavit, she had no authority at law to do so,” part of Moyo’s ruling read.

“The special power of attorney was executed on July 27, 20 days after the application was filed and has no retrospective effect. The court will not deal with all other points.”

Grace’s lawyer Fungai Chimwamurombe said they were not happy with the ruling and would appeal.

“Obviously, we are not happy with this ruling as it disregards the power of attorney given to Bona by her mother since she was out of the country,” Chimwamurombe said.

Mugabe died in September 2019 and was buried at his Kutama rural home after the family stood its ground against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government that wanted him to be buried at the national shrine.

By A Correspondent| A ruling ZANU PF parliamentary candidates Esau Mupfumi and a Mutengo have been accused of hijacking a Zimbabwe National Road Authority (ZINARA) road project currently under development in Mutare’s Hobhouse.

According to a Mutare source, the two politicians are trying to take the credit, lying that it is their project.

Speaking to a resident who asked for anonymity said Zanu PF aspiring candidates are trying to lie to us that Zanu PF is constructing the road.

He said, “Zanu PF is now on the ground using this as a campaign tool. All Zanu PF aspiring candidates are now seeing on the ground, the likes of Mutengo and Esau Mupfumi.

“They think that we are sleeping and do not know what is taking place. When budgets meeting were done we attended. We all knew that soon or later there is going to be a tarred road from Destiny to Hob House. 

“Infact the road was supposed to be from Jeff road to Hobhouse via Dream House. 

“So these Zanu PF people think that we are not aware that it is the Ministry of Roads which is constructing roads with the money from ZINARA. The money that was supposed to be given to Mutare City Council so that it would do the same job,” he said.

The Ministry has started the construction of Destiny  road to Hob House tarred road.

The construction of Hob House road was initiated by the recalled ward 17 Councillor John Nyamhoka and the late town Clerk Joshua Maligwa had signed for it in 2020.

The road was supposed to be constructed using 2019 budget, unfortunately, ZINARA failed to release funds to Council in time. This led to the construction of Dream House to Hob House tarred road very late. 

However, the Ministry of Roads is now fulfilling what was agreed on using money from  ZINARA.

By A Correspondent- A Masvingo ‘illegal’ money changer was left ruing his actions to evade law enforcement agents after being hospitalized at Masvingo Provincial Hospital following an alleged attack by a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer on Saturday September 11 at Victoria Hotel during a blitz targeting illegal money changers and vendors.

Justice Murambwi (37) of Runyararo West Suburb said he met this fate at the hands of a ‘ruthless’ officer who slid him on the pavement as he tried to negotiate his escape route from their area of operation popularly known as paChicken Inn.

“We were at Victoria Hotel when the police pounced on us. One of the officers tackled me and I fell to the ground leading to severe injuries I sustained on my right leg. X-ray results are showing that the leg sustained two fractures, one on the ankle joint and the other one on the fibula. The doctor said this could cause permanent injury.

“The case was reported at Masvingo Central Police but I am yet to know the name of the officer who injured me though if an identification parade is conducted I would positively identify the guy,” said Murambwi.

When TellZim News crew visited the health institution, a visibly shaken Murambwi expressed agony, anguish and despair as he lied on his hospital bed and said he has no other alternative source of income thereby looking up to fellow workmates to foot the medical bills.

A police report seen by TellZim News dated September 11 2021, showed that the case was reported, stating that Murambwi only fell on the pavement and sustained injuries but it had no CR number.

“The patient fell on the pavement and injured his right ankle,” reads part of the document.

Medical report stamped September 13 2021, stated that the injuries are severe and disability is likely to happen.

“The injuries are likely to have been caused by a blunt object. Serious force could have been used to inflict pain. The injuries are severe and disability is likely to happen,” reads part of the medical report.

Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said the case was reported and investigations are underway.

“The name of the perpetrator is not yet known and we are still investigating the matter”, said Dhewa.

Sources privy to the case said Murambwi was injured by a police officer who was raiding vendors and illegal money changers.

“I was here on Saturday. A police officer tackled Murambwi as he tried to evade arrest and he sustained serious injuries on the leg. It seems the police are trying to conceal the case, when we visited the police station we were taken to different offices but nothing materialised. Most of us here can identify the officer if we see him,” said the source.-TellZim

By A Correspondent- The African Apostolic church leader, Paul Mwazha had to seek the hand of the High court in a bid to stop war between his sons and holding pilgrimages at church shrines which were scheduled for this week.

Mwazha’s second son and faction leader Alfred Kushamisa has invited members of the church to attend church pilgrimages scheduled to be held this week and next week.

This move violates the High court order which barred both parties from accessing church shrines at Ndarikure Shashe in Midlands and Mapembe in Manicaland, Bulawayo24.com has learnt.

Mwazha  wants all gatherings cancelled pending the finalisation of the leadership wrangle to curb possible violent clashes between the sons at the shrines.

For Immediate Release

Zimbabwe: Dire Lack of Clean Water in Capital
Urgently Tackle Years-long Crisis in Harare

(Johannesburg, September 22, 2021) – Residents of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, face a potable water crisis three years after a deadly cholera outbreak, Human Rights Watch said today. Zimbabwe’s central government and the Harare City Council should urgently act to ensure clean water for millions of people affected.

The water situation in Harare is largely the same as in 2008, when Zimbabwe experienced the most devastating cholera outbreak in Africa in 15 years. The outbreak killed 4,200 people and infected at least 100,000. Human Rights Watch found that the city’s perennial water crisis, which is linked to the cholera outbreak, is the result of the city’s obsolete water infrastructure, a ballooning population, severe droughts, and pervasive government corruption and mismanagement. Poor governance and disputes between the central government and the Harare City Council have hindered efforts to address the problems.

“Harare’s long unresolved water crisis is a ticking time bomb of magnified health risks that forces residents to seek alternative, often unsafe water sources,” said Dewa Mavhinga, Southern Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Zimbabwean authorities at the national and local levels should work together to promptly and permanently end Harare’s dangerous water problems.”

Human Rights Watch interviewed 85 people in October 2019 and July and August 2021 water in five densely populated, or high-density, areas (Budiriro, Glenview, Highfields, Mabvuku, and Mbare) who had no access to safe drinking water: in Harare, the peri-urban informal settlement of Epworth near Harare, and the surrounding towns of Chitungwiza, Norton, and Ruwa. Human Rights Watch also interviewed 11 central government and municipal officials, public health experts, legal experts, city council employees, and staff of nongovernmental organizations and United Nations agencies in Zimbabwe. Human Rights Watch also reviewed reports from the government, UN, nongovernmental groups, and the media on water issues in Harare.

The infrastructure for piped water in Harare was developed in the 1950s, before Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, and designed for a population of 300,000 people. Currently, Harare’s greater metropolitan area has about 4.5 million people, more than half of whom have no access to clean water and are at risk of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

The water crisis in Harare has affected people’s rights to water and sanitation as well as other related rights, including the rights to life, food, and health. “Sometimes we get city council water in the taps,” a woman from the high-density suburb of Mabvuku told Human Rights Watch. “It is not clean. We cannot drink it and, because it smells badly, we cannot use it to cook.”

Common water sources, namely shallow wells, taps, and many boreholes – deep, narrow wells – are often contaminated, Human Rights Watch said. However, despite the known risk of contaminated water, there is no specific official information on which water sources are safe, leaving residents to take their chances.

“The water that comes out from the taps is neither clean nor safe to drink, so we have to depend on borehole water, which we feel is better,” said a 46-year-old woman from Harare’s Glenview suburb. “But we know that even borehole water is not safe for drinking.”

More affluent families in Harare’s low-density suburbs drill safe boreholes and purchase bottled water, options not available to the vast majority of the population. The humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders) in Zimbabwe has developed a method of protecting new boreholes from contamination with sanitary seals, but local governments have not adopted this solution, which costs several thousand US dollars per borehole.

Under section 77 of Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution, “every person has the right to safe, clean, and potable water.” The government is obligated to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within the limits of available resources, to achieve the progressive realization of the right to water. Zimbabwe is also a party to African regional and international human rights treaties that recognize the right to water and sanitation.

The government at the national and local levels should urgently act to ensure alternative sources of safe drinking water, such as safe boreholes and protected wells, for the entire population, Human Rights Watch said.

“Zimbabwean authorities should not wait for the next cholera outbreak to provide access to safe drinking water for everyone,” Mavhinga said. “The government should invest in low-cost water equipment and distribution systems to uphold the right of millions of Zimbabweans to potable water.”

For additional information on the Harare water crisis, witness accounts, legal standards, and recommendations, please see below.

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Zimbabwe, please visit:
https://www.hrw.org/africa/zimbabwe

For more information, please contact:
In London, Dewa Mavhinga (English, Shona): +1-917-519-0038 (mobile); or [email protected]. Twitter: @dewamavhinga 
In Abuja, Mausi Segun (English): +234-805-442-5515; or [email protected]. Twitter: @MausiSegun
In New York, Babatunde Olugboji (English): +1-646-204-5082; or [email protected]. Twitter: @tolugboji26

Harare’s Water Crisis

The millions of residents of Harare and the surrounding areas have been hard hit by the region’s water crisis. In Mbare, a high-density suburb of Harare which has the country’s biggest and busiest bus terminus and a vegetable market visited by thousands of people daily, water and sanitation facilities are insufficient, residents said.

Blocks of “bachelor flats” in Mbare, built and designed for one-person occupancy during colonial times, now house large families, severely straining the limited water resources. Because of the lack of water, the flush toilets are severely inadequate, unsanitary, and in many cases as a result are nonfunctional. Both Harare and Chitungwiza have numerous open markets in which thousands of people set up stalls to sell meat, vegetables, fruit, and livestock, but the markets lack adequate water and sanitation facilities. For instance, at the Kamunhu Shopping Centre, the Harare City Council established about 2,000 market stalls for traders, but it did not provide running water.

Residents who at times get tap water described the water’s quality as poor. A 53-year-old woman from the Mabvuku high-density suburb said that: “Now we get water in our taps twice a week in the evenings, but we cannot drink that water, we only use it for washing. For drinking and cooking water, we [go to] boreholes where we wait sometimes four hours to get it.”

Those who have no access to tap water rely on boreholes for all their water. A 32-year-old mother of two in the Highfields high-density suburb said that her tap water was shut off after she failed to pay Zim $6,000 (US$70) in water bills over six months. Consequently, she depends on the potentially dangerous water from the borehole. “Many people queue to get water from the borehole, but we do not know if the water is safe to drink,” she said.

The boreholes are also not always reliable or accessible. A 56-year-old mother of three in the Budiriro high-density suburb said:

In 2019, we had a borehole that was working here in Budiriro 5. We would spend over six hours waiting for water, but it was better we had a borehole nearby. The borehole broke down and has not been working for the last five months. We must now walk a long distance to Mufakose, another residency area, sometimes at night, to fetch water from boreholes there.

The Chitungwiza municipality depends on treated water supplied by the Harare City Council. The water supply in Harare directly affects the Chitungwiza municipality, which gets rationed water as a result. Epworth, an informal settlement adjacent to Harare, has no water infrastructure for its 120,000-plus residents. Instead, tens of thousands of Epworth residents have depended on a dam with stagnant, unsafe water for more than three decades, even though the water is unfit for human consumption. A 21-year-old woman who has lived her entire life in Epworth without tap water said:

I know that the dam water is not safe to drink, sometimes we fall sick after drinking the water, but I have no choice. I need the water to survive, and I have nowhere else to get water.

In Harare’s low-density suburbs in the north and east of the city, more affluent families have devised alternatives, including drilling safe boreholes and using bottled water, which costs Zim $86 (US$1) for a one-liter bottle. That is unaffordable for the vast majority of Zimbabweans, many of whom live well under the poverty line.

Médecins Sans Frontières in Zimbabwe, which since 2015 has worked to bring safe, clean water to vulnerable communities, in 2017 introduced new drilling and cementation techniques, placing sanitary seals to protect newly drilled boreholes from contamination. MSF reported that tested water from these boreholes showed “‘zero’ bacteriological and chemical contamination.”

MSF has since advocated drilling these safe boreholes to prevent contamination, including through the dissemination of a toolkit on good practices in water, sanitation, and hygiene that explains how to protect borehole water from contamination. However, the average cost is very high, ranging from US$5,400 to $6,000 per borehole, and Harare and surrounding towns have not adopted the cementation technology.

Water Crisis Causes

Several factors have contributed to Harare’s severe water problems, including economic decay; perennial droughts affecting Lake Chivero, which is dammed to supply Harare with water; the lack of maintenance of the old water infrastructure; the inability to procure the necessary chemicals to treat water sources; political struggles between the central government under the ruling party and the opposition-controlled city council; and corruption.

Economic Decay, Dilapidated Water Infrastructure

Harare’s water supply comes from Lake Chivero dam water, which the city’s mayor, Jacob Mafume, says is so heavily contaminated with raw sewage that it requires many different chemicals to purify. Harare City Council’s water department uses 12 chemicals, including chlorine gas, aluminum sulfate, sulfuric acid, sodium silicate, activated carbon, and hydrated lime, to treat and purify water from the Lake Chivero dam. Most of these chemicals are imported and very expensive, creating a huge challenge for a country facing severe foreign currency shortages.

Ian Makone, a Harare city councilor, blamed leakages in the old, dilapidated, and inadequate water distribution network for the water crisis. “More than 40 percent of pumped treated water is not delivered due to leakages,” Makone said. There are cracks in both the water and sewage pipes because of the city’s failure to replace decades-old pipes several years ago, causing flowing tap water to be mixed with sewage in several places across Harare.

Conflicts Between National and Local Authorities

Zimbabwe’s government has an obligation under international human rights law to ensure that the right to water is met, regardless of whether the policies are carried out by the national government or delegated to local authorities. Political tensions between the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party, which controls the central government, and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDCA), which controls the Harare municipal government, has adversely affected water service delivery in the region.

The central government has not fulfilled constitutional provisions that allow for the devolution of power from the central government to the municipal level. Zimbabwe’s Parliament has not enacted legislation to establish appropriate systems and procedures to facilitate coordination between the central government and local authorities. Thus, while the Harare City Council has the responsibility to supply clean water to residents, the central government, through the Ministry of Local Government, wields the decision-making power. At the same time, the central government is responsible for constructing dams to provide water for cities, but no new dams have been constructed for Harare and Chitungwiza despite the existence of such plans for decades.

Harare’s Mayor Mfume told Human Rights Watch that inadequate laws authorizing the local government to provide water have hampered the city council’s efforts to address the water crisis and improve service delivery for the metropolitan area. “Currently, we are unable to operate effectively because our hands are tied by the Ministry of Local Government and the centralization that inhibits the operations of municipalities,” he said. “The mayors have no real powers.”

The MDC Alliance president, Nelson Chamisa said:

The [ZANU-PF controlled] Ministry of Local Government still enjoys superpowers. It appoints all town clerks, CEOs, and other officials. This means they continue to sabotage our efforts for change. The government still approves and limits our budgets. We are not able to determine rates, leaving us unable to make enough money to provide adequate services.

The ZANU-PF party minister for the Harare metropolitan province, Oliver Chidawu, said the central government acknowledged the challenges of decentralization and the water crisis, and is in discussions about long-term plans, including the construction of new dams, but said the major challenge is funding. He said the government needs support from international donors to be able to have a comprehensive response to the water crisis.

Existing legislation makes it complicated and difficult for municipal authorities to address problems like access to clean water, the former mayor of Harare, Herbert Gomba, said. For instance, under the Joint Ventures Act, before the city can engage a private company for services, it must first send a resolution to the national Ministry of Local Government, which must then send a resolution to the Office of the President and Cabinet for approval. The Urban Councils Act prohibits cities from borrowing money or entering into contracts without Ministry of Local Government authorization. In addition, the Procurement Act removed procurement powers from local authorities and put the powers in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

The local and central governments have continued to blame each other without resolving Harare’s water crisis.

Local and National Government Corruption

Public sector corruption and mismanagement at the local and central government levels have exacerbated the government’s neglect of water infrastructure over the last two decades, compromising access to safe, clean water. Transparency International’s 2020 Corruption Perception Index found that corruption is extremely high in Zimbabwe, ranking it 157 out of 179 countries. Corruption is rife in the central government as well as within the Harare City Council and Chitungwiza municipality, negatively affecting service delivery.

In July 2020 the anticorruption unit in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office arrested the then-mayor of Harare, Herbert Gomba, and other top city council officials, on allegations of corruption and abuse of office regarding approval irregularities in the sale of land and alteration of plans. Gomba’s case is still in the courts. Four months later, Mafume, who replaced Gomba as mayor, was also arrested on allegations of corruption, prompting the opposition Movement for Democratic Change to assert that the Zimbabwean government was using its law enforcement agents to target council officials from the MDCA. Mafume’s case is also still before the courts.

Domestic and International Legal Standards Guaranteeing the Right to Water

Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution protects the right to water. Section 77 of the constitution states that every person has the right to “safe, clean, and potable water.” Under the constitution, the state “must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within the limits of the resources available to it, to achieve the progressive realization of this right.”

The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which Zimbabwe has ratified, does not expressly include the right to water. However, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has interpreted the right to water as being implied by various rights codified in the African Charter, including the right to “a general satisfactory environment” favorable to peoples’ development, which is unattainable without access to water and sanitation. The African Commission in 2020 published Guidelines on the Right to Water in Africa, which it said was grounded in regional treaties’ protection of economic, social, and cultural development; health; access to natural resources; the environment; and food

In 2010 121 countries, including Zimbabwe, voted in the UN General Assembly to recognize a freestanding right to water. In 2011 the UN Human Rights Council endorsed the right to safe drinking water and to sanitation as basic rights.

The General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2015 that states that the right to water entitles everyone, without discrimination, “to have access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic use.”

The UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights has interpreted international law on the right to water, as well as state obligations, in its General Comment No. 15. The state’s minimum core obligations include ensuring people’s access to sufficient, safe water and physical access to water facilities or services that are a reasonable distance away.  

Zimbabwe has ratified international human rights treaties that contain – explicitly or implicitly –  provisions on the right to water, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Recommendations to the Zimbabwe Central Government  

• Implement legal and other reforms to ensure the full promotion, protection, and enjoyment of the right to water enshrined in section 77 of Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution and African regional and international human rights law.
• Ensure residents’ access to potable water either directly through central government authority or by adequately empowering local governments.
• Work with city councils to develop and implement a system, such as sliding scale fees, to ensure the delivery of affordable and safe piped water to low-income families.
• Work with local authorities to ensure that all public boreholes are regularly tested for water quality and that these results are disseminated to residents.
• Provide regular, up-to-date information to residents on the water quality of both taps and boreholes in their areas so they understand the health risks and benefits of available water sources.
• Upgrade the water infrastructure in Harare and surrounding areas.
• Take steps to reduce corruption, including by developing and enforcing transparency and accountability measures regarding the allocation of finances and expenditures.

Recommendations to the Harare City Council  

• Ensure residents’ access to potable water either directly through central government authority or by adequately empowering local governments.
• Develop and implement a system, such as sliding scale fees, to ensure the delivery of affordable and safe piped water to low-income families.
• Upgrade the water infrastructure in Harare.
• Provide regular, up-to-date information to residents on the water quality of both taps and boreholes in their areas so they understand the health risks and benefits of available water sources.
• Ensure that all public boreholes are regularly tested for water quality and that these results are disseminated to residents.
• Take steps to reduce corruption, including by developing and enforcing transparency and accountability measures regarding the allocation of finances and expenditures.

By Nomusa Garikai-

Kwapera makore mangani, takamira zvakavhimbisa?

Maiti kurima hakunetsi.

Maiti mombe munadzo. 

Muchiti ngenjo munaro.

Mharidzo yenyu zviroto kanhi?

(How many more years must we have waited for what you promised?

You said you are master farmers.

You said you had the cattle.

And you said you had the plough.

Are your promises just day-dreaming?) 

Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo in his song Maiti kurima hamubvire

Zimbabwe’s music maestro, Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo asked these pertinent question decades after Zimbabwe’s independent. After decades of Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies kept promising the nation mass prosperity, “Gutsa ruzhinj!” as the called it in Shona; and yet the reality on the ground was mass poverty. 

It is now 41 years of Zanu PF empty promises and the economic situation is even worse; Basic services such as education and health care have all but collapsed and 49% of our people now live in abject poverty. Mukanya’s pertinent questions are more relevant and urgent now than ever!

The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic ruin and political paralysis (the country has clearly failed to produce political leaders, either from the ruling party or the opposition, with the competence and vision to get the nation out of the man-made hell-hole the nation is stuck in) is the failure to hold free, fair and credible elections. The nation has been stuck with a corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship for four decades and counting and it shows. 

Instead of these Zanu PF thugs acknowledging they have failed to deliver the promised mass prosperity and therefore must now allow the nation to move on, to implement the democratic reforms necessary for free, fair and credible elections. The regime is digging in and is even more determined to hang on to power than ever before. 

Zanu PF is holding its district and then provincial elections in preparation for the national elections next year. It is a dog-eat-dog for position at the top table especially now when those who get a seat feast whilst those who fail to get one starve. Of course, it is all about getting into power to feather one’s nest! 

“You should not be elected to get riches, you should be elected to serve the people, and you must seek office to produce results for the best of the land, Our President Emmerson Mnangagwa has always been saying that we should work for our nation,” noted Zanu-PF secretary for external relations and former Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, commenting on fight for position in Manicaland Province.

“Yes, we liberated our country in 1980, but the war is still on as we also need to liberate our economy.” 

Zanu PF has become a party of corrupt, incompetent vote rigging and murderous hypocrites who speak with a forked tongue, saying one thing but meaning the exact opposite. 

“You should not be elected to get riches but to serve the people!” he said. Corruption is rampant in Zimbabwe and presiding over it are the Zanu PF leaders; each is lord and master of his or her own patch but always on the lookout to extent their influence and power by taking over someone else’s patch by hook or by crook whilst being fearful not to be swallowed up in turn. 

Even Robert Mugabe, the party’s top dog for 37 years was not safe as the November 2017 military coup showed.

Zanu PF ended white colonial oppression but only to impose themselves as the nation’s new oppressors.

As for the economy, four decades of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have left the nation’s once upon a time robust and booming economy in ruins! 

Zimbabwe is a Banana Republic, a pariah state, ruled by corrupt, incompetent, murderous and vote rigging thugs. And as long as the nation remains a pariah state there will be no meaningful economic recovery. 

Zimbabwe used to grow enough food to feed her own people with plenty left over to be the breadbasket of the region. The country is blessed with fertile land and excellent weather; and, for all intents and purposes, it is the Biblical Garden of Eden.    

Yet 20 years after independence, Zanu PF seized the farms and gave them to party loyalists mostly. Zimbabwe lost its cherished breadbasket of the region laurels and today the nation is starving – a damning testimonial to Zanu PF leaders’s corruption and breathtaking incompetence.

“We have noted with concern that we have party members when it comes to (party) elections,” continued former Minister Mumbengegwi, turning to the up coming 2023 national elections. 

“So far we have 3,6 million registered voters, we are targeting five million votes,  so we are urging party leaders to go out there and mop up for more people to join our party. But I am very sure we are going to win the elections resoundingly, come 2023.” 

There are reports of Zanu PF members buying votes or using some such vote rigging dirty tricks to win the party elections. These are nothing compared to the blatant cheating and, if need be, wanton violence the party will resort to secure election victory.  

The nation had the golden opportunity during the 2008 to 2013 GNU to implement the democratic reforms designed to take away Zanu PF’s carte blanche powers to rig elections. The important task of implementing the reforms was entrusted to Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends. They failed to get even one reform implemented in five years. 

Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of high office and the rest is history, as one would say. 

With not even one token reform implemented Zanu PF will rig the 2023 elections just as readily as the party has rigged all the other elections in the past. And by participating in these flawed and illegal elections the opposition are giving credibility to the flawed process and, by extension, giving the vote rigging Zanu PF regime legitimacy. 

After 41 years and counting of rigged elections it is high time the nation demanded the implementation of the reforms before the elections. It is insane to allow this madness of participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy continue. 

It is too late to stop the 2023 elections going ahead, both Zanu PF and MDC are determined to participate in the flawed elections. What we can do is make sure the election process is seen for what it is – a farce – and condemned. Zanu PF must not get legitimacy from holding another flawed and illegal election process.  

“We liberated our country and now need to liberate our economy!” How ironic, since it is both the nation and the economy that need liberating from the corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF rule. 

“Mharidzo yeZanu PF yerushungunuko zviroto!” Zanu PF’s promises of liberation and liberty are day-dreams!)

By A Correspondent- Government has resolved to keep schools open despite a surge in COVID-19 cases in schools since early this month.

In a post-Cabinet Press briefing yesterday, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said although infections had increased, the government felt they were insignificant to warrant schools closure.

“The meeting, however, noted that out of a total school enrolment of 4,6 million, the number of COVID-19 positive cases detected is insignificant. All cases are being well-managed in line with the standard guidelines for the co-ordinated prevention and management of COVID-19 at all learning institutions in Zimbabwe,” she said.

A number of schools have been hit by COVID-19 infections, with teachers claiming the government prematurely reopened schools before creating a conducive environment in learning institutions. However, Mutsvangwa said although they had been an increase in cases, there was no hospitalisation.

“Furthermore, most cases among learners are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms. Accordingly, Cabinet resolved that schools will remain open. Learners, who are isolated, will be provided with alternative learning
platforms,” she said.

In keeping the schools open, government said it would push to have pupils aged 14 and above vaccinated.

“Government has, therefore, instituted the following measures to contain the COVID-19 surge in schools … enhancement of surveillance and contact-tracing at schools and the surrounding communities, … increasing on-site COVID-19 testing of all suspected cases.

“Restriction of movement into and out of the schools affected until the outbreaks have been controlled. There will be vaccination of all eligible populations in schools and also in the surroundings.”

The new cases as of last week stood at 1 669 while the total active cases of COVID-19 stood at 2 425 as the third wave of COVID-19 recedes.

“As we stand, active cases in the country stand at 2 425, this week the number of cases reported went up to 1 669, the education sector contributed significantly to this increase,” Mutsvangwa said.

Meanwhile, the government has lined up anti-sanctions webinars and interviews to mark the anti-sanctions solidarity day previously characterised by street marches and feasting.

“The activities will also include engagements of the diaspora, diplomatic corps and Sadc missions. Media briefings, interviews and webinars by Zimbabwean ambassadors in their areas of accreditation will be conducted, while statements on the sanctions situation will be delivered during bilateral and multilateral meetings,” Mutsvangwa said.

By A Correspondent- A Great Zimbabwe University student was found dead on Sunday after going missing for days.

Vilify Agnes Mbakada who was studying Development Studies, left her Gweru home on Thursday to town to collect some money from a cash point.

She was on attachment and her death has shocked fellow students.

Following her disappearance, a search began in which someone posted that the she has been found floating in a dam.

Speaking to some of her close friends they said:

“We are told she left home on Thursday achinotora mari paMukuru and she never came back.

“From Thursday she was never seen and never returned home.

“Messages of her missing were circulated and only to hear that she was found floating in Nyamafufu Dam in Mvuma.”

Another student said the deceased’s phone is missing.

“We are also hearing that following her identification, her mobile phone and other particulars are missing.

“We wonder how she ended up being in Mvuma yet she left for Gweru town.

“This is shocking and we are yet to establish what transpired.

“She was a good colleague.”

Another student said Vilify had since stopped going for her industrial attachment due to ill-health.

“She was working in Mvuma for her attachment but later on asked to be excused since she was not feeling well.

“Some say she was going through depression that she went back home but on the fateful day, no one knows what actually happened.”

Theories are emerging that she could have been murdered or committed suicide.

“The fact that her personal belongings are missing is raising eyebrows.

“If she was not killed where are they then.

“It is also said, since she was going through depression, she could have decided to take her own life.

“But how did she end up in Mvuma from Gweru, that leaves a lot to be desired.”

Burial arrangements are said to be on Wednesday.

“We are going as students to mourn our fellow student.

“More details will be coming when we get to her place of residence today,” said another student.

Police had not commented on the matter by the time of going for Press.-HMetro

By A Correspondent- The MDC T led by Douglas Mwonzora has commenced the dialogue process with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, MDC-T Secretary for Information and Publicity Witness Dube has revealed.

Dube said his party’s Standing Committee on Tuesday received Mnangagwa’s responses to the party’s dialogue proposals.

He said:

@OurMDCT Standing Committee today received Zimbabwe president H.E. @edmnangagwa‘s response to our dialogue proposals. This effectively means that dialogue has started. Meanwhile deputy chair @giles_mutsekwa submitted our draft internal dialogue proposals to president @DMwonzora

@OurMDCT Standing Committee today received Zimbabwe president H.E. @edmnangagwa's response to our dialogue proposals. This effectively means that dialogue has started. Meanwhile deputy chair @giles_mutsekwa submitted our draft internal dialogue proposals to president @DMwonzora pic.twitter.com/KmAoEwbElE

— Witness DUBE (@witness_dube) September 21, 2021

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man has lost R181 500, US$5 000, and $4 700 to thieves.

State media report that the thieves snatched a bag containing the money from the man’s vehicle, which he had left parked in Bulawayo’s city centre while buying food.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.

Insp Ncube said the complainant left his car parked at the corner of Jason Moyo and 11th Avenue on Thursday last week at around 10AM while buying food and leaving his two workers behind.

He said the two workers later disembarked from the vehicle.
“I can confirm that we recorded a case of theft from a motor vehicle which occurred in the CBD at corner Jason Moyo and 11th Avenue. The complainant parked his car and went to buy some food leaving behind his two workers. The workers also disembarked from the vehicle and went out to get some fresh air. When he returned, a bag containing his cash and work suit was missing,” he said.

“A witness who was close by claimed to have seen a suspect who was carrying a bag jump into a Nissan truck which drove away. The complainant lost R181 500, US$5 000 and $4 700.” Insp Ncube said investigations were underway and appealed to members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the police.

He urged members of the public to take extra care of their valuables. He said whenever people leave their valuables under the care of other people, they have to be specific about the valuables they have.

Insp Ncube also urged members of the public to desist from keeping large sums of money in their vehicles or homes as they were endangering their lives.

By A Correspondent- POlice in Bulawayo have reportedly arrested anti-Gukurahundi campaigner and Ibhetshu LikaZulu Secretary-General Mbuso Fuzwayo.

Reports say Fuzwayo was arrested and detained by police in Bulawayo for holding the International Day of Peace commemorations yesterday.

Fuzwayo and his pressure group have often clashed with authorities for holding commemorations of the massacre of 20 000 civilians by the military in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces back in the early 1980s.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly.

By A Correspondent- Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira, who was arrested for corruption, has appeared in public.

Chadzamira made a public appearance yesterday in Masvingo when he commissioned the two tractors acquired under the Belarus agricultural mechanisation programme.

Since his arrest two weeks ago, Chamira had been lying low.

By A Correspondent- Pictures of a battered Harare man have gone viral on social media.

The man only identified as Lord Guzh is said to have been attacked by thugs over Slay Quee.

Social media posts say the thugs used clenched fists and unidentified metal objects to attack Guzh.

By A Correspondent- Meet the man of the moment, Tinashe Mugabe, and drop one word that best describes him.

By A Correspondent-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent condolence message to the family of the country’s longest-serving civil servant Mariyawanda Nzuwah.

Dzuwa died in Harare yesterday.

He was the former Chairman of the Public Service Commission and served in government for more than 35 years.

In his condolence message, Mnangagwa said Nzuwah’s death was a blow to the Nation.

 As a committed cadre, he placed his professional skills and career at the disposal of the struggle and his country soon after the attainment of our Independence. Hence, together with the likes of fellow academic contemporaries in the mould of the late national heroes Dr Tichaona Jokonya, Dr Charles Utete, the current Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, and many others, were reassigned from the University of Zimbabwe to throw their weight behind public service. That made them a rare crop of leaders in the civil service. The late Dr Nzuwah will be remembered in the annuls of our Bureaucracy as the first indigenous person to Chair the Public Service Commission making him a longest-serving member or the Commission to date. He distinguished himself by ably superintending over the transformation of our Civil Service from a colonial bureaucracy serving minority interests to placing it at the service of the majority of our people in a post-Independent Zimbabwe. 

On behalf of the eating Party, ZANU-PF, Government, my family, and on my own behalf, I express deep sorrow and grief to the Nzuwah family, especially to Mrs Nzuwah and the children who have lost a devoted husband, loving father and guardian. May they take comfort from the knowledge that the Nation joins them in mourning his loss.

May his soul rest in eternal peace. 

E.D Mnangagwa PRESIDENT 21/09/21

By A Correspondent- Pictures of a battered Harare man have gone viral on social media.

The man only identified as Lord Guzh is said to have been attacked by thugs over Slay Queen.

Social media posts say the thugs used clenched fists and unidentified metal objects to attack Guzh.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has scoffed at the Zanu PF regime’s manoeuvres to nail him.

The regime accuses Hon Biti of insulting Russian investor Tatiana Aleshina.

Magistrate Stanford Mambanje cancelled the warrant of arrest on Monday.

“Despite the fact that I was at court by 8.30 AM, State Prosecutor Micheal Reza applied for a warrant of arrest against me in my ongoing persecution engineered by land baron Ken Sharpe.

This was a prepaid warrant as the @HeraldZimbabwe was reporting on the same before its issuance.

In cancelling the Warrant, Magistrate Stanford Mambanje was critical of State position and State lies.

It is quite clear the extent of State Capture and the desperate attempt to silence critical alternative voices. We have never been cowards. We never yielded on matters of principle.

Our struggle is just one. Our struggle is a pure one, is for a just free democratic open Zim in which every citizen will live a happy prosperous life.

Neither Mnangagwa nor his political commissars masquerading as prosecutors will stop wheels of change. A new Zim is beckoning,” Hon Biti posted on Twitter.

By A Correspondent-The government has the Level 2 Lockdown Measures announced on the 7th of September 2021 by another two weeks, under the same conditions.

The Secretary of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana posted on social media on Tuesday notifying members of the public about the development. He said:
His Excellency the President has extended the Level 2 Lockdown Measures announced on the 7th of September 2021 by another two weeks, under the same conditions.

This is happening when statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care indicate that coronavirus infections and deaths have been falling in recent weeks.

There have, however, been a spike in new cases in some schools especially in the Midlands province.
Under the Level 2 Lockdown Measures, business operators are allowed to operate between 0800 hours to 1900 hours.
Beer hall operators, nightclubs and or shebeens remain closed.
Public gatherings are limited to not more than 100 people and should be held within the stipulated period and not cross over into the curfew period which is from 2200 hours till 0530 hours the next morning.
Intercity travelling is allowed.

By A Correspondent-The government has the Level 2 Lockdown Measures announced on the 7th of September 2021 by another two weeks, under the same conditions.

The Secretary of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana posted on social media on Tuesday notifying members of the public about the development. He said:
His Excellency the President has extended the Level 2 Lockdown Measures announced on the 7th of September 2021 by another two weeks, under the same conditions.

This is happening when statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care indicate that coronavirus infections and deaths have been falling in recent weeks.

There have, however, been a spike in new cases in some schools especially in the Midlands province.
Under the Level 2 Lockdown Measures, business operators are allowed to operate between 0800 hours to 1900 hours.
Beer hall operators, nightclubs and or shebeens remain closed.
Public gatherings are limited to not more than 100 people and should be held within the stipulated period and not cross over into the curfew period which is from 2200 hours till 0530 hours the next morning.
Intercity travelling is allowed.

By A Correspondent- Political activist Linda Masaira has teamed up with gender and sued Johanne Marange Church for marrying off underage girls.

Masarira has partnered, Precious Nyaradzo Musarurwa and Munyaradzi Midzi, and engaged lawyer Ms Jacqueline Sande in the court case.

The four are challenging the constitutionality of the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church doctrine of marrying off young girls.

They are saying the laws were helping to cover up alleged sexual abuse among congregants.

The activists have launched the suit at the Constitutional Court seeking urgent alignment of the Marriages Act and the Customary Marriages Act with the Constitution within six months to protect girls under 18.

The proposed Marriages Bill, which does bring both civil and customary marriages into a single law and insists that both parties to any marriage must be at least 18 and both consenting, has been bogged down in Parliament for much of this year and will have to be reintroduced in the next session when it is now likely to pass after the Government conceded that customary unions, although not civil marriages, need a lobola element.

In the law suit that is likely to help intensify pressure for the new legislation, the Ministers of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development were also listed as respondents in their official capacities along with the Attorney General of Zimbabwe.

The application is based on the recent incident where a 15-year-old Annah Machaya died while giving birth at a Johanne Marange shrine in Manicaland. The Constitutional Court will first rule on whether the three have the legal right to directly approach the court with their case, before getting into the merits. They also seek to push the Government into expediting the amendment of the marriage laws to criminalise child marriages and intimacy involving children before the age of consent.

The Constitutional Court some five years ago, outlawed marriage of children under 18 years but the age of sexual consent in terms of the Criminal Law Codification Reform Act remained at 16 years.

The three want it raised to 18 years to fit in with the minimum marriage age. In the application, the applicants argued that the church’s doctrine was unlawful and any members caught on the wrong side of the law must be arrested and charged without fear or favour.

The three argue and allege that the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church doctrine and other doctrines have been used to deceive and coerce girls and women to take part in sexual activities, childbearing and more through forced marriages without facing any legal consequences for their allegedly unlawful acts.

The three argue in their papers filed at the Constitutional Court that the unconstitutionality of such practices by individuals but most notably, religious sects like the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church who practice child marriages, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse affecting girls and women and depriving them of their rights. They further argue that the existence of child marriages, some six years after the Constitutional Court judgment, should be blamed on the Government which did not speed up the alignment process.

The existence of early child marriages and pregnancies is evidence that there is a gap that the law needs to cover in order to protect girls against such discrimination. Girls are entitled to effective protection by the courts as the upper guardian of the rights of children which is responsible for enforcing the fundamental rights designed for their protection and has a duty to ensure alignment of all the other laws to the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the relevant international laws, reads the papers.

However, Government through The Attorney General’s civil division argued that the order being sought is incompetent because Parliament was already dealing with the amendment of the laws in question. At this juncture, respondents would like to highlight that already the Parliament of Zimbabwe is in the process of enactment of the new Marriages Act which has been deliberated by the National Assembly and has now reached Senate.

The ministers named and the Attorney General no longer have any control of the pace at which lawmakers consider the Bill. To that end, the nature or the order being sought by the applicants is incompetent since the four officials can no longer control the process due to the doctrine of separation of powers, reads the notice of opposition. It was also argued that the matter of Annah Machaya complained of was already in the criminal court with suspects being charged.

By A Correspondent-The country’s longest-serving civil servant Mariyawanda Nzuwa has died.Dzuwa was the former Public Service Commission (PSC) chairperson.

Below is President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s condolence message , following the death of Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwah.

The death this morning of our former Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwah, has dealt a great blow to our Nation which has been robbed of a long-serving civil servant, very dedicated and loyal to his country. 

An eminent academic, Dr Nzuwah’s early scholarly works were in nationalist research in support of the liberation struggle. As a committed cadre, he placed his professional skills and career at the disposal of the struggle and his country soon after the attainment of our Independence. Hence, together with the likes of fellow academic contemporaries in the mould of the late national heroes Dr Tichaona Jokonya, Dr Charles Utete, the current Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, and many others, were reassigned from the University of Zimbabwe to throw their weight behind public service. That made them a rare crop of leaders in the civil service. The late Dr Nzuwah will be remembered in the annuls of our Bureaucracy as the first indigenous person to Chair the Public Service Commission making him a longest-serving member or the Commission to date. He distinguished himself by ably superintending over the transformation of our Civil Service from a colonial bureaucracy serving minority interests to placing it at the service of the majority of our people in a post-Independent Zimbabwe. 

On behalf of the eating Party, ZANU-PF, Government, my family, and on my own behalf, I express deep sorrow and grief to the Nzuwah family, especially to Mrs Nzuwah and the children who have lost a devoted husband, loving father and guardian. May they take comfort from the knowledge that the Nation joins them in mourning his loss.

May his soul rest in eternal peace. 

E.D Mnangagwa PRESIDENT 21/09/21

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission, ZAC has arrested the Zimbabwe Republic Police Officer Commanding Mashonaland West province Commissioner Conneli Dube.

ZAC announced the arrest of the senior cop Tuesday saying that he had been nabbed on allegations of criminal abuse of office.

Officers arrested comm Dube from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) following allegations that he had been protecting junior officers implicated in a bribery case.

In a statement, ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure confirmed the arrest.

“A high ranking ZRP officer, Commissioner C. Dube who is the Officer Commanding Mashonaland West Province has been arrested on allegations of abuse of office.

“He is alleged to have ordered that no action be taken on CID operatives who had been arrested on a bribery case. The accused is expected to appear in the Chinhoyi Magistrate’s Court today,” he said.

Tinashe Sambiri|Two The MDC Alliance officials who were arrested in Gutu on Sunday have been granted RTGS $ 2500 bail each.

The two, Langton Mabande Guvava( secretary for cadreship and training) and Gutu North Constituency chairperson Philip Mahachi were arrested for allegedly violating COVID-19 regulations.

The two were arrested at Zvavahera Business Centre.

The meeting they were addressing was attended by 36 people.

ZimEye.com has been informed that Gutu North MP Yeukai Simbanegavi ordered police to arrest Mahachi and Guvava.

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance has said it is not bothered by the formation of a new political party that appeared to have hijacked Nelson Chamisa-led party’s social media mobilisation slogans.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba posted a screenshot of a letter still being typed, and addressed to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, announcing the formation of the Citizens Convergence for Change (CCC) party.

The party’s secretary-general, one Farai Zhou, gave a post office box address in Vuhera (Buhera) and put down a Bulawayo law firm for all communications.

The same letter was also posted on Twitter by Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, sparking speculation that Zanu PF had used proxies to register the name.

Citizens Convergence for Change has been gaining momentum on Twitter as a hashtag, with pro-democracy activists and MDC Alliance officials using it to mobilise first-time voters and get volunteers to adopt polling agents in the 2023 elections.

Some thought it should be the name of a new coalition built around Nelson Chamisa’s leadership.

Exiled former cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo earlier warned the MDC Alliance to take the necessary legal steps to protect CCC as a name to outmaneuver proxies that wanted to capitalise on the main opposition’s political clout.

MDC Alliance secretary-general Charlton Hwende, responding to Moyo, noted that the biggest impediment was the judicial process where “president Emmerson Mnangagwa has pliant judges that are being used to disregard legal steps which will ordinarily protect a political party.”

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the development was justification for MDC Alliance’s refusal to reveal its plans. Said the law expert:

These are the shenanigans we spoke of when we stated we wouldn’t lay bare our strategies for the regime to try and pull the rug from under our feet. For us, this is a non-event. We remain focused on our goal of securing six million votes.

We are in the middle of a nationwide voter registration campaign and have set in place mechanisms to ensure the vote is protected.

She added that the party remained MDC Alliance and if there are any changes, they will be communicated using official channels.

The MDC Alliance has been under pressure to change its name after its former secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora claimed his MDC-T party was now called MDC Alliance.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean actress-cum-radio-and-television-presenter Tinopona “Tin Tin” Katsande has said she is thrilled to be back on daytime radio after a long absence.

Tin Tin on Sunday co-presented with Tonderai Nokutenda Katsande on the new ZiFM Stereo show, The Sunday Brunch, coming as a surprise to many.

Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style, Tin Tin said it was a blessing to be doing what she loves adding that she is honoured and humbled to be back working with her “mentor, friend and biggest most loyal cheerleader, my boss TK.” She added:

I am a bit surprised that it’s been purported that this is my first time back on ZiFM since I was unlawfully dismissed over seven years ago. That is incorrect, I rejoined ZiFM three years ago with my own show called Formation that aired on Sunday nights.

I then fell pregnant with my second son. It was a difficult pregnancy and I had to stop the late-night shift and when I gave birth, I then decided to hang the radio coat for a while as I focused on raising my newborn baby Yambuko.

Tin Tin who is running an entrepreneurial eggs business as a side hustle from her entertainment career expressed gratitude to family and friends who stood with her “at every hurdle.”

She added that she would continue with her Mazai KwaTino project which “is blossoming into a formal business.”

By Jane Mlambo| Controversial Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has said the new political parties sprouting everyday could be eyeing seats on POLAD which has proved to be a lucrative after President Emmerson Mnangagwa pampered smaller parties with top of the range cars.

Posting on Twitter, Mliswa said while the setting up of new parties can be lauded for its democratic significance, their relevance in the current situation is non-existent.

“I see more political parties being set up. That could be lauded for democratic significance but the practical truth is that they are absolutely useless in the wider matrix of local politics. They may be eyeing seats on POLAD but for the people most of these parties are useless,” said Mliswa.

A number of new political parties have emerged with the most interesting ones being FORUS and DAVID.

Another party named Citizen Convergence for Change has also written to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announcing its formation.

In the 2018 Presidential elections, a record of 22 political parties contested for the presidential ballot while an even bigger number tussled for other lower seats including parliamentary and local government.

Opposition MDC Alliance aligned activists and analysts have accused Zanu PF of sponsoring the countless parties to confuse voters.

Government has said feasibility studies are underway to pave way for the rehabilitation of the Beitbridge-Bulawayo highway.

Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Theodius Chinyanga said work on the 327km Beitbridge to Bulawayo Road, which is now in bad shape, was delayed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

Eng Chinyanga said the road was being rehabilitated in line with the requirements of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (Zida) Act.

“Work on this road had been temporarily delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, but the concessioner is now busy with the feasibility studies. This will then inform what needs to be done under what timelines, but we are confident this will be done in the shortest possible time as required by the Zida Act,” said Eng Chinyanga.

He said the Government and the Zimborders Consortium have completed the first phase of the Beitbridge Modernization project which is being done at a total cost of US$300 million.

So far, US$65 million has been spent on the construction of a new state-of-the-art terminal, where a two-week dry run started on Thursday last week pending its official opening on October 6.

“We are going to move the contractor who is on the southernmost part of the Beitbridge to Harare highway to start work on the exit of the modernized border post,” said Eng Chinyanga.

“As you are aware, we are upgrading the Beitbridge to Masvingo to Harare Road, and it is part of the works that we will take into account so that this border goes hand in hand with a good road. Our plan is to, at the beginning of next year or earlier than that, get the contractor working on the 20km stretch from the border going towards the Bubi area”.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Nkayi villagers have accused the Ministry of Health and Child Care of discriminating locals in the recruitment of Primary Care Nursing (PCN) trainees.

The Ministry flighted an advert for a two-year PCN training for the September 2021 intake and indicated that only candidates who meet the recruitment criteria will be shortlisted for interviews.

The internal interviews were held on the 13th of September in Nkayi District and the external interviews were held on the 17th at Mpilo Hospital.

Meanwhile, CITE quoted a source as saying there were people from Nkayi who applied for PCN training and they were called for interviews but no one was shortlisted. Said the source:

We heard that people coming from other areas such as Harare and Gwanda are the ones who got the places. As a community, we are not impressed. This is corruption and it must stop.

Contacted for a comment, Nkayi District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Thabani Moyo said he only knows four locals who were shortlisted.

Said Moyo:

I am not aware of the list of the people who were selected but I also heard about the complaints saying that from the whole of Nkayi only four people were chosen, so that was the concern.

I won’t be quick to respond because don’t know whether the people from Nkayi were not also deployed to other stations, since they are saying people are coming to this side from Harare maybe there are also people from Nkayi who went that side, I don’t know.

We will wait for them to begin so that we will see how many were shortlisted from the total which had applied.

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday accused “jittery” Zanu-PF and State security agents of hijacking his party’s Citizens Convergence for Change (CCC) project and registering it at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) under little known politician Varaidzo Musungo.

It is thought that the MDC Alliance had targeted to contest the 2023 general election as CCC after MDC-T’s Douglas Mwonzora laid claim to the MDC Alliance name.

The CCC, which has been trending on social media over the past few weeks as a rallying call for opposition supporters, is the brainchild of MDC Alliance and former Zanu-PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo.

Both Chamisa and Moyo yesterday dismissed Zanu-PF’s attempts to hijack the project as “desperate moves by a party afraid of elections”.

In a letter to Zec dated September 20, 2021, Musungo’s party secretary-general Farai Zhou said: “We can confirm that our party’s president and 2023 presidential candidate is Ms Varaidzo Musungo. Our party logo (is) as appears at the top and bottom of this letter. In the interests of better communication, we are sourcing offices in Harare and will advise once we have these.”

But Moyo, a formidable political schemer whose ideas have helped Zanu-PF before, described the move as an inconsequential Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO)-driven farce.

“The hullabaloo over the purported registration of the Citizens Convergence for Change (CCC) is a farce which exposes the bizarre copycat politics that has gripped the jittery Zanu-PF securocrats in the CIO who are dazed by the infectious power of CCC as rallying call for the unity of citizens across the political divide,” Moyo said.

“What exposes the farce even more is that political parties in Zimbabwe are not subject to registration, and hence there’s no law for such registration and, in any event, Zec is not a registrar of political parties,” he said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, an idea belongs to whoever conceptualises it and uses it first and does so in public, in an organised and documented fashion. Only people from Mars do not know that CCC is the intellectual property of the MDC Alliance and has been in existence for far much longer than September 8, 2021 when the Zanu-PF and CIO copycats plagiarised the idea.”

In the run-up to the 2018 general election, Moyo threw his weight behind Chamisa’s candidacy, and recently offered to help fund the training of MDC Alliance polling agents on how to guard against vote rigging in the 2023 plebiscite.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the party was not shaken by Zanu-PF’s decision to hijack the idea.

“It’s clear that it’s Zanu-PF doing this. This is desperation on the part of Zanu-PF. They thought that they had finished us off, but they have since realised that we have come up with a concept which is bigger than the MDC in 1999. The wave is bigger than ever in the country. It has created the biggest momentum ever seen in the country in recent years and this wave is unstoppable, it has engulfed the whole nation. It’s a great idea whose time has come and nobody can stop it, just like (the late South African reggae musician) Lucky Dube said ‘nobody can stop reggae’. Nobody can stop this wave,” she said.

“We are not shaken, we know that these are shenanigans being done as a way of trying to divert our focus, but the convergence is a platform and an idea of building a new consensus and a new alliance by all the people of Zimbabwe, so wanting to reduce it into a political party is an act of desperation by the people who are panicking, who are scared of the election, who are scared of the people and Zimbabwean citizens coming together to demand real change. Their biggest problem is that they have a candidate who is very hard to sell.”

Efforts to get comments from Zanu-PF were fruitless as its leadership was still holed up in a politburo meeting, its highest decision-making organ outside congress.

By A Correspondent- A Kariba magistrate has resigned over alleged unfair treatment by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Magistrate Tafadzwa Mhlanga revealed that he was transferred from Mvuma to Kariba without any valid reason.

JSC secretary Walter Chikwana accepted the resignation and ordered Mhlanga to serve his notice period which is due to end on December 14.

“My working relationship with the commission had deteriorated from the time I was moved to Kariba in January 2020,” Mhlanga said.

“From the onset, I had objected to the redeployment exercise from Mvuma to Kariba Magistrates Court in a space of only one-and-a-half years at Mvuma.”

Mhlanga said his bosses continued to ignore his request to be transferred from Kariba, adding that he could not take it anymore as the workload at Kariba was too much.

“I have been working as a one-man station from September 2020 when  resigned up to this date. As a result, I could not go for two-week breaks that were afforded to other magistrates during lockdown period,” he said.

“It is, therefore, my considered view that it is high time for me to resign and explore other opportunities,” Mhlanga said. Chief magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi was shaken by Mhlanga’s resignation which came after Mahere, who was stationed at the same court, resigned last year.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Zanu PF Politburo yesterday posthumously declared the late Rabelani Choeni, Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu, Elliot Ngwabi, Professor George Kahari and Professor Sheunesu Mpepereki as national heroes.

President Mnangagwa informed the Politburo, during an extraordinary meeting yesterday, that he had posthumously conferred national hero status on the five distinguished nationalists.

“The Politburo gave a thumbs up to the decision made by the President which indeed bestowed befitting respect and honour to the heroes,” said acting Zanu PF national spokesperson, Dr Mike Bimha.

Cde Choeni was Zanu PF Matabeleland South provincial chairman and succumbed to Covid-19 related complications on July 16.

He was buried at Malusingani in Beitbridge.

Cde Choeni joined the liberation struggle under Zipra in 1974 when he crossed the border into Zambia through Botswana.

After independence, he served in various political portfolios, including as Zanu PF chairman for Matabeleland South Province, a position he held until the time of his death.

Cde Ndlovu, also a freedom fighter and distinguished journalist, died of a heart ailment aged 87 at the United Bulawayo Hospitals on July 16 and was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery.

He was has described as a rare breed of journalists whose skills were developed and sharpened by the liberation struggle.

Before joining the mainstream media, Cde Ndlovu was the director of Publicity and Information of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) between 1964 and 1978.

He was also the founding editor of a magazine that was published by the party. In 1972, Cde Ndlovu was sent to the Soviet Union by ZAPU for military training and participated in the liberation struggle.

After independence, Cde Ndlovu worked for The Chronicle and The Sunday News before joining Munn Publishing Company where he was the contributing editor and regional manager responsible for Matabeleland, the Midlands, Masvingo, Botswana and Zambia.

Cde Ngwabi, who was a veteran nationalist, succumbed to Covid-19 related complications aged 85 on August 14.

He was interred at his home in Esiphezini (Mabindisa village) in Umzingwane District, Matabeleland South province.

President Mnangagwa initially conferred liberation war hero status on Cde Ngwabi following a request from the Zanu PF leadership in Matabeleland South province, before the status was upgraded yesterday.

He was among the four heroic freedom fighters who dramatically escaped from the tightly guarded Grey Street Prison — now Bulawayo Prison — in 1965.

The late Prof Mpepereki was a renowned academic and University of Zimbabwe lecturer. He succumbed to Covid-19 on July 10 at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals at the age of 70.

Prof Mpepereki was also presenter on national broadcaster, ZTV, where he co-hosted a programme called “Zvavanhu” with other academics including the late Dr Vimbai Chivaura, Dr Tafataona Mahoso and Prof Claude Mararike.

He joined the UZ’s Faculty of Agriculture as a staff development fellow in 1985 and proceeded to complete a Master of Science Degree majoring in Science and Microbiology at North Carolina State University, the US, in 1987.

After completing his PhD at the UZ in 1994, he launched the soya-bean promotion programme in 1996.

Prof Mpepereki was promoted to senior lecturer in 1998, associate professor in 2000, and full professor in 2002.

Prof Kahari died of Covid-19 complications on July 23, three days after turning 91.

He was an unwavering nationalist, top academic, diplomat, educator, arts administrator and writer.

During his career, Prof Kahari served as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Germany, Italy and Czechoslovakia.

He was also one of the founders of the Catholic University of Zimbabwe, which was founded in 1999, and the first black director at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.

Prof Kahari became active in nationalist politics in 1958 when he joined the African National Congress (ANC) before moving to ZAPU, where he was elected Central Committee member and Deputy Publicity Secretary in 1975.

Prof Kahari was then appointed member of the ZAPU delegation to the Geneva conference in 1976.

In academic circles, he taught at various schools and colleges including the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, as well as the University of Zimbabwe.

He had over 10 publications to his name, among them: The Odyssey of Shona Narratives, A Standard Dictionary of Shona-English Names, and The Search for Identity and Ufuru.

Provinces and stakeholders were directed to submit their recommendations on heroes timeously for appropriate consideration.

The ruling party also announced the suspension of provincial elections to pave way for preparations for this year’s 19th Annual People’s Conference .

Yesterday’s extraordinary Politburo session checked on the state of preparedness for this year’s annual indaba and to receive reports from the various committees involved in the preparations.

Dr Bimha said the elections would be held at a date to be announced.

He also announced the co-option of the current national Youth League executive members into the Central Committee.

Dr Bimha said President Mnangagwa said the extraordinary Politburo session was necessitated by the urgency of the National Annual People’s Conference which will be held from the 25-30 October 2021.

National chairperson Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri who also chairs the national committee on the conference preparations, gave a report on the state of preparedness of the party to host the conference.

The Politburo endorsed the recommendation to reduce the number of delegates attending both the national conference as well as the provincial virtual centres.

“It also endorsed the need to follow the Covid-19 regulations and protocols. This implies that all delegates at each provincial centre must have been vaccinated and tested. They must be able to observe social distancing,” said Dr Bimha.

“The Politburo following deliberations resolved to suspend provincial elections until further notice. This was done to allow party structures to focus on the preparations of the Annual People’s Conference.”

The Politburo also reiterated the position of the party constitution on the youth league which states 35 years as the limit for league membership.

“It was agreed that this provision must be respected unconditionally and that the composition of the youth league at any time must be 35 years and below.

“However, to ensure growth of the national members of the youth league who are now above 35 years, it was resolved that these members will be retrained and redeployed as ex-officio members of the Central Committee.”

The district elections will go ahead as planned across the country’s 10 provinces.

Zanu PF acting Secretary for Youth League Cde Tendai Chirau commended the party and President Mnangagwa for co-opting the youth league members into the Central Committee.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A jilted Shurugwi woman has been remanded in custody for pouring acid on her husband’s alleged lover.

The court heard that, Nobhire Nyasha (27) confronted Gracious Mutsindikwa (23) at Dongo Mine on September 2, accusing her of having an affair with her husband.

As Mutsindikwa who was denying the affair tried to explain herself, Nyasha accused her of lying before she poured acid on her face and her back.

Mutsindikwa is reportedly responding to treatment at Shurugwi Hospital.

Nyasha appeared before Shurugwi magistrate Percy Mukumba facing attempted murder charge.

She is expected back in court on September 30 for routine remand.

Tafadzwa Guzete appeared for the State.-HMetro

21 September 2021

Embracing Peace as a Right for all Zimbabweans

Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Peace which was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. In 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of nonviolence and cease-fire.

This year’s commemorations that are running under the 2021 theme “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world,” speak well to the Zimbabwean situation. ZimRights believes that as we heal from Covid19 pandemic, displacements and many other crises we are facing as a nation, we can collectively recover better and build a peaceful nation.

ZimRights calls on government to put enablers to ensure nation building, put policies and programs that restore stability and ensure sustainable Peace which can be achieved when we create a culture of human rights.

Through the ZimRights Right to Peace Campaign, we have continuously capacitated and strengthened Zimbabwean communities through new infrastructure for Peace and strengthening existing peace cultures. The ZimRights Rights to Peace campaign builds on three fundamental beliefs which are:

• The understanding of peace as a right
• Activating community tools and cultures of peace
• Linking the national peace architecture with community structures.

When we understand that Peace is a fundamental human right whose foundation is in the Bill of Rights, we will embrace the consequent obligation to build it. We believe that the first pillars in the journey to build sustainable peace is respecting human rights.

ZimRights therefore calls on the government of Zimbabwe to participate in the peacebuilding journey by respecting the rights of the people of Zimbabwe as enshrined in the Bill of Rights. During the course of the year, we have documented serious violations of human rights that are an affront to our Constitutional obligations to work for the peace and justice of all.

• The displacement of communities from their ancestral and agricultural lands to pave way for big businesses that are owned by friends and families of the ruling elite.
• The overthrowing of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) from discharging its mandate regarding the Gukurahundi atrocity as well as deploying political activists to damage the NPRC’s reputation.
• The suspension of elections as an avenue through which ordinary people directly influence how they are governed.

• The massive looting of public funds and natural resources by politically exposed persons depriving the poor of their right to education, healthcare, clean water and a safe environment.

These few among many make a mockery of the peace tenets espoused by our Constitution.

As we commemorate the International Day of Peace, ZimRights calls on the government of Zimbabwe to the following:

▪ Stop the displacement of people from their homes as this is a violation of their dignity and their right to shelter.
▪ Stop the systematic attacks on the integrity and mandate on the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) and provide the necessary resources for the commission to do its work.
▪ Repeal Statutory Instrument 225A of 2020 and allow by-elections to resume in the areas affected by the illegal recalls.
▪ Investigate allegations of grand corruption and prosecute perpetrators.

ZimRights further calls upon the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) as the commission charged with advancing the national goals on peace and reconciliation to adhere to its constitutional mandate, maintain its independence and regain the confidence of the people of Zimbabwe.

The NPRC must further distance itself from political activists that a bent on destroying its credibility.

ZimRights offers its solidarity with all the Zimbabwean communities that have never known peace in a long time, encouraging them to become remain vigilant in the pursuit of peace.
Issued by the ZimRights Information Department

[email protected] I www.zimrights.org.zw

16   SEPTEMBER 2021

Residents Associations from different parts of Zimbabwe convened on the 16^th of September 2021 to deliberate on ways through which residents associations can strengthen their coordination and empower citizens in advocating for quality social service delivery, electoral reforms as well as influence public discourse around elections.  

1. The meeting acknowledged the need to build citizen agency in terms of advocacy on electoral reforms as well as to mobilize and motivate citizens to participate in electoral processes. This is in light of the continued voter apathy arising from lack of integrity on electoral processes.

• Participants noted that voter education is critical in strengthening the capacity of citizens to demand for accountable, transparent, free and fair elections.

• In light of the linkage between elections and service delivery, participants noted that there is need to push for electoral reforms which are linked to service delivery so that citizens will have an understanding of how their vote will impact on access to social services. The need to push for duty bearers at council level to have power in terms of decision making as a way of enhancing accountability will also be a key advocacy issue. This is line with the principle of devolution as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

• The meeting acknowledged the need to push for Executive Mayors at councils across the country. This is in light of the fact that technocrats have become more powerful than elected officials and in some instances, appear to be pushing partisan agendas

• On natural resource governance, the meeting acknowledged that local communities must benefit, be involved and have a voice in the management of natural resources within their localities.

• Participants bemoaned the perpetual abuse of Section 129(k) by politicians through the ongoing recalls of Councilors and Members of Parliament which is working against representative democracy, crippling accountability mechanisms and rendering residents powerless, hence the need to come up with provisions in the Electoral Act that will operationalize Section 129(k) of the Constitution to allow involvement of citizens in the recall process of elected officials.

• Attendants concurred that there is need to push for a youth and women’s quota system in the composition of both local and provincial councils and that allocation processes for the women’s quota should be inclusive and transparent.

• The meeting acknowledged the need to strengthen operational structures of Residents Associations as well as the need to engage with key stakeholders on issues related to elections. Participants also acknowledged the need for a robust voter mobilization drive deliberately targeting youths, women and people living with disabilities as well as first time voters ahead of the 2023 elections

• The meeting acknowledged the need to push for a diaspora vote in the upcoming 2023 elections

Done on September 16, 2021

Present;

• Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association
• Combined Harare Residents Association
• Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association
• Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association
• Combined Mvurwi Residents and Ratepayers Association
• Chinhoyi Residents and Ratepayers Association
• Gweru Residents Forum
• Epworth Residents Development Association
• Marondera Residents Open Forum
• Marondera Residents Association
• Marondera Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Association
• Masvingo Residents Forum
• Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance
• Ruwa Residents and Ratepayers Association Trust
• Simukai Residents Association
• United Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association
• Wedza Rural Development Initiative Trust

ENDS//

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration of making citizens’ lives a living hell, especially with the underperforming economy turning the majority into paupers.

Chamisa’s averments came at a time Mnangagwa and his Zanu-PF party have shifted into an election gear as they prepare for the 2023 general election, two years ahead of schedule, at the expense of the economy.

Chamisa said Zimbabwe had been further impoverished by Mnangagwa regime’s failure to address key economic fundamentals.

“Of interest to Zimbabweans is the fact that in 2018, 29% of the population was in extreme poverty. About two years later, an additional 20% of the population entered into extreme poverty on the back of years of bad policies, bad governance, conflict and a command economy,” Chamisa told NewsDay yesterday.

“Sadly, the incapable in government are celebrating the so-called surplus when half of the population is now wallowing in abject poverty. The message here is clear, voting for them is voting for poverty. This is why it is urgent for all citizens to converge.”

The MDC Alliance is rallying citizens to unite, register to vote, vote and defend their vote to ensure a resounding opposition victory in the 2023 polls.

“Everywhere I go, people are struggling to make ends meet, put money in their pocket, get food for their families and roof above their heads. Life in Zimbabwe is such a daily fight for everything and anything from food, electricity, water, transport, jobs to money,” Chamisa said.

“When Finance minister (Mthuli Ncube) is celebrating budget surplus, the budget cuts and excessive taxes have pushed 49% (7,9 million) of the population into extreme poverty up from three million people in 2011 (during government of national unity). In fact, in 2020 alone, 1,9 million Zimbabweans entered into extreme poverty,” he said.

Mnangagwa took over power following a November, 2017 military coup amid promises of an economic rebound, jobs, health for all and an end to load shedding.

However, most of the problems he had promised to solve have worsened.-newsday

By A Correspondent- A Zanu-PF politburo member has charged that the nationwide jostling for positions by party members in the ongoing restructuring exercise was aimed at self-enrichment.

Zanu-PF secretary for external relations Simbarashe Mumbengegwi made the remarks while officiating at the Manicaland provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Mutare on Saturday.

His statement came at a time party members were jostling to be elected to leadership positions in their respective provinces in next month’s internal elections.

Mumbengegwi, who was the guest of honour at the event, took the opportunity to warn ruling party officials against assuming leadership positions to amass wealth.

The ruling party is holding district executive elections this week in the country’s 10 provinces ahead of the provincial elections slated for next month.

“You should not be elected to get riches, you should be elected to serve the people, and you must seek office to produce results for the best of the land, Our President Emmerson Mnangagwa has always been saying that we should work for our nation,” he said

“Yes, we liberated our country in 1980, but the war is still on as we also need to liberate our economy,” he said

He added that Zanu-PF was geared to win the 2023 elections resoundingly, and urged party members to vote in their numbers.

“We have noted with concern that we have party members when it comes to elections, so far we have 3,6 million registered voters, we are targeting five million votes,  so we are urging party leaders to go out there and mop up for more people to join our party, but I am
very sure we are going to win the elections resoundingly  come 2023,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Police in Chivhu have arrested two men who were part of a gang that raided a road construction company along Masvingo-Harare Highway and stole 350 litres of diesel.

The suspects were arrested in a movie style high-speed chase which saw them dump their vehicle and take to their heels.

But nimble footed police officers outpaced and apprehended them.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii, confirmed the arrests, adding a manhunt for the other three has since been launched.

According to police, on September 10, at around 6pm, a security guard was on duty manning Fossil Construction Company road equipment at the 123km peg along Harare-Masvingo Highway.

At around 2am, a white unregistered Mazda Bongo stopped along a detour about 20 metres from the company’s base, prompting the guard to check.

Upon arriving at the vehicle, its driver sped off towards Harare.

The security guard then heard a loud bang at the base and rushed back to check. Upon arrival at the site, he was hit on the forehead with a metal object. The security guard realised that there were four other suspects at the site.

The security guard was further attacked and they fled from the scene before hiding in a nearby farm.

At around 5am, the security guard returned and discovered that the lids of diesel tanks of two steel roller machines and an excavator opened.

He also discovered that diesel had spilled to the ground from the machines.

A report was made at Feathrestone Police Station.

After an hour, police officers, who were manning a roadblock in Beatrice tried to intercept a Nissan Caravan which was overloaded.

They flagged down the vehicle, but it did not stop, resulting in a high speed chase towards Harare.

The police officers then alerted their colleagues manning a roadblock at the 20km peg.

It is reported that the suspects were stopped at the 20km peg and fled on foot. The police officers gave chase and apprehended one of the suspects, Prosper Hipandambira (46).

Police recovered 27x20l containers filled with diesel as well as two small pipes.

Hipandambira implicated Robson Mudzonga (32) of Dzivarasekwa in Harare. The detectives discovered that the gang had also stolen 350l of diesel and 2x48kg gas tanks at Fossil Construction Site near Njiva shops in Chivhu.

“Police are appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of the three suspects who are still at large. They are known by their pseudonyms as Edward of Epworth and Bonnie of Dzivarasekwa Extension,” Chazovachii said.-newsday

In a Twitter Spaces program on ZimEye Monday night, MDC T leader @DouglasMwonzora says he is succeeding because he wrote a letter to ED and ED wrote a letter to him. Should Mwonzora avail the letters?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 21, 2021

By A Correspondent- Police in Harare have arrested and seriously injured 11 student teachers at Belvedere Teachers College who were protesting over the decision to block them from accessing the campus before paying their tuition fees.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) confirmed the arrests and that the students were initially held at Milton Park police station before being transferred to Harare Central police station.

Lawyers Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Paidamoyo Saurombe both from the ZLHR are representing the arrested students.

Today, the week commenced with our lawyers searching for and locating 11 student teachers who were rounded up at Belvedere Technical Teachers College and detained at Milton Park police station,” an alert from the lawyers read in part.

“The 11 are being transferred to Harare Central police station and some of them are nursing injuries after they were severely assaulted.”

The students were demonstrating against the fee hike and the college’s decision to turn away students for non-payment of fees.

Students said fees ranging from between $38200 for campus students and $21100 for day scholars was beyond their reach and were planning to march to Higher Education minister Professor Amon Murwira’s offices to register their concern.-newsday

DREAM INTEPRETERS HELP

Ndarota ndiripaCoppa Cabanna. Mahwindi akamira mumaDoor emabhazi akatengwa nehurumende yavaMnangagwa (@edmnangagwa) achiti: "Hapinde. ZUPCO rakazara!!!!"
What does this DREAM mean,Who is this one who is being said by the masses?:"He will NEVER to Enter"

— Dr. Obert M. Mpofu (@DrObertMpofu) September 21, 2021

By A Correspondent- African Apostolic Church leader, Paul Mwazha has approached the High Court in a bid to stop his sons from holding pilgrimages at the church shrines.

The church is split between Mwazha and his sons.

Earlier this year, the High Court barred both parties from accessing the church shrines at Ndarikure Shashe in Midlands and Mapembe in Manicaland provinces.

Nevertheless, Mwazha’s second son and faction leader, Alfred Kushamisa has invited members of the church to attend two pilgrimages scheduled to be held at the end of this week and next month at the church’s shrines.

Mwazha wants the gatherings slated for Ndarikure from 24 – 26 September and Mapembe from 8 -10 October cancelled pending the finalisation of the leadership wrangle.

The church also wants Mwazha’s three sons and five others to be evicted from the church’s shrines.

The church also predicts that there will be violent clashes between the factions if the proposed gatherings proceed considering that previous activities resulted in violence at the shrines.

It also believes that the gatherings will be COVID-19 super spreaders considering that many people are likely to attend the pilgrimages.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF National chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the party would not be allowing any Covid-19 unvaccinated member to attend the party’s annual conference.

Zanu PF is holding its 2021 annual conference next month in Bindura.

Addressing the media after the party’s Politburo meeting in Harare Monday, Zanu PF acting spokesperson Mike Bimha said Muchinguri said they had endorsed the recommendation to reduce the number of delegates attending the national conference well the provincial virtual centres.

“It also endorsed the need to follow the Covid-19 regulations and protocols. This implies that all delegates at each provincial centre must have been vaccinated and tested. They must be able to observe social distancing,” said Bimha.

“The Politburo following deliberations resolved to suspend provincial elections until further notice. This was done to allow party structures to focus on the preparations of the Annual People’s Conference.”

The Politburo also reiterated the position of the party constitution on the youth league which states 35 years as the limit for league membership.

“It was agreed that this provision must be respected unconditionally and that the composition of the youth league at any time must be 35 years and below.
“However, to ensure growth of the national members of the youth league who are now above 35 years, it was resolved that these members will be retrained and redeployed as ex-officio members of the Central Committee.”

By A Correspondent- Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe (GALZ) said President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2018 positively responded to their issues.

Sylvester Nyamatendedza, a senior GALZ official, told a local online news portal that ahead of the 2018 elections, their organisation approached 16 political parties contesting in that year’s plebiscite seeking clarification on whether their grievances had been included in their election manifestos.

He said ahead of the elections, Zanu gave the association an opportunity to share its concerns and demands on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) communities. Said Nyamatendedza:

Prior to the 2018 elections, the LGBTI community who are members of GALZ asked us to inquire from political parties their interpretation on good governance and service delivery system, if their manifestos had anything to do with LGBTI issues, and what their plans were as a party if they won the elections regarding LGBTI.

We wrote to 16 political parties, and we only received a response from the ruling party, ZANU PF who asked us for a meeting. We managed to submit our needs, concerns, and demands as the LGBTI community.

Nyamatendedza declined to name other political parties they approached but ignored GALZ’s requests.

Zanu PF’s new stance on GALZ is now far removed from the party’s former leader and Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe who once described gays and lesbians as “worse than pigs”.

Zimbabwe’s Constitution criminalises same-sex marriages while Section 74 of the Criminal Codification and Reform Act has for years been used against members of the LGBTI community.

By A Correspondent- Controversial Zimbabwean actress and media personality, Tinopona Katsande widely known as Tin Tin in entertainment circles has returned to radio.

Tinopona is now back at ZiFM Stereo as co-host of “SundayBrunchRun” alongside veteran broadcaster Tonderai “TK” Katsande.
She was rehired by ZiFm Stereo, one of the leading FM radio stations in Zimbabwe.
Ecstatic about the development, Tinopona took to social media announcing her return to ZiFm Stereo.

“Haaaalllaa!! Guess who’s back on radio? Yayiii!!! @zifmstereo with the baddest in the business @teekayzw – cheers to all who support come backs 1 “

Katsande was one of the first employees for ZiFm Stereo when it was launched. She, however, lost her job in October 2013 after a tape of her in a sexual act flooded the internet. After 5 years of suspension, she was rehired again in 2018 by the same broadcaster.

She was on social media recently when she was said to have resorted to selling eggs to gain a living.

…to allow people to cheat the electorate and then change political parties midstream is not to promote dignity…

By A Correspondent | In what signals a dark cul de sac for Zimbabwe’s most popular politician Nelson Chamisa, and what demonstrates that no matter which direction he turns, be it changing party name, or starting a new organisation, he will be fought against, because, Chamisa is ‘cheating the electorate,’ as his nemesis Douglas Mwonzora said last night.

The issue of hate speech… Komichi did not give any hate speech. Komichi stated a fact that we will not allow people that do not belong to us to continue holding our position that's not hate that's stating the obvious that's stating a party position, pic.twitter.com/SQWCsl0r9X

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 21, 2021

Speaking to a large audience moderated by top journalists Garikai Chaunza and Lynette Manzini, Mwonzora said statements by his aide, Morgen Komichi to recall MPs and councillors who under Nelson Chamisa cannot be termed, hate speech.

He said this while hinting that a government of national unity is coming soon.

Mwonzora was also responding to a complaint raised by Hwange MP Daniel Molokele, and a female member of the crowd, when he said:

“The issue of hate speech… Komichi did not give any hate speech.

“Komichi stated a fact that we will not allow people that do not belong to us to continue holding our position that’s not hate; that’s stating the obvious that’s stating a party position, what is hate speech if I can give you an example, is because Mwonzora comes from Manicaland you call him Muzorewa, and all that, that is directed, that is hate now but if I say we will recall who don’t belong to us, that’s not hate at all.

“And Madam, what you understand about dignity and what I understand about dignity may be different, and as far as I am concerned to allow corrupt people to get away with it, is not promoting dignity.

“To allow corrupt councillors who steal from the poor, to continue keeping those positions, is not enhancing dignity, to allow people to cheat the electorate and then change political parties midstream is not to promote dignity.

“To allow lawlessnes and anarchy is not promoting dignity. The MDC has a constitution…”

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) officers have been implicated in stealing millions of money from road regulatory authority by corruptly allowing banned motorists, kombis and pirate taxis to sneak through boom gates.

The Herald reports that the illicit practice, which is most pronounced at Dema toll gate along the Chitungwiza-Marondera road in Seke, is being done in full view of police officers.

They take advantage of motorists in front of them, who duly pay toll fees and are allowed to pass.

Before the boom gate closes, rogue elements will sneak through and drive off at high speed without paying.

Surprisingly, no reports have been officially made against the motorists who evade payment on several times daily.
The same errant motorists pass through the toll gate daily and no arrests have so far been made.

Zinara spokesperson Mr Tendai Mugabe referred all questions to the national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.

Mr Mugabe
“The police are the ones who enforce the law and we cannot comment on such cases,” said Mr Mugabe.
Asst Comm Nyathi said police will investigate the cases.
“We will engage the relevant police station to find out what is happening. If there is connivance, then definitely action will be taken,” he said.
At Skyline toll gate along Harare-Masvingo highway, pirate taxis popularly known as “mushikashika” queue at a side boom gate reserved for those with pre-payment proof and exemption certificates.
Once the gate opens for those on exemption, pirate taxis sneak through without payment.
Almost daily, the kombis, Toyota Wish, and Honda Fit vehicles fraudulently gain passage in full view of officials and police officers.

Since the announcement of the Covid-19 lockdown measure in 2020, kombis across the country were banned.
Unlike conventional buses which were allowed on several times to operate, when the measures were relaxed, kombis remained banned.
However, some kombi owners and operators have allowed their crew to operate, and there are allegations that they connive with corrupt police officers manning roadblocks, for free passage.
The alleged unholy alliance is derailing Government efforts to curb the spread of the virus.
The Herald observed that whenever the driver of a kombi is approaching the Dema Toll gate, they allow either a private vehicle or a haulage truck to be ahead allowing them to be behind the haulage truck or private vehicle.
Whenever a haulage truck driver pays a toll fee, and the gate opens to allow him to pass, but kombi and the mushikashika drivers take advantage of that and speed off without payment.
Observations made by The Herald revealed that almost all the kombis that ply the Chitungwiza-Hwedza or Chitungwiza-Marondera routes engage in this unlawful activity.
On September 4 this year around 3pm, a silver kombi ADZ 8001 inscribed “Remember Me” almost rammed into an Isuzu double cab at Dema Toll gate while rushing to pass through before the gate closes.

It passed without payment.
Asked to comment on the behaviour of the kombi driver, a female cashier at Dema had this to say: “We are tired of these kombi drivers. They do this always and we compile a list of the registration numbers of such vehicles daily. This counter book is almost full,” said the Zinara cashier.
On September 15 around 9am, this writer witnessed a Silver Toyota Hiace (AEU 8305) plying Chitungwiza-Hwedza route going through the same toll gate without paying.
At law, kombis ferrying passengers are supposed to pay US$3 or $246 to gain passage at toll gates.
These illegal kombis operating from Chitungwiza to Marondera and Hwedza pass through police checkpoints.
In most cases, these kombis pass through three or four roadblocks before getting into Marondera from Chitungwiza.

There is a road block which is sometimes mounted just near Ziko Business Centre and another one about half a kilometre before the tollgate.
Another roadblock is always mounted about a kilometre before the Dema Police Station.
In most incidents, kombis pass through these checkpoints without a hustle.
On several occasions, they are briefly stopped, and a chit chat between officers and kombi drivers is done and the crew is allowed passage.
But it is not always the case, as on some days, the crew would evade these road blocks especially when they allegedly realise that the officers manning the roadblocks on that particular day are not friendly. They will use gravel roads which pass through Mabika village.
Some evade the Dema tollgate and use a gravel road which will take them to Murape Primary School, a kilometre after the toll gate.

The police checkpoint which is hard to evade is the one near Dema police station.
However, this is not a hindrance to the illegal commuters as they always through, raising suspicion that they pay bribes.
“I always use these kombis to and from Hwedza, they are not stopped at roadblocks, vakomana ava vanongobvisa mari vopa police votopfuura,” said one of the passengers while talking to this writer in a Hwedza-bound kombi.
The commuter omnibus was stopped at Dema roadblock and true to the passenger’s word, it was allowed passage.

By A Correspondent- The family of late national hero and Cabinet minister Perrance Shiri has questioned the authenticity of documents used by the Master of the High Court Eldard Mutasa to handle his vast empire.

A decorated national hero and ex-Air Force of Zimbabwe commander, Shiri became Agriculture minister soon after President Emmerson Mnangagwa took over in a November 2017 coup and served in that capacity until he succumbed to COVID-19 on July 29 last year.

Some of his children have, through their lawyers, written to Mutasa on several occasions, arguing that the estate administration documents were not authentic.

Shiri’s estate beneficiaries also challenged Mutasa’s appointment of former Attorney-General Sobusa Gula-Ndebele as executor when the late Agriculture minister had a family trust with its own executor.

They claimed that Gula-Ndebele had shown bias in executing the estate as he had un-procedurally given authority to undeserving relatives to use Shiri’s property, namely his nephew Bornwell Chitanda who is now staying at the deceased’s property in Borrowdale after moving out of his Hatcliffe home to occupy the house which had key documents and family safes.

But Chitanda yesterday said: “I was asked to stay at the late minister’s house because there was no relative staying with him at the time of his death. I am just looking after the property. I know nothing about the late minister’s documents to do with his estate. I wouldn’t concern myself with his estate because I am not a beneficiary anyway.”

The matter is now being investigated by police under reference ER5/2021 with the hope that the estate does not fall into wrong hands.

Shiri’s children argued that Mutasa had used a 1995 will, which the late minister had disregarded after registering a family trust with one of his children Rufaro Stephanie Shiri as executor, but who some family members are allegedly wanting to muscle out.

According to documents seen by NewsDay, the late Agriculture minister’s children, Rufaro Stephanie reportedly with the support from sisters Tatenda and Cynthia, accused the Master’s office of using fraudulent documents to deprive them of their inheritance.

“The estate issue has ceased to be a family issue as portrayed to the public and government. People are using government letterheads and offices to execute their fraudulent activities. Mr Gula-Ndebele was appointed executor both dative and testamentary, was the Master’s Office confused on what role to give to him since the family trust has its own executor? His (Mutasa) letter appointing him as administrator was stamped on August 20, 2020, but signed on August 21. Was the stamp stolen on the 20th and someone who was not supposed to sign signed his letters of administration,” Stephanie queried.

The children also questioned the addition of other individuals to benefit from the estate among them Tawanda Zulu and Tanaka Stephanie Shiri who they claimed her real name was Tanaka Musvamhiri, yet they were allegedly not Shiri’s biological children. Zulu has been given Shiri’s farm under unclear circumstances through a letter reportedly signed by the late minister.

“After approaching the Agriculture ministry officials who had worked with our father they happened to confirm the offer letter existed and that the farm had been subdivided, but the question is if the farm was truly subdivided, and if the Agriculture minister chairs the committee for subdivision of farms. Why did he decide to write to himself stating he wanted his farm to be given to Tawanda Zulu, whom he had not given the name Shiri and (though) (he) had stayed with the family for 10 years. The letter can only be read over the phone and had been read on the phone with ministry officials requiring a family meeting to release the letter. No one has ever seen a hard copy of the letter, but what we can confirm is it’s on the ministry’s letterhead,” she said.

But Gula-Ndebele dismissed the allegations in heated exchanges with Stephanie and her sisters’ lawyers.

Shiri’s estate was registered on August 3, 2020 by his daughter Stephanie.

“If Mr Sobusa Gula-Ndebele knew he was an executor, why didn’t he register the estate? Under the laws and statues of Zimbabwe, a family meeting is done to appoint an executor and the decision lies among deceased’s spouse and/or children. Such a meeting was not done,” Stephanie said.

“The Master of High Court has records of all wills and trusts and it is his duty to scrutinise wills and approve if they can be used to administer one’s estate. The 1995 will in particular, has the following grey areas: (for instance) the marital clause states that: In the event of death of any of my daughters, her inheritance will go to her children. If the daughter has no children at the time of her death, her share of the inheritance will be shared equally among her.”

She added: “The clause eliminates Mr Titus Takudzwa Chikerema Shiri. I believe when the will was registered in 1995 according to the document we have only three children listed. Titus being one of them! How could he have been included in one clause and eliminated in the marital clause. How did the deceased know that Titus would not be able to marry and would not die, but the daughters would die and clearly states their children were to benefit and or siblings if there were no children?

“Today, Titus is no more, he died in 2013, he had been allocated a house in the will, had no children, what is going to happen to that house since the will eliminated him in the marital clause? The clauses also suggest that he no longer has male children which people could have derived from the trust and the reason why Titus was eliminated in the new documents is because he doesn’t exist, he died in 2013.”

Stephanie confirmed that Gula-Ndebele was once Shiri’s lawyer, but argued that as an interested party, he should not have drafted and executed the will.

“Witness names are not there, only signatures present, no names with ID numbers. At the time of my father’s death, Sobusa Gula-Ndebele was no longer his lawyer.”

She added that the documents provided to Gula-Ndebele as executor had many disparities.

“The document Acceptance of Trust as Executor MHC 11 on the top left part is printed by Printflow (Private) Limited and the signature used to sign that document is not Sobusa Gula-Ndebele’s.

“The bond of security for the issue of letters of administration to executor also on the top left part is printed by Printflow (Private Limited) on the top right reference number 63911-0 MHC 52 333 (J). Letter of administration is on the other hand printed by the Government Printer, Harare M.H.C.16,” she said, adding that the bond of security document and letters of administration did not have the Master’s signature and stamp.

She also argued that there were two copies of letters of administration — the one with the government emblem date-stamped on August 20, 2020 and deemed to have been signed by one D Gutu (for the Master of High Court) on August 21, 2020.

“These are to certify that ……. (But) how do they certify that he (Gula-Ndebele) has a letter of administration with no official stamp or signature from the Master. This letter was only issued on the 29th of August 2020, while the one with the government emblem was issued on the 21st of August 2020, weren’t they supposed to be done on one day? The letter to certify him as executor has no stamp and no signatures,” Stephanie questioned.

She added that according to every document provided, Gula-Ndebele was appointed executor dative and testamentary.

“Executor dative is an executor that is appointed by the Master of the High Court where the deceased died without a will (intestate and/or real executor doesn’t wish to accept the appointment). So on whose behalf was he being appointed executor testamentary on executor nominated by will?” Stephanie asked.

Documents show that Shiri in 1995 appointed Gula-Ndebele as executor of his will and administrator of his estate together with late General Solomon Mujuru in the event that Gula-Ndebele would have failed to perform his duty properly. But Mujuru died in 2011 in a mysterious inferno at his Beatrice farmhouse.

In the will, Shiri bequeathed 50% of his bank savings, insurance policies to his now late son Titus and the other half of savings to his children Tatenda and Cynthia Shiri, and all his other children who were yet to be born and to come.

A death notice filed at the Master’s Offices indicated that three more children Tawanda (adopted son who stayed with his family for 10 years before he reportedly moved out), Stephanie and Tanaka were also listed as beneficiaries of Shiri’s estate.

“So this implies even those that Gula-Ndebele would want to include can only benefit from the savings and nothing else which then nullifies his distribution account which allocates shares to Tawanda Zulu and Tanaka Musvamhiri also in the overall estate distribution,” Stephanie argues.

Yesterday, Tanaka responded: “I do not dispute the documents that are being used by the Master of the High Court. I accept them as authentic. I can’t comment further, but I insist that I am the late minister’s daughter and I have proof to that effect.”

Zulu said: “I can’t comment on the matter. Those who are making claims on the authenticity of the documents are better placed to answer your questions.”

On April 12, 2021, Stephanie wrote to Mutasa requesting to be appointed as executrix dative of her father’s estate, since Gula-Ndebele as the executor testamentary had allegedly failed to register the estate following her father’s death.

On May 17, 2021, she wrote another letter requesting for the removal of Gula-Ndebele as the executor of Shiri’s estate, accusing him of neglecting his duties.

She also accused the executor of a litany of issues including failing to register the estate, read the will on time and to urgently address important issues for estate administration.

Stephanie recommended her lawyer to be appointed as executor of the late Shiri’s properties, in place of Gula-Ndebele and implored Mutasa to carry out investigations on suspected fraudulent acts on her father’s estate.

“Sometime in December 2020, the executor refused me the right to legal representation, violating my constitutional right to legal representation by a lawyer of my choice,” she stated in the letter.

“This is why my lawyers have been writing directly to the Office of the Master of the High Court because the executor refused them the opportunity to represent me. I, therefore, now appeal to your high offices as the Master of the High Court to remove the executor from office in terms of section 116 of the Administration of Estates Act (Chapter 6:01).”

She asked Mutasa to convene a meeting of the beneficiaries, with two sisters, Cynthia and Tatenda to appoint an executor.

But, Mutasa in response stated that there was no need for a meeting to deliberate on the dictates of section 116 of the Administration of Estates Act.

“We note that Ms Rufaro filed an objection to the account, which the executor has already filed. The estate appears to us to be almost finalised,” Mutasa said in a May 17, 2021, letter.

“What remains is to address the issues you raised as the basis for your objection to the account which we have forwarded to the executor and now awaits his responses before the office takes a position.

“On the issue of registration of the estate, please note that any of the interested parties connected to the deceased could have registered the estate and what Ms Rufaro did was completely in order. There was no need to wait for the lawyers to attend to the registration.”

Yesterday, Mutasa said: “I am not allowed to comment to the media without authorisation from the Judicial Service Commission secretary. I have to seek his authority first.”

Stephanie questioned why the Master’s Office had failed to remove Gula-Ndebele as executor of the Shiri estate given Shiri’s children’s misgivings over how the estate was being handled.

“We, therefore, appeal to the leadership of this country to see to it that those involved in these shenanigans are brought to book. This poses a serious security threat to us as beneficiaries if it’s not addressed urgently. We believe we still have a lot to benefit from our father’s colleagues, but there are people who would want to taint them for no reason. All culprits should be brought to book,” Stephanie said.

Gula-Ndebele was recently at the centre of a messy wrangle which erupted over the distribution of another hero’s estate which includes several houses, a farm, residential stands and cash.-Newsday