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By A Correspondent- Professor Lovemore Madhuku has said his party will advocate for more vehicles from government to boost his party’s capacity to campaign for the forthcoming election.

“We need more vehicles as NCA,” said Professor Lovemore Madhuku.

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ZimEye will be livestreaming a press conference by Professor Lovemore Madhuku where he is set to clarify his party’s position on the POLAD vehicle.

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By A Correspondent- Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has suspended burials at the Athlone West cemetery after a grave-digging machine broke down.

According to council sources, all burials in the city are now being conducted at Luveve cemetery.

The sources attributed the breakdown of the machine to the increased number of burials which is being fuelled by the spike in covid-19 related deaths.

Said the source:

“The grave digging machine broke down and council has not been burying bodies at Athlone West cemetery. All burials are now being conducted at Luveve cemetery.”

By A Correspondent- Kusena villagers in Marange, who last week had resisted an order by the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) to temporarily vacate their homes so that the diamond miner can engage in exploration activities finally capitulated.

Bocha Diamond Community Trust board member Takura Betera yesterday told NewsDay that most of the affected families are set to lose their land after the exploration exercise.

“The ZCDC approached us saying it wanted to do exploration activities, including blasting activities, near our homes. It had a meeting with our traditional leaders last Wednesday, and as villagers, we also held our own meeting last Thursday,” Betera said.

“They told us to camp at Kusena Primary School on the day that they will be performing their exploration activities. Our response was that it was not proper for them to force us to camp at a school during this COVID-19 era,” he said.

Betera said most of the villagers were set to lose their land due to ZCDC exploration activities.

“Most families are going to lose their agricultural land after the blasting activities. It would be impossible to grow plants on such land. ZCDC must explain to us how it is going to rehabilitate our land,” he said.

The villagers, who had resisted eviction, finally gave in on Friday after striking a compensation agreement for damages that might be caused by blasting activities.

ZCDC spokesperson Sugar Chagonda said the company engaged the villagers, adding that the process went on well.

“They (villagers) did not resist. We carried out awareness campaigns, which is a requirement. We cannot just take villagers by surprise. Some of them have no understanding of what exactly is happening. However, they later appreciated the process of exploration and it was a success,” Chagonda said.

-newsday

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) joins the World in celebration of breastfeeding week under the theme “Protect Breastfeeding: A shared responsibility.”

The commemoration comes at a time when most council clinics which provide maternal and post-natal health care services have been overwhelmed due to the mass exodus of health personnel triggered by poor working conditions.

The situation has been further worsened by the advent of Covid 19 which has seen deterioration of post-natal and maternal health care services as COVID has become a “priority” due to its devastating effects.

Provision of quality post-natal health care services is essential in protecting breast feeding as breastfeeding is one of the effective ways to ensure child growth, health and survival.

We urge lactating mothers, employers and CSOs to take the breast-feeding agenda more seriously especially after the disruption of breastfeeding by the advent of COVID 19.

Employers must improve working conditions for women by providing spaces and times at the workplace for women to breastfeed their children.

We concur with the government Devolution and Decentralization Policy that “devolved mandates on Local Authorities which are unaccompanied by adequate financial capacities would overwhelm Local Authorities’ limited resources and ultimately lead to poor service delivery outcomes.”

Provision of primary health care services by local authorities without adequate financing is one of the “unfunded mandates” our local authorities have been grappling with for a long period and we therefore call upon the government to provide adequate health grants to local authorities for the purposes of improving post-natal and other health services.

We call for urgent intervention in improving the working conditions of health personnel at council clinics to ensure provision of quality post-natal health services to nursing mothers.

We bemoan that COVID 19 has been used as an excuse by some health personnel in Council clinics to turn away women in accessing maternal and post-natal services, with some nurses demanding bribes to attend to these desperate women.

We assert that quality health care services can be achieved through a devolved system of governance as provided for in Chapter 14 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

By A Correspondent- Schools have heightened preparations for reopening for the second term with fumigation of buildings and grounds currently in progress.

This comes a week after President Emmerson Mnangagwa said schools should prepare for reopening. Information minister Monica Mnangagwa also told a post-Cabinet media briefing last Tuesday that schools should begin preparations for reopening, saying parents must provide their children with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Schools remained closed for the most part of 2020 after the second wave of COVID-19 struck some learning institutions.

During the current third wave of the pandemic this year, government postponed opening of schools in winter for the second term to avoid more infections.

Government has since published Statutory Instrument (SI) 210 of 2021 stipulating that schools will be closed until August 10.

Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro yesterday expressed satisfaction with progress in fumigation of schools in preparation for their reopening.

“Yes, we are happy. The ministry has begun preparations for schools opening in all the provinces.

“Schools have embarked on construction work to increase their infrastructure in an effort to decongest existing structures and enable social and physical distancing,” Ndoro said.

“Examples of schools such as Ntuthuko Primary, Sinqobile Primary, Makulubise Primary, Mahlalufikile Primary, all in Lupane district in Matabeleland North province have already embarked on the exercise. Other schools with social and physical distancing challenges have also been encouraged to follow suit,” he said.

Ndoro said a number of donors and development partners had begun supplying PPE for the prevention and management of COVID-19 at various schools in Harare such as Mabvuku Primary, Mabvuku High, Domboramwari Primary, Chinamano Primary, among others.

“Boreholes and new water sources have also been drilled at Mwewele Primary, Mahlalufikile Primary and Kana Primary in Matabeleland North province. In Manicaland province, Tonhorai Primary (Mutare), Munyoro High, Chitova Primary schools have had their roofs repaired. Munyoro High School also embarked on the programme of reducing three-seater desks to single-seater desks to allow for physical and social distancing,” he said.

Ndoro said boreholes were drilled at schools in Mashonaland East province such as Barahwe Primary, Gadaga Secondary, Machekera Primary and Secondary schools, while efforts were underway to drill more boreholes at Magunje Primary and High schools.

He said through the School Improvement Grant (SIG), piped water infrastructure was installed at Rukariro, Mayema, Mugabe, Sowa, Chinhanga and Mashambanhaka primary schools, while installation is in progress at Kutsokodeka Primary School.

Ndoro said in Bulawayo, Vulindlela Primary School would open its doors for the first time to pupils up to Grade 4 in the Hlalani Kuhle/Garikai area to decongest Mkhithika Thebe Primary School, while there will be vacancies for all forms at Mhlophe Secondary School to decongest Luveve and Cowdray Park High schools.

In the Midlands province, he said the preparations had seen 35 applications for school registrations, adding that this would assist to decongest other schools.

“At least 217 schools have had their water sources rehabilitated and seven schools have constructed new classroom blocks to decongest existing infrastructure. In Matabeleland South province, at least 25 schools have refurbished their water and ablution facilities in a bid to do away with Blair toilets completely,” he said.

However, Almalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said teachers were still incapacitated to return to schools.

“If government doesn’t change its attitude, schools will never be ready for opening. Teachers remain severely incapacitated and will only show up to work to log in, if they manage to. No teaching will take place when schools open. Government should urgently convene dialogue and resolve the long-standing salary crisis,” Masaraure said.

— NewsDay

By A Correspondent- The Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has embarked on a re-branding exercise, which will see the opposition changing its flag and party regalia.

The party’s spokesperson, Velile Moyo confirmed the development and said the new party’s paraphernalia will be unveiled during the party’s first virtual political rally set to be held on August 15.

“MRP’s information department will be introducing the re-branding process which the party is currently working on. This will include unveiling MRP’s new flag, paraphernalia, banners, and how the party would look across all provinces of Mthwakazi,” said Moyo.

The spokesperson said the party will also launch its 2023 election campaign during the e-rally.

“Our president Mqondisi Moyo will also speak on the state of the party, ongoing programmes of structure building, and mobilisation. People will also see the new leadership particularly the national chairperson, secretary-general, the organising secretary, and information secretary.”

He said the e-rally will run for two hours on social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Moyo said due to the high cost of data, the party was encouraging its members to gather in small groups so as to cut costs.

“We encourage those who can gather in their small numbers across the globe to do so. Based on the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, continued lockdown and of course, the government taking advantage of this, to close down on political parties holding gatherings, the MRP has resorted to go virtual. We want to reach out to the people across the country and the international community,” added Moyo.

The MRP was informed in 2013 in a bid to create a sovereign country for Matabeleland and Midlands regions.

By A Correspondent- South Africa is set to receive another batch of Pfizer vaccines from the US on Tuesday which is part of 5.6 million doses America donated.

The donation is part of the Covax facility and the first batch of 2.8 million arrived on Saturday.

The Health Department is welcoming the vaccines, saying it boosts the security of supply.

This comes when doctors in South Africa, which accounts for more than 35 per cent of all cases recorded on the continent, are struggling with an unprecedented influx of patients.

Said Doctors’ Association chief Angelique Coetzee:

Unlike past waves, this time the hospital system is not coping.

South Africa’s average new daily infections have increased 15-fold since early April, with hospital admissions rising around 60 per cent.

South Africa says it has secured enough Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines to immunise 67 per cent of its 59 million inhabitants.

But the rollout has been hit by setbacks and only about 6.9 million people (14.8% of the population) have received a jab so far.

Seventeen civic society organisations have submitted their work plans and credentials to the office of Harare Provincial Administrator, Tafadzwa Muguti, amid threats to ban non-compliant ones. The Harare Metropolitan Province announced in a statement:

The office of the PDC Tafadzwa Muguti would like to thank the all NGOs &Trusts that have submitted their work plans & programmes. We encourage all development partners to work together with us. The following submitted their credentials on Friday 30/7/21.

1. Child Protection Society

2. Royal Business Consult Trust

3. J.F Kapnek Trust

4. HelpAge Zimbabwe

5. Mavambo Orphan Care

6. Centre for Sexual Health &HIV & AIDS Research

7. Life Empowerment Support Organisations

8. Zichre 9. AIDS Counselling Trust

10. REPSSI

11. Msasa Project

12. Voluntary Service Overseas

13. Population Services Zimbabwe

14. SOS Children’s Villages Zimbabwe

15. Christian Blind Mission

16. The China Africa Economy & Culture Exchange & Research Centre Trust

17. Zimbabwe National Organisation for Residents Trusts (ZINOART)

Harare Metropolitan Province is committed to ease of business and shall therefore support all the organisations that have complies with our request to implement their programmes & projects. Let’s work together to build an upper middle-income society.

By A Correspondent- Police have arrested a Harare businessman and seized at least 113 driving licence discs that were due to be handed to aspiring drivers who paid US$250 each to be issued with the documents without undergoing the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) tests.

Detectives arrested businessman Tendekai Madongorere and Julius Punungwe before seizing a number of documents which included:

• 113 fake driving licence discs and certificates of competence with names of aspiring drivers,
• five fake defensive driving certificates,
• five card printers used to produce the documents,
• 400 fake blank national identity cards,
• one fake Zimra tax clearance certificate,
• one fake deed of grant in respect of a Mufakose house,
• 29 copies of serialised birth record documents and nine copies of birth certificates.
• A fake Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) identity card in the name of Madongorere
• fake Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) identity cards bearing the names of Innocent Kayo, Edmund Mhere and Tichaona Chijwanha.
• fake Covid-19 essential staff cards,
• fake Cambridge O-Level and A-Level certificates,
• a desktop computer,
• three fake diploma certificates, and other dubious papers.

Three months ago, The Herald carried an investigative story in which fraudsters were advertising on social media that they can facilitate the issuance of driving licences within hours.

Madongorere (48) is a director of Impact Designs Private Limited which operates in Harare’s central business district while Punungwe (47) is unemployed.

Police established from interviewing the 113 people whose names appeared on the fraudulent driving licence documents that they had paid US$250 each for the discs.

The people in question, are expected to give evidence as State witnesses in the trial of the two suspects.

Detectives at Chitungwiza Police Station received information that some fraudsters were printing forged official documents selling them to people in Harare and Chitungwiza.

The police arrested Madongorere who then implicated Punungwe who was subsequently arrested.

The two are in custody, having lost two freedom bids at Chitungwiza Magistrates’ Court and the High Court.

They are now back at Chitungwiza Court with a fresh freedom bid dubbed “application for bail pending trial on changed circumstances”.

A magistrate is yet to determine the application.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo City Council (BCC) employees have been implicated in a scandal where they allegedly demanded US$35 bribe from the Anglican Church in Luveve to repair a burst sewer line.

The issue emerged after one of the church leaders, Sibangani Dube, was demoted from the vice-chairmanship for facilitating payment of the bribe to council employees.

Dube yesterday confirmed the development to Southern Eye.

“I am a congregant at the Anglican Church in New Luveve. On July 11, a team from the BCC sewer department attended to and cleared a blocked private line at the church,” Dube said.

“The norm is that one makes a payment at the council revenue office and gets issued with a receipt. However, in this case, it was a Sunday and council offices were closed. The guys asked us to pay US$35 to clear the line. The church leaders negotiated and settled for US$20 which was given to council workers. This meant that council lost revenue.

“Council lost fuel, including wear and tear of council vehicles. Residents experiencing sewage spilling at their premises are kept waiting while council employees will be doing
their personal piece jobs using council equipment,” he said.

Dube said bribery was also affecting the church, adding that after reporting the corruption by council employees to BCC, it was unfortunate that he was removed from his church position as vice-chairman.

Two members of the Anglican Church trustees, Father Msasa and Father Madida said they were not in the office and could not comment.

Mayor Solomon Mguni said he was in a meeting, while his deputy Mlandu Ncube professed ignorance of the corruption issue.

-newsday

Schools remain closed until August 10 under the latest statutory instrument extending the
original closure for another two weeks that was gazetted at the end of last week.

SI210 of 2021 simply confirms under the public health regulations the announcement made last week that schools will remain closed until the government says otherwise.

Government has made it clear that while schools and parents must prepare for the reopening, this will only happen when the risk to children is significantly lower.

The third wave is retreating slowly, but infection rates are still at historically very high
levels.

The statutory instrument was the 31st amendment to the consolidated lockdown
regulations issued in October last year and basically just moved forward the earliest
possible legal reopening date from July 27 to August 10.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A fresh war has erupted in Mashonaland Central province after the Zanu PF embattled chairman Kazembe Kazembe allegedly made co-options into the provincial executive structure in a bid to realign his allies.

Kazembe’s position is dangling by a thread after losing taste and favour from the high and low ranks in the party.

The recent co-options have renewed a longstanding war between him and the war veterans who are irked by Kazembe’s failure to unite the party as well as mobilise support for the party.

In a leaked chat that has been gleaned by this publication, outspoken war veteran leader Cde Samuel Parirenyatwa expressed anger over Kazembe hijacking of the cooption process on weekend saying it is reminiscent of the G40 era and against the grain and spirit of the ED regime.

Below is Parirenyatwa leaked comment against the weekend co-options.

“Morning Cdes. The issue about co-options at the Sunday PEC is not about who brought this to this and other platforms. It is more about the contents of this article and the intention of those involved. What need to answered and clarified is whether what is said is true or not. Chairman accepts that people were co-opted at the just ended PEC. If that is true, then the province is defying a party position that since the party is currently restructuring, co-options should stop.

In any event, what’s the essence of co-opting when the party has undertaken restructuring exercise. It is clear from the manner in which these co-options were done that “pane vanhu varikuronga chinhu chavo” against the will of the people and party. Our memory brings us back to the time of the G40 machinations. We now have the G40 modus operandi.

Let’s remind ourselves about what the President and first Secretary of our party said, in the interest of unity and forging ahead as a party and as a nation, “let bye-gones be bye-gones, forgive but don’t forget”. We forgave the G40s but we haven’t forgotten. Sisonge!!.

Kazembe refuited the claims that he coopted the alleged members saying it was coopted by PEC.

“Good morning. I don’t normally comment on social media but the abuse of my name is getting out of hand . There is one or two people who always choose to mislead people and abuse my name. We had PEC yesterday which was constituted properly and in accordance with the party constitution .

The suggestion to fill in gaps in the organ came from PEC members and was unanimously agreed to. The suggestion did not come from the chairman . All the cooptions were done by PEC and not the chairman . And this is constitutional.

The chairman simply chaired the meeting and the committee made all the decisions according to its constitutional mandate . This was done simply to make sure that basa remusangano rienderere mberi in view of the upcoming conference and ongoing restructuring exercise.

It was also acknowledged that elections in all organs are coming very soon but meanwhile basa rinofanira kuitwa. People who were in the meeting can confirm this that all decisions were debated and agreed upon by the meeting,” reads Kazembe’s response.

By A Correspondent- SADC ground and naval forces have arrived in Mozambique’s troubled northern province and are closing in on Islamic insurgents who have killed about 2 800 people in cold blood and displaced over 800 000 more. in the region.

Last week, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri announced that President Mnangagwa, who is also the Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) will be deploying instructors to Mozambique in accordance with section 213(1) (a) and subsection 213 (3) of the country’s Constitution. She said:

Zimbabwe is awaiting the signing of the Status Force Agreement after which the Zimbabwe training continent will be sent to Mozambique. Once the training team is dispatched, Parliament will be informed accordingly in terms of section 214 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

This issue is no doubt of great importance to Zimbabwe considering our proximity to and warm relations with Mozambique and is also critical to the peace, security, and stability of the entire SADC region.

Botswana has deployed 296 troops while the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is reported to have shown its presence in the Indian Ocean yesterday heading to the Cabo Delgado.

Rwanda, which is not part of SADC, has deployed more than 1 000 soldiers who have killed some 30 insurgents in joint military campaigns with Mozambique.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s SAS Makhanda which is docked in Pemba will form part of the small maritime contingent of the SADC’s intervention brigade known as the SADC Mission in Mozambique or SAMIM, South African media reported yesterday.

The first contingent of armoured vehicles from 43 SA Brigade, based north of Pretoria, was also visible as it moved through the border post of Ressano Garcia at Komatipoort at first light on Saturday.

Two of the South African Air Force’s Hercules C130 cargo aircraft have been flying regular flights between Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria and Pemba in the past two weeks transporting soldiers, equipment, ammunition, and a contingent of Special Forces.

An Air Force Cessna Caravan light aircraft arrived in Pemba last week and its crew has set up base at Pemba’s international airport.

A long convoy of armoured assault vehicles and other support trucks were also seen as it crossed the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique at Gondola.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The deployment of soldiers in Bulawayo by the government has revived memories of the 1980s state-sponsored mass killings.

The government on Monday seconded has the military to Covid-19 vaccination centres in the second capital in what it called efforts to notch up a targeted 10 million herd immunity by end of this year.

Members of the Zimbabwe National Army are conducting the inoculation exercise in collaboration with the Bulawayo City Council that has set up 33 stationary centres and 29 mobile ones in the country’s second capital.
Bulawayo is said to be targetting 400 000 to achieve city herd immunity.

In a notice to the public Monday, Town Clerk Christopher Dube said the outreach exercise involving the army is being conducted in Cowdray Park and Emganwini suburbs.

“The City of Bulawayo in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces will be conducting a community outreach Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Cowdray Park – Hlalani Kuhle Consortium Office and Emganwini (Food for Less Shopping Centre).
“The exercise which is part of ZDF’s Community Outreach programme will be from Tuesday, 3 August 2021 to Friday, 6 August 2021,” Dube said.
The city boss invited all residents above 18 to attend the inoculation exercise.

Last month, the government announced it was adding some police stations, army barracks and bus termini to its growing list of vaccination centres to add impetus to the inoculation exercise.
The involvement of the military in the country’s health delivery space is not the first of its kind as doctors from the military are often called to the rescue when civilian doctors go on strike within public hospitals.
The participation of the military in efforts to restore good health among civilians brings a refreshing August narrative to a country that has now been forced to look back to every 1 August, the date in 2018 in which truckloads of soldiers were deployed to gun down civilians in central Harare, ostensibly to quell post-election violence linked to disgruntled opposition sympathisers.
In Matabeleland, citizens even have sobering memories of the military which is responsible for the 1980s killing of 20 000 civilians in the region and the Midlands under what is now commonly referred to as the Gukurahundi Atrocities.

By A Correspondent- A Harare woman’s bid to obtain a $500 000 compensation through a default judgment against former Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) chief executive officer Mr Farai Bwatikona Zizhou and the organisation hit a snag after the High Court struck the matter off the roll for non-compliance with court rules.

Ms Rita Margue Mbatha now has to go back to the drawing board to rectify the defects and make a fresh application. Where a matter has been struck off the roll for failure by a party to abide by the rules of the court, the party will have 30 days within which to rectify the defect, failing which the matter will be deemed to have been abandoned.

Ms Mbatha, who was unceremoniously dismissed from employment after refusing to succumb to Mr Zizhou’s sexual advances, won her case in the Supreme Court on appeal in 2019 after she sued the former and CZI.

The CZI was given a 30-day ultimatum to pay more US$40 800 compensation plus costs to Ms Mbatha.

In the present case, Ms Mbatha had filed an additional $500,000 lawsuit against CZI and Mr Zizhou, saying the latter’s actions severely impacted on her marriage and her personal health, but both the defendants failed to defend the claim, resulting in Ms Mbatha approaching the court seeking a default judgment. When the matter was brought to court in June this year, Justice Tawanda Chitapi deferred the ruling because Ms Mbatha, a self-actor, had referred to several Supreme Court and High Court judgments, including the arbitral award.

It became necessary for the judge to check on the records alluded to and to authenticate the information supplied by Ms Mbatha. Having interrogated Mbatha’s heads of argument after authenticating the paper trail of the case, which had a long chequered history.

The judge also had to do further research on the area of delictual damages for sexual harassment since the law appeared to be largely uncharted with a dearth of diced case law. However, for all the pickles Justice Chitapi took, it turned out that he could not grant Ms Mbatha’s application for procedural shortcomings.

Ms Mbatha’s application for default judgment was predicated on the Supreme Court ruling, which was in her favour, yet she had instituted fresh proceedings against Mr Zizhou and CZI.

“The correct grounds for applying for a default judgment should have derived from the defendant’s failure to file their pleas contrary to what the Supreme Court had ordered,” said Justice Chitapi.

“It is not the default in entering appearance to defend that entitles the plaintiff to seek judgment. That being the case the application is not in order.”

In her claim, Ms Mbatha, is seeking a default judgment against Mr Zizhou and CZI for payment of $500 000 as damages for “shock, non-patrimonial damages, post traumatic disorder, pain and suffering”, saying she endured sexual harassment by her former boss, who later fired her from employment in June 2013, over a petty offence.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- Clemence Moyo, a soldier and member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) was heavily assaulted and stabbed to death in Kadoma over a bar lady.

Reports suggest that on July 25 Moyo went to a local bar in Kadoma around 7 pm to drink beer, he saw Lydia Zhou a bar lady and proposed.

Zhou turned the soldier down and the two suspects Silas Siyamusimbe (26) and Johanese Twalidi (24) arrived and started pushing Moyo away.

They assaulted him with open hands and Siyamusimbe broke a bottle before stabbing Moyo in the neck.

Prosecutor Tafadzwa Vhore said the soldier fell down and died on the spot.

The duo vanished after the mob surrounded the dead body and were later arrested.

The assailants were dragged to Kadoma magistrates courts on Monday for allegedly killing Moyo.

Magistrate Shingirai Mutiro did not ask them to plead to a murder charge and remanded them in custody to August 13.

By A Correspondent- The government has deployed soldiers in Bulawayo’s vaccination centres in what it called efforts to notch up a targeted 10 million herd immunity by end of this year.

Members of the Zimbabwe National Army are conducting the inoculation exercise in collaboration with the Bulawayo City Council that has set up 33 stationary centres and 29 mobile ones in the country’s second capital.
Bulawayo is said to be targetting 400 000 to achieve city herd immunity.

In a notice to the public Monday, Town Clerk Christopher Dube said the outreach exercise involving the army is being conducted in Cowdray Park and Emganwini suburbs.

“The City of Bulawayo in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces will be conducting a community outreach Covid-19 Vaccination Programme in Cowdray Park – Hlalani Kuhle Consortium Office and Emganwini (Food for Less Shopping Centre).
“The exercise which is part of ZDF’s Community Outreach programme will be from Tuesday, 3 August 2021 to Friday, 6 August 2021,” Dube said.
The city boss invited all residents above 18 to attend the inoculation exercise.

By A Correspondent- The Monday announcement by the government to increase fines charged on offenders is likely to open corruption to police officers.

The government on Monday increased to a maximum of $500 000.

The latest development will open doors for corruption to the police who will now demand lesser money from offenders for their freedom.

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance Secretary-General, Chalton Hwende, has claimed that the opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa, rejected some bribes which it had been offered by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Hwende did not state when this happened. Posting on social media, Hwende said MDC Alliance leaders, however, rejected the offer. He said:
We have our own shortcomings as opposition leaders and human beings but President Morgan Tsvangirai taught us one thing: To Never Sell Out The People’s Struggle.

ED offered us millions of USD$, cars, offices, farms and gold mines in order for him to destroy the MDC Alliance but we refused. After the refusal, he has gone after every business and employment opportunity that comes our way and the system has ensured that genuine opposition leaders don’t get any employment or business.
They have made it even difficult for our party to get a lease agreement to rent a place to stay or even open a bank account. But we march on until victory!
His remarks come as President Mnangagwa last week handed over 19 brand new Isuzu cabs to principals of the Political Actors’ Dialogue, a forum initiated by Mnangagwa in 2018 for presidential candidates in the 2018 presidential election.
Some argue that the vehicles were meant to influence the politicians and will affect their objectivity.

MDC Alliance refused to join the forum arguing that nothing useful was to come out of POLAD, a platform the party said was created to legitimise Mnangagwa’s rule and endorse the disputed 2018 elections.
POLAD was formed after calls for national dialogue to put an end to economic, humanitarian and political crises that were reportedly being worsened by the deadlock between MDC Alliance and ZANU PF.
Hwende’s remarks also come amid allegations that MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonora is a ZANU PF agent mandated with neutralising and if necessary destroy the opposition.
MDC-T dismiss the allegations as lies by their rivals who want to taint the party’s image.

-Pindula

By A Correspondent- Authorities in Harare on Monday freed from Norton Covid-19 quarantine centre 13 of the 14 people who were recently deported from the UK.

The 14 had finished serving jail terms for various offences they committed in the UK.

When deporting the 14 recently, the British government through its Home Office in London said the deportees were convicted, foreign criminals.

In a tweet, the Home Office said the deportees were sentenced to a combined total of over 75 years in prison for various crimes, including rape and murder.

The British government said it wanted to keep its communities safe from criminals.

Thirteen of the fourteen deportees from the United Kingdom have left the ZIPAM in Norton after completing their 10-day quarantine. https://t.co/RZM7pCpCbN@MoHCCZim @InfoMinZW @albertchekayi @EMupoperi @JustinMahlahla

— ZBC News Online (@ZBCNewsonline) August 2, 2021

By A Correspondent- Police have arrested 38 000 people who were trying to cross the borders to neighbouring countries during the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions when the government banned intercity and cross border travelling.

In a statement Monday, the police said the number of people arrested accumulated from the 1st of July when they launched operation “No to Cross Border Crimes”.

“Police arrested 176 people for cross border-related crimes while 106 others were arrested under operation, code-named, ‘Usalama
A total of 38 000 people have been arrested, since the inception of operation ‘No to Cross Border Crimes/ Fhasi Ngamilandu Yamukanoni Yamashango/ Mhosva Pamiganhu Ngadzipere/ Amacala Kawaphele Emingceleni Eelizwe,” said the police.

By a Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba has opened up on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s ill-health reports.

Chiwenga, according to media reports was last week rushed to China for his routine medical check-up as well as some meetings with officials in that country.

The reports said that someone from Chiwenga’s delegation tested positive for COVID-19 leaving nearly 400 guests inside the hotel in quarantine.

 Charamba dismissed the reports as wishful thinking. He said:

Vatanga vano paumba kwavasina kuswera. I spoke to VP Chiwenga last Saturday. Musatisembura nenhema!!!!!! [They have started speculating. I spoke to VP Chiwenga. Don’t bore us with lies.]

An anonymous source told The NewsHawks that Chiwenga was expected to return to Zimbabwe after 10 days, but now with this latest incident, his itinerary may be changed.

This is not the first time the government has dismissed reports that suggest the former military boss was critically ill.

By A Correspondent- Former Zimbabwe Agricultural Show Society spokesperson and Arts promotor, Heather Madombwe has died.

Madombwe is also known as Ms H Zim, passed on in the Netherlands of cancer.

Announcing the passing on of Madombwe on the Arts Journalists Association of Zimbabwe Facebook page, Monday, ZBC newsreader, Zanele Ndlovu who, however, did not state the date of Madombwe’s death said the arts industry had lost a passionate promotor.

” My dearest AJAZ family I come with heartbreaking news. One of our members Heather MadombweHeather had a passion for promoting Zimbabwean arts especially the use of traditional instruments such as the mbira. She succumbed to cancer during childbirth. She is survived by her husband and newly born son Theo. My deepest condolences to her family and friends. Rest in Power Ms H,” she said.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the distribution of vehicles to POLAD members as a move meant to reward those who endorsed the Zanu PF president’s stolen mandate.

Mr Mnangagwa’s political gimmicks are calculated to confuse the electorate, according to political observers.

President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page:
“This can never happen in a New Zimbabwe. This is an abuse of the people for political capital.

Why should Madhuku get a government funded car? What did he do and how many votes did he get? 0.00001% votes and he gets a car.”

On the future of the nation he said:
“Everything is possible. What is needed is correct leadership. Our friends in Ghana are doing their best. Zimbabwe needs new leadership and I’m the NEW.”

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance Secretary-General, Chalton Hwende, has claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa (ED) offered millions of dollars, gold and other gifts to the opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa, allegedly to destroy the party.

Hwende did not state when this happened. Posting on social media, Hwende said MDC Alliance leaders, however, rejected the offer. He said:
We have our own shortcomings as opposition leaders and human beings but President Morgan Tsvangirai taught us one thing: To Never Sell Out The People’s Struggle.

ED offered us millions of USD$, cars, offices, farms and gold mines in order for him to destroy the MDC Alliance but we refused. After the refusal, he has gone after every business and employment opportunity that comes our way and the system has ensured that genuine opposition leaders don’t get any employment or business.
They have made it even difficult for our party to get a lease agreement to rent a place to stay or even open a bank account. But we march on until victory!
His remarks come as President Mnangagwa last week handed over 19 brand new Isuzu cabs to principals of the Political Actors’ Dialogue, a forum initiated by Mnangagwa in 2018 for presidential candidates in the 2018 presidential election.
Some argue that the vehicles were meant to influence the politicians and will affect their objectivity.

MDC Alliance refused to join the forum arguing that nothing useful was to come out of POLAD, a platform the party said was created to legitimise Mnangagwa’s rule and endorse the disputed 2018 elections.
POLAD was formed after calls for national dialogue to put an end to economic, humanitarian and political crises that were reportedly being worsened by the deadlock between MDC Alliance and ZANU PF.
Hwende’s remarks also come amid allegations that MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonora is a ZANU PF agent mandated with neutralising and if necessary destroy the opposition.
MDC-T dismiss the allegations as lies by their rivals who want to taint the party’s image.

-Pindula

By A Correspondent- The bankrupt and repressive Zanu PF government has increased fines charged on offenders to a minimum of $500 000.

This was announced Monday by Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.

Ziyambi said the minimum fine on minor offences will be $500.

The latest development will open doors for corruption to the police who will now demand lesser money from offenders and free them.

By A Correspondent-Political analyst and MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa’s top ally, Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya said the government-controlled opposition political parties coalition, Political Leaders Dialogue (POLAD) was a group of looters.

” POLAD is one of the greatest political scums ever witnessed in Zimbabwe since Cecil John Rhodes and his group of looters, fraudsters, mercenaries, murderers and rapists of the Pioneer Column occupied Zimbabwe in 1890″, posted Ruhanya on his Twitter handle Monday.

Mnangagwa Friday handed over 19 Isuzu D-Max vehicles to leaders of fringe political parties which participated in the 2018 presidential election.

POLAD was established by Mnangagwa in 2018 as a platform to engage with other presidential election candidates in that year’s election.

The vehicles were donated Friday exactly three years after the country held the national elections.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Authorities have released from quarantine 13 of the 14 people who were recently deported from the UK after finishing serving jail terms they were serving for various offences.

When deporting them recently, the British government through Home Office in London described them as convicted foreign criminals.

In a tweet, the Home Office said the deportees were sentenced to a combined total of over 75 years in prison for various crimes, including rape and murder.

The British government said it wanted to keep its communities safe from criminals.

Thirteen of the fourteen deportees from the United Kingdom have left the ZIPAM in Norton after completing their 10-day quarantine. https://t.co/RZM7pCpCbN@MoHCCZim @InfoMinZW @albertchekayi @EMupoperi @JustinMahlahla

— ZBC News Online (@ZBCNewsonline) August 2, 2021

By A Correspondent- Mashonaland Central Provincial Chairman, Kazembe Kazembe has defied his President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s directive and coopted his lieutenants into his provincial executive committee so that they would help him rig the party’s pending Provincial Coordinating Committee elections.

Last Month President Mnanangawa’s Zanu PF through its Acting National Political Commissar Patrick Chinamasa announced that no cooptions were to be made without the party’s authority.

But Kazembe last week went ahead and called for a Provincial Executive Committee meeting and coopted new members into the Provincial Executive, without notifying the party.

Kazembe is said to have unilaterally promoted one Tsine from Commisar to Vice Chairman and one Kararira to the position of a Commissar

The two co-opted members hail from Mt Darwin district. A party member who spoke on condition of anonymity said “Kazembe is trying to buy votes from Mt Darwin by heaping these posts and responsibilities on Mt Darwin. He is trying to neutralize James Makamba who is popular in the Mt Darwin district.”

He said Kazembe had failed to respect Guruve district which held the Vice Chairmanship.

” Kazembe tried to impose Shamva North MP Gorerino to the post of Vice Chairman. This move was later revoked after it failed to garner support”, said the source.

” Kazembe also imposed Mazowe DCC election loser Johnson Mudzingwa to thVice-Chairman Deputy Secretary for security. Mudzingwa was rewarded for running a social media attack on Politburo member Kenneth Musanhi through Mashonaland Central Tribune a backyard publication operated by Mudzingwa,” said the source.

By A Correspondent- Police say they have arrested 38 000 for border jumping during the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions when the government banned intercity and cross border travelling.

In a statement Monday, the police said the number of the people arrested accumulated from the 1st of July when they launched operation “No to Cross Border Crimes”.

“Police arrested 176 people for cross border-related crimes while 106 others were arrested under operation, code-named, ‘Usalama
A total of 38 000 people have been arrested, since the inception of operation ‘No to Cross Border Crimes/ Fhasi Ngamilandu Yamukanoni Yamashango/ Mhosva Pamiganhu Ngadzipere/ Amacala Kawaphele Emingceleni Eelizwe,” said the police.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has described the distribution of vehicles to POLAD members as a move meant to reward those who endorsed the Zanu PF president’s stolen mandate.

Mr Mnangagwa’s political gimmicks are calculated to confuse the electorate, according to political observers.

President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page:
“This can never happen in a New Zimbabwe. This is an abuse of the people for political capital.

Why should Madhuku get a government funded car? What did he do and how many votes did he get? 0.00001% votes and he gets a car.”

On the future of the nation he said:
“Everything is possible. What is needed is correct leadership. Our friends in Ghana are doing their best. Zimbabwe needs new leadership and I’m the NEW.”

https://twitter.com/NgarivhumeJacob/status/1422168977720045570?s=20

By A Correspondent- The government has set new fines for various offences ranging from $500 up to $500 000.

The new fines were gazetted by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and are contained in Statutory Instrument 209 of 2021. [CAP. 9:23 Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) (Standard Scale of Fines) Notice, 2021.

According to the schedule, for offences in level one, offenders will be fined $500 while the highest amount of $500 000 is for level 14 crimes.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A City of Masvingo municipal police vehicle allegedly ran over a vendor after a municipal police officer pushed her into the moving council  truck whilst they were raiding vendors along Chesvingo Drive in Mucheke high density suburb on Thursday (July 29).

Moreblessing Mandivanza (36) was displaying her goods along 2nd street in the Sisk area at around 9am when municipal police officers pounced and started to chase after vendors, collecting what they had left behind.

A police report dated July 29, 2021, Form 234 under CR07/21 recorded at ZRP Masvingo Traffic seen by TellZim News reports that Mandivanza was run over by a pick-up truck and sustained injuries on her right foot.

“The victim was run over on her right foot by a pick-up truck,” reads the report.

Mandivanza narrated her ordeal saying she was trying to recover her goods when one of the municipal police pushed her towards a council white pick-up truck which they were travelling in.

“A council vehicle was moving along Chesvingo Drive chasing after vendors and when they reached 2nd street where I was displaying my goods outside the gate whilst I was inside, they started loading my goods in their pick-up truck. When I tried to go and take the few things that was left, that is when one of them pushed me towards their moving vehicle and I was run over on the right foot,” said Mandivanza.

Contacted for comment, City of Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke said he was not aware of the matter but said the local authority has a duty to bring sanity to the city by confiscating and arresting those selling at undesignated markets.

“I am not aware of the incident you are mentioning where a person was injured. However, it is within the confines of council by-laws that when people are selling at undesignated points, we confiscate what they are selling and arrest them, but I cannot comment on the matter which you are talking about,” said Maboke.

Municipal police officers have for long been engaging in running battles with vendors who are plying their trade at undesignated selling points.

In 2014, an angry mob at Mucheke rank torched a municipal vehicle after it ran over and killed a three-month-old baby in an attempt to confiscate goods from its mother who was a vendor.

Council has also failed to cope up with the demand for vending stalls since informal trading is now the means of survival for many families across the country.

-TellZim

THERE has been a surge in demand for graves in the city of Gweru amid indications that
from January to date, 65 people have been buried at council cemeteries compared to 45
the whole of last year.

The figures are high considering that there is a private cemetery which has also become
popular with residents intending to bury their beloved ones.

The demand for burial space at Gweru City Council cemeteries is said to have increased
since the onset of the Covid- 19 pandemic last year.

According to the statistics, Ms Chingwaramusee said Covid -19 related deaths account for
the bulk of the burials.

“What it means is that during the entire year of 2020 we only used 45 graves but now in
2021 in just seven months we have used 65 graves.

This means that deaths have increased this year compared to last year. And looking at
Ministry of Health and Child Care statistics, Covid -19 related deaths are increasing
hence we have to brace for more deaths,” she said.

Ms Chingwaramusee said at the central cemetery a grave for a child costs Z$ 854, adult
Z$1 708.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Kumalo primary school headmistress, Stella Mhlanga is alive, contrary to social media reports that she had committed suicide after her nude picture leaked and went viral on social media.

Mhlanga accidentally posted a picture of her private parts on her WhatsApp status.

Upon realising her mistake she took it down not before some of her contacts had taken screenshots.

Disgraced by the incident Mhlanga went off the radar and social media went abuzz with some claiming she had taken her life.

Her employers, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education roped in the police to track her down.

In a brief comment to CITE, the ministry’s director of communications and advocacy, Taungana Ndoro confirmed that she had been found alive.

“Yes, police said she is alive,” said Ndoro.-Cite

By Precious Shumba| The criteria set by ED for political leaders to join POLAD was being a presidential candidate in 2018. Those who joined voluntarily joined. Others rejected POLAD as a fruitless venture. They were both right in their choices. POLAD has not benefited Zimbabwe. Those outside POLAD have not done anything tangible to show us that they made a better choice not to join the forum.

Now that POLAD is rewarding its participants with motor vehicles, every other critique is talking about health services delivery.

Where are these voices when elected Councillors and officials in local authorities hold workshops in resort towns in top shelf venues? Incompetent officials are not recalled by their respective political parties. Only those who express different views from their political party leadership are recalled.

Wetlands have disappeared under our watch with ruling and opposition political parties’ councillors being implicated. Why are democrats not calling for the arrest of all those implicated in these land scandals? We must not pretend to be saints when it comes to the use of public resources.

The only reason Prof Madhuku has irked some people is that he is a prominent democrat whose only crime is that he does not commend a lot of supporters. However, democracy allows for the minorities to be fully represented by leaders of their choice.

Prof Madhuku is mostly right on his political thoughts on Zimbabwe. During the 1999- 2000 Constitutional Commission movement until the referendum and the 2013 constitution-making exercise, he spoke boldly on key issues that needed to be addressed. One of the main issues I really agreed with him was the question of the presidential powers. The people who dismissed him were mainly driven by partisan considerations. At one point Madhuku was likely to assume senior positions in the Movement for Democratic Change after behind the scenes engagements, but he was sacrificed at the last minute, which might also explain his determination to prove his critics wrong.

He has said that the powers of the President in terms of the Zimbabwean Constitution are too much and they need to be whittled down. It is unfortunate that our arguments as Zimbabweans are based on partisan emotions and thoughts.

Zimbabweans are hypocrites.

We must be able to differ with dignity than to insult each other because we believe only our political leader deserves to have everything.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is set to embark on four-day mass vaccination of Bulawayo residents as part of the military’s community outreach programme.

The outreach programme will be held in Cowdray Park and Emganwini suburbs from tomorrow on Tuesday and will end on Friday.

Annually, the ZDF holds a community outreach programme in August as part of the ZDF Day commemoration where soldiers embark on transformational projects within the society.

The army has constructed schools, rehabilitated roads among other community needs as it works towards providing all-encompassing national security and development.

Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube confirmed the ZDF outreach programme urging all adults to get vaccinated.

“The City of Bulawayo in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces will be conducting a community outreach Covid-19 vaccination programme in the Cowdray Park Hlalani Kuhle Consortium office and Emganwini (Food for Less shopping Centre),” said Mr Dube.

“The exercise which is part of the ZDF’S community outreach programme will be from Tuesday, 3 August 2021 to Friday 6 August 2021.”

He urged adults to take advantage of this mass vaccination programme.

The ZDF outreach programme is set to benefit scores of Bulawayo residents- especially from the western suburbs- who have been struggling to get vaccinated as health centres are being overwhelmed.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Still reeling from the Tawanda Muchehiwa abduction scandal by state security agents with its connivance, subsequent desertion by spooked clients, the death of its chief executive Thompson Dondo in January and now boardroom squabbles, Impala Car Rental is teetering on the brink of collapse, informed sources say.

Information gathered this week shows the car hire company, which once dominated the market with lucrative contracts from government, business, humanitarian agencies, civil society and individuals, is now financially struggling and had difficulties in paying its workers in recent months.

In the aftermath of the abduction of Muchehiwa by state security before the 31 July protests last year, Impala was hit contracts cancellations when its role in the seizure and horrific torture of the student journalist was exposed.

Muchehiwa has since fled to South Africa, fearing for his life.

The situation was worsened by reports of its entanglement with the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) through dodgy ownership deals cut by the late Madondo. Impala is the CIO’s favourite car hire company.

Details obtained this week show that the situation has further deteriorated following bickering at the operation which has triggered a mass exodus of senior employees.

This has led to the formation of a splinter company known as Legacy Car Rental which has offices located at 6 Devine Road ,Milton Park, Harare, the sources said.

After Dondo’s death, his wife Matirasa Francisca, who is a director, ordered an audit to establish the financial state of the company as she was taking from where her husband had left and suspected misappropriation of funds, they added.

The witch-hunt, however, ruffled feathers of other directors of the family-owned business. According to the company’s CR14 documents, Matirasa and the late Dondo’s sister Clara are listed as directors.

“When Matirasa took over, she ordered a forensic audit to ascertain the financial state of the company. She also suspected that her co-director Clara and some senior members of management were siphoning funds,” a company source said.

“This did not go down well with some of Dondo’s relatives and the subsequent squabble resulted in the quitting by at least six employees and others. Clara led the defectors to form their own splinter company, Legacy Car Rental, and they have taken away with them their skills, experience and clients.”

Legacy is led by Clara and her brother Darlington Dondo, Thompson’s siblings.

“Darlington is Clara and Thompson’s brother. They were angered by their in-law’s boardroom coup and the audit that she ordered,” the source said.

“Thompson’s siblings also did not like the fact that they were being accused of misappropriating funds. So they mobilised other disgruntled employees, including a driver called Chivizhe, to quit and then started Legacy.”

This has left Impala in deeper operational and financial trouble. Its Zambia branch has already closed shop, while the South African operation was already struggling.

Matirasa is now Impala chief executive, deputised by founding member and general manager Viola Chirata who has been with the company since in formation in 2007.

The company started operations in 2007 when the late Dondo was still based in the United Kingdom. He started the operation with his late brother Alfred. Impala says it has a fleet of  over 200 top-of-the-range vehicles and won several awards during its heydays. It had a workforce of 70 employees, including 10 managers.

The sources said part of the problem is that the late Dondo operated Impala like a “briefcase company” – he got money from various other operations and underworld activities.

“Although the widow has always been a director, she was not aware of Thompson’s covet operations and underworld deals that made the company look highly profitable. So when he died, she was shocked by the financial status of the company and ordered an audit thinking the money was being stolen. When Thompson died the company faced problems; it couldn’t even pay employees in the first three months,” the source said.

“Thompson was a dealer, he got money not just from Impala, but other operations too. There was also Panacea 24, Swine Company and Fasfit. His major cash cow was the Swine Company which supplied the army with pork. So after his death, the widow couldn’t keep the companies together as shown by the Impala split already.”

Impala brand and projects manager Tracy Ngoma refused to comment on the issue, referring to Legacy. “I am not in a position to comment on the issue, why don’t you contact the directors you claim have defected,” she said.

Darlington was also evasive and referred questions back to Ngoma.

“Where did you get this story, please talk to Tracy (Ngoma),” he said. He promised to return call, but did not.

Matirasa:  “I’m sorry I cannot comment on that, I would need to consult my lawyer first. But does it matter what happened anyway?”

-Newshawks

Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema says 3 000 more schools are needed in the country to fully accommodate learners.

Mathema made the remarks last Thursday at the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa-run Tennyson Hlabangana High School in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe has 9 600 schools, a learner population of 4,5 million, and 140 000 teaching staff. He said schools should invite private investors to engage in build operate and transfer ventures to improve their infrastructure so that every district has at least one boarding school.

“Our population is increasing and, therefore, more schools are needed because some pupils are walking more than 5km to school,” Mathema said.

“Our research as a ministry showed that we need 3 000 more schools because government is saying no child should walk more than 5km to school.”

He said the country every year recorded about 300 000 candidates for Grade 7, and yet there were 24 000 boarding places for students to compete for Form 1 places. He said more boarding schools were needed.

“There is also need to do away with blair toilets at schools as they now belong to the past and are uncomfortable. Schools must be able to produce their own uniforms as we are teaching students clothing designing and fashion and fabrics,” he said.

-NEWSDAY

By A Correspondent- Vendors have said that they cannot afford to fund Zanu-PF’s 2023 election campaign as they were struggling to fend for their families due to an unstable economy and recurrent lockdowns.

This was after Zanu-PF acting national commissar Patrick Chinamasa last week announced that the party was targeting vendors, small-scale miners and farmers to raise $140 million to support its 2023 campaign.

A party resource mobilisation committee led by businessman Philip Chiyangwa was recently appointed.

But vendors’ representatives, who spoke to NewsDay, said their members were in financial distress due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent demolition of their stalls which disrupted their operations.

Zimbabwe Informal Sectors Organisation executive director Promise Mkwananzi said: “Vendors are free to join any political party of their choice and they can even choose to subscribe to financially support that party. But they must not be forced. I am not sure which vendors Zanu-PF wants the funding from. Barely a month ago, the Zanu-PF government ventured into a clean-up exercise and destroyed the livelihoods of people.”

He said this resulted in homelessness, starvation and failure of vendors to run businesses.

“Zanu-PF cannot win the vote of the people through demanding cash. Rather, it should formalise their (vendors) trade. With complete satisfaction of adequate service delivery, the vote of the vendors is guaranteed,” he said.

Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation executive director Samuel Wadzai said vendors should not be forced to contribute to Zanu-PF’s electoral campaign.

“A vendor cannot be stopped from funding political parties, but it must be voluntary compliance. However, the request for funding will be difficult especially during the pandemic. Vendors are not earning. They are struggling to put food on the table, let alone provide other basics for their families. Therefore, whichever political party is seeking financial assistance from the vendors should be at peace with their failure to meet their expectations. No force should be used.”

Political analyst Eldred Masunungure said Zanu-PF’s strategy to mobilise funds from low-income earners was aimed at instilling fear and coercing them to vote for it in the 2023 elections.

“It’s not the first time the ruling party has sought to raise funds from vulnerable economic groups. Its target is not to raise funds, but to coerce people to vote for them. The low-income earners know very well the consequences of failing to comply with the ruling party directive. Who wants to risk losing their farms, mining claims or vendors’ stalls as punishment for refusing to comply with the directive?” he asked.

Zanu-PF is targeting five million votes to win the upcoming elections.

–newsday

By A Correspondent- Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema says 3 000 more schools are needed in the country to fully accommodate learners.

Mathema made the remarks last Thursday at the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa-run Tennyson Hlabangana High School in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe has 9 600 schools, a learner population of 4,5 million, and 140 000 teaching staff. He said schools should invite private investors to engage in build operate and transfer ventures to improve their infrastructure so that every district has at least one boarding school.

“Our population is increasing and, therefore, more schools are needed because some pupils are walking more than 5km to school,” Mathema said.

“Our research as a ministry showed that we need 3 000 more schools because government is saying no child should walk more than 5km to school.”

He said the country every year recorded about 300 000 candidates for Grade 7, and yet there were 24 000 boarding places for students to compete for Form 1 places. He said more boarding schools were needed.

“There is also need to do away with blair toilets at schools as they now belong to the past and are uncomfortable. Schools must be able to produce their own uniforms as we are teaching students clothing designing and fashion and fabrics,” he said.

-Newsday

Still reeling from the Tawanda Muchehiwa abduction scandal by state security agents with its connivance, subsequent desertion by spooked clients, the death of its chief executive Thompson Dondo in January and now boardroom squabbles, Impala Car Rental is teetering on the brink of collapse, informed sources say.

Information gathered this week shows the car hire company, which once dominated the market with lucrative contracts from government, business, humanitarian agencies, civil society and individuals, is now financially struggling and had difficulties in paying its workers in recent months.

In the aftermath of the abduction of Muchehiwa by state security before the 31 July protests last year, Impala was hit contracts cancellations when its role in the seizure and horrific torture of the student journalist was exposed.

Muchehiwa has since fled to South Africa, fearing for his life.

The situation was worsened by reports of its entanglement with the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) through dodgy ownership deals cut by the late Madondo. Impala is the CIO’s favourite car hire company.

Details obtained this week show that the situation has further deteriorated following bickering at the operation which has triggered a mass exodus of senior employees.

This has led to the formation of a splinter company known as Legacy Car Rental which has offices located at 6 Devine Road ,Milton Park, Harare, the sources said.

After Dondo’s death, his wife Matirasa Francisca, who is a director, ordered an audit to establish the financial state of the company as she was taking from where her husband had left and suspected misappropriation of funds, they added.

The witch-hunt, however, ruffled feathers of other directors of the family-owned business. According to the company’s CR14 documents, Matirasa and the late Dondo’s sister Clara are listed as directors.

“When Matirasa took over, she ordered a forensic audit to ascertain the financial state of the company. She also suspected that her co-director Clara and some senior members of management were siphoning funds,” a company source said.

“This did not go down well with some of Dondo’s relatives and the subsequent squabble resulted in the quitting by at least six employees and others. Clara led the defectors to form their own splinter company, Legacy Car Rental, and they have taken away with them their skills, experience and clients.”

Legacy is led by Clara and her brother Darlington Dondo, Thompson’s siblings.

“Darlington is Clara and Thompson’s brother. They were angered by their in-law’s boardroom coup and the audit that she ordered,” the source said.

“Thompson’s siblings also did not like the fact that they were being accused of misappropriating funds. So they mobilised other disgruntled employees, including a driver called Chivizhe, to quit and then started Legacy.”

This has left Impala in deeper operational and financial trouble. Its Zambia branch has already closed shop, while the South African operation was already struggling.

Matirasa is now Impala chief executive, deputised by founding member and general manager Viola Chirata who has been with the company since in formation in 2007.

The company started operations in 2007 when the late Dondo was still based in the United Kingdom. He started the operation with his late brother Alfred. Impala says it has a fleet of  over 200 top-of-the-range vehicles and won several awards during its heydays. It had a workforce of 70 employees, including 10 managers.

The sources said part of the problem is that the late Dondo operated Impala like a “briefcase company” – he got money from various other operations and underworld activities.

“Although the widow has always been a director, she was not aware of Thompson’s covet operations and underworld deals that made the company look highly profitable. So when he died, she was shocked by the financial status of the company and ordered an audit thinking the money was being stolen. When Thompson died the company faced problems; it couldn’t even pay employees in the first three months,” the source said.

“Thompson was a dealer, he got money not just from Impala, but other operations too. There was also Panacea 24, Swine Company and Fasfit. His major cash cow was the Swine Company which supplied the army with pork. So after his death, the widow couldn’t keep the companies together as shown by the Impala split already.”

Impala brand and projects manager Tracy Ngoma refused to comment on the issue, referring to Legacy. “I am not in a position to comment on the issue, why don’t you contact the directors you claim have defected,” she said.

Darlington was also evasive and referred questions back to Ngoma.

“Where did you get this story, please talk to Tracy (Ngoma),” he said. He promised to return call, but did not.

Matirasa:  “I’m sorry I cannot comment on that, I would need to consult my lawyer first. But does it matter what happened anyway?”

Zimbabwe’s underfire construction industry has earned $10,7 billion through State-funded road rehabilitation and expansion projects since January, giving the sector respite after battling to forestall possible bankruptcy.

The construction drought had created corporate graveyards in the past decade as a result of capital flight precipitated by economic mismanagement and investor fatigue-inducing harsh policies.

These have turned Zimbabwe into a risky destination for international capital.

Giving an update on the state of Zimbabwe’s key projects during the presentation of the mid-term fiscal policy review on Thursday, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said about half of the $10,7 billion had been deployed to the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, the biggest of ongoing road rehabilitation projects.

Under the project, government is transforming the 600km trunk road into a world-class artery that will be key in helping the continent achieve its ambitious integration efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“In the transport sector, priority is on the roads development programme, mainly targeting rehabilitation and upgrading of the country’s road network,” the Finance minister said.

“Focus has been on ensuring continuation of ongoing works on the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Road and the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase II following the declaration of the state of disaster in view of the extensive damage to the road infrastructure by the heavy rains received in most parts of the country during the just-ended rainfall season.

“Consequently, resources amounting to $10,7 billion, including $500 million under devolution, were expended under the Roads Development Programme of which $6,9 billion went towards the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge road, $1,8 billion to Cyclone Idai restoration works and $2 billion to ongoing works under Phase 2 of the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme,” Ncube said.

However, the crisis with public sector mega infrastructure deals has always been delays in payment.

These have sometimes pushed contractors into near bankruptcy, while funding would be trapped in State coffers.

Ncube said 180,5km of the busy highway had been completed under the programme.

This is 19,5km shy of the 200km that government had planned to complete by December 2020.

He said downtime stemming from COVID-19-induced work stoppages as hard lockdowns set in had affected progress.

This was compounded by the work stoppages caused by high rainfall received during the 2020/21 agricultural season.

“Following the declaration of the state of disaster on the country’s road network in February 2021, government embarked on the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme Phase II to be implemented over three years at an estimated overall cost of US$400 million, with focus on the rehabilitation of major arteries and feeder roads in both urban and rural areas,” said Ncube.

“Already, resources amounting to $3,2 billion have been availed, with $2 billion being disbursed from the budget and $1,2 billion from the Road Fund managed through the Zimbabwe National Road Administration.”

-NEWSDAY

By A Correspondent- At least three security details assigned to Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga tested Covid-19 positive ahead of his trip to Beijing, China, while another was later struck by the virus in the far-flung Asian country, prompting the Chinese authorities to lockdown an upmarket hotel the Zimbabwean leader and his entourage visited.

Chiwenga – who has serious underlying conditions which make him vulnerable to Covid-19 – is in Beijing for medical and official business.

He is also Health minister.

Three cabinet ministers with various underlying conditions, Perrance Shiri (Agriculture), Sibusiso Moyo (Foreign Affairs) and Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza, succumbed to Covid-19-related complications early this year.

The disease also claimed the life of Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba.

Zimbabwe is battling a third wave of Covid-19 infections and deaths related to the respiratory ailment. Government has already put in place several restrictions to contain the spread of the disease as statistics show that more people have succumbed to the virus during the current wave compared to previous ones.

The month of July alone has been deadlier than the combined toll from March 2020 to June 2021.

For Chiwenga, any exposure to Covid-19 would be precarious, considering the underlying health conditions he has struggled with over the years.

Chiwenga, who did not attend this Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, flew to China for his routine medical check-up as well as some meetings with officials in that country.

Higher Education minister Amon Murwira is currently the acting Health minister. Information gathered by The NewsHawks shows that between Wednesday and Thursday, security details who were scheduled to accompany Chiwenga underwent Covid-19 laboratory tests at his Kaguvi Building offices in Harare, but were barred from
travelling after testing positive.

In China, his delegation underwent Covid-19 tests and later went to a luxury hotel on Tiananmen Square while awaiting the results.

Tiananmen Square is located in Beijing central business district.

“Someone from the Zimbabwean VP’s delegation tested positive for Covid, which left nearly 400 guests inside the hotel in quarantine,” a source said.

“The hotel, which is on Tiananmen Square, is close to government buildings. For China, which wants to take the lead in fighting Covid which was first reported in the country, the authorities there had to swiftly deal with the incident.”

At a time when Zimbabwe’s health sector has been exposed by the outbreak of the pandemic, Chiwenga, sources said, hired a private jet to China for a medical procedure.

“He was expected to return to Zimbabwe after 10 days, but now with this latest incident, his itinerary may be changed,” another source said.

In February, the Vice-President became the first public official to get the Covid-19 vaccine which was donated by the Chinese.

Chiwenga has also been at the centre of Zimbabwe’s vaccination programme. The southern African country has to date approved the use of Chinese, Russian, Indian and, most recently, the Johnson & Johnson vaccines, but most of its vaccines are from China.

Chiwenga, who requires medical attention on his oesophagus, fell seriously ill and was urgently airlifted to China for medical treatment in 2019.

Since then, he has been periodically flying to the Asian country for medical procedures.

Information secretary Nick Mangwana could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.

In January, the Zimbabwean cabinet stopped meeting physically at a time Mnangagwa was on his annual leave and when the country was experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths.

The last time cabinet had met was on 8 December 2020.

This is well before Mnangagwa went on his annual leave from 1 January 2021 to 1 February 2021.

Mnangagwa’s then co-deputies, Mohadi (who stepped down in March after a sex scandal) and Chiwenga alternated as acting president in-between.

Mohadi held fort from 1 January to 14 January, while Chiwenga came in from 15 January to 1 February, although he was hardly visible as he was said to have been “exhausted”.

-Newshawks

By A Correspondent- The Election Resource Centre (ERC), an electoral and democracy think-tank, says Zimbabwe cannot hold free and fair elections in 2023 if the polls are conducted under current electoral laws.

As a result, the civil society organisation says a contested outcome is likely if changes are not made.

Zimbabwe has a history of disputed elections particularly since 2000 when the opposition Movement for Democratic Change began contesting polls.

Ahead of the 2023 elections, a number of electoral processes are set to be undertaken in preparation including but not limited to the 2021 census and the 2022 delimitation process.

In its Electoral Barometer, ERC chairperson Trust Maanda said there was a need for the alignment of electoral laws with the constitution.

“The Zimbabwean government needs to fix all legislation affecting the electoral process and environment and bring it in line with both the Constitution and with Zimbabwe’s regional and international commitments,” Maanda said.

“The problems we face are precisely premised on the outstanding electoral reform issues that do not comply with either the constitution or our international law obligations.

“The responsible stakeholders must ensure that all legislation affecting the electoral environment be brought in line with both the constitution and Zimbabwe’s international commitments. The following five points focus on tangible steps the policymakers can take to make the electoral process and the environment more credible, fair, transparent, accountable and inclusive.”

Priority electoral reforms include the institutional reform of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), looking at the institutional and personnel levels as well as the organisational practices.

There is also need for the reform of the legal framework, that is the Electoral Act, all electoral regulations and procedures focusing on constitutionality and international best practice. The ERC also said there was a need to
reform the conduct of the state media in covering the electoral processes as well as the conduct of traditional leaders in political processes.

Reform of the role of the military in civilian affairs is also seen as critical.

The Electoral Barometer shows that, since the 1990s, election observation has become an important tool whereby the international community determines whether a country adheres to its obligations and commitments, as established in the framework of international political and civil rights norms and instruments.

The ERC report is based on recommendations made by 2018 election observer missions. The reforms must be urgently implemented, in view of the looming 2023 polls.

“Three years since the 2018 harmonised elections and two years to the next election, a promise of expedited reforms continues to lag behind and now seemingly beyond reach. While the Covid-19 pandemic has brought new
challenges associated with outstanding electoral reforms, reforms remain unaddressed,” the report reads.

“The post-2018 election environment has been dominated by the non-implementation of key reforms, most of which have been repeatedly raised by election observer groups in previous elections. It should be noted that Zec has taken a piecemeal approach in recommending proposals to the alignment of electoral laws, policies and practice with the constitution and international best practice.

“The failure to significantly revise key laws or to address the partisan conduct of the state security, traditional leaders and the media undercuts free elections.”

The objectives of the assessment include: assessing the state of electoral laws, policies and practices post the 2018 general elections in preparedness for the 2023 polls, to inform electoral stakeholders on outstanding electoral reforms as well as to establish gaps, build consensus and proffer recommendations for the improvement of the quality of elections.

-Newshawks

By A Correspondent- Three people died on the spot and two others sustained severe injuries when a Honda Fit they were travelling in collided head-on with a bus transporting Covid-19 patients along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road near the Esigodini tollgate.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the accident which occurred last Thursday.

The Honda Fit was travelling to Gwanda while the bus that had returnees from South Africa, was headed for Bulawayo. The three deceased and the two injured were in the Honda fit.

Insp Ncube urged drivers to adhere to road regulations saying most accidents were due to human error.

The accident preceded another one that happened early Friday between Musina and Makhado (Louis Trichardt) towns in South Africa.

Four people died while 10 others were injured when a bus transporting Zimbabwean returnees collided head-on with a kombi.

The bus was travelling to Zimbabwe while the minibus was travelling towards Makhado town along the N1 highway.

By A Correspondent- There was joy at a Chinhoyi family at the weekend after their six months old baby girl Dadirai Semwere, was found in Mount Darwin after four months of missing.

The baby went missing from their Chinhoyi’s Ruvimbo home when she was only two months old.

The baby went missing after her mother, Ms Vicy Nyanhete had escorted a visitor from their home.

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed the recovery of the baby and said that she needed to undergo some medical checkups before she reunites with her family.

By A Correspondent-Police are hunting for a man who robbed two women and raped one of them after they had gone for an all-night prayer on Muchinjikwa Mountain in Chinamhora, Mashonaland East at the weekend.

Reports are the women aged 34 and 33 were robbed of cash and cellphones before the man, who was armed with a knife, asked one of the victims to choose between being raped or killed.

The man allegedly raped the 34-year-old woman before running away.

Police spokesperson for Mashonaland East Province Inspector Simon Chazovachiyi confirmed the incident saying the victims reported the matter at Chinamhora Police Station.

He said:

Police in Chinamhora are looking for a man who allegedly raped and robbed a 34-year-old woman who had gone for prayers.

It is reported that on July 23, around 6pm two women from Zimre Park in Harare were preparing to conduct an all night prayer at Muchinjikwa Mountain in Chinamhora when an unknown person emerged from the bush holding a knife and a stone in his hands.

He allegedly ordered the two complainants to comply with his instructions. It is further alleged that the suspect tied their hands before taking two cellphones, a black satchel and a combined US$36 from the victims.

He said the rape victim was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare for medical examination and investigations were underway.

He appealed to the public for information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Inspector Chazovachiyi also urged members of the public to respect lockdown protocols and conduct their prayers at home without public gatherings.

Public gatherings including churches were banned when the government imposed the level 4 lockdown to curb the transmission of the coronavirus.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has directed its recently appointed party fundraising team to get $140 million from farmers, vendors and gold panners for the 2023 election compaign activities.

Zanu PF acting national commissar Patrick Chinamasa last week said they were targeting vendors, small-scale miners and farmers to raise $140 million to support its 2023 campaign.

A party resource mobilisation committee led by businessman Philip Chiyangwa was recently appointed.

By A Correspondent- The government said schools were going to be reopened once President Emmerson Mnangagwa gives the directive.

This was said by Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Cain Mathema in Parliament last week.

Mathema said this after MPs had grilled him over measures that his ministry was taking to ensure the safety of schoolchildren and teachers before the opening of schools.

Last term, children at different schools throughout the country contracted COVID-19.

“We have had this pandemic since last year and within the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, we have done all we could, and we are doing all we can to make sure we protect the children,” Mathema said.
“The ministry will do whatever is required to make sure that children are protected and everybody is protected, and if, indeed, this House wants me to give details as to which route to be followed by which school, if that is what I’m expected to present here, then give us time and I will come back and give those details to the House. I am ready to give a ministerial statement,” he said.

Mathema added: “Once we are given the directive by His Excellency, we will open schools.”

By A Correspondent- Dadirai Semwere, a six-month-old baby who went missing in Chinhoyi four months ago has been found in Mount Darwin.

The baby went missing from their Chinhoyi’s Ruvimbo home when she was only two months old.

The baby went missing after her mother, Ms Vicy Nyanhete had escorted a visitor from their home.

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed the recovery of the baby and said that she needed to undergo some medical checkups before she reunites with her family.

By A Correspondent- The Zion Christian Church has barred its unvaccinated followers from attending worshipping ceremonies.

The church leader, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi last week told church members that no member will be allowed to attend church conferences if they were not vaccinated against the coronavirus once lockdown restrictions are relaxed.

The Zion Christian Church is one of the oldest indigenous Christian churches in Zimbabwe.

Speaking in a live broadcast he said that obligatory vaccination was being considered as every church member was a frontline worker with a duty to spread the word of God to the world.

This was Bishop Mutendi’s 247th broadcast since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Zimbabwe in March last year.

While vaccination is voluntary, Bishop Mutendi said anyone who wanted to attend conferences without being vaccinated was like a thief who was out to steal, kill and destroy as stated in John 10:10.

Bishop Mutendi was one of the first church leaders in the country to be vaccinated and insists that people must continue to take all protective measures even after being vaccinated.

By A Correspondent- Kumalo Primary School head, Mrs Stella Mhlanga is facing dismissal for allegedly sharing her “nude” pictures on social media.
Last week, Mrs Mhlanga allegedly shared her private parts on her WhatsApp status, but quickly deleted it, but not before it was picked up by some of her contacts and reshared. She later posted an apology.
“Good evening, sorry for what was posted on the status, someone had borrowed my phone. My sincere apologies people. It’s not my character and I don’t post such in my status. Please delete,” reads the apology attributed to her.
Director Advocacy and Communication in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Taungana Ndoro yesterday said his ministry was worried and has set up a team to investigate the matter.
“We have the due processes which we have to follow in such situations hence we have already established a committee to investigate her. She will also say her side of the story, after which the necessary intervention will be prescribed to her.
“However, I must say such behavior if true is inconsistent with such positions. Such people look after our children and must be exemplary to the community. We have had other cases where parents have even decided to take action but as a ministry, we have our own internal way of dealing with such matters. The findings will be made public.”
In Zimbabwe, it is also an offence to possess and share nude pictures. Mr Ndoro also dismissed reports that Mrs Mhlanga committed suicide, revealing that the police had since managed to locate her. Social media has been awash for the past two days with reports that Mrs Mhlanga had committed suicide after the incident.
Mr Ndoro said the ministry led by the District Schools Inspector dispatched a team to the head’s house as her mobile telephone was not going through, and the team dispelled rumours of suicide.
“As a ministry, we were naturally worried when we heard the rumours and attempts to raise her on her mobile phone drew a blank. We then engaged the police to help trace her and I can confirm that she has been located and is very much alive,” said Mr Ndoro.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’ was last week rushed to China for emergency medical checkups.

The Vice President’s visit sparked a health emergency at a luxury hotel after two members of his entourage tested positive for COVID-19.
Hundreds of hotel guests at the Legendale Hotel in Beijing were forced to quarantine on Thursday, although officials maintain that Chiwenga was not one of the positive cases.

Chiwenga (64), arrived in China aboard a private jet with four aides on 23 July to seek treatment for a “throat problem”, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Chiwenga – who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care – takes regular medical flights to China where he has been treated for an oesophageal health problem.

Tinashe Sambiri|While the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has placed POLAD under his armpits hoping to confine those who refused to join the platform to the peripheries, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa remains the hope of the nation.

According to political observers, President Chamisa’s refusal to be used by the regime to authenticate Mr Mnangagwa’s stolen mandate has unsettled the system.

President Chamisa and the MDC Alliance maintain POLAD does not serve national interests.

According to MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma, Zanu PF bigwigs are losing sleep over President Chamisa’s rising influence.

“When a man is more concerned about his neighbor’s family more than his own. This is the case with ZANU PF in its various forms. We in the MDC Alliance knows the end game. President
@nelsonchamisa
is in charge. We have a plan,” argued Sarkozy.

MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Ostallos Siziba echoed Sarkozy’s voice:

“President
@nelsonchamisa
has stayed true to the cause. He continues to lead despite attempts to scandalize him, give him money and privilege, intimidate him,coerce and even kill. He remains steadfast & clear on the task to prosecute the struggle to it’s logical conclusion.”