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.”

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.”

Prof Lovemore Madhuku speaks on POLAD vehicle…

THE wife of the former President Canaan Banana, Janet, who died last week, will be laid to rest on Friday in Bembe, Esigodini, next to her husband as per her wish.

Mrs Banana (83) died at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo on Thursday last week where she had been admitted. She had suffered a stroke and was also undergoing dialysis sessions for a kidney problem. President Mnangagwa said she will receive a State assisted funeral.

In an interview yesterday, her sister, Mrs Sanele Ngwenya at their Luveve home, said tentatively, they had slated the burial for Friday.

“The tentative date is Friday and this is because we are waiting for her children from the United Kingdom and sisters too to come down. This is why we have pushed it to Friday. The burial is definitely in Bembe, Esigodini,” she said.

Mrs Ngwenya said she was pained that her sister died during a difficult time.

“Kubuhlungu because she passed on during such a time (Covid-19 era), umhlaba ujikile with this pandemic. We are all trying to ensure we survive and we are practising social distancing, proper masking and sanitising.

Had it not been for Covid-19, ngabe kubomvu lapha ekhaya because she was a staunch Methodist Church in Zimbabwe member. I know the Methodist family is mourning with us,” said Mrs Ngwenya.

She said she was grateful to the support that has been rendered by the Government.

“We are grateful for all those that are with us in mourning on all platforms as that is the new way, we are mourning, online. We know we cannot change it but that is the new normal.

We are grateful for the support we have received so far. We have received tremendous support from Government,” she added.- The Sunday News

By A Correspondent- Former ZBC manager, veteran journalist, Samuel Mkhithika has died from the COVID-19.

The state broadcaster announced the passing of Mkhithika who died at a local hospital on Friday. 

Said ZBC in a statement:

Former ZBC Radio Zimbabwe Station Manager Samuel Mkhithika also known as Sam Mkhithika has died. He died in Bulawayo on Friday after having spent a week in hospital with respiratory complications his son Vusumuzi Mkhithika has said.

Burial arrangements will be announced later. ZBC Radio Zimbabwe staff and listeners send their condolences to the Mkhithika family, relatives and friends.

Lala ngokuthula baba Mkhithika

Mkhithika started working as a journalist before independence and continued with the state broadcaster upon attaining independence in 1980.

He was the manager of Radio Zimbabwe before Albert Mirirayi Chekayi

He was popular for a number of shows including Kwaziso/Ukubingelelana.

He was described by his former workmates as one of the journalists that mentored the current crop of great reporters including Sibongumusa Dhlodhlo.

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has set up a committee to investigate the headmistress of Kumalo Primary School in Bulawayo, Mrs Stella Mhlanga, after she allegedly shared her “nud_e” pictures on social media.

Mrs Mhlanga allegedly shared a photograph of her private parts on her WhatsApp status and quickly deleted the racy image, but not before it was picked up by some of her contacts and reshared. She later posted an apology.

Director for Advocacy and Communication in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Taungana Ndoro yesterday said his Ministry had 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 behaviour 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.”

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- On July 23, 2021, the Associated Press tweeted what it called a “virus update”. One of the highlights read: “Canada has high vaccine rate; Zimbabwe lowest.”

That same day, the American news agency had run a story comparing the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccination in Canada and Zimbabwe.

Canada, like most developed countries, has managed to attain high levels of vaccination, while Zimbabwe, like its African peers, lags far behind.

However, AP’s assertion, in its tweet, that Zimbabwe has the lowest vaccination rate is incorrect. In fact, data shows that Zimbabwe has one of the highest vaccination rates in Africa, doing better than continental giants South Africa, nigeria and Kenya.

In its article, AP describes Zimbabwe as “a relative success” in Africa, where only about 2% of its 1,3 billion people have been vaccinated.

In Zimbabwe, 4,5% of its 15 million population had been fully vaccinated by July 23, according to official data, while 9% had received the first dose.

-ZimFact

By A Correspondent- An 80- year old Alaska man who died from Covid-19 complications was reburied yesterday following a mix-up of dead bodies at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital mortuary.

The mix-up happened after a funeral parlour was allowed to collect the body on its own in the absence of morgue attendants .

Samson Mazivisa, who died on July 25 in Alaska, was first buried in Mhangura on July 28 by strangers.

His family had made burial arrangements at Glane State farm in Alaska on Friday, but were forced to wait for another day until his body was exhumed in Mhangura.

A relative of Mazivisa only identified as Rashid confirmed that the family demanded to identify their relative even if his death was Covid-19-related.

This was when the drama started as the body could not be found in the mortuary.

The late Mazivisa left behind four children and 12 grandchildren.

“Our uncle passed on 25 July and doctors confirmed that it was Covid-19-related,” the relative explained.

“When we prepared for his burial in Alaska on Friday, his body could not be found in the mortuary.

“The body had been buried in Mhangura following a mix-up by the parlour. The grave had been dug in Alaska.”

The body was retrieved yesterday for proper burial in Alaska.

Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital spokesperson George Kapondo said an investigation was done over the mix-up at the morgue.

“Our mortuary attendant who knew the bodies with their tags allowed the funeral parlour officials to collect the different body without verification,” Kapondo said.

“An investigation was done and the attendants were reprimanded for negligence of duty.

“Officially, we allow relatives to identify their deceased even if it is a Covid-19related death.”

-standard

By A Correspondent- “MAYBE I was destined to live a life like Job in the Bible, to have nothing and suffer . . . I had to humble myself to my son as if I was his child.”

These are the heartrending words of Mrs Molly Nyamakawo of Queens Park East suburb in Bulawayo after her only son, the first-born Trevor burnt down the family home in a fit of rage that she is yet to comprehend. Trevor (29) was about to spend his second day at the home after having arrived from South Africa aboard omalayitsha (cross-border transporters) who demanded payment as he had come as a “pay forward” when he burnt down the house.

“My son came from South Africa two days ago, because of the Covid-19-induced lockdowns he was struggling and I was sending him money almost every month for rentals and food. He had spent two years there. He just decided to come back and I told him to hold on a bit and wait for the situation to improve because things were equally tough this side.

He insisted on coming back to stay in his father’s home. Their father died in 2012 and I had been raising them single handedly. We then had an argument and my other daughter told him not to stress me as I was struggling all along to take care of them. She also encouraged him to wait a little and he refused,” said Mrs Nyamakawo.

She said she refused to sponsor his return home as she said he was a problem child.

“He had been a nuisance all along, I have been living a miserable life because of him. So, he got an omalayitsha to come back to Zimbabwe, they called me and said they were bringing him and I needed to pay for the journey and I refused arguing that I had not agreed with them. I also had no money too after having sent him some recently.”

She went on:

“I told the transporters that they could not do their business that way without any agreements. They then dropped him off in Pretoria as I had refused to pay. He got hold of certain pastors from the Bushiri Church and they paid some money to a different omalayitsha and when he arrived at the gate, he was short of R200 which he demanded I pay and I had to borrow US$10 from my tenant and I added the only R20 that I had although it was not enough. The man understood and he was dropped off.”

Mrs Nyamakawo said all seemed well on the first day.

“We had our supper. He was narrating how things were in South Africa and the challenges he encountered there. The following morning, he started behaving strangely, smoking dagga in the house and I reprimanded him as we have a baby in the house. He started chasing us away saying it was his father’s home and had all rights to stay there. I told him we must live in harmony as we are family and address all challenges we have,” she said.

Mrs Nyamakawo said she decided to end the conversation as he is a person of violent nature. In the evening he started banging things in the home destroying property and she went and made a police report.

“I was told to go back home as it was now in the curfew hours and told to come the following day. We locked ourselves in our rooms together with the tenants for our safety. We only slept at 3am as he was destroying property. I returned to the police the next morning,” she said.

She said she went home in the company of a police officer and he rendered no assistance and two more policemen were dispatched.

“Trevor started chasing people away from the house saying he wanted to live with me alone, he had indicated that he wanted to kill me. After we came from the police we got home to find a red flag at the gate symbolising a bereavement. He had locked himself in the house.

The cops then started exchanging words with him and they dared him to do what he wished and Trevor said he wanted to burn the house and they said he must burn it. We were outside the gate. I think he opened the gas cylinder and lit a match. He climbed on top of the roof and was exchanging words with the police. They barred anyone from entering the yard to try and catch him and to also save some of the property, at that time only the kitchen was burning,” she said.

Mrs Nyamakawo claimed the police refused to arrest him saying he had a knife and they were scared.

“They did not do anything and the whole house burnt while we were watching. Trevor jumped into the neighbour’s yard and ran away.

He returned at night and slept in the fowl run. So, I have been trying to contact the police officers assigned to the case but they have turned a blind eye to the matter, they have stopped answering my calls too. So, I don’t know who will protect us if they cannot speak to us, Trevor comes here at night but no effort is being made to catch him and we are scared for our lives because he is dangerous and can come back for us,” she said.

In 2018, Trevor attacked his mother severely and was arrested and taken to Bulawayo Prison but was released a week later.

Mrs Nyamakawo said she does not know what became of the case.

“I have had problems with him since his father died. I had to humble myself as if I am his child, unfortunately many people never believed my stories when I told them as he was a nice guy to other people. However, our neighbours witnessed many of his shenanigans and they are aware of his behaviour.”

This made all his friends distance themselves from him because he was a problem, she said. Neighbours who assisted to clean the house instructed Mrs Nyamakawo to leave as soon as they had finished fearing that Trevor would return and harm her in their absence.

The family which is composed of the mother, two daughters and a two-year-old girl child is currently in need of food, clothing, blankets, sanitary ware, toiletries and any other help as all their belongings were burnt. Contact details for Mrs Nyamakawo are 0773675588.

By A Correspondent- The mysterious happenings of Musogwezi River of July 16, 2021 will forever remain etched in the memories of the people of Jongwe Village, Machiti area under Chief Mapanzure in Masvingo Rural District.

Self-styled Prophet Amos Chituri (49) of Agness Access Apostolic Church (AAAC) stood there uneasy, hands shaking uncontrollably as he tried to come to terms with the events of the past seven days.

Three people drowned and disappeared under his watch as he tried to conduct baptism at a rocky pool at the foot of Mavara hills. The three were not seen again until on the seventh day when their bodies resurfaced one after another.

The mystery got deeper!

There were trembling sounds that tore through Mavara Hills and down into the pool as the three drowned. These sounds were heard many kilometers away and they continued intermittently for the next week.

“I am shaken. I am beside myself. This has never happened in my life and I do not know how to tell people about this including my own relatives,” said Chituri in an interview with The Mirror.

It all started at around 6am on July 16, 2021, when Chituri, a prophet from Manyangadze Village under Chief Mutasa in Manicaland visited the Chivi family in Tazvigwira to attend to a child who is mentally ill. He was met by the village head Victor Tazvigwira for purposes of village protocols.

Chituri however, took Tazvigwira aside and made a prophesy on him. He prophesied that Tazvigwira once came across human bones while walking in the hills. The spirit of that deceased person was haunting him and needed to be cleansed.

The two agreed to go to Musogwezi River for exorcism and baptism. They were accompanied by Tazvigwira’s wife, Chivi, his wife and two children and some youth members of AAAC from Silas and Ratisai village under Chief Shumba making it a group of about nine people.

At the river, the group stood about 10 metres away and removed their shoes as they prepared to get closer to the pool for the baptism. The pool is less than 3m wide and locals say it’s not deep as kids always play and swim there. That pool is also used for baptisms by many other indigenous churches.

Chituri paced close to the pool where the group was preparing for the ceremony. The nine or so started speaking in tongues and like the biblical possessed pigs in the new testament they ran and plunged into the pool. There was a huge trembling noise from the pool and the hills above. Forces they could not understand shoved and pushed them under the water.

“We could see each other as we struggled to escape from the bottom of the pool. Surprisingly we never bumped against one another and we never gulped any water. I raised my hands to try and alert those outside of our predicament. After a while I mysteriously found myself thrown out of the pool and lying on the ground. I still don’t know how I came out,” said Tazvigwira.

Five others also mysteriously found themselves out of the pool, lying on the ground. Chituri attended to them and in particular Tazvigwira who seemed to be almost dying.

As they got back to their senses, they realised that some members of the group were missing.

Missing was Cosmas Mvicha, Witness Chirombo of Silas Village and Fungai Berevedzai a 14-year-old Form 2 girl at Mapakomhere High School who according to some relatives was taken by mermaids on two occasions before.

The stunned group spent the whole day from around 8am praying for the three who had disappeared hoping that they would come out alive. They believed that they had been snatched by mermaids.

At around 4pm they lost hope and alerted the rest of the villages.

Tactics were changed. They agreed to dump the Christian approach to the rescue operation and village heads, chiefs and spirit mediums of the area were called in. For the next week, vigils were maintained near the pool but to no avail.

A spirit medium only identified as Mbuya Juliana performed rituals and as she completed them, the trembling noise was heard once again and it repeated itself three times.

On the seventh day, on July, 22 the first body belonging to Witness Chirombo was spotted at around 9am floating on the surface. Fear-struck villagers could not go anywhere near the pool. At around 2pm on the same day, The Mirror crew arrived at the pool and an adventurous photographer Tony Phiri was the first to see the second body of Cosmo Mvicha emerging out of the water almost in a sitting position.

The following day on Friday July 23, the body of Fungai Berevedzai finally emerged out of the water.

The question that has gripped Mapanzure people is, what went wrong with the baptism process? Why would the gods not allow baptism to take place this time? Why would the pool which is a playing ground for young boys suddenly become a death trap for devout Christians?

The speculation was that Village head Tazvigwira had goblins. The Mirror confronted him with the question. He was stunned and all he could say was please help me.

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has set up a committee to investigate the headmistress of Kumalo Primary School in Bulawayo, Mrs Stella Mhlanga, after she allegedly shared her “nud_e” pictures on social media.

Mrs Mhlanga allegedly shared a photograph of her private parts on her WhatsApp status and quickly deleted the racy image, but not before it was picked up by some of her contacts and reshared. She later posted an apology.

Director for Advocacy and Communication in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Taungana Ndoro yesterday said his Ministry had 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 behaviour 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.”

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s entourage caused a scene at a Chinese hotel after two of his crew tested positive for Covid.

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.

By A Correspondent- Kumalo Primary School head, Mrs Stella Mhlanga is under fire from the government 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.

-State media

By A Correspondent-Selfish cross border, bus operators are placing the lives of many at risk as they continue to smuggle travellers to and from South Africa.

One of these buses is Enno Coaches, which continues to dump passengers in Musina after robbing them of their money.

Enno Coaches charge US$200 to smuggle passengers to Johannesburg a destination the bus never reaches. Besides robing desperate travellers of their hard-earned cash, the bus is also putting the same at a higher risk of contracting Covid-19 through not observing social distancing in their packed buses.

What Enno Coaches and other unethical bus operators are doing is in direct violation of Covid-19 lockdown regulations which prohibit inter-city and cross border travel.
The sad development is threatening to derail the country’s efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus. The third wave of the pandemic has seen soaring deaths and infections.
On Thursday, Zimbabwe had 105 656 confirmed cases and 3 421 deaths.
There were 81 fatalities on that particular day.

By A Correspondent | The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) reports that it has unearthed evidence of the possible obstruction of justice by the Zimbabwe Republic Police in the murder of Tatenda Pasinyore.

Tatenda Pasinyore, who was only 29 years old, died at Gweru’s Mutapa Police Station on 28 February 2021 after he was brutally assaulted by police officers who had arrested him for purportedly being a public nuisance.

A post-mortem report showed that Pasinyore succumbed to hypovolemic shock, pulmonary laceration, and thoracic trauma, all signs of a brutal assault. The Forum is representing the Pasinyore family.

In response to the Forum’s request for the names of the police officers responsible, the Officer in Charge, Criminal Investigations Department Gweru, highlighted that “investigations carried out could not establish clues that could lead to the arrest of the accused (police officers) persons.” This is a precarious statement, given that Tatenda Pasinyore was arrested and assaulted by known police officers.
Impunity has remained one of the biggest drivers in State-sponsored violence in Zimbabwe. Civil society organisations have continuously provided evidence of brutality by law enforcement officers, such as in the case of Pasinyore, without any traction from authorities.

The State has been slow in operationalising Section 210 of the Constitution, which calls for establishing an Independent Complaints Commission to investigate acts of violence by law enforcement officers against civilians, the report says.

A Bill to operationalise the Independent Complaints Commission was only gazetted this year, seven years after the adoption of the Constitution, it continues.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is chewing millions of dollars from the taxpayers on funding his foreign trip and medical bills.

Chiwenga is regularly in China for medical checkups.

His entourage recently caused chaos at a Chinese hotel after two of his members tested positive for COVID-19.

Officials, however, maintained that Chiwenga was not one of the people who tested positive for Covid-19.

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.

-Online

By A Correspondent- Hundreds of hotel guests at the Legendale Hotel in Beijing China, were forced to quarantine recently after two members of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s entourage tested positive for COVID-19 in the Asian country.

Officials, however, maintained that Chiwenga was not one of the people who tested positive for Covid-19.

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.

Reports say questions are being raised in China about whether authorities kept the infection from the public.

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.

-Online

By A Correspondent- Two members of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s entourage have tested positive for COVID-19 in China.

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.

Reports say questions are being raised in China about whether authorities kept the infection from the public.
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.

-Online

By A Correspondent- MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora has said that he will not join ‘ the government-controlled coalition of opposition parties.

Mnangagwa at the weekend said he secretly met with Mwonzora at the statehouse and offered him to join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).

Polad is a dialogue platform that was launched by Mnangagwa in May 2019 following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.

Mnangagwa said since Mwonzora is now the official leader of the opposition in Parliament, he could join the dialogue platform.

However, speaking in an interview with Studio 7’s Thomas Chiripasi on Saturday, Mwonzora’s spokesperson Llyod Damba said the POLAD constitutive document does not allow the MDC-T leader to be part of the forum as he did not participate in the 2018 presidential elections.
Said Damba:
We are not going to POLAD because the POLAD constitutive document defines a political actor as a contestant in the 2018 presidential elections.
So the document disqualifies Mwonzora from participating in POLAD as he is not a political actor as defined by the constitutive document.
The second issue is that even if Mnangagwa resigns today and [Vice President Constantino] Chiwenga or another ZANU PF official takes over, they are also disqualified from participating in POLAD meetings because they did not contest in the 2018 presidential elections.
Damba said former MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe cannot be part of POLAD anymore even though she contested in the 2018 presidential elections saying the party’s Standing Committee has the final say on whether she returns to POLAD.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF director for Information and Publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi told Studio 7 that Mwonzora is free not to join if he so wishes. Said Mugwadi:
Joining POLAD is not compulsory.
Yesterday Mnangagwa handed over 19 Isuzu D-Max vehicles to POLAD principals at State House that he had promised them. The vehicles are branded with POLAD stickers.
Said Mnangagwa:
The vehicles have been made identifiable and make sure it carries the dignity of POLAD. The cars you, are not going to use as you see it fit, except that it must be for political work or developmental work.
… In terms of regulations in the public sector, after three years we will then review and make sure that they can belong to you

“MAYBE I was destined to live a life like Job in the Bible, to have nothing and suffer . . . I had to humble myself to my son as if I was his child.”

These are the heartrending words of Mrs Molly Nyamakawo of Queens Park East suburb in Bulawayo after her only son, the first-born Trevor burnt down the family home in a fit of rage that she is yet to comprehend. Trevor (29) was about to spend his second day at the home after having arrived from South Africa aboard omalayitsha (cross-border transporters) who demanded payment as he had come as a “pay forward” when he burnt down the house.

“My son came from South Africa two days ago, because of the Covid-19-induced lockdowns he was struggling and I was sending him money almost every month for rentals and food. He had spent two years there. He just decided to come back and I told him to hold on a bit and wait for the situation to improve because things were equally tough this side.

He insisted on coming back to stay in his father’s home. Their father died in 2012 and I had been raising them single handedly. We then had an argument and my other daughter told him not to stress me as I was struggling all along to take care of them. She also encouraged him to wait a little and he refused,” said Mrs Nyamakawo.

She said she refused to sponsor his return home as she said he was a problem child.

“He had been a nuisance all along, I have been living a miserable life because of him. So, he got an omalayitsha to come back to Zimbabwe, they called me and said they were bringing him and I needed to pay for the journey and I refused arguing that I had not agreed with them. I also had no money too after having sent him some recently.”
She went on:

“I told the transporters that they could not do their business that way without any agreements. They then dropped him off in Pretoria as I had refused to pay. He got hold of certain pastors from the Bushiri Church and they paid some money to a different omalayitsha and when he arrived at the gate, he was short of R200 which he demanded I pay and I had to borrow US$10 from my tenant and I added the only R20 that I had although it was not enough. The man understood and he was dropped off.”

Mrs Nyamakawo said all seemed well on the first day.

“We had our supper. He was narrating how things were in South Africa and the challenges he encountered there. The following morning, he started behaving strangely, smoking dagga in the house and I reprimanded him as we have a baby in the house. He started chasing us away saying it was his father’s home and had all rights to stay there. I told him we must live in harmony as we are family and address all challenges we have,” she said.

Mrs Nyamakawo said she decided to end the conversation as he is a person of violent nature. In the evening he started banging things in the home destroying property and she went and made a police report.

“I was told to go back home as it was now in the curfew hours and told to come the following day. We locked ourselves in our rooms together with the tenants for our safety. We only slept at 3am as he was destroying property. I returned to the police the next morning,” she said.

She said she went home in the company of a police officer and he rendered no assistance and two more policemen were dispatched.

“Trevor started chasing people away from the house saying he wanted to live with me alone, he had indicated that he wanted to kill me. After we came from the police we got home to find a red flag at the gate symbolising a bereavement. He had locked himself in the house.

The cops then started exchanging words with him and they dared him to do what he wished and Trevor said he wanted to burn the house and they said he must burn it. We were outside the gate. I think he opened the gas cylinder and lit a match. He climbed on top of the roof and was exchanging words with the police. They barred anyone from entering the yard to try and catch him and to also save some of the property, at that time only the kitchen was burning,” she said.

Mrs Nyamakawo claimed the police refused to arrest him saying he had a knife and they were scared.
“They did not do anything and the whole house burnt while we were watching. Trevor jumped into the neighbour’s yard and ran away.

He returned at night and slept in the fowl run. So, I have been trying to contact the police officers assigned to the case but they have turned a blind eye to the matter, they have stopped answering my calls too. So, I don’t know who will protect us if they cannot speak to us, Trevor comes here at night but no effort is being made to catch him and we are scared for our lives because he is dangerous and can come back for us,” she said.

In 2018, Trevor attacked his mother severely and was arrested and taken to Bulawayo Prison but was released a week later.

Mrs Nyamakawo said she does not know what became of the case.

“I have had problems with him since his father died. I had to humble myself as if I am his child, unfortunately many people never believed my stories when I told them as he was a nice guy to other people. However, our neighbours witnessed many of his shenanigans and they are aware of his behaviour.”

This made all his friends distance themselves from him because he was a problem, she said. Neighbours who assisted to clean the house instructed Mrs Nyamakawo to leave as soon as they had finished fearing that Trevor would return and harm her in their absence.

The family which is composed of the mother, two daughters and a two-year-old girl child is currently in need of food, clothing, blankets, sanitary ware, toiletries and any other help as all their belongings were burnt. Contact details for Mrs Nyamakawo are 0773675588 —

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has exposed the MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora’s political prostitution and invited him to join the government-controlled coalition of opposition parties.

Mnangagwa at the weekend said he secretly met with Mwonzora at the state house and offered him to join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).

Polad is P, a dialogue platform that was launched by Mnangagwa in May 2019 following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.

Mnangagwa said since Mwonzora is now the official leader of the opposition in Parliament, he could join the dialogue platform.

However, speaking in an interview with Studio 7’s Thomas Chiripasi on Saturday, Mwonzora’s spokesperson Llyod Damba said the POLAD constitutive document does not allow the MDC-T leader to be part of the forum as he did not participate in the 2018 presidential elections.
Said Damba:
We are not going to POLAD because the POLAD constitutive document defines a political actor as a contestant in the 2018 presidential elections.
So the document disqualifies Mwonzora from participating in POLAD as he is not a political actor as defined by the constitutive document.
The second issue is that even if Mnangagwa resigns today and [Vice President Constantino] Chiwenga or another ZANU PF official takes over, they are also disqualified from participating in POLAD meetings because they did not contest in the 2018 presidential elections.
Damba said former MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe cannot be part of POLAD anymore even though she contested in the 2018 presidential elections saying the party’s Standing Committee has the final say on whether she returns to POLAD.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF director for Information and Publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi told Studio 7 that Mwonzora is free not to join if he so wishes. Said Mugwadi:
Joining POLAD is not compulsory.
Yesterday Mnangagwa handed over 19 Isuzu D-Max vehicles to POLAD principals at State House that he had promised them. The vehicles are branded with POLAD stickers.
Said Mnangagwa:
The vehicles have been made identifiable and make sure it carries the dignity of POLAD. The cars you, are not going to use as you see it fit, except that it must be for political work or developmental work.
… In terms of regulations in the public sector, after three years we will then review and make sure that they can belong to you

MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora says he will not join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), a dialogue platform that was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in May 2019  following calls for the need for dialogue with the opposition to find solutions for the country’s problems.

This comes after Mnangagwa on Friday said Mwonzora is free to join POLAD although POLAD is for principals who participated in the 2018 Presidential elections. 

Mnangagwa said since Mwonzora is now the official leader of the opposition in Parliament, he could join the dialogue platform.

However, speaking in an interview with Studio 7’s Thomas Chiripasi on Saturday, Mwonzora’s spokesperson Llyod Damba said the POLAD constitutive document does not allow the MDC-T leader to be part of the forum as he did not participate in the 2018 presidential elections.

Said Damba:

We are not going to POLAD because the POLAD constitutive document defines a political actor as a contestant in the 2018 presidential elections.

So the document disqualifies Mwonzora from participating in POLAD as he is not a political actor as defined by the constitutive document.

The second issue is that even if Mnangagwa resigns today and [Vice President Constantino] Chiwenga or another ZANU PF official takes over, they are also disqualified from participating in POLAD meetings because they did not contest in the 2018 presidential elections.

Damba said former MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe cannot be part of POLAD anymore even though she contested in the 2018 presidential elections saying the party’s Standing Committee has the final say on whether she returns to POLAD.

Meanwhile, ZANU PF director for Information and Publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi told Studio 7 that Mwonzora is free not to join if he so wishes. Said Mugwadi:

Joining POLAD is not compulsory.

Yesterday Mnangagwa handed over 19 Isuzu D-Max vehicles to POLAD principals at State House that he had promised them. The vehicles are branded with POLAD stickers.

Said Mnangagwa:

The vehicles have been made identifiable and make sure it carries the dignity of POLAD. The cars you, are not going to use as you see it fit, except that it must be for political work or developmental work.

… In terms of regulations in the public sector, after three years we will then review and make sure that they can belong to you

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has dismissed Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s Midterm Budget Review calling it a case of vain glory.

Hon Biti, who is also a former Finance Minister, has pointed out that as long Kuda Tagwirei is controlling State resources, the economy will remain grounded.

Below is Hon Biti’s argument:

The Mid Term Review Statement presented was a terrible exercise in self absorbency ,vain glory and narcissism.

A mid term statement is not mandatory and where there is no message or policy direction sometimes silence is golden.

The country faces humongous challenges …

It is common cause that that the Refinery has been parceled out to interests controlled by Kuda Tagwireyi and his associates in high offices. At this rate just like Banyailand became Rhodesia after Cecil Rhodes, Zimbabwe will become Kudasville after Tagwireyi. What a shame !!

Disclosures in the Mid Term Review that Regime has disposed 60% of State’s shareholding in country’s sole gold refinery Fidelity Printers& Refiners to undisclosed elements is shocking&nauseating.The cannibilization&asset stripping taking place under Mnangwagwa is primitive ..

… approve and sanction any disposal of State Assets held in entities created by Parliament itself. At a time when there is a commodity boom it is foolish and naked corruption to dispose of any commodities let alone a refinery. Such disposal is an act of treason and sabotage.

By A Correspondent- Four brothers reportedly attacked their sister’s married boyfriend and seriously injured him.

The incident occurred at Avoca Farm recently.

Provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Ndliwayo confirmed the incident.

It is alleged that the attack followed a tip off by the victim Munyaradzi Njanji’s wife.

Njanji was having an extra marital affair with Fungai Shereni and his wife informed Tafadzwa, Smart, Munyaradzi and Lloyd Shereni on July 27 this year, The Herald reports.

The quartet proceeded to their sister’s house where they found her getting intimate with Njanji.

A misunderstanding ensued before Smart assaulted Njanji with a wooden stick then his brothers also joined in the attack.

The victim’s mother Sarah Njanji came to his rescue and reportedly restrained the brothers.

Njanji was rushed to hospital for treatment and a report was made to the police leading to Tafadzwa’s arrested.

The other three brothers are on the run.

In other nnews, iHarare had reported that a beer brawl ended in tragedy after a 32-year-old man from Bikita was stabbed to death by his drinking partner over a US$1 change.

Wilson Mudurirwa (32)of Dambo Village under Chief Budzi went on the run after he killed his friend Maxwell Vengai.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident.

According to the police report, the duo arrived at Chikuku Business Centre around 2 pm and Mudurirwa gave Vengai US$1 so that he can purchase one Chibuku Super.

The two allegedly consumed the Chibuku beer together and spent the whole afternoon drinking and roaming around.

It is further alleged that the duo departed for Mushafamba Business Centre and at around 5 pm, Mudurirwa demanded his change from Vengai who then told him that the Chibuku Super actually cost US$1.

A heated exchange of words between the two erupted and Mudurirwa in the heat of the argument drew a knife from his pocket and stabbed Vengai once in the stomach.

By A Correspondent- They have been dubbed “the new Fichani twins”, and have already set social media platforms agog after walking the streets nak_ed.

Psychologists are already questioning their sanity, and rightly so, especially given the way they broke into prayer after being led into a police van.

The prayer is a common one, it is the Lord’s prayer found in the Christian Bible.

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”

That is the part of prayer they continuously chanted, even as they were being arrested by the police.

The twins were defiant. They continued chanting.

In a stunt that has reminded many of the Fichani twins, the latest twins were walking .

The Fichani twins caused a stir in 2006 after walking in central Harare, Mount Pleasant and other places, wearing goatskins kilts (nhembe) that covered the essentials only but left the buttocks exposed.

Police are investigating the matter in which the Highfield twin boys (21) were seen in a video circulating on social media walking nak_ed along Seke Road in near Sunningdale.

In the video clip, the two boys were reciting the Lord’s prayer while people were heard shouting that the boys deserved to be mob justice.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident saying investigations are still in progress to find out if the boys were under the influence of alcohol, drugs or they were mentally challenged.

“Yes we can confirm that we received a report of two boys who were walking nak_ed along Seke Road without even face masks, so we are waiting for medical experts to examine them and see their mental status before the matter is taken to court,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said the boys were taken to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa.

A mental health nurse at Sally Mugabe Central hospital who refused to be named said the guys suffer from mental illnesses, saying they were each admitted to the psychiatric units at these two hospitals.

“The guys suffer from mental illness, common sense should tell people that these guys are mentally challenged, there is no issues of ritual acts as alleged by other people,” he said.

The nurse also said there is a need to raise awareness about mental health in the country and to play a pivotal role in getting the country’s key stakeholders such as the Government, community and media, to put strengthen the fight against mental health.

The majority of Zimbabweans cannot afford mental help therapy, and in some instances the institutions that offer therapy are not accessible to the ordinary people.

Mental health is marked annually in May and Africa this year celebrates mental health through awareness to curb the problem in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic which has wreaked havoc globally.

Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also determines how one handles stress, relates to others, and makes choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood, adolescence and throughout adulthood.

Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry, life experiences, such as trauma or abuse and family history of mental problems- statemedia

By A Correspondent- A man died after he was stabbed in a dispute over salt.

Police confirmed the incident which occurred in Sanyati.

“Police in Sanyati are investigating circumstances surrounding a murder case in which a man (46) died at Parirenyatwa Hospital where he was admitted on 15 July after he was stabbed on his back by the suspect on 1 June over an argument relating to salt,” he said.

In another incident police in Raffingora are investigating a murder case which occurred at Mvurachena Farm on July 25 in which the victim was struck once on the head after he confronted the two suspects who were stealing maize in a field.

Tinashe Sambiri|Prominent social media user Mbuya Gudo from Dotito has declared that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is unelectable.

This comes at a time Zanu PF has announced it wants to raise USD $ 140 million to bolster Mr Mnangagwa’s 2023 Presidential Election campaign.

According to Mbuya Gudo, even if Michael Jackson is to rise from the dead, Mr Mnangagwa will not win the 2023 Presidential Election.

“Chero Michael Jackson akamuka kuvafi to campaign for ED, he will never win elections!!!! I see Mnangangwa family is trying hard kuunganidza ma celebrities, 2023 will humble you all ndipo pamuchaziva kuti your father’s political career existed because of Mugabe. ED is unelectable,” declared Mbuya Gudo.

Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono scoffed at Zanu PF’s announcement that USD $ 140 million will be raised towards the coming elections at a time the health sector is in a pathetic state.

“Mnangagwa is using US$140 million for his 2023 election campaign.

US$140m will run ALL of Zimbabwe’s central hospitals for 3 years, today they have no medication.

If he had delivered on his promises, he wouldn’t need to buy votes with US$140m.

Go and #RegisterToVoteZW for 2023,” argued Chin’ono.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has dismissed Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s Midterm Budget Review calling it a case of vain glory.

Hon Biti, who is also a former Finance Minister, has pointed out that as long Kuda Tagwirei is controlling State resources, the economy will remain grounded.

Below is Hon Biti’s argument:

The Mid Term Review Statement presented was a terrible exercise in self absorbency ,vain glory and narcissism.

A mid term statement is not mandatory and where there is no message or policy direction sometimes silence is golden.

The country faces humongous challenges …

It is common cause that that the Refinery has been parceled out to interests controlled by Kuda Tagwireyi and his associates in high offices. At this rate just like Banyailand became Rhodesia after Cecil Rhodes, Zimbabwe will become Kudasville after Tagwireyi. What a shame !!

Disclosures in the Mid Term Review that Regime has disposed 60% of State’s shareholding in country’s sole gold refinery Fidelity Printers& Refiners to undisclosed elements is shocking&nauseating.The cannibilization&asset stripping taking place under Mnangwagwa is primitive ..

… approve and sanction any disposal of State Assets held in entities created by Parliament itself. At a time when there is a commodity boom it is foolish and naked corruption to dispose of any commodities let alone a refinery. Such disposal is an act of treason and sabotage.

By A Correspondent- Vice president and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga has sent a condolence message to Agriculture deputy minister Vangelis Haritatos following the death of his mother Angela Haritatos.

Angela (59) succumbed to COVID-19-related complications on Wednesday, 18 days after her husband, Peter (77), a former legislator and liberation war hero, also succumbed to the virulent disease.

“It is saddening that the country continues to lose people due to COVID-19-related complications,” Chiwenga said in a statement.

“The passing on of Mrs Angela Haritatos is yet another grim reminder to all of us the unprecedented threat posed to humanity by this COVID-19 pandemic. Mrs Angela Haritatos was an embodiment of fortitude and a sanctuary of humility as she ably rallied behind her late husband in serving the nation,” he said.

Vangelis said his mother was kind to her associates.

“I always knew that life comes to an end, but for me to lose you both in just 18 days is something I never once thought would happen,” he posted on Facebook.

“You were the most amazing mother a son could have ever asked for. You were so kind, caring and so loving to everyone who came into contact with you. You looked after dad so well on earth. Thank you so much mama. May your soul rest in eternal peace right next to dad.”

By A Correspondent- There are fears that hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans living in South Africa may fail to be vaccinated against COVID-19 due to a lack of identity documents.

This is despite assurances by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the start of the vaccination programme that everyone, including foreigners, would be vaccinated.

However, Migrants Workers’ Association-SA (MWA-SA) chairperson Butholezwe Nyathi expressed concern over the failure of undocumented migrants to get inoculated.

Ncube said health workers at some vaccination centres in South Africa were turning away foreigners without passports and work permits, a situation that has also affected Zimbabwean migrants.

He said there are concerns that some employers might demand proof of vaccination and that might lead to job losses.

Said Ncube:

MWA-SA has observed that the South Africa Department of Health requires proof of identity for its vaccination data system (VDS).

We are grateful that those who managed to produce their passports with permits have been vaccinated without any problems.

However, we are concerned that those who fail to produce any form of proof of their legal status in SA might be excluded.

Ncube implored Ramaphosa’s government to allow private pharmacies to inoculate undocumented foreigners.

He said there is no way South Africa’s Department of Health can attain herd immunity without vaccinating migrants — whether legal or illegal as they form a significant percentage of communities.

Zimbabwe Community in South Africa chairperson Ngqabutho Mabhena said foreigners were being asked to produce IDs, yet Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi said no one would be discriminated against.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Harare City Council’s director of works Isiah Zvenyika Chawatama yesterday appeared in court facing criminal abuse of office charges.

Chawatama (55), who was represented by Admire Rubaya, was granted $20 000 bail by magistrate Judith Taruvinga.

The city boss was remanded to August 23.

The State alleges that on February 16, 2017, one Samuel Nyabezi, the city planner, who is still at large, created a layout plan to create 12 residential stands and one institutional (police) stand at Subdivision C Portion of Strathaven C at corner Quendon/ Lyndhurst Road, Monavale, in Harare.

The stand numbers were ranging from 1138 to 1150 on the land that was allegedly set aside for Freeway Reservation.

Chawatama is alleged to have unlawfully omitted seeking the minister’s consent for change of reservation nor cause the stand numbering done by the survey division.

It is alleged that Nyabezi approved the layout plan without submitting it to the city’s environmental management committee for recommendations nor to full council for approval as per procedure.

Chawatama’s duties, among others, include supervising the city planner, whose responsibilities include creation of layout plans and applying to the Local Government ministry for the minister’s consent for change of reservation of reserved open spaces.

The State alleges that on December 17, 2019, Chawatama allegedly connived with Nyabezi and misrepresented facts to City of Harare’s finance department and the Department of Housing and Community Services through a memorandum dated December 17, 2019 that the aforementioned stands were approved and ready for disposal.

It is alleged that acting on the misrepresentation, the Department of Housing and Community Services went on to dispose of the stands to beneficiaries who were made to pay $50 000 provisional deposit for intrinsic land price.

It is alleged the layout plan number TPF/WR/65/2015 was not recorded in town planning registers and stand numbers on the layout plan do not appear in the survey registers.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A senior citizen has been fined $30 000 by a magistrate or alternatively to spend six months in jail for using a fake COVID-19 certificate.

Paul Mpofu (66) of Morningside suburb, Bulawayo, was caught trying to use the bogus certificate at Joshua Mqabuko International Airport on his way to Canada.

He pleaded guilty to charges of fraud when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Steven Ndlovu.

Prosecuting, Evelyn Mutizirwa said on Wednesday, 28 July at around 4 PM, Mpofu presented the fake certificate to health personnel during the check-in process as he intended to travel to South Africa en route to Canada.

Mpofu said he was going to visit his family in Canada and asked the magistrate to feel pity for him as he is a senior citizen.

However, magistrate Ndlovu said such conduct was not expected from a senior citizen. He said:

This was not expected from a senior citizen as you were endangering yourself and the members of the public by leaving the country without a valid COVID-19 certificate.

He fined him $30 000 and if he defaults he will be jailed for six months.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa yesterday said MDC-T leader Mr Douglas Mwonzora was free to join the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) if he wishes. He said this at State House yesterday while handing over 19 Isuzu D-Max vehicles that he promised principals of Polad so that they seamlessly implement national programmes.

The President said he met Mr Mwonzora, in line with protocols that the leader of the opposition should meet with the President, and invited him to join Polad if he wants.

“I met MDC-T leader Mr Douglas Mwonzora, who is the leader of the MDC-T. I was informed by the Speaker of Parliament that he is now the official leader of the opposition in Parliament.  

“In terms of the protocols, the leader of the opposition has to meet the President. In the process, I said to him he is free to join Polad although Polad is for principals who participated in the 2018 Presidential elections.  

“I thought you will allow him as a leader of a political party.”  Polad is a grouping of politicians who contested the 2018 presidential elections, that was set up to collectively discuss ways of prospering the country, at the same time indicating the oneness that exists among Zimbabweans despite different political parties.

Some contestants in the 2018 harmonised polls have declined to join Polad, insisting they wish to be engaged individually. Yesterday, President Mnangagwa honoured his pledge of providing vehicles to all Polad members so that they seamlessly implement national programmes.

The vehicles are branded with Polad stickers.

“The vehicles have been made identifiable and make sure it carries the dignity of Polad. The cars you, are not going to use them as you see it fit, except that it must be for political work or developmental work.

“Down the line, of course the other purpose belongs to Polad, now that they are given to each political party. In terms of regulations in the public sector, after three years we will then review and make sure that they can belong to you,” he said. The principals are expected to service and maintain the vehicles as well as fuelling them since there is no budget for that, said the President.

He then briefed Polad members about the Government’s commitment to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Zimbabwe had set aside US$100 million to procure Covid-19 vaccines to inoculate 60 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity.

Said President Mnangagwa: “The pandemic has been a serious challenge to the Government but we did some programmes and projects in the country and raised US$100 million and out of that we have since spent US$93 million and we have acquired 12 million doses.  “So far we have something like 6 million doses in the country. We are still doing our best to acquire more (vaccines) beyond the 12 million to at least 20 million.” Government plans to intensify the vaccination drive across the country. President Mnangagwa said statistics show that those who have been vaccinated don’t succumb easily to the pandemic.  

“We want to vaccinate as many of our citizens as possible and fortunately we are receiving cooperation from China, India and the Russian Federation.  

“We have been informed that we are going to receive some allocation from the African Union. We paid US$7 million with the AU Centre. We are likely to have some vaccines. This is outside the 20 million (I spoke about).

“It will be a new vaccine, Johnson & Johnson. That’s the one they are offering and we have paid for that,” he said.

The Government, President Mnangagwa said, will do its best to look after its people and ensure the vaccination programme is carried out fairly. He added that every Zimbabwean, those in the Diaspora and those at home will get the vaccine for free.

President Mnangagwa said other people are coming from outside to get the vaccine. “We have seen people flying in at Victoria Falls Airport and Robert Mugabe International Airport, they came from South Africa in particular and some from the United Kingdom to come and get vaccinated but they pay a small fee.  “If they are Zimbabweans, they come in and get vaccinated for free and go back,” he said.

Polad spokesperson Mr Nesbert Mtengezanwa commended President Mnangagwa for his efforts in leading Zimbabwe to new heights of stability and success.  

“Your Excellency, we are ready as ever before to work in unison with you in the pursuit and realisation of Vision 2030 for Zimbabwe. The occasion that has brought us here today (yesterday) is of great meaning and of immeasurable importance to Polad.  

“We are here at your invitation to handover to us the vehicles you promised last year. Truly, we admit and acknowledge this gesture of giving vehicles for use by Polad in its missions,” said Mr Mtengezanwa.

Polad members expressed satisfaction with President Mnangagwa’s commitment in fighting Covid-19 and spearheading economic growth.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has criticised Western countries for advancing a regime change agenda through funding opposition aligned non-governmental organisations.  

She said this on Thursday while presenting a paper on the challenges faced by the National Security Council in national defence planning and development to the students of the National Defence Course at the Zimbabwe National Defence University.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the West had been unrelenting in its attempts to overthrow the Zanu PF-led Government.

“The West has done this through sinister activities that include funding of opposition political parties and non-governmental organisations pursuing opposition agendas, the unilateral imposition of illegal economic sanctions on Zimbabwe and attempts to influence the outcome of elections in the country, among others.

“Regime change machinations continue to be witnessed up to his day with events from the opposition front testifying to their connivance with the West, particularly those that imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe,” she said.

The regime change agenda, said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri, almost climaxed in 2007 when West countries attempted to legalise their illegal economic sanctions by bringing Zimbabwe’s case as an agenda item to the United Nations Security Council.

In 2003, the West’s intrusive manoeuvres saw the Zimbabwe taking the bold decision of withdrawal from the Commonwealth to safeguard her sovereignty and territorial integrity after persistent attacks on the Government by Britain and the white Commonwealth countries.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri added that in 2019 and last year, recorded an increase in cases of alleged abductions of opposition figures that were always blamed on State agents, despite such abductions always coinciding with world events or high level visits to Zimbabwe, which made them suspicious.

“Efforts to investigate these (alleged abductions) have proved futile as the evidence either is tempered with or the concerned individuals refuse to cooperate with the investigating officers. Of late, the opposition, with the aid of their Western backers, have been planning demonstrations as a way of furthering their regime change agenda.

“Therefore, the security forces have an obligation to remain vigilant and nip such security vices in the bud,” she said.

The imposition of illegal sanctions on the country was also part of the broad agenda to cripple the economy and suffocate the Government’s revenue streams in a bid to eventually cause disaffection in citizens, leading to mayhem and regime change. The minister said the sanctions led to high unemployment rates and shortages of basic commodities on the market.

“Such negativities also culminated in increasing opposition forces against the Government, which however successfully withstood the pressure.

“Although the move by foreign companies to relocate their businesses to neighbouring countries negatively impacted on the Government’s ability to govern effectively, it also had a positive effect of enlightening the Government on the need to have a locally controlled economy as opposed to a foreign controlled one,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.

The West also used the media aggressively to demonise and tarnish the Government’s image through negative publicity through the use of global media houses such as BBC and CNN. Recently, some regional broadcasters were enlisted to attack Zimbabwe on allegations of human rights abuses but when worse things happen in their countries, the media houses remain mum.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Government responded by taking every opportunity at public gatherings and international conferences to correct the misinformation and lies peddled by the Western media.

Efforts were also made to have Zimbabwe expelled from the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) following discovery of diamonds in Manicaland, amid lies that the diamonds were a product of human rights abuses.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A mentally ill man in Bulawayo’s Queens Park suburb ran amok and torched a family house following a dispute with his mother.

The man has been identified as Trevor Nyamakawo (29).

Bulawayo Fire Brigade senior divisional officer Linos Phiri confirmed the incident yesterday.

“On Thursday at 3:44pm, we received a call from residents. On arrival, the brigade found a sixroomed private residential house on fire. The fire had covered all the rooms and the roof had already curved in,” Phiri said.

“The fire brigade observed that the house was locked, with all windows closed, front windows from the lounge were smashed and the entire house was engulfed with fire. Thick heavy smoke could be observed from a distance.”

He said the fire was a result of arson.

“Household contents were severely damaged by the fire. Police officers in riot gear were standing outside the premises helpless as the entire house was engulfed with fire,” Phiri said.

“About 70% of the structure and roof were damaged by the fire. The estimated value loss is $800 000.”

Phiri said the fire brigade learnt that Nyamakawo had arrived in the country from South Africa two days before the incident.

“The son, who jetted in two days ago from neighbouring South Africa, had a dispute with his mother. He claimed his late father’s house and tried to chase his mother and other siblings out of the house,” Phiri said.

“The following day, his mother had to seek help from Queens Park Police and two officers accompanied her to the premises.

“They tried to talk with the young man to solve the family dispute and he became violent and equipped himself with a dangerous weapon.”

Phiri said Nyamakawo allegedly took a knife, forcing police officers to seek reinforcement.

When they returned, he had already set the house ablaze.-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) yesterday went on a nationwide water cut-ting exercise to press for the recovery of $2,4 billion owed by its customers.

Zinwa spokesperson Marjorie Munyonga said no one would be spared in the latest blitz as the organisation mobilises financial resources to buy water treatment chemicals.

Yesterday, Zinwa had already cut supplies to Gwanda, and Beitbridge, home to one of sub-Saharan Africa’s busiest border posts, was next in line.

“We are not sparing anyone. The ZNA (Zimbabwe National Army), ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police), ZPCS (Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services)and several government departments and several local authorities will have their supplies cut,” Munyonga said.

“We are aware of what impact this will have, but we were left with no choice. We are unable to operate. We cannot pay for our electricity, we cannot buy water treatment chemicals:’ The development comes as the country is fighting a deadly third wave of the virulent COVID-19 respiratory disease, which requires that citizens regularly wash their hands with running water.

“There is nothing we can do about it. We are also on the verge of being cut off by Zesa. We also owe some $200 million,” the Zinwa spokesperson said.

Beitbridge town clerk Loud Ramakgapola said the border town owed Zinwa $205 million and it had received warnings from the water authority. Reports said Gwanda owed Zinwa $193 million.

Gwanda and Beitbridge have been trying in vain to be weaned from Zinwa in their water supplies. Most cities in the country run their water affairs. Many Beitbridge residents, hit hard by the latest COVID-19 wave, yesterday expressed displeasure at the latest development. They urged the Finance ministry to intervene.

“Everyone knows local authorities inherited this problem from a celebratory stunt by then Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister Ignatius Chombo, who cancelled all water bills for ratepayers, but did not effect that at Zinwa,” said Granger Nyoni of Beitbridge.

Ahead of the 2013 general elections, Chombo cancelled water bills to residents, leaving local authorities on the brink of bankruptcy.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has said enforcement of COVID-19 regulations has fuelled corruption in communities.

In its 2020 annual report released recently, ZHRC said the lockdown measures negatively affected citizens’ enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, resulting in conflicts between the public and law enforcement agents.

The commission recorded a 39,9% increase in the number of complaints in 2020 as compared to the previous year.

Most of the complaints were on service delivery and human rights issues.

“The pandemic seriously affected the enjoyment of civil and political rights and economic, social, cultural and environmental rights. COVID-19 threatened the right to life the world over,” ZHRC said.

“From complaints received by the commission and engagements with various stakeholders, it was evident that there were concerns about excesses and partiality in enforcing regulations.

“This non-adherence to principles of necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination resulted in various conflicts between the public, human rights defenders and activists on one hand and law enforcement agencies on the other. The situation became a breeding ground for other vices like corruption, abuse of power and office.”

The commission condemned torture and acts of cruelty towards civilians, regardless of the circumstances.

“It should be noted that when limiting or restricting rights, there are certain factors that are taken into account, for example, whether the limitation is proportional to the intended objective, is not discriminatory, of a limited duration, respectful of human dignity and subject to review,” ZHRC said.

“The commission emphasised that certain rights could not be limited at all such as freedom from torture, cruel and inhuman and degrading treatment, right to human dignity and right to a fair trial.”

The public also raised concern over the prolonged closure of schools, saying it was curtailing enjoyment of the right to education.

The COVID-19 lockdown also affected the people’s sources of livelihoods, which resulted in food shortages in communities, according to the report.

This week, the Judicial Service Commission approved the proposed new schedule of fines for COVID-19 regulation violations, which will see offenders paying a maximum of $5 000 for violating preventive protocols.

Legislators, however, argued that the hefty fines would promote corruption as the cash-squeezed public would opt to pay bribes than go to court.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- A survey has shown that spousal abuse cases are high in the country with men being the most affected. The predominant form of spousal abuse is emotional, economic and physical abuse.

This is contained in the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) Rural Livelihoods Assessment (ULA) 2021 covering provinces excluding Bulawayo and Harare.

The report shows that among couples, 6,01 percent of men have suffered emotionally while 5,7 percent of women have experienced the same.

The ZimVAC report shows that 3,8 percent of men have suffered economic abuse while 3,7 percent of married women are also affected by economic abuse. It further states that 2,8 percent of married men have suffered physical abuse and 2,6 percent of women have been subjected to physical abuse.

The report says sexual abuse cases are low among married couples where 1,2 percent of men reported being sexually abused while 1,5 of women suffered the same.

“There are high incidences of emotional abuse among spouses, 6,01 percent for males and 5,76 percent for females nationally. Generally, emotional abuse was high for both males and females while sexual abuse had the lowest reported incidents,” reads the ZimVAC report.

The report is however, silent on what is causing emotional, physical and economic abuse among couples. Gender activists said various reasons may be contributing to spousal abuse. Local gender activist Ms Abigail Siziba said it was not surprising that most men were victims of economic abuse as they are expected to provide for their families.

“If you look at the statistics, they show that men are mostly being abused economically and emotionally and the major cause is poverty as most people lost their jobs due to lockdown. Culturally men are expected to be breadwinners. If there is not enough food in the house, men are to blame, leading to them being abused,” said Ms Siziba.

She said as a result of the national lockdown the whole family might be spending a lot of time at home and the demand for food increases. This, Ms Siziba said, could also be a source of emotional and economic abuse, particularly for men. He said infidelity matters may also contribute to emotional abuse.

Mrs Siziba said it was however, encouraging that men who endure abuse are now speaking unlike in the past when they suffered in silence. Another gender activist Ms Lindiwe Ndebele said a lot of social pressures were to blame for the increasing cases of emotional and economic abuse.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has affected relationships because families have lost incomes after many breadwinners lost jobs. Gender-Based Violence cases (GBV) on both sides (men and women) are on the increase,” said Ms Ndebele.

Men’s Conference executive director Mr Makhosi Sibanda said if a man as the head of the family is not happy it means that the whole family will not be happy.

“In essence we are going to breed unhappy families because men are expected to be the head of the family. Being the head of the family means being able to do more for the family. Someone who can show love to his family, someone who can provide opportunities for his family and improve the lives of the family. So, if the men are unhappy it means we are going to have unhappy communities,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said increase in abuse cases among married people could be as a result of spending more time together due to the lockdown. Enkundleni/ Padare Men’s Forum programmes officer Mr Ziphongezipho Ndelebe said the impact of emotional abuse among couples could have a serious effect on victims.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Having been displaced during the construction of the Kariba Dam and now living at the peripheries of Zimbabwe’s largest hydro-electric power project, Kariba, it is only logical that the Batonga people of Mola in Siakobvu and Nyaminyami districts should have access to power. However, for the Mola residents, it is, indeed, a case of so near yet so far as they have had no electricity for the past two years.

“Our belief is that it is totally repugnant and especially exclusionary for an entire district, one which is a producer of hydroelectric power, to go for over two years without electricity, the production of which has permanently and so far, negatively altered our lives,” the Mola residents claim in a court application placed before the High Court.

The Mola residents have taken to court the Zambezi Water Authority, Nyaminyami Rural District Council, Kariba MP John Roland Houghton, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wild-life Management Authority and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority Holdings Limited for contributing to the underdevelopment of the area.

The residents have also dragged to court several Cabinet ministers, among them Mangaliso Ndlovu (Environment, Water and Cli-mate), Cain Mathema (Primary and Secondary Education), Zhemu Soda (Energy and Power Development), Kazembe Kazembe (Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage), and Attorney-General Prince Machaya.

In a court application seen by NewsDay Weekender, in addition to power outage, the Mola residents “are effectively cut off from the rest of the world as Mola is inaccessible by phone or by road”.

“Often, we have to traverse several kilometres just to get mobile network connectivity and do simple things such as to send text messages or phone calls,” the Mola Residents Forum says in the application.

Lessons at one of the primary schools in the area, Kauzhumba Primary in Dumbula village, are conducted in the open under trees following the collapse of classrooms in 2008. The school, with an enrolment of about 400 pupils, does not meet the Primary and Secondary Education ministry standards of an examination centre, hence Grade Seven pupils walk 15km to go and sit for examinations at Marembera Primary School.

According to the court application, the residents “are seeking a declaratory order enforcing the right to language and culture, as well as the right to education, access to health care and the right to environmental protection.

“We would also assert the principles of public administration set out in section 194 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”

The Mola people are further demanding that they be able to practise their language and culture protected under section 63 of the Constitution and that they be permitted to practise their culture of holding traditional rites and ceremonies and practice their artisanal fishing.

The Mola people are being represented by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights). ZimRights national director Dzikamai Bere told NewsDay Weekender that what was happening to the Batonga people in Mola was an atrocity.

“The Batonga people have paid dearly for development. Their ancestors were displaced by the Kariba Dam project in the 1950s, on a promise of a better life he said.

“Many years later, they are living like second-class citizens. The responsibility to protect their human dignity falls on all of us, including corporates.”

Over 57 000 people were displaced during the construction of the Kariba Dam.

ZimRights projects lawyer Kenias Shonhai, who is assisting the community, said in the application, “the Mola people also want freedom of movement within the Zambezi Valley and its surrounds, basic education rights for their children, environmental rights and access to public resources including locally generated electric power and water which they want to be made immediately available.”

“At the time the Mola people were relocated, they had been promised that the water will always benefit them. However, the greater part of the dam shore is leased to private players who do not tolerate any artisanal fishing, a way of life the Mola people had been accustomed to. Their way of life has greatly been altered. Fishing is now for the privileged and well-connected people,” said Shonhai.

He said their clients were worried by the neglect they are experiencing and are now demanding development in their area.

“They believe the legal route is their last hope, they are praying that the courts address their demands and force the government and all its relevant agencies to act in ensuring service provision to their community,” added Shonhai.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Funeral service providers have indicated that they are overwhelmed by COVID-19 deaths and warned that the country could be forced to bury deceased citizens in mass graves if the upward trend of new infections and deaths continues.

The funeral service providers, whose profits are determined by the increase in death rate, painted a gloomy picture of the situation in the morgues at a time the country was ravaged by increased fatalities to the virulent virus.

In a virtual address delivered on Thursday, Nyaradzo Funeral Services chief executive officer Phillip Mataranyika said his firm’s morgues were overwhelmed with dead bodies, resulting in it taking longer to bury the deceased.

He said the company’s preparatory measures against the pandemic, which included doubling mortuary capacity and recruitment of more staff, were eclipsed by the surge in deaths.

“Removal of our dead to the custody of the end of life service providers has been slow,” Mataranyika said.

“Where ordinarily it took a couple of minutes, it is now taking hours. Burial has been delayed in some cases by a day or two. In other cases, we have not been given definite burial times. In some countries, there has been burial of COVID-19 deaths in mass graves because (funeral) service providers were overwhelmed. This happened in the United States and India, as examples. In Zimbabwe, we have not yet gotten to the stage, but let us not be complacent. The future is uncertain and we can very well get to that stage.”

While announcing fresh lockdown measures recently, President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged citizens to get vaccinated, stating that approximately 80% of the latest COVID-19 cases in the country were of the Delta variant, first detected in India.

This week on Tuesday, Zimbabwe recorded 107 deaths, the highest record since the beginning of the pandemic in March last year.

On Thursday, the country recorded 2 089 new cases and 81 deaths, up from 60 recorded the previous day.

“Our hospitals are full of the sick and our morgues are full of the dead,” Mataranyika said.

“Our colleagues in the health sector are doing all they can to save lives. Sometimes their efforts are not rewarded, resulting in loss of lives and this has happened on numerous occasions. Each time this has happened, morgues have borne the brunt. Because there have been many deaths, the end of life industry has faced immense pressure, resulting in delays all round.”

The warning came at a time when the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has indicated that the Delta variant, which is prevalent in Zimbabwe, was as contagious and transmissible as chicken pox.

Data from the US CDC shows that the Delta variant is deadlier than earlier stated, as it could infect and be spread by people who are fully vaccinated, according to a CNN report.

Moonlight Funeral Assurance and Services director Charity Mungofa said due to the limited working hours under level 4 lockdown, the company was sometimes failing to meet the demand for burial services required per day.

She said the company still had enough space in its morgues, but was facing staff shortage.

“We would have all bereaving families wanting to lay to rest their beloved at almost the same time so that they finish the process before curfew time,” Mungofa said.

“As a result, we have a situation where the demand for undertakers is higher than the available employees.”

She said the company was providing services for an average of 15 deaths per day.

Doves Holdings Zimbabwe spokesperson Innocent Tshuma said the company anticipated an increased demand and had adopted some preparatory measures, but it was experiencing some delays in burials.

“There are several deceased coming from certain hotspots from time-totime, hence removals of bodies may take slightly longer,” he said.

“We are currently operating at less than 50% of our mortuary capacity. We have ordered new hearses, tents and other tools of the trade to ensure we are able to provide dignified sendoffs to our loved ones.”

Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive officer Solwayo Ngwenya said if the public continued defying COVID-19 regulations, more vicious variants, the Delta Plus and Vietnamese, could hit the country.

Speaking during a programme Isiqokoqela Sendaba, hosted on State broadcaster yesterday, Ngwenya said the country risked being hit by more vicious variants because they mutate in overcrowded places.

“Our people are disregarding all the COVID-19 measures. They are attending funeral wakes all night, visiting each other. There is too much crowding which leads to the spread of variants,” he said.

“There are two more very deadly variants that will wipe people. We have Delta Plus and Vietnamese variants. The last one is a combination of the British and the Indian variants. These are very deadly, they kill more than the Delta variant. We risk being hit by those if our people don’t change their behaviour.”

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A famous Bulawayo medical doctor, Dr Shamiso Matekere, has succumbed to COVID-19. She passed away on Thursday in Bulawayo.

Dr Matekere was the founder of the Elite Medical Clinic situated along corner 5th Avenue and Josiah Tongogara Street.

She was also the brains behind the medical mission which for years had been targeting underprivileged rural folk who could not afford specialists health care services.

Dr Matekere’s death was confirmed by the Zimbabwe Medical Association president Dr Francis Chiwora on Friday.

He said:

She was a young and hard-working cadre who succumbed to COVID-19 and there is nothing as devastating as knowing one of you died as a result of trying to save lives.

She indeed paid the ultimate price of trying to save lives and her death is nothing but a painful reminder of the havoc that this global pandemic is causing.

We are pained when we lose our patients to COVID-19 and it’s even worse when it’s one of us as we continue trying our best to save our people from this global pandemic.

Thousands of villagers from Lupane, Nkayi, and Gwanda benefited from medical outreach programmes which the late Dr Matekere facilitated with her pastor and leader of the Abundant Life Revival Mission International Church.

Abundant Life Revival Mission International Church founder and pastor, Prophet Itai Ukama said Dr Matekere’s death is a huge blow to Matabeleland as a region as she was also known for attending to patients free of charge even in Bulawayo.

He said:

I had the privilege to work with her, just like her name she never ceased to surprise all of us and honestly, her death is a surprise to many, we still cannot believe she is no more.

She was not just an ordinary human being because she served wholeheartedly without expecting riches in return like some of our health practitioners.

… We have lost a daughter, someone who loved the people of Matabeleland. Villagers especially from Ndamuleni Village will grieve bitterly when they hear that their doctor has died of COVID-19.

I am devastated and as a church, we know that without her our medical outreach programmes will never be the same.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) yesterday announced the deaths of Brigadier General Mbonisi Gatsheni and Colonel Charles Pride Muchero, both succumbed to Covid-19 related complications.

Brigadier (Rtd) General Gatsheni, whose Chimurenga name was Chris Fuyane, passed on at United Bulawayo Hospitals in Bulawayo on Monday and was buried yesterday at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo.

He was 68.

In a statement, ZNA director Public Relations, Colonel Alphios Makotore said:

“The Zimbabwe National Army is deeply saddened to announce the death of Brigadier General (Rtd) Mbonisi Gatsheni and Colonel Charles Pride Muchero,” said Col Makotore.

Brigadier General Gatsheni General was born on 09 March 1953 in Gwanda District, Matabeleland South Province.

He did his primary education at Shake Primary School from 1959 – 1967 and then proceeded for secondary education at Matopo Mission from 1968-70. Upon completion of his Junior Certificate, the late Brigadier General Gatsheni enrolled for a Teacher Training Course at Mtshabezi Teachers’ Training School where he graduated with a T3 Teacher’s Certificate in 1973.

He later joined the liberation struggle in 1976 when he crossed the border into Botswana, from where his group was later on uplifted to Lusaka, Zambia to join the Liberation Struggle with the ZIPRA forces.

In 1977, the late Brigadier General Gatsheni, received initial military training at Membeshi, an established training base where most of the senior ZIPRA commanders were trained.

He quickly distinguished himself as a capable commander who could be entrusted with command responsibilities.

In recognition of his enormous potential, the late Brigadier General (Rtd) was subsequently deployed to the front as a Zone Commander. He had the responsibilities of orchestrating operations over a wide span of territory, deep into the heart of the country in the areas from Lupane, Nkayi, Zhombe to Lower Gweru.

During the period following the attainment of Independence in 1980, the late Brigadier General (Rtd) was attested into the ZNA on the 1st of September 1981 and was quickly identified as a potential officer and in that regard, he was sent for the Officer Standardization Course.

After commissioning in 1981 the late Brigadier General (Rtd) Gatsheni had a brilliant career as an officer which saw him holding various appointments, including Zimbabwe’s Defence Attaché to Russia from 1993 – 96 and Director Concepts-Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters from 2011 – 2013.

The late Brigadier General (Rtd) Gatsheni is survived by his wife Loveness Nkosi and five children.

Meanwhile Colonel Muchero, whose Chimurenga name was Cde Charles Masendeke, passed on yesterday morning 2021 at Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Harare after having been hospitalised since 22 July.

He was 61.

Colonel Muchero was born on 19 December 1960 in Rusape, Makoni District, Manicaland Province. He did his primary education at Maungwe and Dohwa Primary Schools before proceeding for his secondary education at St Faith’s Secondary School where he abandoned school in Form 3 in order to join the liberation struggle in 1978.

After briefly operating as a mujibha (war collaborator), he then crossed into Mozambique and stayed at the following ZANLA bases, Guro, Moatize in Tete and Tembwe-Mazozo Base at Maroro.

Late in 1978, he was sent to Tanzania and received his military training at Nachingweya where he did both the basic recruit training and specialisation in mortars. Thereafter, he was deployed to the war front in Manica Province and operated in the areas of Mutasa, Rusape and Hwedza.

On ceasefire, together with other comrades, they were later on moved to Foxtrot Assembly Point at Dzapasi in Buhera but he was finally deployed to Tongogara Assembly Point in Chipinge.

Colonel Muchero was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army as a private on 05 January 1981 and went for integration at Imbizo Barracks in Bulawayo. He was quickly identified as a potential officer and in that regard he was sent for the Officer Standardisation Course that same year.

During his long and illustrious career in the service of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, the late Senior Officer attended various military courses, including the following; Defence Management Course at Wits in South Africa in 1998, United Nations Military Observers Course in 2001, Battle Group Commanders Course at All Arms Battle School in Nyanga in 2003 and the National Defence Course in Kenya 2018-19.

He also held various appointments during his long and illustrious career. At the time off his death he was the Deputy Manager, Zimbabwe Defence Industries.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

Colonel Muchero is survived by his two wives Anna Netsai Muchero and Beauty Muchero and six children.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of two male twins who were caught walking the streets naked along Seke Road in Harare.

The Highfield twin boys (21) were seen in a video circulating on social media walking naked along Seke Road near Sunningdale.

In the video clip, the two boys were reciting the Lord’s prayer while people were heard shouting that the boys deserved mob justice.

The Lord’s prayer is a common prayer recited by Christians and is found in the Christian Bible (Matthew (6:9-13) and Luke (11:2-4).

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident saying investigations are still in progress. He said:

Yes, we can confirm that we received a report of two boys who were walking naked along Seke Road without even face masks, so we are waiting for medical experts to examine them and see their mental status before the matter is taken to court.

Asst Comm Nyathi said the boys were taken to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

A mental health nurse at Sally Mugabe Central hospital who refused to be named told The Herald that the men suffer from mental illnesses and there are no issues of ritual acts as alleged by some people.

The nurse added that they were each admitted to the psychiatric units at these two hospitals.

In 2006, the Fichani twins pulled a similar stunt, walking in central Harare, Mount Pleasant and other places, wearing goatskins kilts (nhembe) that covered the essentials only but left the buttocks exposed.

By A Correspondent- Vice president and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga has sent a condolence message to Agriculture deputy minister Vangelis Haritatos following the death of his mother Angela Haritatos.

Angela (59) succumbed to COVID-19-related complications on Wednesday, 18 days after her husband, Peter (77), a former legislator and liberation war hero, also succumbed to the virulent disease.

“It is saddening that the country continues to lose people due to COVID-19-related complications,” Chiwenga said in a statement.

“The passing on of Mrs Angela Haritatos is yet another grim reminder to all of us the unprecedented threat posed to humanity by this COVID-19 pandemic. Mrs Angela Haritatos was an embodiment of fortitude and a sanctuary of humility as she ably rallied behind her late husband in serving the nation,” he said.

Vangelis said his mother was kind to her associates.

“I always knew that life comes to an end, but for me to lose you both in just 18 days is something I never once thought would happen,” he posted on Facebook.

“You were the most amazing mother a son could have ever asked for. You were so kind, caring and so loving to everyone who came into contact with you. You looked after dad so well on earth. Thank you so much mama. May your soul rest in eternal peace right next to dad.”

A Shamva man on Tuesday visited State House in Harare demanding to see President Emmerson Mnangagwa over a dream.

The man becomes the third in two weeks to visit the highly-protected place.

Isaac Tsuro (27) yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court after he was arrested at the gate by State security agents.

Tsuro, who appeared before magistrate Judith Taruvinga, was remanded in custody to August 23. Taruvinga ordered that he be medically examined by a psychiatrist while in prison.

It is the State’s case that on July 27, at around 1620hrs, the accused was walking along Chancellor Road near the State House.

While at the place, Tsuro approached the security personnel manning the entrance and demanded to see Mnangagwa, indicating that he wanted to tell the President his dream.

It is alleged that Tsuro persisted on his demands to be allowed in, which resulted in his arrest.

Last week, Nigel Rutsito (37) was arrested at the State House gate after he lied that he was a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), while another trespasser Dylan Kanyungwe (24) stormed into the premises on the same day and demanded to see Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga.

Rutsito went to State House on July 17 at around 4am and told security personnel at the main gate that he was a CIO member and had come for duty.

He allegedly insisted on entering the State residence, but the security personnel asked for his identity document, which he failed to produce, leading to his arrest. Kanyungwe is alleged to have approached members of the Presidential Guard at around 1pm on the same day and demanded to see Chiwenga.

He allegedly became violent and tried to force his way into State House after being told that Chiwenga did not stay there.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The government spent higher amounts funding operations of the Defence and War Veterans ministry during the first half of the year, compared to expenditures committed to crucial sectors, such as health care, data released by the Ministry of Finance has revealed.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube’s Mid-Term Budget Review presented on Thursday showed that the amount of money channelled towards defence was higher than the funds that were deployed to fighting the coronavirus.

The data showed that the Defence and War Veterans Ministry had already expended ZW$14,5 billion (US$169,4 million) during the first half of the year, which represents 61% of its annual vote totalling ZW$23,8 billion (US$278 million).

In contrast, the Ministry of Health and Child Care spent ZW$9,4 billion (US$109,8 million) during the same period, out of the ZW$54 billion (US$630,8 million) 2021 budget allocation.

Further, the Defence and War Veterans Ministry expenditure was way above the national average of expenditures.

The Office of the President and Cabinet, whose annual budget is ZW$14,2 billion (US$165,8 million), had utilised ZW$8 billion (US$93,4 million) during the first half of the year.

This is just ZW$4 billion (US$46,7 million) below the ZW$9,4 billion (US$109,8 million) spent on health and child care during the same period.

By A Correspondent- The development was revealed by Comrade Masuku on facebook where he said:

“Menard Mushangazhike a Zimbabwean truck driver was shot dead in South Africa on his way from Cape Town to Joburg today in the early hours.

MHSRP.

We wish his family to find comfort in such trying times.”

Tinashe Sambiri|Veteran MDC Alliance activist James Kampota has died.

According to information availed to ZimEye.com, Kampota succumbed to COVID-19 related complications.He was based in Chiredzi

See MDC Alliance Masvingo Province statement:

Death Notice

It is with great shock that we announce the passing on of our founding member, Chairman James kampota.

The entire Masvingo Province has been plunged into mourning.

On behalf of the MDC Alliance we would like to convey our deepest condolences to the Kampota Family. We are with you at the time of mourning.

Rest in power our pillar of strength makarwa kurwa kwakanaka

MDC Alliance Deputy spokes person

Lee Grenade Mahachi

Tinashe Sambiri|Prominent social media user Mbuya Gudo from Dotito has declared that the Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is unelectable.

This comes at a time Zanu PF has announced it wants to raise USD $ 140 million to bolster Mr Mnangagwa’s 2023 Presidential Election campaign.

According to Mbuya Gudo, even if Michael Jackson is to rise from the dead, Mr Mnangagwa will never win the 2023 Presidential Election.

“Chero Michael Jackson akamuka kuvafi to campaign for ED, he will never win elections!!!! I see Mnangangwa family is trying hard kuunganidza ma celebrities, 2023 will humble you all ndipo pamuchaziva kuti your father’s political career existed because of Mugabe. ED is unelectable,” declared Mbuya Gudo.

Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono scoffed at Zanu PF’s announcement that USD $ 140 million will be raised towards the coming elections at a time the health sector is in a pathetic state.

“Mnangagwa is using US$140 million for his 2023 election campaign.

US$140m will run ALL of Zimbabwe’s central hospitals for 3 years, today they have no medication.

If he had delivered on his promises, he wouldn’t need to buy votes with US$140m.

Go and #RegisterToVoteZW for 2023,” argued Chin’ono.