Frontline workers in Matabeleland South province are reluctant to take the Covid-19 vaccine as the first phase saw less than half of the targeted workers taking their first jab.

The province managed to vaccinate only 1 745 frontline workers against a target of inoculating 5 283 in the first phase from 11 010 Sinopharm vaccines received.

The first phase of the vaccination programme ended on February 19 in the province, while the second phase started on March 29.

This phase targeted frontline workers in the health sector, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) personnel, and Immigration employees, journalists, legislators and those in the security sector who are being vaccinated under phase one of the programme.

Matabeleland South Provincial maternal, neonatal and child health officer Norbert Singine said there had been a low turnout from frontline workers in taking up the jabs.

Singine said it was worrying that frontline workers were reluctant to get vaccinated considering they were at high risk of contracting the virus.

According to the provincial vaccination statistics, as of March 19, Beitbridge vaccinated 292 from 1 402, Bulilima vaccinated 82 against a target of 198, Gwanda vaccinated 297 from a target of 1 702.

Insiza vaccinated 291 from a target of 462. At the same time, Mangwe inoculated 270 from 586, Matobo vaccinated 283 against a target of 582. In contrast, Umzingwane vaccinated 230 from 351, bringing the total of the vaccinated people in the province to 1 745.

Singini urged health workers and those set to be vaccinated under phase two to take up the vaccination as it will help eradicate the spread of respiratory infection.

“Well, the low uptake up to now could point out unknown fears and myths among health workers which need to be addressed. As such, I appeal to them to use our different platforms to relay their concerns about the vaccination exercise,” he said.

“It’s now a month since we started this vaccination campaign and the good news is we haven’t had serious side effects. This can also be a wakeup call even to the doubting Thomases that the vaccine is safe.”

The second phase in the province is expected to start in the first week of April.

“I still encourage frontline workers to get vaccinated so that we reach the critical mass for herd immunity quickly,” Singini added.

A health worker, Thomas Matumo, said he was still reluctant to get vaccinated and will only do so when it’s clear that others have no complications after the second jab.

“The tests of certifying the vaccine’s credibility were not done in this country, so how are we sure that it works?

“Personally, I will only be vaccinated after seeing that the procedure on its second phase has no side effects,” Matumo said.

——
This article was originally published by The Citizen Bulletin, a non-profit news organisation that produces hard-hitting, hyperlocal reporting and analysis for the southwestern region of Matabeleland.-CitizenBulletin

National Peace and Reconciliation Commission [NPRC]

Candidates Interviews Brought Forward to Friday 16th April

Parliament has announced changes to its plans for the public interviews to be conducted by the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders.  The date previously notified in Commissions Watch 4/2021 of 26th March [link] was 30th April. 

The changes are as follows:

1.   The date for the interviews is now Friday 16th April.  This is two weeks earlier than the original date.  The venue remains unchanged – the Senate Chamber.

2.   There is an extra candidate.  The list of candidates to be interviewed now has 30 names, instead of the previous 29.  The new name is that of the former Deputy Chairperson of the NPRC, Mrs Lillian Chigwedere, whose name was apparently omitted from the original list in error.  This brings up to six the number of ex-members up for re-appointment [these are marked with an # in the following list.] 

3.   Mrs Chigwedere is due to be interviewed at 9.45 am in slot 4.  As candidates have been listed in alphabetical order by surname, the scheduled interview starting times for each of the candidates listed after her will start 15 minutes later than originally scheduled.   For convenience we set out the modified list of candidates and interview times:

1.         CHADA, GODFREY T. Dr. #                             MALE                   09:00hrs

2.         CHIBUNDU JOSHUA Mr.                                 MALE                   09:15hrs

3.         CHEKENYERE, GORDEN.D. Dr. #                 MALE                  09:30hrs

4.         CHIGWEDERE, LILLIAN Mrs #                     FEMALE              09.45hrs

5.         CHIMANGE, GETRUDE Ms.                            MALE                   10:00hrs

6.         CHIRADZA, PATIENCE Z. Ms. #                    FEMALE              10:15hrs

7.         DODO, OBADIAH Dr.                                        MALE                  10:30hrs

8.         DUBE, DONWELL Dr.                                       MALE                  10:45hrs

TEA BREAK – 1100 HOURS – 11: 15 HOURS

9.         GUTU, OBERT.C. Mr                                         MALE                  11:15hrs

10.      GWERE, NOMAQHAWE Mrs.                        FEMALE              11:30hrs

11.      JACK, PETER Mr.                                              MALE                  11:45hrs

12.      MACHISA, OKAY Mr.                                       MALE                  12:00hrs

13.      MANDEYA, ROBERT Mr.                                 MALE                  12:15hrs

14.      MANDIWOMA, ELIZABETH Mrs.                 FEMALE              12:30hrs

15.      MHANDARA, LAWRENCE Dr.                        MALE                  12:45hrs

16.      MOYO, CHIROPAFADZO Rev. Dr.                 MALE                   13:00hrs

13:15HOURS – 1400HRS – LUNCH BREAK

17.      MUCHECHETERE, ANDREW A. Rev.            MALE                   14:00hrs

18.      MUNEMO, DOUGLAS. Dr.                               MALE                  14:15hrs

19.      MUSHUNJE, MILDRED. Dr                            FEMALE              14:30hrs

20.      MUTSHINA, MARILYN. Ms.                           FEMALE              14:45hrs

21.      NCUBE, LESLIE Dr #.                                        MALE                  15:00hrs

22.      NDLOVU, TSHIMUMOYO Ms.                       FEMALE              15:15hrs

23.      NDORO, CHOICE. Mrs.#                                 FEMALE              15:30hrs

24.      NGWENYA, KHOLWANI Mr.                          MALE                  15:45hrs

25.      NYAMUKACHI, EARNEST Mr.                       MALE                  16:00hrs

26.      RUKUNI, TINASHE Dr.                                     MALE                  16:15hrs

27.      SHAMBARE, JOSEPHINE Dr.                        FEMALE              16:30hrs

28.      TARU, JOSIAH Dr.                                             MALE                  16:45hrs

29.      VHIRIRI, THAMMARY B Mrs.                       FEMALE              17:00hrs

30.      ZODZI, ANGELICA. Ms.                                   FEMALE              17:15hrs

https://twitter.com/ericbongoe/status/1378621451922767873?s=20

By A Correspondent- The opposition MDC Alliance and political analysts say the conviction of activist Makomborero Haruzivishe last week is a strategy to silence critics and instil fear ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.

Haruzivishe, a strong critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, was convicted on charges of inciting public violence and will be sentenced on Tuesday.

MDC Alliance youth assembly leader Obey Sithole said the conviction was a “testimony of judicial capture and weaponisation of justice”,

“We view his conviction as a direct insult to the very existence of law, it is a clear testimony of judicial capture and weaponisation of justice wherein the law is constantly abused by the regime to suppress any voices of dissent,” Sithole said.

“The conviction absolutely has nothing to do with the interpretation of law, but a well-coordinated architecture of mutilating alternative voices of all those, who have been courageous to speak and act against the regime’s blatant failures especially at a time like this where it is not fashionable to do so given the perpetual harsh political environment.”

He said the Zanu-PF government was trying to scare young people from speaking out.

“By convicting Mako, the regime is certainly trying to scare away the young generation from participating in political processes,” Sithole said.

“however, these acts of evil will not deter us from soldiering on towards the desired destination of a new Zimbabwe respectful of all fundamental rights and freedoms.”

MDC Alliance youths and students under the Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) banner have been leading protests against government over abductions including that of Midlands State University scholar Tawanda Muchehiwa who was abducted by suspected state security agents ahead of the planned July 31, 2020 protests against corruption.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere said Haruzivishe was targeted for being vocal against the Mnangagwa administration.

“He is a well-known activist, who is being targeted because he is vocal about the poverty, injustice and corruption faced by the citizens and because he is a member of the MDC Alliance,” Mahere said.

Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said: “The regime is tightening screws on the opposition by moving a gear up from harassment, beatings and threats to putting people in prison.

“There is no doubt that the charges against Haruzivishe, Joana Mamombe and Cecelia Chimbiri are politicised to set an example and frighten the rest of opposition activists from confronting the regime.”

He added: “Unbeknown, the regime is creating struggle heroes”.

United Kingdom-based lawyer Alex Magaisa said: “But it was only a matter of time before the Mnangagwa regime started to convict and lock up political opponents.

“It will only get worse.-standard

By A Correspondent- The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has accused the Apex Council of conniving with government to frustrate negotiations for a salary increment for civil servants after the authorities awarded them a 75% increase last week.

PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said teachers were not happy with the Apex Council’s approach to the negotiations.

“We reiterate our long-held view that Apex Council is the problem of all problems, and evil of all evils,” Zhou said.

“Whether it changes name to ZCPSTU, it doesn’t change this reality.

“How Apex Council guys have the audacity to discuss 25% or 45% when other workers in government were rewarded salaries that quadrupled those of teachers without any negotiation, baffles logic and common sense.”

Teachers recently rejected the 75% salary increment offered to all civil servants, saying the adjustment was not a product of collective bargaining.

“Apex Council has for a long time abused teachers and the time to rally behind the Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Union (FOZEU) in order to foster unity in diversity and the education sector specific allowances, is now,” Zhou added.

“The nurses did it and junior doctors did it, why can teachers not do it also? Are we cursed and appendages to the moribund, rusty and archaic Apex, I wonder?”

He said unless teachers strengthened their resolve and determination towards demanding better remuneration, they were bound to die in poverty.

“I am sure many of us have now seen the Fools’ Day results.,” Zhou said.

“The truth is that such results must be resisted by all level-headed teachers, lest we sink deeper and deeper into poverty and penury, and ultimately die as paupers.”

“The basic point is that teachers must be awarded a rescue package given to other government workers before we can even talk of negotiation.

“There is no need to negotiate discrimination. We should rather demand redress after which we can then talk of negotiation, which in essence cannot even happen under the collective begging of Apex Council and NJNC (National Joint Negotiating Council), but under section 65 of the constitution of Zimbabwe and ILO (International Labour Organisation) Conventions 87 and 98 to which Zimbabwe is a signatory.

“We further urge government to ratify Conventions 151 and 154 that in essence impacts on collective bargaining between government and its workers.”

Teachers are demanding a review of their salaries, which they say are below those of other civil servants and members of the security forces.

Zhou urged government to make more concerted efforts to ensure that teachers remained dedicated to their conditions of service.

“Our demand for the restoration of the purchasing power parity of teachers’ salaries remains unshaken,” he said.

“We are everything, yet we now count for nothing.

“None, but ourselves can liberate ourselves from starvation bondage.

“We remain committed to our work, but need a conducive environment and support from government to be innovative, dynamic and industrious.

“Such a situation cannot ensue under debilitating effects of starvation wages.

“Every teacher must be part of the solution and not part of the problem.”

Apex Council secretary-general David Dzatsunga scoffed at Zhou’s allegations.

“If you (PTUZ) are referring to the Apex Council, what is it that you are doing to make things better? We can only do what is possible,” he said.

Teachers have been threatening to go on strike to press government to review their salaries.-standard

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s first paralympic gold medallist Elliot Mujaji has fallen on hard times and is appealing to the Government for a job.

Mujaji who won gold in the 100 metres sprint at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, said he lost all his money after he invested it in the now defunct CFX bank.

Mujaji was given a cash price by former President Robert Mugabe. He used some of the money to purchase a double-storey house and deposited part of the reminder in an investment fund at CFX bank.

Narrating his ordeal Mujaji said:

In 2004 after winning in Athens Greece the former President (Robert Mugabe) gave me some money and l bought a double storey house deposited some money in an investment fund at CFX bank but the bank went under.

Elliot Mujaji said he was snubbed when he reached out to Mugabe for help to recover the money. As a result, Mujaji ended up having to sell his house to make ends meet.

He said:

That is when everything went bad, l had to pay for school fees for my children and they were at boarding schools and couldn’t afford. I ended up disposing my house in a botched swap deal, things did not get better as l was also getting to my retirement age.

He appealed to Government for a job so that he can take care of his family.

Elliot Mujaji said:

Right now everything is not rosy, I have two wives and four children and my plea to the Government of Zimbabwe is to give me a job so that I can at least cater for my family.

-ZimMorningPost

By A Correspondent- Four touts who were in a viral video where they were manhandling an elderly woman at Dulivhadzimu Long Distance Bus Terminus in Beitbridge were jailed for six months.

The Beitbridge touts who were jailed are Maxwell Kamuda (42), Lazarus Chingova (44), Michael Mlambo (35) and Worry Muranda. They were facing public nuisance charges and were convicted on their own plea of guilty by Beitbridge resident magistrate Mr Toyindepi Zhou. The quartet will serve an effective four months in jail after the court conditionally suspended four months of the 10 months imprisonment for five years.

The four were caught on camera harassing an elderly woman at Dulivhadzimu Long Distance Bus Terminus. The quartet handed itself to the police following a meeting between the police and intercity bus operators.

By A Correspondent- MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora’s manoeuvres to position himself as the main opposition leader suffered a double blow last week after the United States and the European Union (EU) signalled that they consider his ascendancy as lacking credibility.

Mwonzora took over from Thokozani Khupe as interim leader of the MDC-T after the party’s chaotic extraordinary congress last December.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government regards Mwonzora as the head of the official opposition ahead of MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa after a series of controversial court rulings that allowed the MDC-T to elbow out their rivals from their offices and elected positions.

In a new report on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, the US said Mwonzora’s “minor” political party was the beneficiary of court rulings that disfranchised voters.

“The High Court, in a series of decisions beginning in March, paved the way for a minor political party, the MDC-T, to challenge the leadership of the main opposition party, the MDC Alliance, ignoring earlier jurisprudence that ruled that political parties, as private and voluntary associations, should resolve their differences using internal remedies,” the US report read in part.

“This decision disenfranchised voters by allowing the minor political party to recall and replace elected MDC Alliance parliamentarians and local councillors.

“In June police and military arrested some and blocked other senior MDC Alliance officials from entering the party’s headquarters when MDC-T party members broke into the building.”

The damning report was a blistering attack on Mnangagwa’s human rights record with accusations that state security agents were being used to target government critics for abductions and torture.

Mwonzora says he wants to introduce a new kind of politics in Zimbabwe, which promotes dialogue and has been gravitating towards a working relationship with Mnangagwa’s government.

Last week’s developments, however, pointed to lack of trust by the international community with the EU delegation reportedly pointing out to the MDCT that it has questions about its status.

Mwonzora was told in no uncertain terms that his claim to be the main opposition leader in Zimbabwe was dubious during a March 31 virtual meeting with EU heads of mission, multiple sources that followed the proceedings have told The Standard.

“The envoys told Mwonzora that they had challenges recognising him as the face of the opposition because he did not participate in the 2018 elections as a presidential candidate,” said the official, who requested to remain anonymous.

“The two parties, however, agreed that broad-based dialogue should include Chamisa.

“It has been a long-held EU position that dialogue in Zimbabwe be broad-based and includes the MDC Alliance.”

Mwonzora’s spokesperson Lloyd Damba, who described the meeting with the EU as cordial, refused to comment about the allegations that the envoys queried their claim to be the official opposition party.

Damba referred all questions to the EU. “We issued a statement on our meeting with the EU,” he said. “If you have any doubts on what transpired, did you make an effort to reach out to the EU?”

Timo Olkkonen, the EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, was not available for comment yesterday as his mobile phone was unreachable.

Last week, Olkkonen only described the meeting as “an extensive and interesting discussion”.

In March last year, Mnangagwa’s Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) platform was told that the West had expressed reservations about supporting any dialogue platform that excluded Chamisa.

“Although they applaud and appreciate the great initiative taken by His Excellency ED Mnangagwa and the political leaders that participated as presidential candidates in the 2018 harmonised election, that of coming together to establish Polad, they are all of the view that the ongoing dialogue process should rather be broad-based, with key stakeholders that include the MDC Alliance, civic society, religious groups, white commercial farmers and business included,” Khupe, who represented Polad’s international relations committee, said at the time.

“Both the US and EU ambassadors emphasised their desire to have South Africa playing a leading role in the dialogue process with former president Thabo Mbeki as the mediator.”

The MDC Alliance says the MDC-T is being used by Mnangagwa to decimate the opposition and create a one-party state.

On the other hand, Mwonzora says he is the legitimate successor to MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.-standard

By A Correspondent- Democratic Opposition Party (DOP) leader Peter Harry Wilson is facing a culpable homicide charge after he was involved in a car accident along the Bulawayo-Plumtree highway which claimed the life of a woman he was travelling with.

Wilson was driving a Toyota Hiace last Wednesday when he rammed into a stationary Mercedes Benz truck that had developed a mechanical fault in the middle of the road.

One of the passengers, who has been identified as 29-year-old Angerster Chigora of Nketa suburb, died on the spot while three people including Wilson suffered serious injuries.

Wilson, a member of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) platform, sustained multiple fractures on his legs.

Bulawayo police spokesperson inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident and said police were carrying out investigations.

-Cite

I am writing to you on behalf of my client, Alexander Zingman, concerning a false and defamatory article regarding him published on ZimEye.net on March 24, 2021, titled “Mnangagwa Businessman Zingman ‘Arrested’ In DRC” (the “Article”). 

The Article contains numerous false and defamatory statements, most significantly that Mr. Zingman is an “arms dealer” and “gun runner” and quotes unnamed government sources as claiming Mr. Zingman offered to sell arms to the former President of the DRC. 

These allegations are both false and highly damaging to Mr. Zingman’s reputation. Accordingly, we demand that ZimEye.net immediately remove the Article from its website, cancel any efforts to print the Article, and remove any links or other information on social or other media regarding the Article. 

As I’m sure that you are aware, Mr. Zingman was released from custody in the DRC on March 31, 2021, without any charges being filed against him. 

He was released after being held for nearly two weeks while four separate agencies of the DRC investigated the matter, and ultimately found no merit to the allegations of arms dealing. 

Mr. Zingman and his colleagues are now free to return to the DRC and to resume their business, which is agricultural in nature. 

Indeed, Mr. Zingman is not, and has never been, an arms dealer or “gun runner,” nor has he ever been formally accused or charged as being an arms dealer or gun runner. But despite being cleared by DRC authorities, the Article falsely states that Mr. Zingman 1) is an arms dealer and 2) has been charged as being an arms dealer. 

These false statements are creating significant business, economic, and reputational damage to Mr. Zingman. Several friends, acquaintances, and business associates have been contacted regarding the allegations in the Article, which has left them with the false belief that Mr. Zingman is somehow involved in arms transactions.

The damages incurred to date are significant, and the only way to prevent further damages to Mr. Zingman are immediately to take down the Article and remove any references to it. We trust that you will remove the Article immediately, such that legal proceedings will not be necessary. 

If, however, the Article is not immediately taken down, we will pursue all available legal remedies, including significant monetary damages resulting from publishing false and defamatory statements. 

Please confirm receipt of this Demand, and provide confirmation to us, in writing, that the Article is being removed.

By James Gwati-The United States said that MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora was an appendage of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s oppressive ruling Zanu PF party.

This was revealed in a new report on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, where the US said Mwonzora’s “minor” political party was the beneficiary of court rulings that disfranchised voters.

“The High Court, in a series of decisions beginning in March, paved the way for a minor political party, the MDC-T, to challenge the leadership of the main opposition party, the MDC Alliance, ignoring earlier jurisprudence that ruled that political parties, as private and voluntary associations, should resolve their differences using internal remedies,” the US report read in part.

“This decision disenfranchised voters by allowing the minor political party to recall and replace elected MDC Alliance parliamentarians and local councillors.

“In June police and military arrested some and blocked other senior MDC Alliance officials from entering the party’s headquarters when MDC-T party members broke into the building.”

The damning report was a blistering attack on Mnangagwa’s human rights record with accusations that state security agents were being used to target government critics for abductions and torture.
Mwonzora says he wants to introduce a new kind of politics in Zimbabwe, which promotes dialogue and has been gravitating towards a working relationship with Mnangagwa’s government.

-The Standard

By James Gwati-The European Union and the United States have endorsed Nelson Chamisa the leader of the MDC-Alliance as the country’s main opposition and rejects to recognize Douglas Mwonzora’s “minor” MDC-T political grouping.

The western bloc and her US ally last week told Mwonzora that he was not a genuine opposition leader after the lawyer, had approached them with a begging bowl.

Mwonzora was told in no uncertain terms that his claim to be the main opposition leader in Zimbabwe was dubious during a March 31 virtual meeting with EU heads of mission, multiple sources that followed the proceedings.

“The envoys told Mwonzora that they had challenges recognising him as the face of the opposition because he did not participate in the 2018 elections as a presidential candidate,” said the official, who requested to remain anonymous.

“The two parties, however, agreed that broad-based dialogue should include Chamisa.

-The Standard

By James Gwati-The European Union and the United States have thrown MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora under the bus after they rejected to recognize him as an opposition leader.

The western bloc and her US ally last week told Mwonzora that he was not a genuine opposition leader after the lawyer, had approached them with a begging bowl.

Mwonzora was told in no uncertain terms that his claim to be the main opposition leader in Zimbabwe was dubious during a March 31 virtual meeting with EU heads of mission, multiple sources that followed the proceedings.

“The envoys told Mwonzora that they had challenges recognising him as the face of the opposition because he did not participate in the 2018 elections as a presidential candidate,” said the official, who requested to remain anonymous.

“The two parties, however, agreed that broad-based dialogue should include Chamisa.

-The Standard

By James Gwati- At least 5000 teenage girls have lost out on education after they were impregnated during this year’s lock-down period, government records have announced.

According to a latest Government report, 4 959 teenagers were impregnated in January and February this year, while an additional 1 774 got into early marriages. The report indicates the figures might be higher, as some of the cases go unreported.

“During the lockdown, learners spent more time at home, which left most men converting the community to a hunting ground,” said Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Dr Sithembiso Nyoni.

“What is worrying is that most of the perpetrators are never brought before the law and that these teenagers are abandoning school yet Government allows for them to go back.”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa, who is also an ordained pastor, has said Easter is a period of hope and revival.

President Chamisa urged the nation to depend on God Almighty for divine guidance:

“Happy Easter to you all my dearest friends…

As we celebrate Easter, let us remember it is all about Jesus Christ and salvation. God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten son to redeem us from sin and reconcile us with Him.

Easter is a reflection of Jesus Christ’s resurrection power, God’s love and HIS gift of life.I pray that you remain in the Lord’s cupped hands.

May this Easter bring you blessings, peace, joy, revival and renewed hope! #Godisinit

DIE TO SIN …There were also 2 others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. One on the right hand and the other on the left. One criminal died in SIN and another died to SIN. Which criminal are you? Thank God..Christ died for SIN. Luke 23:32-33 Happy Sabbath beloved,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.

By A Correspondent | A Zimbabwe Republic Police incident video has surfaced of a murder suspect who justifies why he cut his victim’s head off, saying he chose to burn the rest of the body but the head, because according to him the skull is too precious.

ZimEye reveals how the suspect justifies the murder saying it all happened during a fight at work.

The development which might explain the motive behind a rise in ritual killings, comes in the wake of the government scandal over the murder of the 7 year old Murehwa lad, Tapiwa Makore, who was murdered in September and his head is still to be found to this day.

Below is the transcript of the discussion-

SUSPECT: Oh no, I just wanted to bury the head down in the earth.

ZRP MALE COP: You mean the head?

ZRP FEMALE: But why didn’t you also burn the head together with the body?

ZRP MALE COP: Did you start by striking him?

SUSPECT: No, I decided that the head is too precious it should not be burnt.

ZRP FEMALE COP: Alright

SUSPECT: You do not burn a person’s hair while it is still on the head.

ZRP MALE COP: So you would still burn burn the head?

SUSPECT: Yes

ZRP MALE COP: Because the police need to understand this. They are clueless. It’s easier to burn a person’s body but the head is impossible to do the same?

SUSPECT: Yes very good (you’ve got it).

ZRP MALE COP: You began by striking him with a rock and then you cut him or what?

SUSPECT: We fought at work, and then I struck him with a plastic bottle; He then fell down, then I took a machete, at work,…

and I sliced his head off, and then I burnt the body.

ZRP FEMALE COP: You removed the head while he was still alive or after he’d died?

SUSPECT: He had died.

ENDS THE VIDEO.

• IS THIS MAN TELLING THE TRUTH?

By A Correspondent- A 25 year old  Harare woman Brenda Matola was allegedly conned U.S $1000  after she was tricked into paying the money by a bogus car dealer Elliot Mavunga from Harare who misrepresented to her that he could import an ex-Japan car on her behalf from Japan.

The matter came to light after the victim failed to get her money back resulting in the accused being arrested and the case number isIR110688.

Circumstances are that sometime last year, Matola was connected to the accused through a third party in the hope that he was going to buy purshase a car on her behalf since he was an agent. Mvumba even promised that only 800$ was needed to buy a Toyota Funcargo in which no duty payment was to be done as they were going to use the Returning Residence facility.

Matola fall to the trick and deposited the money through Mukuru and was later told to deposit some more to cover other expenses.

When time lapsed and no vehicle was delivered the victim became suspicious and reported the case to the police.

Investigations led to the arrest if the accused who resided in Glenview and yet he was tricking people that he was in Beitbridge.

The accused is out on bail no money has been recovered so far. Cases of fraud are on the rise in the country especially to do with acquiring of vehicles and residential stands.

In a similar case in October 31, 2017 a woman was conned and she lost $8,000 to a car dealer who then  appeared in court for allegedly swindling $8 000 from a client in a botched car deal. Munyaradzi Chauraya (38) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Josephine Sande facing charges of theft of trust property

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) divulged plans to honour the late veteran Journalist, rights advocate, environmentalist, friend rolled in one and immediate past secretary-general, Foster Vulindlela Dongozi.

The long-serving ZUJ Secretary-General died of typical pneumonia as evidenced by the doctor’s report which was issued to the relatives and later altered a few hours after the body was taken back to Nyaradzo funeral parlor to be Covid-19 related late December last year.

He was aged 48 and was laid to rest in Lozane Village, Chief Hozheri in Sanyati located in Kadoma District, in Mashonaland West Province, northern central Zimbabwe. about 100 kilometres (62 mi), by road, northwest of the city of Kadoma, on the east bank of the Sanyati River, about 60 kilometres (37 mi), by road, northeast of the town of Gokwe, on the opposite side of the river. The memorial will be in form of a lecture to celebrate Dongozi’s immense contribution to the journalism profession.

Speaking at a ZUJ media workshop held in Harare on Wednesday 31 March 2021, ZUJ outgoing president Micheal Chideme described the late Dongozi as an imitable figure in the media fraternity.

This was the first physical meeting the journalists union convened in Harare without Dongozi.

“A memorial lecture will be dedicated to the memory of the late Foster Dongozi.

It will celebrate the memory of someone who worked tirelessly towards and achieved much in journalism,” Chideme said after requesting workshop attendees to join him observe a minute of silence for his late colleague.

With a journalism career that spanned over two decades, Dongozi had worked for Daily News, Zimpapers (The Chronicle) and The Standard. Dongozi also worked with the then Ministry of Media, Information, and Publicity to host the Federation of African Journalists congress in Zimbabwe  in 2010, Disability Rights Up; Sexual Harassment in the Media Research; and, Women Walk Silently to Parliament. Foster also worked as a correspondent to: the Drum Magazine; United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN); and, New York Times.

At the time of his death, Dongozi was the ZUJ secretary-general and had also served as a general council member of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), executive committee member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and an executive member of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ).

Foster was more than a journalist. He was an environmentalist. He was an advocate for rights of the disabled people.

He was an entertainer, an all-weather friend. A real gentle giant, for lack of new terminology. May the spirit of Foster Dongozi, Chubby, FBI, Dr Swango, Bradshaw Muzanenhamo “World’s best Journalist”, “The world’s most beautiful man”, Rest In Peace . Till we meet again.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit schools again, following 46 confirmed new cases involving learners, educators and non-teaching staff in Harare and Mberengwa.

The cases at Prince Edward High School and Dove Secondary School in Mberengwa have prompted authorities to deploy teams from the ministries of Health and Education to carry out investigations.

The national chief Covid-19 co-ordinator in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office, Agnes Mahomva, told the Daily News yesterday that the teams would establish if schools across the country were following the government’s standard operating procedures.

“The two ministries are on the ground, in the trenches as we speak, to establish what is happening and find out if they (schools) are following the guidelines.

“We are doing everything we can to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in schools and anywhere else for that matter.

“The ministries of Health and Education were tasked by the national Covid-19 taskforce to work together in investigating and strengthening any gaps that might be there,” Mahomva said.

She also revealed that relevant sub-committees of the national Covid-19 taskforce had been tasked to get to the bottom of the matter, ahead of next week’s Cabinet meeting.

“We are meeting with the respective permanent secretaries and taskforce sub-committees. We are not resting this holiday as we prepare for next week’s taskforce meeting and Cabinet.

“You will be hearing from the ministry of Education on the findings of their investigations so that we can be able to make recommendations.

“Next week you will probably hear new things coming out in terms of how we are managing it in terms of strengthening what is already on the ground,” Mahomva said.

The latest Covid-19 cases to hit schools were first reported at Prince Edward last week, after seven learners returned positive results after undergoing tests at Parirenyatwa Hospital.

A total of 32 learners are currently quarantined at the school, while the staff members are self-isolating at home.

Prior to reports of the new wave of Covid-19 cases in schools, teachers unions had raised the flag about the lack of preparedness by many schools to open for the first time this year.

Last year, about 500 pupils were infected with Covid-19 at various schools – including John Tallach in Bulawayo and Chinhoyi High School in Mashonaland West.

This comes as the government has ordered that boarding schools should not break for the Easter Holidays which began yesterday and end on Monday, as authorities strive to contain the spread of the lethal disease.

“School learners who are in boarding schools will not be permitted to travel back home. Equally, no parents will travel to concerned schools for purposes of visits,” Mnangagwa said on Tuesday.

The country experienced a second wave of Covid-19 infections and rising deaths between January and February this year, following the Christmas holidays.

As a result, the government has become wary of the problem associated with holidays and has, therefore, advised against unnecessary travel this Easter. Mnangagwa has also said all travellers to Zimbabwe have to be cleared for Covid-19 through PCR tests done at least 48 hours before their entry into the country.

“Those with a valid PCR negative certificate will self-quarantine at home or in a hotel for 10 days from the day of arrival into the country,” he said, while urging Zimbabweans to get vaccinated so that the country can attain herd immunity.-DailyNews

A ZUPCO bus conductor was gang-raped and robbed of her belongings while on her way to work in the wee hours of Tuesday morning in Bulawayo.

The 23-year-old woman was waylaid by four perpetrators as she set off for work from her Emthunzini home in the city.

Bulawayo Police spokesperson Abednico Ncube said the armed suspects are still on the run and police are appealing for any information that could lead to their arrest.

“We are investigating a case of rape and robbery where a lady, who works at Zupco, was attacked around 2:30am on Tuesday.  

“When she had travelled about a kilometre from her home, she met four unknown male adults armed with knives and they demanded cash from her,” Ncube said.

 The gang robbed the victim of her R200 before they force-marched her back to the house.

“Upon arrival, her male co-tenant was attacked and she was then raped before those people disappeared into the darkness,” Ncube added.

The police further noted that the daring robbers then went on to attack and rob the male tenant of US$100 during the incident. Ncube however, said it was the duty of citizens to help the law enforcers in the fight against crime by providing information that may lead to the suspects being nabbed.

“What we understand and what everyone knows is that those people are from within our communities and in the wee hours of the day it means they will be coming from patronising shebeens or committing criminal activities. Work with the police and report these criminals. They might not be coming from Emthunzini but they are from Bulawayo and some people are aware that their neighbours are into crime. If you suspect anything please report to the police,” Ncube said.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- A Harare man has been arrested for the murder of a woman he accused of influencing his wife into drinking beer.

Godfrey Mukomachirandu, 31, allegedly accused the woman Enita Musere of being a bad influence to his wife and allegedly slapped the woman twice.

She allegedly developed a fatal headache after her head had hit a concrete structure.

The accused was not asked to plead to allegations of murder when he appeared in court and was remanded in custody to April 14 and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

It is alleged that when the incident happened on March 13 the victim did not sustain any visible injury.

She, however, woke up the following day complaining of a headache. She then reportedly sought medical help twice but the condition never changed until she died on March 29 at a local hospital.

This led to the arrest of Mukomachirandu and his appearance in court.

Tapuwanashe Zvidzai appeared for the State

The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts (ZNOART) has criticised the decision by local authorities to hike rates saying the increment was ill-timed. We present ZNOART’s statement below.

ZNOART PRESS STATEMENT ON EXORBITANT RATES

EXORBITANT RATES ZERO SERVICE DELIVERY

In an unexpected move by local authorities that has shocked residents across the country in the middle of poor or non-existent service delivery, there is a huge outcry and a call for these authorities to justify these sharp and exorbitant increases in rates and other utilities.

Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts ZNOART are keen to hear from all local authorities concerned why they have been such an upsurge without taking into consideration their reciprocation of services commensurate with the new bills.

Nearly all urban authorities have huge shortfalls in providing safe and portable water, refuse collection, emergency services, health facilities and general welfare of residents.

These increases have been coming over the years and no improvement has been observed in fact there is rapid deterioration and service provision and unprecedented dilapidation of infrastructures such as roads, lighting and recreational facilities.

Although we are totally against these exorbitant charges residents have also lost confidence in how this revenue is put to use if they decide to pay.

As residents we are calling upon the responsible ministry to rise to the occasion and come to our rescue by rendering definitive intervention, we regard this move by local authorities as an unnecessary bull rush intended to fleece the ordinary ratepayer of their hard-earned resources.

We understand that it is our responsibility to pay for service rendered but we feel that the bills should be confined to reasonable and affordable parameters failing which the vicious circle of non-compliance by residents and the incapacitation of service providers will continue.

We also feel that this move was ill-timed as the ordinary residents are still suffering from the effects of the COVID pandemic related lockdown which implied the limitation of earnings in most households.

Given the prevailing situation of allegations and pending court cases relating to corruption and abuse of office by a number of senior officers in urban councils, residents find it hard to digest the justification of these high figures as sentiments are pointing towards the fact that council officials will continue to fatten their own pockets at the expense of service delivery.

It is better to institute affordable rates which will translate into a higher rate of compliance from residents than to bill residents with figures outside of their reach.

We implore local authorities to be responsive to the outcries of their residents and consider revisiting their decisions and reduce these tariffs in a manner consistent with the prevailing economic conditions.

Prepared by:
S. Chikomba
ZNOART National chairman
0772882545

For more Information Contact :
What’s App hotline :0776075414
Email : [email protected]
Facebook Page: Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts

By A Correspondent- A 25 year old  Harare woman Brenda Matola was allegedly conned U.S $1000  after she was tricked into paying the money by a bogus car dealer Elliot Mavunga from Harare who misrepresented to her that he could import an ex-Japan car on her behalf from Japan.

The matter came to light after the victim failed to get her money back resulting in the accused being arrested and the case number isIR110688.

Circumstances are that sometime last year, Matola was connected to the accused through a third party in the hope that he was going to buy purshase a car on her behalf since he was an agent. Mvumba even promised that only 800$ was needed to buy a Toyota Funcargo in which no duty payment was to be done as they were going to use the Returning Residence facility.

Matola fall to the trick and deposited the money through Mukuru and was later told to deposit some more to cover other expenses.

When time lapsed and no vehicle was delivered the victim became suspicious and reported the case to the police.

Investigations led to the arrest if the accused who resided in Glenview and yet he was tricking people that he was in Beitbridge.

The accused is out on bail no money has been recovered so far. Cases of fraud are on the rise in the country especially to do with acquiring of vehicles and residential stands.

In a similar case in October 31, 2017 WOMAN WAS CONNED, LOSES $8 000 TO CAR DEALER ! who then  appeared in court for allegedly swindling $8 000 from a client in a botched car deal. Munyaradzi Chauraya (38) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Josephine Sande facing charges of theft of trust property

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa, who is also an ordained pastor, has said Easter is a period of hope and revival.

President Chamisa urged the nation to depend on God Almighty for divine guidance:

“Happy Easter to you all my dearest friends…

As we celebrate Easter, let us remember it is all about Jesus Christ and salvation. God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten son to redeem us from sin and reconcile us with Him.

Easter is a reflection of Jesus Christ’s resurrection power, God’s love and HIS gift of life.I pray that you remain in the Lord’s cupped hands.

May this Easter bring you blessings, peace, joy, revival and renewed hope! #Godisinit

DIE TO SIN …There were also 2 others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. One on the right hand and the other on the left. One criminal died in SIN and another died to SIN. Which criminal are you? Thank God..Christ died for SIN. Luke 23:32-33 Happy Sabbath beloved,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.

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By A Correspondent- Two officials at the Registrar General (RG)’s office have appeared before the courts facing abuse of office charges after demanding bribes from a passport seeker.

The duo, Prisca Moyo and Nicholas Chogugudza appeared before regional magistrate Stanford Mambanje charged with bribery.

The court heard that on March 25, one Pretty Madekufamba who had applied for a passport last year went to Makombe Building for collection purposes.

Madekufamba was told she was not eligible to get one as she had no permit and was not employed outside the country.

She was also advised that the issuance of ordinary passports had been temporarily suspended by authorities.

It is alleged that after the information, she was approached by a man who solicited US$20 for the search and production of the passport.

Madekufamba reportedly approached the Registrar’s office and made a report prompting the office to initiate a trap.

Reports are that Madekufamba was approached by Chogugudza who allegedly said he wanted US$20 for the passport to be retrieved.He reportedly approached Moyo and the passport was retrieved.

He took it to Madekufamba and was given the trap money leading to his arrest and also led to Moyo’s arrest.

Reports suggest that there are syndicates asking for bribes from passport seekers who would be desperate to get the passports quicker.

Zimbabwe has a huge passport backlog dating back to 2018 with authorities blaming the issue on the shortage of consumables required on the production of passports.

More: Daily News

Tinashe Sambiri|Government agents reportedly blocked parents from taking their children home for Easter.

Government ordered all boarders across the country to remain at their respective schools during Easter.

According to MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti, State Security agents on Thursday intimidated parents who were trying to collect their children from boarding schools for Easter.

“There are reports of security agents moving around schools blocking parents from taking their children for Easter …

This reflects beyond reasonable doubt how deranged and fascist the Mnangagwa regime is.”

” The police actions are blatantly unlawful and unconstitutional…

We have always argued that Emmerson represents the biggest existential threat to Zim since independence. He will take Zimbabwe to the brink.

To depths of rot , chaos and extraction never before seen in 120 years. A sad state of affairs that sadly will get sadder #AlooterContinua,” added Hon Biti.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent- A 16 year schoolboy from ward 22, Bulilima in Matabeleland South province survived a hippopotamus attack that left him severely wounded while on his way to school on Wednesday.

Villagers said the boy was walking to school with his dog when he encountered the wild animal.

“The dog started barking, prompting the agitated hippo to charge towards the boy. The scuffle resulted in the boy sustaining a deep cut on the left hand,” a villager said.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident.

Villagers said the boy was taken to Madlambudzi Clinic.

-NewsDay

Parliament has approached the High Court seeking to recover a motor vehicle granted to MDC Alliance MP Chalton Hwende during his time in office.

Alternatively, Parliament wants an order compelling Hwende to repay the US$55 000 loan that was advanced to him under the government vehicle loan facility agreement.

Parliament initially approached the court in March with similar summons against 20 recalled MDC MPs demanding that they return the motor vehicles granted to them or alternatively pay back the US$50 000 loans.

The summons state that Hwende entered into a loan agreement with the government during his time in office which saw the Parliament advancing him the funds for the purchase of a motor vehicle.

Read the summons:

On or about the 25th of July 2019, and at Harare, the plaintiff (Parliament) and the defendant (Hwende) entered into a vehicle loan facility agreement in terms of which the plaintiff lent and advanced to the defendant a sum of US$55 000 for the purchase of a motor vehicle.

The following were … the express terms of the said agreement…that…the plaintiff would advance a loan to the defendant for the purchase of a motor vehicle.

In the event of the defendant ceasing to be a MP…for any of the reasons outlined in…the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the agreement would terminate and the plaintiff would be entitled to repossess the motor vehicle or claim the full balance of the loan and any other sums payable under the agreement.

At the time of the termination of the agreement, the total amount due, owing and payable to the plaintiff was a sum of US$50 000 since the defendants had not paid anything towards the loan.

By reason of the said termination of the agreement, the defendants are obliged to return the motor vehicles to the plaintiff or to pay the outstanding loan in the sum of US$50 000 or the equivalent in Zimbabwe dollars, using the official rate obtained on the date of payment.

Despite demand, the defendants have failed, neglected or refused to return the motor vehicles or pay the aforementioned sum,” Parliament further stated.

Hwende was recalled from Parliament on May 5, 2020, and he has reportedly been refusing to stand by the conditions of the agreement and was refusing to return the motor vehicle.

The MDC Alliance Secretary-General is yet to respond to the lawsuit.

By James Gwati-Members of the Apostolic Faith Churches in Bulawayo have complied with the COVID-19 measures as they were seen this easter holidays sanitizing congregants at their shrines.

According to the state media at the Apostolic Faith Church of Portland Oregon in Pelandaba suburb, there were handful of congregants following a sermon, which was being live-streamed.

The state media said it also observed that members were being sanitised at the entrance before accessing the church building and after the service.

Senior Pastor at the Apostolic Faith Mission of Africa, Reverend Partson Magalela also told the state media that they disinfected the church building before the start of the Easter service in line with national Covid-19 guidelines and World Health Organisation (WHO) health regulations.

By A Correspondent – An annual assessment report by the U.S. State Department on global human rights said has cited Zimbabwe as among some of the worst human rights offenders last year as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime continued to unleash violence on opponents and activists with impunity.

The 2020 Human Rights Report that evaluated about 200 countries painted a grim picture across the world saying violations of liberties escalated with some countries using Covid-19 restrictions “as a pretext to restrict rights and consolidate authoritarian rule.”

Some of the worst offenders, the report found, were Zimbabwe’s all-weather allies, Russia and China, which the U.S. says committed “genocide against Uyghurs, who are predominantly Muslim, and crimes against humanity including imprisonment, torture, enforced sterilization, and persecution.”

Given the dire outlook, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said President Joe Biden’s administration had “placed human rights front and center in its foreign policy” and would continue to press for reform.

In Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa was found to have escalated attacks on opponents, including anti-corruption campaigners, journalists, and opposition MDC Alliance activists – among them Harare West MP Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri, and Netsai Marova who were abducted and allegedly tortured by suspected state security agents.

Mamombe and Chimbiri are currently languishing in remand prison after they were arrested two weeks ago on charges of violating Covid-19 restrictions. Their bail appeal was denied by a High Court judge early this week.

“State-sanctioned violence in Zimbabwe against civil society activists, labor leaders, and opposition members continued a culture of impunity, and LGBTQI+ persons continued to be vulnerable to violence, discrimination, and harassment due to criminalization and stigma associated with same-sex sexual conduct,” Blinken said in a statement.

In a 49-page assessment focusing on Zimbabwe, the U.S. cited “significant human rights issues, including unlawful or arbitrary killings of civilians by security forces; torture and arbitrary detention by security forces; cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; political prisoners or detainees and arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy,”

It also found “serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; serious government restrictions on free expression, press, and the internet, including violence, threats of violence, or unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists, censorship, site blocking, and the existence of criminal libel laws.”

The report added: Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained persons, particularly political and civil society activists, labor leaders, and journalists perceived as opposing the government. Security forces frequently arrested large numbers of persons during and following anti-government protests.”

Some of the journalists who were targeted by the government, the U.S. said, include Frank Chikowore and Samuel Takawira who were arrested May 22, Hopewell Chin’ono and ZimLive editor Mduduzi Mathuthu whose house was raided by police on July 29 “for information on subversive materials linked to protests scheduled for July 31.”

The U.S. criticized Zimbabwe for not arresting or punishing soldiers who were involved in the killing of civilians following the 2018 elections despite a recommendation by the Monthante Commission.

“Impunity for politically-motivated violence remained a problem. The government did not establish an independent complaints mechanism to investigate allegations of security force misconduct as called for in the constitution,” the report said.

“Investigations continued into violence from previous years, including state-sponsored violence, that resulted in the deaths of 17 civilians in January-February 2019 and seven during postelection violence in 2018. As of year’s end, there were no arrests or charges in the cases.”

Zimbabwe information minister Monica Mutsvangwa was not readily available for comment. But government vehemently denies accusations of trampling on people’s freedoms and civil liberties.

The Biden administration renewed sanctions on Mnangagwa and his inner circle early this month, accusing them of escalating human rights abuses, corruption, and resisting political reform.
-Kukurigo Updates

By James Gwati-Police in Bulawayo are visiting churches to check if they are complying with the COVID-19 restrictions guiding gatherings, the state media has reported.
According to The Chronicle, most churches in the city of kings and queens cancelled their traditional Easter retreat with the religious organisations opting to live streaming their services to congregants.
However, the few that conducted physical services conformed to the lockdown regulations with gatherings not exceeding 50 congregants.
In some cases, police moved around monitoring churches to ensure compliance.
-Chronicle

By James Gwati-A 22 University of Zimbabwe University of Zimbabwe Pharmacy student, Tadiwanashe Mutizira, is appealing for US$20 000 for a heart surgery in South Africa.

Tadiwanashe has been diagnosed with type A dissection of the thoracic aorta with involvement of the sinotubular junction as well as the ostium of the right coronary artery.

Simply put, he has a crack in his aorta (blood vessel from the heart), which may result in leakage.

He is supposed to go for an immediate surgical intervention in South Africa. The surgery is expected to be around US$ 20 000.

“We, therefore, ask for a hand to help our dearest brother and friend to meet the above costs for his medical care. Due to the urgency of this medical condition, the surgery is expected to be done within this month.
Please, brothers and sisters, donate whatever you can. Every little bit will help”, posted Tadiwanashe’s relatives on social media.

By James Gwati- A report by Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee ZimVAC has revealed that Bulawayo is the country’s province which has the highest number of unmarried heads of families and at the same time having the lowest percentage of couples living together.

The report which published recently also show that 22 percent of household heads in Bulawayo have never been married.

The Bulawayo percentage is double the national average of the head of households who have never been married which sits at 10,5 percent.

The average household head is 40 years of age.

Matabeleland South has the second-highest number of household heads that have never been married at 15 percent followed by Masvingo at 14 percent with the other provinces having less than 10 percent. Matabeleland North has 6,1 percent.

The Zimvac report does not state the gender of the household heads or reasons why they are not married.

In another measure, Bulawayo has the least number of married couples at 50 percent and has the lowest divorce rate at eight percent.

Social commentator Mr Cont Mhlanga said the statistics were quite unusual as this is not common.

-Chronicle

By Jane Mlambo| A Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) executive escort biker who was leading First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s motorcade, died on the spot Friday afternoon after ramming into an oncoming Toyota Altezza along Harare-Chinhoyi Road.

Auxillia was on her way back to Harare after visiting Mhangura where she was making donations as part of her Angel of Hope Foundation.

According to police sources , the accident happened between Lions Den and Chinhoyi.

The biker reportedly sustained serious injuries from the crash.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson, Inspector Margaret Chitove professed ignorance over the matter.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

A source tells ZimEye of the gunman who killed a truck driver near Musina, South Africa, a week ago: Moreduction Dube Chimoto is from Matandamaviri, Mahombe, Village 5, in Ngundu.

He is an ex convict once in Chikurubi Maximum Prison, released in 2019.

He was now well known in Beitbridge for robbing travelers, some who he used to assist in crossing the border into South Africa.

He also used to transport cigarettes.

At his home in Ngundu, his relatives are right now waiting for his body and angry with his friends who identified and exposed his identity on social networking website, Facebook.

https://youtu.be/Km1qdV97EFA

By Farai Maguwu| 2 Days ago, on 1 April 2021, top government officials in the company of security officials descended on Dinde once again to try and extract a consent from the community with regard to the proposed Chinese coal mining project. The meeting was addressed by the Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs, Mr. Richard Moyo and provincial Ministry of Mines officials who represented Minister Winston Chitando who could not make it to the meeting. Chief Nekatambe also addressed the meeting.

As they have done in previous meetings, the Dinde community stood their ground, expressing their deep sadness at the insensitivity of those trying to uproot them from their ancestral homeland. Chief Nekatambe and Minister Moyo threatened that the project will go ahead with or without the consent of the community.

The community members say after the meeting Chief Nekatambe ordered the arrest of those who had spoken out against the project. Later in the day, some people from Dinde received phone calls from someone purporting to be a Police Officer saying
Police will be rounding them up and take them to the chief to be fined for disrespecting the Chief. We are in possession of the landline number used to call the community members.

When government officials promised compensation for loss of land they were told to first compensate the displaced Marange community before coming to Dinde.

The Beifer Investments project has been vehemently rejected by the Dinde community. On Tuesday next week the Dinde Community will be submitting it’s petition to Parliament. We stand with the community in their legitimate struggle against land dispossession by the Government of Zimbabwe. We strongly condemn all efforts to dispossess Zimbabweans of their land to pave way for self enrichment projects that do not benefit the affected communities and the nation at large. The country need a candid conversation on management of its vast natural resources – land, water, minerals, timber and wildlife – before things turn really nasty. #displacementsmustend

By Jane Mlambo| A Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) executive escort biker who was leading First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s motorcade, died on the spot Friday afternoon after ramming into an oncoming Toyota Altezza along Harare-Chinhoyi Road.

Auxillia was on her way back to Harare after visiting Mhangura where she was making donations as part of her Angel of Hope Foundation.

According to police sources , the accident happened between Lions Den and Chinhoyi.

The biker reportedly sustained serious injuries from the crash.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson, Inspector Margaret Chitove professed ignorance over the matter.

Luke-ing the Beast in the Eye

Friday , 2 April 2021

It is Finished
… as Mnangagwa lines up cousin for Vice President

By Luke Tamborinyoka

Today is Easter Friday, the day that Jesus Christ was crucified. Christians like me will use this day to prayerfully reflect on the Son of Man who paid the ultimate price to save humanity from its collective frailties and inadequacies.

For me, the seminal biblical verse during Easter is that utterance on the Cross when Jesus calmly mutters: ” It is finished ” as He bows His head and commits His spirit to His Father (John 19 verse 30).

As Emmerson Mnangagwa lines up his cousin Phillip Valerio Sibanda, whose renewable one year term my impeccable sources say ended 48 hours ago on Wednesday, to take up the Vice President’s post, it is clear that all pretence that Zimbabwe is a democracy has now been busted.

It is finished.

The seminal verse ” It is finished ” denotes an accomplished mission. Jesus Christ was the human form of God who came to live like— and among—the rest of us. He had taught the gospel and lived it; He had performed many miracles, healing the sick and the lame and addressing the concerns of the infirm. As He hung on the Cross at Calvary, It is finished was a valedictory statement that marked the successful accomplishment of his earthly mission.

Impeccable informants have told me that Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Phillip Valerio Sibanda’s one year term ended on Wednesday, 31 March 2021 and will not be extended. Section 216 (3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe stipulates that Commanders of the Defence Forces and commanders of services of the Defence Forces are appointed for a term of not more than five years and a person must not serve in any any of those offices for more than two terms.

It is pertinent to state that I am not a lawyer but a journalist and an ardent political scientist. I am therefore not aware of the legal niceties and specific details of the contract of CDF P. V. Sibanda, a former army commander himself. But that he has been serving a renewable one year term, which reportedly expired this week as told by my informants, appears consistent with the phrase ” not more than five years ” as stipulated in the Constitution. If his contract has not been renewed, P. V Sibanda could yet be in the cooling off period before his appointment into the presidium as Kembo Mohadi’s replacement sometime this year or early 2022. Mnangagwa is said to be worried that it would be impolitic to have PV Sibanda trade his military fatigue for the party slogan in the same week and is reportedly considering pasturihg out his relative for a “cooling off” period pending his political appointment sooner or later. PV Sibanda is Mnangagwa’s cousin and if and when he gets appointed to the Presidium, the tribalisation and villagisation of the State and the party will have come full circle. If Mnangagwa’s mission was to villagise and “clanitise” the party and the State, then the mission may well have been completed.

It is finished.

As stated earlier, the seminal Easter verse that is the theme of this week’s instalment denotes completeness and fulfilment of a vocation. It marks and expresses the accomplishment of a mission.

In his own uniquely wicked and blasphemous way, Mnangagwa, through his continued nepostic crusade, is loudly announcing the accomplishment of a mission. Indeed, the primitive penchant to villagise the State has awed friend and foe alike. Mnangagwa’s pending appointment of his own cousin into the Presidium may well be the apt fulfilment of his personal mission to “clanitise” government and the party. There is no longer any party or government to talk about as both the State and Zanu PF may soon be family treasures that brothers may well bequeath to each other.. The sinister mission is as good as accomplished.

It is finished.

A fortnight ago. I named over 20 of Mnangagwa’s cousins, uncles, nephews, nieces, clansmen, tribesmen and tribeswomen that he has appointed to Cabinet and deployed to the party, to quasi-State institutions, to provincial ministries and other strategic bodies to represent petty personal, factional and clique interests. It has turned out even the defectors belong to his tribe and come from his original and adopted provinces. The man is simply a primitive tribesmen and any pretence that he is a national leader has now been utterly busted. The pretence that this villager is a statesman has now been sufficiently quashed.

It is finished.

Mugabe did the same when he appointed his cronies and relatives to strategic State institutions. I argued a fortnight ago that Mnangagwa “couped” his way under the false mantra that his entry to the helm of the State signified a new dispensation and marked what he called a Second Republic.

What balderdash!

Mnangagwa’s blood-soaked tenure has been in no way a Second Republic but an insidious and more callous continuation of the First. What is only second about this so-called Republic is that the tyranny level is second to none!

After my instalment two weeks ago on Mnangagwa’s acerbic crusade to tribalise, villagise and “Karangise” government and his party, several disgruntled senior Zanu PF officials came to my inbox to give me more evidence.

They told me, for instance, that Nokuthula Matsikenyeri, who replaced Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba as Manicaland governor is a Karanga who was married into Manicaland province in the Chimanimani area. Oppah Chamu Muchinguri Zvipange Rushesha Kashiri, who was a tete or aunt to Ellen and who fancies herself a key Mnangagwa ally and a Manicaland godmother, is a Karanga from Mnangagwa’s home province of Masvingo. Muchinguri-Kashiri may speak fluent Manyika but she is a Mnangagwa homegirl whose father initially came to Manicaland as an agricultural extension worker (mudhumeni) and eventually settled there.

The same is true about Mike Madiro, a Lacoste factionalist since the Dinyane days in 2004. Madiro, a fellow Karanga originally from Masvingo, is now Manicaland provincial chairman—a provincial godfather who was recently appointed deputy Minister of Transport.

The regime has perished its own mantra that it is a new dispensation. The pretence to novelty and “newness” has now been utterly vanquished.

It is finished.

The Mnangagwa government has been claiming that it represents a break from the past, which past was evidenced by a clear State/Party conflation during the Robert Mugabe years. But with political defectors now being welcomed at State House, Mnangagwa has confirmed he cannot tell the difference between the State and the party and the distinct business that ought to be transacted either at State House or at the party headquarters.

The distinction between State and party has now been completely obliterated.

It is finished.

Under Mnangagwa, State House is now shorn and bereft of the dignity associated with the Presidential residences the world over. Under ED, State House has become a parade square of defecting mercenaries. The whole presidium has become a bunch of political touts who rant and rave at the political terminus called State House in cheap defection skits that are broadcast on national television. The President and his deputy have been reduced to political touts at State House , mahwindi whom we invariably hear as they holler and shout, exhorting innocent Zimbabweans to come and board their ramshackle political bus called Zanu PF on a doomed trip to Hell.

State House is now akin to a bustling taxi rank —-a hive for pirate taxis popularly known as mushika shika where a whole President and his 2 IC sonorously shout during the well choreographed defection sessions as they vend and market Zanu-PF as the ultimate political transport to a doomed destination. The dignity of State House and its reputation as a citadel for transacting national business beyond cheaply partisan matters is long gone, eaten away by a thespian Head of State given to cheap parody and dry political stunts. It appears the mission to bastardise the venerated Presidential palace has now been fully accomplished.

It is finished.

The ZBC, purportedly a national broadcaster with a mandate to give diverse and equal coverage to all political players consistent with section 61 of the Constitution, has now degenerated into ” Emmerson and Auxillia TV “. For husband and wife are now the only main news items on the national broadcaster, sharing hours of prime time news coverage between them. The ZBC has become ” Emmerson and Auxillia TV ” , a station where only the two of them receive protracted in-depth coverage; each absolving the other. All pretence that the ZBC is a national broadcaster is long gone.

It is finished.

As we commemorate the crucifixion of the Son of Man this Friday, let us remember heinous acts the Mnangagwa regime has committed in the past 28 months since its gunnified entrance on the political dais in November 2017. The callous murders of innocent citizens, the arbitrary arrests, the State-sanctioned abductions, the highly toxic and undeserved recalls, the closure of democratic space and the deliberate onslaught on the legitimate opposition in order to create a one-party-State are all well documented.

Jesus Christ may have been crucified on this day but Mnangagwa too has equally crucified the last vestiges of whatever crucibles of democracy were still remaining in Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa has captured all institutions of the State including the sacred pillars of democracy such as the Judiciary and Parliament as well as all independent Chapter 12 institutions. He has usurped the work of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission by creating a “special unit” in his own office while ZEC has been given executive political orders not to hold by-elections, beginning last year when Constantino Chiwenga forced the “independent” electoral commission to backtrack and suspend by-elections whose dates they had earlier proclaimed.

Now the regime has just convicted a young but innocent activist called Makomborero Harizivishe.

Just as they nailed Jesus Christ on the cross on this day, Mnangagwa is equally nailing the last remnants of democracy on the cross of political expediency.

There is neither an iota nor a semblance of democracy still left in the entire body politic.

It is finished. Zvapera .

Luke Tamborinyoka is the Deputy Secretary for Presidential Affairs in the MDC Alliance led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa . He can be contacted via his Facebook page or his twitter handle @ luke_tambo

By James Gwati-Legislators said the government should put modern technology, including drones, at border posts to help immigration officers identify wanted criminals and prohibited immigrants from trying to enter Zimbabwe.

The MPs made this call recently following the announcement by the government of a surge in smuggling cases.

The government responded saying in the meantime, while the state was mobilizing resources for tightening security at the country’s entry points the police would step up their anti-smuggling patrols.