State Media|VICE President Constantino Chiwenga has raised a complaint against Judge President George Chiweshe after the judgment in a child custody case was allegedly leaked to his estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, before being officially handed down in court.

Justice Chiweshe is the head of the High Court in Zimbabwe.

VP Chiwenga, through his lawyers — Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners — has written to Justice Chiweshe seeking an explanation as to why the judgment in the child custody case was leaked to Mubaiwa and a local newspaper, well before it was handed down in court.

Last Friday, the newspaper had banners all over the streets announcing Mubaiwa’s victory in the children’s custody case, but the court only officially handed the judgment down after 1030 the same day.

“The purpose of our writing is to register our client’s complaint in the manner in which the judgment in the above matter has been handled.

“The High Court, which is headed by yourself, may have answers to the complaints raised by our client herein,” reads the letter.

Mubaiwa, according to the lawyers, is related to the Judge President and the relationship was now prejudicing VP Chiwenga in the court cases involving her estranged wife.

“Our client advises us that you are related to the applicant Ms Marry Mubaiwa and she has made numerous bald assertions in public that you are related and have sorted and influenced all matters involving her in her favour to the prejudice of our client.

“We, with respect, wish to register our client’s concern over allegations emanating from the said relationship with the applicant and complain over the conduct of the applicant in accessing court judgments and orders before they have been officially handed down to both litigants.

“These allegations are known by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the lawyers for the applicant and various other parties which we can divulge to you in confidence,” the letter reads.

On Friday, the letter further reads, Mubaiwa went to the children’s school as early as 8am and demanded to see the children while armed with a court order, well before judgment was handed down.

“The applicant in this matter attended the parties’ children’s school at 8am today (Friday January 24) armed with an order of this court and stated to the school authorities that she had been granted an order by the High Court to have access to the children.

“Our client telephoned us to inquire as to whether judgment had been handed down in the matter to which we confirmed that the matter was still pending and a diligent enquiry at the registry confirmed our position,” reads the letter of complaint.

“We were then telephoned by the Honourable Justice Dube-Banda’s clerk at 0927am advising us that the Honourable judge wished to meet parties in chambers to hand down the judgment,” reads the letter.

VP Chiwenga wondered how Mubaiwa got to know of the outcome before judgment hand been handed down.

“Could it be that there is a new system of handing down judgments wherein litigants are given court orders before official pronouncements?

“We also wonder why the said judgment, before it was handed down, got publicised in the Independent newspaper advising the public that Marry Mubaiwa had won the case she had filed,” said VP Chiwenga’s lawyers.

The lawyers asked for an explanation within 48 hours. They argued that handing down of the judgment at 1030 was just a formality to sanitise the illegality.

“The summoning of the parties at 1030am, in our respectful view, was merely a formality to sanitise the blatant illegality that had occurred, more particularly that the judgment had already been publicised in the media and that applicant had used it to facilitate the taking of children from school before it was handed down.

“Our client requests that you urgently revert to us within 48 hours upon receipt of this letter as he feels the system may have been compromised,” reads the letter.

Justice Chiweshe is yet to respond to the issues raised by the VP’s lawyers.

Last week, Ms Mubaiwa won her High Court appeal for custody of the couple’s three minor children and access to the matrimonial home.

But her joy was short-lived after VP Chiwenga filed a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court, challenging the lower court’s decision.

The filing of a notice of appeal

effectively suspends the court ruling until determination of the appeal.

Justice Christopher Dube-Banda ordered that the custody of children be restored to Mubaiwa and barred the Vice President from interfering with her access to the Borrowdale Brooke house they shared before their fallout.

Mubaiwa had sought the intervention of the High Court after the children were taken from her and she was barred from the Borrowdale Brooke matrimonial home following the couple’s fallout.

“The respondent is hereby ordered to restore the custody of the minor children, namely Tendai Dominique Chiwenga (born 4 November 2011), Christian Tawanazororo Chiwenga (born 15 November 2012) and Michael Alexander Chiwenga (born 13 February 2014) to the custody of the applicant within 24 hours of this order,” ruled Justice Dube-Banda.

“The respondent is hereby ordered and restrained from interfering with applicant’s access to use and enjoyment of the property known as 614 Nick Price Drive, Borrowdale Brooke, Borrowdale, Harare.”

VP Chiwenga was also restrained from blocking Mubaiwa from accessing the vehicles.

However, the VP filed a notice of appeal, outlining errors he says the High Court made in the matter.

State Media|A seven-member gang armed with machetes, axes, iron bars and bicycle chains last Friday night besieged Nyaradza Business Centre in Gokwe South before searching and robbing people and businesses, police have confirmed.

According to witnesses, the gang forcibly opened shops and bars and looted alcohol before getting away with cash and cellphones.

Some people found with nothing were beaten up.

“It was a traumatic 30-minute encounter with the machete gang as they would strike at will, assaulting and cursing victims who would be found with nothing valuable.

“I lost a cellphone and US$5 which I had in my pocket, but I felt for a colleague whom they pounced on after me. I saw them assaulting him with chains over why he had nothing on him,” said Mr Maxwell Gondo.

Mr Gondo, a teacher at a nearby school, said he was about to leave the business centre when the gang rounded up people.

“We were told to lie down and they searched everyone while striking others with machetes,” he said.

Acting police spokesperson for Midlands Province Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said police had launched a manhunt for the suspects.

“Police in Gokwe have launched a manhunt for a gang of seven male adults who attacked and robbed shop owners at Nyaradza Business Centre in Gokwe.

“It is alleged that the seven unknown suspects, armed with iron bars, axes, machetes and bicycle chains pounced on the business centre, driving in a silver Honda Fit,” said Asst Insp Mukwende.

“They got away with 33 litres of petrol, 10 litres of diesel, seven cellphones cash amounting to $3 720, R400, US$5 and alcoholic beverages,” said Asst Insp Mukwende.

She said a report was later made to police and the injured were taken to Gokwe District Hospital.

Asst Insp Mukwende dismissed social media reports that the suspects pounced on many business centres in Gokwe.

“We urge members of the public who might want to assist the police in their investigations to approach any nearest police station or make use of our suggestion boxes,” she said.

Own Correspondent|UNITED Kingdom-based global economic research firm, Fitch Solutions, says Zimbabwe possesses all human and natural factors for robust growth and development, although factors of weak governance by the ruling ZANU PF party will block the possible growth.

Fitch said rolling electricity outages and sporadic fuel supply which are a direct factor of ZANU PF’s weak governance are among the major constraints that will continue to weigh heavily on businesses resulting in reduced competitiveness of local products on domestic and international markets.

According Fitch Solutions’ latest report on Zimbabwe, the country’s operating environment will remain challenging over the short-to-medium term, as it remains vulnerable to factors such as adverse weather conditions, commodity price shocks, low industrial productivity and acute foreign currency shortages.

Fitch also cited issues around Zimbabwe’s reliance on the primary exports sector, high import demand, widespread corruption, concerns around property rights protection, high borrowing costs and a yawning infrastructure deficit among factors that will compound the situation for businesses in Zimbabwe.

The global economic and risk research entity said businesses operating in the country will face electricity outages as well as fuel shortages, necessitating the use of alternative power sources at an added cost.

“These factors combined with volatile foreign currency availability, high inflation for inputs and rigid labour market regulations significantly lower the country’s competitiveness relative to its Southern African neighbours such as Namibia, Botswana and South Africa,” Fitch Solutions said.

But Fitch noted that the bumpy economic terrain has significant human capital and vast resource potential which could drive economic development.

“The latter is intrinsically tied to improved governance and transparency, increased investment openness, and meaningful re-engagement with multilateral lenders and the international community in the years ahead,” Fitch said.

Zimbabwe’s real gross domestic product is expected to contract in 2019.

Production of major minerals like gold, diamond and coal fell by more than 27 percent while production of maize, the main staple food, was less than half of its level in 2018, resulting in wide-spread food insecurity.

“In the absence of international support, Zimbabwe macroeconomic challenges may persist.

“With dwindling reserves, there is a high-risk of the exchange rate overshooting, contributing to inflationary pressures.

The World Bank recently raised similar concerns indicating that social and political pressures on ZANU PF will make them fail to revive the economy.

“Climate related risks may constrain recovery of the agriculture sector in the medium-term exacerbating food insecurity.

“Social and political pressures could lead to policy slippage, delay in macroeconomic stabilisation and political reforms,” the World Bank said.

Forgotten Zanu PF heavyweight Patrick Chinamasa has resurfaced issuing a notice that he will summon Cabinet ministers to explain projects they are implementing directly to the ruling party.

Chinamasa, who is the acting party Secretary for admiration said this is in line with the party’s manifesto and resolutions adopted at last year’s National Annual People’s Conference in Goromonzi.

Cabinet ministers already meet with the President on a weekly meeting for an evaluation of programmes they are undertaking in their ministries.

At most 5 of the cabinet ministers are appointed into cabinet for their experiences and expertise and not political reasons and may not necessarily be members of ZANU PF.

Chinamasa said they were working with the Office of the President and Cabinet to come up with a structure that would audit the implementation.

“We will be inviting those ministers, basically to say ‘we have this resolution, can you tell us how far you are in terms of formulating the necessary legislation and in terms of implementation’,” said Chinamasa.

“We have already created a framework where we invite these ministers to explain to us what progress they have made and this is also the platform where we tell them if there is a deviation from our party policies.

“We are setting up structures to make sure that we fulfil our manifesto. We will fulfil the resolutions that we make and we are developing together with Government and the Office of the President and Cabinet.

“Ministries, local authorities and parastatals are our implementing agencies at all levels.

“Whatever they do is feeding into fulfilling the Zanu PF manifesto and its resolutions. Therefore, the party must be informed about all those projects and programmes.”

Turning to the Diaspora policy, Chinamasa said it sought to ensure the creation of a direct link between the party’s headquarters and structures outside the country.

“We should, by the end of the year, have fully formulated and adopted a Diaspora policy.

“We have members out there in South Africa, UK, USA, Australia, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, all over the world; we have Zimbabweans who are very patriotic and who support Zanu PF.

“We want to develop a policy as a party, which will enable us to have structures in those countries which are linked to the main headquarters to make sure that there is a channel of communication between those structures and the headquarters,” he said.

The Commissariat, External Affairs and Legal Affairs departments had since been tasked with formulating the policy.

VICE President Constantino Chiwenga has raised a complaint against Judge President George Chiweshe whom he accuses of influencing court decisions in favour of his estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, and leaking judgments to her before they are officially handed down.
Justice Chiweshe is the head of the High Court in Zimbabwe.

VP Chiwenga, through his lawyers Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners, has written to Justice Chiweshe demanding an explanation why the judgment in the child custody case was leaked to Mubaiwa and a local newspaper, well before judgment was handed down in court.

On Friday, the newspaper had banners all over the streets announcing Mubaiwa’s victory in the children’s custody case but the court officially handed the judgment after 1030am the same day.

“The purpose of our writing is to register our client’s complaint in the manner in which the judgment in the above matter has been handled.

“The High Court, which is headed by yourself, may have answers to the complaints raised by our client herein,” reads the letter.

Mubaiwa, according to the lawyers, is related to the Judge President and the relationship was now prejudicing VP Chiwenga in the court cases involving her estranged wife.

“Our client advises us that you are related to the applicant Ms Marry Mubaiwa and she has made numerous bald assertions in public that you are related and have sorted and influenced all matters involving her in her favour to the prejudice of our client.

“We, with respect, wish to register our client’s concern over allegations emanating from the said relationship with the applicant and complain over the conduct of the applicant in accessing court judgments and orders before they have been officially handed down to both litigants.

“These allegations are known by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the lawyers for the applicant and various other parties which we can divulge to you in confidence,” the letter reads.

On Friday, the letter further reads, Mubaiwa went to the children’s school as early as 8am and demanded to see them while armed with a court order, well before judgment was handed down.

“The applicant in this matter attended the parties’ children’s school at 8am today (Friday January 24) armed with an order of this court and stated to the school authorities that she had been granted an order by the High Court to have access to the children.

“Our client telephoned us to inquire as to whether judgment had been handed down in the matter to which we confirmed that the matter was still pending and a diligent enquiry at the registry confirmed our position,” reads the letter of complaint.

“We were then telephoned by the Honourable Justice Dube-Banda’s clerk at 0927am advising us that the Honourable judge wished to meet parties in chambers to hand down the judgment,” reads the letter.

VP Chiwenga wondered how Mubaiwa got to know of the outcome before judgment was handed down.

“Could it be that there is a new system of handing down judgments wherein litigants are given court orders before official pronouncements?

“We also wonder why the said judgment, before it was handed down, got publicised in the Independent newspaper advising the public that Marry Mubaiwa had won the case she had filed,” said VP Chiwenga’s lawyers.-State media

ZANU-PF Gokwe Sesame MP Gordon Chanda (41) and a local councillor have been arrested for allegedly extorting money from villagers and stealing maize meant for people under the Government’s food relief programme.

Police in Gokwe said the MP handed himself over at Gokwe Central Police Station yesterday morning while Ward 13 Councillor, Goergina Chirongoma (34) was arrested on Monday night.

The duo appeared before Gokwe magistrate Mr Shortgame Musaiwona facing charges of criminal abuse of office.

They were remanded out of custody to February 11 on $1 000 bail each.

Chirongoma had relaxed bail conditions while the MP was asked to surrender his passport to the police. He was also asked to report twice a week on Monday and Friday at Gokwe Police Station and reside at his number 615 Nyaradza Gokwe house.

Prosecutor, Mr Liberty Chimwaradze said some time in December last year, the two took advantage of their positions and organised a meeting with village heads in Chirongoma’s ward.

They asked them to get people in the ward to contribute $5 each saying the money was for the completion of Gande clinic which was under construction in the ward. There are about 13 000 villagers in the ward.

Mr Chimwaradze said the village heads went out and organised their subjects and collected $7 091 which was then handed over to the two.

The court heard that it was subsequently discovered that the construction of the clinic was being funded by Gokwe South Rural District Council using devolution funds and the two had allegedly connived and diverted the villagers’ money into their own use.

In the second count, Mr Chimwaradze said on December 16 last year, Chirongoma went to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Gokwe depot and collected 3 200 bags of maize which were meant to benefit villagers under Government’s food relief programme.

The court heard that Chirongoma under-declared the number of bags which were supposed to be dropped at each distribution centre in her ward.

Investigations which were conducted by the police showed that from the total number of bags that Chirongoma collected from GMB, she underdeclared them by 120 bags of 50 kg maize which were supposed to be shared by the villagers.
Police recovered some of the maize at Chirongoma’s house.

Mr Musaiwona said the matter involving the food aid could not proceed since police had only managed to complete investigation into one count involving 120 by 50 bags of maize yet there are allegations of more counts.

“It is said there are more counts to be investigated. Only one case of a haulage truck which had 120 bags said to have been abused was completed and more investigations need to be completed.

So this matter will only be heard when the investigations are complete,” said the magistrate.-State media

VICE President Constantino Chiwenga has raised a complaint against Judge President George Chiweshe whom he accuses of influencing court decisions in favour of his estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, and leaking judgments to her before they are officially handed down.
Justice Chiweshe is the head of the High Court in Zimbabwe.

VP Chiwenga, through his lawyers Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners, has written to Justice Chiweshe demanding an explanation why the judgment in the child custody case was leaked to Mubaiwa and a local newspaper, well before judgment was handed down in court.

On Friday, the newspaper had banners all over the streets announcing Mubaiwa’s victory in the children’s custody case but the court officially handed the judgment after 1030am the same day.

“The purpose of our writing is to register our client’s complaint in the manner in which the judgment in the above matter has been handled.

“The High Court, which is headed by yourself, may have answers to the complaints raised by our client herein,” reads the letter.

Mubaiwa, according to the lawyers, is related to the Judge President and the relationship was now prejudicing VP Chiwenga in the court cases involving her estranged wife.

“Our client advises us that you are related to the applicant Ms Marry Mubaiwa and she has made numerous bald assertions in public that you are related and have sorted and influenced all matters involving her in her favour to the prejudice of our client.

“We, with respect, wish to register our client’s concern over allegations emanating from the said relationship with the applicant and complain over the conduct of the applicant in accessing court judgments and orders before they have been officially handed down to both litigants.

“These allegations are known by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the lawyers for the applicant and various other parties which we can divulge to you in confidence,” the letter reads.

On Friday, the letter further reads, Mubaiwa went to the children’s school as early as 8am and demanded to see them while armed with a court order, well before judgment was handed down.

“The applicant in this matter attended the parties’ children’s school at 8am today (Friday January 24) armed with an order of this court and stated to the school authorities that she had been granted an order by the High Court to have access to the children.

“Our client telephoned us to inquire as to whether judgment had been handed down in the matter to which we confirmed that the matter was still pending and a diligent enquiry at the registry confirmed our position,” reads the letter of complaint.

“We were then telephoned by the Honourable Justice Dube-Banda’s clerk at 0927am advising us that the Honourable judge wished to meet parties in chambers to hand down the judgment,” reads the letter.

VP Chiwenga wondered how Mubaiwa got to know of the outcome before judgment was handed down.

“Could it be that there is a new system of handing down judgments wherein litigants are given court orders before official pronouncements?

“We also wonder why the said judgment, before it was handed down, got publicised in the Independent newspaper advising the public that Marry Mubaiwa had won the case she had filed,” said VP Chiwenga’s lawyers.-State media

Farai Dziva|A Zimbabwean clergyman has accused Zanu PF of using religion to oppress the suffering masses.

Writing on Twitter, Evangelist Mangwende attacked the ruling party for being insensitive to the plight of suffering Zimbabweans.

“I am not saying this with much ease yet it’s the reality, Zim situation is not similar to Israelites situation when they arrived at the River Jordan. We have to fight our way through.

Take heed zanupf is now playing the religion ball to oppress us. Remember zanupf is unjust

If Zanu PF had self awareness and emotional intelligence to be honest they would act on the plight of Zimbabweans in general.

@nickmangwana

@edmnangagwa

@InfoMinZW

you have Varakashi who should be feeding back to you what’s happening on the ground. THE TRUTH. BE HUMAN. PERIOD…”

Farai Dziva|
Andy Muridzo has been accused of dating a married woman.

Muridzo and his friend were reportedly held at gunpoint in Waterfalls after a man identified as Lenon found them at his house drinking with some women.

According to an online publication, Muridzo and his friend were having a good time with some women when one of the women’s ex-lover walked in on them and produced a gun and ordered them to get inside the house where he held them till they were reportedly rescued by law enforcement agents.

“Ana Andy vanga vakagara panze vachinwa doro nana queen then ndopa pasvika Lenon ne pfuti.

Lennon ndi ex wa Itai ndobva aona vari two two ndobva aburitsa pfuti akavapinza mumba achiti uri kuitei nemukadzi wangu.

Patozouya ma CIO ndo azoburitsa vakomana vachizobva pano,” a source told the publication.

By A Correspondent- Businessman and former Zimbabwe Honorary Consular for Investment and Trade in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Shamiso Fred, who was facing US$1,4 million fraud allegations, was yesterday removed from remand as there was no progress in the investigations.

In removing her from remand, magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa said the State had failed to provide a trial date within a reasonable period and there was no progress in investigations.

Mugwagwa said the investigating officer was summoned to court to support the State’s averments that there were extra-territorial investigations, but he failed to appear, hence she could not keep Fred on remand because this would violate her constitutional rights.

The magistrate said the State had failed to provide the court with letters to Cabinet or any Cabinet approval of the State to carry out extra-territorial investigations to prove that investigations were ongoing.

Fred is the director for Centreshot Investments, a company that was working to bring the Formula One Grand Prix to Victoria Falls in conjunction with the Tourism ministry under former minister Priscah
Mupfumira.

However, the deal collapsed under unclear circumstances.

The complainant is Aissa Ussen, who operates Zimexpress, a bureau de change operating from Borrowdale, Harare.

She was allegedly duped into transferring US$1 400 000 into Fred’s Zimbabwean bank account after misrepresentation that the former consular would pay using her free funds in the UAE.

-Newsday

“We met with POLAD members yesterday and look forward to continuing engagement on issues of development, good governance, and economic stability for Zimbabwe. ”

By A Correspondent| In what could be described as a sudden political shift, US embassy staff members met members of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Political Actors body, Polad.

The US government has been vocal against the 2018 election results and acts of both brutality, treason and treachery by Emmerson Mnangagwa, which has led the latter creating the Political Actors Dialogue club.

It is very clear: On the 15th of December 2017 at 1:32 p.m. to be precise in an incident broadcast on live ZBC television, Presidential senior staff member, Mr Christopher Mutsvangwa conspired to overthrow a constitutionally elected government of Zimbabwe of the MDC, (the LIVE video copy is there with the precice database timestamp ID.)

Standing aside Emmerson Mnangagwa in an event witnessed by delegates of nations of the world, Mutsvangwa said he and others will, using the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, ensure the overthrowing of a constitutionally elected govt of Zimbabwe. He said they would, use the military to doctor an electoral result that is greater “than the one we did in 1980.”

On the 24th May 2018, the then deputy Finance Minister Terence Mukupe celebrated the planned overthrowing of a constitutionally elected government of Zimbabwe while mocking Nelson Chamisa saying he is a small boy the army would ensure his government is overthrown. The video is fully public as an exhibit.

On the 22 May 2018, Masvingo Minister Josiah Hungwe speaking at the opening of Gudo Clinic opened his speech by announcing to patients that the Emmerson Mnangagwa will shoot people amd chase them from behind in order to stay in power. The recording from the incident is here as an exhibit.

On the 8th of July 2018 in Harare the commander of the presidential guard Ancelem Sanyatwe launched the operation to overthrow a constitutionally elected government. His video from the Motlanthe Commission is public as an exhibit.

These are people who vote incited, planned, attempted and excecuted the overthrowing of a constitutionally elected government under the MDC.

But is the embassy now telling MDC President Nelson Chamisa to go join Polad? The embassy announced on its Twitter account saying:

“We met with POLAD members yesterday and look forward to continuing engagement on issues of development, good governance, and economic stability for Zimbabwe. ”

It could not be established who initiated the meeting. If it was the US embassy, then it will stand a bold statement against Chamisa.

A picture was posted showing among others, the expelled MDC renegade Thokozani Khupe.

By A Correspondent- Government has banned schools from chasing away pupils for failure to pay fees after civic society organisations pressurised it to commit to a previously announced pledge on the matter.

The policy is expounded in the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry Circular Number 3 of 2019 document released in August last year, but had not been widely publicised.

Primary and Secondary Education ministry’s 2020 strategic plan says that 27% of school-going children are failing to attend school because they cannot afford the fees.

Tag a Life International (TaLI) executive director Nyaradzo Mashayamombe yesterday said the 27% might be an understatement, adding that the percentage of poor children who are out of school for failure to pay fees can be as high as 40%.

“Two weeks into schools opening, it is business as usual and poor children are being sent out of school as nothing has changed despite that there is a new policy on access to education for all,” she said.

“The policy needs to be publicised and we want the ministry to find out if school heads are implementing the circular to ensure children without fees have access to education and to demand reports on how many poor children have been accepted.”

Last year, TaLI, the Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children (ZNCWC) supported by the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ), Education Coalition of Zimbabwe (ECOZI), Justice for Children Trust, Mambure Trust and 270 other organisations across the country petitioned the Primary and Secondary Education ministry and the Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga led Portfolio Committee on Education pushing for an “every child in school” policy to allow poor children into schools.

Section 5.3.1 of the policy reads: “No school-aged child shall be denied a place at any registered school or turned away from school on the grounds of failure by the parents/guardians to pay fees and/or levies. The same applies to denial of school entry on the grounds of disability, lack of birth registration documents, inadequate uniforms and other forms of discriminatory practices.”

The policy circular further stipulates non-discriminatory practices at schools, adding that learners with significant needs should be enrolled first and then referred to the Learner Welfare, Psychological Services and Special Needs Education Department.

“If the nearest school to the child’s home is full, the receiving head should place the applicant on a waiting list and facilitate enrolment at the next school, instead of sending the clients away unassisted,” section 5.5 of the policy circular reads.

On failure to pay fees by the parents or guardians, the policy stipulates that school heads must be proactive and negotiate flexible arrangements to ensure uninterrupted access to education by the learner.

Sections 27 and 75 of the Constitution states that every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has the right to a basic State-funded education.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A Harare magistrate Noah Gwatidzo, Tuesday afternoon presided over the hearing of an application filed by Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE) seeking to overturn a ban of their march scheduled for Wednesday by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)’s officers.

WALPE through its Programmes Co-ordinator Varaidzo Zhou had notified Chief Superintendent Oscar Mugomeri, the ZRP Officer Commanding Harare Central District of her organisation’s intention to stage a public procession in Harare, which would culminate in 500 women petitioning Parliament demanding implementation of electoral reforms to guarantee full and effective participation of women in electoral processes as candidates and as voters.

But in a letter addressed to Zhou, Chief Superintendent Mugomeri banned WALPE’s march on the basis that the organisation’s Executive Director Stabile Dewah, who is currently facing charges of plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, could “take advantage” of the event to “further” her “agenda”, which Chief Superintendent Mugomeri did not elaborate.

Chief Superintendent Mugomeri said WALPE can only send some representatives to hand over its petition to the Clerk of Parliament rather than marching in the capital.

Incensed by Chief Superintendent Mugomeri’s response, WALPE then engaged the services of Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who filed an application at Harare (Civil) Magistrates Court seeking to overturn the ZRP’s ban of the women’s march.

Magistrate Gwatidzo will preside over the determination of WALPE’s application.

By A Correspondent- The government has warned teachers against abusing pupils to further personal agendas saying there are many lawful channels to air their grievances without involving the learners.

This follows last week’s incident where a science teacher at Njube High School in Bulawayo, Mr Brian Mutsiba, allegedly mobilised and incited 153 Form One, Form Three and Form Six pupils to demonstrate against purported “fees increase and poor teachers” remunerations among others issues.

Mr Mutsiba has been on the run since last week’s protests which, according to latest information, was stage managed.

Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo said it was inexcusable for teachers to sacrifice learners to advance their personal interests.

“Teachers should not use school children to push their demands. They have got their unions and they have so many channels through which they can air their views without involving pupils. It becomes very unfair to use pupils. They should not sacrifice learners to achieve their objectives. We expect professional conduct from our teachers and we expect them to follow the normal procedures of grievance resolutions that are provided for at law,” he said.

Moyo said Government was closely following social media reports that schools in Bulawayo would stage a demonstration on Monday next week. He said he was convinced that some anti-Government elements wanted to use minors as a shield to cause anarchy in the city.

“I think it’s now people who want to abuse the innocence of our children. I don’t think it’s our learners who are organising this thing. We are monitoring the situation. The message to school heads is that they have to keep a lookout for such conduct. We don’t prevent teachers from airing their views but they should not use schoolchildren. To pupils, they should not let teachers use them to solve their problems as this will disturb their education, it will disturb their careers,” said Moyo. He urged parents to discourage their children from participating in illegal protests.  

Meanwhile, Moyo said Mr Mutsiba is facing charges of mobilising children to partake in action outside the school’s authority and that of their parents. He said if Mr Mutsiba remains absent from work for two weeks without justified reason, his salary will be docked.

“In terms of Statutory Instrument 1 of 2000, if someone is absent from work for a continuous period of 14 days without good cause or without permission his salary is supposed to be stopped. And he would then be charged for absenteeism. If he still wants his job he should have come forward and explained what really happened but his absence is now compounding the narrative that he organised the demonstration which is outside his normal course of duty,” Moyo said

Zanu-PF’s Gokwe Sesame Member of Parliament, Gorden Chanda and ward 6 Councillor, Gilbert Ganye have been arrested on allegations of diverting Presidential inputs and rice donated to villagers by the President to their own use.

The duo who are now in police custody at Gokwe Central Police station are set to appear in court  at the  Gokwe magistrate courts.

They are  facing criminal abuse of office charges.  Police Sources at Gokwe Central said Ganye was arrested last night while the MP handed himself over to the police this morning

Three City of Harare employees today appeared in court facing allegations of selling 150 residential stands in Kuwadzana worth US $765 000 without council approval.

Believer Mupawaenda, Rudo Chigocha and Magret George were not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa charged with fraud.

They were all remanded to March 3 for their routine remand on $1000 bail.

Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa prosecuted.

Businesswoman and former Zimbabwe Honorary Consular for Investment and Trade in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Shamiso Fred, who was facing US$1,4 million fraud allegations, was yesterday removed from remand as there was no progress in the investigations.

In removing her from remand, magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa said the State had failed to provide a trial date within a reasonable period and there was no progress in investigations.

Mugwagwa said the investigating officer was summoned to court to support the State’s averments that there were extra-territorial investigations, but he failed to appear, hence she could not keep Fred on remand because this would violate her constitutional rights.

The magistrate said the State had failed to provide the court with letters to Cabinet or any Cabinet approval of the State to carry out extra-territorial investigations to prove that investigations were ongoing.

Fred is the director for Centreshot Investments, a company that was working to bring the Formula One Grand Prix to Victoria Falls in conjunction with the Tourism ministry under former minister Priscah Mupfumira.

However, the deal collapsed under unclear circumstances.

The complainant is Aissa Ussen, who operates Zimexpress, a bureau de change operating from Borrowdale, Harare.

She was allegedly duped into transferring US$1 400 000 into Fred’s Zimbabwean bank account after misrepresentation that the former consular would pay using her free funds in the UAE. 

• NewsDay

Own Correspondent|Two tolling agents are currently hospitalised after they were injured when a truck rammed into a tolling cubicle at a ZINARA Tollgate today.

One of the employees is currently in ICU according to ZIMRATU. This was revealed by Zimbabwe Revenue & Allied Workers Trade Union (ZIMRATU) when they shared this thread on Twitter:

ZIMRATU didn’t disclose the location of the tollgate in question.

Source: Twitter

Own Correspondent|South African Police have arrested 100 undocumented foreign nationals in Diepsloot following days of unrest over crime in the township.

Residents went on the rampage last week, barricading roads and burning objects.

About 10 people have been killed in Diepsloot recently, including a police captain.

They’re demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the area, accusing them of being responsible for the crimes.

The Tactical Response Team, the Operational Response Service and K9 units have been patrolling the area.

Gauteng police spokesperson Mathapelo Peters said: “To this end, 100 undocumented foreign nationals were taken in and handed over to immigration officials from the Department of Home Affairs for further processing. Police visibility has been heightened since the incidents of violence last Wednesday.”

Correspondent|Zimbabwe Republic Police have reportedly arrested three top members of the presidential guard, Blessmore Tembo (32), Gilbert Charuma (31) and Liberty Munemo (31) and a former broadcaster, Musorowegomo Mukosi (41) this Monday.

The Daily News reports that the accused were arrested for allegedly assaulting 15 villagers and forcefully tried to take Chin gold mine in Mt Darwin.

National police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest to the Daily News saying that investigations were still ongoing. He said:

It is further alleged that Mukosi was in possession of an unsecured firearm. The development comes when authorities have deployed soldiers and the police in an endeavour to contain machete gangs who were terrorising miners and members of the public, especially in gold mining towns.

The accused are also arrested when there are some who have claimed that machete gangs are protected by elite politicians with some also suggesting that some members of the security forces were actually members of the machete gangs.

Source: Daily News

The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Professor Amon Murwira has lampooned the country’s higher education system which he claims is producing less of thinkers and more of fools.

Murwira spoke at a recent Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting where he said the education system had over the years failed to produce solution holders.

He said at birth, people are ignorant and without knowledge of anything but are made stupid and foolish with the type of education they receive.

“We should know that every person born of a woman is born ignorant but not foolish or stupid. So where does stupidity and foolishness come from? Fools come from the education system. The type of education that tells them that in order to do engineering you have to study English first.

“Our ancestors never learned English but we have our Great Zimbabwe monuments. That kind of engineering remains a marvel even to date. Our education system is teaching people to read and write but is doing little to teach them to think.

“This is why you see a lot of people fighting on WhatsApp because they mastered the skill of writing and reading but not thinking,” said Murwira.

Murwira said there is need for a complete paradigm shift in the country’s higher education system as the education is contributing to uselessness with 98 percent of the people only 

good at reading and writing while 38 percent are equipped with skills.

 “This country has been subjected to systematic destruction of the confidence of its people. The issue now is how do we construct and reconstruct the confidence of our people.

“We need to move away from being beggars to producers. The aim of our education is to modernize and industrialize this county. It is not to Westernise, Easternise, Northernise or Southernise.

“We need to ask ourselves why our universities and colleges are detached from the society they are intended to transform. We want to restore ourselves as a people through relevant education,” said Murwira.

He said a lot of graduates complain that there are no jobs yet the country is facing a myriad of problems which requires people to put their brains and skills to work and provide jobs for themselves in the process of solving the crisis. 

“Education has to have a purpose and benefits. We don’t want people who go through higher education and come back looking for jobs.

“What have you been learning? How does education lead to uselessness? We have now looked at this thing and said let us look at our tertiary institutions and see why people are being taught to destroy rather than build.

“Education should create solutions not add to the problem. We see graduates getting into the streets demanding jobs yet we expect them to create jobs. We asked ourselves why our education system is creating professors who are begging for food. People say there are no jobs but the country has drought. There are no drugs but people say there are no jobs. To address all these problems is a job on its own.

“There are plenty of jobs but there is no one doing it. We need to fix our education system first. 98 percent of our people can read and write but only 38 percent have skills,” said Murwira.

• TellZim News

By A Correspondent- Harare Magistrate Noah Gwatidzo will this afternoon preside over the hearing of an application filed by Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE) seeking to overturn a ban of their march scheduled for Wednesday by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)’s officers.

WALPE through its Programmes Co-ordinator Varaidzo Zhou had notified Chief Superintendent Oscar Mugomeri, the ZRP Officer Commanding Harare Central District of her organisation’s intention to stage a public procession in Harare, which would culminate in 500 women petitioning Parliament demanding implementation of electoral reforms to guarantee full and effective participation of women in electoral processes as candidates and as voters.

But in a letter addressed to Zhou, Chief Superintendent Mugomeri banned WALPE’s march on the basis that the organisation’s Executive Director Stabile Dewah, who is currently facing charges of plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, could “take advantage” of the event to “further” her “agenda”, which Chief Superintendent Mugomeri did not elaborate.

Chief Superintendent Mugomeri said WALPE can only send some representatives to hand over its petition to the Clerk of Parliament rather than marching in the capital.

Incensed by Chief Superintendent Mugomeri’s response, WALPE then engaged the services of Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who filed an application at Harare (Civil) Magistrates Court seeking to overturn the ZRP’s ban of the women’s march.

Magistrate Gwatidzo will preside over the determination of WALPE’s application.

Police have issued a ban on carrying of weapons or dangerous objects amid robbers riding on instilling fear with machetes and knives in the wake of terror gangs known as Mashurugwi.

The prohibition comes in the wake of a spate of robbery cases reported country wide as robbers have resorted to using weapons of the infamous Mashurugwi gang such as machetes, knives and daggers as tactics to instil fear on victims.

Mashonaland East Provincial spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza issued a statement ordering some police districts to thwart any potential use of dangerous weapons that are calculated at causing harm and despondency to the public.

“The prohibition orders are prohibiting the carrying in public whether openly or by concealment in a public place or public thoroughfare or public display of any of the following weapons:
Catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives or daggers,
Any traditional weapon whatsoever is likely to occasion public disorder or a breach of the peace,” he said.

Part of the statement reads as follows:
“Zimbabwe Republic Police, Mashonaland East Province has of late witnessed a rise in violent cases that include armed robbery, Murder, Assault and some related cases.

“During the period spanning from January to December 2019, the Province received a total of 498 cases compared to 375 cases during the same period in 2018.

“Murder cases were 51 in 2018 compared to 54 in 2019.

“Both these violent crimes had a marginal increase which is a cause for concern to the Police.

“It is therefore disturbing to note that armed robbers are moving in gangs and armed with such weapons as firearms, knives, machetes and to some extent axes in a bid to instil fear and sometimes maiming their victims.-State media

Farai Dziva|A Zimbabwean clergyman has accused Zanu PF of using religion to oppress the suffering masses.

Writing on Twitter, Evangelist Mangwende attacked the ruling party for being insensitive to the plight of suffering Zimbabweans.

“I am not saying this with much ease yet it’s the reality, Zim situation is not similar to Israelites situation when they arrived at the River Jordan. We have to fight our way through.

Take heed zanupf is now playing the religion ball to oppress us. Remember zanupf is unjust

If Zanu PF had self awareness and emotional intelligence to be honest they would act on the plight of Zimbabweans in general.

@nickmangwana

@edmnangagwa

@InfoMinZW

you have Varakashi who should be feeding back to you what’s happening on the ground. THE TRUTH. BE HUMAN. PERIOD…”

By A Correspondent- The Police In Namibia have identified the 9-year-old girl whose body was discovered by a passerby on Saturday, burnt beyond recognition dumped at a dumpster, New Era Live reports.

The girl was identified as Akundaishe Natalie Chipombo and she is believed to have been staying at the same residence with the suspects and 5 other children. According to the publication, Akundaishe might have been a victim of abuse according to neighbours and other people’s accounts.

Namibian top police investigator Nelius Becker spoke about to the publication about the case and said:

According to evidence that we gathered at the scene, the deceased might have been assaulted on occasions in the past and more frequently on the Monday of the 20th January. There was an audible assault on the female child or bigger female child in the residence. This is the reason why we affected the arrests

Farai Dziva|
Andy Muridzo has been accused of dating a married woman.

Muridzo and his friend were reportedly held at gunpoint in Waterfalls after a man identified as Lenon found them at his house drinking with some women.

According to an online publication, Muridzo and his friend were having a good time with some women when one of the women’s ex-lover walked in on them and produced a gun and ordered them to get inside the house where he held them till they were reportedly rescued by law enforcement agents.

“Ana Andy vanga vakagara panze vachinwa doro nana queen then ndopa pasvika Lenon ne pfuti.

Lennon ndi ex wa Itai ndobva aona vari two two ndobva aburitsa pfuti akavapinza mumba achiti uri kuitei nemukadzi wangu.

Patozouya ma CIO ndo azoburitsa vakomana vachizobva pano,” a source told the publication.

By Jane Mlambo| Flamboyant businessman Genius Kadungure popularly known as Ginimbi has lost his mother, just a year after his brother died on New year’s eve last year.

The controversial socialite took to Twitter to announce the sad passing of his mother;

“Today it’s one of my darkest days in my life, but who am I to question God. I did all things that money can buy, but this thing called Life it is only God that gives it. My mother, my world is now in heaven. RIP,” said Kadungure.

By A Correspondent- A village head in Victoria Falls, Mr Jaheliduna Ndlovu of Sidobe village has appealed for an urgent solution as lions have since last month been killing livestock.

Reports suggest that the lions, some of which are collared, have so far killed about 35 cattle and an unquantified number of goats and donkeys. The headman said:

A fortnight ago, lions killed eight cattle in one day and last Monday they killed five belonging to one villager.

Last December they killed 18 cattle from our area and the village head Zikhali’s cattle were attacked in the grazing area.

This is a situation which needs everyone’s input. We once suggested that we set up scout teams that will be stationed in the community to protect livestock, but some stakeholders didn’t buy the idea.

The state media reports that Monde, Mvuthu, Ndlovu, Mpumelelo, Sidobe and Chikandakubi are some of the most affected villages.

The development comes when the country is already losing a lot of cattle to drought and diseases including anthrax and tick-borne disease.

Zimbabwe Republic Police have reportedly arrested three top members of the presidential guard, Blessmore Tembo (32), Gilbert Charuma (31) and Liberty Munemo (31) and a former broadcaster, Musorowegomo Mukosi (41) this Monday.

The Daily News reports that the accused were arrested for allegedly assaulting 15 villagers and forcefully tried to take Chin gold mine in Mt Darwin.

National police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest to the Daily News saying that investigations were still ongoing. He said,

We can confirm the arrest of Musorowegomo Mukosi on assault charges at Chin Mine in Mount Darwin along with three others.

However, we are still investigating the allegations that they are members of the Presidential Guard. They will be appearing in court any day from today (yesterday) after investigations have been concluded.

It is further alleged that Mukosi was in possession of an unsecured firearm. The development comes when authorities have deployed soldiers and the police in an endeavour to contain machete gangs who were terrorising miners and members of the public, especially in gold mining towns.

The accused are also arrested when there are some who have claimed that machete gangs are protected by elite politicians with some also suggesting that some members of the security forces were actually members of the machete gangs.

-Daily News

MAGUNJE legislator Cecil Kashiri has raised concern over a head of buffalo that escaped from Matusadona National Park last week and has reportedly killed a minor and injured two women in Hurungwe.

“A head of buffaloes is believed to have escaped from a nearby game park last week. A schoolgoing minor was attacked and killed in Magororo, Hurungwe West constituency on Thursday. Four buffaloes were seen at Masaga area in Menoembwa and believed to have moved to Badze River in Magunje constituency. In Karereshi a woman was also attacked by a buffalo and taken to Magunje Hospital and we gather she has been transferred to Karoi Hospital. Another woman was attacked at Chishumba in Magunje constituency,” Kashiri said.

Chief Nyamhunga also confirmed that the buffaloes were wreaking havoc among his subjects, adding that authorities were not doing enough to curb human-wildlife conflicts.

Hurungwe chief executive officer Luke Karivhina confirmed yesterday that rangers had been deployed to track the head.

“We are getting updates from local communities and we have deployed our rangers to help in dealing with the head. This is all what I can confirm for now,” he said.

“We hereby urge parents to make sure that children come home early and are safe and not to try and attack the vicious animals. We are not sure of the number of buffaloes that escaped, given the distance between the areas where they were spotted, it is possible that there could be many more out there.”

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said: “We have received two reports where buffaloes attacked two villagers around Hurungwe. Our team has managed to kill one buffalo so far. Our challenge is that we have overpopulation of these animals, hence they invade communities. We are there to safeguard nature and citizens.”

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Socialite Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s mother has died.

Ginimbi made the announcement on twitter and said:

Today it’s one of my darkest days in my life, but who am I to question God. I did all things that money can buy, but this thing called Life it is only God that gives it. My mother, my world is now in heaven. RIP

By A Correspondent- Award-winning musician, Andy Muridzo was bashed after he was caught red handed relaxing with a married woman at her matrimonial home in Waterfalls yesterday.

Muridzo, who was on Saturday awarded the traditional Folk (Chinyakare/Chimurenga) category ZIMA award, told H-Metro that he had not been aware that the woman, Rai Dhladla,31, was married to Lenon Zaranyika.

Baba Keketso was in the company of one Simba, who fled from the scene and later returned with cops along with a female Mend only identified as Queen.

It is claimed that Muridzo, Simba and Queen arrived at the house at around 2am and a mole tipped Zaranyika, who then went home and attacked the “disrespectful” Muridzo.

In an interview with H-Metro, Muridzo said he was given hiding so painful he contemplated fighting back but feared Zaranyika had a gun.

“I was caught unaware and severely beaten. I thought of fighting back nekuti umm zvibhakera zvandarohwa zvanga zvichirwadza. “To be honest with you I was not aware that this woman was married and we were about to have some drinks with my friends.

“I and not in love with his wife, Queen is the one I am in love with and I do not know why she ran away leaving me exposed and unable to justify my relationship with her,” said Muridzo.

Simba later told H-Metro that he had no choice, but run away when he saw Zaranyika charging towards Andy, forcing him to jump over a precast wall at the house “I noticed that the man was armed, mdara ndamhanya ndikasvetuka durawall Queen azobuda nepaka corner sezvo gate ranga ravharwa,” said Simba.

Queen could not be reached for comment by the time of going to print. Meanwhile, Itai confirmed cheating on Zaranyika, arguing that her husband has been denying her
conjugal rights for some time and has more than one lover to take care of her needs.

“My husband has been cheating on me and at one time we spent more than four weeks without having se.x kana kundibata zvake. I am still young and besides that I have a high se.x drive and I need se.x from time to time and he was not available and that is why I decided to have boyfriends to quench my se.xual appetite “Andy was severely attacked and I felt sorry for him, I will accompany him to one of his shows and comfort him.”

She said she no longer had anything to hide about her marriage. “He phoned my father informing him that he caught me having se.x on our matrimonial bed and that hurt me so much that I am no longer ashamed of disclosing everything about our marriage.

The first time I cheated, I confessed everything to him and we moved on, but he decided to take our two children to boarding school leaving me with the younger ones.

“Four of my relatives came here and begged my husband to forgive me, he did and we continued with our marriage” said Itai.

Zaranyika seems set to end the marriage if yesterday’s drama is anything to go by as he, at one time put Itai’s clothes in a suitcase readying her to vacate.

“My wife started cheating when I was away in Egypt and upon confronting her over some love messages I found in her mobile phone, she confessed to her shenanigans.

“Her relatives pleaded with me, but I decided to take our school-going kids to a boarding school so that they would not see their mother doing silly things. ‘We have been legally married for the past nine years and due to her shenanigans, I resolved to deny her the conjugal rights she is talking about and looked for alternative accommodation.

“Her evil acts have exposed her, She now wants to tarnish my image and that of my friends and bosses and is now threatening to cook stories to that effect.”

THE highly-indebted government will be allowed to borrow from non-State institutions without Parliament scrutiny if the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 2) Bill is signed into law.

The Bill to amend the Constitution for the second time is currently before Parliament and will undergo public hearings. It will also clip Parliament’s powers of oversight over international treaties on non-State loans.

Clause 23 of the Bill to amend the Constitution proposes that the current section 327(3) of the Constitution must be altered so that Parliament’s powers of oversight are clipped in terms of approving agreements entered into with international organisations even if those agreements impose fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe.

This is despite the country’s heavy indebtedness whereby according to the Parliament of Zimbabwe budget office, by the end of 2018 the total external and internal debt had reached US$20 billion. Of that amount, the external debt was US$11,5 billion including loans from Afrexim Bank, while the domestic debt was around US$8,5 billion.

Section 327 (3) of the Constitution which will be amended reads: “An agreement which is not an international treaty, but which has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority with one or more foreign organisations or entities; and imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament.”

Constitutional law expert and lecturer James Tsabora said there is danger in clipping Parliament’s oversight on foreign borrowings, especially if the borrowings are of a fiscal nature and have an effect on taxpayers.

“Although there is a danger on amending the Constitution to clip Parliament’s oversight role, it is also international practice that a country chooses which treaty goes through Parliament for approval and which does not go through Parliament,” Tsabora said.

“However, if the amendment goes through there is a danger in terms of foreign borrowings given that Zimbabwe has over-borrowed from foreign institutions which has landed us into the problems we are in right now, and Parliament is important to put in checks and balances,” he said.

Tsabora said if Parliament’s oversight role on loans and treaties is curtailed, government has the obligation to ensure that whatever it does is constitutional.

“What it means is that before the President approves the treaties and loans he must also ensure that they are constitutional. The current situation is that the Constitution allows for double oversight by Parliament, and also by checking its constitutionality.

“Parliament must debate loans and treaties. However, with the current system of Parliament where Zanu PF has a two thirds majority, Parliament’s oversight role has been weakened and it means that treaties will just be endorsed, yet any laws with a public finance bearing need to be fully debated,” Tsabora said.

Legal think-tank Veritas said Parliament’s oversight role over the State’s expenditure is enshrined in section 299 of the Constitution, adding that it is fundamental for good governance which is one of the founding values of the Constitution.

“Clause 23 of the Bill will emasculate this power. Over the past few decades the government has entered into innumerable loan agreements with foreign governments, banks and other entities, paying little or no regard to how the loans can be repaid. As a result Zimbabwe’s foreign debt is enormous, crippling the country’s development.

“To amend section 327 so as to remove or reduce Parliament’s powers will be utterly pernicious and will encourage a return to reckless spending by the government, mortgaging the birth wright of future generations,” Veritas said.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The government of Zimbabwe has said that it is targeting to build 100 000 houses every year to minimise accommodation shortages.

The government intends to partner with private businesses who have the requisite financial resources. The government’s “ambitious” initiative was revealed by Minister Daniel Garwe while touring Mabvazuva Housing Scheme under Goromonzi Rural District Council, Housing and Social Amenities.

He said:

They (Exodus and Company) are basically developing land which we availed to them, providing on-site and off-site infrastructure, roads, water and sewer reticulation…

The target that we were given by Government is 100 000 per year, but because of other challenges, if we achieve between 20 000 to 30 000 per year we would have done well.

This is however not the first time the government has pledged to build houses. In 2014, then Minister of Local government, Ignatius Chombo announced that the government would build “313 368 housing units across the country in the next 38 months.”

The National Housing Delivery Programme which falls under the Social Services and Poverty Eradication cluster in ZIMASSET remains a pie in the air

Own Correspondent| The country’s Vice President Constantine Chiwenga has allegedly reassured Kambuzuma’s Joshua Nkomo residents to stay put at their stands despite eviction fights with businessman Billy Rautenbach who claims the place.

The residents have been fighting running battles with police who are allegedly being sent by a land cabal that involves Rautenbach, Harare State Minister Oliver Chidawu and Local Government Minister July Moyo.

In an endeavour to defend themselves the residents have lately roped in the assistance of Kambuzuma legislator Willias Madzimure and Norton legislator Temba Mliswa to advance their cause following the arrest of their leaders.

Most of them have pending court cases with sanctions against addressing public gatherings.
Addressing the residents recently Mliswa advised them that he had conferred with VP Chiwenga and he had stated that they should stay put.

“VP Chiwenga told me that you have to stay put at your stands and the government will find a way to compensate Billy for his land, if indeed it is his”.

“No government can come and remove so many people from their residential places, it has never happened and it’s impossible to do that even from a humanitarian standing”, he said.

Chiwenga previously came and addressed the residents of the area during the 2018 election campaign and talked about their issues.

Lately however they have found themselves fighting alone as the ZANU PF officials have abandoned them.

Rumors persist that top party officials are also seeking to benefit from Rautenbach’s enterprise to develop a medium density suburb instead of the high density currently developing.

The  recently completed Justice Tendai Uchena Land Commission report revealed that the majority of land barons in  country are either from or connected to ZANU PF and have fleeced the country of over US$3.

NBC News|NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — One of the last things Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna did before boarding the helicopter flight that led to their deaths was attend Sunday church and take communion, according to his priest.

Father Steve Sallot, a Eucharist priest at the Orange County church the Bryant family attends, was one of the last to see him alive.

He told Eyewitness News that Kobe and Gianna stopped by Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, California and received communion before boarding the fatal flight.

“He was here before the 7 a.m. mass and that’s our first mass of the day. So he would obviously have been in the prayer chapel before that and he was leaving about 10 to 7,” Sallot said.

The helicopter crash was reported at 9:47 a.m. that morning in the Calabasas area.

Fans, family and the community are sharing memories of the nine people killed in the Sunday morning crash.

On Monday, parishioners at Our Lady Queen of Angels prayed a rosary for the lives lost.

A memorial was also growing outside the Bryant family home in Orange County.

Eyewitness News ran into fans from as far as Turkey outside the home Monday.

Asu Gokdelen was visiting with her family from Istanbul. She remembered seeing Bryant during his first game in 1996 when she was a student at USC.

“When we heard the news we were very sad … we wanted to visit this place and give our condolences,” Gokdelen said.

Locally, Bryant, his wife and daughters were honored and respected daily.

The Newport Coast community called them generous neighbors.

Krave Kobe Burger Grill Newport Coast had a wall honoring Bryant in the restaurant that was put up prior to his death.

“That was a wall of fame, we like to call it, and a tribute for what he’s done for the community,” said Nima Farokhirad, the restaurant’s vice president of operations.

Most of the nine occupants of the helicopter that crashed Sunday were Orange County residents who knew Kobe through youth sports connections.

In a statement, the Chester family mourned the loss of Sarah Chester, a wife and mother, and Payton Chester, a sister and daughter- both part of the St. Margaret’s Episcopal School community. The mother and daughter were both onboard the helicopter heading to Mamba Sports Academy where Payton trained.

“Payton had a smile and personality that would light any room … She found joy on any court and loved all of her teammates and coaches,” the statement read, adding, “Sarah was full of life and the glue of our family. She was a tireless force in support of her family.”

Christina Mauser, another Orange County mother killed Sunday morning, was a top assistant coach of the Mamba girl’s basketball team. Mauser leaves behind three young children and a husband, Matthew Mauser.

“She was absolutely amazing at what she did and as good as she was at the Xs and Os she was with how to treat the girls,” Matthew Mauser said, adding, “I just wanted to watch our kids grow. I just want my wife.”

The president of Whittier College released a statement Monday extending her condolences. Sarah Chester was once a student there with many family ties to the college and Sarah met her husband at Whittier College.

Own Correspondent| Veteran trade unionist and former Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Lovemore Matombo died yesterday.

According to those close, to the developments, Matombo died in his home in Greendale, Harare on Monday.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary general Raymond Majongwe confirmed Matombo’s death.

“Cde Lovemore Matombo former President of the ZCTU, President of CASWUZ, President of TUCZ has passed on. He passed on around 5pm at his Greendale home today. This gallant unflinching labour Cde will be greatly missed,” said Majongwe.

At the time of his death, Matombo was the President of Commercial and Allied Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (CAWUZ), a splinter trade association of the ZCTU he formed after his fallout with main trade union body.

MATABELELAND North Provincial Development Coordinator, Ms Latiso Dlamini, who is being sued by a Bulawayo woman for $500 000 in damages for allegedly engaging in an adulterous relationship with her husband of 21 years, is challenging the lawsuit.

The aggrieved woman, Mrs Siboniso Lesley Maseko (nee Gumede), is accusing her rival Ms Dlamini of Khumalo suburb in Bulawayo of having a love affair with her husband Brigadier-General Simo Maseko. 

Mrs Maseko said their marriage was solemnised in terms of Chapter 5:11 of the Marriages Act on December 20 in 1998.

Ms Dlamini, through her lawyers Dube-Banda, Nzarayapenga and Partners, has filed opposing papers challenging the lawsuit.

In her defendant’s plea, she said she was not aware that Brig-Gen Maseko was married to the plaintiff when they fell in love.

“At the time Simo Maseko and I got to know each other, I was not aware of his marriage to the plaintiff (Mrs Maseko). It is after sometime that I learnt of their separation, which had been ongoing for a period of four years,” said Ms Dlamini.

She said Mrs Maseko has been harassing her at both her workplace and residential place. Ms Dlamini said the money that Mrs Maseko is demanding from her was not justified. 

She wants the court to dismiss Mrs Maseko’s application with costs, arguing that the claims are baseless.

“There is no justification for the amount claimed as damages for contumelia. Equally, I submit that I am not liable for any loss of comfort or companionship for a husband I have not lived with for a period exceeding four years. It is my position that there is no basis for the claim of damages, which are not of my doing,” she said.

Mrs Maseko, through her lawyer Mr Godfrey Nyoni of Moyo and Nyoni Law Firm last year filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Ms Dlamini as a defendant.

In papers before the court, Mrs Maseko said she discovered that Ms Dlamini and Brig-Gen Maseko have been seeing each other since 2017. She said the two suspected lovers would meet at the defendant’s house among other secluded places.

“On diverse occasions and at various places including but not limited to Ms Dlamini’s place of residence, the defendant committed and still continues to commit adultery with my husband, Simo Maseko,” said Mrs Maseko.

She said despite Ms Dlamini being aware of their marriage, she remains defiant.

Mr Nyoni said as a result of Ms Dlamini’s actions, his client has suffered damages amounting to $500 000.

“As a result of the defendant’s actions, plaintiff has suffered damages for contumelia in the sum of $300 000. My client has furthermore suffered damages for loss of comfort, society, companionship and services of her husband in the sum of $200 000,” he said.

Mr Nyoni said Mrs Maseko wants the $500 000 to be paid with an interest of five percent calculated from the date of issue of summons to the date of full payment. 

She also wants the court to order Ms Dlamini to pay the legal costs she incurred.

State Media|THE Government has warned teachers against abusing pupils to further personal agendas saying there are many lawful channels to air their grievances without involving the learners.

This follows last week’s incident where a science teacher at Njube High School in Bulawayo, Mr Brian Mutsiba, allegedly mobilised and incited 153 Form One, Form Three and Form Six pupils to demonstrate against purported “fees increase and poor teachers” remunerations among others issues.

Mr Mutsiba has been on the run since last week’s protests which, according to latest information, was stage managed.

Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo said it was inexcusable for teachers to sacrifice learners to advance their personal interests.

“Teachers should not use school children to push their demands. They have got their unions and they have so many channels through which they can air their views without involving pupils. It becomes very unfair to use pupils. They should not sacrifice learners to achieve their objectives. We expect professional conduct from our teachers and we expect them to follow the normal procedures of grievance resolutions that are provided for at law,” he said.

Moyo said Government was closely following social media reports that schools in Bulawayo would stage a demonstration on Monday next week.

He said he was convinced that some anti-Government elements wanted to use minors as a shield to cause anarchy in the city.

“I think it’s now people who want to abuse the innocence of our children. I don’t think it’s our learners who are organising this thing. We are monitoring the situation. The message to school heads is that they have to keep a lookout for such conduct. We don’t prevent teachers from airing their views but they should not use schoolchildren. To pupils, they should not let teachers use them to solve their problems as this will disturb their education, it will disturb their careers,” said Moyo.

He urged parents to discourage their children from participating in illegal protests.

Meanwhile, Moyo said Mr Mutsiba is facing charges of mobilising children to partake in action outside the school’s authority and that of their parents.

He said if Mr Mutsiba remains absent from work for two weeks without justified reason, his salary will be docked.

“In terms of Statutory Instrument 1 of 2000, if someone is absent from work for a continuous period of 14 days without good cause or without permission his salary is supposed to be stopped. And he would then be charged for absenteeism. If he still wants his job he should have come forward and explained what really happened but his absence is now compounding the narrative that he organised the demonstration which is outside his normal course of duty,” Moyo said.

State Media|GOVERNMENT and its workers yesterday agreed on an increased pay package, understood to be more than double the pay of the lowest paid, but failed to agree when it can get into effect.

The Apex Council – an umbrella body representing all civil servants – wants the new pay scales to be backdated to January 1 this year but the Government wants to stagger the increase over several months with the full new scales coming into effect in April.

A meeting was held in Victoria Falls yesterday between the Apex Council and a nine-member team seconded by Government under the National Joint Negotiating Forum.

Speaking to our Harare Bureau after the meeting, Apex Council secretary-general Mr David Dzatsunga said they agreed on the new package but the dispute was now on the implementation date.

“We agreed to disagree,” he said. “As the Apex Council, we want the new package to be effected from 1 January 2020 and Government is saying it can stagger the payment up to April. We said that is not possible in this hyper-inflationary environment. We agree to wait and see what will happen because we could not sign for that staggered arrangement. 

“The ball is now in the Government’s court because these workers are working for the same Government. They have children who are not going to school now and it’s a cross that the employer should carry and see to it that the welfare of its workers is taken care of.”

Mr Dzatsunga refused to reveal the package offered by Government, saying doing so would lead to speculative tendencies on the market. 

However, it is speculated that the new pay offer will see the lowest paid Government worker earning at least $2 200 a month and probably more; a previous Government offer would have effectively doubled pay for the lowest paid.

Asked on their next move if Government sticks to its guns, Mr Dzatsunga said: “We believe Government has to do something if they want this country to work. They have to come with a survival package for the workers. The workers are struggling and Government as the employer should be sensitive to the plight of its workers.”

Mr Dzatsunga said the negotiating team from the Government was composed of people who could not make substantive decisions.

He said it was more ideal if such meetings could be attended by people like Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube who have a final say on how the Government purse is used.

Mr Dzatsunga denied allegations that they were abusing money by having their meeting in the resort town of Victoria Falls. The employees team was already in Victorial Falls for another workshop.

“Even in a crisis situation, people need to plan things,” he said. “We are here for our workshop that we planned last year with all stakeholders that have to do with Government workers salaries such as medical aid societies among others. Even the International Labour Organisation and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions are also here for that workshop. So it is not like we are here specifically for the salaries meeting only or that we are holidaying but we are having this meeting on the sidelines of our long pre-planned workshop.”

Zimbabweans are protesting after Chief Justice Luke Malaba invited a Ugandan judge to train judges ahead of the establishment of anti-corruption courts. The chief justice said Uganda had waged war against corruption and the head of its anti-corruption court, Justice Lawrence Gidudu, would run a training course for Zimbabwean judges, magistrates and other officials, Zimbabwe’s state-owned Herald newspaper reported.

Zimbabwe’s decision to establish special courts to deal with corruption cases comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared corruption as the country’s biggest enemy, the newspaper reported.

The Zimbabwean information ministry’s permanent secretary, Nick Mangwana, tweeted the article. However, the news was not received well by Zimbabweans online who said Uganda was not the best country to learn from:

“Please stop wasting people’s resources. Do we actually need the assistance of Uganda to eradicate corruption in Zimbabwe?” Leonard Koni wrote.

“Uganda, anti-corruption…. How did you manage to put the two words in the same sentence NICK? Look at the countries you looking at for advice and help,” TB Mandlazi wrote.

“Uganda is not a good example of countries fighting corruption Maybe Rwanda, Singapore, Netherlands, Malaysia etc not these Museveni chaps. We’re very far from fully launching the fight against corruption,” Takudzwa Munangwa wrote.

“But why Uganda why not Rwanda or Kenya or South Africa,” Nelson Tuwadya wondered.

“Africa’s Least Corrupt Countries 1. Seychelles 2. Botswana 3. Cape Verde 4. Rwanda 5. Mauritius 6. Sao Tome and Principe 7. Namibia 8. Senegal. Source: Transparency International Corruption Perception Index,” Tarrysnun wrote.

Zimbabwe’s Chief Justice Luke Malaba told journalists that Justice Lawrence Gidudu, who heads Uganda’s anti-corruption court, will conduct a week-long training course in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.

Justice Malaba said Zimbabwe has a lot to learn from Uganda that has prosecuted and jailed corrupt people for years.

Uganda was ranked better that Zimbabwe in Transparency International’s 2019 corruption perception index.

Uganda was number 137 out of 180 countries while Zimbabwe was number 158. But Zimbabwe’s neighbouring countries – Botswana, Namibia and South Africa – were ranked better than Uganda by far.

Acting President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, gained custody of the couple’s three children on Friday last week, as part of an initially agreed out-of-court settlement, which was, however, aborted after the former army chief made a dramatic volte-face on Monday.

Family sources said there were negotiations between the Chiwenga and Mubaiwa families for an out-of-court settlement of their nasty divorce case in which the two are washing dirty linen in public, accusing each other of violence, drug abuse and witchcraft.The custody of the three minor children is one of the issues at the centre of the raging divorce case.

Chiwenga last week claimed he took the children out of the country on holiday in 2019 after he found them highly traumatised by what he described as his wife’s witchcraft practices.

According to insiders, the two families held negotiations throughout the day on Friday via an emissary only identified as Mupostori Shumba, who is said to have been asked to mediate by Chiwenga’s friends, among them, tycoon Kuda Tagwirei, who do not want their names tarnished in court.

Tagwirei has already been sucked into the matter after Marry indicated that one of the cars they are wrangling over, a top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz S600 sedan, was bought by the fuel mogul.

Mupostori Shumba, sources said, was chosen as the mediator because he is also well-known to the Mubaiwas.The source said Mupostori Shumba spent the better part of last Friday shuttling between Chiwenga’s secretive Borrowdale house, where he has been staying since his return from a complex medical procedure in China in November last year, and the Mubaiwas.

“He (the madiator) first went to Chiwenga’s new residence before he met Marry and her family at a house in Newlands. All negotiations were conducted through him. He practically spent the whole day moving up and down,” a source said.

“As of Friday night, there was an agreement for an out-of-court settlement and, as part of that, Chiwenga had agreed to let Marry have custody of the children which is now the case. Basically, Marry wanted the general to first withdraw the criminal charges levelled against her and to agree on a property-sharing plan,” the source said.

“The impression we got from Mupostori Shumba was that Chiwenga was amenable to that arrangement as well. Marry actually said that it was not originally in her plans to divorce and say all the nasty things in public but she felt that since he had started it all, she had to respond in kind. So at the end of the day everyone thought progress had been made, only for us to get the shock of our lives when his lawyer on Monday told newspapers that Chiwenga was itching for a showdown with her in court,” the source added.

“There are suspicions that may have been influenced by some of his friends between Friday night and Monday to have a change of heart, from the look of things, which is very unfortunate considering the plight of the children in the whole drama.”

The source further said the warring parties had even agreed to allow their lawyers to work on a deed of settlement and finalise it in seven days.

“The negotiations ended with an agreement to allow lawyers from both parties to work on a deed of settlement which was supposed to be deliberated on by both parties over the weekend, but everything now appears to be in jeopardy,” the source said.

Last week, Marry, who was in the company of her lawyer Advocate Taona Nyamakura, appeared before High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube-Banda but the matter was not deliberated on after the parties agreed to attempt to settle the matter out of court.

Marry is claiming an equivalent of US$40 000 per month as maintenance for her upkeep and a total of US$7 500 per month for her three children, which money she said should be paid at the interbank rate.

Besides the claim of monthly maintenance, Marry also said her husband should be ordered to pay for the family’s holidays, school and medical expenses and casual clothes, all running into thousands of United States dollars.

-AMH

State Media|Government has set a target to build at least 100 000 houses every year, while at the same time intensifying the war against land barons.

Plans are afoot to introduce a new rule under which both the land baron and the one who buys fraudulently acquired land will be prosecuted.

To achieve the target of 100 000 houses, Government says it plans to avail land to private businesses with the necessary financial resources who will service the stands under a public private partnership.

Again, the Government will set minimum standards for the houses and flats in line with President Mnangwagwa’s vision for Zimbabwe to attain middle income economy status by 2030.

Yesterday, during a tour of Mabvazuva Housing Scheme under Goromonzi Rural District Council, Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe said the council’s partnership with Exodus and Company was an example of how public private partnerships can work.

“They (Exodus and Company) are basically developing land which we availed to them, providing on-site and off-site infrastructure, roads, water and sewer reticulation. We have actually added another requirement, renewable energy. Going to 2030 we need at least modernity in terms of design and modernity in terms of materials that are being used.

“We also need houses or structures that stand the effects of climate change and we have a standard design that we have agreed on with developers.

“The target that we were given by Government is 100 000 per year, but because of other challenges, if we achieve between 20 000 to 30 000 per year we would have done well.”

Minister Garwe said land barons will be tracked and prosecuted.

“Gone are the days where people are going to be buying stands from illegal dealers or land barons; that is a thing of the past.

“Anyone who is going to be seen or if we hear that there is a transaction between a home-seeker and an illegal land developer, both of them will go to jail because the home-seeker would have participated in an illegal deal knowing very well that he or she is being fleeced.

“We do not want to continue aiding the enemy or land baron in fleecing the home-seekers of their hard earned money. Caledonia is a classic example of how people have been fleeced of their hard-earned money,” he said.

Minister Garwe said the issue of land barons requires a collective approach.

“One of the issues we must address collectively is this issue of land barons. We know they were created a couple of years back.

“They are causing confusion, fleecing money from desperate home-seekers. That is going to be a thing of the past.

“We are aware of the settlements where land barons have been championing developments which are illegal right now, where there is no development, no roads, no sewers. There is absolutely nothing,” he said.

Minister Garwe said people who have already built houses will not have these demolished, but Government will chip in to assist in regularisation, specifically in the provision of the required services like roads and water network systems.

“Where there is need to provide such facilities (roads), we may need to demolish a house or two because there must be a road. In such cases people will be compensated,” he said.

Exodus and Company yesterday handed over 180 commonage residential stands to the Government which were received by Minister Garwe, who said civil servants will be accorded top priority in getting them.

State Media|ZIMBABWE and Chinese authorities are encouraging travellers between the two countries to either delay or cancel unnecessary journeys to stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) which has killed 81 people in the Asian country from 2 886 confirmed cases of infection in the past month.

Surveillance systems in Zimbabwe have also been activated with special focus being put on the main ports of entry and exit; Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Joshua Nkomo International Airport and Victoria Falls and Beitbridge ground ports.

This comes as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Sunday announced a US$10 million commitment in emergency funds and additional technical support to help responders in China and Africa contain the spread of the 2019-nCoV.

In a statement, the foundation said US$5 million will go to China while the other half will assist the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in scaling up public health measures against 2019-nCoV among African Union (AU) member states.

“These measures will include technical support to implement the screening and treatment of suspected cases, laboratory confirmation of 2019-nCoV diagnoses and the safe isolation and care of identified cases,” said the foundation.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has confirmed that Zimbabwe is under threat from the disease due to its close relations with China.

Zimbabwe, however, does not have direct flights to and from China, which minimises the risk.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo yesterday toured Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport’s surveillance section to assess the screening of people coming into Zimbabwe.

Dr Moyo said he was happy with the process adding that they were going to perfect some of the areas.

“It is necessary that as the Ministry of Health and Government of Zimbabwe that we protect our nation against any outbreaks of diseases and at this particular instance we are dealing and talking about the novel Coronavirus.

“The epicentre at the moment is Wuhan Province in China and we are very happy that we have been communicating with the Chinese Embassy and they have also advised us that they have also put a delay in travel and cancelling unnecessary travels to Zimbabwe so that is good.

“There are Zimbabweans who are also living in China and some who fly to China for business, we have heard one or two cases and we are currently monitoring them.

“We have to make sure that we have all the equipment necessary to detect any persons or visitors to make sure that they do not

and so we are making sure that our airports are well covered and that our personnel are well-trained in the processes of checking on all those who are coming to Zimbabwe,” he said.

Although no cases are confirmed in African nations, health officials in Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday said they were investigating a suspected case of a student arriving in Abidjan from Wuhan, the Chinese province at the epicentre of the outbreak. It is the first such case on the continent.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

The virus is highly contagious and there is no cure for Coronavirus as with most viral infections.

So far, only experimental treatments have been used in China with success in stabilising patients.

An ARV, Kaletra (ritonavir and lopinavir) has been used.

Coronavirus symptoms include pneumonia, high fever, flu like symptoms, chest pains, diarrhoea and shortness of breath.

Precautions include covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing, washing hands the same way as people do when guarding against cholera and typhoid.

Although Zimbabwe is located thousands of miles away from the source of the coronavirus, it remains at great risk considering the volume of traffic the country gets from China for tourism and business.

A novel coronavirus, is a new strain of virus that has not been previously identified in human beings.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care said in the case of the disease spreading to Zimbabwe, it was prepared to deal with it despite the difficult operating environment.

Since last week, almost 70 people who arrived from Wuhan have been under monitoring for the signs and symptoms of the rare respiratory infection.

The people will be monitored for 21 days although they are not under quarantine. They are however, expected to inform the Ministry of Health of their whereabouts and are encouraged to report any symptoms.

Minister Moyo said the ministry was making all efforts to make sure the virus did not end up in Zimbabwe.

Seven machete makers, who were arrested last week at Siyaso in Mbare, Harare, on suspicion of supplying machetes to armed robbers and criminals in mining communities, were on Saturday remanded in custody.

Last week, police recovered 31 machetes during a raid in Mbare.

Siyaso is a home industry where a range of items are made and machetes cost between US$6 and US$10.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that the suspects appeared in court.

“Members of the public with information on people supplying machetes and other criminal activities should inform their nearest police stations,” he said.

Last week, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga spoke against the wave of machete attacks during a tour of Gweru Central Police Station by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe.

Police officers commanding districts have prohibited for three months the carrying of weapons such as machetes, knives, catapults, swords and knobkerries

Asst Comm Nyathi urged the public to heed prohibition notices in their areas.

Failure to comply with the order, he said, will render one guilty of an offence that attracts a jail term.

Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga said: “Without mincing my words, I am disgusted by the violent nature of machete-wielding criminals who are threatening to turn our country into an unsafe and uninhabitable place.

“Over the past few weeks, cases of these criminal elements masquerading as gold panners have been on the increase. Consequently, we have recorded a surge in cases of murder, rape, armed robbery, among other illicit activities. Apart from terrorising communities, day and night, these hooligans are also invading legal mining claims killing many, including taking the lives of police officers. This is unacceptable. We can never allow criminals to do as they please while creating war zones.”

Comm-Gen Matanga said the machete attackers’ days were “absolutely numbered”.