By A Correspondent- Raunchy dancer and singer Beverly “Bev” Sibanda, who has over the years entertained local men with her sexually-charged dances, yesterday tied the knot with a United Kingdom-based medical doctor Chambuka Mupudzi at the Harare Magistrates Court.
A source close to the development told a local publication that Bev’s marriage to Mupudzi was solemnised at the court after the latter paid lobola at Bev’s family village in Silobela two weeks ago.
“She is no longer the same Bev we used to know after lobola was paid about two weeks ago in Silobela. The guy is a doctor in the United Kingdom and was in the country for the better part of the festive season,” the source said.
He highlighted that Bev’s new husband was well aware of her profession and it was something that he had accepted, so it was highly unlikely that the marriage would crumble for that reason.
“Her fiancée is aware of her lifestyle and he fully understands the nature of her profession because when he entered into the relationship, he knew very well that Bev was an artiste so there are no problems likely to crack the marriage,” the source said.
Bev’s manager, Harpers Mapimhidze, who also confirmed the wedding, congratulated the dancer.
“We say congratulations to Bev; she has done something appreciable in the showbiz industry. I urge fellow dancers to follow suit since this is something good,” he said.
“Those promoters who had booked Bev in advance, we are going to fulfil all contractual agreements because she will not be exiting the dance floor anytime soon.”
Many people had dismissed the Sexy Angels leader as unlikely material for marriage, and with Bev herself having earlier indicated that marriage was not a priority as she wanted to take her time to find new love.
NewsDay Life & Style understands that the groom will fly back to his UK base in a few days’ time, while Bev will remain behind sorting out her travel documents so that she will be able to join her husband.
“The husband will be travelling back to work soon in UK, so Bev will be visiting him frequently before maybe she relocates as what has been said by the husband,” said another source. Before walking down the aisle yesterday, the mother of one had previously been associated with a number of men who included popular South Africa-based Kwekwe businessman, arts promoter Boss Agrippa, national team footballer Khama Billiat and fellow singer Andy Muridzo.
The three MDC members who clashed with ZANU PF supporters in Mbare will appear in court today after they were arrested on Wednesday on allegations that they assaulting ZANU PF party supporters who were reportedly conducting a clean-up exercise in the area.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Wednesday arrested Jonathan Taiziwei, aged 25 years and Cleopas Chinodya, aged 32 years, who both reside at Nenyere Flats in Mbare high-density suburb and Elia Mutsindi, aged 28 years of Budiriro high-density suburb in Harare and charged them with assault as defined in section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
ZRP officers alleged that Taiziwei, Chinodya and Mutsindi, who are informal traders operating in Mbare assaulted some ZANU PF party supporters, who were clad in the ruling party’s regalia after they visited their stall, where they operate from claiming to be conducting a clean-up exercise in the high density.
The ZANU PF party supporters claimed that the informal traders’ stock of tyres and tubes was rubbish that should be thrown away and started destroying some sheds housing their wares by cutting down poles and removing some iron sheets. This compelled the trio to go to Matapi Police Station in Mbare to file a report concerning the destruction of their property.
As Taiziwei, Chinodya and Mutsindi arrived at Matapi Police Station, a group of some ZANU PF party supporters then appeared at the police station, where some of them alleged that the trio had thrown stones and injured one of them.
This led police officers to arrest the trio before pressing assault charges against them.
Taiziwei, Chinodya and Mutsindi, who were transferred from Matapi Police Station to Harare Central Police, where they are currently detained, are expected to appear in court today.
By Jane Mlambo| Unconfirmed reports indicate that Masimba Construction formerly Murray and Roberts employees are selling cement and diesel meant for road rehabilitation programme in the process stalling progress to restore infrastructure in the cyclone ravaged district of Chimanimani.
In a message posted on Chimanimani Updates Facebook page, one Lovex Kimbini Itai said he has it on good authority that Masimba Construction employees were selling a bag of cement for USD$5 while a litre of diesel was going for USD$1.
Skyline Road, Masimba Construction has once again let us down, I hear they are selling cement meant for construction @ 5usd per bag in the location, diesel @ $1usd per litre zvavo,” said Lovex Kimbini before posting pictures of an incomplete bridge.
A bag of cement costs between USD$8 and USD$10 in hardwares while fuel is being sold for ZWL$18.90 for diesel which is below USD$1 at parallel market rates.
Early this week, transport minister Biggie Matiza visited Chimanimani to assess progress made in the rehabilitation of roads following a disastrous cyclone idai that left over 500 people dead while road infrastructure worth millions of dollars was destroyed.
Efforts to get a comment from Masimba Construction are still underway.
Own Correspondent|Residents of Diepsloot informal settlement north of Johannesburg, South Africa have threatened to continue protesting until Police Minister Bheki CeleBheki visits the area to deal with high levels of crime.
They went on the rampage on Thursday, barricading roads with burning objects.
They are demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the area, accusing them of being responsible for the crime.
About 10 people have been killed in the area recently, including a police captain.
Protestors blocked the main road and the R511.
They want undocumented foreigners to leave the area.
“This is not a xenophobic [attack]. As South Africans, we are more advanced and can speak English and sophisticated words like xenophobia. But there is a problem,” one resident said.
They want immigration offices, the police’s tactical response team and soldiers to be deployed to the area.
Residents also set alight temporary churches along the main road, saying they are hiding criminals.
FORMER Zanu PF Harare provincial commissar Shadreck Mashayamombe has opened the lid on how the ruling party used land to buy votes ahead of national elections.
Mashayamombe is one of the key members of the G40 cabal that had coalesced around the late former President Robert Mugabe and his wife, former First Lady Grace, and was involved in massive campaigns for the ruling party in the capital.
Amid suspicion of vote-buying by Zanu PF using land, Mashayamombe confirmed yesterday that the ruling party won some seats in and around Harare in previous elections using land as a bait.
This corroborates a report by the land audit chaired by Justice Tendai Uchena that also confirmed use of State land for votes.
“My biggest question about the land commission is that why is the report not published properly so that every interested person can access it? This is political and it exposes how our institutions are captured because some of those accused were never summoned by the commission to give their side of the story,” Mashayamombe, who is reportedly facing arrest over land issues, said.
“All those 137 co-operatives’ leadership who are being sacrificed today were used to mobilise votes for Zanu PF in peri-urban areas. Now they are being dumped.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year instituted a commission to probe the issue of land in the country and was presented with a report by Justice Uchena that said government lost more than $3 billion in potential revenue to land barons.
The report implicates several former Zanu PF bigwigs, including Mashayamombe, former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, Grace, among others who are reportedly facing arrest.
Zanu PF national commissar Victor Matemadanda yesterday said he was not involved when land was used as a vote-buring gimmick.
“I was not part of that. I wouldn’t want to comment on what I don’t know and what I was not part of. You need to ask those who were sending them,” he said.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya-Moyo was not picking calls yesterday.
Observers have often accused Zanu PF of creating land barons while pushing to garner votes, particularly ahead of the 2013 harmonised elections.
The Justice Uchena report read in part: “The commission established with serious concern that most new residential estates on urban State land throughout the country have no services such as roads, water reticulation, sewage reticulation and amenities, yet these settlements are already occupied.
“The identification and occupation of farms in and around urban areas was a complex process which involved creation of new urban settlements by aspiring or sitting Members of Parliament as a way of mobilising political support, abuse of political office in the allocation and appropriation of urban State land.”
The report further stated that there was use of names of top ruling party leadership to exert undue influence on government institutions and processes.
Detective captain Oupa Matjie from Diepsloot police station was shot dead on January 17 while tracing suspects. FILE PHOTO/ANA
Own Correspondent| – Representatives of the Zimbabwean community living in South Africa said on Thursday they were “furious” that some of the alleged killers of Diepsloot policeman Oupa Matjie were Zimbabwean.
“We are saddened and furious that the alleged murderers are said to be Zimbabwean nationals,” said community spokesperson Bongani Mazwi Mkwananzi.
“We as the Zimbabwean community in South Africa express our sincerest condolences to his family, to the SAPS and the South African nation at large.”
The 54-year-old detective captain was shot dead on January 17 while tracing suspects with a colleague.
Four men have so far been arrested for the crime.
The Zimbabwean community “abhorred and loathed” criminals, according to Mkwananzi, who added that community members distanced themselves from any of their fellow citizens that committed crime in South Africa.
“[They] tarnish the good name of the majority of our countrymen who are hard working and earn their living honestly. The stiffest and harshest punishment must be meted out to those criminal elements who create environments of fear amongst the communities where Zimbabweans and South Africans live harmoniously with each other.
“We implore the community not to see such disdainful conduct as representative of the Zimbabwean community but as acts of very few criminal elements in our community whom Zimbabweans are also daily victims of. Therefore, whatever wrath there may be must be directed at criminals, via the law agencies, and not at ordinary Zimbabwean nationals.”
Mkwananzi said they were organising a crime summit in Johannesburg’s Berea on February 6 to deal with issues of crime, and urged all stakeholders to participate.
“Crime is crime and these criminals do not segregate their victims by nationality.”
MAPUTO – AT least 28 people have been killed and more than 58 800 affected in the latest floods to hit the disaster-prone Mozambique.
Some 66 people have been injured during the crisis affecting regions still recovering from the Cylones Idai and Kenneth early last year.
The Cabo Delgado, Sofala and Zambezia provinces are the hardest-hit but Gaza, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa and Tete are also affected.
More than 10 200 houses have been damaged or destroyed, including 2 589 completely shattered, and at least 47 schools have been affected.
In Zambezia, the province with the highest number of people affected, flooding since the beginning of 2020 has damaged infrastructure, destroyed crops and led to displacement.
Nearly 2 300 hectares of crops are currently flooded, less than two months before the planned harvest.
In Cabo Delgado, the United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, is concerned the crisis may heighten the needs of the estimated 60 000 people displaced or affected by violence in the province since October 2017.
About 4 000 hectares of agriculture are flooded, electricity poles felled and several bridges damaged.
In Sofala, over 3 000 shelters housing people affected by previous cyclones as well as clinics and hundreds of latrines destroyed.
Mozambique declared a state of emergency at the end of December.
The floods are a major blow to Mozambique, one of several countries affected by years of droughts.
Some 602 people died in Mozambique after Idai struck Mozambique last March. Kenneth killed 52 people when it landed in April.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) will most likely appoint the senior national team coach by Wednesday next week.
This was revealed in a media statement issued by Zifa’s communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela on Thursday afternoon.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) wishes to advise the nation that the appointment of the senior men’s national team coach is work in progress and will be concluded soon. As the football mother body, we are fully conscious of the upcoming Warriors fixtures and the Executive Committee will meet Wednesday next week to conclude the matter,” said Gwesela.
Coaches that applied for the Warriors’ job include Dutchman Erol Akbay, Spaniard Manuel “Manolo” Marquez Roca, Hans Michael Weiss of Germany, Kosta Papic of Serbia and Zdravko Logarusic of Croatia.
FORMER Zanu-PF MP for Highfields West, Psychology Maziwisa, has been fired by former First Lady Grace Mugabe from his recently appointed role as General Manager at Alpha Omega dairies over suspected cases of alleged thefts of money and ice creams.
Impeccable sources within the Mazowe-based business operation owned by the Mugabe family have revealed how Maziwisa, who recently sold a house he had bought for his son as he fell on hard times, had been appointed into the job by Grace Mugabe based on their previous “good working relationship in the G40 faction” of Zanu-PF.
When President Emmerson Mnangagwa replaced the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017, most of the G40 kingpins fled the country, but some like Maziwisa stayed put and maintained a low profile as they were not perceived to be a threat to the new leaders at the Zanu-PF headquarters.
Maziwisa, a lawyer by training but who hardly made a name in the profession as he went straight into Zanu-PF politics, then fell on hard times and got a job at the dairy facility founded by Mugabe and his wife.
However, Grace Mugabe in an intriguing turn of events yesterday fired Maziwisa “after it was discovered that he was stealing money from ice cream sales,” Zimbabwe Voice has been told.
“He (Maziwisa) was working with his IT counterpart named Amon Saizi, who is an elder at the ZAOGA and a friend to Simba Chikore,” Zimbabwe Voice heard.
Chikore, who is married to Grace Mugabe’s only daughter Bona, comes from a powerful ZAOGA family.
“Saizi was brought by Simba to be his spy in the company but later teamed up with Mazivisa and started stealing both cash and the ice-cream boxes.
“EcoCash sales would be remitted to their numbers and they would spent the money,” it has been revealed.
Chikore is said to be keeping a close tab on the Gushungo Holdings businesses as he invested his money into some of the projects.
Meanwhile, Maziwisa has been also accused of taking money from cattle sales to fix his personal car.
“There has been a massive abuse of property by some of the top managers at the Gushungo Farm ever since the Mugabes lost power in November 2017. It’s like a free-for-all moment for the workers, as Grace herself is also unwilling to review salaries and allowances despite the poor economic situation.”
Meanwhile, Grace Mugabe’s personal driver has also been accused of bedding a girlfriend in the car which is used by the former First Lady.
A married commercial sex worker from Bulawayo who stole US$4 000 from her client, has been sentenced to four years in jail.
Enelles Tshabangu (26) of Entumbane stole the money from Mr Zamani Mpofu (33) of Richmond who had hired her for the night and paid US$10.
Tshabangu was convicted on her own plea to theft by Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.
She was sentenced to four years imprisonment but six months of the sentence were suspended on condition she does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
A further 18 months were suspended on condition that Tshabangu restitutes Mr Mpofu ZW$60 499 on or before February 27 this year through the Clerk of Court.
The remaining 24 months of the sentence were suspended on condition that Tshabangu performs 630 hours of community service at Manyewu Primary School. Sentencing Tshabangu, Ms Dube said she had considered that the accused was a first offender who had pleaded guilty to the charge and therefore did not waste the court’s time.
She also considered that Tshabangu was a mother of three children and that her husband whose name was not mentioned in court, had agreed to restitute Mr Mpofu in instalments.
Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Solani said on January 11 this year at around 2AM, Mr Mpofu was in a bar in the city centre drinking beer. He then approached Tshabangu and the two agreed to spend the night together at Tshabangu’s place.
Mr Mpofu paid Tshabangu US$20 and was given US$10 change because Tshabangu charged US$10 for the service.
The two then had sex before Mr Mpofu fell asleep. Tshabangu took advantage of this to search the pockets of Mr Mpofu’s pair of trousers and stole US$4 010 and an Itel cellphone.
She then sneaked out of the house and hired a taxi to a lodge in the Central Business District. When Mr Mpofu woke up at around 4AM, he discovered that his money and cell phone were missing and reported the theft to the police leading to Tshabangu’s arrest.
GOVERNMENT is working on regulations to allow locals with foreign currency the option to pay for passports in forex in a bid to speed up the process and clear the huge backlog.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said there is a passport backlog of between 350 000 and 400 000 passports.
Last year, Government authorised the charging of US$318 for passport applicants in the Diaspora and said the applications will be prioritised.
Speaking after a familiarisation tour of the registry and immigration offices in Gweru yesterday, Minister Kazembe said his ministry had been approached by locals willing to pay for passports in foreign currency to access the much needed travel document.
He said those with no access to forex will continue paying in local currency.
The Minister said since Government had outlawed the use of foreign currency, it will take a Statutory Instrument to allow those with free funds to pay for their passports in forex.
“Government is working out strategies to clear the passport backlog and increase daily production because we remain committed to ensuring that every citizen who needs a passport gets one without hurdles. So soon if approved by the responsible authority, we want a new Statutory Instrument that allows locals with foreign currency to pay for the production of the document. At the moment we all know that it is illegal for locals to pay for the production of the passport using any foreign currency. That is one way to speed up the production of the document because the material we use in the production of the passport is imported and needs foreign currency,” he said.
Minister Kazembe said passports being printed now were those applied for in October 2018.
He said there is a huge backlog which needs to be cleared as a matter of urgency so that people are granted their Constitutional right to access the travelling document.
“Clearing the passport backlog is Government’s number one priority as we speak and that is why we have embarked on this tour of provinces so that we get the feel of what is happening on the ground while listening to challenges, advice and contributions from the people which we will take back and work on lasting solutions to this passport backlog problem,” said Minister Kazembe.
He said locals who cannot afford to pay in foreign currency will not be forced to do so.
“As you know it is illegal to transact in foreign currency meaning if we have this new Statutory Instrument, locals who can’t raise foreign currency will not be forced to do so. This will be only for those who can afford and need their passports quickly,” he said.
Turning to corruption at the immigration and passport offices, Minister Kazembe said members of the public should assist Government in fighting the scourge by reporting corrupt officials.
“Without members of the public alerting us about suspected corruption, we won’t get to the bottom of it. If you are asked to pay a bribe, you need to report that official as soon as possible,” he said.
Mrs Respect Gono, the chief immigration officer told the minister that they had been forced to centralise some services in Harare to curb rampant corruption in her department.
“We were forced to take some immigration services to Harare because of corruption in the regional offices. But we have managed to clean out the rotten apples and we are in the process of decentralising immigration services,” she said.
Minister Kazembe was accompanied by his deputy Mike Madiro, Registrar-General Mr Clement Masango and the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Larry Mavima.
THE Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda on Tuesday visited families affected by floods in Hwange town.
Advocate Mudenda who said a total of 101 families were affected by the floods, said the families are in urgent need of assistance.
A total of 35 families have been moved from their flooded houses and are now accommodated at the Hwange Colliery Company guest house.
Heavy downpours of up to 139mm pounded Hwange town on Saturday in just three hours resulting in flash floods which damaged homes and property including a stockpile of coal at Hwange Power Station.
“The official number that I was given is 101 families that have been affected by the recent flash floods. As one of the leaders born here in Hwange I came to find out how victims are coping with the tragedy and also how the corporate world and CPC ( District Civil Protection Committee) are responding,” said Adv Mudenda.
He said it was important for the CPC to list the number of victims according to sex, age and other details to enable Government to determine the kind of assistance the victims need.
Advocate Mudenda said such information was also required by donors so that they can mobilise the required resources to assist the victims.
He applauded Hwange Colliery for responding quickly to the plight of victims and urged other corporates to complement such efforts.
Advocate Mudenda said most affected families were those of Colliery employees and the houses also belong to the company and as such the company was expected to play a leading role in the rescue operation.
“We however expect other local companies to complement these efforts by assisting the affected families as a way of ploughing back to communities they operate in,” said Adv Mudenda.
Affected families told Adv Mudenda that their children lost books and other important documents as a result of the floods.
THE number of illegal miners arrested countrywide in the week-long police operation to restore law and order in mining communities has risen to 1 823 with the latest batch including a suspected member of the Ziga machete gang that allegedly killed Constable Wonder Hokoyo at Battlefields recently.
Lloyd Kasena (age not given) was arrested in Shamva after being linked to the case and was yesterday still assisting police with investigations.
Kasena’s arrest comes after Phelandaba Tshuma (32), the suspected ringleader of the Ziga machete gang, was arrested last week.
Tshuma was arrested at his hideout in Rushinga, after he attempted to flee and was shot.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests yesterday.
“Of interest is the arrest of one Lloyd Kasena who belongs to a machete gang called Ziga. He was on police’s most wanted list for the murder of Constable Wonder Hokoyo and has since confessed to that.
“He also has cases of attempted murder and assault committed in 2018 and six cases of robbery which occurred in 2019.
“He is the one in the video that recently went viral on social media while holding a Colombian knife and wearing blue a T-shirt, shouting ‘Ziga’, in the company of Phelandaba Tshuma,” he said.
Kasena will appear in court soon once investigations are complete.
Asst Comm Nyathi confirmed that police had now arrested 1 823 suspected illegal miners during the ongoing operation code-named “Chikorokoza Ngachipere/No to Machete Gangs”.
“We would like to urge licensed miners and farmers to report any illegal miners and machete gangs that are hiding on their farms. So far there is compliance at Jumbo Mine and ZRP is on top of the situation,” he said.
Police recently sealed off Jumbo Mine in Mazowe, a move aimed at restoring law and order to the area.
Jumbo Mine has been a haven for illegal activities with a high prevalence of machete wars that claimed lives and injured many.
Meanwhile, police this week arrested 45 illegal gold panners and eight vendors at Vhovha Mine in Gwanda, while five more were arrested for disorderly conduct.
“Mining implements, dangerous weapons such as axes, knobkerries, iron bars and an assortment of food stuffs, drinks, soap, and liquor were recovered in the process,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
State Media|FORMER police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri allegedly pocketed US$4 million collected as deposit fees for a housing scheme for 900 low-ranking police officers in Hatcliffe.
According to a report by the Land Commission set to investigate abuse of State land, the money cannot be accounted for while there are only two show houses and a few roads at the site.
Chihuri is also accused of hijacking an upmarket housing scheme for top police officers in north-eastern Harare in its final phase, allocating himself three hectares on land earmarked for communal boreholes.
He reportedly ordered land originally set aside for a hotel and a club house to be subdivided and parcelled out to civilians.
The Land Commission chaired by Justice Tendai Uchena is recommending thorough investigations into the upmarket scheme, Police Heights Housing project at Gletywin Farm in Harare, concentrating on the third phase where the commission finds a lot could have gone wrong.
The planning and construction for this phase was approved without the mandatory involvement of the Environment Management Agency (EMA), the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and Government, a development viewed by the Land Commission as an irregularity that must be investigated by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
Many police bosses holding the rank of assistant commissioner and above built mansions on the upmarket land during Chihuri’s tenure.
Double-storey mansions dominate the leafy suburb, with some still under construction.
Chihuri reportedly influenced the subdivision of almost 6ha reserved for a hotel into five residential stands that were allocated to civilians, when the project was meant for members of the police and security services.
He allegedly asked for the change on the basis that more land was needed for his senior officers.
A club house stand measuring 2,6ha was subdivided into residential stands, yet it was once a recreational park and some stands are within the prohibited distance from a water course.
According to the report, Chihuri walled and gated the 3ha of land on which police had drilled eight boreholes for use by all residents.
To that end, the commission has recommended that the Local Government ministry should investigate circumstances under which Chihuri appropriated the land.
The commission recommends that: “The Registrar of Cooperatives should cause audits of all financial records and general compliance with the Cooperative Societies’ Act by the Police Heights Housing Cooperative.”
The ministry, EMA and ZINWA should investigate and take corrective measures regarding the creation of stands in Phase 3 of the project, the commission said.
Officials in the Local Government ministry, the report said, who were involved in the approval of the lay out plan and subdivisions, should also be investigated.
The housing project for lower ranking officers in Hatcliffe where about 900 people were allocated stands in 2011 next to ZRP High School is causing concern among members of the police force.
In terms of the housing deal, beneficiaries would get offer letters upon payment of US$4 500 through CABS, after which they would be entitled to a four-roomed cottage. Further developments would be at the individual owner’s expense.
Hundreds of officers paid the required initial payment, but they are still to get the houses.
No construction has been taking place amid fears and allegations that Chihuri and some former senior police officers may have grabbed the US$4 million meant to develop the stands.
ZRP was allocated land in the area by the Ministry of Local Government for the development of a title-holding individual home ownership scheme for police officers.
Initial costs of servicing and building four rooms were done by both the ZRP and the building society.
A copy of one of the offer letters seen by The Herald recently reads: “Stand sizes range between 250 to 500 square metres. Once the mortgage terms and other preliminaries are concluded, beneficiaries will be asked to sign mortgage documentation. Cost details: US$17 623, 98. Total deposit US$4 473,00 and monthly instalments for 10 years of US$202,00. The amount paid as deposit will have a bearing on the level of instalments to be paid.”
The deposit payers wrote a letter to Chihuri through some senior police officers who were, by then, in-charge of the project but did not get any response.
When The Herald visited the area recently, there were two show houses that were constructed in 2011 and a few roads.
The area is just before the ZRP High School and there is a billboard that is still erected at the area which is inscribed Zimbabwe Republic Police; CABS (financier); Old Mutual Property (project manager); Zimbabwe ZACE Engineers and CMN-YBJ (consulting engineers).
The trial of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko on charges of abuse of office failed to kick-off yesterday and was deferred to January 30 after he indicated that he was still preparing his defence.
Mphoko, through his lawyer Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara, told the court that although he had prepared a draft defence outline, which he had handed to the State, he still needed more time.
The former VP is facing criminal abuse of office charges after he reportedly ordered the release of former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma and ex-board member Davison Norupiri from Avondale Police Station who had been arrested in 2016 for the same offence.
Mphoko said his lawyers failed to prepare the full defence outline as they were under the impression that they would make an application for direct access to the Constitutional Court.
“I am not prepared to proceed to trial at this point in time,” he said.
“I had not finalised the defence outline, but I have tendered a draft defence outline with the State. I would like to confess that I needed time to deal with this aspect. I pray that I be given time to prepare the defence.”
Mphoko attributed his delay in finalising his defence to the failure to get a transcribed record of proceedings, which he needed for the Concourt application.
He said the Concourt application was necessary because four other applications in the lower court had been unsuccessful.
The State led by Mr Lovetti Masuku initially opposed the postponement, saying they furnished Mphoko with all the court papers in time for him to prepare his defence.
“When the court ruled against referral to the Concourt, the defence did not take any issue at that time,” he said.
“They should have instantly requested for the record to be transcribed.
“What we agreed was the trial date was today. The State is ready to proceed to trial.”
Mr Masuku also argued that Mphoko failed to notify the court about the Concourt application.
“We are prepared to proceed with trial as long as they give us their defence outline,” he said.
“We had served them with papers on October 9, 2019.”
After being furnished with the draft defence outline, the State agreed to postpone the matter with Harare regional magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya setting January 30 as the trial date.
State Media|Government has set up a taskforce to ensure transparent and equitable distribution of Mealie Meal.
The taskforce will make follow-ups with retailers to curb diversion of the maize-meal to the black market.
This comes amid observations that even refined maize-meal was no longer readily available.
There is panic-buying, while connected individuals buy as many bags as they can and divert them to the black market each time deliveries are made.
At the black market, subsidised roller meal is selling for almost twice the gazetted $50 for a 10kg packet.
Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza told a Press conference yesterday that the maize-meal taskforce was headed by her deputy, Raji Modi.
The taskforce has hit the ground running in Bulawayo, ensuring equitable distribution of the much sought after commodity.
“Already in Bulawayo, retailers have started receiving their maize-meal at affordable prices,” said Dr Nzenza.
The minister is in constant touch with GMB on grain allocations to millers to ensure the production of roller meal and its availability to consumers at affordable prices.
She appealed to consumers to avoid panic-buying and hoarding.
“We reiterate that none will go hungry as Government will ensure that we accelerate the importation programme,” said Dr Nzenza.
Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe media and public relations manager Mr Garikai Chaunza yesterday said: “Maize has started moving from South Africa with the first batch having arrived in Bulawayo and we are calling upon local transporters to assist us move the grain.
“We are going to see huge volumes of maize grain consignments coming into the country until the situation stabilises.”
LONDON. — Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has told Barcelona that he is willing to join them from Arsenal, according to reports in Spain.
The Gunners striker is Barcelona’s top target for the January transfer window as they seek a replacement for Luis Suarez, who is set to be sidelined for around four months after undergoing knee surgery.
Aubameyang will have just one year left on his contract with Arsenal at the end of the season and the 30-year-old is yet to agree a new deal with the club.
Reports have claimed that Aubameyang is keen to leave the Gunners in order to boost his chances of winning a major trophy, but Arsenal are still hopeful that the striker will commit to a new deal.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are fully aware of Aubameyang’s demands and have been told by the striker that he would be willing to join.
The report claims that the move will now heavily depend on whether Aubameyang, who is currently the Arsenal captain, will attempt to force a move to Camp Nou.
Arsenal, however, will need Aubameyang to stay in order to boost their chances of securing a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League.
Arteta’s side currently sit 10th in the table and are 10 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Earlier this week, reports claimed that Barcelona are planning to launch an audacious loan offer to sign Aubameyang. — Metro.
Own Correspondent|School children from across the country are mobilising each other to go on a massive nation wide protests today, Friday.
The protests follow a similar protest which was carried out by students from Prince Njube Memorial High School in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
The message below is being heavily circulated amongst school students country wide.
“Fellow school learners around the country, let us all stand firm with what Njube high school learners did. They took their time to go to the streets and make a voice for our teachers, for the fees hiking and no learning taking place. As a learner at Emakhandeni Secondary school I say let us all stand and demonstrate as what our fellow friends did. Let’s all declare Friday 24 January 2020 a non-violence day nationwide.
“Soon after assembly, don’t go to your classes, let us walk out of the school gate as a school until our voices are heard.
A BULAWAYO man has been arrested for allegedly beating up his friend to death in a bushy area near the Plumtree Border Post in the middle of the night after suspecting that he was a robber.
The pair who are reportedly both omagumaguma were on their way back from assisting border jumpers to cross illegally into Botswana when they met in a bushy area.
Elton Ngoma (60) from Njube Suburb in Bulawayo was not asked to plead when he appeared before Plumtree Magistrate, Ms Sharon Rosemani facing a murder charge. He was remanded in custody to February 4.
Prosecuting, Ms Elain Kanengoni said Ngoma assaulted Mgcini Sibanda (43) from Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo on January 18 and he died the following day while admitted to Plumtree District Hospital due to injuries sustained during the attack.
“On 18 January at around 9AM Mgcini Sibanda was brought injured to Plumtree Police Station by an informant Mr Mafukunyane Mguni.
“Mr Mguni indicated that he found Sibanda injured in a bushy area near Plumtree Border Post where he is alleged to have been assaulted by his friend Elton Ngoma.
“Sibanda was referred to Plumtree District Hospital for treatment where he died the following day while admitted. Ngoma was arrested on January 20,” she said.
Ngoma and Sibanda are said to have assisted border jumpers to illegally cross into Botswana through a bushy area in the middle of the night.
On their way back they took separate routes and they later met and Ngoma mistook Sibanda to be one of the robbers that target border jumpers.-State media
Harare City Council wants to evict a group that illegally grabbed council land opposite Stodart Police Station two months ago and built houses
They also started a tombstone-making business.
The city has applied for an eviction order from the High Court that includes demolishing the illegal structures.
Acting for the council, Chihambakwe, Mutizwa and Partners are suing Zamuse, Terrazo Tombstones, Chapo and Midzi.
The group illegally grabbed stand No 41156 in November last year, built housing and now run a tombstone business, all without council permission.
According to the council’s application, the occupants contravened the Urban Council’s Act and the Regional, Town and Country Act plus a host of other planning and building by-laws.
The local authority also wants the illegal settlers to pay the cost of the suit.
“The plaintiff (council) is entitled to an order entitling it to evict the defendant and all those claiming occupation through him as well as an order seeking powers directing the plaintiff or its agents to demolish the structures erected illegally by the defendant (occupants) and to bear the cost of the suit,” reads the summons.-State media
At least 132 people in Harare, including political heavyweights, face arrest for allegedly selling State land, corruptly allocating themselves stands, fraud, abuse of cooperative funds and criminal abuse of office.
This follows an audit report into Harare land sales by the commission led by Justice Tendai Uchena that traced the land transfers in urban areas since 2005.
Others stand accused of selling cooperative stands without authority from the Registrar of Cooperatives, malicious damage to property, as well as subdividing land reserved for recreational activities and schools.
Prominent names recommended for investigation in the Harare land audit report include former First Lady Grace Mugabe, former Cabinet Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo, ex-Local Government permanent secretary Engineer George Mlilo, ex- Cabinet minister Ms Nyasha Chikwinya, businessman Dr Phillip Chiyangwa, former Harare South legislator Mr Shadreck Mashayamombe and CAPS United vice president Mr Nhamo Tutisani.
The majority of the other people on the list are leaders of housing cooperatives set up by political heavyweights.
Our Harare Bureau understands the commission handed over the report to State arms for further investigations.
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo yesterday confirmed receiving a copy of the audit report, saying investigations were likely to start on Monday.
“Yes, we were given a copy of the land audit report by the Commission and our general manager (investigations) is liaising with the police so that we know who is doing what to avoid stepping on each other’s toes when investigating.
“We hope investigations will start on Monday after we have agreed on the cases that ZACC and the police will be investigating,” she said.-State media
A 19-year-old Harare maid yesterday appeared in court on allegations of killing her employer’s son by strangling.
Memory Zvinzveku appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa on murder charges.
She was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
The court heard that on January 22, Zvinzveku went to Tafara 1 Primary School to pick her victim.
It is alleged that when they got home, the boy removed his school uniform and put on other clothes before going next door to play with other children.
It is the State’s case that Zvinzveku followed the boy and took him home.
She allegedly strangled him before placing his body on the bed.
The court heard that Zvinzveku went and told Fadzanai Kakunguwo, a neighbour, that the minor was not waking up and she came to check.
Kakunguwo noticed that the boy was dead and he had some scratch marks on the neck.
A post-mortem was conducted on January 22 and it was revealed that the boy had died due to strangulation.-State media
Farai Dziva|Opposition party MDC will hold a solidarity rally for Chief Felix Ndiweni on February 1.
This was confirmed by Matabeleland North deputy provincial chairperson Jabulani Hadebe in an interview with the
Chronicle:
“Yes, as a party we organising a solidarity rally for ‘Chief Ndiweni on February 1’.
We are working with our counterparts in Bulawayo to prepare for it.
We have taken the stance that traditional leaders should be respected instead of their offices being politicised.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa removed Ndiweni from the Ntabazinduna chieftaincy on November 30 last year and subsequently stripped him of all Government benefits accruing to him.
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA In his state of the nation address the MDC A leader shocked the nation by his loud silence on sanctions. ZANU PF has always said the opposition is after destroying the gains of independence and hurt the citizens of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is now groaning under the heavy yoke of the Economic down turn. The person who is causing this lunacy is among us and is Nelson Chamisa.Do economic sanctions destabilize the governments they target? A form of foreign pressure, sanctions are typically meant to alter the policies of other countries. There is much pessimism on whether they ever work. Economic pressure works in at least one respect: it destabilizes the leaders it targets and it destroys the citizens of such a country. It should be understood that pressure destabilizes in a large panel of cross-country time-series data.
The destabilization finding indicates that sanctions may be more effective at altering policies than we think. Zimbabwe expected Chamisa and MDC A to rally behind President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and call for the total and unconditional lifting of all sanctions against Zimbabwe.
The latest move by Chamisa and his party was disheartening development given that the illegal sanctions were imposed purportedly in order to safeguard the economic interests of the West and boost the opposition.
The rationale behind the sanctions was to starve the population into rebellion. Instead of taking his SONA delivering ceremony to attack the sanctions Chamisa called for more actions to hurt the economy and the people of Zimbabwe. Zanu PF has always said that the sanctions are hurtful, entirely illegal, and totally objectionable and that they are affecting every citizen across ethnic, political, social and racial lines. But Chamisa after gathering all the foreign press and assaulting local press he did not talk against sanctions. His SONA was a resemblance of a home grown terrorism.
Even the Zimbabwean whites have come out to denounce Sanctions through the Zimbabwe against Sanctions lobby group which is sufficient testimony of this reality. Chamisa should be reminded that former Zimbabwean cricket player, Heath Streak is leading the anti-sanctions campaign. Why would MDC A blame ZANU PF for the economic down turn when they are fully aware that they are the ones who caused the sanctions in the first place?
“The sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by America and the EU have begun to bite the country’s economy hard. it has become very hard for people to survive in Zimbabwe.
Anything which gives us a light at the end of the economic dark tunnel is labelled illegal. Our diamonds are now called blood diamonds. Our gold it will be soon called blood gold because of the Mashurugwi menace.
All what Chamisa would say is to encourage anarchy and violence in the country. He comes up with a solution which is not a solution but a cause of trouble again. Chamisa was supposed to urge the international community to take heed the ever increasing calls for all sanctions against Zimbabwe to be lifted and to realise, if they have any shame, that their hypocrisy has now been exposed. What did Chamisa do instead he incited more violence as to create a confusion and to create a political crisis.
MDC A have realised that they will never be in power through the vote so they want to cause a political crisis which will justify a government of national unity. Zimbabweans are taken for a ride by this decorated liar Nelson Chamisa. Given the pain that unilateral sanctions are causing Zimbabwe, are they really the “silver bullet” policy that his Party hopes they will be? Sanctions have made Zimbabwe to bleed and Chamisa misses the opportunity to become a hero. The nation expected him to denounce the sanctions. This was never said even by mistake.
Since 2001, European governments have increasingly used economic sanctions to achieve their international political objectives against Zimbabwe. Despite a century of experience, however, the rationale for such measures remains far from compelling. These sanctions are illegal and must be condemned. It should be correctly pointed out that the sanctions are unjustified and are hurting ordinary Zimbabweans, it is with this fact in mind that Zanu PF dismisses as offensive, the refusal to condemn the sanctions publicly. By their silence MDC are giving a signal that sanctions must continue. Chamisa in his statements actually requested the West to put more pressure on Zimbabwe. He is pre occupied by power and nothing else.
He does not mind the effects of his big mouth on the lives of the ordinary Zimbabweans. MDC is only obsessed with power regardless of how we got there. EU has failed to justify the existence of the economic embargo which has caused untold suffering among the country’s citizens, forcing several firms to fold operations, owing to non-availability of long term capital. In this catastrophe MDC calls for more economic hurting programmes. Chamisa’s move was a display of hypocrisy, and Zimbabweans must take it as a non-event. Chamisa’s silence on sanctions is a mockery to the economic bloc as they are controlled by one nation whose interests are to stifle development in Zimbabwe, and Chamisa is used to fulfil that demonic end. Zimbabwe was put under illegal EU sanctions in 2002 after the bloc sided with Britain’s internationalisation of a bilateral dispute with Zimbabwe over land. The embargo has crippled some arms of government while many companies have folded operations, leaving thousands of people unemployed. It should be realised that governments often use flawed arguments to justify imposing sanctions, tainting our understanding of their rationale and effectiveness.
First, sanctions are justified as a gentler and more humane alternative to war. But this underestimates the potential for international diplomacy to resolve conflicts. And in reality, sanctions often pave the way for wars rather than averting them: “if sanctions are hurting, they must be working.” But this criterion of effectiveness fails to define what would constitute success. Worse, it flies in the face of evidence suggesting that – even when essentials such as food and medicine are excluded – sanctions hurt large swaths of the civilian population. They stymie economic growth, undermine production, and cause businesses to fail, resulting in higher unemployment. Sanctions can also fuel inflation by restricting imports and fuelling currency crises. Third, sanctions are often said to be “smart” and “targeted.” In practice, however, comprehensive economic sanctions are collective punishment. They squeeze the middle classes and impose a disproportionate burden on the poorest and most vulnerable, who are arguably the biggest victims of the very regimes that sanctions are designed to punish.
The West justifies sanctions on Zimbabwe as a way to uphold and promote human rights. But evidence suggests that civil-society entities and NGOs are generally among the biggest losers under sanctions. The reason why Chamisa and MDC cannot denounce sanctions is the belief that sanctions are necessary and effective in bringing about regime change. This has made these power hungry losers itch for more sanctions in order to effect a regime change. Chamisa and his handlers believe that sanctions are meant to weaken the targeted government’s .But by worsening the business and investment climate, economic sanctions take their toll primarily on the private sector and on the people. If anything, power becomes more centralized and concentrated as governments increasingly control supplies of strategic commodities given the shortages they cause. Ultimately, the success or failure of economic sanctions is judged by whether they bring about regime change or change a government’s behaviour. Given the prevailing misconceptions about their rationale, it is not surprising – as we are likely to see again in Zimbabwe that they so often achieve neither goal. What is more certain is that destabilizing Zimbabwe will make the country more united than ever. What MDC is doing now and shown by their silence on sanctions is to try and breach peace in the country. Once there is no peace in the country the opposition will be able to request outside intervention. All which is aimed by the MDC is the regime change.
Zimbabwe will not give in to these warped ideas. Zimbabwe will remain resolute and the people can now see the real devil amongst us. [email protected]
Three security guards have each been sentenced to 30 months in prison for stealing groceries worth more than $12 000 from Choppies supermarket on separate occasions.
Jethro Tumbare (39) of Pumula South suburb, Matthew Moyo (27) of Emganwini suburb and Noah Muzvidziwa (47) of Nketa 9 suburb who were employed at Guard Security Company located at the corner of Robert Mugabe way and 14th Avenue, stole from the supermarket located in Nkulumane suburb.
The stolen groceries include washing powder, rice, soap, sugar, powdered milk, toothpaste, flour, among others.
The trio pleaded guilty to unlawful entry when they appeared separately before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.
They were each sentenced to 30 months in prison. Six months were suspended from each of their sentences for three years on condition that the accused persons do not within that period commit a similar offence.
The remaining 24 months were suspended on condition that they each complete 630 hours of community service.
Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Solani said sometime between October 1 last and January 12 this year, the three accused persons broke the supermarket’s ceiling and gained entry into the premises where they stole the groceries.
Mr Solani said on Friday last week, police officers received information that some security guards deployed at Choppies supermarket had broken into the supermarket.
“The detectives then proceeded to Tumbare’s house where they conducted a search and recovered the stolen groceries. The accused person was interrogated pertaining to the recovered property but he failed to account for them,” he said.
The recovered groceries were valued at $4 235 and investigations revealed that they were stolen from Choppies supermarket.
Police also conducted a search at Moyo’s and Muzvidziwa’s houses where they recovered some groceries belonging to the supermarket. Moyo was found with groceries worth $4 363 while Muzvidziwa had $3 994 worth of groceries.
They too failed to account for them leading to their arrest. Chronicle
At the churches … the Zimbabwe council of churches with the same agenda: they came these fellas, the Wutaunashes, and these old men, father Mukonori, and this my brother (Nehemiah) Mutendi who comes from my home area. They came and then agreed that of a truth we have serious problems. And vaMukonori said of a truth we have a mukono of a problem. And vaWutaunashe said you Chamisa are the one who has the wuta Hwashe (the Lord’s sap). You are the one who must fix the country. And I said I am listening to you church elders, so then, what should I do? And they said, you must agree that Mnangagwa is the president.
And I said but I thought that the greatest thing in the Bible is that you must not lie. You want to watch me falling into hell? You are the church Bishops, you must be praying for me instead, that I remain holding onto the truth, because the elections were stolen in Zimbabwe .
Now, they then returned to Mnangagwa. ED then says Chamisa must just agree. He must just accept so that we work together. Next time I will send him the baton. And then I said so you actually know that you stole the baton from me? Next time when it catches you it will bring you down once again where you are isn’t it?
So I then said I want dialogue. So that is when vaMbeki came. vaMbeki came to me; he came in December and when he came, he said I have arrived in Zimbabwe and I know that you have an overwhelming support in the country and the sound of your popularity which is greatest, has reached me in South Africa. And I asked him, did it? And he said your popularity has power and then I asked, so what do we do now?
And he said, I would like to hear what your issues are because I do not understand why you are failing to agree with my friend Mnangagwa.
And I said I don’t understand how and where he is getting lost. I said I don’t want to join his Club, Polad. There are some small dogs there that keep on barking and at times biting at the legs without achieving anything.
By Kennedy Kaitano | This argument is based on contradictions that I have noticed between him and his colleagues, or former colleagues from the original MDC-T.
One of the contradictions has been around the desire to feed from the taxpayers’ sweat by some of the leaders in Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T. While Gutu was at pains to express his thinking that he was not in the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) for tea and biscuits, the secretary-general of the MDC-T Nixon Nyikadzino, was busy preparing a budget of how much money Polad needed for operational purposes, usurping the responsibilities of constitutional entities such as Parliament of Zimbabwe, most likely with the backing of Khupe. Otherwise how else can the secretary-general go on to talk to the media about a request for the funding of Polad without Khupe’s knowledge? It is commendable Gutu has realised that some of his colleagues in the MDC-T are hopeless and utterly broke political waifs who are scrounging for a living in Polad.
The other difference between Gutu and others, especially Khupe, is that she appears gullible and too quick to ululate at misfiring leaders.
I have not come across a statement by Khupe to rebuke Mnangagwa for his deceitful actions. How can she rebuke him when she has already publicly supported him, and when she is expecting Mnangagwa to divert government resources to fund Polad?
I wish you good luck Gutu, whether you have jumped ship or still with the compromised political outfit led by Khupe.
Farai Dziva|CIO operatives last week visited Progressive Teachers Union President Takavafira Zhou’s offices in Masvingo and quizzed him over the union’s agenda.
Said Zhou:
“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation.
They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”
Farai Dziva|CIO operatives last week visited Progressive Teachers Union President Takavafira Zhou’s offices in Masvingo and quizzed him over the union’s agenda.
Said Zhou:
“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation.
They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”
By A Correspondent- ZESA has revealed that the parastatal is looking at recruiting new managers to spearhead the re-bundling of its five companies adding that the power utility had lost over 400 engineers to Britain, Australia and neighbouring South Africa.
The move, which should see a sharp reduction in managerial staff once duplicated positions are eliminated will see the parastatal bringing in new blood to revamp operations.
Chairman Dr Sydney Gata said Zesa was short of senior engineers and managers and did not have a pool for promotion from within.
He said Zesa had lost more than 400 engineers to Eskom of South Africa, 72 to Britain and 65 to Australia.
“We need to advertise and attract those people because one thing that will slow us down is that there are not enough senior executives to lead the process. We have to start by recruiting before proceeding with the re-bundling,” he said.
“I do not want to bring uncertainty among the top management, but certainly there has to be a new beginning. We need to bring in new blood to spearhead the re-bundling exercise. Zesa is dead and it is comprehensively dysfunctional at the moment. The first major task is to get professionals back.”
Dr Gata said that Zesa was looking at completing the process in the shortest possible time.
“We will start the re-bundling shortly. It is not an easy exercise. When we unbundled it took us 18 months of very hard work, but this one won’t take us time,” said Dr Gata.
By A Correspondent- The National Arts Council, on behalf of the Ministry of Youth Sports Arts and Recreation, yesterday presented groceries and other consumables to popular Actor Lazarus Boora at his rural home in Rukweza in Nyazura where he is recuperating from the surgery he underwent last year.
The goods were presented to “Gringo” and his wife by NACZ Deputy Director Mr. Josia Kusena and Assistant Director Arts Promotions and Development Mrs. Barbara Gotore.
The lies that Mthuli is pouring are so damaging to our country. I could not believe when I saw the man lying on the State of Our Country, and this is one of the major reason why investors have been sceptical about putting money into this country.
On goodwill, investors will keep on shunning us because of lies and propaganda. He cannot construct a single sentence without adding lies and propaganda. We have over 5 million facing starvation according to the EU report released this past weekend. Even the Chinese have warned about our situation. This is so embarrassing to have a senior Government official lying under oath in foreign lands. If there is one single person who is going to contribute to Mnangagwa’ s downfall is none other than the current Finance Minister.
The rampant corruption in the public sector is so frightening and unbelievable. Zimbabweans will come to a time when they are going to discover that the country is empty, our country has been mortgaged to the Chinese and other foreign entities and we are going to be made to pay huge debts because of the current administration and other mal-practices. There is a lot going on in our country.
One issue I have to raise on a serious note is the failure of our opposition on figures and accuracy. Their information department is too weak on figures to inform the nation on figures and financial analysis. They have simply used the bracket term ” Corruption”, which is unfair to citizens as a whole. It is reportedly that over 2.2 Billion worthy of gold that has been smuggled outside the country. It is so frightening and alarming. The level of theft and depth of looting leaves the whole country with questions whether we have public officials or we have thieves who are running our precious country.
Can you believe that over 9 Billion ( USD) has gone down to the drainage through looting and thieves manning the gates of corruption.
One can’t believe such lies, in a world with internet and advanced technology where investors can easily google and find out for themselves. You wounder who really put trust in such a man to run our finance ministry. Investors have gadgets and contacts and they can easily see what is on the ground. We have a major crisis, and propaganda can never run a country. We need men and women who can stand for the truth and preserve the integrity of our beloved country. Not so long ago, Muthuli lied on figures around the aid Zimbabwe received from US and China and because of technology and media he was gagged and he was forced to climb down.
Our country has totally collapsed, and wheels are off, we are experiencing the worst. There is nothing that will come out of those Davos meetings. Deals are secured on honest, integrity and clean hands. The day when Muthuli Ncube will leave the helm of the purse of our country, the whole country will be left in a shell shock which noone will contain. There is a lot that is happening around the office of the Finance Ministry. The reason why I’m so sure about my statements, it is because ;
1. The whole country is in dark over 5.9 Billion that went missing in Command Agriculture.
2. The amount of aid Zimbabwe received in 2018/19
3. The position of our country’ s purse
4. The disclosure of our National debt
5. Nature of financial deals
6. The role of State Procurement Board
7. Rampant corruption in the public sector
8. The under – funding of the Auditor – General office
9. The reluctance of dealing with the AG report makes us raise a lot of questions
10. Declaration of assets by the Executive and Ministers.
11. Muthuli has never emphasized on anti – Corruption
12. The level of propaganda and heap of lies in foreign lands is so detrimental
13. Drama evolving around our minerals is so alarming
14. The amount of gold that has been smuggled at the hands of Zimra, RBZ raises a lot of suspicion over his sincerity on the country’s purse
15. Reluctance on economic reforms
16. The increasingly pressure to disband the Public Accounts Committee led by Harare East Legislator Hon Tendai Biti is so alarming. Biti has been on the lead to expose corruption.
In short our country has been looted to the core !!!
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal capacity as a Policy Advisor and Researcher and he is also a leading Thinker for Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking and he can be contacted at [email protected]
By A Correspondent- The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (CoMZ) has accused government of failing to deliver on its contractual agreements revealing that mining firms have not been receiving regular power supplies despite having signed contracts with government.
To help boost the nation’s power supply, government created a system whereby exporting firms could pay for dedicated uninterrupted electricity supply through settling energy bills in foreign currency.
“Mining firms have not been receiving power supply. You see, a lot of mining firms entered into contracts with government last year to get electricity and that has not been transpiring on the ground. As I speak, these mining firms are struggling to operate as they continue to receive inadequate amounts (of power). We do not know why this is happening,” CoMZ told NewsDay Business in a recent telephone interview.
“Whether the power is coming from South Africa, Mozambique or the Southern African Power Pool, we do not know. All we know is mining companies are not getting the power they paid for in forex. These contracts did not specify where the power would be coming from, only that we would receive a dedicated supply.”
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe has less than 100 000 tonnes (t) of grain in its strategic grain reserve — enough to feed the nation for only one month, Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement minister Perrance Shiri, has said.
Officially opening his ministry’s strategic planning workshop in Bulawayo yesterday, Shiri admitted that, as a ministry, they were falling short of delivering on their national mandate which has five key result areas which include food and nutrition security; foreign currency generation; employment creation; value addition and beneficiation; and coordination of the agricultural sector.
“I strongly believe that agricultural development is a necessary tool and a near sufficient condition for economic recovery and development of Zimbabwe. As you are all aware, the sector has potential to contribute between 16-20% of the gross domestic product; 40% to exports; and feed the country while providing the source of livelihood for 67% of the country’s populace that resides in rural areas,” Shiri said.
“However, as things stand at the current moment, we have less than 100 000t of grain in the strategic grain reserve and imports, especially of food are ballooning. It pains me to realise that this potential remains to be exploited and that as a ministry we are falling short of delivering on our national mandate which has five key result areas as set out in the ministry’s integrated performance plan,” he said.
Annually, the country requires about 1,8 million tonnes of grain for both human and livestock consumption. It also needs about 80 000 tonnes a month for commercial use, according to Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (Gmaz).
In a bid to plug a yawning food deficit, Zimbabwe is importing grain from other countries around the world.
The country’s food shortage has partly been blamed on weather extremes – drought and flooding, poor planning and corruption, among others.
For instance, in the past few years, government pumped billions of dollars into the Command Agriculture programme, but the country continues to suffer food shortages, year-in and year-out due to corruption involving government officials.
On Tuesday, Gmaz chairman Tafadzwa Musarara, however, assured the nation that the maize-meal situation will stabilise in the next three to five weeks following plans to import close to 100 000 tonnes of maize using their free funds.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, more than 45 million people across southern Africa are currently facing food insecurity. In Zimbabwe, more than eight million people are threatened with starvation.
Shiri also said the country’s food security policies had fallen short of attracting investments in the agriculture sector and ensuring economic growth.
“Our food security policies have fallen short of attracting investments in the sector and ensuring economic growth. Governments the world over, use policies to influence agricultural production, marketing and trade. This is usually done to achieve specific outcomes relating to the central role of agriculture,” he said.
In this regard, Shiri said there was a compelling need for agricultural policies that attract investment in the sector given the changes that have been brought by the agrarian reforms that altered the structure of farms, production systems, markets and labour relations.
By A Correspondent- Gweru council management and councillors have clashed over the $1,8 billion 2020 budget — a 3 900% hike from 2019’s $46 million — sent for approval to Local Government minister July Moyo without consensus, council minutes reveal.
Already some services have been hiked with burial fees going from $80 to $1 097.
Rentals for council-owned two-roomed houses in Mkoba where tenants were paying $40 have been raised to $600 a month.
Home-seekers wishing to settle in Gweru by way of building houses will also have to dig deeper into their pockets. Occupation certificate fees have been raised from $30 to $5 000 while beacon relocation which was previously $150 now costs $9 000.
A fuel service station licence that is renewed annually has risen from $3 000 to $84 000, while, yearly licence fees for surgeries are now $40 000.
Minutes of a closed-door full council meeting held on December 6 last year show that councillors threw brickbats at acting finance director Owen Masimba for sending the $1,8 billion budget to Moyo without consensus between management and the city fathers.
The minutes show that councillors Albert Chirawu and Trust Chineni berated management and insinuated that it conducted a “coup d’etat” on the councillors.
“The budget for 2020 for Gweru was supposed to be multiplied with that of 2019 using the interbank rate which was at $16 per US$1. This means that since our budget of 2019 was $46 million so if we multiplied that by 16 we were supposed to get about $734 million. This figure of $1,8 billion is unjustified,” Chirawu said then.
According to the minutes, other councillors concurred with Chirawu.
Gweru Residents Forum director, Charles Mazorodze, yesterday said it was absurd for council to increase its budget to such high levels considering that people struggled to pay for services even when they were still cheaper.
“Last year residents of Gweru were failing to pay for services pegged at the $46 million budget. Now that the budget will have fees that are pegged using the $1,8 billion budget, it is difficult to believe that they will afford,” he said.
“At the moment council is owed millions by the residents who failed to pay last year, so it just indicates that the situation will be worse this year given the new higher fees,” Mazorodze said.
Council spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the $1,8 billion figure was arrived at after factoring in the prevailing economic climate. She said minister Moyo was yet to approve the budget.
“It has not yet been approved. We adjusted the budget in line with the prevailing economic situation. The local authority will consider the complaints from residents as it remains sensitive to their plight,” she said.
Deputy mayor Cleopas Shiri told Southern Eye that the councillors agreed to have an implementation matrix of the budget in which charges will be increased every three months instead of once off.
“There is a standing resolution that council will come up with an implementation matrix of the proposed budget,” he said.
By A Correspondent- The story of a man who was being seduced by his mother-in-law has taken a new twist as he claims his wife not only knew about her mother’s antics, but was actually encouraging him to have sex with her in order for them to get rich.
Manfred Nhemachena recently left many people disconcerted after he sensationally claimed that his estranged wife’s mother Beatrice Marabwa allegedly demanded to have sex with him because her husband was sexually starving her.
This was revealed at the Bulawayo Civil Court where his estranged wife, Tariro Nhemachena, had sought a protection order against him claiming he was abusing her.
Manfred and Tariro got married on 10 April 2010 and were blessed with a four-year-old son. Their marriage is still subsisting but they are now living separately.
B-Metro tracked Manfred to Nyamandlovu for more details of what was transpiring in his home and he spilled more beans than expected. He claims his wife wanted him to poke her mother!
“It was not only traumatising but shameful, I have since lost my respect for her and I can no longer look at her the same way. Thank God I didn’t give into her devilish demands,” said Manfred.
“I started noticing something unusual in 2015 when she came and briefly stayed with us. I definitely didn’t have problem with that until she started demanding to sleep in my matrimonial bedroom.
“When I asked her why she wanted to join us in our bedroom she said her husband (his father in-law) was no longer sleeping with her”.
Shocked by his mother-in-law’s candidness, Manfred suggested that she go and see his relatives.
She reportedly rubbished the idea saying she was going to forcibly sleep with him in his matrimonial bedroom.
“Living true to her demands she moved into our matrimonial bedroom and out of fear I moved to another spare bedroom.
“The following day while dressed skimpily, she followed me to the spare bedroom where she found me sleeping and she tenderly sat on my legs. From that day she was the one who was now preparing breakfast and supper for me and ironing my clothes”.
Manfred said he was also disturbed seeing his mother in-law’s private parts.
“What was also happening was that when I came home late, she was the one who was always opening the door for me and she would be in a see-through night dress exposing all her vital parts.”
When he told his wife about her mother’s taboo demands and seduction moves, Manfield said he was shocked by her response.
“Her response to me was “yes, it is true that there are no longer sleeping together and once you sleep with her, we are rich’.”
He added: “I was appalled after I got that response, so appalled that I decided enough is enough and moved out of the house.”
He said all efforts to engage his father-in-law and relatives were also futile.
“I tried to talk to her relatives, but she shouted at them when they tried to reprimand her. I ended up going to Mvuma to her husband, who is also my father- in-law, and he refused to help me,” said Manfred adding that his mother-in-law also threatened him with death as punishment for reporting her to her relatives.
Manfred also claimed when he started having problems with his wife after he refused to bow down to her sex demands, his mother-in-law forcibly took his property including amusement park rides he bought from China, residential stand and some household property.
When reached for comment the mother-in-law, Beatrice Marabwa, who is an elder at Jehovah’s Witnesses refuted the claims while accusing Manfred of having a deceitful character.
“This is a long story why don’t you come to Mvuma so that we talk. He is lying and is after tarnishing my image as a Christian. He is a snake. I am 72-years-old and can’t do that to my son-in law. Moreover, we are a rich and educated family. That man was after our wealth. We have everything in life,” she bragged.
She threatened this reporter with unspecified action if the story is published.
“You will see what will happen to you if ever that story is published in the newspaper,” she threatened.
Meanwhile, Manfred and Tariro are currently locked up in another bruising court battle where the latter filed an application seeking to ban the former from having access to their minor child
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Loice Matanda Moyo has said the country is losing US$1,8 billion dollars every year.
Speaking at the Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) perceptions and indexes on corruption in Harare today the chairperson said they are working flat out to fight the catch and release syndrome.
“As ZACC we are worried with the huge somes of money being lost through corruption, we have lost US$1,8 billion through these leakages and as a commission we are also worried with the catch and release syndrome hence we have engaged the attorney general’s office and national prosection office to fight the catch and release,” she said.
She added that since the coming in of their commission last year their warehouse is now full of recovered properties from corrupt activities.
“We are pleased to inform you that since our coming into play last year, our we are running out of space at our warehouse of recovered properties.”
Meanwhile, ZACC is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) in a bid to combat corruption in the country.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), an independent election watchdog, has criticised the ruling Zanu PF and the main opposition, MDC led by Nelson Chamisa for not having a clear succession plan.
According to ZESN, the lack of a clear succession plan causes internal instability within the political parties and this may have a knock-on effect on the political stability of the government and nation.
In a statement, ZESN also expressed outrage over the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill that will remove the running mate clause from the Constitution.
Said ZESN:
The running mate clause provision was going to support as well as formalise the selection of vice-presidents of the respective political parties, hence provide a measure of predictability and stability in the leadership transition processes whenever they occurred at both party or government level.
The scrapping of the running mate clause will remove the presidential running mates to allow the President to appoint and fire his deputies at will.
Both ZANU PF and the MDC failed to name successors before the departure of longtime leaders, the late former President Robert Mugabe (through a coup in November 2017) and former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (through death in February 2018) respectively.
By A Correspondent- Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri has admitted that his ministry has failed to deliver on its mandate to provide food security to the nation as well as produce 40 per cent of the country’s exports.
Shiri made the remarks while speaking at the official opening of the ongoing strategic planning workshop on Wednesday.
He said:
It pains me to realise that this potential remains to be exploited and that as a ministry we are falling short of delivering on our national mandate which has five key result areas which are… food and nutrition security, foreign currency generation, employment creation, value addition and beneficiation and coordination of the agricultural sector.
Shiri challenged the 11 parastatals under his ministry to up their game as some of them are only able to pay their staff while contributing nothing to the fiscus.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube is pushing for the privatisation and commercialisation of most of the parastatals as they have become liabilities rather than assets, with most of them now a breeding ground for corruption, nepotism, waste and gross incompetence
By A Correspondent- Daisy, widow to the late music icon and national hero Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, says it’s not her duty to “bail out” the poor.
She says she will not pay attention to those calling her an ‘evil’ and ‘heartless’ woman.
As we mark exactly a year without Tuku today, Daisy says she will not respond to media reports portraying her as a cruel mother.
If she were to help anyone – says Daisy – her advice would be very simple: work hard and mind your business.
These are some of the key issues she boldly believes in ahead of Tuku’s first anniversary.
Tuku died on January 23 2019, leaving a void difficult to fill.
A year after Tuku’s death, a lot has happened which might prompt him to turn into his grave.
There are however some developments which would also make Tuku smile and even regret the mistakes he made in life.
And exactly 12 months after his death, there has been a lot in the press making headlines ranging from the estate wrangles, family feuds and of course the battle to preserve the Tuku legacy.
Being the surviving spouse to the departed crooner, Daisy said she was not in a hurry to fulfil some of the projects they started together with the late icon.
NEW MUSIC As expected by many a fan, Daisy said there is plenty of unreleased stuff left by Tuku in his archives.
“Tuku has a lot of unreleased stuff that we are definitely going to release with time but we are not in hurry to release it.
“I will continue operating the way we used to do with Oliver, aiwanzoti kumhanya handiko kusvika.
“Handina kana competition right now saka hapana chandiri kumhanyira hangu,” she says.
She also hinted on a new album due for release as part of the commemorations.
“The new album which is ready for release is called Abi Yangu 2.
“It carries eight tracks, it was recorded in Norton and it will be released soon.
“There are so many projects that we are going to continue working on that we used to organise with Tuku,” she says.
HOLIDAYING Asked what she missed most after Tuku’s death, Daisy was blunt:
“It’s hard staying alone without Tuku but I have to accept it. We used to go on holiday during this time of the year when most artistes will be on break.
“The last time we flew out on holiday we went to Canada and Kenya just to refresh with my husband.
“As you know, his job was so demanding that I would advise him that we needed to go on holiday to relax and forget our problems,” she says.
LIFE AS A WIDOW Daisy, who was heart-broken when she lost her husband, says she has learnt to accept the reality.
“As a widow, I have learnt that I cannot keep on mourning because hapana paachafa akamuka Oliver.
“Oliver played his part and it’s up to me to continue working hard otherwise ndinofa nenzara mukatanga kundinyora futi kuti ndave kutambura.
“When I miss him most, I just drive to Madziwa where he was buried to see his grave and return to work for survival.
“I can’t keep crying every day because Tuku played his part and we are all expected to play our part,” she says.
UNITY Daisy, who is reportedly not seeing eye to eye with some of Tuku’s daughters especially Selmor, says she has had enough of the issue.
“There is nothing I can say about the issue because whatever I say it will be misinterpreted.
“If Selmor or whoever you want to bring to the fore has said something against me, I won’t say anything.
“What I know is that newspaper outlets are out to sell their news and make money but what I know is that the truth shall set me free.
“I know I have never wronged anyone and God is my witness.
“If I have done something wrong, only time will tell who is wrong and right.
“What people say bad about me, hapana chinochinja ndozviripo saka vanhu ngavatozvitambira zvakadaro,” she says.
UNDISCLOSED SECRETS Daisy says there are some secrets that she would not disclose as the information is meant for herself.
“I have heard so many stories flying out of people trying to bring me down but I won’t give in.
“Inini na Oliver hatina kusangana pa bus stop tikatotanga kungofambidzana but we have a history.
“Vanhu vanongowawata havo asi vachaneta but life still goes on.
“Now that I sometimes get ill, I have realised that it’s wise for me to mind my business rather than concentrating on what people say.”
HELP As many people who wanted help looked up to Tuku as the father figure, Daisy says she has her own modus operandi that people should embrace.
“I’m not mandated to help all the poor but I can only assist where I can.
“My advice to those who might want to come to me asking for help is very simple: work hard and mind your business.
“Where is it written that I must help people who are in need all the time?
“I’m also widowed with my own problems that need to be attended to.”
PAKARE PAYE/CONTINUITY With many fearing that Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton might become a white elephant if not professionally run, Daisy remains defiant.
“It’s still business as usual at Pakare Paye and we are simply doing what we used to do when Oliver was still alive.
“Most of the artistes who passed through Pakare Paye are still frequenting the arts hub for instance Munya Mataruse and Mbeu were recently there at the centre.
“New-comers are still welcome as they are getting mentorship.
“We have special people that used to mentor these people other than Tuku and there is continuity.
“As for the festivals which had become a permanent feature on our arts calendar, we will continue holding them as long as we live.
“I will not let down Tuku as he has always wanted us to really work hard and keep his legacy going.”
As we mark 12 months without Tuku, this is what Daisy has in mind and she insists she doesn’t owe anyone an apology.
Daisy says she deserves to be ‘freed’ to live her own life while those she claims to be haters will continue working towards her downfall day and night.
By A Correspondent- Stephen Margolis, who runs the Stephen Margolis Resort along Chitungwiza Road in Harare, yesterday appeared in court facing accusations of failing to return a clients’ vehicle he took as surety for using his wedding facilities.
Margolis (68) appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda facing theft of trust property charges. He denied failing to return Moline Rufaro Mapandu’s Honda Fit, which she gave him as surety when she used his wedding facilities and failed to pay the full amount at once. Margolis told the court that Mapandu entered into an agreement with his company, not with him in his personal capacity.
“I plead not guilty to the charges. She entered an agreement with my company, not me,” he said. Allegations against the businessman are that on February 27, 2016 Mapandu decided to use Margolis’ wedding facilities.
It is said that the parties agreed on a certain amount, with Mapandu making an initial payment of $1 100 and promising to settle the balance within six weeks.
The court heard that Mapandu then handed Margolis her Honda Fit as security. Mapandu, according to the State, managed to raise the remaining amount and approached Margolis at his Margolis Plaza offices.
Upon her arrival, she was received by Margolis’ secretary who reportedly told her that he was out of the country and asked her to return once Margolis returned.
Magistrate Dzuda was told that Mapandu was shocked to be shown an agreement of sale for the Honda Fit. Irked by the businessman’s act, Mapandu lodged a complaint with the police leading to his arrest. Margolis is expected back in court on February 18 for trial.
By A Correspondent- Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr Gideon Gono has been dragged to court by his tenant for allegedly trying to evict him.
The tenant, Dr Nongerai Moses Makurumidze, who runs a sports science and a research college at the Natvest Industrial Complex while renting the premises from Gono accused Gono of violating their agreement.
In his court papers in which Gono, Clark Makoni and fellow tenants, Mbonje, Dzobo, Matoko, Tambara, Mujeke and Chigondowa are respondents, Makurumidze said:
Your Worship, I had an agreement with Dr Gono. He was initially leasing the property to me but they are now ignoring the original agreement and are trying to evict me without any legal procedures. We are in the process of setting up a proposed university of sport and they all know it but his workers terrorise my clients and staff.
He added that Gono’s workers are disregarding the agreement he had with Gono saying that they had the mandate to evict Makurumidze.
Meanwhile, Chigondowa who works for Gono said that Makurumidze was evicted by Gono and it is surprising that he kept coming back
By A Correspondent- Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) launched its perceptions and indexes on corruption at Avondale centre Harare this morning (Thursday).
According to the findings by TIZ and Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) women are impacted by the corruption in more spheres of life than men.
ZACC Chaiperson Justice Loice Matanda Moyo said, “Most of the men are the engineers of corruption therefore women became more vulnerable and suffer the consequences of corruption.
Women need to go beyond being 52% of the population of the country.”
She further stipulated that it is also the role of civil society to fight against gender corruption and raising public awareness.
Speaking on the same event Mette Sunnergren, Head of Development Cooperation from Sweden embassy remarked that women are more likely exposed to corruption in crucial situations.
TIZ and ZACC are looking forward to the signing of their Memorandum of Understanding aimed at fighting corruption in the first quarter of the year.
Own Correspondent|School children from across the country are mobilising each other to go on a massive nation wide protests on Friday.
The protests follow a similar protest which was carried out by students from Prince Njube Memorial High School in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
The message below is being heavily circulated amongst school students country wide.
“Fellow school learners around the country, let us all stand firm with what Njube high school learners did. They took their time to go to the streets and make a voice for our teachers, for the fees hiking and no learning taking place. As a learner at Emakhandeni Secondary school I say let us all stand and demonstrate as what our fellow friends did. Let’s all declare Friday 24 January 2020 a non-violence day nationwide.
“Soon after assembly, don’t go to your classes, let us walk out of the school gate as a school until our voices are heard.
I would like to convey my most sincere and profound gratitude to all fellow Zimbabweans who have rallied behind and supported the cause on education that was spearheaded by Njube High School students. I still stand by the firm belief that this youthful generation exhibited elements of Ghandi-ism by exercising non-violent resistance by marching peacefully.
Thank you for your prayers, fellow Zimbabweans. My heartfelt gratitude to those who have helped me these past three days, whose names I cannot say for fear of victimisation.
A million thanx goes to Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe. The first union that went out of its way and try to locate me and extend a helping hand to a fellow colleague in this our noble profession. Again whose members I shall not mention by name.
A warm thanks to both ZIMTA and PTUZ who have also made their position clear. I am further sincerely humbled and thankful for the support coming from lawyers and humanitarian organisations.
To those who have called me by other names that are unkind, I also thank you. It will never wipe away the power that is in the freedom of expression. The pen is mightier than the sword and the voices of the young have the grip of a vice, eternally binding. To those who view the action of children as unjust, I can only be pitiful of the cataract that has made your eyes blind, and the tumour in the brain that takes away reason. The young and old cannot ignore that the education system is ailing and full of gangrene. As such it has gone putrid and the cleansing of such wounds demands serious attention on issues affecting education.
The presence of officials from the President’s Office, Military Intelligence and Prisons intelligence on that fateful day is testimony enough to say there are threats on my life. So naturally when there is clear and present danger, one is compelled to seek safety. Remember some have taken the ice cream trail to rid the liver of a little poison.
Thank You,
God bless Zimbabwe
Second Letter:
Greetings to you all fellow Zimbabweans. To the teacher and the learner alike, to parents, administrators and policy-makers. To generations of old, present and future. We are all stakeholders in the education system yet I find myself labelled a criminal in the land of my birth, beloved Zimbabwe. What makes the situation dire is that the police have the audacity to publicly declare a manhunt on a mere teacher who has spent the last eight years trying to mould doctors, engineers and scientists across a vast spectrum of fields. My accolades as a teacher speak for themselves both within the class and in sports.
Why the police would rather choose to hunt for a man who has served both the justice and education departments leaves one baffled. Why haven’t you launched hunts for the machete-brandishing hooligans whose reign of terror has left the nation in fear? If my crime is brandishing a chalk, and if that leaves you in fear… then may the lord have mercy on every Zimbabwean teacher.
As I previously stated, Ghandi-ism in all senses is an extremely peaceful process of non-violent resistance. I could quote Mahatma Ghandi a hundred times on the philosophy of non-violence. It boggles the mind when I am charged with inciting young children, look at these words written by a young child. Again I shall quote, lest the tag which you so love to call me by is thrust upon me again…
“Fellow school learners around the country, let us all stand firm with what Njube high school learners did. They took their time to go to the streets and make a voice for our teachers, for the fees hiking and no learning taking place. As a learner at Emakhandeni Secondary school I say let us all stand and demonstrate as what our fellow friends did. Let’s all declare Friday 24 January 2020 a non-violence day nationwide.
“Soon after assembly, don’t go to your classes, let us walk out of the school gate as a school until our voices are heard.
“We say enough is enough. It’s time to be heard.
“If Njube did it, why can’t we do it as a nation?
# WesayNo to school fees hikes
# We want to learn
# Pay our teachers
# Give us the education we need
# viva ma2000 viva
“Together we stand and divided we shall fall!”
This is not my voice but the voice of those who are going to lead tomorrow.
I am proud that these young innocent souls in their wisdom have the voice to ask for a day of non-violence in Zimbabwe. The question is will police brutality be unleashed on school-going children? Wouldn’t that be a shame.
Weren’t you the ones who proposed and introduced the STEM curriculum? An inductive teaching style that is founded on the philosophy of progressivism. A collection of pedagogies that allow the learners to take centre stage of their learning, they are active in their learning and make decisions about their learning.
So where was the crime when Njube students exercised the progressive approach and said we want to learn? If progressivism is my crime why not blame John Dewey, Socrates and Spinoza and all those other fellows? Or why not blame the policy makers that introduced it?
I will end with the wisdom of Dr Martin Luther King Jr who walked on Washington on 28 August 1963 on a million men march. Part of his speech titled I HAVE A DREAM reads…… ‘I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.’ That was the feeling I got on January 20.
If anyone is at fault of inciting anything, clearly it is those who have taken away my freedom, forced me to flee with one set of clothes. What have you achieved other than incite the voice of the voiceless? The voice of a teacher.
Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given Ministers deputy ministers, senior government officials and heads of parastatals up to 28 February to declare their assets.
In a letter, chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda said the demand is in line with Mnangagwa’s commitment to create a transparent and accountable public service.
UK will adopt the EPA , Africa and EU agreement of 2000 under a transitional protection mechanism to ensure continuity of trade.
UK will engage Africa through AfCFTA to determine agreeable terms that ensure partners of equal.
Africa Development Bank Initiatives: .
Elliott Pfebve
ADB to launch Youth Development Banks to support youth entrepreneurship projects across the continent.
ADB intends to setup Diaspora Development Fund, to enable people Diaspora to bring to Africa much needed entrepreneurial talent. Diaspora remittance for SubSaharan Africa reached $47 billion in 2019. UK Diaspora remittance contributed $6.7 billion to Africa. [Suggestion to securities Diaspora remittance for infrastructure development in Africa]
Africa Key Statistics:
Africa population stands at 1.3 billion and expected to double by 2050
UK constitute 67% of beef export and 41% of tea from Africa
Inter African trade stands at pelt 15%
Africa GDP combined stands at $3 trillion; this is 33% increase over a decade.
19 out of 53 Commonwealth member states are in Africa
Commonwealth population combined is 2.5 billion people.
UK trade with Africa has dropped from 5% to 4% of total volume from a decade ago.
Minister of FCO & DFID for Africa, Stephenson announced a recruitment of over 400 staff to be based globally in embassies to boost trade, including locals and UK based.
The cost of corruption:
Africa combined FDI 2018 was $46 billion
Africa illicit outflows due to corruption & money laundering $65 billion
UK has repatriated over £500 million to Angola from looted money, which was deposited in London Banks. UK will continue to fight corruption and return looted funds to Africa.
Human rights violations a challenge
Some of the recommendations:
UK must lead in the fight against corruption, human rights violations and the rule of law and this must underpin future UK- Africa Trade Agreements in the post Brexit era (MDC Business & Trade Envoy, recommendations, E. Pfebve)
EPA agreement and WTO Article 24 must guide the transitional mechanism of trade between Africa and UK in the post- Brexit era as a continuity.
The post Brexit Agreement must be inclusive to ensure that all African member states, civic society and all stakeholders have a say in the final documents. Brexit must be taken as an opportunity for UK to lead in supporting Africa to meet SDGs and eradicate poverty.
The need to treat Africa not as a homogenous continent but member states unequal among themselves, which requires infrastructural support to take advantage of trade agreements (MDC Business & Trade Envoy, recommendations, E. Pfebve)
Investment & trade in services, technology and bilateral relations in mitigating against dangerous channel migration into Europe through addressing fundamental issues of peace, prosperity and governance. By Elliot Pfebve (Business & Trade, UK and EU Envoy) 23 January 2020
Own Correspondent|Violence has erupted in Diepsloot township north of Johannesburg where South Africans have blocked highways demanding that all undocumented foreigners should leave the country.
They are claiming that some foreigners recently killed a policeman and two community members.
The irate South Africans are conducting a door to door search of undocumented foreigners while stoning vehicles on highways.
A Zimbabwean allegedly shot and killed a policeman in the area amid concerns of increasing violence perpetrated by foreigners in the country.
Several South African newspapers report that 54-year-old Detective Captain Oupa Matjie was gunned down in Diepsloot a few days ago when he was investigating cases of murder.
Police have reportedly arrested some of the suspects.
Meanwhile Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has said social media calls for a shutdown in Diepsloot, following the murder of the police officer, border on incitement to commit violence and can be construed as a criminal offence.
On Thursday morning, members of the community took to the streets, using burning tyres and rocks to block roads in the wake of the murder of Detective Captain Oupa Matjie last Friday.
But Mawela called for calm, saying the law should be allowed to take its course.
He urged the community to be mindful of the law and due processes.
Suspect ‘should not be jeopardised’
“The arrest of the suspect who allegedly shot and killed Captain Matjie, came through after collaboration between the community and the police. It is therefore important that the suspect’s appearance before court be secured and that it should not be jeopardised in any manner, so that the suspect faces the full might of the law,” Mawela said.
Public order police were on high alert and dispersed groups of people who barricaded the main roads in the area, including William Nicol Drive and the R511, police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said.
Peters said a group of people went to the police station at around 08:00 on Thursday morning, demanding to see the person who was arrested for Matjie’s murder.
The person is expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Own Correspondent|The Nelson Chamisa led MDC will be joining President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s national clean-up day programmes which they have been boycotting since its inception last year.
Chamisa told party supporters on Tuesday that the MDC will join the programme in their own capacity dubbed Jekesa/Chenesa Zimbabwe.
Chamisa was launching his party’s National 2020 Agenda at Stodart Hall grounds, in Harare’s Mbare high density suburb.
“National building and nation development is a collective affair as MDC must do away with oppositional mindset. So, at all places MDC must show its footprints,” Chamisa said.
“We have not been participating in the national cleaning programme. Beginning this year, we are going to be part of government’s clean-up campaign. We are coming up with what is called Jekesa Zimbabwe.
“Every month, on the day that has been set aside for cleaning up places, we will now take part as MDC…we must have a nation building project.”
The opposition leader also told his followers the party will launch forays into Zanu PF’s stronghold rural areas to introduce a programme that will develop the countryside.
“We are launching in villages what we call the smart village concept, in every rural areas we want to do a model housing,” he said.
“We now have a programme called MDC in communities. We will be launching the smart cities policy document that will focus on how we govern differently detailing issues to the local authority’s service delivery, infrastructure, the vision of the city.
“We are also going to launch the smart villages policy that will entail our model smart homesteads, smart sources of energy, solar for each rural home, borehole per village infrastructure for villages, schools, bridges, etc”.
“We are also going the emphasise on proper and true devolution, and a people-centred devolution Bill in line with the spirit in the constitution.”
Own Correspondent|The opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa has said that the ruling ZANU PF is threatened by action and that is the reason why it is resorting to violence.
We present the party’s statement in full below.
Action rattles Zanu PF as regime braces for terror tactics
As despondent Zimbabweans brace for action to consign poverty and end their suffering, the clueless and illegitimate Mnangagwa regime is planning to engage in nationwide terror tactics and abductions in a vain attempt to cow and intimidate a determined people.
Impeccable sources within the Joint Operations Command in Harare have intimated to the MDC leadership that the entire system has been rattled. President Chamisa’s call for nationwide action has shaken the regime to the core. The regime is now planning violence, night abductions and an assortment of terror tactics against innocent Zimbabweans in a vain attempt to stop an idea whose time has come.
The regime has now fallen into its default mode of violence. Impeccable sources said the meeting held by JOC early this week had put in place elaborate plans to abduct and torture MDC leaders and party youths in the various townships in Harare so as to engender fear in the country in a desperate bid to stop Zimbabweans from engaging in peaceful action to express their displeasure at the parlous economic situation.
The terror tactics are meant to ensure that Zimbabweans get scared away from their democratic and Constitutional right to express their unhappiness at the deteriorating situation in the country. On Tuesday, President Nelson Chamisa told the nation that the endemic poverty in the country, the joblessness, power and fuel shortages, the rising cost of basic commodities and the deteriorating living conditions were the signal that the people needed to act to end their situation.
Since then, the regime has gone on a default mode and is now planning nationwide terror tactics to cow a nation determined to express itself.
Zimbabweans are determined to end their suffering. From Msampakaruma to Mandidzudzure, from Plumtree to Kanyemba, Zimbabweans are bracing for action. The people are determined to sonorously express themselves as the situation in the country gets more and more untenable.
No weapon fashioned against the people shall prosper. Intimidation and terror tactics will not work as everyone, including our uniformed forces, are ready to take decisive action by confronting this illegitimate and clueless regime.
We thank the patriotic Zimbabweans who continue to keep us updated on the heinous plans to jeopardize the people’s intention to legitimately and constitutionally express themselves.
Zimbabweans are ready for action. Our uniformed forces who can hardly afford a meal are ready for action. Villagers, civil servants, lecturers, students and farmers are ready. The unemployed youths are ready. Our elderly people are ready.
No machete or wicked plan will stop an idea whose time has come.
IOL|Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has said that the Audi driver who filmed himself reaching the speed of 308km/h on a freeway in Midrand has been identified, Eyewitness News reported.
Mbalula told the media on Thursday that the police was in “hot pursuit of the driver who bragged about driving at over 300km/h” and would soon bring him to justice.
In a tweet by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, the organisation confirmed that the driver had been identified, further stating that he should hand himself over to the traffic authorities or they would show up on his doorstep in Midrand.
The clip was reportedly filmed late on Tuesday night, with the driver filming his dashboard, so he was even driving with only one hand fully on the steering wheel.
The dashboard speed seems to peak at 308km/h, but then briefly appears to touch 309km/h.
The car’s electronic speed limiter seems to have been bypassed.
Although the dash seems to identify the vehicle as an Audi TT S, the only way such a model could reach this speed is if it was chipped, tuned or otherwise modified.
Times Live|Fourteen people were injured when the ceiling of Central Park shopping centre in Bloemfontein collapsed on Wednesday.
“There are 13 minor injuries and one moderate injury with an ankle fracture,” said Free State health department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi.
The victims have been transported to Pelonomi Hospital for treatment.
The Mangaung metropolitan municipality said that when the city’s planning directorate visited the mall, a portion of the ceiling was found to have collapsed.
“On arrival at the scene, it was confirmed that only a portion of the chipboard ceiling had collapsed,” said Mangaung metro spokesperson Qondile Khedama.
“The city’s inspector has issued a notice to Broll [the building owners] to investigate the cause of the collapse and say how they are going to remedy the situation.”
Khedama said the city’s planning team would wait for a report from a qualified structural engineer. “Until then, the affected portion of the shopping centre will remain closed,” he said.
“Interstate Bus Lines, which is the bus company located at Central Park, confirmed that its services have not been interrupted.”
BBC|A banker implicated in the embezzlement and money-laundering case against Africa’s richest woman, Isabel dos Santos, has been found dead in Lisbon.
Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha managed the account of oil firm Sonangol, formerly chaired by Dos Santos, at the small Portuguese lender EuroBic.
His death, on Wednesday, was reported on Thursday soon after Angolan prosecutors named both as suspects.
Dos Santos denies alleged corruption revealed by leaked documents.
Da Cunha was found dead at one of his properties in Lisbon.
A police source told Portuguese media that “everything points to suicide”.
On Wednesday EuroBic said it would end its business relationship with Dos Santos, who is reportedly the bank’s main shareholder through two companies she owns.
It was later reported as saying that Dos Santos was selling her capital stake in the bank.
The bank added that it would investigate transfers worth tens of millions of dollars she had made. Some of the transfers drained Sonangol’s account at EuroBic, the New York Times reports.
It is high time that government makes it mandatory for all passengers service vehicles, lorries and haulage trucks to have speed limiter. This will prevent avoidable accidents that are due to overspeeding and negligence such as the bus accident that recently happened near Odzi River.
Drivers of public service vehicles must be allocated points which are deductable upon committing a traffic offence and once the driver has used up the points he should be suspended from driving the passengers service vehicle (PSV)
In addition drivers of PSVs must get regular-including snap check- breathalyzer tests as well medical examinations.
We are concerned that passengers are being driven by drunk or physically ill drivers. Putting a 100 or more lives in the hands of a drunk or physically ill driver is the kind of stuff that nightmares – that do become real- are made of.
Police must put in place speed traps and must be availed with breathalyzers.
ZIMBABWE LET’S SAVE LIVES. The Talmud says, ‘ He that saves a life saves the world entire.’
Tafadzwa Goliati president of
Passengers Association Of Zimbabwe
Gift Kamuriwo has been banned from all football-related activities for three years.
Kamuriwo who was Black Rhinos’ team manager last season was involved in a match-fixing incident in the 3-0 defeat against Herentals in October.
The former Warriors player confessed to the club’s executive that he received money from Herentals official Oliver Chirenga to influence the outcome of the game. He revealed this following internal investigations after his bosses raised a red flag.
The issue was reported to the Premier Soccer League who delivered their judgement on Wednesday.
In a statement, the League said: “Gift Kamuriwo was found guilty of breaching Order 31.2.3 of the PSL Rules and Regulations which makes it an offence on the part of player or official who: Accepts any inducement, reward or bribe referred to in order 31.2.2
“Kamuriwo has been banned from participating in any football related activity for a period of three years as from the 1st of January 2020.
“One year of this period is suspended on condition that the accused pays a fine of RTGS $10 000 (Ten thousand dollars). During his period of banishment, the accused shall not be allowed to watch or be near any football stadium in Zimbabwe.
“The fine of RTGS $10 000 (Ten thousand dollars) together with the costs of the hearing is to be paid by 31 January 2020.”
Chirenga was handed a ten-year ban in the judgement while Herentals were fined RTGS $300 000 and their 3-0 result in the game was forfeited, leaving them relegated.Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|Le Havre have confirmed that they have reached an agreement with Lyon on Tinotenda Kadewere’s transfer.
The Zimbabwean forward who joined the Ligue 2 side in 2018 will play along with Warriors team-mate Marshall Munetsi of Stade de Reims in the French top-flight.
However, that will only happen in the next season as the 24-year old will be loaned back to Le Havre until the end of this campaign.
It’s believed Lyon will pay €15 million for the striker as he becomes the most expensive Zimbabwean footballer.
The 24-year-old former Harare City player currently leads the Ligue 2 scoring chart with 18 goals in 20 matches.
The news put an end to the interest from other European clubs who were chasing his signature.
The Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee has released the judgment in the matter involving Herentals FC and Black Rhinos FC.
Herentals FC and their official Oliver Chirenga were charged for attempting to influence the outcome of their Castle Lager PSL match against Black Rhinos FC which was played at the National Sports Stadium on the 19th of October 2019.
The Club was found guilty of contravening Order 31.1.3 of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Rules and Regulations which makes it an offence on the part of a club where:
Its players, officials, servant or duly authorized (expressed or implied) representatives, for any corrupt, dishonesty or lawful purpose in connection with a game played under auspices of the League, or in connection with the affairs of the League, give, offer or promise, whether directly or indirectly, any inducement, reward or bribe of whatsoever nature, to anybody whatsoever.
Herentals FC were fined RTGS $300 000 (Three hundred thousand dollars). In addition, in line with Article 18(2) of the Fifa Disciplinary Code 2019, the results of the Herentals FC vs Black Rhinos FC match played on the 19th of October 2019 be and is hereby forfeited. The fine of RTGS $300 000, together with the full costs of the hearing, shall be paid by the club by 31 January 2020.
In the event that the Club does not comply with any part of this penalty, the Club shall not be allowed to participate in any football or football-related activities for the next ten (10) years. The current owners of the club will have to show cause why the same penalty should not be imposed on them.
Herentals FC official, Oliver Chirenga was charged for contravening Order 31.2.2 of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Rules and Regulations which makes it an offence on the part of a club or official:
For any corrupt, dishonest or unlawful purpose in connection with a game played under the auspices of the League, or in connection with the affairs of the League, gives, offers or promises, whether directly or indirectly, any inducement, reward or bribe of whatsoever nature, to anybody whomsoever.
Zimdancehall artiste Boss Pumacol has released a diss song seemingly mocking Enzo Ishall and Prophet Passion Java after their fall out.
Although it is evident that the song is targeted at Enzo and Passion, Pumacol has dismissed the rumours saying that the song is targeting the so called rich promoters who fake promoting youths.
“What l sing come to me as a flash of inspiration,the motivation coming from what we encounter in our daily lives.
“The song mastanzi imhene is a reality song which everyone can relate to and there is no illusion within it.Our industry is remaining stagnant and one of the main reason is the existence of fake promoters or should l say sponsors.
“Certain individuals are timing artists that are on the spotlight and use these artists to make their names popular.They never fulfill their obligations towards the artist!In the end it is the artist who is blamed,” said Pumacol.H-Metro
By A Correspondent- Dan Kasukuwere, the brother of exiled former Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere was reportedly arrested on Wednesday for allegedly skipping the country’s border through unauthorised points.
The development was announced by Cde Setfree Mafukidze who posted on Twitter saying:
“@Hon_Kasukuwere brother Dan Kasukuwere arrested on allegations of skipping the border through unauthorized points despite the fact that he has produced a valid passport which shows legal exit and entry, he is currently held at CID Law and Order Harare Central Police. Harassment?”
@Hon_Kasukuwere brother Dan Kasukuwere arrested on allegations of skipping the border through unauthorized points despite the fact that he has produced a valid passport which shows legal exit and entry,he is currently held at CID Law and Order Harare Central Police.Harrassment? pic.twitter.com/fpKD2VXpjp
World Leprosy Day is the last Sunday in the month of January and commemorated globally. This year in 2020 it’s on the 26th January. Events of the day are mainly to raise awareness of the disease in our communities.
The theme is “Ending discrimination, stigma and prejudice.” For many years when the disease used to be common those affected were treated as outcasts and would usually be thrown out of the community from others.
Leprosy is an infectious disease that affects skin and nerves. It progresses slowly such that symptoms might take as long as 5 years and in some individuals 20 years before they manifest.
Symptoms include painful pale skin ulcers and long lasting lumps. Since it also affects nerves loss of feeling and muscle weakness might also be present. If eyes are affected it causes blindness.
Early diagnosis and treatment is important in management of leprosy to avoid complications. Diagnosis is by a skin biopsy.
Treatment depends on symptoms one presents with but however antibiotics are used to treat the disease. If there is nerve damage it is not treatable and will lead to disabilities.
In Zimbabwe there is a Leprosy center located in Mutoko called Mutemwa Leprosy Center.
The centre cares for those affected by the disease helping them recover and receiving treatment.
For more information follow/ like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Farai Dziva|Opposition party MDC will hold a solidarity rally for Chief Felix Ndiweni on February 1.
This was confirmed by Matabeleland North deputy provincial chairperson Jabulani Hadebe in an interview with the
Chronicle:
“Yes, as a party we organising a solidarity rally for ‘Chief Ndiweni on February 1’.
We are working with our counterparts in Bulawayo to prepare for it.
We have taken the stance that traditional leaders should be respected instead of their offices being politicised.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa removed Ndiweni from the Ntabazinduna chieftaincy on November 30 last year and subsequently stripped him of all Government benefits accruing to him.
By Tawanda Ruzanhi- Our political dynamics require a game changer to break the perennial stalemate between the two main protagonists of our failed politics, Zanu PF and MDC A .
At the core of this gridlock is the vanity of the leadership of Emmerson Mnangagwa and Nelson Chamisa who have failed to answer not just the national consensus and call on genuine dialogue but regional signals on the need for national convergence and unity of purpose, the most recent being an unusual and out of tradition advisory from Naledi Pandor , South Africa ‘ s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation ( DIRCO).
The impatience of regional leaders with Zimbabwe expresses itself through South African Ministers personal opinions on the Zimbabwe crisis and opinion articles in regional mainstream media where Zimbabweans are now being caricatured in the same vein as Mexicans in the United States of America.
They decry that Zimbabweans have turned to all form of vices from prostitution to all manner of crime in their countries and want to take down the region with them.
Even this has not moved Zimbabwean political actors to some serious engagement of solving a national crisis only rivalled by that of Venezuela. It is this evident lack of empathy that has prompted Zimbabweans to start looking outside the 2018 electoral rivals for a solution.
Perhaps this election was not inclusive in its leadership offering and the solution may actually lie elsewhere , is the argument in many chatrooms that include homes, kombis , saloons ,bars , fuel queues , funeral and wedding gatherings etc.
Wherever two or three people meet and inevitably the national crisis becomes the subject there is a desperate conclusion that there is leadership failure both in Zanu PF and MDC. Many including Statehouse itself and Nelson Chamisa have resorted to the divine , prayer and more prayer, but prayer without national resolve is futile.
Talk has begun in earnest on alternative leadership and politics and all sorts of names thrown in from Kasukuwere and his Wabantu Movement, Strive Masiyiwa to Walter Mzembi and his recently announced People ‘ s Party , and many others . Today I zero in on the name that the public seems to mention often including our mainstream media, Walter Mzembi.
Often described as a vibrant and technocratic politician, Mzembi’s name continues to disrupt on the political landscape long after being unceremoniously despatched from both Zanu PF and Government in November 2017 together with his G40 colleagues.
Seemingly back in politics after a two year sabbatical which he announced himself in December 2017, it appears he is exploiting a political vacuum that is manifesting in our politics and growing by the day.
Many are now increasingly betting on him as their preferred choice for the highest office.
This narrative is being reinforced by the anticlimax that Chamisa’ s 20th January SONA delivery turned out to be. His lengthy monologue in Mbare, which sounded more like a freshman ‘ s political wishlist confirms the vacuum that now clearly beckons in opposition ranks so undesirable at this juncture in our politics.
Who will give traction to the second liberation agenda seems to be the burning question . Many in different quarters have suggested Mzembi as a viable option to save the current political impasse.
The former Masvingo South Member of Parliament is receiving wide endorsements from students, politicians across the political divide, labour unions, business community even within the military ranks who view him as a practical and mature politician.
The former Tourism Minister who is linked to the new kid on the block , People’s Party is viewed as a more acceptable third way option amongst the current political players.
According to impeccable sources within the Party , recruitment is full steam with deployments taking place on a daily basis . Pressure is mounting on Mzembi to make a public statement accepting officially the People’ s Party nomination as its interim President. Mzembi who is widely believed to be in South Africa, is viewed by many as their last hope to break the current political stalemate.
Mzembi seems muted by a new legislation in South Africa on Asylum seekers and refugees that takes away political rights of persecutees of tyrants in Sub Saharan Africa and its highly likely that him and his colleagues are studying the impact of this legislation on their political futures before taking any further steps on their careers.
Mzembi’s announcement as the leader of the People’s Party has send Zanu PF into some panic mode over the new political party’s surprise appearance on the political scene.
Zanu PF had not seen or factored an early comeback of the vanquished G40 functionaries, letalone Mzembi who is remembered for attempting to bring Emmerson Mnangagwa and his former boss Robert Mugabe together after the coup.
His heart seemed at the time and until recently to be with his old party , an accusation thrown at him often. However Mzembi continues to be name dropped on the political scene especially his association with People ‘s Party raising fears within the ruling Zanu PF circles that he an existential threat to their prospects in the future.
The Party remains uncertain on the former Masvingo South legislator’s next move who has not spoken to accept or deny his links with the People ‘ s Party.
Mzembi has remained in the background, allowing his Party to speak with many other people pushing for his name in the political ring. Respected development and political Analyst Cladius Madhuku has weighed in saying Mzembi resembles good leadership skills and he is presidential material. He certainly commands the clout for office and is accepted across the political divide.
The rumour mill says he enjoys a modicum of respect within the military who remember his succinct speeches and policy deliverables at the Army Staff College and his practical interventions for the Army itself during his tenure as Tourism Minister.
Believed to be turning 56 this year, he seems to be almost where Robert Mugabe himself and Morgan Tsvangirai were agewise when they both became Prime Ministers in 1980 and 2009 respectively.
Zimbabwe has this age thing where it loathes immaturity which could be Chamisa ‘ s undoing as he glides through the 40s. His rejection by peers like Gutu , Khupe , Mwonzora and others was informed partly by the age and immaturity factor. G40 downfall itself was the cynical collapse of an age based ambition inside Zanu PF.
Within the ruling Zanu PF itself there are wide sympathies with Mzembi who is seen as an unfair victim of highhandedness by a jealous tribal cabal from his Karanga group who linked his promotion to Foreign Affairs Minister a month before the coup with the demise of Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Unlike Mugabe who always assembled a team of rivals for Cabinet believing the best performance came from his foes his successor has preferred bleating greenhorns for office and discrediting Mzembi and other G40 colleagues as disloyal suited his purging plans hence their persecution and ommission from public office deployment.
Interestingly the Corporate world misses Mzembi and describes him as pragmatic and sober citing his successful stint at Tourism and national branding efforts that brought the only sectoral UN General Assembly to Zimbabwe.
Many people wonder why the Harare administration continues to persecute him but perhaps the answer is now shaping in their hearts and minds that he remains a contender for office and hence Mugabe was so fond of him he would spite his inner circle often describing him as his best Minister, performance ratings confirmed by independent media annual Cabinet scorecards at the time. This of course created many enemies for him , especially from succession contenders inside Zanu PF.
Apart from high local ratings the former Foreign Affairs Minister continues to receive attention from the international community, largely a product of his run for the post of UNWTO Secretary General which he narrowly lost in 2017 two months before the coup.
Studying from a distance he has clearly calibrated his re-entry into politics but he certainly is not easily prompted into the toxicity of Zimbabwean politics. Now that he has literally been thrown into the ring the Nation is waiting anxiously for his next moves.
From London his Secretary General appears to be the authorised voice of his People ‘ s Party and so far he has acquitted himself very well in protecting his boss while presenting the alternative narrative so badly needed to break the current impasse.
Could Dr Walter Mzembi turn out to be the “David ” that Lloyd Msipa has presented to us or a modern day ” Joshua ” who will take us to Canaan?
That we need redemption from failed politics and a melting economy is no longer the debate but who is going to be the first amongst generational equals is the question on everyone ‘ s mind.
The liberation generation is now past its sale by date , it’s time for new politics and new purposed minds. I submit like many that Mzembi fits the bill for a redemption presidency we so urgently need.
By A Correspondent- Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) launched its perceptions and indexes on corruption at Avondale centre Harare this morning (Thursday).
According to the findings by TIZ and Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) women are impacted by the corruption in more spheres of life than men.
ZACC Chaiperson Justice Loice Matanda Moyo said, “Most of the men are the engineers of corruption therefore women became more vulnerable and suffer the consequences of corruption.
Women need to go beyond being 52% of the population of the country.”
She further stipulated that it is also the role of civil society to fight against gender corruption and raising public awareness.
Speaking on the same event Mette Sunnergren, Head of Development Cooperation from Sweden embassy remarked that women are more likely exposed to corruption in crucial situations.
TIZ and ZACC are looking forward to the signing of their Memorandum of Understanding aimed at fighting corruption in the first quarter of the year.
By A Correspondent- Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr Gideon Gono has been dragged to court by his tenant for allegedly trying to evict him.
The tenant, Dr Nongerai Moses Makurumidze, who runs a sports science and a research college at the Natvest Industrial Complex while renting the premises from Gono accused Gono of violating their agreement.
In his court papers in which Gono, Clark Makoni and fellow tenants, Mbonje, Dzobo, Matoko, Tambara, Mujeke and Chigondowa are respondents, Makurumidze said:
Your Worship, I had an agreement with Dr Gono. He was initially leasing the property to me but they are now ignoring the original agreement and are trying to evict me without any legal procedures. We are in the process of setting up a proposed university of sport and they all know it but his workers terrorise my clients and staff.
He added that Gono’s workers are disregarding the agreement he had with Gono saying that they had the mandate to evict Makurumidze.
Meanwhile, Chigondowa who works for Gono said that Makurumidze was evicted by Gono and it is surprising that he kept coming back.
“Tsvaira Zimbabwe campaign is an MDC initiative set to be launched by our President Nelson Chamisa and it has nothing to do with Zanu PF”, says Senator Lillian Timveous as she speaks on her party’s recently unveiled “Agenda 2020”.
By A Correspondent- Senator Lillian Timveous has described as a source of inspiration MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s recently unveiled Agenda 2020 adding that the “roadmap” paved way for Zimbabwe’s developmental trajectory.
Chief Svosve speaks to Senator Timveous in an exclusive interview.
Watch the video loading below as she speaks about this and more.
ZANU PF Councillor for Chiredzi Ward 16, Emmanuel Nyathi has died. Nyathi died on Sunday on his way to Collin Saunders Hospital in Triangle on Sunday.
His death was announced by Chiredzi Rural District Council chairperson, Edward Matsilele who told News Day that Nyathi Nyathi has been unwell for some time. He said:
We have lost a dear friend, a brother and a father. As you know we held our last full council meeting while he was in Harare where he was seeking treatment.
As council, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the Nyathi family and the people of Ward 16.
His departure means that Chiredzi will have another by-election after it held another one in November last year following the resignation of Andrew Ndebele (Zanu PF), who was voted for in the July 2018 harmonised elections.
Ndebele resigned in June last year due to poor health and the seat was evemtually won by Zanu PF’s Arnold Rukanda who defeated John Mazhata (MDC Alliance) in a by-election.
MDC has been struggling to penetrate the rural vote with analysts saying that the party will not dislodge ZANU PF as long as it does not have the support of the rural electorate.- NewsDay
By A Correspondent- A police officer attached to a unit that protects foreign diplomats has been arrested and charged with theft after ambushing a woman and stealing her mobile phone.
Locadia Munyu, 23, was walking home from work along Chalkmead Road in Harare’s Greendale suburb at around 5PM when a man emerged from the trees on the side of the road and snatched her phone before fleeing.
Munyu screamed for help and members of the public who were nearby gave chase and apprehended Talent Vhengere, who later turned out to be a constable attached to the Police Protection Unit Diplomats, based at ZRP Tomlison.
An internal police memo says 31-year-old Vhengere was apprehended while still carrying the Itel A15 mobile phone snatched from Munyu.
He also had his police identity card. Vhengere was detained at Rhodesville Police Station and was due to appear in court on Thursday.Some police officers and soldiers have resorted to a life of crime to supplement their meagre incomes.
A police officer in the rank of constable earns $1,133 Zimbabwe dollars (about US$65) per month.
ZANU PF Councillor for Chiredzi Ward 16, Emmanuel Nyathi has died.
Nyathi died on Sunday on his way to Collin Saunders Hospital in Triangle on Sunday.
His death was announced by Chiredzi Rural District Council chairperson, Edward Matsilele who told News Day that Nyathi Nyathi has been unwell for some time.
He said:
“We have lost a dear friend, a brother and a father. As you know we held our last full council meeting while he was in Harare where he was seeking treatment.
As council, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the Nyathi family and the people of Ward 16.”
His departure means that Chiredzi will have another by-election after it held another one in November last year following the resignation of Andrew Ndebele (Zanu PF), who was voted for in the July 2018 harmonised elections.
Ndebele resigned in June last year due to poor health and the seat was evemtually won by Zanu PF’s Arnold Rukanda who defeated John Mazhata (MDC Alliance) in a by-election.
MDC has been struggling to penetrate the rural vote with analysts saying that the party will not dislodge ZANU PF as long as it does not have the support of the rural electorate.- NewsDay
Farms belonging to former Zanu PF officials who refused to follow Emmerson Mnangagwa have been taken away.
Among these are Professor Jonathan Moyo, Patrick Zhuwawo and Saviour Kasukukuwere.
I have seen the letter taking over Saviour Kasukukuwere’s farm, and the reason for the farm being taken over was “downsizing for replanning purposes”.
While Kasukukuwere’s farm is being downsized for re-planning purposes, greedy Emmerson Mnangagwa is “renting pieces of land on neighbouring farms”. It is interesting to know who these farmers are who Emmerson Mnangagwa is renting from.
Hasn’t Emmerson Mnangagwa been saying that farmers who are not fully utilising the land will have the farms taken away from them and given to those who will make them productive? Hasn’t Emmerson Mnangagwa been preaching about one man one farm, just like Mugabe used to? There is more than meets the eye.
There are stories told before Emmerson Mnangagwa became the leader of Zanu PF and later declared winner of the 2018 elections by the constitutional Court that Emmerson Mnangagwa used to protection fees to some white farmers around him who would be made to pay him half the profits of their yields so that they would not lose their farms as part of the land reform programme.
Such stories about Mnangagwa holding these white farmers at ransom in exchange of farm security must be investigated, but that is a job for another day.
What is public knowledge now is that the Constitutional Court declared President, Comrade Emmerson Mnangagwa is double faced, who downsizes his opponents’ farms while protecting some lazy farmers who are underutilising land when thousands of unemployed youths, including some in Zanu PF do not have any land to farm.
Zanu PF has made land a Zanu PF only asset, and that is not what the war of liberation was fought for.
Kennedy Kaitano
Some background reading
ED, Acting President Chiwenga, spend day at farm, and ED renting land from neighbours
Farai Dziva|CIO operatives last week visited Progressive Teachers Union President Takavafira Zhou’s offices in Masvingo and quizzed him over the union’s agenda.
Said Zhou:
“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation.
They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”
As despondent Zimbabweans brace for action to consign poverty and end their suffering, the clueless and illegitimate Mnangagwa regime is planning to engage in nationwide terror tactics and abductions in a vain attempt to cow and intimidate a determined people.
Impeccable sources within the Joint Operations Command in Harare have intimated to the MDC leadership that the entire system has been rattled. President Chamisa’s call for nationwide action has shaken the regime to the core. The regime is now planning violence, night abductions and an assortment of terror tactics against innocent Zimbabweans in a vain attempt to stop an idea whose time has come.
The regime has now fallen into its default mode of violence. Impeccable sources said the meeting held by JOC early this week had put in place elaborate plans to abduct and torture MDC leaders and party youths in the various townships in Harare so as to engender fear in the country in a desperate bid to stop Zimbabweans from engaging in peaceful action to express their displeasure at the parlous economic situation.
The terror tactics are meant to ensure that Zimbabweans get scared away from their democratic and Constitutional right to express their unhappiness at the deteriorating situation in the country. On Tuesday, President Nelson Chamisa told the nation that the endemic poverty in the country, the joblessness, power and fuel shortages, the rising cost of basic commodities and the deteriorating living conditions were the signal that the people needed to act to end their situation.
Since then, the regime has gone on a default mode and is now planning nationwide terror tactics to cow a nation determined to express itself.
Zimbabweans are determined to end their suffering. From Msampakaruma to Mandidzudzure, from Plumtree to Kanyemba, Zimbabweans are bracing for action. The people are determined to sonorously express themselves as the situation in the country gets more and more untenable.
No weapon fashioned against the people shall prosper. Intimidation and terror tactics will not work as everyone, including our uniformed forces, are ready to take decisive action by confronting this illegitimate and clueless regime.
We thank the patriotic Zimbabweans who continue to keep us updated on the heinous plans to jeopardize the people’s intention to legitimately and constitutionally express themselves.
Zimbabweans are ready for action. Our uniformed forces who can hardly afford a meal are ready for action. Villagers, civil servants, lecturers, students and farmers are ready. The unemployed youths are ready. Our elderly people are ready.
No machete or wicked plan will stop an idea whose time has come.
Farai Dziva|CIO operatives last week visited Progressive Teachers Union President Takavafira Zhou’s offices in Masvingo and quizzed him over the union’s agenda.
Said Zhou:
“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation.
They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”
By A Correspondent- Government will soon introduce $50 notes to address the currency crisis in the short term as the Zimbabwe dollar (ZWL) continues to devalue, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube has said.
In June 2019, government reintroduced the ZWL as the sole legal tender without enough foreign currency or market confidence, which has seen it continue to devalue and raise the annual inflation rate to its current 520%.
“First of all, we are doing two things ,we are injecting cash into the economy, feeding the economy, but we want to do it in a non-inflationary way whereby we exchange electronic currency for physical cash,” Ncube (pictured) said yesterday in an interview with American media company Bloomberg during the ongoing World Economic Forum, in Switzerland.
“The second thing is that we are introducing higher denominated notes going $10, $20 and $50 during the course of 2020 that is what we will be doing, introducing higher denominated notes making it easier for citizens to transact.”
With the ZWL dollar continuing to devalue, the current notes of $2 and $5 are worth 12 and 29 US cents, respectively, making it harder for businesses to transact. Already, coins less than $1 are increasingly being rejected in the formal and informal markets as inflation increases.
Further, the reintroduction of the ZWL dollar as the sole legal tender created cash shortages that have seen businesses offer cheaper prices for goods and services paid for in cash compared to electronic money.
This has added to inflationary pressures that are being driven by the devaluating ZWL dollar as the foreign currency shortage bites.
In his Bloomberg interview, Ncube revealed government’s intention to allow civil servants wages to catch up with inflation as the devaluing ZWL has led to a significant wage erosion.
For example, an average monthly salary of US$500 prior to the reintroduction of the local currency was equal to ZWL$500 post currency change, as at yesterday’s rate of ZW$17.67 to the US dollar, this translates to US$29, representing a US$471 loss in value.
“We are engaging constructively with the civil servants. In fact, just as I left, two days before I left, we increased the wages to cushion the civil servants and we expect the private sector to do the same. What has really happened, through the currency reform agenda, there has been what we call ‘wage compression’ in economics,” Ncube said.
“So, we are having the wages now catch up with the adjustment to the exchange rate because retailers are still pricing in US dollars in their heads and translating that into domestic currency, so it has squashed the purchasing power of wages. And, we are closing that gap by allowing wages to rise, so we know the issue and are dealing with it.”
The civil servants’ recent wage increment of 97% means that the least paid worker would take home ZWL$2 033, coupled with a cushioning allowance of $750 for January.
Added together, the least paid worker would be taking a total of ZWL$2 783.
However, the Total Consumption Poverty Line for an average family of five persons stood at ZWL$3, 656 in November last year with consumer bodies putting that figures between ZWL$4 000 and ZWL$5 000.
By A Correspondent- Defence ministry camp commander Laxwell Ngara yesterday appeared in court facing fraud charges after he allegedly produced fake documents claiming $306 135 as payment for cleaning services rendered to the ministry by Maids on Wheels (Pvt) Limited.
Ngara (51), who appeared before Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya, was granted $1 500 bail.
The camp commander, who was responsible for supervising contractors and the upkeep of Defence House, is the fourth official from the Defence ministry to be arraigned before the courts after Peter Muchakazi, Kunofiwa Mervyn Madondo and Simbarashe Zvineyi appeared in the dock on similar charges.
Allegations are that between March and June 2019, Ngara connived with Danison Muvandi, who is on the run, Muchakazi and Madondo, who are on remand, and misrepresented to their superiors that the Defence ministry had received cleaning services from Maids on Wheels.
The State alleges the trio sourced five fake invoices valued at $306 135 and originated minutes dated June 19, 2019 addressed to the director of finance and human resources, Muvandi, who is the owner and signatory to the Maids on Wheels account.
The accused persons then allegedly attached the five invoices to the minutes with instructions for payment without attaching the required award-of-tender letter specifying the job done and signed by the chairperson of the procurement management unit.
It is alleged on June 20, 2019, the trio reportedly posted the payment request to the chief accountant, who released the funds into Maids on Wheels’ bank account.
Investigations revealed that no requisition was raised by the procurement management unit for cleaning services and there was no tender awarded to Maids on Wheels.
Meanwhile, former Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) board vice-chair Idah Mupamhanga, who is facing criminal abuse of office charges, was yesterday further remanded to March 4 after the State indicated that it was waiting for the docket to be completed.
State representative Charles Muchemwa told the court that they would be in a position to provide a trial date for Mupamhanga by March 4.
Mupamhanga, who appeared before magistrate Mujaya, was represented by Brighton Pabwe of Samkange and Venturas Legal Practitioners.
Allegations are that on June 21, 2016, ZimParks, through its then commercial services director Tarisai Musonza, wrote to Mabalengwe Safaris, represented by Rodgers Madanhure, advising them not to renew their lease agreement for Matetsi Unit 1 — a hunting concession in Victoria Falls — which was expiring at the end of that year.
It is alleged that Mupamhanga, without a board resolution, unlawfully instructed the ZimParks legal department to prepare a memorandum of agreement leasing Matetsi Unit 1.
Upon receipt of the money, she allegedly concealed the transaction from the ZimParks board and transferred the money from her bank account into ZimParks’ account without disclosing the nature of the transaction.
It is alleged that in January 2017, Mupamhanga entered into another memorandum of agreement to lease 19 Zambezi Lodges to Adage of Success (Pvt) Ltd without the knowledge of the board. She cited under-utilisation by ZimParks.
The court heard that in the same year, Mupamhanga called for a meeting which was attended by senior ecologist Roselyn Mandisodza and the then acting director-general Godfrey Matipano and told them that she wanted to venture into gold exploration inside protected areas to fund wildlife conservation.
Without the knowledge of the board, Mupamhanga allegedly instructed Mandisodza to get a quotation for a metal detector and the ecologist obtained a quotation and proforma invoice of $11 000 from Excelight Investment.
By A Correspondent- Former Zanu-PF MP for Highfields West, Psychology Maziwisa, has been fired by former First Lady Grace Mugabe from his recently appointed role as General Manager at Alpha Omega dairies over suspected cases of alleged thefts of money and ice creams.
Impeccable sources within the Mazowe-based business operation owned by the Mugabe family have revealed how Maziwisa, who recently sold a house he had bought for his son as he fell on hard times, had been appointed into the job by Grace Mugabe based on their previous “good working relationship in the G40 faction” of Zanu-PF.
When President Emmerson Mnangagwa replaced the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017, most of the G40 kingpins fled the country, but some like Maziwisa stayed put and maintained a low profile as they were not perceived to be a threat to the new leaders at the Zanu-PF headquarters.
Maziwisa, a lawyer by training but who hardly made a name in the profession as he went straight into Zanu-PF politics, reportedly fell on hard times and got a job at the dairy facility founded by Mugabe and his wife.
However, Grace Mugabe in an intriguing turn of events yesterday fired Maziwisa “after it was discovered that he was stealing money from ice cream sales,” Zimbabwe Voice has been told.
“He (Maziwisa) was working with his IT counterpart named Amon Saizi, who is an elder at the ZAOGA and a friend to Simba Chikore,” Zimbabwe Voice heard.
Chikore, who is married to Grace Mugabe’s only daughter Bona, comes from a powerful ZAOGA family.
“Saizi was brought by Simba to be his spy in the company but later teamed up with Mazivisa and started stealing both cash and the ice-cream boxes.
“EcoCash sales would be remitted to their numbers and they would spent the money,” it has been revealed.
Chikore is said to be keeping a close tab on the Gushungo Holdings businesses as he invested his money into some of the projects.
Meanwhile, Maziwisa has been also accused of taking money from cattle sales to fix his personal car.
“There has been a massive abuse of property by some of the top managers at the Gushungo Farm ever since the Mugabes lost power in November 2017. It’s like a free-for-all moment for the workers, as Grace herself is also unwilling to review salaries and allowances despite the poor economic situation.”
Meanwhile, Grace Mugabe’s personal driver has also been accused of bedding a girlfriend in the car which is used by the former First Lady.
