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 5years and in some individuals 20years 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|A teacher at Njube High School has been accused of removing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s portrait from the staff room and inciting students to embark on an unlawful demonstration.
See police report below :
MEMORANDUM
TO: THE OFFICER COMMANDING BULAWAYO WEST DISTRICT
FROM: OIC NJUBE
DATED 20/01/2020
SUBJECT: DEMONSTRATION BY NJUBE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
This Memo serves to inform you that:
INFORMANT
Name: Ndlovu Archford
Contacts: 0772 885 616
Residential address: Njube High School, Bulawayo
Business address: Njube High Secondary School.
ACCUSED
Name: Brian Mutsiba
NR: 08-709411-D-66
Contacts: 0771 788 104
Res: 311 Emakhandeni, Bulawayo
Business: Njube High School, Bulawayo
CIRCUMSTANCES
On the 20th day of January 2020 and at around 1000 hours, the accused incited over 153 forms one, three and six students to partake in an unlawful demonstration. In doing so, the accused removed the portrait of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe from the staff room and went on to un-hoist the National Flag from its mast. He then exited the school gate with the students he had mobilised for the unsanctioned march.
From the school, they turned right into B.B. Burombo Road then used a footpath to connect Luveve Road.
On reaching the robots opposite Entumbane Complex, the demonstrators gathered and started chanting songs saying, Imfundo ngeyethu into oyenzayo siyayizonda amongst others. The procession then started marching along Luveve Road towards Emagetsini. They were waving placards inscribed Where is UNICEF?”, “This is for every Zimbabwean child” and “SOS serve our souls”.
The Presidents portrait and Zimbabwean flag were being carried by two students.
When they got near to the intersection of Luveve Road and Masiyephambili Road, the demonstrators grouped again and deliberately turned the portrait and the national flag upside and started making loud chants. They then knelt down facing the eastern direction and sang “Nkosi sikelela iAfrica”.
During that process, the headmaster, Mr Zibusiso Msimanga N.R. 53-042510-B-58, cell number 0772 402 047 arrived at the scene and ordered the school children to stop what they were doing and go back to school. The children complied and went back to school but along the way the accused kept on influencing the students to be defiant.
On entering the school campus, one of the pupils who had participated in the march hoisted back the flag. The children then went back to their classes. The accused disappeared from the school upon arrival from the march.
ZRP Njube attended the scene and called the pupils to assembly. The children who had participated in the demonstration voluntarily came into the open about their participation.
They were invited to write reasons for their participation in the demonstration which are—
The fees have been hiked from $92-00 to $440-00.
The teachers are earning low salaries.
Teachers not attending lessons.
Beneficiaries of the BEAM programme being made to pay half of the fees and
The general high cost of living.
A follow-up of the accused was made at number 311, Emakhandeni by Numbers 066556S Constable Magwira and 087615H Constable Muzvuwe. Seen was Sandra Tshuma; N.R. 79-126259-C-79, Cellphone number 0771 778 123, aged 32 years who indicated that the accused relocated to an unknown address three years back. She indicated that the accused was a fellow tenant at the house.
Preliminary investigations show that accused is a former prison officer and subscribes to ZIMTA. He is an abuser of alcohol and is staying alone.
Report has been entered on RRB 403903. The accused is being charged for Contravening section 37 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 {participating in a public gathering with the intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry} and also for Contravening section 6 of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act; Chapter 10:10 {insulting the flag}.
Scene was also attended by the Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District; Chief Superintendent Bizeki, members from the Presidents Office, Military Intelligence, Prison Intelligence and different media houses.
Indications are that the accused is the one who masterminded the demonstration.
The school pupils were merely following their teachers orders.
Also observed was that the spokesperson of MDC-Alliance president, Nkululeko Sibanda was seen milling around.
039730J CHIEF INSPECTOR RAMAPHOSA ZRP NJUBE
MEMORANDUM
TO: THE OFFICER COMMANDING BULAWAYO WEST DISTRICT
FROM: OIC NJUBE
DATED 20/01/2020
SUBJECT: DEMONSTRATION BY NJUBE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
This Memo serves to inform you that:
INFORMANT
Name: Ndlovu Archford
Contacts: 0772 885 616
Residential address: Njube High School, Bulawayo
Business address: Njube High Secondary School.
ACCUSED
Name: Brian Mutsiba
NR: 08-709411-D-66
Contacts: 0771 788 104
Res: 311 Emakhandeni, Bulawayo
Business: Njube High School, Bulawayo
CIRCUMSTANCES
On the 20th day of January 2020 and at around 1000 hours, the accused incited over 153 forms one, three and six students to partake in an unlawful demonstration. In doing so, the accused removed the portrait of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe from the staff room and went on to un-hoist the National Flag from its mast. He then exited the school gate with the students he had mobilised for the unsanctioned march.
From the school, they turned right into B.B. Burombo Road then used a footpath to connect Luveve Road.
On reaching the robots opposite Entumbane Complex, the demonstrators gathered and started chanting songs saying, Imfundo ngeyethu into oyenzayo siyayizonda amongst others. The procession then started marching along Luveve Road towards Emagetsini. They were waving placards inscribed Where is UNICEF?”, “This is for every Zimbabwean child” and “SOS serve our souls”.
The Presidents portrait and Zimbabwean flag were being carried by two students.
When they got near to the intersection of Luveve Road and Masiyephambili Road, the demonstrators grouped again and deliberately turned the portrait and the national flag upside and started making loud chants. They then knelt down facing the eastern direction and sang “Nkosi sikelela iAfrica”.
During that process, the headmaster, Mr Zibusiso Msimanga N.R. 53-042510-B-58, cell number 0772 402 047 arrived at the scene and ordered the school children to stop what they were doing and go back to school. The children complied and went back to school but along the way the accused kept on influencing the students to be defiant.
On entering the school campus, one of the pupils who had participated in the march hoisted back the flag. The children then went back to their classes. The accused disappeared from the school upon arrival from the march.
ZRP Njube attended the scene and called the pupils to assembly. The children who had participated in the demonstration voluntarily came into the open about their participation.
They were invited to write reasons for their participation in the demonstration which are—
The fees have been hiked from $92-00 to $440-00.
The teachers are earning low salaries.
Teachers not attending lessons.
Beneficiaries of the BEAM programme being made to pay half of the fees and
The general high cost of living.
A follow-up of the accused was made at number 311, Emakhandeni by Numbers 066556S Constable Magwira and 087615H Constable Muzvuwe. Seen was Sandra Tshuma; N.R. 79-126259-C-79, Cellphone number 0771 778 123, aged 32 years who indicated that the accused relocated to an unknown address three years back. She indicated that the accused was a fellow tenant at the house.
Preliminary investigations show that accused is a former prison officer and subscribes to ZIMTA. He is an abuser of alcohol and is staying alone.
Report has been entered on RRB 403903. The accused is being charged for Contravening section 37 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 {participating in a public gathering with the intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry} and also for Contravening section 6 of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act; Chapter 10:10 {insulting the flag}.
Scene was also attended by the Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District; Chief Superintendent Bizeki, members from the Presidents Office, Military Intelligence, Prison Intelligence and different media houses.
Indications are that the accused is the one who masterminded the demonstration.
The school pupils were merely following their teachers orders.
Also observed was that the spokesperson of MDC-Alliance president, Nkululeko Sibanda was seen milling around.
039730J CHIEF INSPECTOR RAMAPHOSA ZRP NJUBE
By A Correspondent- The leading opposition party in Zimbabwe has said people have not revolted against the political and economic woes in Zimbabwe simply because people were trying to give dialogue a chance.
The MDC took the time to remind the ruling party that time was also running out because sooner or later people would rise up against misrule.
This was said by MDC Alliance’ Nkululeko Sibanda who was speaking ahead of today’s MDC Agenda 2020 event to be held in Mbare.
Dr Sibanda said:
Zanu PF is operating under some misconception that it will not face the wrath of the people, now or later. President Chamisa will remind them that people can and will come out, the only reason they so far haven’t is that he was giving dialogue a chance, but that window is closing fast
The president will call for action, across the political divide, towards making this country a better place. What you will see is a determined leader laying out preparations, the building blocks to recapacitate the party and remobilising the mass of our support
Chamisa will address his party supporters in Mbare‘s Stoddart Hall today.
By A Correspondent- The prosecutor in charge of prosecuting Marry Chiwenga wants Marry to submit the remaining 2 passports that her husband claims she has.
For her bail conditions, Marry was told to submit her passport and she submitted one diplomatic passport before the VP let the cat out of the bag that she had retained 2 more passports.
According to the publication:
The State has been informed there is a second diplomatic passport, expiring on December 11 this year, and an ordinary passport expiring on February 21, 2022.
The prosecution wants all three passports in the custody of the court until the trial is over.
Marry’s arrest has ignited interest in some Zimbabweans as one opinionist said it has beamed the light on Zimbabwean politics and witchcraft.
By A Correspondent- The United States has started to supply Zimbabwe with the new HIV drug that was approved in 2013.
According to the state media, the US has supplied 2,1 million bottles of Dolutegravir (DTG), which is a new antiretroviral drug with better results in viral suppression and has fewer side effects.
In a statement about the drug supplier USAID said:
The United States Government USAID’s supply chain and procurement project has delivered 2,1 million bottles of Tenofovir Lamivudine Dolutegravir (TLD) to support the transition to this new treatment regiment.
According to the ministry of health, 90% of HIV infected people in Zimbabwe are on treatment.
Own Correspondent|Hundreds of MDC supporters have already started trickling into the open air space outside Stodart Hall in Mbare High Density Suburb of Harare where opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is expected to deliver a critical message on the direction the opposition party will be taking in the new year and beyond.
By A Correspondent- Former Bulilima West legislator Norman Mpofu has accused government of being inactive in dealing with economic crisis which has impoverished the majority of citizens.
The country is currently rocked by serious economic crisis which has seen the local currency losing value at the same time basic goods prices have escalated to affordably for the majority poor.
“The greatest problem with this government is that of doing nothing until things get into a crisis. I am made to understand a Mealie meal tracker system is now put in place to monitor subsidised mealie meal,” he said.
“This is not going to work because the majority of businesses that have access to this subsidised mealie meal are owned by Zanu PF members. Monitors are Zanu PF. To expect a result is like expecting a baby from a homosexual couple.”
Mpofu said it is very difficult to enforce the law in Zimbabwe because Zimbabwean criminals are smart.
“Before committing a crime just join Zanu PF then you are immune to law. Police officers are afraid of Zanu PF members. All Zanu PF officials are refereed to as shef what ever it means. A shef is above the law.”
Mpofu said it is these shefs who have access to this cheap mealie meal and are enriching themselves at the expense of the poor who are the targets of the subsidy.
“At Gain cash n carry in Plumtree you are forced to buy 2 cases of Mirinda a Pepsi drink before you buy 10x10kgs of mealie meal. This conditional selling has been reported to Plumtree Officer In Charge but the crime goes on,” he said.
“Plumtree Save More shop at Dingumuzi has large quantities of this subsidised mealie meal but the poor can not afford it. A 10 kgs is selling at $70 and to make it worse its strictly cash. Thus a clear violation of the law. Other goods at save more you can swipe not this mealie meal from government. What an irony.”
“Where do people get cash from when banks don’t have. Just another puff of hot air from the government. Criminals laugh all the way to the bank.”
By A Correspondent- Relatives of the people who died in a road accident that claimed 16 lives along the Harare-Mutare highway at the weekend have been collecting bodies of the deceased for burial while two of the victims are yet to be positively identified.
Acting Manicaland Provincial Development Coordinator, Edgar Seenza says 14 of the 16 people who perished in Saturday’s accident along Harare Mutare highway have been positively identified with relatives already preparing for burial.
The provincial development coordinator appealed to the public and relatives of the deceased to assist in the identification of the remaining two victims.
“I want to advise that as of today the number of deaths still stands at 16 and of the 16, 14 have been positively identified. I want to appeal to our people to please with the police on their whereabouts of their relatives who are missing. By yesterday 9 of the deceased have been cleared to be taken for burial while the remainder of the identified bodies are being collected,” said Seenza.
The accident has left residents of Mutare disturbed by the high rate of such disasters.
“My message to motorists is let us value life and take defensive driving seriously. Let’s not over speed, yet the roads might not be good but if people travel at safe speeds, they avoid accidents. Our appeal is for the church to pray against the spirit of accidents and disasters affecting the province,” added Seenza.
Meanwhile, 17 people who were admitted at Mutare provincial hospital have been discharged while 23 are still receiving treatment.
The bus belonging to General Bande Bus Company side-swiped with a haulage truck and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) National Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Nyathi confirmed the accident saying the deceased include the bus driver and conductor.
Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said the bus driver was speeding and the accident occurred when he tried to overtake resulting in a head-on collision with the oncoming truck.
By A Correspondent- People in Midlands‘ Vungu district which also covers Gweru‘s Woodlands Park were seen yesterday removing property and food from flooded homes as it reportedly rained heavily and damaged roads and flooded homes this past weekend.
Speaking to a local publication, Vungu Rural District Council ward 16 councillor Parirenyatwa Nyika said:
Some residents actually spent the night standing in their homes as there was water everywhere. Schoolchildren had their books and stationery destroyed by the water, while household property was affected. It is a bad situation
Nyika also called for assistance as he said people are traumatised by the distraction:
The people who were affected right now are distressed and traumatised. We call upon people and organisations with a heart to help us. They can come down here to witness the problem. Some affected families said a stream from Mkoba had burst its banks, directing its waters into their homes during the time it was raining.
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba says his boss should not be blamed for acts of theft by soldiers.
This follows the arrest of two soldiers at the weekend by members of the Sigola community outside Bulawayo for cattle rustling.
The two army sergeants were caught red handed with the carcass of the cow they had stolen.
After their arrest, the carcass was taken by police as an exhibit.
After a lot of comments on social media blaming Mnangagwa for the soldiers’ actions, Charamba came in defence of his boss.
“I have tried to restrain myself from commenting on this bald tweet. Now that sense is taking too long to settle in, I may have to. Just what is the story here and how by the remotest of stretches does it get linked to the President of Zimbabwe,” said Charamba.
“A rogue individual who is alleged to be linked to our Defence Forces breaks the law by rustling cattle; a citizen arrest is effected, as indeed should in a country where rule of law is upheld to levels where even citizens feel confident to help the police; police come in to complete the process, blame goes to the President based on an impromptu, medically sound advice he gave several weeks ago on an unrelated occasion? Zvonzi imi murikudya nenyama; nekuti paita mbavha yemombe? Come on guys, tipei maserious if you want us to take you seriously.”
By A Correspondent- A teacher who was the director of ceremonies at the VP’s nephew’s funeral this past weekend in Beitbridge drew both praise and sympathy from mourners as he knelt down to beg VP Mohadi to influence teachers’ pay hike.
Poloko Malapela, a teacher at Dulivhadzimo Primary School, knelt down and presented his “passionate” plea to the VP by saying:
I have a request Vice-President Mohadi, I am going to kneel down to drive home this important message to you.
We are suffering and life has become hard and can you please put word for us so we can have a salary raise.
Mourners reportedly cheered as Malapela made this gesture. However, the VP at the same funeral had reportedly said a significant salary hike would result in inflation.
Own Correspondent|Tensions and excitement are high in Harare this morning ahead of MDC President Nelson Chamisa presentation of the party’s State of the Nation Agenda (SONA) 2020 road-map at the historic Stodart Hall in Mbare High Density Suburb of Harare.
The rally was moved from its original set venue at Mai Musodzi Hall also in Mbare last week after police barred Chamisa from holding the launch claiming they were busy with the opening of schools for 2020.
Schools opened last week Tuesday.
The party then rescheduled the meeting to Tuesday this week at Stodart Hall in the same suburb.
Responding to the banning of his address last week, Chamisa furiously twitted he would in future, defy attempts by the police to bar him from holding public gatherings.
Thousands of MDC supporters are expected to attend the rally which will make the hall too small for the gathering.
According to party spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka, SONA is an MDC plan of action for 2020.
“From here, the tempo of our democratic struggle rises. President Chamisa will be laying bare to the people of Zimbabwe our cogent plan of action, our cogent plan in order of prosecution of the democratic struggle and programme of action of how we are going to reclaim the people’s struggle,” he said.
If recent words from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp are anything to go by, then no African player, no matter how good that player is, will come into Liverpool team anytime soon.
This much was gathered from the Liverpool boss after the 2021 Africa cup of nations in Cameroon was pushed forward to January-February due to weather conditions.
The Confederation of African football, CAF announced last week that the AFCON in Cameroon will no longer hold in the summer as initially planned because it will be rainy season around June/July in the country.
That singular announcement by CAF has thrown many European clubs, especially the top ones in serious problem for next season because they are definitely going to lose the services of their top players for the period of the tournament.
This is a problem many European clubs thought they have overcome when the Africa Cup of Nations was moved to the summer from the traditional calendar of January/February but the problem seems to have resurfaced again.
While many clubs in the premier league will be dealt a blow by the new date of the 2021 AFCON, one team that will face the music more seems to be Liverpool where they are sure to lose three key players to the tournament in January.
Liverpool’s fantastic front three is made up of two African sons in Mohammed Salah of Egypt and Sadio Mane of Senegal.
And if Liverpool wants to replicate the sort of season they are having at the moment next season, they can’t afford to have both players unavailable for a long period of time such as the case will be when they leave for the AFCON.
Another player they will be missing during the AFCON is Guinean captain Nabil Keita, who is a midfield general for both club and country.
This definitely has frustrated the Liverpool manager to make it clear that he and the club will now seriously think it through before bringing in an African player going forward.
Klopp said “the African cup of nations going back to January and February, for us is a catastrophe losing three players”.
“The other thing it does which is true is that it does not help African players. Offcourse we will not sell Nabil, Mo and Mane because they have a tournament in February but if you have to make a decision of bringing in a player, it is a massive one. You know for four weeks or there about you don’t have him. As a club you have to think about things like this, so it does not help the African players for sure.”
The English Premier League is set to lose about 35 players to the African Cup of Nations next year.
State Media|MUSICIAN Chief Shumba, famed for his “ED Pfee-ee” song, says politics flows in his blood and he will next month release an album laden with deep political songs. Born Admire Sanyanga Sibanda, Chief Shumba says the album will also carry deep social-economic tracks chronicling people’s daily experiences and tabling possible solutions to what might be troubling people within communities.
“It is difficult to separate me from politics. I was born and bred in a family with background deep-rooted in politics, which is the source of inspiration of my music. The album upcoming album is titled is called ‘Judas Mutengesi’,” he said.
Now based in Chitungwiza after being forced to leave his Zvishavane base over political reasons, Chief Shumba started his career with a gospel album titled “Munamato”, which he said came from his dreams.
“Most of my tracks came in my dreams. I am good at predicting as witnessed by how I managed to correctly predicted Shabani Mine FC’s triumph in Chibuku Super 8 Cup in 2012. I recorded a five-track album “Mabvaru” which became a hit in Zvishavane.
“I also correctly predicted FC Platnum’s league win and I did a song even before the final match.
“The same happens in politics. All my songs predicts what happens in future,” he said.
Chief Shumba said he also predicted the downfall of many politicians and he recorded songs days before they met their fate.
Chief Shumba, whose other song was used to spearhead campaigns against sanctions last year, said he used his own resources to record the songs.
“No one sponsors my projects as people might think. I sold two of my cows to record ‘ED Pfee-ee’.
“I also forked out my own money to record anti-corruption and anti-sanctions tracks,” he said.
Chief Shumba said he has worked with various musicians locally and beyond the borders, leaving him with vast experience in music.
“I see myself as an artist not musician. I have worked with many musicians including Pah Chihera, Progress Chipfumo, Baba Harare and actors like Sabhuku Vharazipi.
“I have also nurtured some people straight from the streets and turned them into artists, but I do not brag about it.
“I know I have a duty and a role to play in this country and arts industry,” he said.
Chief Shumba said he does not only sing politics, but also other genres to reach out to other people outside politics.
“I release four albums per year and do not only restrict my music to politics. There are many people who suggest that I leave political music and concentrate on other genres, but tell them that I do a lot more than what they think.
“I have a song titled “Kuvhima Nembwa Dzisiri Dzako”, which is doing well on airwaves. This song dwells on social life and it touches on everyone,” he said.
Chief Shumba said President Mnangagwa visited him on New Year’s day and gave him a token of appreciation. He said it was a surprise to him.
Chief Shumba has nine albums under his belt and boasts of 289 unrecorded songs.
Standard|SUNGURA musician Tendai Dembo and hip-hop musician Desmond Chideme, aka Stunner, are embroiled in a copyright battle over the remix of the 1990s hit song Chitekete which the rapper did without the Dembos’ consent.
Released in 1991 by the late Barura Express frontman Leonard Dembo, Chitekete was voted Zimbabwe’s Silver Jubilee Best Song and went on to be played at the Miss Universe pageant in Namibia in 1996.
Late last year Stunner did a remix of the song and performed it in Victoria Falls in December, which did not go down well with Tendai, one of the late musician’s sons.
Although Tendai and Stunner tried to resolve their copyright issues behind closed doors, an online publication last week reported that Tendai tore Stunner into shreds, claims which Tendai denied.
“I have never talked to the media about this copyright issue and I am surprised with these reports coming from this publication,” Tendai said.
“I want to say I am sorry to Stunner for this, but I never said anything to the press about this issue. It was something that was ‘cooked’ by the so-called press to serve their own agenda.
“However, what Stunner did was wrong. He should have sought consent from us before he did the remix.”
Meanwhile, Tendai said he was promoting his six-track album titled Dzinde, released last year, with a nationwide tour.
“Our music is in demand across the country and this year, we will make sure that we reach all corners of the country,” Tendai said.
Jane Mlambo| MDC Harare Province Deputy Youth Treasurer & Epworth Alliance Cllr Kudakwashe Chatambudza was arrested early this morning by police from Harare Central Police Law and Order.
He is currently detained at Harare Central Police Station and is acaused of making a Petrol bomb.
By A Correspondent- Two men who were part of a 15 men gang armed with machetes, axes and logs have been arrested for allegedly raiding and stealing gold ore at a mine in Colleen Bawn.
Mqhelisi Moyo (26) and Edmore Zulu (32) both from Spitzkop Medium Suburb were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a robbery charge.
They were remanded in custody to January 26 for trial. Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare said Moyo and Zulu, who were in the company of 13 others who are still at large, invaded Poly 4 Mine which belongs to Ms Grace Dube on December 4 at around 2AM.
They allegedly stole 60 by 50kg bags of gold ore, a car battery and two cellphones all valued at US$1 110.
“On 4 December at around 2AM the two accused persons in the company of 13 others who are still at large drove to Poly 4 Mine in Colleen Bawn in two vehicles armed with machetes, logs and axes.
“They found mine workers asleep in the open while others were asleep inside some make shift tents. The gang began to assault the mine workers using machetes and logs and the workers fled in different directions,” she said.
Miss Nare said the accused persons then loaded 60 by 50kg of gold ore into the two vehicles and also took a car battery and two cell phones before fleeing the scene.
She said the matter was reported to the police who conducted investigations leading to Moyo’s arrest.
Miss Nare said Moyo was arrested after he was identified by one of the workers as the driver of one of the two vehicles that were used in the raid.
She said Moyo then implicated Zulu leading to his arrest. She said the stolen property is worth US$1 101 and nothing was recovered.
Machete gangs have been terrorising people in gold-rich mining towns like Gwanda, Kwekwe, Kadoma, Bindura and Chegutu, where they are killing and sexually abusing gold miners and civilians.
Special courts have since been set up countrywide to deal specifically with organised machete gang attackers.
Speaking during the opening of the 2020 Legal Year last week, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said the specialised courts are expected to clamp down speedily and decisively on the machete gang menace following grisly murders, including that of a Kadoma police officer, robberies and vicious assaults.
Chief Justice Malaba strongly warned rogue elements behind the wave of machete and knife violence.
“As we speak, the country is gripped by another spate of violence perpetrated by the so-called machete gangs. The Judiciary acknowledges the work being undertaken by law enforcement agencies in bringing perpetrators of that violence to book,” he said.
Chiwenga with Ministers Monica Mutsvangwa and Biggie Matiza have a feel of the new aircraft.
Own Correspondent|Acting President Constantino Chiwenga made a toast to “the revival of Air Zimbabwe and the revamping of our tourism” on Monday as Air Zimbabwe received a long-haul Boeing 777-200 bought from Malaysia Airlines.
Instead of sipping the champagne presented by Air Zimbabwe staff, Chiwenga in clear caution of another poisoning decided to splash the champagne on the floor.
The drinks were opened by Air Zimbabwe catering crew and handed to the senior officials who included Transport Minister Joel Biggie Matiza as well as Air Zimbabwe bosses.
The Acting President, who is still smarting from treatment in China over a case of suspected poisoning, opted to pouring the drink on the floor, much to the amusement and laughter of the audience and media personnel.
Minister Matiza and other officials, however, gulped down their drinks.
Some members of the ZNLWVA are reportedly scared stiff of joining the ruling ZANU PF as a wing arguing that the development would take away their independence.
A senior official of the ZNLWVA from Mashonaland East who spoke to the Daily News on condition of anonymity said that the move will take away their voice. The official said:
Some of us are not really excited about the development because it is meant to placate us.
They know that once we become members of the party, then we cannot be vociferous regarding welfare issues because we will be bound by the party’s code of conduct.
We need to remain independent of the party or else we are finished.
Meanwhile, the association’s chairperson in the province, Daniel Sigauke, said that the development had been welcomed by the former freedom fighters as provides them with a platform to directly interact with the party.
The most recent ZANU PF’s People’s Annual Conference resolved that Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association and the Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators (Ziliwaco) were to be incorporated into the ruling party as a wing not “an appendage for political elites” or affiliates as they have been previously.
Pupils of Mthwane Senior Secondary School in Umzimkhulu got the shock of their lives when they returned after the holidays to find a tombstone complete with veiled headstone in the corner of their Grade 10 classroom on their first day back at school. Picture: Zanele Zulu African News Agency (ANA)Pupils at Mthwane Senior Secondary School in Umzimkhulu walk beside graves in their school ground. Picture:Zanele Zulu/ African News Agency (ANA)
Durban – Imagine going on holiday and returning to find a tombstone inside your classroom.
This was the situation at Mthwane Senior Secondary in the Umzimkhulu area last week.
The school was built on a farm in 1996 after the owner left the area. Community members contributed R250 each to build one classroom at a time because there was no high school nearby.
As more people moved into the area, the Education Department got involved and brought in more teachers.
Today the school has 400 pupils in 10 classes, while on the grounds are three other graves.
The locals said all was well until last year, when a woman arrived claiming to be a beneficiary of the land.
The woman, who would not be named, said it was her grandfather who was buried in the classroom. She said the department was made aware of the grave when the school was built.
“That’s my grandfather in that grave. He is buried on his farm where my grandmother as well as their child are also buried.
“The fact that there are other graves at the school is a clear indication that the land was used as a burial site.
“We are from Kokstad and my grandfather was given that farm in Umzimkhulu when people were given their land back,” she said.
She said her grandfather had made her a beneficiary in his will and that the family had waited long enough for the department to give them the go-ahead to perform the ceremony.
She threatened to take legal action should the tombstone be removed.
Teachers and pupils said they had not known there was a grave inside the Grade 10 classroom until they walked in.
Education Department spokesperson Sihle Mlotshwa said they were aware of the issue at the school but had never been presented with evidence that the land on which the school was built belonged to the family.
“We will provide mobile classrooms in the interim while we engage with the relevant stakeholders, including the woman who claims the land,” he said.
School governing body chairperson Siziwe Mbokazi said the land dispute intensified last year to the extent that the school had to be closed temporarily.
She said they did not know the family claiming the land, but had since heard that the family claims to have lived on the land around 1960.
“We are worried about the situation as it has affected teaching and learning at the school.
“Last year the department provided 10 mobile classrooms; however, the problem is that the area is rural. There is no water or electricity and the 10 classes are not enough.
“Land has been provided by the local chief to fit these 10 classes and more. We would like more classrooms so teaching is no longer disrupted,” she said.
Own Correspondent|Top wings of the police force and state security were Monday called in to deal with a demonstration by students at Bulawayo’s Njube High School in protest over a recent steep increase in tuition fees.
The children took down the school’s national flag and also brandished President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s portrait as they marched into the busy Luveve Road in Bulawayo’s High Density Suburbs.
The demonstration was also a show of disgruntlement by the young learners over the shortage of textbooks, learning material and continued absence of teachers at the government owned institution.
The students, who were singing and dancing to songs that claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was failing them, marched for hundreds of metres from the school yard to a petrol station along the busy Luveve highway where the march was dispersed by the headmaster under instruction of anti riot police and state security agents.
The students retreated to the school yard where they were screened by the police and Ministry of Education officials.
Those who were implicated as ring leaders of the protest were asked to write on pieces of paper why they took part in the protest.
The students were also asked to state the names of persons who pulled down the national flag and the President’s portrait during the demonstrations.
According to a police Memorandum from the Officer In Charge Njube Police to the Officer Commanding Bulawayo, the students who took part in the demonstration volunteered to give statements on the demonstration.
“ZRP Njube attended the scene and called the pupils to assembly. The children who had participated in the demonstration voluntarily came into the open about their participation,” said the police.
“They were invited to write reasons for their participation in the demonstration which are—
The fees have been hiked from $92-00 to $440-00.
The teachers are earning low salaries.
Teachers not attending lessons.
Beneficiaries of the BEAM programme being made to pay half of the fees and
The general high cost of living.
“Scene was also attended by the Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District; Chief Superintendent Bizeki, members from the Presidents Office, Military Intelligence, Prison Intelligence and different media houses,” wrote the police proving how intimidating the state security delegation was to the children.
“The reason why we took part in the walk is that we want our education. We do not have enough textbooks to learn. The fees have gone high and our parents cannot afford the fees,” read one statement from a student.
“Save our soul,” another student wrote in her statement.
“This is for every Zimbabwean children. UNICEF where are you? We have suffered a lot. All we need is if you help Ubuntu,” another student wrote on her statement.
A police officer addresses the students inside the school yard
“Most of our parents were struggling to pay the old fees, let alone the new fees. While our parents continue to pay those huge fees, we are not provided with any textbooks and other learning materials,” said an A’ level student who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.
The Acting District Schools Inspector for Khumalo, Inspector Zanele Muyambo addressed the students and assured them they will not be victimised.
She also assured the students that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was going to look into some of their grievances.
Own Correspondent|Just three days after he actively participate in lobola negotiations for his niece, a 55 year old Gwanda man committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree along a river which is behind his homestead under very unclear circumstances.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred in Bethel Village on Friday at around 5AM.
He said Lovemore Dube was found hanging after he had left a note telling his family where they would find his body.
“I can confirm that we recorded a case of suicide by hanging which occurred in Bethel Village. Lovemore Dube woke up at around 5AM and didn’t tell anyone where he was going and he went to a river which is behind his homestead where he hanged himself from a tree with a rope. His nephew woke up preparing to go to school when he saw a letter on the table written by his uncle saying they would find him at a river behind their kraal.
“The nephew showed the letter to his brother and they went to the river and found their uncle hanging from a tree. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene. The reason for the suicide is yet to be established,’’ he said.
Just a couple of days before Dube committed suicide he had been party to lobola negotiations for his brother’s daughter who lives just across from him.
In a strange act, the family lost all of the R55 000 which was lobola they had received after four masked armed robbers pounced on them a day after the payment of the bride price.
The suspects who are still at large invaded two homesteads which family members were sleeping in.
The family lost the lobola as well as other personal money.
Deputy National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Blessmore Chishaka confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday.
“I can confirm that we recorded an armed robbery case which occurred in Bethel Village. On Saturday morning the complainants received R55 000 from their in-laws as bride price for their daughter. The first complainant who is the father took R47 500 to his homestead and gave his other relatives R7 500 which they shared amongst themselves,” he said.
“At around 3AM, a gang of four men who had their faces covered and were armed with a pistol, hammer and a log broke the door to the first complainant’s house and gained entry.
“They held a gun to his head and demanded cash and he surrendered a bag containing R47 500 and US$400. They also took four cell phones which belong to him and his wife.”
Chief Supt Chishaka said the gang that was travelling in an unidentified vehicle went to a nearby homestead where other family members were sleeping and ordered them to hand over their money. He said they took US$300, R3 110, $1 900 and three cell phones.
Chief Supt Chishaka said the gang punctured tyres of vehicles that were parked in the homestead and drove away in their vehicle which was parked about 200 metres away.
The family suspects that a family member masterminded the attack.
Kenneth Ndlovu (66), whose daughter got married to a Bulawayo man on Saturday said his family was still shaken by the incident which has seen them suffer a great loss.
He said they suspect that the armed robbery mastermind was a family member as the culprits appeared to be well informed about the amount and location of the money.
Family members who spoke to ZimEye.com in confidence expressed concern over Dube’s sudden unexplained suicide hinting that he may have suffered from a guilty conscience over the missing money and thought of killing himself.
According to the family members, some of the witnesses in the robbery incident had already started hinting that they saw someone who resembled Dube helping the unknown robbers around the homesteads probably directing them to where the money was kept on the fateful night.
The villagers expressed disappointment at how police refused to link the suicide to the missing money and allowed the Dube family to speedily allow for burial just a day after the suicide without carrying out investigations on the possible cause of the death.
“It’s sad that police would not believe that there was a possible link between Dube’s suicide and the missing money, ” said a relative.
Chief Insp Ndebele said most cases of suicide were recorded as a result of problems faced by people. He urged members of the public to desist from committing suicide but rather engage counsellors.
If people have problems they should talk to pastors, community leaders, family elders, professional counsellors or anyone who can assist them instead of committing suicide, he said.
A 30 –year –old Mberengwa police officer has been sentenced to six years in jail for bedding his colleague’s 13-year-old sister –in-law twice.
Kudakwashe Dzinamurungu appeared before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing two counts of having sexual intercourse with a young person.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges but was convicted.
He was sentenced to six years in prison but two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Dzinamurungu will serve an effective four years in prison.
In passing sentence, Mrs Msipa said as a police officer, Dzinamurungu was supposed to protect the complainant and not abuse her.
“It was your legal duty to protect the complainant but you abused your authority and turned out to be her abuser.
“You are a first offender and usually a custodial sentence is the last resort but you decided to dive to the deep end therefore a non-custodial sentence will trivialise a serious offence,” said the magistrate.
Prosecutor Mr Kelvin Guvheya said the matter came to light when the cop was seen by the girl’s sister with the complainant at night and she revealed that they were in a relationship.
Mr Guvheya said in February last year at around 2PM the complainant whose name has been withheld to protect her identity was walking home alone from school when Dzinamurungu came driving his Toyota Fun cargo vehicle.
The court heard that Dzinamurungu who is known to the complainant as her brother- in- law’s colleague offered her a lift home.
“Dzinamurungu told the complainant that he wanted to fuel his car at a service station but instead drove past the station to a bushy area where he unlawfully had sexual intercourse with her,” said Mr Guvheya.
The court heard that a month later at around 9PM, Dzinamurungu arrived at his colleague’s house and sneaked into the complainant’s blankets and they had sex.
After the act, he told the complainant not to tell anyone and threatened to assault her if she revealed their relationship.
The matter only came to light when the complainant was found by her sister in the company of Dzinamurungu late in the evening some days later.
Mr Guvheya said the complainant revealed that she was in a relationship with the police officer.
THE Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) which has through the years been very soft towards the ruling ZANU PF party has ruled out any industrial action saying it is in favour of dialogue with Government to address its members’ concerns.
In an interview yesterday, Zimta president and Apex Council team leader Mr Richard Gundani commended Government for the cushioning allowances it paid its workers last week, but added that salaries and allowances which take into account the prevailing socio-economic environment provide a lasting solution to issues being raised.
“The truth of the matter is that the teacher has been incapacitated for a long time and a lot of them will be forced to moonlight at the end of the day. We don’t want that as it affects the pupil. At the same time we don’t want schools closed due to industrial action. Schools must remain open; children going to school. We don’t want industrial action and we will continue engaging in dialogue with the Government until we find a lasting solution,” he said.
Mr Gundani said they were not demanding a salary increment from Government.
He said they want United States dollar salaries they were earning up to October 2018 when the least paid teacher was getting around US$500 per month to be converted to the local currency at the interbank rate.
Mr Gundani said the least paid teacher must be paid about $8 000.
“We want a transition from the US dollar based salary we were getting up to October 2018 to a Zimbabwe dollar based salary using the existing interbank exchange rate. Our argument is centred on that transition. We are not asking for a salary increment. If Government had moved on with that transition back then, our salaries would be based on the current interbank exchange rate and the least paid teacher would be taking home about Z$8 000,” said Mr Gundani.
“At the moment the least paid teacher is taking home about Z$1 000 instead of about Z$8 000. We are contesting this gap, it should not have been there because this is what happened to the prices and services. They went up but we are still where we were in terms of salaries back in 2018.”
Government has said it is committed to addressing civil servants’ grievances.
Last week, Government released $300 million towards cushioning allowances for its workers.
“Yes every dollar counts and civil servants withdrew the cushioning allowances they got from Government. But we are saying we want a lasting solution so that we keep on reporting for duty and pupils coming to school. Zimta is solution oriented,” said Mr Gundani.
A DRIVER and a passenger died in an accident blamed on speeding which resulted in the vehicle hitting two pedestrians before ramming into a tree along Luveve road on Sunday evening.
The incident occurred at about 7:30pm at the intersection of Luveve Road and Huggins Road in Emakhandeni suburb.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube yesterday confirmed the deaths.
Two pedestrians who were hit by the car were taken to hospital but they did not suffer serious injuries.
Insp Ncube said investigations are underway but the accident is suspected to have been caused by speeding.
“We received a road accident report where a driver of a Mitsubishi vehicle lost control of his car and it veered off the road hitting two pedestrians in the process. The pedestrians only suffered minor soft tissue injuries but the 32-year-old male driver, who was in company of a 28-year-old female passenger, died on the spot. An ambulance crew rushed to the scene and ferried the passenger to Mpilo Central Hospital where she was confirmed dead,” said Insp Ncube.
He said it was not yet clear whether the driver had a driver’s licence or if the car he was driving at the time of his death was his.
Insp Ncube said the accident could have been avoided as it was due to speeding.
“The accident points to speeding. We urge motorists to be extra cautious on the road. We are in the rainy season the roads are slippery so drivers should avoid speeding as this results in lives being lost unnecessarily,” he said.
Insp Ncube did not release the names of the two victims as their next of kin had not been informed yesterday.
Most accidents that occur in the country have been attributed to human error.
MORE than 150 pupils from Njube High School in Bulawayo yesterday staged a demonstration against school fees increase and poor working conditions for their teachers, marching to Entumbane complex while waving placards amid claims that they were incited by one of their teachers.
The science teacher, Mr Brian Mutsiba, who allegedly incited the students to protest that their teachers had abandoned lessons due to poor salaries, has since been arrested.
The pupils protested against the increase in school fees from $92 to $440 per term.
The pupils left their school located in Njube suburb, marched to siyephambili Drive before heading towards the city using Luveve Road singing “Mnangagwa int’ oyenzayo siyayizonda,” (President Mnangagwa we don’t like what you are doing.)
They made a U-turn near Entumbane Complex after their headmaster ordered them to do so.
The incident occurred at about 10AM.
Sources said Mr Mutsiba removed President Mnangagwa’s portrait that was in the school’s staff room before handing it to the pupils.
Prior to taking to the streets, the pupils are said to have removed the country’s flag from the school and used it to wipe their shoes before waving it around during their over 30 minutes demonstration.
Bulawayo acting Provincial Education Director Mrs Olicah Kaira said she would have to brief her superiors before commenting about the protests.
“I’m yet to make a report to the Permanent Secretary (Mrs Tumisang Thabela) following today’s events. However, part of what is circulating on social media (about learners demonstrating) is true. But I have to follow procedures and communicate to headquarters before commenting to the Press. However, I want to assure the public that the situation was dealt with before it got out of control,” said Mrs Kaira.
She dismissed claims that teachers had abandoned pupils to harvest amacimbi.
“The teachers are in schools. We don’t have amacimbi in Bulawayo and teachers are professionals, they would not leave pupils to harvest the mopane worms. I was in a meeting with the school heads today at Masotsha High School who confirmed that teachers are in schools doing their work. Whoever originated the message that our teachers are not in school just wants to taint our image as a province, we don’t know for what reasons,” said Mrs Kaira.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube referred questions to national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, whose cellphone rang unanswered.
However, police sources said 153 Form One, Form Three and Form Six pupils participated in the demonstration.
“The teacher is now facing charges of participating in a public gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry. He is also facing charges of Contravening Section 6 of the Flag of Zimbabwe, Chapter 10:10, in short insulting the flag,” said the police source.
Parents who spoke to state media said they did not understand why their children were demonstrating.
A vendor who sells her wares by the school gate, Mrs Catherine Moyo, said she observed the pupils’ uncharacteristic behaviour when they left the school.
“We just saw them coming out of the school at around 10AM. This was an unlikely time. They were not making any noise, they seemed organised. But we are now told that they went as far as Entumbane Complex. What is worrying is that we are being told that they were influenced by a teacher.
“We are here trying to raise fees yet a teacher who is supposed to be teaching them was inciting them to protest. What if one of them was hit by a car during the process, who would have been answerable?” asked Mrs Moyo.
Another vendor operating near the intersection of Siyephambili Drive and Luveve Road said she was shocked to see the pupils waving President Mnangagwa’s portrait.
“We just saw pupils from Njube High School coming from the school’s direction singing and chanting songs like into oyenzayo siyayizonda (we don’t like what you are doing.) They claimed they were protesting against school fees increase saying it was just too much and their parents were struggling to raise the funds,” she said.
Love Birds in happier times, Marry Chiwenga and husband Constantino Chiwenga
State Media|The State wants Marry Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Acting President Constantino Chiwenga, to surrender into court custody as part of her bail conditions all three valid Zimbabwean passports reportedly issued to her and to live at a different address from the matrimonial Borrowdale home she shared with her husband.
She is on remand for attempted murder, fraud and money laundering.
Mubaiwa surrendered one diplomatic passport as a bail condition set by the High Court.
The State has been informed there is a second diplomatic passport, expiring on December 11 this year, and an ordinary passport expiring on February 21, 2022.
The prosecution wants all three passports in the custody of the court until the trial is over.
The application has been set for hearing today before Justice Pisirayi Kwenda.
Acting President Chiwenga, who is accusing his estranged wife of performing rituals at his Borrowdale home and bringing in “witch doctors”, opposes Mubaiwa’s request to reside at 614 Nick Price Drive, Borrowdale Brooke.
Through his lawyers, Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners, the Acting President argued that the prosecution was not aware of the issue when bail was argued.
He contends that Mubaiwa, being an accused person, could not share the house with the Acting President, who is the complainant in two of the cases for fear of interference.
Meanwhile, Justice Christopher Dube-Banda, is expected to preside over the civil case in which Mubaiwa wants custody of the couple’s three children.
The matter was last week deferred to give them a chance to hammer out a settlement.
Own Correspondent|THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is seeking for more storage space to store forfeited goods suspected to have been ill gotten through corruption.
ZACC recently seized 12 vehicles, three mansions and froze bank accounts in a bid to recover ill-gotten wealth.
However, with the high levels of corruption in the country, ordinarily, ZACC by now would be expected to be asking for more prison space to accommodate arrested corrupt people.
ZACC said it is targeting more assets that could have been bought from proceeds of corruption.
The commission also proposed the capacitation of the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit and even roping in of the Attorney-General’s Civil Division to assist with filing seizure and forfeiture applications in the High Court.
In an interview, ZACC chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said there was need for more staff to prosecute the forfeiture applications.
“We have already seized several vehicles and houses. We have also frozen bank accounts with substantial amounts of money.
“Our yard at Strathaven offices cannot accommodate more cars. We have also asked Zimra to keep some of the seized vehicles due to shortage of space. We require more space and for now, we have stopped seizing the assets.
“We are targeting several assets countrywide and we cannot do it with a few people,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.
Own Correspondent|Heavy rains that hit Hwange at the weekend knocked out Hwange Thermal Power Station when the coal got wet, but two 120 megawatt units were back up yesterday with a third expected to be on the grid by last night, giving 360MW.
Hwange emerged as the worst affected by the weekend storms, with blocked drains causing flash floods Gweru and Chegutu town as well as flooding in Silobela and Gokwe.
In Hwange, the heavy rains left 35 families homeless.
In Gokwe, villagers were forced out of their homes, while in Silobela, the rains mainly affected crops. No major incidents were reported in other parts of the country.
Electricity generation at Hwange Thermal Power Station had resumed at two units yesterday, while the third unit was expected to be up late yesterday.
The Ministry of Energy and Power Development and Zesa Holdings’ generating subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), turned to Twitter to report the problems and give instant updates on progress.
“Following unusually heavy rainfall in Hwange on 18 January 2020, Hwange Thermal Power Station was adversely affected by floods which flooded the station’s ash pump house and cooling water pumps. Coal stocks were consequently dampened, leading to forced shutdown of the station,” said ZPC.
“Efforts currently are in place to resume generation at the plant. Units 1 and 4 returned to service this (yesterday) morning, while unit 2 is expected back in service by day end. Kindly bear with us as we work tirelessly to restore normal service,” said ZPC.
Hwange Colliery Company Limited, which has accommodated 35 families whose houses were flooded, said the situation was better yesterday, with the affected families still in a guest house.
Hwange Colliery’s corporate affairs manager Mrs Rugare Dhobbie said: “The situation is better today. But we remain on high alert. Displaced families are still accommodated at the guest house (and) as Hwange we are grateful for the assistance received. This act of love will make a huge difference in the lives of the affected families.”
She said companies and individuals were coming forward with various forms of assistance for the affected families.
Paul Nyathi|Acting President Constantino Chiwenga on Monday led a Government delegation that received an Air Zimbabwe Jet from Malaysia at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
After receiving the aircraft, the Acting President handed it over to the Airzim management led by company administrator Mr Reggie Saruchera.
Second delivery as Air Zimbabwe
Amidst all the fun and flare at the ceremony, Chiwenga and his entourage deliberately ignored to mention that the plane which was being tagged as a new delivery for Air Zimbabwe was not being delivered into the country for the first time.
The 300-seater plane, which touched down at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport yesterday, is the same plane that was received by former finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa on April 11, 2018 then on behalf of a newly established government wholly-owned special purpose vehicle, Zimbabwe Aviation Leasing Company, which, in turn, was said to be leasing the aircraft to another new government owned company, Zimbabwe Airways.
Government had decided to lease out the planes to its newly-created firm, Zimbabwe Airways, in order to allow Airzim — then saddled with a $300 million debt — time to recover.
“Zimbabwe Aviation Leasing Company, which is 100 percent owned by the Government, is leasing the new Boeing 777 to Zimbabwe Airways, which is also wholly owned by the Government,” said Chinamasa at the time.
In June of the same year, the new Boeing 777 bought using state funds was returned to Malaysia without making a single flight.
The purchase of the plane and three others from Malaysian Airways was negotiated by late former president Robert Mugabe’s son-in-law, Simba Chikore.
The national carrier Air Zimbabwe was at the time not chosen to take on the new planes, not least because it was bankrupt.
Government with advise from Chikore had set up Zimbabwe Airways to operate the new aircraft believing that the new company would not inherit the state airline’s massive debts.
Malaysia Airlines lost two of its B777s months apart in 2014 – one shot down by a missile over Ukraine and another which vanished off the radar and crashed into the sea through what investigators concluded were the deliberate actions of the captain.
While the accidents were not the plane’s fault, Malaysian Airlines could not believe their bad luck with the B777s and decided to retire them in March 2016.
Zimbabwe negotiated to buy four of the planes at a total cost of $70 million.
The Zimbabwe Airways’ formation was something of a scandal in Zimbabwe. For a long time, the government had claimed that it was a private company – before ministers finally admitted that the company was state-owned.
The government had planned to hide its interest in the airline to avoid creditors attaching the aircraft. Zimbabwe Airways would have taken over overseas routes long abandoned by the ailing Air Zimbabwe, including Harare-London and Harare-Beijing.
Transport Minister Joel Matiza announced that Zimbabwe Airways would be merged with Air Zimbabwe, but within days of that announcement, Air Zimbabwe went into administration. The administrator then announced that Air Zimbabwe, wholly owned by the government, was looking for private investors.
Talks about merging the two airlines had collapsed after a nominee shareholder in Zimbabwe Airways demanded to be paid US$2 million by the government.
Harare lawyer Phillipa Phillips, who was listed as a Zimbabwe Airways director, wrote to the Transport Ministry informing them that the merger would not proceed unless she is paid US$2 million.
A nominee shareholder is an ostensible or registered owner who holds shares on behalf of the actual owner (beneficial owner) under a custodial agreement. It was not immediately clear who in this case the actual owner was.
Seeing problems with Zimbabwe Airways, government tried to cancel the deal for the four planes with Malaysia but Malaysian Airlines turned down the request to reverse a deal for the purchase of two Boeing 777 planes and threatened to take legal action for breach of contract.
Government initially entered into a deal in 2017 for the purchase of four jetliners, but later wanted to negotiate for two after failing to raise US$70 million for all of them.
The planes, which were initially sourced for Zimbabwe Airways (ZimAirways), are now the same planes that are being set towards the revival of the troubled flag carrier Air Zimbabwe.
Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza travelled to Kuala Lumpur earlier last year to try and sell the new government position to the Malaysian Airlines executives without success.
He later told a media briefing in Harare that government would now proceed with the original deal for the four planes.
Harare had paid for one plane in full and made a 10% deposit for the other. It had not commenced payments for the remaining two.
Matiza’s proposal was shot down by Malaysian Airlines, which said government has no choice but to honour the subsisting contract or risk facing legal action for breach of contract.
“The issue is that the Malaysians did not want the original agreement altered and insisted on honouring the contract. Even before the trip to Malaysia was made, everyone knew that there was a high possibility for the authorities there to threaten legal action,” a government source said. “They were told that the 2017 sale agreement was legally binding and Zimbabwe risked blacklisting by foreign airlines if it does not revert to the original plan.”
The planes are now being delivered into the country in the name of Air Zimbabwe and not Zimbabwe Airways.
What, however, baffles the mind is how in all this, the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission remains silent and watches government play around with people’s minds claiming delivery of the same plane twice.
In November last year, ZACC briefly arrested former Transport Minister Joram Gumbo for criminal abuse of office over the Zimbabwe Airways deal which saw Government losing millions of dollars.
The arrest appears to have since fizzled into thin air.
THE Warriors will today know their opponents in the second round of qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup when the group stage draw is conducted at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, tonight.
Zimbabwe are returning to the qualifiers of the global showpiece after missing the 2018 campaign serving a suspension for failure to pay former Warriors’ coach José Claudinei Georgini, better known as Valinhos.
The debt has since been paid and Zimbabwe are back in the qualifiers and hoping for a positive return.
The national side was placed in Pot 3 for the draw after progressing through the preliminary round by beating Somalia 3-2 on aggregate. The seeding was based on the latest Fifa Rankings released December.
Zimbabwe could face Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Mali and DR Congo, who are in Pot 1.
Other possible opponents in Pot 2 are Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa, Guinea, Uganda, Cape Verde, Gabon, Benin, Zambia and Congo.
Malawi, Angola, Togo, Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Liberia and Djibouti make up Pot 4.
Action is expected to kick-off in October.State media
TWO men who were part of a 15 men gang armed with machetes, axes and logs have been arrested for allegedly raiding and stealing gold ore at a mine in Colleen Bawn.
Mqhelisi Moyo (26) and Edmore Zulu (32) both from Spitzkop Medium Suburb were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a robbery charge. They were remanded in custody to January 26 for trial.
Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare said Moyo and Zulu, who were in the company of 13 others who are still at large, invaded Poly 4 Mine which belongs to Ms Grace Dube on December 4 at around 2AM.
They allegedly stole 60 by 50kg bags of gold ore, a car battery and two cellphones all valued at US$1 110.
“On 4 December at around 2AM the two accused persons in the company of 13 others who are still at large drove to Poly 4 Mine in Colleen Bawn in two vehicles armed with machetes, logs and axes.
“They found mine workers asleep in the open while others were asleep inside some make shift tents. The gang began to assault the mine workers using machetes and logs and the workers fled in different directions,’’ she said.
Miss Nare said the accused persons then loaded 60 by 50kg of gold ore into the two vehicles and also took a car battery and two cell phones before fleeing the scene.
She said the matter was reported to the police who conducted investigations leading to Moyo’s arrest.
Miss Nare said Moyo was arrested after he was identified by one of the workers as the driver of one of the two vehicles that were used in the raid.
She said Moyo then implicated Zulu leading to his arrest. She said the stolen property is worth US$1 101 and nothing was recovered.-State media
The State wants Marry Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Acting President Constantino Chiwenga, to surrender into court custody as part of her bail conditions all three valid Zimbabwean passports reportedly issued to her and to live at a different address from the matrimonial Borrowdale home she shared with her husband.
She is on remand for attempted murder, fraud and money laundering.
Mubaiwa surrendered one diplomatic passport as a bail condition set by the High Court.
The State has been informed there is a second diplomatic passport, expiring on December 11 this year, and an ordinary passport expiring on February 21, 2022.
The prosecution wants all three passports in the custody of the court until the trial is over.
The application has been set for hearing today before Justice Pisirayi Kwenda.
Acting President Chiwenga, who is accusing his estranged wife of performing rituals at his Borrowdale home and bringing in “witch doctors”, opposes Mubaiwa’s request to reside at 614 Nick Price Drive, Borrowdale Brooke.
Through his lawyers, Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners, the Acting President argued that the prosecution was not aware of the issue when bail was argued.
He contends that Mubaiwa, being an accused person, could not share the house with the Acting President, who is the complainant in two of the cases for fear of interference.
Meanwhile, Justice Christopher Dube-Banda, is expected to preside over the civil case in which Mubaiwa wants custody of the couple’s three children.
The matter was last week deferred to give them a chance to hammer out a settlement.State media
Genius Kadungure must pay an additional US$58 000 excise duty for one of his recently imported top-of-the-range vehicles, a Bentley Continental GT, that he had undervalued on its arrival.
The vehicle is under an embargo, although being kept at Kadungure’s house.
He is expected to pay up by Friday under the order issued last Friday by High Court judge Justice Webster Chinamora.
He had previously paid US$82 450 as duty.
Explaining matters, Kadungure’s lawyer Mr Brighton Pabwe said: “Zimra did its reconciliations and my client Kadungure was ordered to top up duty by US$58 469,09.
“Initially, he had paid US$82 450. The car remains on embargo at his house until duty is paid before or by 24 January.”
The development comes after Kadungure had approached the High Court last week seeking an order to prohibit the Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) from confiscating the vehicle that is valued at R1,9 million.
Zimra officials and police officers from the Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) visited Kadungure’s Domboshava residence last week to impound the vehicle.
Kadungure told the court that he bought the vehicle from a South African company through his courier and clearing agents and took delivery of it on January 5.
Kadungure was also suing Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in his official capacity.
He was contesting the constitutionality of the Customs and Excise Act section that prohibits any civil proceedings to be taken against Zimra without giving six months’ notice in terms of the State Liabilities Act.State media
Farai Dziva|Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed striker Marcus Rashford will be out for at least six weeks after suffering a back injury.
The forward missed the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
He sustained the injury in midweek against Wolves.
When Solskjaer was asked whether United will sign another striker in January, he said to Sky Sports in a post match interview:
“We’re always looking at chances to improve the squad – with Marcus out for a while we have to look at it closely.
“He’s suffered a bad injury. It’s a [back] stress fracture, it happened against Wolves.
“It’s not happened before, it happened there and then. He’ll be out for a while. He won’t be back until after the mid- season break.
“Normally six weeks to heal, but I’m not a doctor, and then he needs rehab after that probably.”
Liverpool are firmly in control of the title race after yesterday’s emphatic victory over Manchester United.
Two men who were part of a 15 men gang armed with machetes, axes and logs have been arrested for allegedly raiding and stealing gold ore at a mine in Colleen Bawn.
Mqhelisi Moyo (26) and Edmore Zulu (32) both from Spitzkop Medium Suburb were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a robbery charge. They were remanded in custody to January 26 for trial.
Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare said Moyo and Zulu, who were in the company of 13 others who are still at large, invaded Poly 4 Mine which belongs to Ms Grace Dube on December 4 at around 2AM.
They allegedly stole 60 by 50kg bags of gold ore, a car battery and two cellphones all valued at US$1 110.
“On 4 December at around 2AM the two accused persons in the company of 13 others who are still at large drove to Poly 4 Mine in Colleen Bawn in two vehicles armed with machetes, logs and axes.
“They found mine workers asleep in the open while others were asleep inside some make shift tents. The gang began to assault the mine workers using machetes and logs and the workers fled in different directions,’’ she said.
Miss Nare said the accused persons then loaded 60 by 50kg of gold ore into the two vehicles and also took a car battery and two cell phones before fleeing the scene.
She said the matter was reported to the police who conducted investigations leading to Moyo’s arrest.
Miss Nare said Moyo was arrested after he was identified by one of the workers as the driver of one of the two vehicles that were used in the raid.
She said Moyo then implicated Zulu leading to his arrest. She said the stolen property is worth US$1 101 and nothing was recovered.
Machete gangs have been terrorising people in gold-rich mining towns like Gwanda, Kwekwe, Kadoma, Bindura and Chegutu, where they are killing and sexually abusing gold miners and civilians.
Special courts have since been set up countrywide to deal specifically with organised machete gang attackers.
Speaking during the opening of the 2020 Legal Year last week, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said the specialised courts are expected to clamp down speedily and decisively on the machete gang menace following grisly murders, including that of a Kadoma police officer, robberies and vicious assaults.
Chief Justice Malaba strongly warned rogue elements behind the wave of machete and knife violence.
“As we speak, the country is gripped by another spate of violence perpetrated by the so-called machete gangs. The Judiciary acknowledges the work being undertaken by law enforcement agencies in bringing perpetrators of that violence to book,” he said. Chronicle
The State wants Marry Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Acting President Constantino Chiwenga, to surrender into court custody as part of her bail conditions all three valid Zimbabwean passports reportedly issued to her and to live at a different address from the matrimonial Borrowdale home she shared with her husband.
She is on remand for attempted murder, fraud and money laundering. Mubaiwa surrendered one diplomatic passport as a bail condition set by the High Court.
The State has been informed there is a second diplomatic passport, expiring on December 11 this year, and an ordinary passport expiring on February 21, 2022. The prosecution wants all three passports in the custody of the court until the trial is over.
The application has been set for hearing today before Justice Pisirayi Kwenda.
Acting President Chiwenga, who is accusing his estranged wife of performing rituals at his Borrowdale home and bringing in “witch doctors”, opposes Mubaiwa’s request to reside at 614 Nick Price Drive, Borrowdale Brooke.
Through his lawyers, Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners, the Acting President argued that the prosecution was not aware of the issue when bail was argued.
He contends that Mubaiwa, being an accused person, could not share the house with the Acting President, who is the complainant in two of the cases for fear of interference.
Meanwhile, Justice Christopher Dube-Banda, is expected to preside over the civil case in which Mubaiwa wants custody of the couple’s three children.
The matter was last week deferred to give them a chance to hammer out a settlement. – state media
A Zimbabwean man is on the run after he allegedly killed a South African police captain during a robbery fire exchange on Saturday in Johannesburg.
A South African Police Service (SAPS) source confirmed to H-Metro that Preymore Dube, the alleged suspect from Bulawayo, shot Diepsloot police captain Oupa Matjie, 54, three times on the head and he died on the spot.
Preymore Dube
“The murder occurred on around 7pm at corner Jabulani and Stability Street Extension 3 Diepsloot.
“Members of Diepsloot SAPS detective services were on duty following up on information of house robbery suspects and the information became positive.
“They called for backup, Eco group from Diepsloot SAPS responded and they joined the detectives who proceeded with information.
“They were with the victim of the house robbery who pointed out to the suspect in the open field grounds and police chased the suspect.
“The suspect started shooting at the police and police fired back missing the suspect who then walked into the direction of Captain Matjie.
“Captain Matjie grabbed the suspect but was overpowered, and shot three times on the head and died on the spot.
“The suspect who shot and killed the Captain is Preymore Dube from Zimbabwe and he ran on foot,” said the source.
Angry South Africans have taken to social media circulating Dube’s image and labelled him as armed and dangerous amid xenophobia concerns.- H-Metro
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will on Tuesday speak on the party’s agenda for 2020 -as the nation grapples with the biting economic crisis.
See statement below :
All roads lead to Stodart Hall in Mbare in Harare on Tuesday as the police have sanctioned the MDC’s Agenda 2020 programme that will be officially unveiled by the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
Everyone is free to attend the event and the police have since officially notified the party that the bumper event can go ahead without State inhibition.
Tomorrow(today), President Chamisa will launch the party’s Agenda 2020 in which the MDC will spell out to Zimbabweans and the world the party’s programme of action for the year.
Zimbabweans are wallowing under a debilitating political and economic crisis and are looking up to the MDC’s competent leadership for direction.
Tomorrow(today), the party will provide direction by enunciating the party’s programme of the year in when President Chamisa spells out how the party intends to address the multi-layered legitimacy and socio-economic crisis that has arrested the nation.
Zimbabweans can barely survive; civil servants are suffering while villagers are facing imminent starvation with the clueless and illegitimate Zanu PF government failing to provide solutions.
Tomorrow(today), the MDC will publicly spell out the way forward for the nation and every Zimbabwean is free to attend the event.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will on Tuesday speak on the party’s agenda for 2020 -as the nation grapples with the biting economic crisis.
See statement below :
All roads lead to Stodart Hall in Mbare in Harare on Tuesday as the police have sanctioned the MDC’s Agenda 2020 programme that will be officially unveiled by the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
Everyone is free to attend the event and the police have since officially notified the party that the bumper event can go ahead without State inhibition.
Tomorrow, President Chamisa will launch the party’s Agenda 2020 in which the MDC will spell out to Zimbabweans and the world the party’s programme of action for the year.
Zimbabweans are wallowing under a debilitating political and economic crisis and are looking up to the MDC’s competent leadership for direction.
Tomorrow, the party will provide direction by enunciating the party’s programme of the year in when President Chamisa spells out how the party intends to address the multi-layered legitimacy and socio-economic crisis that has arrested the nation.
Zimbabweans can barely survive; civil servants are suffering while villagers are facing imminent starvation with the clueless and illegitimate Zanu PF government failing to provide solutions.
Tomorrow, the MDC will publicly spell out the way forward for the nation and every Zimbabwean is free to attend the event.
Farai Dziva|Terror gangs known as MaShurugwi brutally killed MDC vice president Lynnette Karenyi -Kore’s relative last week.
See statement below :
The Zanu PF-sponsored vigilante groups popularly as MaShurugwi have wreaked havoc in the countryside with top MDC leadership losing their close relatives to the politically-connected militia which is certainly enjoying protection from high offices in government.
The machete-wielding vigilante groups have run amok in the countryside and many Zimbabweans have had their kinsmen callously beheaded by the notorious group.
Some in the MDC’s top leadership have lost their close relatives to the vigilante groups who are going around the country demanding money and other largesse from innocent Zimbabweans.
Vice President Lynnette Karenyi Kore has lost her 41-year old uncle Liberty Dadirai Chimwoyo who was murdered in the Hot Springs area near Odzi River in the Nenhowe area of Chimanimani in Manicaland province.
He sustained fatal head injuries following machete-attacks by youths linked to the MaShurugwi terror gangs that have gone on a nation-wide rampage and plunged Zimbabwe into a deep state of national insecurity. VP Kore is currently attending the funeral of his uncle in Chimanimani.
The party’s vice national chairperson, Hon. Job Sikhala has had two of his uncles brutally attacked by these machete-wielding Zanu PF apparatchiks.
One of them, Yeweight Senzere, died on the spot last week in Mvuma and Hon. Sikhala is attending Senzere’s funeral in Chivi in Masvingo province.
Hon. Sikhala’s other uncle, Elvis Matsikidze, is battling for his life in the intensive care unit at Gweru General Hospital.
The machete-toting vigilante groups have gone on the rampage in the country, amid reports of a serious fall-out between Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantine Chiwenga, with the former reported to be banking on Mashurugwi as a personal army to serve personal political interests.
Mnangagwa is reportedly suspicious of the allegiances of the rank and file in the army, despite picking the entire command element of the security forces from his Midlands province.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commader Philip Valerio Sibanda, Zimbabwe National Army commander Edzai Absolom Chanyuka Chimonyo, the Air Force of Zimbabwe’s Air Marshall Elson Moyo and the Central Intelligence Organization’s boss Isaac Moyo all hail from the Midlands province.
They are also reported to be Mnangagwa’s close relatives.
MaShurugwi have wrought serious insecurity and if the menace is not stemmed, the country could plunge into chaos. What Zimbabweans desperately need is a true people’s government that can guarantee their personal security, which security is enshrined in the country’s Constitution, which Constitution the people made themselves and affirmed in a referendum.
Farai Dziva|Terror gangs known as MaShurugwi brutally killed MDC vice president Lynnette Karenyi -Kore’s relative last week.
See statement below :
The Zanu PF-sponsored vigilante groups popularly as MaShurugwi have wreaked havoc in the countryside with top MDC leadership losing their close relatives to the politically-connected militia which is certainly enjoying protection from high offices in government.
The machete-wielding vigilante groups have run amok in the countryside and many Zimbabweans have had their kinsmen callously beheaded by the notorious group.
Some in the MDC’s top leadership have lost their close relatives to the vigilante groups who are going around the country demanding money and other largesse from innocent Zimbabweans.
Vice President Lynnette Karenyi Kore has lost her 41-year old uncle Liberty Dadirai Chimwoyo who was murdered in the Hot Springs area near Odzi River in the Nenhowe area of Chimanimani in Manicaland province.
He sustained fatal head injuries following machete-attacks by youths linked to the MaShurugwi terror gangs that have gone on a nation-wide rampage and plunged Zimbabwe into a deep state of national insecurity. VP Kore is currently attending the funeral of his uncle in Chimanimani.
The party’s vice national chairperson, Hon. Job Sikhala has had two of his uncles brutally attacked by these machete-wielding Zanu PF apparatchiks.
One of them, Yeweight Senzere, died on the spot last week in Mvuma and Hon. Sikhala is attending Senzere’s funeral in Chivi in Masvingo province.
Hon. Sikhala’s other uncle, Elvis Matsikidze, is battling for his life in the intensive care unit at Gweru General Hospital.
The machete-toting vigilante groups have gone on the rampage in the country, amid reports of a serious fall-out between Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantine Chiwenga, with the former reported to be banking on Mashurugwi as a personal army to serve personal political interests.
Mnangagwa is reportedly suspicious of the allegiances of the rank and file in the army, despite picking the entire command element of the security forces from his Midlands province.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commader Philip Valerio Sibanda, Zimbabwe National Army commander Edzai Absolom Chanyuka Chimonyo, the Air Force of Zimbabwe’s Air Marshall Elson Moyo and the Central Intelligence Organization’s boss Isaac Moyo all hail from the Midlands province.
They are also reported to be Mnangagwa’s close relatives.
MaShurugwi have wrought serious insecurity and if the menace is not stemmed, the country could plunge into chaos. What Zimbabweans desperately need is a true people’s government that can guarantee their personal security, which security is enshrined in the country’s Constitution, which Constitution the people made themselves and affirmed in a referendum.
By A Correspondent| Hannington Mubaiwa has warned his in-law, VP Constantino Chiwenga to be vigilant against being set up adding that the former army general risked being set up by shrewd people within the system.
Mubaiwa said:
So how could he put together such a flimsy thing(criminal charges)?
Somebody very smart very shrewd, very astute, within the system has sacrificed Constantino Chiwenga.
Cde Mukwasha, I think you are being set up up. Not that I want you to continue to be married to our daughter to my niece.
I don’t think so, I think you need to think, what you are doing, you are tying a noose for yourself.
You are digging a political grave for yourself, you are digging a hole in which you are going to push yourself into it. Think!”
On 15/1/20 ZRP Plumtree arrested 3 Armed Robbery suspects and recovered various property. The accused persons were positively identified by some of their victims and they have since appeared in court. The accused persons waylaid unsuspecting members of the public along the
In this open letter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which I will copy to the international bodies who have been concerned about the Zimbabwean situation, I will want to argue that ZACC must now move in to arrest Vice-President Constantine Chiwenga, in the same way as the same body arrested Mary Chiwenga.
One of the charges Mary Mubaiwa has been arrested for involves externalizing foreign currency, a revelation made by Vice-President Chiwenga.
Now that Mary Mubaiwa, the estranged former Army General’s wife, has also disclosed that the couple acquired properties outside the country, which have been registered in the names of family members and friends, some of the money used having been corruptly acquired from bribes given by business persons among other sources, ZACC must now move in and arrest the former army general.
We are told by Mnangagwa and other Zanu PF heavyweights that no-one is above the law, so the Acting President must be arrested and prove his innocence in the courts of law.
The fact that the Acting President is now trying to persuade his estranged wife for an out of court settlement tells volumes. Marry should stand her grounds and refuse such advances from a cruel man who has tormented her so much.
Marry needs protection from all well meaning people as she has some crucial information that could deal a huge blow to corruption by the top brass in the country.
Harare City Council has suspended three senior water engineers as it moves to align its service delivery mandate with the residents.
The suspension is without benefits. The suspended engineers are Simon Muserere (wastewater , Richard Kunyadini (distribution) and Artwell Ruhukwa (water production).
Chief Chemist Mr Teddy Mafuko is part of the suspended group.
The four face allegations of misconduct in the perfomance of their duties.
According to letters written to the four their charges border on incompetency, inefficiency, habitual and substantial neglect of duties arising from inaction on issues relating to their duties.
They are expected to appear before a hearing within the next 14 days and in the meantime they have been asked to surrender all council equipment in their possession.
1/2 The ZRP is aware of a message circulating on social media concerning purported conduct by police officers at Mzilikazi police station. The message is false as nothing of that sort occurred.
“50 anti-riot junior officers refused to take orders from their superiors while on parade to go for an unnamed operation in Makokoba, Nguboyenja, Entumbane, Thorngroove and Mzilikazi Thursday morning. They expressed displeasure that they are forced to spend more than 12 hours in full anti-riot gear with baton sticks and helmets under hot temperatures with no time for rest.”
By A Correspondent- Police said yesterday they had gunned down a notorious smuggler of second hand clothes into the country at the weekend, while also arresting six other people in Mutare.
This comes as government has launched a nationwide crackdown on the smuggling of bales of second hand cothing and other basic consumer goods into Zimbabwe.
One person was shot dead, while six others were arrested after police intercepted truckloads of smuggled bales of second-hand clothes in Vumba on Saturday night.
The gang, which had a fleet of vehicles, resisted arrest and attempted to run over a police officer, prompting other alert officers to open fire.
Police intercepted a convoy comprising two (7-tonne) trucks, three kombis with bales of clothes and four small escort cars, recovering 170 bales of clothes.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has intercepted a convoy of two-seven tonne trucks, three commuter omnibuses and four small vehicles laden with bales of smuggled goods along Vumba Road after a shooting which resulted in the arrest of six suspects and the death of one of the suspects,” he said.
“A crack team of detectives picked information as the convoy approached Vumba and laid an ambush. The vehicles were signalled to stop, but the drivers ignored the police directive as the four small vehicles were being used as smugglers’ escort.”
Police fired warning shots before shooting the wheels of one of the trucks which then stopped.
“In the process, a VW Polo, registration number ADA 5492, which was part of the smugglers escort fleet made a U-turn, sped off towards a police officer who ducked and fired some shots,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“The VW Polo driver and passenger were injured in the process as they tried to flee. The passenger died on admission at Mutare Provincial Hospital, while the driver is admitted under police guard.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said police recovered 170 bales of smuggled clothes from some of the intercepted vehicles.
Metro buses are predominant in cities such as London, (see pics) but you would never see such in areas like Seke, Zimbabwe.
But well, it is Monday morning, 20 January 2020 at 8:55am along Seke road. This is a Metro bus owned by ZUPCO, carrying commuters from Chitungwiza to Harare.
WATCH VIDEO- It is Monday morning, 20 January 2020 at 8:55am along Seke road, this is a Metro bus carrying commuters from Chitungwiza to Harare. pic.twitter.com/zbn5BKnqxo
By A Correspondent- In a very embarrassing development, a male boarding master at Washington High School was recently exposed of trying to prey on female students after he allegedly fondled a 15-year-old pupil’s breasts at their rendezvous.
Alouis Mhondiwa was recently convicted of indecent assault after the victim of his sexual pursuits spilled the beans.
Appearing before Harare magistrate Mrs Sharon Rakafa, Mhondiwa was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
She suspended eight months on condition that the accused does not commit a similar offence and the remaining 10 months on condition that Mhondiwa performs 350 hours of community service at Waterfalls Clinic.
During the trial the girl said:
The first day we had gone to the dining hall for studies and a female guard sent me with her phone to the accused person. That was when we arranged how we would meet later that night.
I managed to sneak out of the hostels with three of my friends that were also going to meet their boyfriends. I went to his house. He began touching me and I started feeling different and requested to leave. When I returned to the hostels I told my friend about the incident and planned to return back to the accused person’s residence.
The school authorities heard of the matter and the incident was reported to the police, leading to Mhondiwa’s arrest.
However,the information provided from the trial does not reveal how the alleged indecent assault sexual assault came to light and also whether the complainant and the accused were in a relationship since the complainant had hatched the plan together with her friends to sneak out of their hostels and see their ‘boyfriends’.
By A Correspondent- The City of Gweru has run out of mealie-meal with major supermarkets failing to restock, leaving hundreds of people stranded.
The dire situation has opened avenues for black market merchants in the down town areas where the commodity is selling it at exorbitant prices.
While a 10kg pack of roller meal is supposed to sell at $50, according to government gazetted prices following a subsidy arrangement, on the black market the commodity is being sold for $120. The unscrupulous businesspeople are not accepting all modes of payments like swipe and mobile money transfers, but demanding cash only.
Last week, Bulawayo residents also accused some retail shop owners of abusing the subsidised mealie-meal facility by forcing consumers to buy other goods in order to be able to purchase the scarce commodity.
Residents told Southern Eye that supermarket owners forced them to buy other goods worth over $20 in order to buy a 10kg mealie-meal bag. There has been haggling between the government and millers over registration of firms meant to receive the subsidy, which sources yesterday said was the reason for the acute shortage of the basic food commodity.
“There has not been a fair supply of subsidised grain to millers as the scheme seems to be benefitting a few who are close to the powers that be. That is the reason we have reached this stage whereby there is virtually no mealie-meal in Gweru. The Ministry of Finance and Grain Marketing Board are not doing the right thing. They are corruptly handling the grain subsidy scheme,” said a source.
Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Garikai Chaunza referred questions to Andrew Bvumbe, a Finance ministry official in charge of the grain subsidy programme.
“He is the one who is running the roller meal subsidy programme,” Chaunza said.
However, Bvumbe refused to shed light on the shortages of mealie-meal in Gweru or reveal if millers have received disbursements from his ministry to sell the commodity at subsidised prices.
“A statement was issued that it is the Ministry of Industry and Commerce that is in charge of that programme,” Bvumbe curtly said.
By A Correspondent- Home Affairs deputy minister Mike Madiro’s son allegedly torched his parents’ eight-roomed farmhouse at Odzi Farm on Friday following an argument over the sale of two oxen.
On Saturday, Shingirai (23) appeared before Mutare magistrate Tamara Chibindi, who remanded him to January 30 on $1 000 bail.
It is the State’s case that on the day in question, Shingirai, who was reportedly stopped from selling the family’s two oxen, threatened his parents with death.
His parents then ran for dear life after which he torched the family’s house, destroying property worth $90 000.
By A Correspondent- Harare City Council has suspended four senior officials for alleged dereliction of duty and contributing to the water crisis in the city.
The axe fell on head of city chemistry, production manager and water distribution manager and their alleged transgressions include failure to act decisively on leakages, arrogance and taking long to attend to faults, among others.
Mayor Herbert Gomba confirmed the development, saying the move was meant to improve service delivery and get rid of non-performers.
“As we are working together as Zimbabweans and residents of Harare in particular, we have discovered that some among us are not playing ball in as far as the transformation of the city is concerned. We have managers who are reposed with the mandate to deliver services, but are not doing so according to expectation.
“Managers are supposed to visit the areas where work is supposed to be. A chemist or production manager and distribution manager should be on the ground to ensure work is done. Facts are that they are not and we will act to protect our residents under the mantra ‘residents first’,” he said.
Gomba read the riot act at a high-level meeting held at Town House last week where he also ordered the council’s water department to vacate a rented building they were using in the city and make use of either Cleveland or Rowan Martin, both council premises.
Council sources said all divisional failing to perform their duties will be taken before a disciplinary committee.
It was also revealed that most workers at the council’s biggest water treatment plant, Morton Jaffray Waterworks, were spending most of their time running personal errands, including selling fish at the ratepayers’ expense
Own Correspondent|Police in Bulawayo have dragged MDC President Nelson Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda into the demonstration by students from Prince Njube Memorial High School in Bulawayo on Monday morning.
In a memorandum to the Officer Commanding Bulawayo, the Officer In Charge Njube Police made a sensational claim that the MDC Presidential Spokesperson was seen milling around the demonstrating students.
The police made the revelation as they incriminated a biology teacher at the school Brian Mutsiba for inciting the 180 students to demonstrate discrediting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“Indications are that the accused is the one who masterminded the demonstration. The school pupils were merely following their teachers orders. Also observed was that the spokesperson of MDC-Alliance president, Nkululeko Sibanda was seen milling around,” wrote the police.
The Full Police outline is as below:
MEMORANDUM
TO: THE OFFICER COMMANDING BULAWAYO WEST DISTRICT FROM: OIC NJUBE DATED 20/01/2020 SUBJECT: DEMOSTRATION BY NJUBE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS This Memo serves to inform you that: INFORMANT Name: Ndlovu Archford Contacts: XXXXXXXX Residential address: Njube High School, Bulawayo Business address: Njube High Secondary School.
ACCUSED Name: Brian Mutsiba NR: XXXXXXXX Contacts: XXXXXXX Res: XXXXX, Bulawayo Business: Njube High School, Bulawayo CIRCUMSTANCES On the 20th day of January 2020 and at around 1000 hours, the accused incited over 153 forms one, three and six students to partake in an unlawful demonstration. In doing so, the accused removed the portrait of the President of the Republic Zimbabwe from the staff room and went on to un-hoist the National Flag from its mast. He then exited the school gate with the students he had mobilised for the unsanctioned march.
From the school, they turned right into B.B. Burombo Road then used a footpath to connect Luveve Road. On reaching the robots opposite Entumbane Complex, the demonstrators gathered and started chanting songs saying, Imfundo ngeyethu into oyenzayo siyayizonda amongst others. The procession then started marching along Luveve Road towards Emagetsini. They were waving placards inscribed Where is UNICEF?”, “This is for every Zimbabwean child” and “SOS serve our souls”. The Presidents portrait and Zimbabwean flag were being carried by two students.
When they got near to the intersection of Luveve Road and Masiyephambili Road, the demonstrators grouped again and deliberately turned the portrait and the national flag upside and started making loud chants. They then knelt down facing the eastern direction and sang “Nkosi sikelela iAfrica”. During that process, the headmaster, Mr Zibusiso Msimanga N.R. XXXXXXXX, cell number XXXXXX arrived at the scene and ordered the school children to stop what they were doing and go back to school. The children complied and went back to school but along the way the accused kept on influencing the students to be defiant.
On entering the school campus, one of the pupils who had participated in the march hoisted back the flag. The children then went back to their classes. The accused disappeared from the school upon arrival from the march. ZRP Njube attended the scene and called the pupils to assembly. The children who had participated in the demonstration voluntarily came into the open about their participation. They were invited to write reasons for their participation in the demonstration which are—
The fees have been hiked from $92-00 to $440-00. The teachers are earning low salaries. Teachers not attending lessons. Beneficiaries of the BEAM programme being made to pay half of the fees and The general high cost of living.
A follow-up of the accused was made at number XXX, Emakhandeni by Numbers 066556S Constable Magwira and 087615H Constable Muzvuwe. Seen was Sandra Tshuma; N.R. XXXXX, Cellphone number XXXXXX, aged 32 years who indicated that the accused relocated to an unknown address three years back. She indicated that accused was a fellow tenant at the house. Preliminary investigations show that accused is a former prison officer and subscribes to ZIMTA. He is an abuser of alcohol and is staying alone. Report has been entered on RRB 403903. The accused is being charged for Contravening section 37 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 {participating in a public gathering with the intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry} and also for Contravening section 6 of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act; Chapter 10:10 {insulting the flag}.
Scene was also attended by the Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District; Chief Superintendent Bizeki, members from the Presidents Office, Military Intelligence, Prison Intelligence and different media houses.
Indications are that the accused is the one who masterminded the demonstration. The school pupils were merely following their teachers orders. Also observed was that the spokesperson of MDC-Alliance president, Nkululeko Sibanda was seen milling around.
By A Correspondent- Sate security operatives reportedly pounced on Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leader, Takavafira Zhou’s office on Thursday last week following reports of his involvement in the planned national shutdown.
The majority of PTUZ members across the country are reportedly boycotting classes citing incapacitation, while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the main opposition MDC party have threatened a national shutdown protest over the deteriorating economy.
Unsettled by these developments, three Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives pounced at Zhou’s offices in Masvingo, while others called him from Kwekwe in a bid to thwart the impending shutdown.
“They were trying to the link teachers’ strike with threats of a shutdown and we informed them that our struggle is a dispute with the employer in which the employer unilaterally (devalued) teachers’ salaries from US$500 to US$35. That is tantamount to unfair labour practice,” Zhou told NewsDay on Saturday.
“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.”
Zhou also revealed that police from the Central Investigations Department (CID) contacted him over the stayaway by teachers in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown of Kwekwe.
“I also received a phone call from CID in Kwekwe, who wanted to know why PTUZ teachers have not reported for work and I also explained to them that teachers’ incapacitation was the modus operandi,” he said.
Last year, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure was abducted by suspected CIO operatives, who tortured him for leading a strike.
Zhou said he was still assessing the situation in order to measure his safety.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware whether or not the police were investigating Zhou as he was out of office.
“I am currently out of office as it is a weekend. I am, therefore, unable to comment on that one because I can’t look for the facts at the moment,” he said.
TO: THE OFFICER COMMANDING BULAWAYO WEST DISTRICT FROM: OIC NJUBE DATED 20/01/2020 SUBJECT: DEMOSTRATION BY NJUBE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS This Memo serves to inform you that: INFORMANT Name: Ndlovu Archford Contacts: XXXXXXXX Residential address: Njube High School, Bulawayo Business address: Njube High Secondary School.
ACCUSED Name: Brian Mutsiba NR: XXXXXXXX Contacts: XXXXXXX Res: XXXXX, Bulawayo Business: Njube High School, Bulawayo CIRCUMSTANCES On the 20th day of January 2020 and at around 1000 hours, the accused incited over 153 forms one, three and six students to partake in an unlawful demonstration. In doing so, the accused removed the portrait of the President of the Republic Zimbabwe from the staff room and went on to un-hoist the National Flag from its mast. He then exited the school gate with the students he had mobilised for the unsanctioned march.
From the school, they turned right into B.B. Burombo Road then used a footpath to connect Luveve Road. On reaching the robots opposite Entumbane Complex, the demonstrators gathered and started chanting songs saying, Imfundo ngeyethu into oyenzayo siyayizonda amongst others. The procession then started marching along Luveve Road towards Emagetsini. They were waving placards inscribed Where is UNICEF?”, “This is for every Zimbabwean child” and “SOS serve our souls”. The Presidents portrait and Zimbabwean flag were being carried by two students.
When they got near to the intersection of Luveve Road and Masiyephambili Road, the demonstrators grouped again and deliberately turned the portrait and the national flag upside and started making loud chants. They then knelt down facing the eastern direction and sang “Nkosi sikelela iAfrica”. During that process, the headmaster, Mr Zibusiso Msimanga N.R. XXXXXXXX, cell number XXXXXX arrived at the scene and ordered the school children to stop what they were doing and go back to school. The children complied and went back to school but along the way the accused kept on influencing the students to be defiant.
On entering the school campus, one of the pupils who had participated in the march hoisted back the flag. The children then went back to their classes. The accused disappeared from the school upon arrival from the march. ZRP Njube attended the scene and called the pupils to assembly. The children who had participated in the demonstration voluntarily came into the open about their participation. They were invited to write reasons for their participation in the demonstration which are—
The fees have been hiked from $92-00 to $440-00.
The teachers are earning low salaries.
Teachers not attending lessons.
Beneficiaries of the BEAM programme being made to pay half of the fees and
The general high cost of living.
A follow-up of the accused was made at number XXX, Emakhandeni by Numbers 066556S Constable Magwira and 087615H Constable Muzvuwe. Seen was Sandra Tshuma; N.R. XXXXX, Cellphone number XXXXXX, aged 32 years who indicated that the accused relocated to an unknown address three years back. She indicated that accused was a fellow tenant at the house. Preliminary investigations show that accused is a former prison officer and subscribes to ZIMTA. He is an abuser of alcohol and is staying alone. Report has been entered on RRB 403903. The accused is being charged for Contravening section 37 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 {participating in a public gathering with the intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry} and also for Contravening section 6 of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act; Chapter 10:10 {insulting the flag}.
Scene was also attended by the Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District; Chief Superintendent Bizeki, members from the Presidents Office, Military Intelligence, Prison Intelligence and different media houses.
Indications are that the accused is the one who masterminded the demonstration. The school pupils were merely following their teachers orders. Also observed was that the spokesperson of MDC-Alliance president, Nkululeko Sibanda was seen milling around.
Njube High School students speaking with a provincial education official in Bulawayo.
Own Correspondent|Students at Zimbabwe’s Prince Njube Memorial High School in Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo, staged a public protest Monday over the deteriorating situation in schools where teachers are on strike and parents are crying foul on steep education costs.
The students, carrying President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s official portrait and banners declaring that they were doing it for all other Zimbabwean children, marched for almost five kilometers along one of the highways to the city’s central business district to present their grievances to provincial education officials.
The students told District Schools Inspector Zanele Muyambo that they need urgent government intervention on the deteriorating education situation in schools where there are no teachers even if their parents have paid huge sums of money for their learning.
Muyambo promised to deliver their grievances to the relevant authorities.
The march by the Njube Memorial High School students may have instigated students from other schools to follow suit as there hasn’t been any meaningful learning at schools throughout the country.
Teachers have tactically not been reporting for duty since schools opened only reporting on Mondays to clock for duty and return home.
According to the public service code of conduct a government employee is dismissed from work of they don’t report for duty for fourteen working days continuously. Teachers are evading the code by reporting for work once or twice a week.
Own Correspondent|THE State has withdrawn the case against suspended Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe in which he was facing criminal abuse of office charges after he allegedly recommended that former ministers Supa Mandiwanzira and Saviour Kasukuwere be admitted for attachment at Harare magistrates court where they had pending criminal cases.
Guvamombe was also facing charges of defeating the course of justice after he allegedly directed a subordinate, Elijah Makomo, to recuse himself in a trial involving his alleged business partner’s son.
Guvamombe’s charges were withdrawn before plea.
The State led by Constance Ngombengombe said it will summon Guvamombe back when it has put its house in order.
The case was withdrawn before magistrate Amos Mubobo
Correspondent|State security operatives reportedly pounced on Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leader, Takavafira Zhou’s office on Thursday last week following reports of his involvement in the planned national shutdown.
The majority of PTUZ members across the country are reportedly boycotting classes citing incapacitation, while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the main opposition MDC party have threatened a national shutdown protest over the deteriorating economy.
Unsettled by these developments, three Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives pounced at Zhou’s offices in Masvingo, while others called him from Kwekwe in a bid to thwart the impending shutdown.
“They were trying to the link teachers’ strike with threats of a shutdown and we informed them that our struggle is a dispute with the employer in which the employer unilaterally (devalued) teachers’ salaries from US$500 to US$35. That is tantamount to unfair labour practice,” Zhou told NewsDay on Saturday.
“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.”
Zhou also revealed that police from the Central Investigations Department (CID) contacted him over the stayaway by teachers in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown of Kwekwe.
“I also received a phone call from CID in Kwekwe, who wanted to know why PTUZ teachers have not reported for work and I also explained to them that teachers’ incapacitation was the modus operandi,” he said.
Last year, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure was abducted by suspected CIO operatives, who tortured him for leading a strike.
Zhou said he was still assessing the situation in order to measure his safety.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware whether or not the police were investigating Zhou as he was out of office.
“I am currently out of office as it is a weekend. I am, therefore, unable to comment on that one because I can’t look for the facts at the moment,” he said.
Armed forces outside the prison in Pedro Juan Caballero ( Getty )
Own Correspondent |At least seventy-five prisoners, including members of Brazil’s most powerful drug cartel, have broken free from a Paraguayan jail in an escape that was likely facilitated by prison officers, officials say.
Authorities discovered a narrow tunnel, which was carefully hidden to avoid detection, though it is believed inmates were provided with inside help.
Paraguay’s justice minister, Cecilia Perez, said: “It’s an operation that took days and it is impossible that the officials did not realise that they were leaving … obviously this was a paid plan.”
Authorities had received prior information that an escape was being planned, Ms Perez added.
It has also been alleged many of the prisoners were allowed to walk free through the main gate by jail guards, with the tunnel built as a cover-up for the operation.
“We found the tunnel and believe that it was a cover-up to legitimise or hide the release of the prisoners,” interior minister Euclides Acevedo said. “There was complicity with people” at the jail, he added.
The escaped prisoners included gang members from First Capital Command (PCC), Brazil’s most powerful and sophisticated organised crime group, the government said.
The PCC, which has almost 30,000 members, is involved in drug and arms trafficking across Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Colombia.
Inspections at the prison complex in the eastern city of Pedro Juan Caballero, near the Brazilian border, revealed hundreds of sandbags stored in a single cell.
Intelligence also suggests that inmates had been allowed to leave in smaller groups over a number of days, Mr Acevedo said.
The director of the prison, Christan Gonzalez, and six other prison officials have since been fired and arrested, according to reports.
Paraguay’s National Police have launched a hunt for the escapees, a number of whom participated in a massacre which left 10 inmates dead at the prison in June last year.
The Brazilian authorities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul have issued an alert, with state police and the armed forces working in the area to track down the fugitives.
Concerns have been raised that some of the escaped prisoners have already crossed into Brazil. Burnt-out vehicles have been found on the Brazilian side of the border.
The investigation into the prison break is ongoing.
Own Correspondent|The family of Marry Mubaiwa – Chiwenga wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has warned the country’s second citizen that he is digging his own political grave by continuously fighting their daughter.
Marry’s uncle Harrington Mubaiwa made the revelation in an exclusive to ZimEye.com on Monday afternoon.
Own Correspondent|Controversial Zambian Prophet who made headlines in December 2019 after he released a prophecy that claimed that Marry Chiwenga was going to spill secrets about General Chiwenga which were going to lead to a coup d’etat plot has hit headlines yet again claiming that he turned water into wine.
Prophet DD Isaac caused a stir at his Holy Ghost Embassy church on Sunday when he claimed to have turned water into wine.
According to eye witnesses DD Isaac poured water into a glass and after “ministration” the water turned into a wine like substance.
While it is acknowledged that Jesus turned water into wine it is not recorded anywhere else that a human being has been able to accomplish the same feat.
This incident left congregants baffled as to whether this was really a miracle or a scam.
South Africa based religious analyst Shephard Ben Abraham said the miracle of turning water into wine is being used by alcohol consumers to justify their acts.
“While there is nothing wrong with miracles, these kind of miracles of turning water into wine are fueling reckless drinking,” Shephard said. “I would advise pastors to desist from these kind of miracles for the sake of the society.”
DD Isaac prophecy on Chiwengas was sort of partly fulfilled as Marry Chiwenga submitted court papers which savaged General Chiwenga’s reputation and revealed a lot of explosive secrets about his personal, political and financial life.
Recently Advocate Thabani Mpofu submitted a legal opinion which stated that Mnangagwa had abdicated the Presidency and Chiwenga was now the President at law. This move gave weight to DD Isaac’s Prophecy in which he states that he saw two lions fighting in Zimbabwe, a red lion believed to be Mnangagwa and a green lion believed to be Chiwenga from his military fatigues and command of the army.
Family Sources close to retired General Chiwenga indicated that the DD Isaac prophecy shook General Chiwenga to a point where the Acting President went to church to pray and seek spiritual guidance, something the General rarely does. After seeking prayer and spiritual counsel Chiwenga waved a white flag as he sought for an out of court settlement with his estranged wife.
Message By VP Chiwenga|It was with a great sense of shock and sadness that I learnt of the death on Saturday evening 16 people in a tragic accident involving a bus and a haulage truck along the Harare-Mutare Highway.
Life is very precious and losing it in circumstances that are avoidable is not only extremely painful and heart-breaking but also needless and senseless.
This latest bus accident brings to the fore Government’s call to road-users including all those involved with public transportation to value life always and to be mindful of the heavy responsibilities they carry on their shoulders to ensure the safety of passengers.
On behalf of government, His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa and on my own behalf, I wish to extend sincere condolences to the bereaved families for losing their beloved ones in this traffic accident, may they take comfort from our prayers and rest assured that Government will support them during this period of deep grief. In the same spirit, our prayers go to those nursing their injuries, both in hospital and at home. We wish them speedy recovery.
Own Correspondent|Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero was lucky to escape unharmed after being involved in a car crash near the club’s training ground in Carrington on Monday.
The Argentine shot-stopper, who has been deputizing for the number one David de Gea, reportedly smashed up his Lamborghini worth £170,000 (over R3 million) on the Carrington Spur Road.
Below images show the car wreckage on the side of the road, courtesy of Daily Mail.
Reports are that the accident could’ve been caused by cold and icy conditions across Manchester with temperatures hovering above freezing, with drivers needing to have been particularly careful on the roads.
Romero becomes the second Argentine to be involved in a car accident after his national teammate Sergio Aguero also smashed Range Rover SUV back in October 2019.
Vice President Chiwenga and his wife seen during the Miss World Zimbabwe pageant in September
Own Correspondent|Marry Chiwenga, wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, is reportedly in a “no nonsense approach” as he tackles his husband in what is set to be the dirtiest divorce of Zimbabwean elites in recent history.
The former model is reported to have turned down a request for an out of court settlement on child custody and access to family house made by Chiwenga.
Source close to Marry Chiwenga‘s defence council told media houses on Monday that the estranged wife wants nothing to do with an discussions with Chiwenga except in court.
“Marry is in a no nonsense mood and would want the matter to be settled in court,” said the sources.
“The applicant is the one who brought the issue to the courts so there is no need for it to be settled out of courts
“What has now changed that the applicant feels the issue can be resolved without the courts? He (Chiwenga) was ill-advised and Marry is only playing her part as the respondent.
“Unless something major happens this morning (Monday), Marry has since last Friday indicated to her defence counsel that she will not accept an out of court settlement.”
On Monday afternoon, sources told ZimEye.com that clashed heavily with Vice President Chiwenga’s body guards when she went to see her children at a private school in Harare.
Own Correspondent|Brian Mutsiba, a biology teacher at Njube High, claimed the “children had initiated the march by themselves” to show their disapproval of the education system.
Farai Dziva|Kaitano Tembo’s Supersport United lost 1-2 to Mamelodi Sundowns in an explosive Tswane derby on Sunday.
In another match Knox Mutizwa returned to the scoresheet on Sunday afternoon after netting the opener in the 1-1 draw at Polokwane City.
The striker headed home in the 8th minute following a well-executed attacking play, but City equalised later in the second half through Mahammed Anas in the 70th minute.
Arrows midfielder Danny Phiri started in the first XI and received a booking while Divine Lunga was on the bench.
Polokwane City fielded George Chigova in goals with Walter Musona and Charlton Mashumba creating part of the attacking line.
Elsewhere, Norman Mapeza’s Chippa Unita managed a 1-1 draw at Bloemfontein Celtic.
Farai Dziva|Kaitano Tembo felt cheated when his SuperSport United side conceded the first goal in their 2-1 league defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
United went behind after Themba Zwane netted in the 32nd minute, only to recover ten minutes into the second half when Dean Furman converted from the spot. The parity didn’t stay for long as Thapelo Morena secured the winner for Pitso Mosimane’s charges just after the hour mark.
Speaking after the game, Tembo highlighted the reasons behind their loss and among them was the opening goal which he believes was scored from an offside position.
“Look I think there were two things, the first one we didn’t have a good start, we were negative especially in possession, we never really wanted to go forward, to give them a little bit of problems defensively,” Tembo told SuperSport TV.
“So they were very comfortable, especially their centre-backs, they could build-up from the back because there’s wasn’t really pressure.
“And whenever we went forward, I think the final decision was bad, we chose the wrong options and it’s either we rushed and the second thing was that our pressing wasn’t good,” he went on.
“Defending the cross because they scored from two crosses, the first one I thought it was offside I’m not so sure about that but I think it was offside. Nevertheless, we didn’t defend well.
“The second goal, we didn’t defend well as well, not stopping the cross and not defending the cross, that’s how they scored, that’s how the game was won. But I think we became a little bit brave especially when we brought in [Ghampani Lungu] and [Thamsanqa] Gabuza. We were a little bit adventurous, we gave them problems a little bit.
‘It’s disappointing to drop the three points, we wanted the points badly, especially at this time of the season but still, we have to credit the players, they kept on fighting, they went a little bit hard and we’ll keep on fighting until the end,” he added.
Farai Dziva|Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed striker Marcus Rashford will be out for at least six weeks after suffering a back injury.
The forward missed the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
He sustained the injury in midweek against Wolves.
When Solskjaer was asked whether United will sign another striker in January, he said to Sky Sports in a post match interview:
“We’re always looking at chances to improve the squad – with Marcus out for a while we have to look at it closely.
“He’s suffered a bad injury. It’s a [back] stress fracture, it happened against Wolves.
“It’s not happened before, it happened there and then. He’ll be out for a while. He won’t be back until after the mid- season break.
“Normally six weeks to heal, but I’m not a doctor, and then he needs rehab after that probably.”
Liverpool are firmly in control of the title race after yesterday’s emphatic victory over Manchester United.
By A Correspondent- State security operatives reportedly pounced on Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leader, Takavafira Zhou’s office on Thursday last week following reports of his involvement in the planned national shutdown.
The majority of PTUZ members across the country are reportedly boycotting classes citing incapacitation, while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the main opposition MDC party have threatened a national shutdown protest over the deteriorating economy.
Unsettled by these developments, three Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives pounced at Zhou’s offices in Masvingo, while others called him from Kwekwe in a bid to thwart the impending shutdown.
“They were trying to the link teachers’ strike with threats of a shutdown and we informed them that our struggle is a dispute with the employer in which the employer unilaterally (devalued) teachers’ salaries from US$500 to US$35. That is tantamount to unfair labour practice,” Zhou told NewsDay on Saturday.
“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.”
Zhou also revealed that police from the Central Investigations Department (CID) contacted him over the stayaway by teachers in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown of Kwekwe.
“I also received a phone call from CID in Kwekwe, who wanted to know why PTUZ teachers have not reported for work and I also explained to them that teachers’ incapacitation was the modus operandi,” he said.
Last year, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure was abducted by suspected CIO operatives, who tortured him for leading a strike.
Zhou said he was still assessing the situation in order to measure his safety.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware whether or not the police were investigating Zhou as he was out of office.
“I am currently out of office as it is a weekend. I am, therefore, unable to comment on that one because I can’t look for the facts at the moment,” he said.
By A Correspondent- Wife to the acting President Marry Chiwenga Mubaiwa this afternoon clashed with her husband’s security details at Hellenic Primary School in Harare.
Sources privy to the developments allege that Marry went to the school Monday afternoon and she had a nasty fallout with the security details, who according to unconfirmed reports are maintaining a 24 hours surveillance on her and the acting president’s minors. Chiwenga and his estranged wife are fighting for the custody of their children.
Reports reaching ZimEye allege that an unconfirmed number of journalists who witnessed the drama were also picked up by the security details.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest details.
A Zimbabwean man is on the run after he allegedly killed a South African police captain during a robbery fire exchange on Saturday in Johannesburg.
A South African Police Service (SAPS) source confirmed to H-Metro that Preymore Dube, the alleged suspect from Bulawayo, shot Diepsloot police captain Oupa Matjie, 54, three times on the head and he died on the spot.
Preymore Dube
“The murder occurred on around 7pm at corner Jabulani and Stability Street Extension 3 Diepsloot.
“Members of Diepsloot SAPS detective services were on duty following up on information of house robbery suspects and the information became positive.
“They called for backup, Eco group from Diepsloot SAPS responded and they joined the detectives who proceeded with information.
“They were with the victim of the house robbery who pointed out to the suspect in the open field grounds and police chased the suspect.
“The suspect started shooting at the police and police fired back missing the suspect who then walked into the direction of Captain Matjie.
“Captain Matjie grabbed the suspect but was overpowered, and shot three times on the head and died on the spot.
“The suspect who shot and killed the Captain is Preymore Dube from Zimbabwe and he ran on foot,” said the source.
Angry South Africans have taken to social media circulating Dube’s image and labelled him as armed and dangerous amid xenophobia concerns.- H-Metro
Metro buses are predominant in cities such as London, (see pics) but you would never see such in areas like Seke, Zimbabwe.
But well, it is Monday morning, 20 January 2020 at 8:55am along Seke road. This is a Metro bus owned by ZUPCO, carrying commuters from Chitungwiza to Harare.
It leaves to be seen however if the buses are insured. The passenger association of Zimbabwe has raised alarm saying many ZUPCO buses do not have liability cover.
WATCH VIDEO- It is Monday morning, 20 January 2020 at 8:55am along Seke road, this is a Metro bus carrying commuters from Chitungwiza to Harare. pic.twitter.com/zbn5BKnqxo
The floods that hit Hwange on Saturday flooded the country’s second-largest power station and affected power generation.
This was revealed in a tweet by the Energy minister when he said:
ENERGY UPDATE: the weather has conspired against us. Hwange power station coal plant flooded.Power station now down to zero megawatts. 400 mw lost. Zesa working to recover.
ZESA had warned the public that the forecasted floods might affect power generation.
Hwange was producing 370 MW while Kariba is producing 286 MW- Newzwire.
By A Correspondent| Controversial preacher Walter Magaya has taken a jump away from his criminal conviction for selling his fake HIV medication, Aguma, to begin selling hair food.
His latest activities are cited in the following announcement by his church organisation which reveals the below hair food products.
Unlike Aguma, it is called Charis Herbal Food.
The chemical contents thereof could not be established at time of writing.
Magaya from Aguma now hair food.
"Calvary Greetings. Calling on all WOV on the platform. You are all invited to the Charis Hair Food training being conducted by our Father Prophet W Magaya at Yadah Hotel today. …… Training starts at 12 sharp today. " pic.twitter.com/71kzXaLOKM
Calvary Greetings. Calling on all WOV on the platform.
You are all invited to the Charis Hair Food training being conducted by our Father Prophet W Magaya at Yadah Hotel today. Mese henyu ma WoV that are interested in this wonderful opportunity to be empowered and equipped by our Father.
MDC A may reason with their blind judgment and unsanctified minds until 2023 and not advance a step toward emancipation they may debate and dispute the elections before the elections are done and yet grow more and more self-deceived, and become far and far away from the electorate. What is their fault? They rejected the freedom which ZANU PF had already given them and were seeking for some new light by which they might so interpret democracy so as to sustain their actions.
ZANU PF COMMISSARIAT has adopted a more friendly and welcoming strategy to win the electorate and sustain the gains of freedom.
The ZANU PF National Political COMMISSAIR Comrade Matemadanda has unpacked a ZANU PF powered by the New Dispensation full of tolerance and understanding. Comrade Matemadanda said not every person is an enemy of the party.
“When people,Gallant people of Zimbabwe through a process of conscioutisation some individually and others like students, workers and other mainly marginalised groups realised the levels of colonial oppression upon them, decided individually to leave mother land to go and take up arms to fight colonial injustices.
However, we also initially made the same mistake that is being made by MDC A, which will cause them not to win elections perpetually. We initially were thinking that everyone who had not joined us was an enemy, anyone who opposed because of not understanding us was an enemy, anyone who was white was an enemy not knowing that some whites would eventually join the liberation struggle, anyone who had their money was a bourgeoisie classified and hence was an enemy, we did not realise that we would need material support from such people, anyone who had not decided to go and take up arms was vulnerable and was siding with the enemy but we soon realized that we needed mujibha chimbwido. There were a lot of misconceptions that we had. So basically when you looked around there were more enemies than allies or those who would one day come to support the liberation struggle until we went back to the drawing board.”
Comrade Matemadanda insisted that every a Zimbabwean is very important for the observance of democracy. He pointed out that the Morden ZANU PF views every Zimbabwean as a potential member and in his or her own way contributes to the development of the party. “We discovered that for every revolution to succeed, it simply needed a rallying point, it had to have a common rallying point for a common people with a common reason wanting a common end.
Hence the popular saying by the late National Hero RG Mugabe that ” our war is (was) a just war” that was not his personal coining of words but that of the revolutionary armed struggle which would be inspiring both forces and the people because there was a ” just cause ” for and of the revolution.”
Comrade Matemadanda urged the youth to embrace the party and to spread the message of love.
The current ZANU PF does not sow divisions it aims to unite Zimbabwe against poverty against corruption against selfishness.
He said “The revolutionary efforts did not now belong to the leadership in Zambia and Mozambique or Tanzania but to the people of Zimbabwe where ever they were. We realised then that our struggle had to do with classes of people hence we fought against class” The selfishness exhibited by the opposition must be scorned at.
Unlike MDC where Chamisa sells to steal the glory for himself. We in ZANU PF we say ZANU vanhu. The party is the people and the glory is for the people.
ZANU PF has moved away from the individualistic tendency which has polluted the political platform.
Comrade Matemadanda stated that There must then be a common ideology,line and policy. What we called the Party Line, Party policy and Party ideology. These will clearly tell people within and without how for example you relate, how you do things, who your intended beneficiaries are.
You never win a revolution with a group of uninformed drunkards, who may not even know who their leader is and what he stands for. Ours was a protracted armed liberation struggle which we did not know when it was going to end but we were prepared to be in it for as long as it would take. You can not start with the “FINAL PUSH ” When you have not done the first push. Said Cde Matemadanda.
Then commissariat is transforming ZANU PF to be the party of all times not for a season. How do you maintain the momentum on people of varying opinions? When we finally came from the liberation struggle, despite that we had virtually won the armed struggle, we did not waste our time telling people how we had won, we went straight into campaigning producing one of the best Manifestos for both black and white former protagonists.
Noone would resist our programs and we continue to build on that even up to now. Added cde Victor Matemadanda. “The new dispensation has programmes which are designed for the people of Zimbabwe, regardless of their war credentials. ZANU PF is a big pocket we all fit in without problems”.
Comrade Matemadanda warned MDC that “You don’t win people’s hearts by threatening violence or a violent take over because reasonable people know how dangerous that will be”You can not win people’s hearts by denying them the right to earn a honesty living encouraging them to be thugs.
You don’t win people’s hearts by publicly abusing the standing of others because people who listen to you may be knowing those people better than you do and they realise you are a pathological liar.
You don’t win people’s hearts by telling them that you can do what they know you cannot do because they know your capacity. You cannot win people’s hearts by teaching them to hate.
Above all you can not win people’s hearts by threatening to overthrow a government they voted in when you can not give them an assurance that you will not be overthrown yourself. You can not win people’s hearts by refusing to be bound by the law when you intend to become the custodian of the same law. And finally, people want prosperity, peace and development among many other things, you can not win their hearts when you deny them the same things because you are not yet in power when they know that you will never be in power.
Comrade Matemadanda invited all peace loving Zimbabweans to come together and unite. United we stand divided we fall.
We are now in a period of humanity and love. ZANU PF resembles love.
