Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

HARARE – Former Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi’s attempt to return to Zimbabwean politics has suffered a major setback, with a Harare magistrate revoking his bail and ordering him back to prison. This follows his arrest upon his surprise return to the country, after years spent in self-imposed exile. The 61-year-old Mzembi was on trial […]

The post “Go back to prison, you were Kasukuwere’s campaign manager”: Magistrate tells Walter Mzembi after failing to meet Mnangagwa first appeared on My Zimbabwe News.

HARARE – Former Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi’s attempt to return to Zimbabwean politics has suffered a major setback, with a Harare magistrate revoking his bail and ordering him back to prison. This follows his arrest upon his surprise return to the country, after years spent in self-imposed exile. The 61-year-old Mzembi was on trial […]

The post “Go back to prison, you were Kasukuwere’s campaign manager”: Magistrate tells Walter Mzembi after failing to meet Mnangagwa first appeared on My Zimbabwe News.

Source: Pote Holdings director dies – herald

Kudakwashe Mugari

A Zvishavane business executive and entrepreneur Alice Pote has died.

She was 33.

Alice was sister to prominent businessman Mr Anthony Clever Pote, who owns Pote Holdings, where she was financial director for 10 years.

Alice was the founder of Stallion Cruise bus company.

She died on Monday of acute respiratory failure and pulmonary embolism.

Pote Holdings is a vast business empire spanning transport and logistics, hospitality, mining, retail, construction, earthmoving, micro-finance and agriculture.

Mr Pote confirmed the death last night.

“Alice has left us without saying goodbye. I am devastated. She was one of the directors of Pote Holdings, a pillar of strength. She has been behind the success of our business empire. She just left us at 33, very young and promising. The post mortem revealed that she died of acute respiratory failure and pulmonary embolism,” he said.

She was the second last born in the family and leaves behind three children. Burial is set for tomorrow in Chivi, Takavarasha at Marecha village.

Mourners are gathered house number 956 Eastlea in Zvishavane.

The post Pote Holdings director dies  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Chimombe, Mpofu case delayed – herald

Fidelis Munyoro

Chief Court Reporter

THE High Court trial involving Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, accused of a US$7 million fraud linked to the Presidential Goats Pass-On Scheme, faced another delay yesterday.

The trial could not proceed because one of the assessors fell ill.

Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, presiding over the matter, postponed the trial to June 30 after both the prosecution and defence agreed to the adjustment.

Only one witness, Ms Precious Issa, had been called in preparation for the trial’s resumption before the delay. At the centre of the case is a decision on whether the original goats supply tender document, which is critical to the fraud allegations, can be included as evidence at this stage.

The defence has strongly opposed the introduction of the document, arguing that it violates the principles of fairness.

The prosecution, however, maintains that the document is vital to proving their claims and supports their allegations of fraud. This disagreement has sparked intense legal arguments, creating a decisive moment for the trial.

The judge’s ruling on the matter will influence the direction of the trial.

The cross-examination of the fifth State witness depends on whether the document is admitted.

Both legal teams are closely watching the court’s decision, each hoping for an outcome that reinforces their arguments.

The post Chimombe, Mpofu case delayed appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Outcry ahead of Gukurahundi hearings – The Southern Eye

TRADITIONAL leaders tasked to conduct Gukurahundi public hearings should acknowledge the killings as genocide before conducting engagements in the affected areas, stakeholders have said.

The stakeholders told Southern Eye in interviews ahead of the hearings that are expected to start on June 26 this year.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed traditional leaders to lead the public hearings to address the emotive issue, which remains a dark chapter in the country’s history.

The long-awaited hearings on the killings by the disbanded 5 Brigade come amid concerns that the process has left out affected areas in the Midlands province.

Matabeleland-based political outfit Freedom Alliance national spokesperson Prince Ncube said the party supported urgent resolution to Gukurahundi.

He, however, indicated that it is prudent for the government to publicly acknowledge that the killings are genocide to show its sincerity in resolving the issue.

“We reiterate our principled position that the government of Zimbabwe has an important role to play towards resolving this issue. Similarly, we believe that our chiefs are essential stakeholders, but not the only ones who should participate in resolving this national calamity,” Ncube said.

“As the community engagement process is rolled out to our rural communities, we wish to repeat our position that Gukurahundi is genocide and government and chiefs should publicly acknowledge that fact.”

He argued that the process was top-down and biased against victims, adding that government should create an enabling and peaceful environment free from intimidation and violence.

“An enabling environment should allow victims to openly speak out, mourn their dead, mark mass graves and hold memorial services. As long as Ibhetshu LikaZulu-erected plaques are vandalised, then the environment is not yet conducive for any serious resolution of Gukurahundi,” Ncube said.

“Any genuine peace-building process should be transparent and allow free media access for full coverage so that, as a nation, we can say never again. Addressing Gukurahundi should not be selective and exclude other affected areas like urban areas and the Midlands province.”

Meanwhile, the Mthwakazi Republic Party challenged government to allow ordinary people, including victims, to record discussions during the hearings.

The Mqondisi Moyo-led party said government should protect victims and survivors of Gukurahundi when they give testimonies during public hearings.

Moyo said stopping attendees from recording proceedings created an atmosphere of fear, adding that this contravened the Constitution.

“The restrictions imposed by the chiefs constitute a clear infringement of these fundamental rights, undermining the rule of law and the principles of justice,” Moyo said.

“In this context, it is pertinent to emphasise that the protection of constitutional rights is essential to ensuring the integrity of any process purporting to address historical injustices or promote reconciliation.

“The blatant disregard for these rights demonstrated by the chiefs’ actions raises serious concerns about the legitimacy and fairness of the proceedings.”

He said the hearings would be in contravention of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crimes of Genocide, which emphasises the importance of protecting the rights of victims and holding perpetrators accountable.

“The current chiefs’ court settings are a far cry of this standard; instead, it serves as a mechanism to further traumatise and silence victims,” he said.

“By restricting victims’ ability to express themselves freely, these hearings are doomed to fail in their purported objective of promoting healing and reconciliation.”

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