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The wife of Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission commissioner Martin Muduva said she had been living without intimacy in her marriage for four years before the couple died in a murder-suicide in Harare last week. Lyliosa Chirara, aged 43, claimed in a note left before her death that Muduva had stopped entering their bedroom and having […]

The post THE SHOCKING SUICIDE NOTE: 4 years without lula lula with wife… killed for never sleeping in Lyliosa’s bedroom since 2022! first appeared on My Zimbabwe News.

conet Wireless Zimbabwe has announced plans to switch off its 3G network by the end of December 2027, followed by a phased retirement of 2G as the company accelerates investment in faster 4G and 5G technologies.

The country’s largest mobile network operator said retiring the older technologies would improve service quality, free up valuable spectrum and align its network with global trends.

“Our plan is to shut down 3G first, by the end of December 2027,” said Econet Chief Executive Officer Dr Douglas Mboweni.

“Only a small proportion of our customers remain on 3G, as most are now using 4G and 5G. We are encouraging those still on the older technology to migrate to the higher-speed technologies.”

Although 3G supports voice calls and basic internet services, it is increasingly inadequate for data-intensive applications such as video streaming, cloud services and artificial intelligence tools.

He said Econet will allow more time before retiring its 2G network because the technology remains widely used in rural areas, where some subscribers still rely on basic feature phones.

“We must give rural customers more time to replace their phones while supporting them with affordable handsets and flexible payment terms,” Dr Mboweni said. “We will first upgrade network coverage and then help customers in rural communities migrate to 4G as the minimum standard. That work is already underway.”

The company said maintaining several generations of mobile technology simultaneously placed pressure on spectrum allocation. Spectrum is a limited resource used by mobile operators to transmit voice and data services.

Reallocating the spectrum currently used by 2G and 3G will enable Econet to expand its 4G and 5G capacity, improve data speeds and strengthen overall network performance.

Econet has already ordered much of the equipment required for the upgrade as it steps up its 4G and 5G infrastructure expansion across the country. It is also developing an independent power system to improve network resilience amid persistent electricity supply challenges.

Dr Mboweni said the wider network modernisation programme is expected to require annual investment running into hundreds of millions of dollars.

“As part of the transition, we are urging independent handset suppliers to stop selling new devices limited to 2G and 3G only, and instead focus on 4G and 5G-compatible models,” he said.

He added that the company was also intensifying efforts to identify so-called grey handsets – devices marketed as smartphones but which do not meet the advertised technical specifications and often create connectivity problems for users.

Econet has developed a system to detect such devices when they attempt to connect to its network. Customers will be alerted when affected handsets are identified, while relevant authorities will also be notified to help curb the practice.

Econet’s planned retirement of 3G is part of a global transition towards newer mobile technologies, with operators increasingly repurposing spectrum and network resources for faster and more advanced 4G and 5G services while seeking to minimise disruption to customers.

In Africa, Rwanda has set June 30, 2027, as the date for its nationwide 3G switch-off, while South Africa has established a December 31, 2027, deadline for the transition.

Several European countries moved earlier. Germany and the Czech Republic completed their 3G shutdowns in 2021, while the United Kingdom phased out the technology by early 2025 and is preparing to retire 2G between 2029 and 2033.

Only this week, Ukrainian telecommunications operator Kyivstar announced that it had completed the migration of more than one million subscribers from 3G to 4G, freeing additional spectrum capacity for the expansion of its 4G network.

Source: Econet announces plans to phase out 3G by end of 2027 — CITEZW

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National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda has defended the process used by Parliament to consult on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointment of 10 Senators, arguing that MPs were given adequate opportunities to express their views despite the absence of a specific procedure in the Standing Orders.

Mudenda made the submissions in an opposing affidavit filed in the Constitutional Court in response to an application by Thamsanqa Ncube and Ibhetshu Likazulu challenging the process used to consider the appointments.

The 10 appointed Senators are Jabulani Sibanda, Makhosini Hlongwane, Mary Mliswa, Nokuthula Matsikenyere, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Goodwills Masimirembwa, Lucy Chitiga, Gen Gibson Mashingaidze, Brilliant Dube and Iren Mutumbwa.

According to Mudenda, Mnangagwa communicated his intention to appoint the 10 Senators to Parliament on August 18, 2026, following the promulgation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act of 2026 on July 7.

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“Section 120(1)(e) of the Constitution states that the President can appoint up to ten Senators, after consultation with the National Assembly. In the present case, the National Assembly was consulted. This is contrary to the applicant’s case in the Founding Affidavit against Parliament.”

Mudenda acknowledged that the National Assembly’s Standing Orders did not prescribe a specific procedure for consulting Parliament on the appointments.

“It is acknowledged that, at present, the Standing Orders of the National Assembly do not prescribe the procedure for consultation in relation to the appointment of ten Senators to the National Assembly.”

He attributed the gap to the short period between the promulgation of the constitutional amendment and the President’s communication to Parliament.

“The interval between 7 July and 18 August 2026 is, in the ordinary course, regarded as insufficient for Parliament to have enacted Standing Orders providing for such a process.”

Mudenda said Parliament therefore relied on existing parliamentary practice to conduct the consultation.

On August 18, he said he read Mnangagwa’s letter to the National Assembly, announced the names of the 10 proposed Senators and asked whether there was any debate on the matter.

“No one rose to debate the appointment of the proposed ten Senators.”

He then put the question to the House on whether the 10 proposed Senators should be recommended for appointment.

“The House was then divided by acclamation. Those in support of the motion were to acclaim “Ayes” and those against were to acclaim “Noes”. Those who said “Ayes” were the loudest.”

Mudenda said those supporting the appointments were in the majority and the 10 proposed Senators were subsequently recommended for appointment.

“The aforesaid ten Senators were thus recommended for appointment to the Senate by the National Assembly.”

He rejected the applicants’ argument that the Hansard record did not demonstrate that Parliament had properly considered the appointments, saying it did not capture the full sequence of events.

“The Hansard extract of the National Assembly of 18 August 2026, as referred to by the applicant, does not reflect the full set of facts and events that transpired in the National Assembly.”

Mudenda relied on Standing Order 215, which gives the presiding officer discretion where the Standing Orders do not provide for a particular matter.

“The procedure employed to consult the National Assembly, namely, putting the question to the House as to whether the National Assembly recommended the appointment of the ten Senators, was grounded in the relevant general parliamentary practice in Zimbabwe and in various Commonwealth jurisdictions.”

He said no Member of Parliament had requested that the matter be debated and argued that the absence of an objection amounted to unanimous concurrence.

“No Member of the National Assembly requested or sought that the matter be debated.”

Mudenda further maintained that MPs had two opportunities to express their views on the proposed appointments — when he asked whether there was a debate and when the House was divided through acclamation.

“Members of the National Assembly were afforded two distinct opportunities to voice their opinions.”

He said the consultation did not mean that the President was bound by Parliament’s recommendation.

“The National Assembly was indeed consulted. However, even in the applicant’s case, the recommendation and consultative processes of the National Assembly do not bind the President.”

Mudenda argued that the final decision to appoint the 10 Senators remained the President’s prerogative.

“It remains the prerogative of the President to appoint ten Senators on the basis of their competencies and professional skills.”

He also argued that courts should be cautious about interfering in Parliament’s internal affairs.

“This exercise of absolute discretion that Parliament is given in Standing Order 215, is an absolute discretion which is generally not lightly interfered with by a Court.”

Mudenda said Parliament had acted lawfully in devising the consultation procedure.

“From Parliament’s side, all the procedures were lawfully done.”

He dismissed concerns about the competencies and professional skills of the 10 proposed Senators, saying such issues could have been raised during parliamentary debate.

“The issues referred to by the applicant as to the competencies and professional skills of the ten proposed Senators, are issues ought to have been raised and debated if any Member of the National Assembly had requested a debate.”

He further argued that the consultation was between the President and the National Assembly and did not extend to the general public.

“The consultation process by the President is restricted to the National Assembly and not the general public.”

Mudenda is asking the Constitutional Court to dismiss the application, maintaining that Parliament followed established parliamentary practice when it considered the President’s proposed appointments.

“The process of consulting the National Asembly was done lawfully in line with parliamentary practice and in line with the procedure of unanimous occurence.”

“in the circumstances, the court is invited to dismiss this application.”

Source: Mudenda defends process used to approve Mnangagwa’s 10 Senate appointments — CITEZW

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Press Statement by Senator Jameson Timba – 12 September 2026

Bulawayo has a serious problem. The Ngozi Mine dumpsite, also called Richmond Landfill, is burning and producing smoke that is choking residents in Cowdray Park, Emakhandeni and Luveve. People need a clean and quick solution. But the way Government is now handling it raises big questions. What happened? Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe went to Bulawayo and gave the City Council one week to sign an agreement with Geo Pomona Waste Management. He said Government has already decided that Geo Pomona will do the work. There is no need for another competition. edf6 The Minister said Cabinet made the decision and Bulawayo has “no authority whatsoever to resist a Cabinet decision.” He said if Council refuses, central Government will still go ahead.

This follows President Mnangagwa’s directive to urgently end the Ngozi Mine pollution crisis. 3e62 Why is this a problem? Senator Timba says: 1. It breaks the Constitution. The Constitution, Sections 264, 265 and 276, says we have devolution. Local Government must be allowed to run local affairs on its own. Waste management is a local job. Cabinet can make national policy, but it cannot just choose a private company and force an elected Council to accept it. 2. It breaks procurement rules. Bulawayo had already called for companies to show interest.

Several companies applied. That process was stopped because ZIDA said a feasibility study was needed first. Now Government says skip ZIDA and just take Geo Pomona. How can a feasibility study be honest if the contractor is already chosen? 3. Conflict of interest. Dr Dilesh Nguwaya is both Executive Chairman and CEO of Geo Pomona AND Special Advisor to the President on Waste Management. His job as Advisor includes advising on waste policy and public-private partnerships. 73d9 So we must ask:

– Where does the Advisor end and the businessman begin?
– Did Dr Nguwaya advise Cabinet or the President to take the Geo Pomona model to all cities?
– Was he part of the Bulawayo decision?
– Did he declare his business interest and step aside from decisions that benefit his own company? These are not accusations of corruption. They are questions about transparency and honesty. It is also worrying that the Minister came to Bulawayo accompanied by the Presidential Advisor whose company was then presented as the company the City must accept. What Government must do now: Senator Timba says Government must:
1. Publish the Cabinet decision that chose Geo Pomona for Bulawayo.
2. Show the law that allows Government to force a contractor on Bulawayo.
3. Show the procurement process and how much this will cost the people.
4. Publish any declaration of interest or recusal by the Presidential Advisor. Saying Geo Pomona is “tried and tested” cannot replace lawful procurement and value for money. Bulawayo needs Ngozi Mine to be fixed. But residents also deserve constitutional rule, transparency, value for money, and respect for their elected Council. “Cabinet decided” is not a substitute for the law. Three simple questions Government must answer: Who chose Geo Pomona? Under what law? And what safeguards separated the President’s Advisor from the commercial interests of the company he leads?

Senator Jameson Timba, Convenor: DCP

Source: Who chose Geo Pomona for Bulawayo – and under what law?

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HARARE – Dorowa Minerals paid about US$1.4 million for specialised equipment that was never delivered, lawmakers heard Thursday, as parliament raised broader concerns over procurement and corporate governance in Zimbabwe’s state-controlled fertiliser industry.

During debate on a Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce report on the fertiliser value chain, lawmakers said Dorowa – the government-owned producer of phosphate concentrate used in fertiliser production – bought specialised pumps from South Africa for US$1.4 million but the equipment had not been delivered because of what management described as contractual disputes.

“At Dorowa, about US$1.4 million was paid for equipment which was never delivered,” Zanu PF Hurungwe East legislator Chenjerai Kangausaru told the National Assembly.

He said the government needed to strengthen accountability around rehabilitation of state-owned fertiliser companies.

“The government must pay local fertiliser suppliers on time while all major rehabilitation projects should have strong controls, independent audits and clear responsibility for delays or losses,” Kangausaru said.

The committee heard that Dorowa, which supplies phosphate used in fertiliser production, operated at only about 20 percent capacity between 2016 and 2024 before stopping production in 2025. ZimPhos was reported to be operating at about 5 percent capacity.

Mbizo legislator Corban Madzivanyika gave parliament a more detailed account of the Dorowa transaction, saying the company bought specialised pumps from South Africa but lawmakers were not given a clear explanation for why they had not been delivered.

“In Dorowa, they came and purchased what is called specialised plants or pumps from South Africa for US$1.4 million. We were told that the pumps were not delivered. What is the reason? We were told that there were some contractual disputes but we were not told what the disputes were,” he said.

“We were just told that there were contractual disputes and the pumps amounting to US$1.4 million have not yet been delivered.”

Madzivanyika alleged links between suppliers and company officials, saying parliament had uncovered deeper governance concerns during its investigation.

“If you look at the suppliers, they are the same people who came out of the scramble. They are related to management.

“They are related to the directors. It is so worrying because Dorowa went on again to buy new pumps. So, the US$1.4 million just went down the drain like that. It disappeared.”

The Hansard does not record a response from Dorowa, Chemplex or Mutapa Investment Fund to the allegations during Thursday’s debate.

Lawmakers also questioned another Dorowa procurement involving construction of a magnetite storage shed.

Madzivanyika said Dorowa contracted KowaZim Private Limited to build the structure for US$110,000 and paid the amount in full.

“What happened? KowaZim tried to construct this magnetite shed and it collapsed three times. What kind of decadence! It means you employed someone who does not have an idea of constructing a magnetite shed. Three times is not a joke,” he said.

He said the company was subsequently given another opportunity and paid an additional US$55,000.

“They paid again. How much did they pay? For your information they paid another USD55 000 to KowaZim Investments. It did not end there. It failed again to construct that magnetite shed.”

Madzivanyika said another contract worth US$71,000 was later proposed before senior Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe officials intervened.

“My question is, how can a normal director award a tender to a company which was unable to construct it three times? They draw another contract again. That level of corruption, I think it has taken us so far. I think as a Government, we need to raise our voice on this very important issue.”

Parliament also heard concerns about procurement at ZimPhos.

Madzivanyika said the company purchased a granulator for US$1.7 million and required another US$1.3 million for installation.

He contrasted that with private fertiliser producer Nutrimaster, which he said bought and installed a similar granulator for US$1.2 million.

“Zimphos bought a granulator for US$1.7 million and they say they want a further US$1.3 million to install that granulator at Zimphos,” Madzivanyika said.

“But when we went to Nutrimaster, Madam Speaker, Nutrimaster bought its own granulator and installation at US$1.2 million but at Zimphos, Zimphos bought it at US$1.7 million. It requires an additional US$1.3 million for installation. What a kind of absentee. It means there is an absolute fraud.”

He also alleged serious governance problems across government-controlled companies in the fertiliser value chain, saying some directors sat on multiple boards.

“The biggest problem that we have is not the resources Madam Speaker but the corporate governance malpractice and outright corruption,” Madzivanyika said.

Zanu PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi backed calls for action, saying Parliament should recommend that boards overseeing parts of the fertiliser value chain be dissolved.

“What has touched me is the corporate governance structure where same people are found everywhere in the value chain. How objective, how efficient can they be if they know that they will be the people who will pocket the money?” Togarepi said.

“I think all these boards, as Parliament, we must recommend that they be dissolved.”

The concerns come as Zimbabwe continues to spend heavily on fertiliser imports despite having substantial domestic production capacity.

Parliament was told Zimbabwe spent about US$2.11 billion on fertiliser imports between 2018 and 2024 despite installed production capacity of about 2 million tonnes a year against national demand of about 780,000 tonnes.

“The message from this report is clear, Zimbabwe has the resources and the factories, but we are failing to turn it into production,” Kangausaru said.

Source: US$1.4m Dorowa pumps never delivered as MPs allege procurement rot – Zimbabwe News Now

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