THE late celebrated Zanla war commander Josiah Tongogara was killed by elements linked to former President Robert Mugabe for “openly” supporting his then PF-Zapu arch-nemesis Joshua Nkomo to lead the Patriotic Front (PF), opposition Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa has claimed.

• Tongogara Was Murdered For Speaking Against Mugabe : Dabengwa

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

According to Dabengwa, Tongogara’s crime was his decision to openly support Nkomo’s candidature as Patriotic Front leader ahead of Mugabe after the two liberation war movements had principally agreed to contest the 1980 polls as one unit.

“That was one (when asked about murder linked to integration of forces) and secondly because he had almost openly said it during the Lancaster House discussions that as far as he was concerned, Nkomo should be the leader of the PF because Nkomo is a natural leader who has got the experience and who has got the focus whereas as far as he was concerned Mugabe was good only for administration and that that’s the position he should occupy, probably as secretary-general of the PF
“Those were Tongo’s views and unfortunately he said them out during informal discussions with other people at Lancaster House but he was direct, he said it to me. And he was very clear,” Dabengwa said.

Tongogara died in a mysterious car accident in Mozambique on December 26, 1979 while driving back home at the end of the liberation war. Mugabe pulled Zanu out of the PF on the eve of the elections and went on to form the first independence government in Zimbabwe after a slender majority victory.

Dabengwa said Tongogara’s death was not a normal accident.

“We came back in 1980 and unfortunately Tongogara was killed in that so-called accident. I really do not want to believe it was an accident. I think it was deliberate,” he said.

“The whole structure of the PF had been created and what remained was to name the people, the individuals that would fit into the different posts and when they tried to do it during the Lancaster House talks in the United Kingdom, some people like (the late) Enos Nkala were strongly opposed to it and said it must be left, that decision will be taken at home,” Dabengwa said.

Dabengwa added that efforts to bring the two liberation parties together hit a brick-wall with Mugabe’s supporters in the military particularly “dodgy.”

“That already complicated our integration process and we saw it, but we were busy with the ceasefire arrangement and each time we tried to discuss this issue with (the late commander Solomon) Mujuru and (Vitalis) Zvinavashe and so on, they were dodgy.

“When we tried to say to them that this is what we have decided on with Tongogara in London… they dodged the whole issue until after the elections and the results were known,” he said.

Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga in December last year hinted Tongogara may have been murdered, but did not say much.

Besides declaring him a national hero, Mugabe never really honoured Tongogara during his 37-year reign, but his successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently renamed the country’s biggest military garrison, KGV1 after the revered nationalist.

Zapu president and former cabinet minister Dumiso Dabengwa has that he believes that Zanu wartime commander Josiah Tongogara was killed by his own colleagues because he spoke out against former President Robert Mugabe. Said Dabengwa,

He had almost openly said it. That he believed (late Vice President Joshua) Nkomo was a natural leader and had the focus while Mugabe would only be good as an administrator maybe secretary general of the Patriotic Front. Unfortunately, he said it out in informal discussions with other people. He said it would be a total disaster and told me he was not saying it to please anyone but that is what he believed.

He was angry when it was decided that the issue would be settled when we arrive home from London (during Lancaster House negotiations). He wanted the issue settled there because all stakeholders including the military were represented.

More: New Zimbabwe

Harare High Court judge Justice Emy Tsanga dismissed an application for leave to appeal at the Supreme Court by Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder Walter Magaya who is challenging the decision to continue prosecuting him for allegedly raping a congregant.

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Through his lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu, Magaya filed an application at the Harare High Court challenging the State’s decision to continue with his prosecution after the complainant Petronellah Donhodzo Mandaza’s confession that she had filed a false rape report against him. Mandaza has since sued Prosecutor-General Ray Goba at the High Court challenging the State’s decision to summon her, arguing she is no longer a complainant. In her ruling Justice Tsanga said Magaya’s application lacks merit. She said conducting the trial, which started on April 3 this year is within the dictates of the constitution. Said Justice Tsanga:

The application for leave to appeal lacks merit. The legal provisions and procedures laid out in the Criminal Evidence and Procedure Act on the conduct of a criminal trial do not in any way interfere with the accused’s right to a fair trial,” she said. The judge said there was nothing unconstitutional about the State proceeding with the trial on the basis of a reasonable suspicion that a crime had been committed.

In his application, Magaya wanted the court to acquit him on the grounds of the confession made by Mandaza under oath. He argued that the State had no basis to continue with the trial, saying it was unconstitutional under the circumstances.

More: Chronicle

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is 100 percent sure of victory in next month’s election otherwise he would have not have the elections, Stanley Goreraza, the former husband of Zimbabwe’s former First Lady Grace Mugabe, said.

“I’ll repeat what I have said many times; Emmerson Mnangagwa will never go for an election without strong assurances from the Intelligence Services that he is without doubt going to definitively win that election,” he said on his facebook page.

“They don’t give him a ‘maybe, maybe not’! They give him an affirmative ‘yes’,” he said.

Goreraza is the father of Russell, Grace Mugabe’s eldest son, and was an Air Force of Zimbabwe officer before he went to China to study after which he was appointed Zimbabwe’s Defence attaché to China.

Goreraza has supported Movement for Democratic Change Alliance Nelson Chamisa before, so it is not clear why he is behind Mnangagwa now.

He did support Mnangagwa in his early days as President, however.

“As with previous elections, the opposition measures (its) chances through crowds, attendance at rallies and social media chatter. 2013 proved that the whole country can attend an opposition rally, shout slogans, and the opposition will still lose the election,” Goreraza wrote.

“How this actually happens no one knows. The opposition loves a big crowd. But big crowds don’t win elections and how do we know this, #2013!!”

The opposition claims that the 2013 elections were stolen and is currently battling it out with Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chief Priscillah Chigumba for failing to provide them the voters’ roll.

Chamisa’s presidential election agent Jameson Timba today said the opposition might boycott the elections if Chigumba continues with her arrogance.

With more than 23 parties contesting the elections, it is not clear whether the boycott would succeed or not, though the MDC Alliance is the main contender.-Insider

Sharon Mawedze, the wife of the Harare man who allegedly assaulted Star FM presenter Spencer Banda contradicted her husband Michael Mawedze’s testimony in court. Mawedze, 41, appeared before Harare Magistrate Amanda Muridzo facing a charge of assault after he allegedly assaulted Banda in May accusing him of having an illicit love affair with his wife. Michael denied the charges and claimed that he had not been part of the assault.  He claimed that he never laid a finger on Banda and instead claimed that his friends were the ones who assaulted the sports presenter. However, Sharon contradicted his testimony and insisted that he was actually the one who had assaulted Banda and stripped him naked.

Sharon also corroborated Banda’s claim that on the day of the assault he had come to pick up socks for his rugby team.

The case is still ongoing.

More: New Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean former president Robert Mugabe was reportedly “rushed” out of the country after his health “suddenly deteriorated” two weeks ago.

The privately-owned NewsDay quoted a highly placed source as confirming that the veteran politician was flown to Singapore for medical check-ups.

“He (Mugabe) slipped out of the country two weeks ago after his blood pressure suddenly rose to dangerous levels. He also had trouble with his eye which previously has been diagnosed with a cataract,” the source was cited as saying.

Mugabe, who was ousted from power in November, has in recent years made several trips to Singapore, a popular tourism destination, for undisclosed medical reasons.

In December 2017, he was spotted leaving a lift in Gleneagles Hospital in downtown Singapore, accompanied by at least eight people, according to AFP.

Mugabe ruled the southern African country with an iron fist for 37 years.

The nonagenarian has not made any public appearance since his press conference where he claimed that he was ousted by a coup.

HARARE – As the clock ticks towards next month’s elections, main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has sensationally claimed that rivals were pulling everything out of their bags of tricks to deny his MDC Alliance victory at the forthcoming polls, including attempts on his life.

The MDC Alliance presidential candidate made the claims while addressing party supporters in the resort town of Victoria Falls at the weekend.

Chamisa claimed to have gathered intelligence to the effect that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has put together a team of security agents to snoop on him ahead of the crunch elections slated for July 30 and could not rule out that their brief included taking his life.

“I hear they have set up teams that are following me but they won’t succeed in their mission because I have an angelic ark that is around me, so these earthly attempts will fail even if they want to kill me,” said the 40-year-old presidential hopeful.

The former ICT minister said he will not be afraid to travel around the country on his own, adding that even if he becomes president of the republic he will surround himself with a few bodyguards.

“The president should not be guarded by soldiers at all; so I will not be crowded by soldiers because a leader must be accessible to the people — not to move around with soldiers and a huge motorcade,” said Chamisa.

“The motorcade must be reasonably small with the leader guarded by a few people who travel with him like what other leaders in the region do such as (Ian) Khama of Botswana and the late (Nelson) Mandela (of South Africa). Why do people need such motorcades as if they will take that into their graves?” he asked.

Mnangagwa’s administration dismissed his claims yesterday, saying Chamisa’s assertions were unfounded and out of step with Mnangagwa’s repeated calls for free and fair elections.

“The fears being expressed are unfounded especially when one considers the fact that the president has opened up political space and Chamisa is having a free rein, campaigning anywhere, anytime,” Home Affairs minister Obert Mpofu told the Daily News yesterday.

“There is really no reason why we should be asking security services to pry on opposition parties and their leaders because they are not a national security threat,” he added.

Despite Mpofu pouring cold water on Chamisa’s claims, the MDC Alliance leader’s spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda, insisted yesterday that his boss’ fears were genuine.

“It is irresponsible to think that the fears are not genuine given that MDC leaders including the (party’s) president have been harmed before by the State hence there cannot be delusion over the possibility of being harmed. The fears are existential; there is no second guessing so we care about his security on account of precedence so anything is possible ,” Sibanda said.

Since the formation of the MDC in 1999, its leader, including the party’s late founding president, Morgan Tsvangirai, have always complained that State security agents, particularly from the Central Intelligence Organisation, routinely target them.

Tsvangirai and Chamisa were among opposition leaders who were physically assaulted by suspected State security agents at the behest of kingpins in former president Robert Mugabe’s regime.

While Tsvangirai was assaulted by police in 2007 after a prayer meeting in Harare, Chamisa was left for dead after suspected State security agents pounced on him at the Robert Mugabe International Airport — then the Harare International Airport — as he prepared to leave for Belgium.

Mugabe’s regime was also notorious for fabricating criminal allegations against key members of the opposition to distract them from campaigning.

Last year, there were report about government agents prying into the movements of Tsvangirai’s wife, Elizabeth, in a bid to extract dirt they could use to side track her husband’s campaign.

Of particular interests to spy agents was Elizabeth’s trip to Sydney, Australia. It was suspected at the time that Elizabeth could have abandoned Tsvangirai who was receiving treatment in South Africa and that the mother of two was still seeing one of her ex-husbands.

Tsvangirai wed Elizabeth (nee Macheka) in September 2012.

Before her marriage to the former prime minister, Elizabeth bore two daughters from her previous marriages — Rumbidzaishe Sharon Guma and Tashinga Ngirazi.-Dailynews

Harare – Four Zimbabwe opposition activists were found dead near Harare on Thursday ahead of next week’s presidential election, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change said, blaming the deaths on the ruling party. The four MDC youth members were abducted on Tuesday and their bodies were discovered in various locations southeast of Harare, said party spokesman Nelson Chamisa. Chamisa said the MDC suspected they had been beaten to death by Zanu PF youth supporters. “Now it’s about 70 we’ve lost,” Chamisa said, referring to the number of opposition supporters killed since the first round of the election on March 29. Zimbabwe police have also arrested one newly elected opposition lawmaker and placed six others on a wanted list, state media said Thursday, amid signs of a crackdown ahead of next week’s presidential election.

Shuwa Mudiwa, who won his seat for the Movement for Democratic Change IN March elections, was arrested on Wednesday for the alleged kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl earlier this month, the Herald newspaper reported. “He was arrested this afternoon in Harare and is still in custody. He will appear in court soon,” police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told the government mouthpiece. The six other newly-elected MPs are wanted on accusations of murder, public violence and malicious damage to property. Meanwhile, 11 suspected MDC activists, aged between 22 and 43 years, were arrested in the northern town of Chinhoyi on Wednesday for allegedly removing and defacing President Robert Mugabe’s campaign posters, the paper said. The MDC has warned of a crackdown ahead of the vote, with its number two leader Tendai Biti facing a treason charge and being held in prison.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who faces Mugabe in the June 27 run-off, has been detained five times as he has sought to campaign. Mugabe blames the opposition for mounting violence before the election and has threatened to arrest the MDC leadership. The UN has said that the president’s supporters were to blame for the bulk of the violence. Tsvangirai has said 66 MDC supporters have been killed in the lead up to the vote in a campaign of intimidation. Mugabe’s ruling party lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence in 1980 in the March 29 first round poll.-AFP

OPPOSITION MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa (pictured) has vowed to “do everything possible” to force the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to reverse its decision to accept his arch-nemesis Thokozani Khupe’s nomination papers to contest the July 30 general elections under the MDC-T banner.

Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda, yesterday accused Zec of playing political games using Khupe in a sinister attempt to “confuse the people”.

• Video: MDC-T Chamisa Loyalists Chant “hure hure” At Khupe After Supreme Court Ruling
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“Zec acted illegally. They violated Chapter 26 and, in particular, Section 10 of the Electoral Act. The commission should not have accepted Khupe’s papers with the same symbol under the banner of the MDC-T because we had submitted our papers first. In this case, the referee is not fair and we have a firm belief that they are biased or they are deliberately out to cause confusion within the electorate,” Sibanda said.

He added: “If indeed Zec was fair and wanted to play an impartial arbiter, they should have asked Khupe to demand her right to the symbol through the courts. The president (Chamisa) will challenge this and cause Zec to follow the law. We will force Zec to reverse this decision.”

Chamisa and Khupe have a pending court case where they are fighting over use of the MDC-T party symbols.

But, Zec chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana said he was unaware of Chamisa’s complaint and would need to study the symbols first.

“I am not aware of their complaint. I am not sure if they have written to us, but I would also need to study the symbols for me to comment,” he said.

According to Sibanda, the MDC Alliance completed its processes with the nomination court on June 12 and duly paid its nomination fees the following day.

“Effectively we were registered and Zec should not have accepted Khupe’s nomination papers bearing a symbol that is similar or resembles ours. Khupe’s election agents only registered with Zec on the day of the nomination court, hours after we had already been confirmed as duly nominated.”

Chamisa’s MDC Alliance uses an open palm with the youthful opposition leader’s face in the middle, while Khupe has adopted the same open palm symbol, but with the picture of a child in the middle.

Section 46 (10) of the Electoral Act says: “Subject to subsections (8) and (9), the nomination officer in open court shall reject any nomination paper lodged with him or her at any time — (a) if he or she considers that any symbol or abbreviation specified therein in terms of paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1) — (iii) so closely resembles — A. The symbol of any other candidate contesting the election in the constituency concerned; or B. The recognised symbol or abbreviation of any political party, other than the political party, if any, for which the candidate concerned is standing or which is sponsoring him or her; as to be likely to cause confusion.”

But Khupe’s deputy Obert Gutu described Chamisa’s claims as “hogwash.”

“It’s absolute nonsense. Our symbol was not registered with Zec on the day of the nomination court, but months ago. These people are on a wild goose chase trying to stop us, but we are on solid legal ground. Whatever we have done is above board and Zec is headed by a respected judge of the High Court [Justice Priscilla Chigumba].
“They have tried to go to court to stop us but have failed. They will fail again,” Gutu said.-Newsday

ZAPU president Dr Dumiso Dabengwa has said his party is backing the candidature of MDC Alliance president Mr Nelson Chamisa in the forthcoming election.

Dr Dabengwa said Zapu and the MDC Alliance had signed a Memorandum of Political Co-operation Agreement that saw his party not fielding a presidential candidate and backing Mr Chamisa.

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The Zapu president said the decision comes after efforts to forge a Grand National Coalition failed due to competition to land the presidential candidate post.

“A united front of opposition parties has failed mainly because of competition for the top post of presidential candidate, yet it’s essential to enhance the capacity of one of the opposition leaders to take over the country’s presidency.

“My party is therefore throwing its weight behind Chamisa as the presidential candidate in the 2018 elections, for which I’m not standing,” said Dr Dabengwa.

“This is consistent with the line we have taken that personal egos and vanity should not be allowed to prevent us from crafting a combination capable of bringing about a democratic transition essential for peace, security, economic reconstruction and development. Zimbabweans deserve this, both current and future generations.”

He said in terms of the agreement, the two parties remain autonomous and Zapu will continue to campaign for its candidates.

Dr Dabengwa said the two parties will ensure that they do not compete against each other in some parliamentary seats.

“In addition, the MDC Alliance will reserve some agreed slots for Zapu among those chosen to be on the basis of proportional representation.

“For my part I’ll actively support the candidacy of Nelson Chamisa and be at hand to support if he wins the presidential contest, as I earnestly hope. Our candidates too will include in their campaigns the party’s commitments to co-operation agreement and the presidency of Chamisa,” he said.

In April, Dr Dabengwa was endorsed by Zapu members as the opposition party’s presidential candidate after cutting ties with the Coalition of Democrats (Code) – a coalition of opposition parties.

Former MDC-T senior member and Energy Minister during the inclusive government from 2009 to 2013, Mr Elton Mangoma is the Code presidential candidate.

President Mnangagwa yesterday took Chegutu food lovers by surprise when he unexpectedly joined the queue in a fast-food outlet, bought his lunch and even tipped a cashier. The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is now famous for his accessibility.

For instance, he has done away with the habit of hiring a marquee for official engagements, opting instead for modest tents just to shed VVIPS.

He also uses his escort vehicles to accommodate photojournalists and walks about to greet the crowd during rallies.
Yesterday afternoon he brought Chegutu to a standstill after he commandeered his full motorcade to Chicken Inn in the city centre.

Hundreds jostled to capture the rare moment on their smartphones and they recorded the scene free of any interference from Presidential security details.

President Mnangagwa, who is widely tipped to win the July 30 elections by a wide margin, has left many convinced that Zimbabwe is now witnessing a different political game to that of former president Mr Mugabe, who maintained a buffer zone between himself and the people.

Isabel Mtongerwa, the Chicken Inn cashier who served the President could not believe that she met him face-to-face.
“I could not believe that I was serving the President,” she said.

“It has never happened in my life and somehow he proved to be worthy of my vote.
“He ordered a two-piecer and a minute maid, paid $3,75 with US$20 and told me to keep the change. He is very welcoming and makes you feel comfortable in his presence.”

Management at Chegutu Chicken Inn could not believe a rare visit by the number one citizen.
The food outlet’s manager Mr Peter Mutate said as an organisation, they felt honoured to serve the President.
“We can describe him as an amazing man, very friendly and free to interact with,” he said.

“In other words, he is a people’s person. Some of our staff members felt free to greet him. At the end of the visit, many people were left convinced that indeed the country is now witnessing a different political game.”

One food lover at Chicken Inn, Mr Lovejoy Ngondo, said: “We have seen for the first time that this is a real President who is human like us. He eats Chicken Inn like us. At least he lives the same way we do. We can trust him with our lives.”
Many who spoke to The Herald said after walking side by side with the President on his way to and from the food outlet it was now clear that Zimbabwe was witnessing a new political dispensation where leaders are closer to the people.-Herald

Former president Robert Mugabe is ready to endorse MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa ahead of the July 30 elections as prospects of him reconciling with his successor President Emmerson Mnangagwa continue to diminish, it has been revealed.

According to multiple sources, Mugabe recently sent emissaries to Chamisa seeking dialogue ahead of the polls and indicated that he was willing to back the leading opposition candidate because he was not happy with the treatment he was receiving from Mnangagwa’s government.

Mugabe revealed in March that he would back the National Patriotic Front (NPF), a party formed by former Zanu PF members who were not happy with the coup that toppled the 94-year-old ruler in November last year.

The NPF has been negotiating a coalition with the MDC Alliance, but the talks suffered a severe blow last week after the Chamisa- led group allegedly reneged on its promise to give the Mugabe-linked party a significant number of constituencies.

“Mugabe sent two prominent clerics with a message that he was willing to assist Chamisa gain an electoral advantage over Mnangagwa in the forthcoming elections. He says he is prepared to endorse Chamisa,” said a source. “He is mainly concerned about the future of his family and says he believes Chamisa has the potential to become the next president.”

Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda yesterday said he was not aware of Mugabe’s alleged overtures.

“If there are any such moves, I am sure (Chamisa) has not dealt with the matter,” he said. “He will consider the invitation to meet the former president on merit. He will not respond to the media before responding to the person who invited him.”

Mugabe’s alleged manoeuvres are said to have unsettled Zanu PF, which is said to have reached out to former South African president Jacob Zuma, who reportedly contacted Chamisa last week.

Zuma allegedly revealed that vice-president Constantino Chiwenga had indicated that Zanu PF was not happy about Mugabe and his wife Grace’s alleged support for the opposition.

Zuma’s alleged intervention is said to have led to the collapse of the coalition talks between the MDC Alliance and NPF, which happened on the eve of the sitting of the nomination court.

The call is alleged to have triggered the last-minute collapse of alliance negotiations between Mugabe’s outfit and the MDC Alliance.

One of the MDC Alliance principals, Welshman Ncube, yesterday said allegations that Zuma contacted the Alliance leaders were false. He said he was also not aware of reports that Mugabe had sent emissaries to Chamisa concerning the elections.

“It is completely false that President Zuma called,” he said. “I have no knowledge of Mugabe seeking a meeting.

“I was not involved in the talks nor was I briefed on the collapse (of the talks) between the NPF and MDC Alliance.”

Information minister Simon Khaya Moyo said he was not aware of any contact between Chiwenga and Zuma, but said the statements being attributed to the VP could not be true because he was “a man of integrity”.

Sibanda said he was not authorised to comment about any contact between Chamisa and Zuma if it happened.

“The president has not cleared anyone to discuss that. Those were high-level talks and they affect international relations and, therefore, only the president can comment on that,” he said.

Sibanda said there was never any talks between the MDC Alliance and the Mugabe-backed party.

“There were never talks with the NPF, contrary to suggestions by the NPF that there were some negotiations that collapsed. As far as the MDC Alliance is concerned, there were no negotiations at all,” he said.

“President Chamisa said such a coalition would not be in the best interest of the country. Major coalition partners never got to an agreement about an alliance with the NPF.”

However, NPF spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire insisted that there were negotiations between the two groups.

“Sibanda has been recently appointed Chamisa’s spokesperson, not the MDC’s spokesperson. He might not be aware that there have been some bilateral talks between the two parties,” he said.

“Those talks, as far as I know, centred on a pre and post-election pact and teams from both parties met in South Africa and in Zimbabwe. As we speak, there are still some ongoing consultations.”

Mnangagwa faces a stiff challenge from Chamisa in a poll that will be contested by a record 23 candidates.-Standard

MDC Alliance presidential candidate Mr Nelson Chamisa and a group of his party’s aspiring council candidates for Hwange Local Board and Hwange Central MP Fortune Mguni fell on the podium at a rally in Hwange this afternoon.

Mr Chamisa, who had just finished addressing his party’s supporters at Hwange Old Grounds in Number 1, joked about the incident saying the fall symbolised how Zanu-PF will collapse at the hands of the MDC Alliance during the forthcoming elections.“

This is how Zanu-PF will fall in the election,” he briefly said amid laughter by his supporters.
After giving his speech, Mr Chamisa invited the aspiring councilors and MP designate Mr Mguni to join him on the stage so he could introduce them to the crowd.

The Wankie coal mine disaster took place on 6 June 1972 when a series of underground explosions occurred at the Wankie No.2 colliery in Rhodesia. With 426 fatalities, it remains the deadliest mine accident to date in the country’s history

The 43-year-old African roots musician, sculptor and businessman believes his stay in various countries over 16 years has moulded him into the man fit for Zimbabwe’s top political job.
Of the 23 Presidential candidates, he is the only independent runner.

Rhumba maestro Koffi Olomide’s new music project has to wait, because his recording partner Bryn Taurai Mteki has weightier issues to attend to: he wants to become President of Zimbabwe.

From penning songs for the eight-track album, which also features colourful businessman-cum-politician Dr Philip Chiyangwa, Mteki is writing the inauguration speech he hopes he will read after the July 30 elections.

Known as Sekuru Tau, Mteki shot to stardom for his song “Nora”, a duet with then Zanu-PF National Political Commissar, Cde Elliot Manyika, one of the melodies to which the Land Reform Programme danced.

Last week, he was back in the limelight.

He surprised many by filing papers to stand in the Presidential election race; and surprised even more by saying he was heading straight home and would not be on the campaign trail.

Mteki says he has an ace up his sleeve – but he will not reveal it just yet.

The Sunday Mail visited him at his recording studio in Harare on Friday.

“Sekuru Tau has a strategy. But I am not going to reveal that strategy; I will not tell my winning strategy to opponents.

“There is no way Barcelona will disclose its strategy to Real Madrid.

“But I can tell you, you are looking at the next President of Zimbabwe.”

Huge gold studs on the ears stylistically match his gold-tinted beard, and four thick dreadlocks are striking features of this aspiring President.

Mteki says people convinced him to go for the Presidency.

“I did not impose myself on people, but it is the people that want me and I have overwhelming support all over Zimbabwe,” he continues.

“I successfully filed my nomination papers that only should tell you that I have support.

“People might think I am joking, but this job is too big for someone to joke around with it.

“I was supposed to be preparing for a tour for my album due in this August, which I recorded with Koffi Olomide and Philip Chiyangwa – although I do not see myself dancing on the stage when I become President,” he chuckles.

The 43-year-old African roots musician, sculptor and businessman believes his stay in various countries over 16 years has moulded him into the man fit for Zimbabwe’s top political job.

Of the 23 Presidential candidates, he is the only independent runner.

In 2004 he pulled out of Zanu-PF’s primary elections, where he was up against Cde Joseph Chinotimba, at the 11 th hour.

“Most people think I am doing this because I was bought by some political parties to divide the vote, but the truth is I am being driven by the love of my country,” he says.

“I am a proud Zimbabwean, and when I sang ‘Nora’, I was being patriotic, nothing else.

“I remember some time back, I met the late Morgan Tsvangirai and Nelson Chamisa at OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa and we danced to the song.

“What I am saying is I do not belong to any political party.

“I belong to the people of Zimbabwe. Once I get into power, Zimbabwe will be a better country. That I promise.”

Will his look change?

Mteki says a President should be elected based on the feasibility and viability of ideas and proposed policies – not appearance.

“What is wrong with the way I look?” he asks back with a look of surprise.

“It is the ideas, the proposed policies that matter.

“I want Zimbabweans to have a better life, and it is all that matters.”

Mteki commends President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for opening political and democratic space.

“It is a democracy that embraces everyone, even the Sekuru Taus of this world can now join politics,” he says as he prepares to leave for his next meeting.

“I am planning to use the road that passes through State House, so that by August I will be accustomed to it,” he says, before breaking into laughter and heading to the door.

Zanu-PF has taken an early lead in the 2018 harmonised elections after some of the party’s candidates submitted nomination papers unopposed.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Matabeleland South provincial election officer Mr Rabson Nyoni said four Zanu-PF council candidates in the province submitted their papers unopposed and will, according to the Electoral Act, be declared duly elected councillors as of July 30, 2018.

Cde Sibongile Chauke was unopposed in Beitbridge Rural District Council Ward 13, while in Matobo North constituency, Cdes Tobias Sibanda, Thomas Ncube and Paul Ncube sailed through unopposed in Wards 22, 23 and 24 respectively.

“It means with effect from 30 July they will be duly elected councillors, according to the law. For now, they remain just candidates,” said Mr Nyoni.

Zanu-PF has all but secured a National Assembly seat too, after the MDC Alliance, touted by pundits as the closest thing to a challenger to the ruling party, failed to find a candidate to compete against Cde Farai Taruvinga in Insiza North.

In an interview, Cde Taruvinga said: “We have already begun meeting our obligations as a party. It is all evident in our work. The people are happy and thus we are confident they will make the right choice when the time to vote comes.

“They (MDC Alliance) fumbled a lot and couldn’t field a candidate. Their factional fights show that they are not united and this is why they even failed to have a candidate contesting. Even in their presence . . .  I felt no threat as I know that the people of our constituency will rally behind us. Now is the time to work and rebuild our country. Together we can, divided we fall.”

The MDC Alliance, led by Mr Nelson Chamisa, fielded more than one candidate in some constituencies and wards.

This was because Mr Chamisa reportedly imposed candidates in constituencies that had been reserved for his alliance partners.

Preliminary figures from ZEC show that a record number of candidates will contest the forthcoming harmonised elections.

More than 200 National Assembly candidates successfully filed their nomination papers for the 12 constituencies in Bulawayo Province, translating to an average of 18 candidates per constituency.

ZEC Bulawayo provincial elections officer Mr Innocent Ncube said while the verification process to come up with the final list was ongoing, indications were that the figures were unprecedented.

Four candidates had their papers rejected for various reasons, chief among them failure to secure the required number of nominations.

Mr Ncube said Magwegwe and Pumula constituencies recorded the highest number of National Assembly candidates at 24, while the lowest had 15.

He attributed the high numbers to the new political dispensation, where citizens have greater latitude to exercise freedom of expression and association.

“We are glad that we opened for nomination papers a bit earlier. That helped us a lot in easing the pressure because a number of candidates heeded the call to submit their papers early.”

Mr Ncube said for local government seats, more than 300 candidates successfully submitted their papers for the 29 wards in Bulawayo.

In Matabeleland North province, 156 National Assembly candidates were successfully nominated to contest the province’s 13 constituencies. Sixty-seven candidates will contest provincial council seats and 49 Senate seats.

Four National Assembly candidates had their papers rejected.

In Matabeleland South, 99 National Assembly candidates successfully filed their nomination papers across the 13 constituencies; while more than 500 did so for local government seats.-sundaymail

THE country’s electoral administration body has contracted Fidelity Printers & Refiners to print ballot papers for the presidential election. Another government entity Printflow Pvt (Ltd) has been engaged to print ballot papers for the House of Assembly, senatorial and local government polls.

The printing of ballot papers has become one of the sticking points as Zimbabwe gears up for its first general elections since the toppling of long-time leader Robert Mugabe in a coup last November.

Information gathered by the Zimbabwe Independent shows that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) will print ballot papers for the forthcoming general elections locally.
It is understood that the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe gave Zec the approval to source voting materials through direct tender due to security and time considerations.

The Independent understands that South Africa-based paper and packaging giant Mondi Ltd had been contracted to supply newsprint to be used for printing ballot papers. There was heightened speculation that government was considering hiring a company from Eastern Europe to do the work, raising suspicion of manipulation.

The speculation gained traction after Zec chairperson Priscilla Chigumba and special advisor to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Chris Mutsvangwa visited Russia to observe elections recently.

Mnangagwa is facing MDC Alliance candidate Nelson Chamisa in the country’s first elections after the overthrow of Mugabe.

Former vice-president Joice Mujuru, former MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe and 17 others are also participating in the polls. A senior government official told the Independent the electoral management body had resolved to print ballot papers locally.

“The printing of the ballot papers is already underway. Fidelity will print ballot papers for the presidential election, while Printflow will print ballot papers for the other elections. Contesting parties are expected to witness this process starting next week,” the source said

“The commission will ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible and that the will of the people will prevail. What we will ensure is that the outcome of the elections will not create any disputes. We must come out of the elections more united than divided.”

Asked for comment last night, Zec chairperson Priscilla Chigumba asked for written questions through the commission’s acting chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana.

Silaigwana would not be reached for comment while questions sent to Zec officials in charge of public relatuions were not responded to at the time of going to print.

With just over a month before the polls, the opposition has raised the red flag, complaining that there is no transparency in terms of who will be responsible for the printing of ballot paper, while demanding the implementation of sweeping electoral reforms around Zec.

Last week, the MDC Alliance submitted a list of electoral reform demands. Some of the issues raised include impartiality of state-controlled media, an audit of the voters’ roll and transparency over the printing and security of ballot papers. Zec has dismissed the petition, saying it has no legal basis.

However, Section 52A of the Electoral Act mandates Zec to provide, without delay, the relevant information to all political parties and candidates contesting an election, and all observers.

The ruling Zanu PF party says it is heading for a landslide victory in the coming harmonised polls with Vice President and Second Secretary of Zanu PF Cde Kembo Mohadi predicting that his party  will win over 60 percent  of the votes.

As preparations for the 2018 harmonised elections gather momentum, the Zanu PF leadership which has been addressing bumper crowds has expressed confidence that the revolutionary party will cause a major upset to its opponents.

Cde Mohadi said given the massive support that the party is enjoying in both the rural and urban areas and the confidence that Zimbabweans have in the current administration in turning around the economy, the revolutionary party is assured of a clean sweep.

“We are ready for the elections and we are going to win. Our support base is solid, our supporters have registered to vote. As Zanu PF our thrust is in turning around this economy and the people realise and appreciate that,” he said.

Vice President Mohadi however stressed the need for media organisations to give equal coverage to all political parties saying the government is committed to ensuring a level playing field for all participants.

The elections should be free, fair and credible emphasized Cde Mohadi.

“We are receiving complaints that we are not giving the opposition coverage. Why are you not covering them? We want them to tell the people what they are offering, it is an election, parties must sale their manifestos, let them expose themselves,” said the Vice President.

Vice President Mohadi who is also responsible for the peace, healing and reconciliation portfolio commended Zimbabweans for the prevailing tranquil environment saying the same atmosphere should be upheld even after elections, as political stability is fundamental in attracting investment into the country.-zbc

HARARE – A former Cabinet minister who was at the centre of Zanu PF’s power-retention strategies between 2000 and November 2017 has sensationally claimed that the ruling party has devised an elaborate plan to rig next month’s elections.

Zanu PF reacted angrily to the allegations yesterday, dismissing them as “hogwash”.

Jonathan Moyo, a former politburo member who is currently in self-imposed exile in Kenya, claimed yesterday through micro-blogging platform, Twitter, that he was ready to testify under oath how Zanu PF and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) were plotting to subvert the people’s will on July 30.

He alleged that Zanu PF, which is seeking to extend its rule beyond 38 years, has been given hard copies of the voters’ roll, despite claims by the electoral management body that they were still cleaning up the register following the recent conclusion of the biometric voter registration (BVR).

“Some 11 days after BVR closed for 2018 poll and a day before sitting of Nomination Court, #Zec continues to deny the opposition access to the (voters’) roll, yet it has given #Zanu PF hard copies. #Zec has always done this and I can confirm it under oath,” he said.

Moyo skipped the country around mid-November last year in the wake of a soft coup that ended former president Robert Mugabe’s 37-year long reign.

He is now wanted in Zimbabwe in connection with allegations of abuse of office after he allegedly siphoned substantial amounts of money from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund, which he superintended over as then minister of Higher and Tertiary Education.

The authorities have since appealed to the International Police to help bring him to justice.

Yesterday, the former Information minister claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has roped in the Chinese — long considered to be the country’s all-weather friends — to manipulate the voters’ roll.

“Chinese team seeks to manipulate the BVR system and create virtual polling stations to guarantee victory for Mnangagwa, whose appeasement strategy of disinformation would be used by United Kingdom government to justify declaring the poll free, fair and credible!

“Government has seconded to #Zec a team of Chinese BVR and cyber experts from the People’s Liberation Army linked to a top Chinese university. Their remit is to manipulate the voters’ roll through shadowy and virtual polling stations and fake voters,” Moyo said.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Zanu PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, said there was no way the ruling party would work with an independent commission to steal the elections.

Khaya Moyo also denied the involvement of Chinese nationals in the running of the polls set for July 30.

He said: “We don’t need Zec to win elections. It is all hogwash, a tired story. They are whistling in the graveyard hoping that the dead will hear them but, well, that is sad.”

The allegations come as the opposition is pressing for electoral reforms, chief among them being that Zec must release a copy of the provisional voters’ roll.

Recently, opposition parties raised concern after Zec increased the number of polling stations by 1 137 polling centres.

Last week, the MDC Alliance piled up pressure on Zec by lodging a petition, which came hard on the heels of a court application by Tendai Biti of the People’s Democratic Party, demanding access to the voters’ roll.

The courts are still to make a ruling on the application.

The electoral commission has been adamant that it was premature to avail the crucial document, adding that the additional voting stations were designed to ensure that polling stations with an excess number of voters have sub-polling stations.

Zec also denied the opposition access to the BVR server, saying it was a security issue.

“The issue of access to the server is controlled in the same way as is the case with all institutions that keep custody of information of a security or confidential nature. We also encourage stakeholders not to mystify the issue of additional polling stations as we have allowed the creation of sub-polling stations for a polling area where the threshold of voters exceeds its set limit,” Zec chairperson, Priscilla Chigumba, said in a statement released over the weekend.

However, Moyo sensationally claimed yesterday that the ruling party had access to the hard copy of the voters’ roll in the 2013 polls controversially won by Zanu PF, and that they worked with the military and intelligence elements in Zec to deliver the poll to Mugabe.

He said this time the rigging will be on a “industrial scale” and will be centred on manipulation of the BVR voters polling stations by “Zec technical staff from security organs and also the army intimidation of voters in villages”.

“While section 235 of the Constitution says #Zec should ‘protect the sovereignty of the people’ and section 233 says it should ‘promote transparency and accountability’, proof government runs #Zec is the failure by Zec to bring to order (Zanu PF political commissar Engelbert) Rugeje, minister of State for Masvingo province Josiah) Hungwe and (deputy Finance minister Terrence) Mukupe!”

The named Zanu PF trio have both been quoted saying the army will not allow an opposition victory.

“In the first 20 years of the old order, when Mnangagwa was the chief enforcer, government ran elections through the Registrar-General under an ad hoc election directorate and Electoral Supervisory Commission that had election monitors as observers!

“Mnangagwa has crafted an appeasement strategy that targets the business and international communities based on a disinformation scheme, learnt from British intelligence in his CIO (Central Intelligence Organisation) days, whose design is to say right things and do the opposite.

“On the back of the November coup, and the fact that Zimbabwe is under military rule, it’s unreasonable to expect a government run #Zec to run free, fair and credible elections. With securocrats managing its technical operations, Zec is a rigging tool.

“Zec run by government to run elections is not set up in terms of the Constitution. Most of its fulltime staff are former or current army, CIO and ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police). All technical staff is 100 percent from security organs and all polling officers are civil servants,” said Moyo.

Pedzisai Ruhanya, who is also a scholar and researcher, said even though Zec denies a connection between it and the army, history was replete with examples of such associations.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has roped in Chinese experts to work with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in rigging next month’s general elections in favour of Zanu PF, a former cabinet minister has claimed

The allegation was made by exiled ex-higher education minister Professor Jonathan Moyo in a series of Twitter posts.

“Mnangagwa’s candidacy on July 30 is illegitimate not only because he’s a product of a military coup but also because he was the brutal CHIEF ENFORCER of what he has described as the OLD ORDER for 38 years.

“The ENFORCER can’t be the REFORMER!,” said Moyo.

Chinese military biometric-Voter-registration (BVR) experts have, according to Moyo, joined ZEC as part of the grand plot to manipulate the elections in Mnangagwa’s favour.

“The plot is to rig on an industrial scale. The rigging is centred on (1) Manipulation of the BVR Voters Roll; (2) Manipulation of Polling Stations by #ZEC technical staff from security organs & (3) Army intimidation of voters in villages!

“Govt has seconded to ZEC a team of Chinese BVR & cyber experts from the People’s Liberation Army linked to a top Chinese university. Their remit is to manipulate the voters roll through shadowy & virtual polling stations & fake voters!,” the former Cabinet minister said.

“Chinese team seeks to manipulate the BVR system & create virtual polling stations to guarantee victory for Mnangagwa, whose appeasement strategy of disinformation would be used by UK government to justify declaring the poll free, fair & credible! #HandeyiKwekwe #KwekweHimJuly30.”

Moyo claimed ZEC has refused the opposition copies of the BVR voters’ roll but given Zanu PF hard copies. ZEC has always done this & I can confirm it under oath.”

Mnangagwa according to Moyo has always been at the centre of military’s hand in local politics including “ugly episodes” such as the “Gukurahundi, the looting of DRC minerals & $15Bn of Chiadzwa diamonds!”

While Mnangagwa has been on a charm offensive wooing western powers into Zimbabwe under the mantra “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” Moyo argued this was a strategy to hoodwink the world.

“Mnangagwa has crafted an appeasement strategy that targets the business & international communities based on a disinformation scheme learnt from British intelligence in his CIO days, whose design is to SAY right things & DO the opposite!

“In January at #Davos, Mnangagwa lied to the world through the #BBC that unlike in the OLD ORDER, in which he was the CHIEF ENFORCER, Govt no longer runs elections as they are now run by #ZEC.

“This was disinformation since Govt runs #ZEC!,” the former Higher Education minister said.

Moyo has not hidden his disdain for Mnangagwa and was the lead brains of a Zanu PF faction that fought a brutal but ultimately losing battle against the then Vice President’s Team Lacoste group until the military intervention led to Mugabe’s fall.

Government has also invited foreign observers to watch Zimbabweans go to the polls a first in decades since Mugabe turned the country into an international pariah over two decades ago.

According to Moyo while Mnangagwa has claimed Zimbabwean law does not allow monitors in electoral processes the country once had a provision for this.

“In the first 20 years of the OLD ORDER, when Mnangagwa was the CHIEF ENFORCER, Govt ran elections through the Registrar General under an ad hoc Election Directorate & Electoral Supervisory Commission that had Election MONITORS as observers!”

He added; “ZEC run by Govt to run elections is not set up in terms of the Constitution. Most of its full-time staff are former or current Army, CIO & ZRP.-NewZimbabwe.com

HARARE – MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa has pledged to change the title of traditional leaders from chiefs to kings, saying the former title was imposed by colonialists who wanted to belittle the institution.

Addressing thousands of party supporters at a campaign rally in Chiredzi on Sunday, Chamisa who will battle it out with President Emmerson Mnangagwa on July 30 for the country’s presidency, said prior to the colonialists’ encroachment into their colonies, Africans had no chiefs, but kings.

“Our colonisers reduced our traditional leaders from kings to chiefs because they wanted to belittle the traditional leaders’ institution but we want to revise that once you elect me into office in August. This is what they do in Ghana and other African countries,” Chamisa said.

His campaign trail has taken him to almost every corner for the country, including rural areas which were considered no go areas for the opposition during former president Robert Mugabe’s reign.

Chamisa is promising to radically transform the country in terms of its infrastructure, social service delivery as well as the governance structure but critics have dismissed the 40-year-old presidential aspirant as too ambitious and lacking maturity.

Next month’s polls have generated a lot of interest globally with Mnangagwa and Chamisa emerging as the main presidential candidates, both contesting without their father-figures — deposed Robert Mugabe and the late Morgan Tsvangirai.-Dailynews

ZANU-PF yesterday announced  the final list of candidates who will contest the forthcoming harmonised elections on the ruling party’s ticket. The list includes 210 National Assembly candidates, 60 proportional representation candidates, 60 senatorial candidates and 100 provincial council candidates.

TAKE-ZANU-PF-FULL-CANDIDATE-LIST

Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, zanu-pf secretary for Administration Cde Obert Mpofu said the ruling party had gone through internal processes of primary elections and reruns and was now in the final stages of naming successful candidates to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

Cde Mpofu was flanked by politburo members Cde Simon Khaya Moyo (InfoTAKE-ZANU-PF-FULL-CANDIDATE-LISTrmation and Publicity), Cde Paul Mangwana (Legal Affairs), Cde Munyaradzi Machacha and Cde Tshinga Dube.

“The full list of all the successful candidates will be published in the print and electronic media with immediate effect. All provincial election directorates/ provincial coordinating committees are hereby instructed to abide by the list which has been finally approved by the party and submitted to ZEC,” he said.

“Disciplinary action will be taken against any individual who will tamper with the approved list of candidates. The names of the final successful candidates as will be announced are the ones which will have to complete the nominations documents and provide their credentials to ZEC.”

He said all candidates should have completed the vetting exercise by close of business yesterday.
Cde Mpofu directed all provinces to ensure that all the candidates in the respective provinces are assisted in the registration process with ZEC.

“All zanu-pf candidates are expected to be at the nomination courts in their respective areas by 0700 hours on Thursday this week. The party’s legal department is now on standby to assist provinces in the registration process to ensure all our candidates are successfully registered for the 2018 harmonised elections,” he said.

“You may have been experiencing certain developments from some of our provinces where names have been changed willy nilly without clearance from the party or from then Politburo. We have addressed that issue where we have ensured that the names that were cleared by the Politburo are the ones that will be submitted for nomination with ZEC.”

Cde Mpofu said the party had made corrections for senatorial candidates for Matabeleland South Province as per the Politburo directive.

Cde Mpofu said in Beitbridge the candidate was Tambudzani Mohadi, in Bulilima-Mangwe Cde Khaya Moyo, Cde Alima Mukweva (Gwanda), CdeThembani Mathuthu (Mzingwane), Cde Essabel Ngwenya (Matobo) and Earnest Ncube (Inzisa).

“In Mashonaland East, the womens quota we have in Cde Lilian Zemura (Murehwa), Cde Roselyne Makoni (Marondera-Wedza), Cde Nyarai Tsvuura (Mutoko), Cde Lucia Mudzingwa (Goromonzi), Cde Tatenda Mavetera (Seke-Chikomba), and UMP-Mudzi we have Marbel Kaundikidza,” he said.

Former cabinet Minister Savior Kasukuwere has been acquitted for allegedly violating the country’s immigration laws by unlawfully leaving Zimbabwe using an undesignated port.

• Arrest All border Jumpers And War Veterans : Saviour Kasukuwere

More details to follow…

Former Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo now says the British and Chinese governments underwrote the 15 November 2017 “coup” and were the first foreigners to congratulate Emmerson Mnangagwa at his inauguration as Zimbabwe’s second executive president.

He said the two countries are now campaigning for Mnangagwa by sending “business” delegations to the country.

“The Chinese & British govts underwrote the illegal 15 Nov coup & sent envoys who were first foreigners to congratulate Mnangagwa on 24 Nov. It’s no wonder that both govts are now CAMPAIGNING for #JuntaPF by sending “business” delegations!,” he tweeted yesterday.

The British government sent its Africa Minister Rory Stewart to attend Mnangagwa’s inauguration.

Last week a 22-member British business delegation, described by Mnangagwa as the biggest in his 38 years in government, was in the country looking at investing in mining, agriculture and infrastructure.

China invited Mnangagwa for an official State visit in April and it sent a 60-member business delegation to Zimbabwe this week.

Moyo has been campaigning for the ouster of Mnangagwa’s administration and has been calling for a grand national union to do that.

Mnangagwa’s opponents will be known tomorrow when the Nomination Court accepts candidates for president, Parliament and local councils.

A poll by Afrobarometer has shown that Mnangagwa has a narrow lead over leading opponent Nelson Chamisa who leads the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance.

It is not clear whether he will be contesting under the MDC Alliance emblem as there is still an unresolved dispute over the use of the MDC-T name and symbols.

FORMER Kwekwe Central Member of Parliament, Masango “Blackman” Matambanadzo, has torched a social media storm after he addressed a rally in Mbizo sitting on the shoulders of one of his bodyguards.

The picture, which has since gone viral on various social networks, has been roundly condemned with the majority questioning the motive behind the stunt.

Some felt Blackman was abusing his position and financial muscle to exploit one of his aides.

Contacted for comment, Blackman confirmed the incident saying his supporters were excited as they took turns to carry him throughout the rally.

“We were at a rally and there was no podium for me to stand so people took turns to carry me.

“It’s only that only one picture is circulating but there are other different pictures of people carrying me on their shoulders,” he said.

Blackman said that he had come to address them as he acted in that manner.

“The people were excited that I had come to address them and that’s why they acted in the manner they did.

“It was not abuse like what is being said on social media; people volunteered to do so out of excitement,” he added.

Below are some of the comments from various social media users after the picture went viral:

VaJarijari‏ @VaJarijari: Former Kwekwe Central MP Masango “Blackman” Matambanadzo addressed a rally at Mbizo 4 Shopping Centre yesterday for about 30 minutes whilst on his personal bodyguard’s shoulder.

Sadza Muriwo Nenyama: The bodyguard is a d***head and Blackman is an a**h***. They both deserve each other. It just goes to show Zimbos aren’t ready to be free!

Tehn Dia Mwanawamabo: Pakanga pasina kuwirirana here pahuviri hwavo?…ko kana vatsigiri vake vakasarudza kuti umwe wavo atakure Blackman? Mafungiro anguwo.

Simba Makokota Njagu: Ahhh uyu anopenga uyu kurwara chaiko

Duduzile Nyirongo‏ @dudumo: 1’m looking for volunteers who want to carry me during my campaign rallies. Thank you.

BaTaaTaa‏ @ChamuMurava: Gets interesting on the campaign trail!-H-metro

Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo faces prosecution with the risk of doing time behind bars, after President Mnangagwa yesterday said the mistake made in awarding him the Gwanda solar project should not be repeated. The President said this soon after touring Nyangani Renewable Energy, a solar power project in Mutoko.

President Mnangagwa said Government had learnt a lesson from the Chivayo debacle compared to the success of the Nyangani project.

“Both experiences are good because we should never repeat what happened in Gwanda,” he said.
“So both experiences give us good lessons.”

He commended the Nyangani project adding Government would in future avoid dealing with businessmen of Mr Chivayo’s ilk.
“Here is a project recently started and we are having 2,5 MW in the national grid and soon it will be 10MW in the national grid. In Gwanda, it is in the third year now and nothing has happened.

“We need in the future to have committed people who have experience in projects of this nature, not these fly-by-night briefcase businessmen,” President Mnangagwa said before abruptly adding a reminder that “Chikurubi is not full”, a reference to the maximum security prison on the outskirts of Harare.

Mr Chivayo was awarded the Gwanda solar project in 2013 and was paid over $5 million for pre-commencement works.
There is little progress on the Gwanda project yet Mr Chivayo has been flaunting his riches on social media.
He recently took a selfie of himself with stakes of South African rands.

He often boasts on social media about his riches and that he always laughs last.
Parliament’s portfolio on Mines and Energy chaired by Norton legislator Mr Temba Mliswa carried an inquiry into the award of the tender to Mr Chivayo and has exposed several irregularities in the deal.

A tour by the parliamentary committee of the project site in Gwanda found two wooden cabins. The committee has recommended that the tender be rescinded and Mr Chivayo pay back the money he was given.

Nyangani Renewable Energy has been in operation for the past 11 years and also runs the Nyamingura Hydro Power Station in Honde Valley.-Herald

The MDC Alliance held a rally in Chiredzi today (10 June 2018) which was addressed by party leaders Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti. There was a big turn out of the party’s supporters at the rally. Below are the pictures

You can watch a video of the rally here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sacked official from a controversial new Zimbabwe airline has accused former president Robert Mugabe’s son-in-law of kidnapping her, according to a statement she made to police.

Lawyer Bertha Zakeyo says she was held hostage by Zimbabwe Airways officials and security guards when she refused to vacate her office last week after she was dismissed by her boss Simba Chikore, who is married to Mugabe’s daughter Bona.

Questioned by police

Zakeyo filed a complaint to police on Thursday. Chikore was picked up and questioned by police on the same day, reports the private Daily News.

It said Zakeyo was sacked after she was accused by Chikore of leaking company secrets and holding unauthorised meetings away from the office.

Denied access to lawyer

“In a docket opened at the Highlands Police Station (in Harare), Zakeyo said Chikore – whom she accused of masquerading as a captain – kidnapped her for more than two hours and also denied her access to her lawyer,” the paper said.

The existence of Zimbabwe Airways only became public knowledge recently. The company – which will likely be in direct competition with the struggling national airline Air Zimbabwe – recently purchased a second hand Boeing 777 from Malaysia Airlines. But the plane has not yet undertaken a single commercial flight.

Purge of ‘disloyal staff’

There is speculation that the Mugabe family has shares in the new company. This has been denied by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, which insists the new plane and others due to be purchased are entirely state-owned.

The Daily News said Chikore had “reportedly embarked on a purge of senior staff he accuses of being disloyal to the company”.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed concern at the tendency by Zimbabweans to siphon cash out of the country, saying it is hampering efforts by the government to address the current cash shortages in the economy.

Addressing mourners at the burial of the late Consul General John Chimbandi at the National Heroes Acre in Harare today, Cde Mnangagwa said the government is working hard to turn around the economy and address immediate challenges being faced by Zimbabweans.

He however said despite some impediments, such efforts will succeed.

“I am aware that our people continue to face hardships linked to shortages of cash in the economy. My government remains fully seized with the matter. We have, to date, released millions of United States dollars into the market for circulation to ease this problem, however, as soon as the money is injected into the system, it is sponged out,” Cde Mnangagwa said.

He urged Zimbabweans to embrace the use of plastic money in line with global trends, and was quick to cal for stakeholders to ensure that the transacting public is not punished through excessive charges for electronic transactions.

The President reminded Zimbabweans that it is their duty to ensure that the country is indeed in a new mode, and that it becomes a new Zimbabwe on a new development trajectory, with new opportunities and freedoms.

He said he believes in servant leadership.

“I am a servant leader and listening President. My government is fully cognisant of that the power belongs to the people and that they expect the upliftment of their welfare,” he said.

On elections, President Mnangagwa said it is the duty of his government and all stakeholders to ensure that the country delivers an undisputed election.

“Through the 30 July elections, we want to show the world that our democracy has come of age. It is the duty of all of us, including political parties to display the same resolve and commitment to peace and unity both in speech and deeds. I urge the people of Zimbabwe to be hospitable to all visitors to the country, including election observers. Election observers should also acquaint themselves well with the country’s electoral laws,” he said.-ZBC