Category: zimbabwe

Two MDC councillors Kudzai Kadzombe and Denford Ngadziore have lost their places with the Catholic University of Zimbabwe (CUZ), following revelations that they had cheated their way into enrolling for degree programmes. NewsDay has been informed that the university worker who had offered them the places in the Faculty of Commerce, Bachelor of Business Management and Information Technology

LOCAL musician Tongai Gwaze, better known as “Greatman” Monday took to social media to announce his marriage to Silibaziso Masara. The wheelchair bound “Pandakazvarwa” hit-maker was quick to say his sweetheart fell for his personality and was blind to his physical condition. “A pleasant evening to all my fans, I have to say I’m honored […]

Source: Is it time to end death penalty? – NewsDay Zimbabwe

guest column:Paidamoyo Muzulu

IT is 15 years since Zimbabwe last hanged a convicted criminal.

One would imagine that it was an eerie morning when the convict, notorious armed-robber and rapist Stephen Chidhumo, was led from his cell to the hanging scaffold. The birds may have stopped humming, the prison wardens had sombre faces and a hundred and one things raced through Chidhumo’s mind as he prepared his soul for departure from this world.

Since then, Zimbabwe has been looking for a hangman. It is not clear why hangmen shun to be employed by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services. Maybe it is a job that suits a sadist, but over time one loses interest considering the loneliness of the job.

I am trying hard to imagine a hangman discussing his job with his son or daughter just like other professionals do.

Zimbabwe in 2013 made an incremental gain to partially abolish the death penalty in the new Constitution.

Section 48(1) says every person has the right to life.

The following sub-section 48(2) reads that there may be a law that may permit death penalty to be imposed on a person convicted of murder committed in aggravating circumstances, but no women shall be subjected to death penalty.

There are other riders given besides gender. People below the age of 20 and those above 70 are exempted from the death penalty. And the death penalty is only to be handed down in cases of aggravated murder.

As the law is framed it is deliberately discriminatory, death penalty is not only for a specific gender, but also a certain age group — those between 20 and 70.

Parliamentarians at this juncture have noted and priotised debating a motion calling for the scrapping of the death penalty from the country’s statutes. MDC MP Dorcas Sibanda moved the motion and in her contribution did not hesitate to call herself an abolitionist. She highlighted that the death penalty by its very nature went beyond causing pain to the convict, but had silent victims too.

“I want to talk about the hidden victims which according to me are the little ones. The children of a father who is on death row, how do they feel? Do they talk about it at school or in the community to say, our father is on death row or is going to be executed? We have never heard them talk but we know they are there, how are they feeling at home, do they discuss it at home, how is it like? Even that person who is on death row, how is he feeling?” questioned Sibanda.

She also added that the country should consider alternative sentencing for heinous crimes: “Killing will put an end to the opportunity to reform. We can find better ways of punishment like life imprisonment.

“I remember in Egypt at one time there was an outcry to say that they executed about 5 or 10 people in a day and those who were executed were aged 28 and below. Imagine that people can reform, they have killed a soldier, a lawyer, a teacher or someone who is productive.

“There is need for us as Zimbabwe to take cognisant of that. They can be trained while in prison, they can go to school and continue with education or be rehabilitated until they become better people.”

Sibanda’s motion received support from Zanu PF, reflecting that the matter has bi-partisan support. Zanu PF MP Kindness Paradza seconded the motion.

Paradza was precise in his contribution, but delivered the hammer blows on death penalty. He debated: “The death penalty is old-fashioned and should never be in our statutes. Why do I say that? You all know the story of our President; he was nearly hanged and so on.

“I happened to be in my other life as a journalist in 1995, I had a one-on-one interview with him and he said he did not want anything about the death penalty. So, we have a President who is against the death penalty. I think we should all support the scrapping of the death penalty in our statutes.”

The South African Constitutional Court ruled that death penalty was degrading and inhuman, putting an end to centuries of death sentences.

The decision has of late divided opinion, with some people calling for partial implementation of death penalty especially on violent crimes that are on the rise in that country.

The same thinking was exhibited during the debate with some MPs from across the political divide for personal reasons still believing the death penalty should remain on the statutes.

However, evidence from across the globe meticulously produced by the Death Penalty Project shows that contrary to popular beliefs or perceptions – murder cases in countries that abolished the death penalty are on the decline.

Back home, Masvingo province year-on-year has been recording an increase in murder cases yet Zimbabwe still has the death penalty on its laws.

This points to one fact – death penalty is not a deterrent as most would want to believe. This may be the time for Zimbabweans to take the debate further and possibly join other progressive nations that abolished capital punishment.

In any case we have not carried out an execution for 15 years, why not use this as a window to abolish it?

The post Is it time to end death penalty?  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Ex-minister Chombo off the hook | Newsday (News)

The case of former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo has collapsed after the State indicated that the critical policy document that forms the basis of his criminal abuse of office charge went missing during the November 2017 military coup which toppled the late former President Robert Mugabe.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

Chombo was charged with criminal abuse of office after facilitating the sale of a government house in Mutare to ex-Zanu PF legislator for Mutare, Fred Kanzama. He was, however, removed from remand by regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya after he had given the State the last chance to bring the document.

But prosecutor George Manokore told the magistrate yesterday that he could not secure the crucial document requested by Chombo since there was no handover takeover in the ministry.

“Your worship, we could not secure the policy document. The investigation officer had approached the ministry in question and they requested some time saying they could not locate the policy document since that ministry was separated into two ministries,” Manokore said.

“The permanent secretary indicated that there was no handover takeover of the ministry, so some documents might not be located easily. We are not sure if we will get the document and as the National Prosecution Authority, we do not have that document.”

Manokore then asked for a long remand of a month to April 17 to enable them to approach the ministry directly, but Chombo’s lawyer Lovemore Madhuku objected to the postponement, saying the court had given the State enough time to search for the document and his client must be removed from remand.

“The fact that the State cannot find the document, which is the centre of the charge, means the accused persons should not have been brought to court in the first place. The policy document has not been there to enable the accused person to plead and prepare his defence outline. All we are seeking is to be removed from remand,” Madhuku said.

Mujaya declined further remand.

Allegations are that sometime in 2000, Joyce Munamati, who was acting provincial registrar for Manicaland, and Kanzama were involved in a relationship, which resulted in the two having a son, but they were not staying together.

During the same period, Munamati is said to have then occupied a government house, which was reserved for provincial registrars for Manicaland province.

On March 1, 2000, Munamati allegedly signed a lease agreement which was entered into between her and Chombo’s ministry at Mutare Provincial Public Works for the occupation of the said house.

The State avers that sometime in 2007, Munamati, being a sitting tenant and a government employee, submitted an application to then acting provincial public works officer to purchase the house and the application was forwarded to the Local Government secretary with no objection to the request.

Chombo allegedly gave verbal instructions that the house be sold to Kanzama.

The post Ex-minister Chombo off the hook appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.

The post Ex-minister Chombo off the hook appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

The ban on major football stadia in Zimbabwe is threatening to put the football sector in limbo. With major African tournaments underway, it means the country has no other option but to seek alternative stadia outside the country. The question everyone is asking right now is for how long with the standoff between CAF-ZIFA continues? Also, what does it means for the country’s football body, especially with AFCON and CHAN qualifications underway? Well, if you have been following the ongoing CHAN qualifications, PA lottery bonus code gives you a chance to bet on the biggest sporting and casino events around the world.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe situation is being closely monitored by CAF and FIFA. Failing to upgrade the country’s stadium could see ZIFA disbanded by CAF with express authority from FIFA. Even worse, Zimbabwe may lose their place in future football tournaments despite qualifying for this year’s CHAN amidst challenging circumstances.

Government’s Ultimatum to ZIFA

In the wake of a stalemate between ZIFA and CAF, the Zimbabwean government has issued ZIFA with an ultimatum, demanding a comprehensive financial statement of the funds it receives from FIFA and the government. In recent years, ZIFA has been rocked by financial mismanagement, something that contributed to the deplorable state of the stadia in the country. Theft of money meant to develop football infrastructure and talents in the country always end up in final pockets. And now, the government, through legislators is calling for the disbandment of ZIFA, should it fail to comply.

Another concern by the government is that ZIFA has not been advising it about the standoff with CAF, yet it is the country’s football management body. Several MPs are, therefore, calling for dissolution if ZIFA to pave way for investigations. However, some are opposed to the idea, saying it would not only affect players in different leagues around the world but also disrupt current football calendar in the country.

A quest for stadia outside the country

Despite an ongoing battle pitting ZIFA against the Zimbabwean government and CAF, reports indicate that the Zimbabwean Warriors will play their 2021 qualifier match in Orlando, South Africa. For most people, the turn of events is unexpected because since the standoff with CAF began, ZIFA has been reiterating its commitment to ensuring all AFCON qualifier matches are played in the country.  It is reported that ZIFA CEO signed the agreement with South African counterparts.

CAF Snubs Stadia inspection invites

There are reports that ZIFA gambles may fail to persuade CAF to inspect ZIM stadium because the state of the playgrounds has not improved.  The ban placed on Zimbabwe’s stadia means the country cannot host international soccer games. This comes in the wake of reports that Barbourfields, which has been under renovation, may soon meet conditions set by CAF. The game between the Warriors and Algeria set to be played in Orlando Stadium, officials say, will go as planned. For now, it remains unclear if CAF will heed to calls by ZIFA to visit the country after many failed attempts to convince Africa’s football governing body.

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