Category: zimbabwe

Source: Govt to set up commission of inquiry on exam leaks –Newsday Zimbabwe

THE Primary and Secondary Education ministry yesterday said it would soon set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec)’s 2022 examination paper leaks, which have led to the  nullification of almost 5 000 O-Level  results.

Massive cheating and paper leaks marred the Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations last year, denting the credibility of the country’s education system.

Last week, legislators demanded answers from Education minister Evelyn Ndlovu who yesterday promised to restore the credibility of Zimsec examinations through setting up a commission of inquiry.

“I think we will restore credibility of examinations by having a commission of inquiry which will assess whether Zimsec is doing the right thing, or they are the ones leaking the examination papers,” Ndlovu said.

“The results and recommendations will guide us accordingly. On legislative changes, I promise that we are going to push for the Zimsec Amendment Bill to go through the relevant committees.  It must first be approved by Cabinet, then it comes to Parliament.

“The Zimsec Act needs to be amended so that it becomes a deterrent instrument to the culprits.  The route to the amendments is already at an advanced stage.  Our lawyers are looking at this document to make sure that it goes through,” she said.

The country’s education sector has been affected by several problems including zero pass rates at some schools especially in rural Matabeleland.

Last week, teachers’ unions lamented that at least 18 schools in Binga, Matabeleland North province, recorded 0% O-Level  pass rates.

Members of Parliament  also want Ndlovu to issue another ministerial statement explaining the Continuous Assessment Learning Activity (Cala) policy, which stakeholders said was not  being effectively implemented in some schools.

Under Cala, students are expected to carry out research projects and tasks which would constitute 30% of their final examination for each subject. Parents have described the projects as too expensive, while there have been allegations of students bribing teachers to get higher marks.

But Ndlovu defended Cala saying it helped students to think positively.

“Cala still remains a good practice because it drives the child to think positively and address the challenges around him or her. In terms of Cala, we have to work together, and explanations should be given to parents on why we introduced Cala. The complaints are not coming from the children, but from the parents.  It is the child that is supposed to do the Cala exercises, not the parent,” she said.

Ndlovu said the country’s education curriculum was being reviewed with a view to improve Cala.

“We will not do away with Cala, it is progressive.  We don’t want to lag behind as a nation.”

Source: Harare magistrate to rule on Biti’s application for her recusal –Newsday Zimbabwe

HARARE magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro is today expected to rule on the application for her recusal filed by opposition CCC legislator Tendai Biti (Harare East) who accused her of bias.

Yesterday, Biti told Muchuchuti-Guwuriro that she had violated all his rights by dismissing his court applications.

He said if he proceeds to trial with her, he is guaranteed of conviction.

But under cross-examination from prosecutor Michael Reza, Biti admitted that he filed the application for recusal of the magistrate after she dismissed his application for referral to the Constitutional Court.

However, Reza asked him what he was supposed to do after his application for referral has been dismissed.

Biti said he was supposed to approach the High Court for a review of the magistrate’s determination.

Reza said that is what he was supposed to do than to file another application for recusal of the magistrate. He said Biti should have approached the High Court, but he ignored the procedure.

“Very clearly you were unhappy on the court’s ruling,” Reza asked Biti.

“It is the substance of the ruling and unconstitutional things in that ruling that l am not happy with,” Biti replied.

Reza said Biti was simply repeating a similar application dismissed the lower court and High Court, adding that this was a waste of the court’s time.

But Biti said there are some things that he had not submitted to the court.

Reza said the submissions he had made were a repetition of what was dismissed by the courts.  He said Biti’s application was meant to delay the trial.

The prosecutor said the reason why Biti wanted the recusal of the magistrate was that he fears conviction, hence wanted to go to a court where he would be acquitted.

However, Muchuchuti-Guwuriro will deliver the ruling for her recusal today.

Biti is accused of verbally assaulting businesswoman Tatiana Aleshina at the Harare Magistrates’ Court in 2020.

Source: VaChikepe sings for the poor –Newsday Zimbabwe

Source: Chiwenga’s ex-wife vomits in court, trial deferred –Newsday Zimbabwe

Marry Mubaiwa

THE trial of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife Marry Mubaiwa on an attempted murder charge, failed to kick off yesterday after she fell sick and vomited in the dock.

Her lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa then asked for postponement of the matter to March 13, but  State prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti insisted on going to trial saying he had to call off his official leave to prosecute the matter.

Mtetwa said Mubaiwa was not fit to stand trial, but had no medical affidavit to support her argument.

“She is not fit to stand trial. You said a medical report is required, but she does not have the medical report because the doctors are afraid of VP Chiwenga, who happens to be the Health minister. Look, she is sleeping in the dock. You can have physical inspection of the dock and if you’re quite happy to see her as being fit, then we can proceed to trial. This is not our creation,” Mtetwa said.

“We have a judgment concerning that a fair trial includes accused persons being in a state of mind that allows him or her to concentrate. Ironically, the case law involved the same accused where your brother magistrate Ngoni Nduna insisted she goes through a trial when she is unwell, and this is a breach to the right to a fair trial.

“She cannot follow the proceedings. With due respect it is a clear breach of the Constitution which requires that there be equality for the law as section 56 of the Constitution states,” Mtetwa told Harare magistrate Florence Chakanyuka.

The matter was remanded to today for trial.

The State had brought three witnesses who are Chiwenga’s aides.

Mubaiwa is accused of trying to kill Chiwenga at a private South African hospital, at a time when he was battling for life

She had her application challenging jurisdiction dismissed by Chakanyuka.

Source: ‘Police refuse to co-operate in fatal accident probe’ –Newsday Zimbabwe

Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe

POLICE have reportedly refused to name the officers who caused the death of four people in Mutare last year after throwing spikes on a moving vehicle resulting in a fatal road traffic accident.

Human rights lawyers Kevin Kabaya and Peggy Tavagadza are assisting the survivors to sue Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe for US$18 000 damages for pain, suffering, permanent disfigurement and medical expenses, among other things.

“Now in response to the summons, police is attempting to dodge responsibility by refusing to disclose the identity of the culprits, who are police officers, who were manning the road checkpoint and who through their negligent conduct caused the traffic accident,” the lawyers said.

In an application for exception filed at Mutare High Court recently, police argued that the victims had in their summons not specifically named the primary perpetrators who caused the road traffic accident and hence the summons and the claim should be dismissed.

Last year, Kabaya and Tavagadza wrote to the provincial legal officer at Manicaland provincial police headquarters protesting that they had not been informed on whether any police officers had been charged with any offence, and whether any internal disciplinary procedures had been instituted arising from their reckless conduct.

The lawyers are demanding details of all traffic police officers who were at the scene of the accident.

The throwing of spikes was outlawed by the High Court last year.