Category: zimbabwe

Source: Minister ‘plotted’ Kagonye’s arrest – NewsDay Zimbabwe

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
COMPLAINANTS in a case where former Public Service minister Petronella Kagonye was being accused of converting US$18 000 meant for residential stands to her own use, have withdrawn the case saying they were forced to lie about her by her rival, National Housing minister Daniel Garwe.

Rogers Pote and Ngonidzashe Zvanezuro yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro where they confessed that they lied.

Kagonye was accused of converting US$18 000 belonging to Vaduku Housing Co-operative Society to her own use.

The pair alleged that Garwe and his wife Sharon Mugabe had forced them to report lies in a bid to discredit Kagonye during the Zanu PF primary elections.

“Garwe’s wife (Mugabe) had been a contestant against Kagonye in the Goromonzi West constituency on three consecutive times and Garwe was pushing his wife’s agenda. Garwe and Mugabe held several meetings to plan and plot against Kagonye and the evidence is in my phone,” Pote told the court.

Zvanezuro added: “I was arrested sometime in October 2020 at Goromionzi Police Station on allegations of assault. I slept in the cells for two days. Rodgers Pote, the chairperson of Vaduku Housing Co-operative, came and secured my release. Upon being released, Pote took me to a meeting at Jamaica Inn in Melfort. At the meeting, people present included Sharon Mugabe, Pote, Peter Mubare, Farai Ngondo, Ben Chivandire, Terence Tayengwa and Arthur Chidenhe.”

He said the meeting discussed Kagonye, plotting her arrest.

“At the meeting, I was ordered by Pote to file a criminal complaint against Kagonye on behalf of Vaduku Housing Co-operative at Ruwa Police Station.”

He said the RRB number for the report made was 1525227.

Allegations were that Vaduku Housing Co-operative Society gave US$18 500 to Kagonye for allocation of stands, which she failed to provide.

“No payment was ever made to Kagonye and no fraud was committed by her and the report that I made at Ruwa Police Station was false and unwarranted,” Zvanezuro submitted.

Allegations were that between February 2014 and June 2015 and at Solomio Farm in Goromonzi, Kagonye and Glorious Real Estate defrauded Vaduku Housing Co-operative represented by Zvanezuro Ngonidzashe.

The post Minister ‘plotted’ Kagonye’s arrest  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Safeguard water meters, residents warned – NewsDay Zimbabwe

BY STEPHEN CHADENGA
GWERU City Council has advised residents to safeguard their water meters and taps after the city recorded an increase in the theft of the gadgets.

In a statement yesterday, acting town clerk Vakai Chikwekwe said some residential areas, particularly high-density suburbs, had seen a rise in the theft of water meters in recent weeks.

“We would like to advise residents, clients and stakeholders that cases of water meter theft are on the rise in some areas,” council said yesterday in a statement.

“Therefore we urge you (residents) to be on high alert.”

Thieves usually target meters and taps made of brass, which they sell to metal dealers and coffin makers.

According to information gathered by Southern Eye, the thieves sell the meters at prices ranging from US$35 and US$50. Alternatively, some residents are now using plastic taps to curb theft of brass taps and water meters.

Although water billing machines are supposed to be supplied by council, in recent years, the meters had run out of stock.

This has resulted in some residents conniving with thieves to steal the water gadgets.

Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Development Association Trust director David Chikore, however, said council should acquire adequate meters to avoid “shortcuts” by residents in procuring the equipment.

“Some households end up engaging the thieves to obtain the water meters if they (water meters) are not easily accessible at council,” he said.

Under council by-laws, illegally purchasing water meters and connecting them to the water system is a criminal offence.

Over the years, some unscrupulous municipal workers have been accused of conspiring with residents in illegally connecting the meters.

The post Safeguard water meters, residents warned appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Lubimbi Clinic staff houses falling apart – NewsDay Zimbabwe

BY IRENE MOYO/PRESTIGE MUNTANGA
BINGA villagers have expressed concern that medical staff and teachers were shunning their area due to shortage of infrastructure.

Villagers told Southern Eye that schools like Muchesu, Kairiyangwe and Chibuya had inadequate classrooms, while staff houses at Lubimbi Clinic were in a poor state.

Binga villagers said teachers were shunning the area due to poor infrastructure and lack of accommodation facilities.

“It is sad to witness an environment where our children have to learn under trees during the rains. This problem started years ago and we had hoped that our children would learn in better environments than we did. Schools are opening next week and it’s so stressful to think that our children will have to learn under trees,” Primrose Siamuleya, a villager said.

Another villager, David Mudenda, said classes had 35 students each, yet there were only two classroom blocks at some schools in Binga.

“We appeal to government to assist by improving education infrastructure in Binga,” Mudenda said.

Matabeleland North provincial education director Jabulani Mpofu said Binga was not the only area facing a shortage of classrooms.

Mpofu said his department had since requested tents to be used as classrooms during the rainy season.

“I haven’t received any report about the issue, but infrastructural development also involves parents, and that is why we have a school development committee. In the meantime, we have requested 80 tents to assist schools in Matabeleland North province,” he said.

“We are not sure whether we are going to get the tents on time. Since it is the rainy season we will visit the affected schools and see how they can be assisted in the form of tents.”

Mpofu said areas like Bulawayo had some students learning under trees due to a shortage of classrooms.

“Schools are enrolling too many children. We need to request tents to maintain social distancing.”

Meanwhile, health workers at Lubimbi Clinic said the infrastructure at the institution was dilapidated, thus endangering their lives.

Villagers told Southern Eye that nurses’ accommodation at the clinic was in a sorry state.

Daina Nyathi, a Lubimbi villager, said they feared that if the nurses continued living in such hazardous environments, they might relocate.

Another villager, Precious Tshuma, said: “The old clinic infrastructure in Binga was constructed during the colonial era. We are on the verge of losing our only clinic.”

Matabeleland North provincial medical director Admire Kuretu said he had not received any report from the rural district council (RDC) in relation to the dilapidation of Lubimbi Clinic.

“Binga Rural District Council is in a position to shed more light on the issue. We normally push them to act when we get such reports,” he said. Efforts to get a comment from Binga RDC chief executive Joshua Muzamba were fruitless.

The post Lubimbi Clinic staff houses falling apart  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Harare police impersonator in trouble – NewsDay Zimbabwe

BY TREVOR MUTSVAIRO
A 28-YEAR-OLD Harare man has been arraigned before the courts facing charges of impersonating a police officer and another count of possession of dangerous weapons.

Beaven Mujanga yesterday appeared before magistrate Yeukai Dzuda after he allegedly impersonated a police detective.

The matter was remanded to today for bail ruling.

It is alleged that on January 23, Mujanga went to the complainant’s residence in Dzivarasekwa, Harare, masquerading as a police officer looking for a stolen television set.

He was not allowed in, but he later returned on January 26 around 2am indicating that he wanted to arrest the complainant.

However, the complainant’s neighbours informed the police who then turned up and arrested Mujanga for impersonation.

Police then searched his vehicle where a police shirt and knife were recovered. Lynnet Gwarisa prosecuted.

The post Harare police impersonator in trouble  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

MDC Alliance leader Douglas Mwonzora has recalled MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe from parliament. This was [...]

The post Mwonzora expels Khupe from Parliament appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.