Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: JUST IN: 265 buses for anti-sanctions march | The Herald 24 OCT, 2019

Minister Chidawu

Joseph Madzimure and Wallace Ruzvidzo
THE Government has availed 265 buses to ferry people from the country’s 10 provinces to attend the inaugural anti-sanctions campaign set for tomorrow.

Speaking at a press briefing in Harare today, Harare Metropolitan Province Minister Oliver Chidawu said buses will be available at usual pick up points from 6am.

“We have allocated 100 buses for Harare, Bulawayo 50, Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Midlands will each get 20 buses respectively, while Mashonaland Central will get 15 buses, Mashonaland East, Manicaland, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South will each get 10 buses respectively,” said Minister Chidawu.

He urged patriotic Zimbabweans to come out in their numbers in support of the call for the lifting of sanctions.

“We thus call upon all patriotic Zimbabweans to come out in their numbers in support of the call for the lifting of these unjustified economic sanctions. As we express our commonly felt desire for the removal of these sanctions against our country, I urge you all to be a mindful of maintaining peace, law and order.

“Buses will be available at usual pick up points from 6am. The march will commence at the Robert Mugabe Square to the National Sports Stadium where solidarity messages will be delivered.

“Let us come out in large numbers to show the world that Zimbabwe is a free, democratic and peace loving nation which needs everyone’s support as we strive for our economic emancipation, “he added.

In addition, Minister Chidawu said: “I am sure that most of us are aware that the South African Development Community (SADC) member states set aside 25 October 2019 to stand in solidarity with us in Zimbabwe in calling for the unconditional removal of the economic sanctions imposed on our nation by the United States of America and its Western Allies.

More to follow…

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Source: JUST IN: PG goes after Mzembi, Sangarwe | The Herald 24 OCT, 2019

Walter Mzembi

Fungai Lupande Senior Court Reporter
Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi has applied for the forfeiture to state of four vehicles allegedly stolen by former Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi and his permanent secretary during the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Conference in August 2013.

Mzembi, permanent secretary Margret Mukahanana Sangarwe and two consultants Susanna Makombe Kuhudzayi and Aaron Dzingira Mushore shared the vehicles. The vehicles in question-three Ford Ranger double cabs and a Tata Xenon-were purchased from funds donated by corporates for the UNTWO conference. Although the vehicles were recovered and the suspects prosecuted, Mr Hodzi is saying the vehicle are tainted and should be forfeited to State.

In his application for a civil forfeiture order, Mr Hodzi says, “In 2011 Zimbabwe and Zambia won the bid to co-host the 20th United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Conference in August 2013. Government assigned Mzembi to come up with various ways to raise money for hosting the conference. Mzembi engaged Kuhudzayi and Mushore as consultants to carry out fund raising activities on behalf of the ministry.”

He added that the ministry’s mandate was to fundraise with local and international corporate companies, donors and financiers. This led to the signing of a professional conference organiser (PCO) contract on May 15, 2012 between the ministry and the contractor valid for 24 months. Kuhudzayi and Mushoriwa were signatories to the PCO contract. Remuneration for consultants was based on a success fee between two to three percent depending on the value raised.

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The American Foreign Relations Committee has issued a statement telling the government of Zimbabwe to focus on reforms instead of the anti-sanctions campaign.

Source: US Statement on Zimbabwe Sanctions – The Zimbabwean

The Committee said the government must implement the reforms outlined in the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act.

Read the full statement below:

U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding efforts of the government of Zimbabwe to spread misinformation and deflect blame for the dire economic conditions faced by the country:

“Responsibility for the current political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe falls solely on the ruling regime that has governed the country for decades. If Zimbabwe’s leaders put as much time, financial resources, and effort into delivering on their long-promised reforms as they have in distorting facts and organizing “anti-sanctions” campaigns, Zimbabweans would not continue to suffer under the dire economic and humanitarian conditions they face today. The US does not sanction people without just cause – sanctions are a response to malign activity.

“The U.S is an enduring partner and friend to the Zimbabwean people, which is reflected in our decades-long support to the country’s humanitarian and development needs. Zimbabwe’s leaders, starting with President Mnangagwa, continue to have a clear path towards strengthening the U.S.-Zimbabwe bilateral relationship through reforms outlined in the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act. The ruling party should focus on the needs of the Zimbabwean people instead of their bad governance, corruption, and state capture. Regional institutions should also focus their energies on supporting democracy, not kleptocratic regimes.”

Background: In 2003, the United States began to impose sanctions on select individuals in the ZANU-PF regime and entities known to facilitate human rights abuses, undermine the rule of law, and engage in the looting of state resources for personal or political gain. While the targeted sanctions have been in place, the U.S. has continued to invest in humanitarian and development aid for Zimbabwe, spending more than $2 billion over the last 10 years. The government of Zimbabwe has used misinformation to blame U.S. sanctions for the country’s political, economic and humanitarian situation and has coordinated anti-sanctions protests across the country for Oct. 25.

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The MDC Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Siziba has alleged that Zanu PF Youths have stoned the funeral car carrying the body of the late Hilton Tafadzwa Tamangani during a funeral in Chitungwiza. Tamangani succumbed to injuries after being tortured in police custody. Posting pictures of the stoned car Siziba said, “A horde of Zanu […]

A POLYGAMIST from Binga allegedly committed suicide by drinking a cotton pesticide after a domestic dispute with his first wife. Acting Matabeleland North police spokesperson Sergeant Namatirai Mashona said Fundi Muchimba (43) of Chikuzya village in Lusulu left a suicide note explaining why he took his own life. In the note which he left in […]