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Source: Violent crackdown greets CAB 3 move -Newsday Zimbabwe

AS the Senate rushed to pass the divisive Constitution Amendment No 3 Bill (CAB 3) this week, state agents were renewing a violent crackdown on opponents of moves to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term by two years without the consent of voters.

Vocal members of the Tendai Biti-led Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) have emerged as the main victims of the vicious attack on liberties.

On Tuesday, police stormed the home of the CDF’s Harare director for programmes, Paul Gorekore, and arrested him in connection with his work opposing CAB 3.

Hours later, armed police officers stormed the CDF offices in Harare in a midnight raid on Tuesday.

The officers, who arrived in two pick-up trucks, forced entry into the premises, which are located in the same building as Biti’s law chambers — and seized campaign material, including T-shirts and flyers being used to oppose the Bill.

Early this week, former opposition legislator Amos Chibaya reported receiving an anonymous death threat.

According to a police report filed at Milton Park Police Station, Chibaya received a chilling text message warning that if a planned political meeting went ahead, he would “die from arson”.

The meeting was intended to discuss the political situation surrounding the controversial CAB 3.

Freeman Chari, CDF spokesperson, raised the alarm about the crackdown, saying another official’s home was raided in Harare on Thursday.

“State agents are going after our leadership in CDF,” Chari said.

“They raided Harare province’s director [of] programmes Paul Gorekore a few days ago, they besieged Tendai Biti’s offices two days ago and today they have raided Gilbert Bgwende’s home.

“They have rammed an unpopular amendment on people and they are making sure our voices are muzzled, but we will keep speaking up and mobilising against this!”

CDF condemned the actions as an attempt to intimidate citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

This followed previous reports of police camping outside Biti’s offices, an action the former Finance minister denounced as an “unlawful and unconstitutional invasion of our right to work”.

Opposition politician Gift “Ostallos” Siziba expressed concern over the pattern of intimidation.

“The reported threats against suspected CAB 3 critics are deeply concerning and point to a worrying rise in intimidation and harassment,” he said.

“It increasingly appears as though the constitutional Bill of Rights is being treated as suspended.”

Siziba said he was also a victim of the targeted attacks.

Political commentator Reason Wafawarova framed the crackdown as an act of weakness and confirmation of lack of public support for the Bill.

“Victimisation of CAB 3 critics is a confession of fear,” he said.

“Fear of truth. Fear of the people. Fear of reality. Fear of the inevitable. It is a confirmation of illegitimacy.”

Wafawarova believes the government’s “fear” of a referendum and its critics reveals a deeper anxiety about lack of genuine public support for the amendments.

Defend the Constitution Platform (DCP) convener Jameson Timba echoed similar sentiments.

He said if there was support for the Bill, there would be no need to silence critics.

“In a democracy, popular ideas prevail through persuasion, open debate and, where the Constitution requires it, through the sovereign will of the people expressed in a referendum and not through fear or coercion.”

Timba reiterated DCP’s calls for a referendum.

“We, therefore, call upon the authorities to guarantee the safety and constitutional rights of every citizen regardless of their political views and to ensure that Zimbabwe remains a country where constitutional questions are resolved through dialogue, lawful processes and respect for the people’s sovereignty rather than intimidation,” he said.

No comment could be obtained from the police.

CAB 3 sailed through Senate and is set to be sent back to the Lower House before being presented to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for assent.

The Bill seeks to extend Mnangagwa’s term by two years and overhaul several sections of the country’s Constitution.

It has, however, faced opposition from opposition circles as well as from within Zanu PF, including retired generals and war veterans.

The post Violent crackdown greets CAB 3 move appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Minister in third attempt to grab farm -Newsday Zimbabwe

THE Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development minister has secured a reprieve from the Supreme Court, which granted him leave to appeal a High Court judgment that blocked the State’s third attempt to acquire Hope Farm in Mashonaland West province.

The sprawling 1 113-hectare farm, known as the remaining extent of Hope Farm in Kadoma district, is held under deed of transfer number 3050/78 and is owned by Mamina Hope Resources.

The minister’s application for condonation, seeking to file his appeal late, cited Mamina Hope Resources and the Registrar of Deeds as respondents.

He also requested an extension of time to note an appeal against the High Court’s judgment delivered on November 17, 2025.

The transcribed judgment was uploaded to the Integrated Electronic Case Management System on December 29, 2025.

Under Rule 45(1)(a) of the Supreme Court Rules, an appeal must be filed within 15 days of the judgment date, meaning the minister had until December 8, 2025.

He missed that deadline by one month and 16 days. Mamina opposed the application.

According to court papers, the minister is constitutionally mandated as the authority responsible for the compulsory acquisition of agricultural land required for purposes determined by the government.

According to section 72 of the Constitution, the State identifies the land, publishes a notice in the Government Gazette and upon publication, the land vests in the State.

The Deeds Office then cancels the prior title and registers a new one in favour of the State.

No compensation is paid except for improvements on the land.

This marks the third time the State has attempted to acquire Hope Farm.

The first designation occurred in 2013.

Mamina challenged it and the matter was resolved amicably after the minister admitted the property had been erroneously acquired because it belonged to black indigenous Zimbabweans.

A chief lands officer’s affidavit led to a consent order setting aside the acquisition.

In 2018, the minister again attempted to acquire the same property. Mamina challenged the move and the minister did not contest the proceedings.

The High Court nullified the acquisition, after which Mamina obtained a certificate of “no present interest” under the Land Acquisition (Disposal of Rural Land) Regulations, 1999.

The company later secured a sub-division permit to develop the land into residential stands.

In 2019, without Mamina’s knowledge, the minister allegedly gazetted the property for compulsory acquisition for a third time.

Mamina again applied to have the acquisition set aside under case number HCH 1938/25, arguing that nothing had changed since the previous designations and that the property had become peri-urban, and no longer agricultural.

The minister opposed the application, arguing that the land was required for resettlement and that the State had already settled over 200 families there.

He also contended that the certificate of “no present interest” had been issued in error and that the courts lacked jurisdiction to reverse land acquisition undertaken by the State.

He maintained that Mamina’s only constitutional recourse was to claim compensation, not to challenge the acquisition itself.

On November 17, 2025, the High Court handed down judgment nullifying the gazetting, once again siding with Mamina.

In his ruling, Supreme Court judge Justice Joseph Mafusire noted that the minister’s claim of having settled 200 families on the property was “difficult to appreciate” given that Mamina’s activities on the land had the blessing of the authorities, including the minister’s own ministry.

However, Justice Maguire found that the minister might have an arguable case on the merits, adding: “It cannot be stated with any degree of certainty that the appeal suffers from predictable failure.”

He granted the condonation application.

“The application for condonation and extension of time within which to note an appeal against the decision of the High Court under judgment number HH 850/25 in case number HCH 1938/25 be and is hereby granted.”

The minister has seven days to file his appeal. Each party will bear its own costs.

The post Minister in third attempt to grab farm appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Burglars storm Bulawayo, steal laptops, cash -Newsday Zimbabwe

BULAWAYO, Jun 26, (Newsday Live): -Police have launched a manhunt for suspects who broke into Ngwalo Ngwalo Primary School in Pumula and stole US$300 cash, laptops and four tablet cellphones before disappearing under cover of darkness.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said the value of the property stolen is yet to be advised.

“On June 24 around 0530am, police received a report of unlawful entry and theft from the informant Busani Mhlophe(41) from a Bulawayo City Council security guard currently working at Ngwalo Ngwalo Primary School,’’ Msebele said.

She said the suspects scaled the   school perimeter wall and proceeded to the administration block where they broke windows and burglar bars to gain acess to the reception, school dead office and teacher in charge’s offices.

According to police, the suspects then broke into the deputy head’s office where they got strongroom keys. They allegedly used the keys to open the strongroom where the gadgets and cash were stored.

“They stole two school HP laptops, four tablet cellphones and a cashbox containing US$300 and went away unnoticed. A report was made to police who attended the scene,” police said.

The post Burglars storm Bulawayo, steal laptops, cash  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Tenderpreneurs milking govt dry -Newsday Zimbabwe

THE continued emergence of politically-connected individuals who profiteer from securing government contracts despite lacking the capacity to execute them, commonly known as tenderpreneurs, has turned out to be a major corruption concern within the country’s public procurement system.

The issue dominated discussions in Harare yesterday at a breakfast meeting organised by Transparency International Zimbabwe, which brought together key justice sector institutions to reflect on anti-corruption efforts and strengthen collaboration in combating graft.

The engagement was attended by officials from the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs ministry, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, as well as other stakeholders.

It sought to sustain the momentum generated through previous interventions by promoting dialogue, relationship building and strategic reflection among justice sector institutions.

The meeting also served as a platform to consolidate gains achieved through previous anti-corruption initiatives, encourage knowledge sharing and explore sustainable approaches to institutionalising collaboration beyond project support.

Chief Nhema, born Rangarirai Bwawanda, raised concern about the prevalence of tenderpreneurs.

“There are people who are connected. They get tenders in the construction sector, for instance, when they do not have the equipment or capacity to do the jobs,” he said.

“They then subcontract capable companies but retain part of the money for themselves.

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“This results in financial leakages and there is always a danger of shoddy work being done.”

Concern was raised that the practice continues to drain public resources and undermine service delivery, with fears that projects awarded under such arrangements may fail to meet required standards.

However, officials from the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs ministry argued that procurement reforms introduced through the Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act and the establishment of the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) had significantly reduced opportunities for abuse.

“We had those challenges before the Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.

“Then came Praz, which established standards and regulations that all procurement entities are expected to follow.

“The framework has helped to address many of those challenges,” a ministry official said.

The meeting also heard concerns over resource constraints being faced by the police, with Chief Nhema warning that inadequate transport and operational equipment were compromising law enforcement efforts, particularly in rural areas.

He said some police officers were forced to rely on transport provided by the public, a situation that could expose them to undue influence and compromise investigations.

“In some areas, a single vehicle services several communities,” Chief Nhema said.

“In rural districts, perpetrators are aware of these limitations and may take advantage of them. It becomes difficult to effectively combat corruption under such circumstances.”

However, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi dismissed claims that police stations are operating without vehicles.

“For your own information, every police station in the country has an operational vehicle, unless otherwise. This is one of the areas which the Commissioner-General of Police, Stephen Mutamba, has addressed,” Nyathi said.

“I am surprised when people say police stations have no cars and are asking for vehicles from the public.

“There may be instances where members of the public assist police operations, but that does not mean the police have no vehicles.”

Nyathi said the government recently strengthened the police fleet through the acquisition of 500 motorcycles, which have since been distributed across the country.

“Some stations have a minimum of two motorcycles, while others have five or 10,” he said.

“As we speak, the government is in the process of acquiring 200 vehicles for the police.”

The post Tenderpreneurs milking govt dry  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Govt introduces national quality policy -Newsday Zimbabwe

GOVERNMENT is set to introduce a national quality policy aimed at strengthening Zimbabwe’s quality infrastructure and improving the competitiveness of local products as the country pursues its industrialisation agenda.

Industry and Commerce minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu yesterday said the policy, which is at an advanced stage of development, would provide a framework for enhancing standards development, conformity assessment and accreditation systems across the economy.

He revealed this during the ongoing Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce annual congress in Victoria Falls.

Ndhlovu said the policy was expected to be presented to Cabinet in the coming weeks.

“The policy will provide a comprehensive framework for strengthening Zimbabwe’s quality infrastructure, enhancing standards development, conformity assessment and accreditation systems, and promoting a culture of quality across all sectors of the economy,” he said.

Ndhlovu said improving product quality was critical if Zimbabwean companies were to compete effectively under the African Continental Free Trade Area, which offers access to a market of more than 1,4 billion people.

He urged local businesses to capitalise on China’s decision to grant 100% zero tariff to African countries, describing it as a gateway to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.

“Market access without productive capacity yields limited benefits.

“The task before us is to produce competitively, consistently and at scale.”

The minister also called for greater focus on value addition and beneficiation, arguing that Zimbabwe must break the cycle of exporting raw materials and importing finished products.

ZNCC chief executive officer Christopher Mugaga welcomed China’s zero-tariff initiative, but warned that Zimbabwe should address structural challenges to fully benefit.

China’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding encouraged local businesses to leverage the arrangement to expand exports.

The calls come as government, industry and academia seek closer collaboration to achieve a US$12 billion industrial sector by 2030.

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