Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
FIVE people have been murdered in two days countrywide, police have confirmed.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba expressed concern over the upsurge in murder cases and urged people to desist from taking the law into their hands.

During the month of September and October, close to 20 people were killed in separate murder cases countrywide.

In June, three people were murdered in two days in separate incidents.

In many of these incidents, the suspects fled from the scenes and are still at large.

Senior Asst Comm Charamba said it was disheartening to note that despite efforts by the police and community leaders to educate people about the sanctity of human life, murders continue to take place.

“People have lost respect for life and to support this, five murder cases were recorded in two days, between October 18 and 20 in separate incidents across the country. Cases range from mere understandings, fights over girlfriends and family fights,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

“In Lupane, a Form Five student was struck to death with an axe as he was walking from school in the company of female school mates.

“In another case, a 30-year-old man had an altercation with a taxi driver in Beitbridge and the driver took a brick and struck him on the head. The man died upon admission to hospital,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

In another incident, she said, a 42-year-old man from Borrowdale assaulted his girlfriend using a stick after a misunderstanding over a text message. The girlfriend later died after she complained of a headache and pains from the assault.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba urged people to resolve their differences amicably without resorting to violence by seeking counselling from their local police stations and church elders.

“Members of the public should value the sanctity of human life and ensure that differences are solved peacefully,” she said.

Meanwhile, police in Matabeleland South Province are looking for 18 hardcore criminals that include nine wanted for murder while others are theft and armed robbery suspects.

In one of the incidents that occurred last week, six family members from Insiza District chased a suspected serial rapist into a police base where they allegedly stabbed him to death.

The deceased had allegedly raped and stabbed a woman from the family two weeks ago, leaving her hospitalised.

The alleged serial rapist was on the police’s wanted list for about six counts of rape, theft cases and was a known thug who had several pending cases in court.

The family ambushed Misheck Khanye who had disappeared soon after committing the crime last week. They caught up with him as he disembarked from a truck at Shangani Business Centre and killed him at a police base.

The five brothers fled from the scene leaving their father behind, who was then arrested.—@winnie_masara.

Walter Mswazie, Masvingo correspondent
A CHIREDZI man allegedly fatally assaulted a fellow imbiber following a dispute over the use of a machete, police have confirmed.

Tozvireva Tozvireva (38) of Chipimbi Farm, Mkwasine allegedly punched and kicked Joseph Nkomo (48) on the ribs until he became unconscious. Nkomo was rushed to the clinic where he died on arrival.

Masvingo acting police spokesperson Sergeant Chrispen Gwashu said the incident occurred on Friday at around 6PM. He said Nkomo’s body was taken to Chiredzi District Hospital for post-mortem.

“Police are investigating a murder case which occurred in Mkwasine, Chiredzi involving two revellers. The deceased was allegedly assaulted over payment for his machete that the accused had borrowed. The accused has since been arrested and is assisting police with investigations.

“He will appear in court soon facing murder charges. The deceased’s body was taken to Chiredzi hospital for post-mortem,” said Sgt Gwashu.

He said Tozvireva and Nkomo were drinking traditional beer at Plot 240 when they had a misunderstanding.

Nkomo allegedly asked for his machete that Tozvireva borrowed some time back.

Sgt Gwashu said Nkomo allegedly complained that Tozvireva had kept the machete for too long, hence he was supposed to pay for using it.

“At around 6PM the two then left the beer drink and headed to Tozvireva’s homestead on the same farm. Upon arrival, they found Tozvireva’s sister, Ms Elyness (35) guarding a maize field against monkeys. Ms Elyness took the machete from one of the huts and gave it to Nkomo but he refused to leave,” said Sgt Gwashu.

He said Nkomo remained standing arguing that Tozvireva ought to pay him.

This angered the latter and he started shoving Nkomo ordering him to leave.

After realising that Nkomo was not willing to leave the homestead, Tozvireva allegedly started assaulting him with fists and kicking him on the ribs with booted feet until he fell down and became unconscious.

Nkomo was rushed to Chipimbi Clinic where he died upon arrival.-@walterbmswazie2

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter
THREE brothers from Gokwe died in South Africa when a truck they were loading with river sand overturned and buried them under a mound of sand.

The incident occurred last week on Monday shortly after 4PM at Zamenkomste area in Kutama near Louis Trichardt town in Limpopo Province.
South African police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Moatshe Moepe said the three brothers were hired by their employer to load sand from Muegedzi River into his truck when the vehicle overturned.

“The three men who are brothers were busy loading sand into the truck and we suspect due to the load, the truck lost traction. It overturned and in the process the three men were trapped in sand and they died on the spot. We have since opened an inquest docket and we are continuing with our investigations,” said Lt Col Moepe.

He identified the deceased persons as Sifelani (19) Kudakwashe (21) and Tapiwa Mahohoma (23).

Lt Col Moepe said the bodies have since been repatriated to the country for burial.

He warned people against poaching sand in open areas near the river, which has resulted in land corrosion during rainy seasons.

“The villagers have been poaching sand for years taking advantage of the dry riverbed. We, however, would like to take this opportunity to also warn them against engaging in illegal activities as they risk being prosecuted,” said Lt Col Moepe.

Mr Joseph Mpichane, the trio’s uncle, said his nephews were buried at Chireya village in Gokwe on Wednesday last week.

King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana of the Kutama Royal Council sent his condolences to the bereaved families. “This was an unfortunate incident and I would like to pass my condolences to the family of the deceased. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of grief,” he said.

Last month three Zimbabweans died while one was rescued after a gas explosion at a disused 130-year-old gold mine near Johannesburg. They died while trying to save a colleague who had been trapped in the mine.

The mine tragedy survivor is also from Gokwe. —@mashnets

Florence Ncube, Chronicle Reporter
A MAGISTRATE has given a driver at the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara), who owes  $1 000 in maintenance arrears, 24 hours to pay the money while remanding him in custody.

Collin Tshuma (44)  of DRC houses in Empumalanga in Hwange failed to pay $50 monthly maintenance for his six-year-old daughter until the money accumulated to $1000.

He told Victoria Falls Magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa yesterday that he lost his estranged girlfriend’s contacts and banking details when he was transferred from Hwange to Masvingo.

The magistrate remanded him in custody and ordered him to ‘bring the money’ on his next appearance today.

Tshuma pleaded guilty to failure to pay maintenance and begged the court to give him time to sell some bricks to raise the money.

The magistrate said Tshuma disrespected a court order.

“Are you telling this court that for one year you couldn’t look for any means of getting in touch with the complainant or your daughter? Are you aiming to irritate this court because you can be sent to prison for that,” said Ms Maphosa.

Tshuma unsuccessfully tried to convince the court to give him a grace period to pay and even suggested that the money be garnished from his salary.

Prison guards led a handcuffed Tshuma out of the courtroom into the holding cells as he continued to plead with the magistrate. — @hurricaneflo

VP Mnangagwa

Paidamoyo Chipunza, Harare Bureau
THE Government is appealing to development partners for collaboration in the agriculture and agro-industry value chain sectors to ensure food and nutrition security for its citizens, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

In a speech read on his behalf by Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe in Harare yesterday, VP Mnangagwa said while the country had made significant progress in attainment of universal primary education, gender equality and empowerment of women and combating HIV and Aids, malaria and other diseases, more still needed to be done to reduce poverty.

He said there was therefore a need to vigorously support the agriculture sector to improve productivity in line with Zim-Asset and the 10 Point Plan.

“Let me take this opportunity to invite and exhort all potential partners of immense possibilities for collaboration existing in Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector and along the agro-industry value chain,” said VP Mnangagwa.

He said Government was committed to ensure food and nutrition security for its citizens as outlined in the national Constitution regardless of political persuasion or affiliation.

Apart from the agriculture sector, VP Mnangagwa said the country must also continue its efforts to reduce maternal mortality and the burden of HIV, put in place effective social protection measures, improve the quality of the education system and continue efforts in women economic empowerment.

VP Mnangagwa said Government would also prioritise strengthening mobilisation and targeted effective utilisation of domestic resources to complement efforts by development partners and other well wishers since illegal sanctions imposed on the country were hurting the economy thereby constraining the country to achieve Agenda 2030 goals. “Despite the current limited fiscal space we are experiencing, domestic resource mobilisation anchored on sustained economic growth and supported by an enabling macroeconomic environment, is the key means of financing the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, UN resident coordinator Mr Bishow Parajuli, said the UN family together with its developmental partners and the international community would continue to mobilise support for Zimbabwe.

He said in their collaborative response to the prevailing drought situation, they have so far mobilised about $191 million out of an appeal of $352 million.

Mr Parajuli said this assistance had reached out to 1,5 million people who were in greater need of food assistance and was expected to reach out to over three million people at the peak of the lean season.

“Our assistance is targeted to the most vulnerable communities in line with the universal humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality,” he said.

Mrs Tumisang Thabela

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
ABOUT 32 percent of children in the country’s rural provinces have dropped out of school due to their parents’ failure to pay school fees, a study has revealed.

The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Zimvac) 2016 Rural Livelihoods Assessment report released recently shows that although 32 percent of pupils dropped out of school due to financial constraints, there was an increase in the number of children in school compared to 2015.

The school attendance increased to 85 percent from 76 percent in the previous year.

A total of 15 percent were recorded to be out of school in 2016 compared to 24 percent in 2015.

Some of the reasons cited for failure by children to go to school include long distances, disability, pregnancy or marriage while others were not interested in going to school.

“About 32 percent of the children were not in school due to financial constraints followed by 24 percent who were considered to be too young. Disability was among the reasons with the lowest frequency,” reads the report.

The study revealed that five percent of the children were said to be out of school due to illness while one percent was not attending school due to disability.

According to the report, four percent of the population is said to have dropped out of school due to long distances while an additional three percent was said to be uninterested in education.

The report has also cited hunger as one of the reasons leading to children dropping out of school.

Recently, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education revealed that 31 percent of pupils in Matabeleland South were completing Grade Seven but not proceeding to Form One.

The Provincial Education Director, Mrs Tumisang Thabela, cited long distances to schools, failure to pay school fees, teenage pregnancies among other reasons.

She said in 2015 the province had 20 342 Grade Seven pupils and only 12 776 managed to enrol for Form One.

Mrs Thabela said a study needs to be conducted to ascertain where the population of drop outs goes to after completing Grade Seven. — @nqotshili

Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku

Daniel Nemukuyu, Harare Bureau
TWENTY-NINE aspiring High Court judges have proved that they cannot write a judgment, an elementary skill that every judge must possess.

For fear of more embarrassment, four of the candidates — part of the 10 lawyers lined up to be interviewed for the High Court judges’ posts yesterday — chickened out and walked out of the waiting room with tails between their legs.

The panel, that was made up of 10 commissioners from the Judicial Service Commission, had to adjourn early after dealing with the remaining six candidates.

Out of 43 candidates who on Friday sat for a two-hour exercise to test the candidates’ ability to write judgments ahead of the public interviews for the selection of eight High Court judges, only 14 passed.

Dr Elizabeth Rutsate, Mr Graciano Manyurureni, Mr Passmore Mabukwa and Mr Cassian Jakachira, who failed the pre-interview exercise conducted on Friday, packed their belongings and left the waiting room after the announcement of the written test results.

In his remarks at the beginning of the public interviews yesterday, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku registered his displeasure over a poor show by the 29, saying judgment writing skill was a pre-requisite for all judges.

“I am somewhat disappointed to report that out of the 43 candidates who turned up for the exercise, only 14 obtained a passing mark of five and above out of the total mark of 10.

“The Judicial Service Commission regards the writing of judgments as the competence of any judge. It is like the possession of a driver’s licence for all drivers,” said the Chief Justice.

The judiciary services boss advised those who failed the preliminary test to carefully reconsider whether they should attend the public interviews.

“In view of the poor performance by most of the candidates during the pre-interview assessment exercise, I am calling upon all those who did not pass this elementary exercise to introspect and decide on whether they want to proceed with the interviews or wait until they are ready and can pass this preliminary hurdle,” he said.

Chief Justice Chidyausiku said it was not an easy task for the JSC to recommend for appointment someone who has failed the basic level.

“We believe that it will be dereliction of duty on the part of the JSC to recommend to the appointing authority, the appointment of a person who fails at this elementary level to appreciate the nature of the matter that is before them or the issues that they have to decide, or the law applicable in resolving the matter,” he said.

Chief Justice Chidyausiku however, said it was a constitutional right for all candidates to participate in the interviews and persuade the panel that despite their poor showing at the pre-interview stage, they should be appointed to the High Court bench.

Mr Benjamin Chikowero of Gutu Chikowero Legal practitioners was the first to appear before the panel.

He was among those who passed the pre-interview test and he told the panel that he was qualified for the post.

Bindura-based lawyer Mr Zvidzai Kajokoto of Kajokoto and company was grilled over his persistence with the interview despite scoring 40 percent in the judgment writing test.

Chief Justice Chidyausiku said: “You want us to have faith in you when you demonstrated that you cannot write a judgment? Your mark was very low. It was four out of 10.”

Mr Kajokoto defended himself saying it was his first time to write a judgment and that given a chance, he would improve.

“It was my first time to write a judgment given that I have never been on the bench. Given time, I will be able to write good judgments.

“If I got four out of 10 on my first judgment, then it means I am not that bad,” he said.

Mr Pisirayi Kwenda of Kwenda and Associates, who came tops in the pre-interview test with 83 percent, responded to questions without any glitch.

He explained to the panel why he thinks he could be a good judge. “I chaired various commissions of inquiry for local authorities. I was never influenced by public opinion and I decided my cases fairly and in terms of the law,” he said.

Mr Kwenda is an experienced lawyer who worked in the Attorney General’s office and rose through the ranks to be head of the Appeals Section.

He left for private practice and also presided over disputes as an arbitrator.

Drama unfolded when a Murewa-based lawyer Mr Godfrey Macheyo got his chance to respond to questions.

Mr Macheyo, a former regional magistrate, dug his own grave when he cited a High Court judgment to substantiate his claims that he had appeared in the superior courts representing clients.

The judgment, in fact, blasted him for doing a disservice to his client and labelled him a liar and a lawyer who presented unhelpful arguments.

He was attacked left, right and centre over the judgment by several commissioners who felt his conduct was unwarranted in that particular case.

The interviews continue today with 10 others appearing before the commissioners.

Minister Prisca Mupfumira

Pamela Shumba/ Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporters
NEW data from the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Zimvac) 2016 Rural Livelihoods Assessment survey shows that 81 percent of Zimbabweans are choking under debts.

According to the recent study, some people are even selling property to buy food due to economic challenges.

Others were said to be selling more livestock than usual or spending savings on food.

Poor crop production was cited as one of the major reasons leading to the public seeking loans.

“There is no significant difference in the proportions of households having loans/debts in 2016, 81 percent compared to 2015, 79 percent. A higher proportion of male headed households   (21 percent) had loans debts while 16, 1 percent female headed households had loans/debts at the time of conducting the survey,” reads the report.

ZIMVAC said 61 percent of debtors depended on family and friends as sources for loans.

“The highest proportion of households across all provinces were borrowing to buy food. Matabeleland South (54 percent) and Matabeleland North (52 percent) and Masvingo (50 percent) had the highest proportions of households borrowing to purchase food.

“The second most common reason for borrowing was to pay for education costs (Manicaland, Matabeleland North and South, Midlands and Masvingo),” reads the report.

The data comes at a time when the Government has said it is in the process of updating food mitigation registers in all the provinces as four million people now require food assistance in the country.

The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Prisca Mupfumira said her Ministry was working with provincial administrators and social welfare officials to update their registers to make sure that all deserving people benefit from food aid.

She said they recently held meetings with all Provincial Administrators, Provincial welfare officers and Provincial Ministers and directed them to go out to their constituencies to make sure that more people have been added to the food mitigation registers.

“The registers should include the elderly, orphans, people living with disabilities and the chronically ill.

“These are the vulnerable groups but we have since realised that because of the drought situation which we are in, there are more people who are not normally vulnerable who are in need of food assistance,” said Minister Mupfumira in Parliament last week.

“I’m sure you’re all aware that we’ve adequate stocks. As of last week, we had about 320 000 tonnes of maize available and we have also received 19 000 tonnes of rice which is going to be incorporated into the food mitigation programme.” -@pamelashumba1— @nqotshili.

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
FOOD insecurity levels are rising in rural areas and are expected to reach 42 percent by the end of March next year, the worst of its kind since 2009.

About 4 million people in rural areas of Zimbabwe will need food aid between January and March next year and the Government intends to conduct another food assessment in urban areas to determine food requirements for city dwellers.

According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (Zimvac) 2016 Rural Livelihoods Assessment survey, food shortages in rural areas will continue to worsen until the beginning of the next harvesting season.

Zimvac’s 2016 survey revealed that hunger levels increased from six percent between April and June to 23 percent from July to September.

The figures are expected to go up to 35 percent by the end of December before shooting up to 42 percent by March next year, leaving millions in need of food aid.

“Rural food insecurity for the period April to June 2016 was estimated at 6 percent and is projected to reach 42 percent during the peak hunger period (January to March 2017). This is the highest rural food insecurity prevalence estimated since 2009. As expected, there is a progressive increase in the proportion of food insecure households as the consumption year progresses towards the peak hunger period,” reads the report.

“The 2015/16 and 2016/17 have been consecutive poorest consumption years since 2009,” the report further states.
Zimvac said the El-Nino induced drought was the major factor increasing food insecurity levels.

“There is an inverse relationship between levels of cereal crop production and food insecurity. When crop production is low, levels of food insecurity are high and vice versa which demonstrates the significant impact of cereal harvest on the food access in the majority of rural households in the country. Cereal production during the previous El-Nino years (2002 and 2008) at around 600 000 metric tonnes is comparable to that for 2016,” reads the report.

Matabeleland North’s Binga and Umguza districts are among the severely affected areas as food insecurity is expected to reach 79 and 75 percent of the population respectively.

Matabeleland South’s Matobo District is the only district from the region falling in the cluster of those with the lowest food insecurity levels.-@nqotshili

Minister Joram Gumbo

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
NATIONAL airline Air Zimbabwe has banned Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 smartphone from its flights with immediate effect.

After reports of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones catching fire spread in early September, a number of airlines around the world effected a ban on the phones.

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Joram Gumbo, said following consultations, Air Zimbabwe had also taken a similar stance. “After consultations by the national airline, it’s been agreed that we follow the global stance by other airlines to ban the cellphone in our planes for the safety of passengers and our planes as well.

“Air Zimbabwe will today (yesterday) start issuing out statements or notices to that effect so that our safety record remains intact,” he said.

According to the airline, Air Zimbabwe’s proud history hinges on its enviable safety record, the exceptional skills of its pilots, technical and ground staff and its strong in-flight customer services.

The Galaxy Note 7 smartphone ban is meant to ensure that it maintains that record.

Samsung recalled around 2,5 million phones in September after complaints of exploding batteries.

While it later insisted that all replaced devices were safe, there were reports that those phones were catching fire too.

The company then said it would stop the production of Galaxy Note 7 phones.

Carriers in Australia, Asia and Europe put the phone on a prohibited list in the past week, which comes after the US banned the device last week.

The bans are spreading worldwide. —@pchitumba1.

Cde George Charamba

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
THE Government has started working on three sub-standard transmitter sites in Midlands and Matabeleland North provinces.

Consulting engineers hired by the Government recently condemned the transmitter sites in Zvishavane, Insiza and Tsholotsho for substandard workmanship.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services, Mr George Charamba yesterday visited the Insiza and Tsholotsho transmitter sites.

“Insiza and Tsholotsho sites share this very bad attribute. Both have been condemned and my heart bleeds for Insiza because that’s the first site I visited in Matabeleland South. The worst thing that you want to happen to you is to visit a condemned site. They have honeycombs. These happen when the concrete is not compacted well to a point where you leave some air pockets.

“It then creates some gaps that leave the rods which reinforce the structure exposed to the elements, which means they will start rusting and when they rust it means the lifespan of the structure is reduced. In fact when it’s expected to live for 50 years it will survive just half the number. It’s a failure in construction,” said Mr Charamba.

He said in Zvishavane they have finished demolishing the structure and have started the foundations afresh.

“It’s the first instance where a site has been demolished and built anew, so I want to be satisfied that it can be done. If I’m not satisfied it means we’ll not accept demolitions but simply move from the condemned site to a new one.

“I went there deliberataley because I wanted to see with my own eyes what the engineers were talking about and also to dramatise the fact that the ministry expects nothing short of standards,” he said.

He added that the Government brought on board consulting engineers whose role is to follow through on all the sites to test the standards in building of the foundations.

“When they visited the sites they ran into the honeycombs and they had been patched. I’m really grateful to the engineers because when they saw patches they became suspicious. They knocked the patches and the rods were exposed. All the four foundation legs at Insiza have been condemned.

That means they have to be demolished and the work has to start afresh.  I really would have wanted to make a difference in Tsholotsho through the project. It’s a combination of honeycombed structure as well as bolts whose protrusions exceed the required standard. And because of bolts it means the four foundation structures also have to be demolished.”

Mr Charamba allayed fears that the demolitions and the new work would result in the Government paying more.

“It’s not costing us any money but we’ve lost time. We contracted a Chinese company to do the work and we’ve what we call acceptance tests, which means a structure only becomes our concern provided it has met the set standards through an acceptance test.

“Before it does it still belongs to the contractor and when we condemn a structure it means the contractor must re-do the work and invite us when they’ve our requirements.  Only then do we accept it and pay,” said Mr Charamba.

He said he was happy that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development had  announced that it had availed some money towards the digitalisation project.

“What assuaged my anger is the fact that only two weeks ago we got a lovely letter from the Minister of Finance indicating he was releasing some money towards the project, which was virtually grinding to a standstill on account of non-payment. For us it’s good news that some money has come our way. By the time I get back to Harare I’m sure we’ll know the figures.

“We were lagging behind to the tune of about $21 million and anything that will go towards reducing that level of obligation is very much welcome.

We had got to a stage where Huawei was no longer releasing equipment. We don’t want that to happen. Huawei trusts us and I don’t think it’s in our interest to undermine that trust,” said Mr Charamba.

He said once the country has places that are compliant to digitalisation and set top boxes, they will be switched on, meaning that the switching on programmes will be staggered. — @pamelashumba1

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A FOREIGN currency dealer commonly known as usiphatheleni allegedly bribed a 17-year-old girl with $150 to steal an 18-month-old baby for her, a magistrate heard yesterday.

Bulawayo regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere heard this when Rose Chivima (37) of Old Pumula suburb and her teenage accomplice who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before him facing kidnapping charges.

Chivima allegedly connived with the girl to kidnap an 18-month-old baby and offered her $150. Chivima is denying the charge while her accomplice pleaded guilty. They were both remanded out of custody to today.

Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said on February 12 this year at about 1PM, the teenage girl approached Ms Moreblessings Dube and asked to take her two minor children to the shops to buy them drinks. The court heard that after about an hour, one of Ms Dube’s children returned home alone.

Ms Dube quizzed her daughter on the whereabouts of her sibling and she revealed that she had boarded a kombi with the teenager.

The complainant became suspicious and reported the matter to the police. When the teenager was apprehended, she implicated Chivima who was also arrested.

When the teenage girl took to the witness stand, she said Chivima gave her $150 in exchange for the stolen baby. She told the court that she did not know what Chivima intended to do with the stolen baby.

Ms Dube, in her testimony, said the teenager was communicating with Chivima on WhatsApp while they were on their way to the police station.

“It looks like the accused persons had planned this whole thing with precision. I suspect Chivima decided to take my baby to the police station after she was tipped off by her co-accused since they were communicating via WhatsApp,” said Ms Dube.

Chivima, in her defence, said the teenager left the baby with her as “surety” after she gave her $150.

“My co-accused approached me under the pretext that she was sent by her mother who wanted to change R2 000 into US dollars. She then hoodwinked me into believing that she was a genuine client and I gave her $150. She offered to leave the baby with me on the understanding that she was going to collect R2 000 from her mother,” said Chivima.

She told the court that she became suspicious when her co-accused took long to return.

“I got worried when my co-accused was nowhere to be seen. I then decided to go to the police station together with the baby and reported the matter to the police, but to my surprise they detained me on allegations of kidnapping,” said Chivima.

“I’m a single mother of five and why would I kidnap someone’s child, especially a stranger for that matter? This is a fabricated story by my co-accused who wants to cover up for defrauding me of my money.” — @mashnets

Saviour Kasukuwere

Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Auditor General should move in to investigate Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere over possible abuse of office and misleading President Mugabe about a $50 million pledge ostensibly made by Chiadzwa diamond firms towards the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust, legislators have said.

The parliamentary portfolio committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment chaired by Gokwe Nembudziya MP Cde Justice Mayor Wadyajena recommended that President Mugabe should establish a commission of enquiry led by a High Court judge to investigate the “intricate web of deceit,” by Minister Kasukuwere when he was still Minister of Youth                                                                                       Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment.

The committee’s report was tabled yesterday following more than two years of inquiry that entailed holding meetings with other Cabinet Ministers, representatives of diamond firms, Marange communities among others.

In tabling the report, Cde Wadyajena said it was important to note that his committee comprised of 30 legislators, 21 of whom were from Zanu-PF while others were from MDC-T.

The report noted that President Mugabe was made to preside over the launch of the trust in Marange where he was presented a dummy cheque of $1,5 million purportedly coming from one of the diamond firms when no agreement had been reached between the concerned companies. Neither were there documents showing such a consensus.

“With the findings of this inquiry revealing clear deception bordering on criminal abuse of office, the committee calls upon the ZRP, ZACC, the Auditor General and all relevant authorities to institute formal proceedings within 14 days from the adoption of this report to investigate the conduct of Honourable Minister Kasukuwere, officials from the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board as well as the respect accorded to the President and the chiefs in the area as reflected by the statements made by the villagers,” said Cde Wadyajena while presenting the report.

“The committee further recommends that the President, H E Cde RG Mugabe establishes a commission of inquiry led by a judge or any other suitable candidate to investigate the intricate web of deceit, corruption and fraud related to the establishment and implementation of the trust.

Further, that particular attention must be paid to a likely covert strategy meant to discredit and malign the Office of the President.”
Cde Wadyajena said all Cabinet Ministers they interviewed who included Cde Francis Nhema, Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa, his predecessor Dr Obert Mpofu, the then Manicaland Governor Cde Christopher Mushohwe and diamond mining firms, professed ignorance about the existence of an agreement of $50 million pledge neither was there any documentation to that effect.

“The committee is persuaded to conclude that the diamond mining companies never at any point pledged the $10 million apiece and the nation was misled by Hon Minister Kasukuwere. There remains neither a clear paper trail nor recorded minutes between officials from the diamond mining companies and the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment,” said Cde Wadyajena.

Before the presentation was made, there was a heated argument between legislators on one hand and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Cde Mabel Chinomona and Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda after the latter stopped the report’s presentation arguing that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda wanted to go through it first.

Buhera South MP Cde Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu-PF) said attempts to stop reports detailing corruption was the basis upon which people created the perception that Zanu-PF was covering up the vice.

“President Mugabe and Zanu-PF do not condone corruption. You do not need to stop a process just because it implicates senior Government officials. Madam Speaker, people did not go to war so that one person would enjoy the wealth of this country. Recently, the leader of Government business in this House (Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa) told this House that no one was above the law. Zanu-PF has been accused of protecting people. If Chinotimba commits a crime, he should be arrested. The Zimbabwe National Army has since weighed in to say corruption is now a cancer,” said Cde Chinotimba.

Cde Chinomona later allowed the report to be tabled saying she was not aware that Adv Mudenda had since gone through it and cleared it.

Professor Jonathan Moyo

Daniel Nemukuyu, Harare Bureau
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, who is under fire over allegations of abusing $450 000 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) said the police were not ready to arrest him and the courts have no jurisdiction to order his arrest.

Opposing an application by a Harare vendor, Mr Hardlife Mudzingwa to have him arrested on corruption charges, Prof Moyo deposed an affidavit stating that Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, who was cited in his official capacity as third respondent, had indicated that he was not ready to arrest him.

To that end, Prof Moyo said no one else had the discretionary power to have him arrested.

“The first member of the ZRP is before the court as the third respondent. The third respondent has filed an affidavit and is not ‘ready’ to arrest me.

It is not the eagerness of anyone that brings anyone or places anything before a court of law. The procedure that attends to how a criminal process may be activated does not involve that.

“If the police have no cause to believe reasonably that one has committed a crime, then that is the end of the matter. It renders the suspicion of everyone else, including fourth respondent (Zacc) and applicant’s , unreasonable. No arrest ensues,” said Prof Moyo.

He said the High Court has no jurisdiction to compel such arrests.

“This court has no role to play in the determination of whether or not there is a reasonable suspicion that I have committed an offence. That is the sole constitutional prerogative of the third respondent (Commissioner-General of Police), who may be directed to investigate by the fourth respondent.

“Whether I should be arrested or not, is a discretionary matter within the province of the third respondent, which discretion must be judiciously exercised within strict constitutional guidelines.

“It is not a matter upon which this court can give direction.”

Prof Moyo said Mr Mudzingwa’s application was more of a political war waged against him under the guise of an urgent chamber application.

“He has abused the process of court to launch a sponsored political war against me solely to harass and annoy me in the perpetuation of a malicious political agenda against me.

“I am a victim — his victim and his sponsors. I reserve the right to secure legal recompense for this unjustified abuse,” reads Prof Moyo’s affidavit.

He denied the allegations levelled against him.

“I must state at the outset that I deny each and every allegation of impropriety levelled against me in the discharge of my constitutional mandate as a delegate of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. I specifically reiterate that I have at all material times faithfully adhered to my oath of office as a public servant. I have loyally and faithfully discharged my constitutional obligations as a law-abiding citizen,” the affidavit reads.

Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo yesterday deferred the hearing of the matter to Friday to allow Mr Mudzingwa’s lawyers to file an answering affidavit and other papers relevant to the case.

In the urgent chamber application, Mr Mudzingwa listed Prof Moyo, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, Commissioner-General of Police Dr Augustine Chihuri and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) as respondents.

“Pending the confirmation or discharge of the provisional order, an interim relief is hereby granted on the following terms — that third respondent (Dr Chihuri) be and is hereby ordered and directed to bring first respondent (Minister Moyo) before a court of law on the various publicised criminal allegations that he is facing and shall, to the extent that it is necessary, effect his arrest,” read part of the draft of the interim order sought.

In his papers, Mr Mudzingwa said it was his constitutional right as a Zimbabwean citizen to have Minister Moyo “brought before equity”.

Bulawayo City Council decommissions Umzingwane Dam

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
A SECOND supply dam has been decommissioned in Bulawayo, deepening the city’s water crisis, the worst in five years.

The local authority, set to embark on a 24-hour water shedding schedule for all suburbs on November 1, has been forced to decommission Umzingwane Dam due to low water levels.

Upper Ncema Dam was decommissioned in July.

This leaves the city relying on Insiza, Inyankuni, Lower Ncema, and Mtshabezi.

The four dams hold only 30,5 percent of their cumulative capacity.

Council has warned residents who exceed their water rationing limits that restrictors would be installed on their taps, adding a 48-hour shedding schedule may soon be implemented.

The city has been under water rationing since 1984.

Deputy director of engineering services Engineer Mente Ndlovu told stakeholders at a water crisis meeting yesterday that the city’s supply dams hold about 16 percent less water compared to the same time last year.

“The amount of water in the dams is currently 30,5 percent, from last month’s figure of 32,25 percent. The total volume is 126,452,645 cubic metres, of which the usable volume is 109,867,537 cubic metres. During the same period last year, the operational dams contained 193,843,440m3 of water (46.75 percent), which is 16,25 percent more than the current storage,” said Eng Ndlovu.

“It is evident that the available water in the dams needs to be conserved and one of the strategies is to water shed. For a start a 24-hour regime is recommended but a 48-hour regime has been submitted for future planning,” he said.

“The proposed 48-hour water shedding schedule would be implemented if the rainfall situation does not improve. This is a bid to conserve the water and be able to manage the limited resources and declining dam levels.”

He said the city had a deficit of 18 mega litres a day since Umzingwane Dam was decommissioned. The gap was likely to increase due to the high usage caused by high temperatures and high consumption rates, since it is summer.

Eng Ndlovu said the long term projects that council was working on were the Epping Forest and refurbishment of existing boreholes.

“This project will augment the city’s current water supply with an additional 10 mega litres of water per day and it is estimated to cost about $4 million. It is expected to be complete by June next year,” he said.

Eng Ndlovu said there were 25 operational boreholes in Nyamandlovu and Zinwa was planning to drill an additional 20 by December.

Residents have been encouraged to use water sparingly as the dams continue to be depleted and ration limits would further be reduced if the situation does not change.

“The ration limits are still in place and may further be reduced if the situation persists. Penalties will still apply to those who will exceed their limits. Persistent consumers who will continuously use their water above set limits will have water restrictors inserted at their premises. This will only let water trickle to that limit as stipulated,” said Eng Ndlovu.

Council has set daily water allocations for consumers with high density pegged at 500 litres, low density  750 litres, cottages with meters 200 litres, flats with meters 350 litres and flats with bulk meter at  60 percent of average water usage for the past six months.

The industrial areas, central business district and mines are exempt from water shedding.

A representative from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services appealed to council to spare the prisons saying the consequences would be dire and might even lead to death of inmates.

Council promised to look into the matter.

Mr Ndlovu said prepaid water meters would also help conserve water and revealed that over 3 000 residents had volunteered to have prepaid water meters installed at their premises.

Cluster committees which would work to solve the crisis were also set yesterday with religious leaders promising to pray for the rains. — @AuxiliaK

Andile Tshuma, Court Reporter
A MAGISTRATE has slammed a Bulawayo resident for “monkeying” around and behaving like a baboon for assaulting a man over 50 cents, destroying his phone worth $110.

Blessing Moyo (25) of Bulawayo’s Nkulumane suburb appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndhlovu yesterday. He pleaded guilty to negligently causing serious damage to property and was remanded out of custody to tomorrow for sentencing.

Moyo in mitigation pleaded with the magistrate for mercy.

He left the court in stitches when he said he had been playing with his friend when he pushed him to the ground and damaged his cell phone, over 50cents.

“I am sorry Your Worship. I was just playing with my friend. I did not intend to damage his property. I was drunk.  I have offered to make a payment plan and restitute my colleague,” said Moyo.

Magistrate Ndhlovu lashed out at Moyo.

He described his behaviour as reckless and childish.

“ So you ‘re telling this court that you and your friends play by assaulting each other and causing malicious damage to property. I do not understand how a 25-year-old father of two can stand before a court of law and claim that he was playing or joking when he was actually assaulting someone,” said the magistrate.

“You were playing like baboons, monkeying around. A grown up man with two children, what then would your children do if that is how you behave? What if the complainant had fractured his arm while you were ‘playing’? And you are saying you were drunk. So what? If alcohol made people act this stupid, then it would have long been banned in Zimbabwe.”

Prosecuting, Mr Kenneth Shava said Moyo and Bongani Dube, who is on the run, had a misunderstanding over 50 cents with the complainant Mr Khalip Ndlovu.

“On September 25, this year at Sekusile Shopping Centre in Nkulumane suburb, at around 7PM, Bongani Dube who is still on the run demanded $0,50 from the complainant and he refused,” he said.

“Bongani Dube grabbed the complainant by the collar and then the accused person Blessing Moyo pushed the complainant and he fell to the ground, thereby causing damage to the complainants G-Tel cell phone, which was in his trousers pocket.” — @andile_tshuma.

Mrs Belinda Ndlovu

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
WIFE to the late former Bulawayo Mayor, Jareth Ndlovu, Mrs Belinda Ndlovu has died.

She was 87.

She died on Sunday after a long illness.  Her husband was mayor from 1988 to 1989.

Mrs Ndlovu was born in 1929 at Gwanda hospital. She attended Gobadema boarding school before moving to Dadaya Mission and then Usher Institute where she trained as a domestic science teacher.  She later taught at various schools in rural Matabeleland including at Ngungumbani. She then moved to Bulawayo.

Her first job in the city was at Mtshede Primary School in Njube. However, she had to return to rural teaching following the birth of her last child.

This was according to the laws of the colonial regime at the time that required African teachers to reapply for their jobs following maternity leave.

More often than not, this reapplications would result in them being reassigned to rural schools.

After her stint at Ngungumbani, Mrs Ndlovu worked at Mpopoma Secondary School where she was among the first batch of educators to teach domestic science. Thereafter, she worked for Bulawayo City Council for many years as a home economics trainer at Pumula women’s club. She trained women in catering skills, including weaving, basketry and baking.

She worked at Esikhoveni Training Centre in Esigodini for a few years before moving to Hillside Teachers’ Training College from where she retired.
Mrs Ndlovu also served as project officer for the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa  (UCCSA).

Despite her contribution as an educationist, her real passion was reserved for her activities around her church, UCCSA.

In 1991 she was ordained as a lay pastor, a role she played until the time of her death.

She will be buried tomorrow at Lady Stanley Cemetery. A church service, to be held at the UCCSA  Church in Njube will precede the burial.

Mourners are gathered at Number 2 Humphreys Road, Orange Groove, Northvale, Bulawayo.-@AuxiliaK.

Cynthia Dube, Court Reporter
A WOMAN from Nketa 7 suburb in Bulawayo has dragged her husband to court for maintenance arrears amounting to $2 000.

Ms Anna Foroma, a member of the Johane Masowe church, told Bulawayo Maintenance Court Magistrate Manasa Musiiwa that her husband Obert Mukweshi, a policeman, was ordered to pay maintenance in 2014 but only paid for a single month.Ms Foroma said nearly $2 000 in arrears must be garnished from her husband`s salary.

However, Mukweshi said he was no longer employed. Mr Musiiwa said he would only grant Ms Foroma` s application after she provided proof that her husband was a cop.

“Application for garnishee order is set aside until the applicant goes to the Ministry of Home Affairs and brings proof that Mukweshi is employed there,” he said.Ms Foroma said her husband always travels  from Bulawayo to work in Chegutu and Kwekwe  when duty calls.She said he was just giving excuses of being ill as he does not want to take care of his children.

“In 2014, the court told Mukweshi to deposit $70 per month for the upkeep of his one minor child and now we have two children and he deposited only $70 for the first month when the maintenance application was granted. I’m struggling to maintain our two children because l’m unemployed,’ Ms Foroma said.

In defence, Mukweshi said he was no longer employed and cannot afford to clear the $2 000 maintenance arrears.

“Your Worship, l’m currently unemployed and l am always ill. I`m diabetic and she knows that l was involved in a car accident and l am still paying hospital bills,” he said— @cynthiamthembo1.

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO woman has taken the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) to court over her late husband’s outstanding salaries and terminal benefits amounting to about $25 000.

Mrs Ethel Lukama whose husband, the late Sakuwa, was a senior engineman, has filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court demanding $25 587, 21 in parked salary, terminal benefits and outstanding salaries from NRZ.

In papers before the court, she cited NRZ as the defendant.

Mrs Lukama, through her lawyers Mesdames, Vundhla-Phulu and Partners said NRZ has despite acknowledging the debt continuously failed or neglected to pay.

She said NRZ only paid her $3 000 and remained with $25 587,21.

“The defendant owed my husband outstanding salaries, terminal benefits and parked salary and there is memorandum to confirm that.

“NZR has paid $3 000 towards the outstanding amount,” said Mrs Lukama.

She wants an order directing NRZ to pay the money and the legal costs.

“Wherefore plaintiff claim against the defendant is for an order for the payment of $25 587,21 being the balance for outstanding salaries, terminal benefits and parked salary,” said Mrs Lukama.

NRZ has not yet filed opposing papers.

The struggling parastatal which is teetering on the brink of collapse has failed to pay its workers for several months.

The workers, who are owed thousands of dollars in unpaid transport allowances, in May staged nationwide protests aimed at forcing management to pay them their outstanding salaries.

The disgruntled workers across the country recently downed tools, bringing to a halt operations, including the transportation of imported wheat and drought relief maize.

NRZ is struggling to attract investment from the private sector, a situation which has seen it failing to stem its ballooning salary debt.

The parastatal’s salary arrears continue to increase as the organisation’s fortunes continue to take a knock due to a subdued market.— @mashnets

Richard Muponde, Gwanda Correspondent
A GWANDA transmitter tower which foreign engineers once deemed unfit for digital transmission was yesterday given a thumbs up by local engineers.

The development will save the Government more than $500 000.

The transmission site was part of 11 sites which had been condemned by engineers that the Government contracted from outside the country.

The Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services enlisted the services of a local engineering company, Arup Engineering Consultants, to seek a second opinion.

Engineer Privilage Dzadagu did the assessment yesterday and gave the tower a green light for operation.

Sites in Insiza, Victoria Falls and Tsholotsho were also condemned for structural defects and work has already commenced at Insiza and Tsholotsho to replace concrete foundations.

Speaking during a tour of the site yesterday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services, Mr George Charamba, said he was relieved to learn that the Gwanda transmission site was ready to host the digitalisation equipment. This tower was one of the 11 sites which had been condemned by engineers whom the Government had hired from outside the country.  However, we then engaged local engineers to get a second opinion and I’m happy to hear that the tower can host the digitalisation equipment. We needed about $600 000 to replace it. We can now channel resources to building new ones elsewhere,” said Mr Charamba.

He said the problem with the Gwanda transmitter tower was that part of it was rusty due to lack of maintenance over the years.

“This tower was built by Rhodesians but the engineers said only the top part, which we were going to remove anyway when installing the antennas, was corroded,” said Mr Charamba.

“This means that this site is suitable. This one is different from others as it doesn’t sit on pedestals. It is anchored by guy ropes which should be lubricated regularly with grease so that they won’t rust.

“We didn’t do well in the past but we have learnt. Pulling down the tower was going to take unbudgeted resources. We don’t talk about resources only. It was also going to disadvantage communities which have thousands and thousands of listeners and viewers as it was going to be switched off.”

Government is set to digitalise and move away from the analogue system.

Once the country has places that are compliant to digitalisation and set top boxes, they will be switched on, meaning that the switching on programmes will be staggered. — @richardmuponde