MDC N MPs INTERROGATED OVER ZANU PF REMARKS

The MDC is bewildered and dismayed over the recent summoning of three of its eminent Members of Parliament and Senate in Bulilima and Mangwe constituencies – Moses Mzila Ndlovu, the MP for Bulilima West, Edward Mkhosi, MP for Mangwe and Bulilima Mangwe senator Lutho Tapela by police in Plumtree last week on accusations of making critical remarks about Zanu -PF.

The MDC learnt with shock that upon handing themselves over, the legislators were subjected to a three-hour interrogation session by members of the Law and Order Section of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Plumtree police station, in which they were accused of spreading malicious information against Zanu PF.

We are also alarmed to hear that the detectives went on to tell the party officials that they should desist from criticising Zanu -PF in their campaign rallies, a piece of advice which the MDC sees as nothing short of amazing as it  begs the following question: Who else, besides ZANU PF, is responsible for the 33 -years of ruin and backward development this country has been through and how else should MDC politicians campaign if they do not expose the reasons why people should never again vote for Zanu PF?

The MDC notes with concern that the interrogation of the legislators came just a day after police officers in Tsholotsho, also ignorant of the provisions of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) sections governing public meetings, attempted to block a district assembly meeting by summoning the President of the party, Professor Welshman Ncube and Secretary General Priscilla Misihairabwi –Mushonga to Tsholotsho Police station as they were about to address the meeting.

These deliberate efforts of intimidating and falsely criminalising our party officials by a police force which continues to display all the signs of loyalty to one party - ZANU PF is worrisome at this point in time.

However, the MDC remains unwavering  in its commitment to bring justice, fairness, equality and transparency for a truly democratic nation and that commitment will not wither and wilt, even in the face of intimidation from a partisan police force. As we embark on the final election campaign, our message of giving back power to the people through devolution of power to the provinces will resonate across the length and breadth of Zimbabwe.

Nhlanhla Dube
MDC National Spokesperson

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SIKHALA : I'M OUT OF ELECTIONS

MDC-99 leader Job Sikhala, has vowed to boycott the forthcoming elections labelling the poll a “charade”.

The former University of Zimbabwe student leader told the Daily News that his party’s National Executive Council (Nec) will not contest the forthcoming vote.

“It is a well-known fact that Mugabe is a political bully who has no room for defeat in his heart. We are not going to participate in this charade, we are calling for a total boycott,” said Sikhala.

“...participating in the elections will not bring change to us,” Sikhala told the Daily News.

“As MDC 99, if Mugabe wins elections we know that he will have rigged them and we are going to take action after elections. We will plot a lot of mass demonstrations fighting for a new Zimbabwe. We will confront Mugabe’s dictatorship. There won’t be any foreign countries to help us, but we should stand up for our own fate as Zimbabweans.”

Sikhala attacked the coalition government which he said had done nothing to implement crucial reforms.

“The terms agreed upon when the inclusive government was formed were never addressed only to try to squeeze them in now. We want a country where the security sector is extricated from making political announcements.”

He claimed he had lined up candidates countrywide but they were no longer going to contest following his Nec’s decision.

“We are Democratic Party and if any one among our party members feels he or she is thirsty to participate in these elections, they are free to join parties which are going for these charade elections,” he said.

“We don’t want to be associated with a smelling skunk.” daily news

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BENJANI DUMPS CHIPPA UNITED

BENJANI Mwaruwari has dumped Chippa United before the end of their play-off campaign as he looks for a new deal elsewhere next season.

The Zimbabwean forward has not been training with the side for the past two weeks and coach Mark Harrison admits he has no idea where he is.

"I don't know the ins and outs of it, these things are between players and the chairman. All I know is that he has not been training with us and I have to plan my team without him," Harrison told Sowetan.

"It is a big loss for us because he is a top player, but it is not the end of the world. We have other very good players here and we will carry on fighting to stay in the Premier League."

Mwaruwari had signed a contract to remain with the Chilli Boyz until the end of this month, but is nowhere to be found.

BidVest Wits have emerged as favourites to sign the 34-year-old star, though no deal has yet been struck.

New Clever Boys coach Gavin Hunt wanted to sign Benjani for SuperSport United last season, but admitted at the time they could not afford his salary.

Benjani's experience in leading the line played a vital part in Chippa moving off the bottom of the PSL table and into the play-offs.

They face a battle to retain their PSL status having drawn at home to fellow Cape Town side Santos in their opener, before losing 1-0 at Harrison's former side, Mpumalanga Black Aces.

They will not be in action when the play-offs resume tomorrow. They are to face Santos next Sunday.

 

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MDC CANDIDATE BITTER AS $5 000 CAMPAIGN ENDS IN DEFEAT

A Gweru City Council worker who was aspiring to be a Member of Parliament on an MDC-T ticket is counting his losses after he reportedly splashed about $5 000 on a  campaign but still lost the election. Mr Livingstone Chimina was eyeing the Chiwundura constituency, but lost to his rival, Mr Timothy Mukahlera in the primary elections held on Saturday.

Sources within the MDC-T said Mr Chimina applied and received a loan of $5 000 from his employer, Gweru City Council. They said he was now bitter after losing the election.

“Chimina applied for a loan from Gweru City Council for his campaign. He spent all the money on his campaign projects but was disappointed when he lost the primary elections to Mr Mukahlera,” said the source.

The source said Mr Chimina used part of the loan to build a makeshift house in Chiwundura after the electorate in Chiwundura had indicated that they would vote for a candidate who had a home in their area.

The other money was allegedly spent on buying suits for MDC-T ward chairpersons.
“He wanted to identify himself with the Chiwundura community by building a house in the area but the community still rejected him.

He would also buy beer and drinks for youths as well as hire trucks for his campaign but it still counted for nothing,” said the source.

The source said Mr Chimina held a meeting with a group of his campaign team on Sunday where he expressed anger after losing the election.

The source said Mr Chimina accused his campaign team of sabotaging him.
“He was bitter during the meeting and revealed to everyone that he used a lot of money for the campaigns. He also accused his campaign team of double dealing after Mr Mukahlera won the election resoundingly,” said the source.

Mr Chimina declined to comment over reports that he applied for a campaign loan when he was contacted yesterday. He was, however, adamant that the primaries were still to be concluded, adding that he still had a chance of winning.

“Who told you those lies? Besides, you cannot say I lost before the elections have been concluded. Other wards failed to vote and so the race is still on,” he said before abruptly terminating the call.

The sources said Mr Chimina lodged an appeal to the party’s national executive that the elections were rigged after some of the wards failed to vote.

The affected wards were Gweru’s Villages 14 and 19.

 

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POLICE TO CLEAR THE AIR ON COPS, CIOs SEEKING ZANU PF TICKETS

POLICE yesterday said they would soon hold a Press conference to clarify the contentious issue of serving security sector officers who have entered the political fray, seeking to represent Zanu PF in the forthcoming elections.

In open breach of the new Constitution, scores of serving members of the uniformed forces and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) have finally come out  into  the open about their political allegiance after submitting CVs to represent Zanu PF in polls tentatively set for next month.

“I can’t comment on this now.  We will hold a Press conference to clarify everything,” national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said yesterday.

Not a single member from the security sector, widely accused of being partisan, is contesting on tickets of parties opposed to the former sole ruling party.

Among those vying for parliamentary and senatorial seats were police officers, including Assistant Commissioner Oliver Mandipaka and Senior Assistant Commissioner Ronald Muderedzwa who will  lock horns for the Buhera West House of Assembly seat.

CIO operative Francis Mukwangwariwa is targeting Manyame while his colleague Lesley Humbe is eyeing Masvingo South.

Humbe, who intended to contest against Tourism and Hospitality minister Walter Mzembi, was, however, disqualified after allegedly forging a transfer letter from Zanu PF Mutare province, NewsDay established yesterday.

Although Humbe could not be reached for comment, NewsDay is in possession of a letter from Zanu PF Manicaland provincial secretary for administration Kenneth  Saruchera addressed to the Masvingo provincial chairman, Lovemore Matuke, disowning the transfer letter. Part of the letter, dated June  17 and copied to Manicaland provincial chair and Humbe, reads: “Please be advised that the application to transfer to Masvingo region by Lesman Humbe has not yet been considered by the provincial executive council. Any letters in respect of his transfer are invalid.”

Zanu PF Masvingo secretary for administration Edmund Mhere confirmed Humbe had been disqualified for “unprocedural” behaviour.

“He has been disqualified because he did not follow the proper party procedure,” Mhere said.

By the time of going to print yesterday, the total number of serving security forces members contesting in the polls could not be established although many believe a lot more were in the running.

This is, however, in breach of the new Constitution which stipulates that such officers remain apolitical.

Section 208 of the Sixth Schedule of the new Constitution prohibits them from seeking political offices.

“Neither the security services nor any of their members may, in the exercise of their functions, act in a partisan manner, further the interests of a political party or cause, prejudice the lawful interests of any political party or cause,” reads the new governance charter.

“Members of the security services must not be active members or office-bearers of any political party, or organisation. . . Serving members of the security services must not be employed or engaged in civilian institutions except in periods of public emergency.” newsday

 

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POORLY EQUIPPED REGISTRATION TEAMS TRIGGER CHAOS

THE ongoing intensive voter registration exercise is likely to leave out thousands of potential voters from the system as it emerged that most mobile registration teams were deployed without adequate equipment to carry out the exercise. In other areas they were spending only two instead of 30 days in a ward.

Prospective voters in long, winding queues in Bindura on Monday told journalists and a visiting delegation of legislators from the Parliamentary Portfolio committee on Defence and Home Affairs, chaired by Glen View South MP Paul Madzore, that most “aliens” were being turned away. They complained that the process was moving at a snail’s pace raising fears that thousands of potential voters would not be able to register before the cut-off date.

“Most wards have closed registration and there is only one ward in Bindura which is still doing registration, but people cannot afford bus fares or long distances to register in Bindura,” a disgruntled resident told the committee.

Bindura provincial registrar Augustine Tsuro told MPs that 33 registration teams had been deployed in Bindura district with only 11 generators and 25 cameras to photograph applicants for national registration documents.

He said there were 412 registration centres in the province which were expected to be covered by the 33 teams in areas such as Mbire, Muzarabani, Guruve, Mazowe, Mount Darwin, Rushinga and Shamva.

“All teams are carrying out voter registration and issuing out of birth and death certificates, but some of these teams do not have cameras and generators and they have to share,” Tsuro said.
“The total shortfall of equipment in the district is 26 cameras and 46 generators and we can only take photographs when there is light.”

Tsuro said although the current process had its own teething problems, it was much better than the first phase where a paltry 2 993 new applicants were processed while 4 510 people managed to inspect the voters’ roll. He said the current exercise had recorded a total of 18 060 first registrants while 20 012 people managed to inspect the roll.

Tsuro was, however, unable to give a figure of how many so-called aliens had been assisted preferring to say many were being assisted.  At Nyachuru Secondary School registration centre in Chiweshe, a long queue was observed when MPs visited the ward at lunchtime amid allegations that Zanu PF had provided food for people that had spent many hours in queues.

This claim could, however, not be independently verified as some people said the food was being given to schoolchildren. Schoolchildren interviewed by NewsDay said the food was for the crowd waiting to register while people waiting to register said it was for schoolchildren albeit that most people observed eating were from the crowd while schoolchildren were in class.

“This food has been provided by Zanu PF since yesterday. Those suspected to be MDC supporters are not served the food, ” revealed one of the villagers. In other parts of the country, the voter registration exercise was reportedly marred by controversy, delays and lack of equipment.

Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya said he had since officially written to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) requesting an extension of the voter registration exercise to allow hundreds of people to register.

Chikwinya said Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau was on record saying there was no official complaint from parties on the voter registration and he had since written to the chief elections officer seeking an extension of the voter registration exercise in his constituency. MDC-T candidate for Mbare Eric Knight said he had written a letter to his party bosses at Harvest House seeking their intervention on the matter after serious voter registration irregularities in Mbare. “The manner this exercise was handled was chaotic and several hundreds of potential voters left without registering,” Knight said. newsday

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TSVANGIRAI, NCUBE MEET

AS the chorus for a coalition of the two MDCs and three other parties to confront Zanu PF ahead of the elections grows, the political parties’ leaders yesterday met in Harare for the third time to thrash out their grand plan for the polls.

MDC-T president Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC leader Welshman Ncube, Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn president Simba Makoni and Zanu Ndonga chair Reketayi Semwayo attended the closed-door meeting at a local hotel.

Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa, whose party is part of the group opposed to President Robert Mugabe’s unilateral decision to proclaim July 31 as the harmonised election date and amendments on electoral laws in line with the new Constitution, was represented.

Tsvangirai, Ncube and Makoni refused to talk to the media as they left the meeting venue, but sources said the meeting was exploring the possibility of the grand coalition following their successful joint effort to convince the Southern African Development Community to pressure Mugabe to review the poll date and reverse his stance to stampede the countryinto elections.

“The leaders, in the true spirit of national interest, have decided to have their negotiations off the public glare, that is why this time there is no Press conference to announce the outcome of the meeting,” the sources told NewsDay.

Another source privy to the details of the discussions said: “I can tell you that something is being cooked and when it is ready to eat, you will all be invited to the party.”

Some senior officials from the two MDC parties in the inclusive government were reportedly interested in the coalition with the likes of Education minister David Coltart openly supporting the initiative.

Talk of the coalition is reported to have sent chills in the spine of Zanu PF with activists from the former ruling party in Mbare confiscating copies of yesterday’s issue of NewsDay for carrying a story about today’s meetings on the coalition. newsday

 

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ZANU PF DISTRICT CHAIRMAN'S HUTS BURNT DOWN IN MUSANA

Police in Mashonaland Central province are investigating a case of suspected politically-motivated arson in Musana where two huts belonging to Zanu PF chairperson for Rutope district were burnt by suspected MDC activists.

The arson occurred in Jokonya village under Chief Musana early Monday morning.
The victim, Anatolia Muondoka, said all her harvest for this farming season, kitchen utensils and clothes were destroyed by the fire.

Miss Muondoka, who is a widow, appealed for assistance from the government saying she is now living on handouts from well wishers.

“I no longer have anything to eat and I am now living from food handouts from well wishers. I have lost everything. I am appealing to the government to help me,” said Miss Muondoka.
Villagers in the same area expressed shock over the sad developments saying such people are a threat to society.

Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said law enforcement authorities will fully investigate the matter to its finality saying the organisation will not tolerate any form of politically motivated violence. 

“As an organisation we will not relax as such people continue to terrorise innocent people. We do not tolerate any form of violence and the culprits will be brought to book,” Senior Assistant Commissioner Charamba said.

Meanwhile, a team of police details from various units such as the Criminal Investigation Department and forensic visited the Jokonya homestead to gather evidence.

 

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HRE COP TAKES CHIHURI TO COURT OVER $70 BRIBE

A Harare traffic cop accused of accepting a bribe has dragged police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri to the High Court to stop the police chief from sacking him from the force.

Brighton Chikutwe, a sergeant in the police force currently stationed at Mbare Police Station, has filed an urgent chamber application citing Chihuri, a chief superintendent only identified as Wilson, superintendent Usayiwevhu and superintendent Nekati as respondents.

According to Chikutwe, the application seeks to interdict the four from convening a board of inquiry today to look into his suitability to remain in the police force.

Chikutwe is accused of contravening the Police Act. He allegedly demanded a $70 bribe from Michael Madzore for the release of his unlicensed vehicle.

The court heard that a constable Muzuva received the money from Madzore's brother Last Mapuranga for the release of the impounded vehicle. A trap was set-up, leading to Muzuva's arrest.

"Simultaneous to my disciplinary proceedings, criminal proceedings were preferred against me, arising from the same cause of action and these proceedings are yet to be concluded at Mbare Magistrates' Court," said Chikutwe.

He said Police Standing Orders prohibits the police force from carrying out disciplinary or board proceedings against any member whose case has been taken before a criminal court.

Chikutwe further told the court that the board inquiry was being conducted by a single person and that Wilson, Usayiwevhu and Nekati were interested parties.

"It is therefore my contention that these three officers are not suitable and competent officers to determine my fate in the police force," said Chikutwe.

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ZIMBABWE'S CATTLE BANK BEGINS OPERATIONS

WILLIAM Mukurazita’s deposit at the bank has four legs and moos. Zimbabwe’s first "Cattle Bank" has just opened its books in a unique kind of banking where owners bring in their animals as collateral against cash loans.

For many rural poor in this southern African country once wracked by world-record inflation, it is the first bank account they have ever had.

"Cattle banking is the only way owners can get monetary value for their animals without having to sell them," says bank executive Charles Chakoma, speaking from a smallholding near Marondera, east of Harare.

Owners accrue interest and have the option to either get back their cattle after two years or leave them with the bank for longer. Depositors can get loans of an equal value of the cattle they have put in the bank.

If the owner fails to repay the loan, the bank keeps the animals. When an owner dies, a close member of the family can take over payment of the loan and ultimately get the cattle back. The bank, which owns several fast-food outlets across the country, says it also will slaughter ageing cattle for beef and replace them with more productive cattle of the same value.

Mr Mukurazita, 69, and his wife, Elizabeth, 66, kept about 70 head of cattle at Masomere village, 140km from Harare. But poor health stopped them from looking after their herd and at least 20 died or were stolen, Ms Mukurazita said.

Now they have "deposited" 24 cattle at the TN Bank, named after its founder, financier and social innovator Tawanda Nyambirai. The couple now has $10,000 worth of cows in the bank.
"If we only knew about this cattle banking before, we could have saved all of our herd," Elizabeth says.

A veterinarian checks the animals and the bank pays to transport them to paddocks it has bought across the country for fattening and cross-breeding programmes. Owners are issued with the bank’s "certificate of cattle deposit" as proof of a transaction.

As bank officials log in their cattle, the Mukurazitas look worriedly at a scrawny calf whose mother has died days before. Two other calves nurse from their mothers. The envious, starving orphan tries to reach for the cow’s udder but is kicked aside and wanders off to graze awkwardly on a small patch of grass.

Untended, it will die within days, says Mr Chakoma. The state veterinary official passes the calf and values it at $49. He says the bank is not supposed to accept unhealthy animals, but that this particular calf might survive because it is able to graze on its own. He requests anonymity as he needs his superiors’ permission to speak to reporters.

Only 20% of Zimbabwean cattle are in commercial ranches. The rest — about 3.5-million village animals — are valued at more than $1bn, Mr Chakoma says. TN Bank wants to reassure Zimbabweans that despite years of world-record inflation, their bovine savings are safe, he adds.
In traditional rural society, cattle symbolise wealth and play a role not just in farming but also as bride price payments, funeral sacrifices and appeasers of ancestral spirits. Many cattle owners are reluctant to give up such a valued status symbol, but Mr Chakoma says cattle banking eases the burden on the elderly, left behind as young people head for the cities.

"Farmers may not want to part with their animals but we try to persuade them to keep a few for tilling and milking as the rest will just be a burden to them," he said.

During the dry season, there is less pasture and cattle roaming in search of grass are often lost or stolen. In winter, the cold can kill them.

Interest can be paid in cash or cows. The Mukurazitas say they would prefer it in cows so that their son can take over managing a new herd and get more land later.

"We don’t necessarily want the cash. We want to improve our herd," says William.

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GOVT FILES FOR POLL EXTENSION

GOVERNMENT has filed an application to extend the July 31 deadline for holding harmonised elections in the wake of an appeal by the Sadc extraordinary summit in Maputo, Mozambique, last weekend.

Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa yesterday filed the application on behalf of the inclusive Government.

 “During the proceedings at the said summit, I, in particular, was directed to make an urgent application before this Honourable Court (Constitutional Court) to seek a postponement of the date for the harmonised general election from July 31 2013 to August 14 2013,” he said.

“In view of the above and in my capacity as the minister responsible for the administration of the Electoral Act, I pray for an order for the extension of the elections to the 14th of August 2013.”

The relevant part of the communiqué directing Zimbabwe to seek extension of the election date reads: “Summit acknowledged the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe on the election date and agreed on the need for the Government of Zimbabwe to engage the Constitutional Court to seek more time beyond the July 31, 2013 deadline for holding the election.”

Minister Chinamasa emphasised that the application was filed despite the fact that President Mugabe had complied with the court order.

“I reiterate that His Excellency, the President, Cde RG Mugabe, is respectful of the ruling by this Honourable Court that the rule of law should be restored as regards the electoral process and thus has fully complied with the order of this court in terms of the law without any legal difficulties or impediments,” he said.

“It is only the development referred to above, initiated by the second and fourth respondents (PM Tsvangirai and Prof Ncube) precipitating a directive of the extraordinary summit of Sadc held in Maputo on June 15 2013.

“In compliance with the order of this Honourable Court, His Excellency the President promulgated the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures Amendment of Electoral Act) Regulations 2013, which align the Electoral Act with the new Constitution. The regulations were published in the Gazette on the 12th of June 2013 . . .” herald

 

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EX-MACHESO BAND MEMBERS LAUNCH NEW BAND

Former Alick Macheso band members Jonas Kasamba, Noel Nyazanda, Obert Gomba and Franco “Slomo” Dhaka have formed their music outfit called Extra Kwazvose. Earlier media reports were saying the band is called Orchestra Ndozvese.

Extra Kwazvose is led by the four and has 12 other band members. Slomo, who left Macheso to join Suluman Chimbetu in January 2012, will be the lead vocalist.

Slomo said the name Kwazvose means that the band was a mixed bag of talent.
“It’s true that we have formed the band and decided to call it Extra Kwazvose because at our band that is where one will get all the talent. We will unleash talented individuals that will shake the music industry to the core,” said Slomo.

The band will go into studio to record their debut album “Ndozviripo” that is going to available before July 5.

“Our first show will be at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex on July 5. It would be a massive gig that we will signal the arrival of the best sungura band in Zimbabwe,” said Franco.

The band has no leader and Franco is expected to do the vocals while Jonas Kasamba is expected to do the chanting on the album. Kasamba said promoters were already lining to book shows.

“We want to show the world that we are not rotten pumpkins like other people were saying. We would like to thank the people who want to assist us and the responses from different promoters have been overwhelming,” he said.

The band said they will sing their own songs. While Slomo left Suluman Chimbetu amicably, it was not the case with other three band members who left Macheso following a longstanding salary dispute.

Macheso described the trio as “rotten pumpkins”. The band members have been the vital cog in Macheso’s engine room and it is yet to be seen if he can still shine without them.

However, it remains to be seen if the newly formed sungura outfit will knock Macheso off his perch as the undisputed king of sungura. Innocent Mjintu and Zakaria Zakaria, who broke away from the legendary Macheso, failed dismally to make their mark on the music scene.

The formation of the group will also put Slomo’s singing prowess under the spotlight. While Slomo is known as one of the best dancers in the country, little is known about his singing capabilities except that he did backing vocals for Macheso.

It also remains to be seen if the group will remain intact when power struggles emerge because as it stands now there is no clearcut leader.

 

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WHEN A CHINESE FIRM ARRIVED IN BIKITA

Bikita Rural District Council has fined Nan Jiang Africa Resources diamond mining firm in Budzi communal lands US$40 000 for proceeding to build permanent structures at its site without approval from council.

Nan Jiang Africa Resources has since last year been constructing permanent structures such as administration offices and a plant in the Devuli Ranch where the company discovered kimberlite.

Bikita RDC yesterday expressed concern over the actions by the company saying it was illegal for Nan Jiang Africa Resources to proceed and build structures without council approval.

Bikita RDC chief executive Mr Johnson Mpamhadzi said they had fined Nan Jiang Africa Resources US$40 000 to have its structures regularised. He said the firm had paid US$35 000 so far and was dragging its feet in paying the US$5 000 balance.

“We are not happy at all with this company (Nan Jiang Africa Resources) because they just emerged and started building permanent structures like offices and plant equipment in our area without first seeking approval.

“Our council summoned them and ordered them to pay US$40 000 fine for their structures to be regularised and they paid part of the money ($35 000) but they have been dragging their feet in paying the balance,’’ he said.

Mr Mpamhadzi said his council would take legal action against Nan Jiang Africa Resources if the firm continued to delay payment of the fine.

He said the firm started operations at Devuli Ranch without seeking a licence from his council saying the company had not yet applied for a licence to date. Mr Mpamhadzi, however, welcomed the discovery of diamonds in Devuli Ranch saying the local community in Budzi communal lands and the neighbouring Chamutsa community in Buhera would accrue immense benefits from the mine.

 

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HRE SMALL HOUSE DEMANDS $3 000 FOR OBESE CHILD

A Harare business man was yesterday brought to the maintenance court by his mistress who was claiming US$3 000 for an 11-year-son whom she said needed more food because of obesity.

Managing Director of Optional Air Zimbabwe Rinda Mukondo yesterday appeared at the Harare civil courts where Fungai Mwale had filed a maintenance application against him.
Mwale told the court that by virtue of her child being obese, she needed US$300 for groceries, US$100 for transport to school, US$200 for incidentals and US$50 for medication, among other expenses.

She indicated that the child needed a new bed because of his obesity. Mwale indicated that Mukondo owned businesses whose clients were big companies like Econet Wireless.

“He is into air conditioning and his monthly income is about US$10 000," she said. "This man is extravagant, he goes on annual holidays with his family in South Africa or Victoria Falls and the fact that he hired a lawyer means he has the money.

“He is building an office block for his companies worth over US$350 000. He has a house in Waterfalls and drives a Mercedes Benz.”
Mwale told the court that Mukondo is married with three other children he was looking after well.

She insisted that Mukondo should continue providing for the child for him to maintain the lifestyle he is accustomed to as he used to provide US$150 for each weekend.
But Mukondo offered US$200 for the child’s monthly needs and dismissed the US$3 000 claim as ridiculous.

He told the court that he was a mere employee who earned US$2 488.
“Mwale is also gainfully employed and earns US$800," said Mukondo. "The applicant is not telling the truth, I used to give her US$200 for weekends and groceries. I last went for holidays in 2009 and the US$3 000 she is demanding is unreasonable.”

After Mukondo's plea, Mwale reduced her demands to US$2 000 per month saying the child needed extra food and care because of her obese condition. Magistrate Rekina Dzikiti deferred the matter to today for ruling. herald

 

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HRE MAN KIDNAPS ESTRANGED WIFE, HOLDS HER HOSTAGE

A Harare man reportedly followed his estranged wife to a hair salon and bundled her in his car boot for allegedly leading a lavish lifestyle while they are on separation.

Fradreck Utsiwegota (31), the court heard, followed Agnes Dumba to Dynamite Hair Salon where he allegedly forced her into his car and drove to Mt Pleasant threatening to kill her.
Utsiwegota yesterday appeared before Mr Tendai Mahwe charged with two counts of kidnapping and assault. He was remanded to July 2 on US$200 bail with the consent from the Attorney General’s office.

As part of his bail conditions, Utsiwegota was ordered to report twice a week to the police and not to interfere with witnesses.Appearing for the State Miss Junior Mugebe alleges that on June 6 around 5pm, Utsiwegota followed Dumba to the salon and ordered her to come out.

He allegedly forced her to get into his car and he drove to his house in Mt Pleasant. Along the way, Utsiwegota, it is alleged, accused Dumba of living lavishly which was in contrast to the lifestyle of a woman who is on separation.

He reportedly threatened to kill her asking her why her life was ‘flowing’ smoothly. It is the State’s case that upon arrival at the house, Utsiwegota punched and slapped Dumba several times all over her body.

He took her outside the house and bundled her in his car boot and drove for about 20 minutes to an unknown place before going back home with her still in the boot. It is alleged that he took her back to the house and started questioning her about people whose contact details were saved in her mobile phone.

Utsiwegota, the court heard, tied her hands and legs with an electric cable. He held her hostage all night long as she slept on the floor. The following morning, it is alleged, he took her to his bed and tied her to the burglar bar before leaving for work.

Dumba managed to untie herself and escaped through the bedroom window, the court heard. She made a report to the police leading to Utsiwegota's arrest. herald

 

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DJ MUNYA'S ACCOMPLICES FREED

Two men suspected to be Star FM DJ Munyaradzi Milimo's accomplices in the alleged murder of a Harare man, have been freed on US$300 bail each. High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa yesterday granted bail to Taurai Janhi and Mohammed Matare after a successful bail application by their lawyers Mr Reason Muchirewesi and Mr Gerald Madzima.

Janhi and Matare were ordered to report to the police once every week and to continue staying at their given residential addresses pending finalisation of the matter. They were also ordered not interfere with State witnesses and investigations.

Matare and Janhi join DJ Munya who was released on the same conditions last week.

The three allegedly connived to force Mr Magorimbo, who was suspected to be having an affair with DJ Munya’s wife, to consume poison leading to his death last month. herald

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ZANU PF MINISTERS WALK OUT OF CABINET MEETING

ZANU PF “big guns” dramatically left en masse an hour after a Cabinet meeting, which was due to discuss the crucial election roadmap, started on Tuesday. The meeting was also supposed to discuss an agreement made by the political parties at the just ended SADC summit, to send Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa to ask the Constitutional Court for a two week delay in the election date.

The Cabinet was meeting on Tuesday for the first time since President Robert Mugabe unilaterally declared, last Thursday, that elections will be held on July 31st.Cabinet meetings are private but some ministers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told SW Radio Africa that Mugabe and his deputy Joice Mujuru were left to discuss the post-Maputo SADC summit and the election roadmap with only three other ZANU PF ministers – Walter Mzembi,Joseph Made and Herbert Murerwa.

ZANU PF ministers who left before anything substantial had been discussed included Emmerson Mnangangwa, Nicholas Goche, Sydney Sekeremayi and Ignatius Chombo.“Their big guns were not there. They left Cabinet after an hour and we had not discussed anything controversial. We had only discussed the movement of grain, correcting of last week’s minutes and discussing whether dams are full or empty. After that the whole lot of them left at the same time. It was obvious they had a political strategy meeting somewhere.

"They left at 10 o’clock. So by the time we were discussing election matters they were not there and the ZANU PF ministers who were left were really not in a position to debate anything meaningful,” said a source.The development come a day after the SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salomão told SW Radio Africa that the political parties had resolved to use the first two days of this week to “to agree on the issues they feel have to be attended to before they go back to the Constitutional Court to request for more time.”

But sources said it is clear that political games and delaying tactics are being played as on Monday a Principals meeting had to be cancelled, because Mugabe left the country for Botswana.Another minister said Cabinet then decided the proper forum to now determine the election way forward is at “political level and not at cabinet level.” It was decided that the political leaders will meet Wednesday (Morgan Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe, Arthur Mutambara and Welshman Ncube).

One of the ministers said: “The way forward now? All of that will be determined in the meeting of the political leaders. We said in Maputo we need more time to deal with the legal processes. So the political leaders (principals) will discuss how we are going to go about and decide on who is going to do what.”Chinamasa was expected to send the Electoral Amendment Bill to parliament on Tuesday but that too has been put on hold until the principals decide what to do.

This is the bill that was passed by cabinet last week where Mugabe used a presidential decree to controversially fast track amendments to the Electoral Act to by-pass parliament, in a move that angered his coalition government partners.Another minister revealed that Tuesday’s Cabinet debate, with the few ZANU PF ministers, centered on the ‘rushed’ presidential proclamation.

"We discussed how did we get to where we were fighting each other in Maputo? How did we get to ambushing each other with a proclamation? And how can we chart a way forward.“You obviously can’t resolve all these problems at Cabinet level as people speak as individuals at Cabinet. You can speak for ten hours and it won’t help. So we decided that it needs to be discussed at the highest level, by the principals, to give clear guidance on what is possible and what is not possible.

"The cabinet ministers said Wednesday’s Principals meeting should resolve: whether to revoke Mugabe’s proclamation, how to revoke it, whether to take the Electoral Amendment Bill to parliament, how to approach the Constitutional Court and with what timelines.We were not able to reach the ZANU PF spokesman for comment. sw radio

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MDC MPs DISRUPT PARLY BUSINESS

MDC-T legislators today temporarily disrupted parliamentary business in the House of Assembly protesting against a decision by the three political parties represented in parliament to indefinitely suspend portfolio committee business from this Friday.

Parliament’s life comes to an end on Saturday next week at a time most committees have run out of business.Chief whips from Zanu-PF (Cde Joram Gumbo), MDC-T (Mr Innocent Gonese) and MDC (Mr Siyabonga Ncube) agreed on the need to suspend committee business as a result of poor attendance.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ms Nomalanga Khumalo made the announcement citing poor attendance as MPs were busy preparing for the primary elections. It was at that stage that some MDC-T MPs led by Glen View North legislator Mr Fani Munengami and Mr Festus Dumbu of Zaka West started protesting claiming that the decision was meant to cater for Zanu-PF legislators who were now preparing for the primary elections.

"We ran our primaries but did not disrupt parliamentary business, so why should we disrupt parliamentary business to accommodate Zanu-PF?” protested Mr Dumbu. Mr Munengami added: “We are not going to allow that. Committees should go ahead.” This forced the deputy speaker to summon chief whips from the three parties for consultations. After the consultations, Ms Khumalo blasted MDC-T legislators saying they were protesting against a decision that their party chief whip had approved.

This however, did not stop the MDC-T legislators from protesting, resulting in Ms Khumalo threatening them with expulsion.Mr Dumbu and Mr Munengami shouted at Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga and party deputy chief whip Ms Dorcas Sibanda accusing them of selling out by allowing suspension of committee business. MDC-T concluded primary elections in most constituencies at the weekend while Zanu-PF is set to conduct its party polls on Monday.

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DOC CLEARED OVER MAN'S EIGHT MONTH ERECTION

Delaware - A jury on Monday cleared a doctor of negligence in a lawsuit filed by a Delaware truck driver who underwent a penile implant procedure and ended up with an erection that lasted eight months.

“We're stunned,” attorney Michael Heyden said as he left the New Castle County courthouse, where his client Daniel Metzgar, 44, of Newark, Delaware, was suing urologist Thomas Desperito of Wilmington, Delaware.

In April 2010, four months after the procedure was performed, Metzgar experienced swelling and went to a hospital, where he underwent testing. Before going to the hospital, Metzgar had been unable to reach Dr Desperito.

The doctor's lawyer argued that hospital staff who performed tests were unfamiiar with penile implants and were not properly trained to do them. Therefore, the results from the tests, including images showing swelling, did not prove negligence.

Metzgar and his attorney during the one-week trial described the frequent discomfort and daily embarrassment he experienced after the procedure - including trouble riding a motorcycle, wearing normal clothes and joining family social events.

“I could hardly dance, with an erection poking my partner,” Metzgar told jurors at the start of the trial. “It's not something you want to bring out at parties and show to friends.”

Metzgar's stepson Alexander King, 18, described a once close relationship that grew distant after the procedure. King felt uncomfortable having friends over and noticed his stepfather stopped showing up at school and sporting events.

“I was - I'm sorry - highly embarrassed,” he testified during the trial.

The device was ultimately removed in 2010 after tubing punctured Metzgar's scrotum. He received a replacement implant from another doctor.

Metzgar had no comment on the jury verdict. The doctor's lawyer, Colleen Shields, said, “We think the jury reached the appropriate verdict.” - Reuters

 

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MALEMA : ANC ON A DOWNWARD SPIRAL

The ANC is on a downward spiral ideologically, politically and morally, expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said on Monday.

It was no longer committed to the freedom charter, he wrote in an open letter to Thami ka Plaatjie. Malema was responding to Ka Plaatjie's open letter to him, which was published in the Sunday Independent.

He accused the African National Congress under President Jacob Zuma of demoting South Africa to a government of thieves which used selective prosecutions and secrecy to hide its looting of the resources which should better the people's lives.

He claimed it was an association of careerists and neo-liberal bureaucrats whose sole mission and role was protecting the interests of white monopoly capital.

Malema announced last week his intention to establish a new political platform called the Economic Freedom Fighters.

In his letter, Ka Plaatjie wrote that Malema would be sealing his doom if he established a party out of anger and frustration.

The former Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) secretary general left the party in 2009 to found the Pan Africanist Movement, and resigned from it to join the ANC in May 2011. He is now an adviser to Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

He said that in blaming Zuma's hatred of him for his expulsion, he was personalising organisational discipline to rivalry between himself and the ANC's leaders.

"You are aggrieved because you have lost property and have suffered public humiliation for what you regard as your beliefs. Are these the ranks that you wish to abandon and curse?" Ka Plaatjie asked.

"My counsel to you, son of Africa, is to stay within the ranks of the glorious movement, lick your wounds, regain your resolve, up your chin and submit to organisational discipline and fate will be the best arbiter."

He said Malema had little chance of taking on the ANC and winning. In his response, Malema wrote that this advice did not make sense, as he was not a member of the ANC.

He also believed that in the ANC, under Zuma, tribalism, regionalism, and factionalism would be entrenched to marginalise all radical economic perspectives.

He also said his Economic Freedom Fighters platform was not an ANC breakaway.

Instead, it consisted of revolutionaries who, "having realised suppression of radical economic thoughts and policy direction in the ANC, have chosen to establish an independent platform to gain mass power, political power, the state and then transform the economy for the benefit of all South Africans".

Malema said that, to him and his followers, politics was not a profession for obsession with upward mobility at the expense of principle.

He said he had urged that the struggle for economic freedom in his lifetime be intensified long before charges were brought against him, and had known he and his followers could face banishment, criminalisation and threats to their lives because this would directly challenge white monopoly capital.

However, he had refused to back down, even in the face of the disciplinary action which resulted in his expulsion, because he believed the struggle was genuine.

He believed the struggle should be extended to Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Angola, Mozambique, Angola, Lesotho, Swaziland, the rest of the African continent, and intensified in Zimbabwe.

Malema said the ANC was not the alpha and omega of revolutionary politics in South Africa and that many major political events had transpired without its involvement.

To think it was only the ANC under Zuma which would carry the struggle forward was "foolishness", he said.

 

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