SUPREME COURT HEARS HIV TEST CASE

A rights activist, who is living with HIV, filed a test case in the newly constituted Constitutional Court on Thursday to highlight the challenges and ill treatment facing people living with the virus in the country’s prisons.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said Douglas Muzanenhamo’s landmark legal application becomes the first case under the new constitutional dispensation, which was passed by President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday.

Muzanenhamo’s case was heard before new nine Constitutional Court judges, two of  them Justices Ben Hlatshwayo and Bharat Patel, sworn in by Mugabe on Wednesday, in line with the country’s new constitution. The constitutional court becomes the highest court of the land after the Supreme Court which has now been converted to a court of appeal.

Muzanenhamo decided to seek redress with the Constitutional Court after he was allegedly denied access to life prolonging HIV treatment while in detention in 2011, when he was incarcerated on treason allegations.

The activist was part of a group of 44, including International Socialist Organisation leader Munyaradzi Gwisai, accused of plotting “Egyptian-style” tactics to topple President Robert Mugabe from power. The case was later thrown out, but the activists had already suffered much while in detention.

One of his lawyers, Tawanda Zhuwarara, told SW Radio Africa that not only was Muzanenhamo deliberately denied medical attention but he was denied access to his cellphone so he couldn’t call his family to bring the anti retroviral drugs.

“While in prison he was placed in solitary confinement for complaining that they were not treating him well. He also wanted to have access to his own medication while he was in a remand prison under the Zimbabwe prison Service but they were refusing to give him his own medication.”

The lawyer added: “The State objected to our application stating that there were quite a number of disputes of facts. So we managed to air out those particular issues as well as issues relating to the law – relating to how individuals are supposed to be treated in custody.”

The State denied withholding treatment and argued there are medically trained officers who are always available to make a determination of what type of drugs inmates are supposed to take. But Zhuwarara said his client was denied the ability to interrogate the qualifications of the medical officer in prison.

“In fact we don’t even know if that individual was a medical doctor but they actually gave him medication without taking his medical history. They gave him medication without making a prescription. They also gave him medication that he could not verify if they were ARVs because they were markedly different from the type of drugs that the was taking,” pointed out the lawyer.

A statement by the ZLHR said that this is not an isolated case as many other detainees are denied medical care if they are perceived to belong to certain political parties.

Muzanenhamo had been living with HIV for almost two decades but the ZLHR said: “Due to improper administration of ARVs, Muzanenhamo’s health condition deteriorated rapidly and his CD4 count dropped from the normal 800 to 579. Had he stayed longer in the custody of police and prison functionaries, he would have suffered more damage to his health and well-being.”

The Constitutional Court reserved its judgment to a later date.

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SEED CO HIT BY POOR SALES

ZIMBABWE Stock Exchange-listed seed producer Seed Co’s after-tax profits plunged 34 percent to US$12,6 million in the year to March 31, 2013, weighed down by a decline in sales.

Revenue for the 12 months also took a knock at US$111 million, representing a 6 percent retreat on the previous year.

In a statement, group secretary Mr John Matorofa said the intake rate of the Government’s input scheme came down by almost 47 percent in the period under review.
“The financial year ended March 31, 2013 was a challenging one, as reported during the interim results, particularly in Zimbabwe where the whole market’s aggregate seed uptake shrunk by close to 45 percent,” he said.

Apart from reduced seed uptake, Mr Matorofa said sales suffered from the late rains, tight liquidity and carry-over seed at the Grain Marketing Board and price wars in the cotton industry.

Winter cereal sales volumes also fell sharply, declining 41 percent during the year. But Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya recorded growth, accounting for 60 percent of revenue.

Finance charges also had a major knock-on effect on overall group profitability after a 72 percent increase on the previous year, due to carry over borrowings to finance stocks, to US$7,4 million.

Seed Co said current assets increased by 6 percent to US$116 million while total assets ended the year at US$161 million.
Seed Co said it had spent US$9,6 million on capital projects in the past year, but had a total of US$11,4 million authorised, but uncontracted funds for capital projects.

Looking ahead, the company said it expected better agricultural support after the elections this year, continued growth in East Africa, increased subsidy and presidential input schemes in Malawi, growth in new cotton seed in Tanzania and Malawi and introduction of e-voucher in Zambia.

In addition, the company also expects lower finance charges with cash tied in inventory reduced, increased co-operation from leading seed houses enhancing group access to the latest technology, intensified business development work in West Africa and release of new products.

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VINGIRAI FIGHTS FOR HIS DISPOSED BANK SHARES

BUSINESSMAN Nicholas Vingirai has appealed against the High Court judgment in his challenge to the disposal of his 51 percent stake of Intermarket Financial Holdings to ZB Financial Holdings.

High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu had dismissed an application by Transnational Holdings Ltd, a former 72 percent shareholder in IHL, seeking to invalidate the sale of the shares to ZBFH by the Reserve Bank.

The central bank, which had bailed out IHL subsidiaries — Intermarket Discount House and Intermarket Banking Corporation — had gained a controlling 51 percent stake in IHL following the conversion of debts into equity through a High Court-approved scheme of arrangement in 2005.

After the scheme of arrangement, the RBZ became the controlling shareholder with 51 percent. THL was diluted to 15,42 percent while ZBFH held 8,88 percent. The remaining 24,71 percent was held by minorities who were former creditors of Intermarket Discount House and IBC.

THL had challenged the disposal of IHL stake to ZBFH arguing that other shareholders had not been given an opportunity to exercise their pre-emptive rights in respect of the 51 percent of the issued share capital in IHL.

Some of the shareholders include Econet Wireless Ltd, the second applicant.
THL argued that Justice Bhunu dismissed the application on the grounds that the platform agreement, a culmination of the debt equity-swap deal had relevant approvals “whereas the dispute before him dealt with  . . . transactions which took place after the scheme of arrangement”.

The platform agreement provided for a series of transactions which include the cession and assignment by Zimbabwe Banking Corporation to ZBFH, of debts owed by Intermarket Discount House.

It also involved the assumption of the Intermarket Discount House debts by IHL. Also in the agreement was the conversion of the debts assumed by IHL into equity through a High Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement.

This was then followed by acquisition of ZBFH shares held by members of IHL in exchange for its own shares, resulting in IHL becoming a 100 percent subsidiary of ZBFH.
The platform agreement was subject to conditions precedent, which included approval by IHL directors and shareholders at a general meeting. A general meeting was held in January 2005 to consider the transaction.

At this meeting, according to Vingirai, the management and the board of IHL “which were now evidently under the control and influence to ZBFH”, only accepted the assumption of Intermarket Discount House debt by IHL and its conversion into equity. But the shareholders rejected the acquisition of IHL by ZBFH as they expressed their need for a proper evaluation of entities involved and options available, including merging with the then Zimbabwe Allied Banking Group.

A subsequent shareholder meeting was held on March 30, 2005. At that meeting, ZBFH’s intention to acquire IHL was signalled. However, the meeting was not asked to make any resolution on the proposed transaction, presumably because it had been rejected by the earlier general meeting.

In addition, the pre-condition set by the shareholder for considering the transaction had not been met.
The meeting approved the taking over of the Intermarket Discount House and Intermarket Banking Corporation debts by IHL and the conversion of such debts into equity.
“It must be emphasised that this meeting did not approve the takeover of IHL by ZBFH as envisioned in the platform agreement,” argues Vingirai. “It is the assumption by IHL of the debts of Intermarket Discount House and Intermarket Banking Limited and conversion of such debts to equity in IHL that constituted the scheme of arrangement that was approved by the High Court of Zimbabwe.

“The scheme did not approve the acquisition of IHL by ZBFH. There were only three parties to this High Court case — IHL, Intermarket Discount House and Intermarket Banking Corporation.”

The sale of the IHL stake to ZBFH was concluded in November 2006 at a price of Z$5 billion, with the former becoming a controlling shareholder with 60 percent. herald

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MUGABE STOLEN BEASTS TRIAL : MINUTES WERE DOCTORED

THE State will call its last witness next Wednesday to testify in the stock theft case involving suspended Zanu-PF Manicaland chairman, Mike Madiro and his deputy Dorothy Mabika.

The two allegedly stole 10 beasts meant for the 21st February Movement celebrations held in Mutare last year.

Provincial magistrate, Mrs Lucie-Anne Mungwari, deferred the case to May 29 after area public prosecutor, Ms Jane-Rose Matsikidze, told the court that her last witness, Superintendent Marodza, was not available. He is the investigating officer.

She said he was hooked up in Bulawayo for the remainder of the week testifying in a fraud case there.

“My last witness is Superintendent Marodza who is not available today because he is testifying in a fraud case in Bulawayo. When he is done he will travel to Mutare to give evidence,” she said.

When the trial continued on Wednesday the State called a police officer who was part of the investigating team to testify. Lovemore Mahachi, a computer/radio operator stationed at the police’s provincial headquarters in Mutare, told the court that he discovered that minutes to the party’s provincial executive meeting had been doctored on February 11 this year.

Defence lawyer, Mr Tinofara Hove of TK Hove law firm, disputed his evidence saying what he was now saying in court was different from what he wrote in his report which he signed for. Mahachi said he made a mistake and typed 11 January as the date when the minutes were modified instead of 11 February.

“It was a typing error but we can go back to the computer and check the dates,” he said.
At this point Ms Matsikidze made an application for an inspection in loco for the court to go to the Zanu-PF offices and inspect the said computers.

Mr Hove objected saying this was not possible because the computers were not secured and there were possibilities of date stamping on the machines.
Mrs Mungwari dismissed the application saying it was unnecessary, adding that the computers should have been secured and kept as exhibits in the first place.

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ONLY A FRACTION OF YOUTH FUND DISBURSED

THERE has been a low uptake of the Youth Fund launched two years ago by Old Mutual as only US$2,7 million has been disbursed out of the US$10 million set aside to help young people in various empowerment projects.

Lack of requisite skills have been cited as it emerged that out of more than US$4 million worth of projects approved, only US$2,7 million has been disbursed from the fund being administered by CABS owing to some bottlenecks related to its disbursement.

Of the total number of youths that have applied, only 30 percent have had their projects approved. Head of the Youth Fund at CABS, Mr Brian Mpofu, said this while giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Indigenisation Economic Empowerment committee chaired by Gokwe North Senator Tariro Mtingwende (Zanu-PF).

“The sectors we have been funding are agriculture, manufacturing and mining,” said Mr Mpofu.
He said disbursement of funds is made to suppliers of goods and services and if an applicant delays in furnishing them with such details, that would lead to a delay in disbursement of money on an approved project.

Mr Mpofu denied allegations that the fund was being distributed along partisan lines. He was responding to allegations made by Chikomo Senator Morgan Femai (MDC-T) who said there had been rumours that people belonging to certain political parties or aligned to certain politicians were benefitting.
Hwata Senator Rorana Muchichwa (MDC-T) also made the allegations.

“We consider the viability and how bankable the project is. We also consider how the loan will be serviced. It is not true that we are partisan,” he said.
He said at least 16 700 people had applied and only 3 000 people had their projects approved.

Mzilikazi Senator Matson Hlalo asked if they were happy about the low uptake of the fund.
Mr Mpofu said the response was normal given the small amount earmarked for the fund.

“I am happy given the size of the cake. If you look at it in the context of meeting the needs of Zimbabweans you might say no it is not impressive but given the size of the cake it is okay,” said Mr Mpofu.

Old Mutual launched the US$10 million revolving fund two years ago aimed at empowering youths. herald

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THREE BAND MEMBERS DESERT MACHESO OVER SLASHED PAY

Popular sungura musician Alick Macheso has been deserted by three long-serving key  members of his band, Jonas Kasamba, Obert Gomba and Donald Gogo, over a longstanding salary dispute.

Macheso has been enjoying a rise in his profile which saw him being appointed Zimbabwe Red Cross humanitarian ambassador.

The trio has been a vital cog in Macheso’s engine room and it is yet to be seen if he can still shine without them. At Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, where only three out of the 10 band members turned up for rehearsals yesterday afternoon, Macheso downplayed the matter and said: “Don’t ask me about these guys. I don’t even know from which bar Kasamba is drinking today. Ini ndichangoramba ndichikuya mimhanzi,’’ he said, banging the door behind him.

Kasamba is a chanter, while Gomba is drummer with Gogo being the lead/rhythmist.
Although there are fears that the band might collapse, the sungura maestro is not new to such mishap. Just last year, popular dancer Franco “Slomo” Dhaka, backing vocalist Elton Muropa and guitarist Noel Nyazanda left Macheso to join Suluman Chimbetu’s Orchestra Dendera Kings.

Nyazanda, however, later changed his decision and rejoined Macheso.  According to one band member who spoke on condition of anonymity, problems started a few months back when allowances and appearance fees were inexplicably chopped by more than half.

“We were shocked to have our salaries cut almost by 50 percent. We tried to talk to the management about our grievances but it was all in vain. Quite honestly, things are not going on well within the group and the only thing we could do was to leave the group,” he said.

Another band member acknowledged that all was not well within the group but was evasive when pressed if he was with the Orchestra Mberikwazvo.
“I am currently out of town attending to personal issues but what I can assure you is that things are not well within the group. Morale is at its lowest and there seems to be no room for reconciliation,” he said, hanging up the phone.

Inside sources said the band members’ grievances emanate from the fact that Macheso sent his daughter to study overseas while band members are living in poverty. Macheso’s daughter, Sharon, is believed to have gone to China to further her studies.

Band manager William Tsandukwa said although he had heard about the desertion, he was yet to ascertain the actual details.

“Ndangonzwa nerumour kuti pane vanhu vafunga zvavafunga asi ini handisati ndabata chokwadi. Kana iri nyaya yemari kana kwenyu kuHerald, haifi yakakwana,” he said. herald

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MUGABE LEAVES FOR ETHIOPIA

President Robert Mugabe has left the country for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the African Union’s golden jubilee celebrations.

Mugabe, who is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara and other senior government officials, was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Vice President Joice Mujuru, service chiefs and top government officials.

The President is expected to join other heads of state and government at the golden jubilee commemorations which are being held under the theme: ‘Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance’.

African leaders will deliberate on various issues and the outcome of the discussions will be used to develop Africa’s agenda for the next 50 years which will serve as the blueprint of the continent’s future.

The golden jubilee celebrations are premised on the principles of pan-Africanism championed by Africa’s founders.

 The AU golden jubilee celebrations will be held from the 24^th to the 27^th of May in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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ZIMBABWEAN DJ SHOOTS HIMSELF DEAD

Club wheel spinner Lennin 'DJ KB' Cassily has died. He was 32 years old. 

The wheel spinner known for spinning records at night spots such as Rugby Bar and most recently Butlers Bucket died on Sunday afternoon in a tragic suicidal death where he shot himself in the head at their farm in Banket. 

A family spokesperson confirmed the death. 

"Yes DJ KB is no longer with us. It is very sad and we are so pained by his death. It's very unfortunate that he died in such a way but we are still trying to investigate as to why he took his life as he did not leave any note or anything. Forensics and the CID are at the scene trying to investigate what could have happened as well. As of now that's what I can only say. It is a disturbing matter and we are trying to come to terms with it," he said. 

DJ KB was reportedly buried on Tuesday at their farm in Banket. He is survived by his wife who is currently based in New Zealand and son Kea and daughter Sunshine. 

DJ KB was the founder of Shumbatafari deejay stable that includes youthful wheel spinners DJ V, DJ Banks and Charlie Chaps who are now plying their trade at Butlers Bucket. 

He was based in New Zealand at one time where he lived and deejayed for 10 years. During his stay in New Zealand he was also deejay at Munt FM.

 

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FEMALE MOB HUNTS DOWN, ATTACKS TWO RAPISTS

TWO men narrowly escaped death when they were beaten by a group of women after they were accused of raping a 15-year-old mentally ill girl.

The men, aged 27 and 29, were saved by cops who took them into custody. A resident of Harare 35 section in SA is said to have seen the pair leave an empty shack with the girl on Thursday.

The resident then informed the girl’s mother of what she had seen. Suspecting the girl had been harmed, the family took her to Site B Day Hospital, where she was examined.

A doctor confirmed that the girl had indeed been raped. When police did not arrest anyone by Friday, the women organised themselves and began to search for the suspects, one of whom had been acquitted of raping a 12-year-old disabled girl last year.

When the suspects were caught, the rape victim’s mother was asked to beat the men first. Soon everyone joined in. They stopped only when the police arrived.

One of the residents said he believed the men would have been killed if the police had not intervened.

The girl’s 42-year-old mum said she could not believe that her daughter had been raped. The mum said: “What hurts me the most is the fact that I know these boys and they knew my child. I think that is how they managed to take her into their shack.”

The two appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court on Monday. Magistrate Carmen Winegaard postponed their bail application until 28 May.

Residents said they would march to court to oppose their bail. daily sun

 

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SHOCKING DETAILS EMERGE OF BRITISH NIGERIAN BORN KILLER

One of the Woolwich killers is a British citizen of Nigerian descent who became obsessed with Islamic extremism as a schoolboy, it was revealed today.

Former classmates of Michael Adebolajo told the Standard how he started becoming interested in Islam aged 15 or 16 having been raised as a Christian.

They said his Nigerian parents became so worried about his behaviour that they moved him from their home in Romford to London in a bid to protect him from being radicalised.

Today anti-terror police raided addresses in London, Lincolnshire and in Romford and took away members of his family for questioning

A woman, said to be Michael's sister, was taken away by police from an address in Romford while officers raided a house in Lincolnshire believed to belong to his dad, nurse Anthony Adebolajo, 56.

In another raid in Greenwich neighbours told the BBC that four people - two sisters in their 30s, an older woman and a teenage boy, were all taken away in a police van



His dad's house

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and his unnamed accomplice are believed to have run down the off-duty British soldier with a Vauxhall Tigra as he walked back to the Woolwich Barracks at 2.20pm yesterday, crushing his body against a road sign.

Witnesses said the terror suspects then 'hacked and chopped' at his body like 'crazed animals', before dragging his corpse into the middle of the road leaving a trail of blood.

As they apparently tried to decapitate him they were chanting 'Allah Akbar!’ – an Islamic phrase meaning ‘God is great’ - and yelling 'this is what God would have wanted'.

A blood-soaked Adebolajo, who was still holding a number of weapons in his red-stained hands, then ranted on camera in a clear London accent saying: 'You people will never be safe' before telling a passer-by they had not fled because they were waiting to 'shoot the police'.

Within 20 minutes armed officers arrived and the fundamentalists charged at them wielding firearms, knives and a machete.

Police opened fire, shooting six bullets, leaving one seriously injured. The pair remain under armed guard in two separate London hospitals.

Police were today seen outside a £365,000 detached house in a Lincolnshire village where they raided a home where Adebolajo is listed as having lived in the past.

There was no answer at the address believed to be that of Adebolajo's father, named by neighbours as Anthony Adebolajo.

Mr Adebolajo, 56, is believed to be a trained nurse now working in a managerial capacity within the NHS.

Mr Adebolajo bought the property in 2002. At one time a woman who wore a burka was thought to live with him.

They believed he had up to four grown up children, although few if any are thought to have stayed at the house for any period of time. Michael Adebolajo was listed as being a resident there in 2004, shortly after the family moved in.

One nearby resident said: 'I know his family have ties to London, but whoever is at this house is very secretive. The curtains are always drawn at the front and the back, I've never seen anybody in the garden, either.'

Neighbours said the house has been home to the same family for about a decade and the blinds at the house were today closed.

A spokesman said: 'Lincolnshire Police can confirm that the Metropolitan Police executed a search warrant under PACE at an address in Lincolnshire.

'This is in connection with the ongoing investigation into the murder of a man in Woolwich. The Metropolitan Police are not prepared to discuss the matter further at this stage.'

 

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BYO MAN STABS WOMAN AT SHEBEEN

A Bulawayo man will live to regret his temperament after he was convicted of stabbing a woman at a shebeen in Makokoba.

Khayemba Lunga, who appeared before magistrate Sibongile Msipa, will be sentenced today.

Prosecutor Masimba Saruwaka told the court that on March 7 this year, Elizabeth Magagula went to Lunga’s shebeen where she found the shebeen king in an argument with a man only identified as JB.

When Magagula tried to intervene, Lunga ordered her to leave and she complied.

As she strolled to her house, she heard footsteps behind her and saw an angry Lunga charging towards her and he later stabbed her under her armpit and on her back.  Lunga also stabbed her on the left finger as she tried to defend herself.

He denied the charges, saying after the quarrel he allowed Magagula and JB to go back to their homes “in peace”.

He added that he stayed at home after being restrained by his mother. daily news

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ELIZABETH TSVANGIRAI DONATES TO BUMHUDZO

HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife Elizabeth yesterday donated foodstuffs worth thousands of dollars to Bumhudzo Old People’s home in Chitungwiza.

The  donation included 900 kg of maize meal, 150 kg flour, rice, dried fish, cooking oil, Vaseline and other foodstuffs.

The donation was witnessed by National Healing minister Sekai Holland, MDC chairperson for Chitungwiza province Alexio Musundire and St Mary’s MP Marvellous Khumalo.

She also donated a beast and urged members of the public to help the old whom she described as an oasis of wisdom especially to the younger generation.

“Our grandparents, our senior citizens have made a lot of contribution in the development of our communities, that is why the United Nations has set aside an international day for them,” she said.

“They are the fountain of wisdom because when families face challenges they look up to them for solutions, which makes them a valuable resource to us. We must therefore, make sure they have a decent life with good health and good living.”.

Bumhudzo Old People’s Home, which began taking care of the elderly as far back as 1974 under the tutelage of the Salvation Army Church, has a capacity of 110 people but it is currently home to over 40 elderly people.

Co-administrator of the home, Angeline Kapere thanked her for the goodwill gesture saying the donation would go a long way in helping the elderly.

“I would like to thank Mrs Tsvangirai for the donation. From today we will sleep well because we know that our grandparents are well-fed,

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VIDEO : MY POVERTY IN UK - QUEEN MAKOTI

Zimbabwean Josephine Mudzingwa Siziba moved to North Shields in Tyneside as a refugee 13 years ago.
Although seen as rich by her family in Africa, she and her husband live on the Meadow Well estate, one of the most deprived in Britain.

They survive on the minimum wage and work in a number of jobs to support their daughter as well as their extended family.

Every month, she sends hundreds of pounds to help her family in Zimbabwe, who call her "Queen Makoti" because of her good deeds.

Josephine compares life for families living on the poverty line in England with the experiences of her own family in Africa.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22484877

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ANOTHER MONEY LENDER COLLAPSES IN MUTARE

ANOTHER money-lending scheme in Mutare, Shantoni Finance Company is struggling to pay investors more than $400 000 and has been placed under judicial management.

Investigations by The Manica Post revealed that Shantoni Finance Company which is under the directorship of Mr Dhumisani Nkomo, Mrs Dafris Moyo and Mrs Shamiso Severa, with Mr Ntokozo Moyo as the chairman has been facing viability problems since November last year.

The company is owing some individuals more than $30 000 and has been making empty promises to the investors who are now agitated and demanding their dues back.
Since December last year, the company has been writing debt acknowledgement letters to their clients and promising to pay back their investments to no avail.

Agitated clients have vowed to take the company head on and recover what they are owed.
"I started investing with these guys early 2012 and up to the end of June they were okay. They could afford to pay back interests. In June 2012, things became rather bad with them failing to meet monthly repayments. They asked for an extension up to the end of October 2012 and to date, they are somehow jittery. From October to date, I managed to recover less than $3 000 from my investment of more than $20 000.

"The three company directors each got a car from the company (two MPV vehicles and a Chariot)," complained one of the investors who spoke on condition of anonymity.
As financial woes continue to haunt the company, High Court judge, Mr Justice Hlatshwayo in his ruling of April 10, 2013 placed the company under judicial management for an indefinite period.

Justice Hlatshwayo said: "Subject to the provisions of Section 299 of the Companies Act (Chapter 24:03), the Master shall appoint a judicial manager of the applicant company with the powers and duties to set out in Section 302 and 303 of the Act, and subject to the supervision of this court.

"From the date of that appointment and upon completion of a  Bond of Security in accordance with Section 274 of the Companies' Act (Chapter 24:02), the judicial manager shall forthwith take over the management of the applicant company and shall prepare and submit reports in accordance with Section 303 (c) of the Act."

In an interview on Wednesday, one of the directors, Mr Nkomo, confirmed that all was not well in the company.
He said they were being owed more than $450 000 by clients especially civil servants.

"We have engaged lawyers to recover what is owed to us. Summons are already being issued out so that we can recover all outstanding amounts. We acknowledge that we owe our investors around $400 000, but we are prepared to clear everything after recovering what we are being owed by those who borrowed from us.

"The major challenge we have is that most of our debtors are civil servants who appear to have so many debts with various investment companies. Our claims are being rejected by the Salary Service Bureau saying if they deduct the money from the civil servants, they will be left with insufficient salaries as required by the law.

"We have since engaged senior police officers to help us in recovering what we are owed by members of the uniformed forces and most of them promised to start paying at the end of this month," he said.

Mr Nkomo said most of their investors were now asking for their principal investments minus the promised interests.


"The challenges which faced Capital Base in November affected us so much as some of our clients had invested with that company and were using the interests accrued from their investments to service their debts. We are calling on our investors to be patient because we are working flat out to address the situation," said Mr Nkomo.

 

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MAKANDIWA'S MIRACLE BABY DIES

A BABY claimed to have been born after a "three-day pregnancy" following a "miracle" performed by charismatic preacher, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa, has died, it was reported on Tuesday.

The miracle baby's funeral was a closely guarded affair that saw the baby being whisked away from Nazareth to Warren Hills cemetery. However the news crew that was trailing the funeral cortege as they made their way to the burial site was stopped in movie style fashion to ascertain their mission. 

A vehicle pulled up in front of the reporters car and blocked the road while two other vehicles parked on the side and behind and several men who said they are security personnel for United Family International (UFI) church interrogated the crew. 

"Where are you going? Why are you following us? You are not going anywhere until we get the go ahead from Pastor Kufa to release you!" they said. When the crew eventually reached the burial site, the security denied it any interviews with the deceased's family and kept them far from hearing the graveside speeches. 

"Call Pastor Kufa or ticharovana pano. I am not into church, my job (at UFI) is to brat people and if you move towards the grave I will deal with you," threatened one of the bouncers identified only as Shumba. 

It was observed however, from the permitted distance, that, aside from the deceased's father, no other relatives spoke at the funeral. Everything was done by church members and the miracle baby's grandfather, VaMatsenga, was not given a chance to speak. 

The miracle baby was once rumoured to be dead before his parents invited news reporters to their Zengeza residence to prove that he was (still) alive and well. 

UFI church, through their spokesperson, confirmed receiving the false rumour about the death from the couple and even promised to hold a press conference back in February. However, following the sad, but official, death of the baby everything is shrouded in secrecy.

The miracle baby's grandparents in February questioned the ‘miracle' aspect of the late baby's birth and claimed the mother had previously given birth without showing any signs of pregnancy. 

Relatives who spoke to the media expressed the same doubts. No comment could be obtained from UFI.

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CHIMANIMANI MAN HELPS FRIEND RAPE DAUGHTER FOR $90

IN an incident which left Chimanimani villagers calling for justice, a man from Koffi village under Chief Mutambara allegedly assisted his friend to rape his 13-year-old daughter.

Police said on April 16 at around 11.30pm, Temwa Garirekufa went to his rural home in the company of his friend, Martin Manjeya. Garirekufa saw his 13-year-old daughter sleeping alone in her room and ordered her to open the door.

He allegedly forced Manjeya to share the same bedroom without the juvenile's consent. "Manjeya shared the room with the juvenile, but raped her once during the night. The following day, early in the morning he ordered the juvenile not to report the matter to anyone.

He allegedly gave Garirekufa $90 before vanishing. The juvenile went on to report the matter to the police," said Assistant Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda.

He said Garirekufa and his wife ran away after realising that their daughter had reported the matter to the police.

They are still at large and police are appealing to members of the public with information leading to their arrest to contact their nearest police station.

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ANC CONGRATULATES ZIMBABWE

The ANC congratulated Zimbabwe and its President Robert Mugabe on signing into law its new Constitution on Wednesday.

"The new constitution marks a significant milestone in the successful implementation of the global peace agreement and the democratic life of Zimbabwe," ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in a statement.

"It is further a signal of a new beginning for that country premised on mutual co-operation and the need for further progress."

Mthembu said the "free fair and peaceful" nature of the referendum was a clear pointer to the fair and free elections Zimbabwe would hold in the near future.

Mugabe signed the document two months after it was approved in a referendum.

According to news agency Agence France-Presse, a new constitution was one of the pre-conditions for elections to pick a successor to the compromise government Mugabe formed four years ago with Morgan Tsvangirai.

The new constitution curtails the president's powers, limits presidential tenures to two five-year terms and does away with the post of prime minister.

Mugabe, 89, has ruled Zimbabwe since the country gained independence from Britain in 1980.

The ANC said recent events demonstrated the commitment of all political parties and the people of Zimbabwe to ensure the realisation of a free and fair election.

"The tenacity and resilience shown by the people and government of Zimbabwe must serve as an inspiration to many of us on how a country's people, when united, can seek and find their own solutions to challenges facing them," said Mthembu.

 

 

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TSVANGIRAI RAPS CHINESE FIRMS

Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai has rapped Chinese companies for poor labour practices in Zimbabwe.   Tsvangirai told visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang that he was bringing this up because he wanted more Chinese investments in the country.   "Like all businesses, we want acceptable labour standards, we want acceptable business practices. That's all what we require," the former labour union leader said. Chinese firms, especially those in construction, are known for appalling labour practices with low pay, long hours, poor working conditions andphysical abuse of local workers being the main concerns. Tsvangirai on Wednesday said Chinese investments are welcomed and he hopes the economic ties can be further strengthened after Zimbabwe's elections. He said that Zimbabwe's new constitution, which was signed into law Wednesday, provides strong protection for foreign investments. Chinese businesses form the forefront of foreign investments in Zimbabwe, Tsvangirai said, adding that he wants to be assured that the economic cooperation can be strengthened after the country holds harmonized elections later this year. China is the third largest trading partner of Zimbabwe with bilateral trade exceeding 1 billion U.S. dollars last year. China has also become Zimbabwe's largest foreign direct investment source. Chinese vice premier Wang Yang urged Zimbabwe to ensure peace and political stability ahead of elections this year, to safeguard economic growth. "A peaceful and stable political environment is the prerequisite for economic development," Wang told journalists after meeting Tsvangirai.  Wang's comments came as President Robert Mugabe signed the country's new constitution into law, clearing the path to crucial elections expected later this year. Political upheaval that followed the last elections in 2008 sent the country's economy into a tailspin marked by an astronomical rate of inflation of 231 percent that year. China has a long list of business interests in Zimbabwe which span the mining, agriculture and construction sectors. A Chinese mining company, Anjin, is one of the few outfits with rights to mine diamonds at the controversial Chiadzwa fields in eastern Zimbabwe. Another Chinese company has built a $98m defence college in the country and extended a $150m loan to refurbish the airport at Zimbabwe's prime tourist attraction, Victoria Falls.

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THREE COPS DETAINED FOR ATTENDING MDC RALLY

Zimbabwe’s police force have detained three of its officers for attending a rally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party, a rights group said Wednesday.

An internal police court sentenced Courage Manyengavana, Marshall Zindoga and Lovemore Mupedzapasi to 14 days detention for “acting in a manner which brought disrespect to the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” according to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

“They are currently serving their eleventh day of incarceration,” the rights group said.

The officers reportedly attended the rally of Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party while off duty.

The head of the party’s youth wing Solomon Madzore was later charged with insulting President Robert Mugabe after calling him “a limping donkey” at the same rally.

Police commissioner general Augustine Chihuri openly supports Mugabe and says officers with a contrary view have no place in the force.

Zimbabwe is due to hold new elections later this year. AFP

 

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MDC MP FREED IN CHPINGE

MDC-T MP for Musikavanhu constituency Prosper Mutseyami was on Tuesday released from Chipinge Remand Prison after the State failed to appeal against the court’s decision to grant him $100 bail along with six others in a case of public violence against other MDC-T party members.

Mutseyami, who is also the MDC-T organising secretary for Manicaland, was arrested alongside Hagins Kashiri, Innocent Mandava, Tichaenzana Maita, Howrad Makokosha, Allan Mukodzani and Patience Matiya two weeks ago on charges of public violence.

Last week on Tuesday, Chipinge magistrate Vusimuzi Gapara granted the accused $100 each, but the State invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act on the basis that it wanted to appeal against the granting of bail.

However, on Tuesday when the accused appeared in court, the State, led by Thembelani Dhiwayo, had not yet launched its appeal.

The seven were arrested on allegations of causing intra-party violence at Gaza Community Hall in Chipinge during an MDC-T restructuring meeting on May 5.

The meeting was also attended by senior party members including national executive member Lucia Matibenga, Mkoba legislator Amos Chibaya, Mutare Senator Keresenzia Chabuka among others.
The State alleged that on the day in question, Mutseyami brought his co-accused from Mutare to disrupt the meeting where two complainants, Sarudzai Sithole and Never Gwenzi were assaulted.
The suspects, who are being represented by Mutare lawyer Langton Mhungu, were remanded to June 4.

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