South Africa yesterday repatriated eight undocumented Zimbabwean children who were in the hands of that country’s Department of Social Development for three months since they were smuggled through Beitbridge Border Post last year.

The children, aged between two and 12 years, were not allowed to see or speak to their parents while in the neighbouring country since November last year.

The eight were brought into the country through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport aboard a South African Airways plane yesterday.

The latest development comes a day after a Pretoria-based North Gauteng High Court Judge Bill Prinsloo dismissed an urgent chamber application by the minors’ parents. Judge Prinsloo made his ruling after the parents of the children through their lawyer, Advocate Simba Chitando, filed an urgent chamber application trying to interdict the Department of Social Development from repatriating the minors.

The parents wanted their children to be released into their custody.

South Africa Social Development spokesperson Ms Lumka Oliphant yesterday confirmed the latest development.

“I can confirm that the eight Zimbabwean children were repatriated today (yesterday) aboard a South African Airways plane under the escort of South African police and officials from the departments of Social Development, Home Affairs and International Relations and Co-operation. They were handed over to officials from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare,” she said.

The children were smuggled into the neighbouring country last year in November.

They were travelling in a truck to join their parents in Cape Town for the Christmas holiday. The truck was intercepted at a service station in Rustenburg after police received a tip-off from people who suspected that the minors were victims of human trafficking.

The children were kept at a safe house in Rustenburg.

“The alleged parents demanded that the children be released into their care but could not provide proof that they are indeed the children’s parents or primary caregivers,” said Ms Oliphant. “In terms of section 290 of the Children’s Act, there is a need to ascertain where the children will be released to. In this instance, the children will be released into the care and safety of the Government of Zimbabwe.”  Ms Oliphant said the driver of the truck they were travelling in was in possession of 15 passports — none of which belonged to the minors in transit. Judge Prinsloo ruled that he could not fathom how parents could allow their children to travel with strangers, in a truck, from Beitbridge to Cape Town, saying he doubted that the parents acted in the best interests of the children.

In a statement, South Africa’s Minister of Social Development Ms Susan Shabangu welcomed the decision to repatriate the children to Zimbabwe.

“We believe that the South African Government, through the Department of Social Development, always acts in the best interest of the child. We want to thank the South African Police Service, the social workers, the office of the Family Advocate and all other officials who worked tirelessly to make sure that the children are protected,” she said.

The Office of the Consular-General of Zimbabwe has been highly involved. They conducted interviews, assessed and confirmed that the children were indeed of Zimbabwean nationality and they were issued with repatriation certificates. The Department of Social Development has a Memorandum of Understanding with Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare on matters related to unaccompanied and undocumented minors. Despite stiff fines imposed by the South African Home Affairs stipulating that omalayitsha caught smuggling undocumented travellers or those with expired passports or no valid visas, into South Africa, are required fork out a fine of R15 000 per person, the smuggling of undocumented persons continues unabated.

Last year in December, more than 100 children without requisite travelling documents were repatriated back to Zimbabwe from South Africa after being smuggled by cross border drivers (omalayitsha) during the holiday. The Zimbabwe-South Africa Cross-Border Co-ordination Committee for Unaccompanied and Separated Migrant Children has on many occasions raised concern over the rampant smuggling of minors between the two countries’ borders. The committee is made up of officials from the two countries’ social service departments, immigration, police, and non-governmental organisations and human rights lawyers.- state media

Two members of a Filabusi family in Matabeleland South province have died while six others have been hospitalised after consuming poisonous mushrooms bringing to 13 the number of mushroom deaths in just nine days.

Eleven of the dead are members of a Mberengwa family who consumed the poisonous mushrooms on Tuesday last week.

The 11th Mberengwa family member died yesterday afternoon at Mpilo Central Hospital.

Mpilo clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said yesterday that one adult and a toddler from a Filabusi family died while five others from the same family have been hospitalised after consuming poisonous mushrooms.

He said one of those hospitalised was toddler admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Mpilo while four other family members are being treated at Filabusi District Hospital.

“We now have another mushroom poisoning incident from Filabusi and this time seven family members consumed the poisonous mushrooms and two have died. One of them died while being transferred to this hospital while the other died after being admitted. We are attending to a toddler battling for life in the ICU,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He said the family was first taken to Filabusi District Hospital where four members are still admitted.

“What I gathered from the family is that they have always eaten the same mushrooms over the years. It is worrying that we continue to witness unnecessary loss of lives due to these mushrooms,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He warned members of the public against eating or buying wild mushrooms as mushroom poisoning leads to liver, brain or kidney failure.

“People should only consume commercial mushrooms which are safe. We discourage people from picking and eating wild mushrooms as some of the musrooms are poisonous and can cause organ failure” he said.

Dr Ngwenya said two of the three Mberengwa family members who were still admitted at the hospital have since been discharged.

“We are now left with one child who is still under observation,” said Dr Ngwenya.

According to police, Mr Tenious Shoko (45) from Mberengwa sent his 16-year-old daughter to pick some mushrooms for relish on Tuesday last week.

The 16-year-old prepared the mushrooms which were consumed by the whole family leading to the death of 11 family members.- state media

“Where is the evidence of rigging?” asked ED – Stop asking stupid questions and
answer: “Where is the evidence you implemented all the reforms?”

By Wilbert Mukori| “President Mnangagwa denies previous elections were unfair, especially in 2008, when NGOs reckoned that at least 270 activists of the MDC were killed,” reported the UK Economist.

“Where is the evidence for violence? Not a single case was taken to the police. There was no evidence,” he insisted.

That is a nonsensical argument, after the 2008 election not even the many Zanu PF minions and apologist would deny Zanu PF rigged the elections. Whilst they had accused the West of falsely accusing the regime of rigging elections because they had an axe to grind they could not say the say of SADC and the AU. The two African bodies had too condemned the elections as not being free and fair.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police had not only turned a blind eye to Zanu PF inspired political
violence, which was the norm, but that year they had gone beyond the pale. The Police, together with the Army and CIO, had orchestrated and even carried out some of the politically motived violence.

Although hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans were beaten and/or raped and 270 murdered only a few people were ever arrested, charged and convicted of committing these heinous crimes.

When those committing the crime are also responsible for enforcing the law; the criminal
activities are swept under the carpet and the evidence, even if someone took the initiative to collect it, is suppressed or lost. Before independence, Ian Smith was doing this all the time; of all people Mnangagwa knows this only too well.

If President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF thugs are denying they ever rigged elections, even the well documented cases like the 2008, what reason is there that they will not blatantly rig this year’s elections and flatly insist the elections were free and fair? This is exactly the reason why we must insist on agreed benchmarks Zanu PF must deliver on long before we look at what happens on the voting day itself. Fortunately, these benchmarks are already there.

After blatant cheating and wanton violence that marred the 2008 elections, SADC leaders forced Mugabe and his Zanu PF party to sign an agreement stipulating a raft of democratic reforms that were to be carried to stop the vote rigging. The agreement also called for the formation of the GNU which was then tasked to implement the reforms.

Sadly, not even one democratic reform was implemented throughout the five years of the GNU. It is another day’s tale as to why no reforms implemented; it will suffice for now to that Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends sold out on reforms.

SADC leaders appreciated the importance of implementing the reforms BEFORE holding
elections and so, they called for the 2013 elections must be postponed.

“In 2013 the Maputo Summit, in June 2013, before the elections, the Maputo Summit was all about having the elections postponed – the SADC summit,” Dr Ibbo Mandaza explained.

“I went there. I was there at the Summit and Mugabe pretended to agree to a postponement of the elections. If you recall, the postponement was based on the need to reform at least electoral laws.

“After that Summit, Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, all of them were called to a separate meeting by the Heads of State of SADC in the absence of Mugabe, that same evening. And they were told; I was sitting there outside the room with Mac Maharaj; they were told ‘if you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done’.”

Sadly, MDC leaders did not listen, incompetence and greed got the better of them; they took part in the flawed and illegal elections. Zanu PF went on to rig the elections as SADC leaders had foretold. How Zanu PF rigged the 2013 elections is also another tale for another day, it will suffice for now to say with no democratic reforms the sky is the limit to the vote rigging options open to the regime.

What must be made emphatically here is not for the election observers, foreign or local, to
supervise the Police, make sure they record and investigate cases of cheating and violence. Or to supervise ZEC, make sure the country has verified voters’ roll; etc. They task is to observe the election process, period.

President Mnangagwa and his government’s responsibility make sure the coming elections are free, fair and credible. As the State President, the bucks stops with him to ensure State
Institutions like the Police and ZEC are adequately resourced and empowered to delivery free, fair and credible elections.

If there should ever be any cause to doubt the nation’s ability to hold free and fair elections it is the duty of the relevant State Institution, be it the Police, ZEC or both, in the first instance, to thoroughly investigate the cause, put it right and punish those found guilty of causing the incident. They must also produce detailed report(s) giving recommendation to ensure a similar thing will never happen again. Government has the legal obligation to ensure the relevant  authorities have carried out the statutory duties and confidence in the country’s ability to hold free, fair and credible elections is fully restored.

It is not for President Mnangagwa to ask us, the public; “Where is the evidence of Zanu PF
rigging elections in the past?” In 2008 SADC and AU did not force Zanu PF to sign the
agreement to implement the raft of democratic reforms on a whim, they had witness the blatant cheat and wanton violence that took place that year.

Of course, there is evidence that Zanu PF rigged the 2008 elections and many more beside. The line of questioning is the height of mischievous political arrogance; why ask the public for evidence you yourself has helped to bury for selfish reason of staying in power regardless of the public’s democratic wishes.

But even if SADC or anyone failed to produce even one shred of evidence of any election
irregularities much less the barbaric violence; the raft of democratic reforms we are demanding must be implemented before the coming elections will be guarantee the elections are free, fair and credible. Even if you, Mr President do not want the guarantee, we want it and demand it!

You see, Mr President Mnangagwa, the bottom line is; it is not for you to ask us, why we want guarantees to our basic freedoms and fundamental rights such as the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country. We know you have been short changing us all these last 38 years.

You and the rest of your Junta friends are public servants; we the people are the public and you and your Junta friends are our servants. You lot are accountable to us the public. As long as you are able to rig elections, you short circuit our power to hold you lot to account, this is why we demand that all the democratic reforms are implemented without further ado BEFORE the elections.

Mr President, read my lips! It not for you to ask stupid questions but to answer: “Where is the evidence of implementing the democratic reforms?”

If the elections go ahead with no reforms in place, let me tell you here and now, the process will be declared null and void! – zsdemocrats.blogspot.co.uk

“Pull her up” is what Zimbabwe women leaders were saying today at the launch of the 50/50 Advocacy Campaign and Women’s Manifesto in Harare this morning. So great to be there! pic.twitter.com/Xsmbps3Bag

— Catriona Laing (@CatrionaLaing1) March 6, 2018

Below is the full text of the parliament delivery as MDC leader Nelson Chamisa thanks President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the state’s assistance in the burial of the late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai:

*HON. ADV. CHAMISA:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  The words that I stood up to say are in connection with the rights that are provided for in the Standing Orders.  I stood up to give strong words to you Mr. Speaker and also extend those words to the President of the nation.  I say these words concerning what befell us as a nation a few weeks ago after losing our former Prime Minister, Mr. Tsvangirai who was also the leader of the MDC-T.

          Mr. Speaker, this was an event that befell us whilst we were unawares.  So I stood up to say that as a party that is in this august House and well known in this august House which is the Movement for Democratic Change that I lead.  – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

          Mr. Speaker I wish to say these words expressing my gratitude especially to Parliament which is headed by you and also all the other parliamentarians.  We saw us coming together to unite and go through the bereavement of Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai. There was no partisanship in this event and you also said a lot Mr. Speaker when you attended the funeral.  We know there are two parties MDC-T and ZANU PF in Parliament.  We are two parties that are well known to be part of Government.  We also want to thank His Excellency the President for the words that he gave.

          It is important that we emulate this in Parliament because we are in Parliament.  His Excellency the President came, the Hon. Vice President came and also Hon. S. K. Moyo even when the body of the late arrived, we realised that there is nothing that stops us from working as a team in Zimbabwe.  I am sure this will be extended throughout the elections and we received a lot of assistance from the Government.  On behalf of the Movement for Democratic Change, I want to thank you.  We hope that such events can unite the people.

As a leader who was given this position, I also hope that we will have a new dispensation that where we are heading, the way we are going to proceed should be to unite our nation.  We might differ in terms of views and perspectives, but the country is the same.  Where we are heading, we should not think that this person does not deserve this anymore.  We want our country to develop and not look at the issue of party; we should not be partisan in rebuilding our nation.  I thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

          THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, order Hon. Members.

          HON. CHASI:  Thank you very much Mr. Speaker.  I want to thank Hon. Chamisa for the expression of gratitude to the leadership of Government and the treatment that was given to the late Mr. Tsvangirai on his bereavement.  It is indeed gratifying that Government gave him such a treatment and I was personally and I think everyone in the country acknowledged that he was a leader of great note.  But I think the story would not be complete without making reference to the violence that took place at that funeral. – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] –

          It would be extremely remiss of this House for it not to abhor the treatment that was given to some of the leaders of the opposition, in particular, Dr. Khupe. – [AN HON. MEMBER: Wanga uriko here iwe!] –  I also want to make reference to the violence that took place in Bulawayo last week or so – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –   We must, and I cannot be shut down – [AN HON. MEMER:  Ngaataure nezve Gukurahundi!] –  I need to be protected as I make reference to the violence that took place in Bulawayo last week when old people were assaulted with stones.  This is pre-election violence and we must make reference to it and abhor it.  It does not matter who it is that causes violence in this country.  We are going towards a very important election and as in the past when violence has been condemned, the violence that took place in Bulawayo must similarly be condemned – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –         Our friends on the opposite side must not pretend that violence did not happen and I want to say that this House must condemn that violence.  I thank you. – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –

          THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order! I thought we are here to build each other for a peaceful nation.  I accept the expression of gratitude expressed by Hon. Adv. Chamisa and the observation by Hon. Chasi.

Dear Emmerson,
Yesterday you repeated your claim that “the voice of the people is the voice of God”.

Your claim is blasphemous & plain stupid.

The voice of God is the Bible, not the people. Read this

Is The Voice Of The People; The Voice Of God…? https://t.co/aUBB2px5J1 pic.twitter.com/XlYbynNPfO

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) March 8, 2018

With Russia suddenly striking secret deals with Mnangagwa today, was it a good idea for Trump to put sanctions on ED?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 8, 2018

More details emerge on how Vice President Chiwenga yesterday for the second time in weeks fell and had to be hospitalised.

The local Daily News reports on how Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was yesterday rushed to hospital after suffering a dramatic fall at the Zanu PF headquarters — forcing him to cancel his politburo attendance.

This is the second time in two months the ex soldier has been rushed to hospital. Last time he collapsed while inside his office and was rushed to a nearby private hospital in Harare.

“Feya Feya” Can Chamisa Beat Mnangagwa?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 8, 2018

The 61-year-old tripped and fell and badly hurt his hand just after arriving for yesterday’s conclave, whose agenda included election preparations, mobilisation of voters, party regalia and the threat of defections ahead of the crucial mid-year general election.

The former commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces reportedly missed a step and slipped, before injuring his hand.

He sustained a mild sprain that could limit his function for a few days.

Chiwenga was mobbed by concerned staffers and colleagues at the Zanu PF headquarters foyer, who commiserated with him as he was being rushed to hospital.

He was whisked away in his Range Rover, escorted by the police.

“We were all worried when he slipped and hurt his hand but, as you saw, he is a fighter. He just had to be excused earlier to get his hand looked at,” said a staffer at the ruling party offices.

The politburo continued with its deliberations without Chiwenga who, along with Vice President Kembo Mohadi, regularly flank party leader and President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the top table.

Chiwenga is not the first high-profile official to fall in public under varying circumstances.

Former president Robert Mugabe became the butt of jokes and mimicry in February 2015 when he missed a step and tumbled off the podium at the then Harare International Airport moments after arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The incident caused a witch-hunt within Mugabe’s inner circle, resulting in the removal of some of his close aides from the security team.

In May 2014, former police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri collapsed at a parade at Morris Depot soon after Mugabe had addressed graduates.

He was quickly wheeled off on a stretcher.

He later attributed his blackout to working long hours and a mix-up in the shoes he wore for the occasion.

“I have been working overnight for quite some time. The situation has been exacerbated or worsened by the fact that there was a mix-up of my shoes. The right shoe was mixed up with the left one. The right shoe is a bit small and it is an old shoe so my toes were burning because of the tightness of the shoe and there was no circulation (of blood) in that leg that caused me to be dizzy and then fell down.

“I had this small blackout because of what I have explained, lack of circulation but checked the blood pressure is ok you can ask Dr Mombeshora, he also checked the sugar levels, they are fine and that coupled with the heat and the type of clothing and what I also had inside because in the morning it was a bit chilly, so I had put on some T-shirt as you can see so that caused that (collapse),” he said.

By Davison Todson Gomo |The recent decision by Donald Trump to slap sanctions on Mnangagwa confirms beyond doubt that American Foreign policy has lost touch with the aspirations of the majority of the people in the world. Given that most of the countries in the southern hemisphere have been denied an opportunity to develop in their own way albeit in the context of the global economic framework of the world, and as such, have continued to wallow in the depths of economic margins of the global economy that is essentially designed to deliver progress to the US and its traditional allies. It comes as no surprise to us that despite the appearance of a new political order in Zimbabwe, the US through its narrow-minded President should think that the new order poses a threat to US Foreign Policy.
We are told that because of a breakdown in the rule of law in Zimbabwe characterized by political and economic instability and of course the manufactured allegation suggesting the existence of political motivated violence and intimidation in the country, the US President found it necessary to impose sanctions as a way to create and force to come into being an environment that surrenders power to the US anointed political parties.
We are fully aware that certain individuals were summoned to the US recently to update their friends on the situation in Zimbabwe after Operation Restore Legacy and we know that the actions taken by Trump are partly a response to an impassioned plea by those individuals for the need to stop the process of change and radical transformation of the political and socio -economic space in Zimbabwe.
Rest assured that Zimbabweans can no longer live in the shadow of a bully that pretends to act in the interest of the people of Zimbabwe when their ulterior motives are centuries old. Donald Trump’s attempts to thwart Zimbabwe’s transformation from one system to another under the leadership of ED Mnangagwa is obviously based on unmitigated ignorance to distinguish between a historical watershed in the Zimbabwean politics and the illusionary convulsive political desire for change that is driven by inherently and irredeemably defective local interests that have always been allied to US interests.
Trump’s decision is not new and novel because it is a mere reappearance of US international relations behavior and Zimbabweans must not accept to have their sovereign right to determine their own future to be frustrated by a mere Executive Order issued by a President whose primary concern is far removed from the current challenges to transform the Zimbabwean economy through building its own industrial entrepreneurial base that responds to the country’s economic development. Zimbabwe is talking to the whole world and has invited them to come and see what is emerging in the country since the new political dispensation and ironically the US has an Embassy in Harare that has capacity to see events on the ground first hand.
This clouding of facts and the reality of events in Zimbabwe is partly ignorance of the US law makers and of course, we are tempted to conclude that its also an outcome arising from the consumption of propaganda that is fed into their system by their local allies whose political Agenda has been rendered impotent by the new order and the approach of the new President.
The world cannot and should not always be defined in the context of the US interests. This approach has been counterproductive and has largely destabilized rather than stabilize the world.
The idea that the US must be the ruler and we must be the ruled is no longer tenable in the twenty first century political configuration. Zimbabweans are better off with the rest of the world that are happy to work with us. The government must not continue to invest a lot of energy in building political bridges that the US is unwilling to use.
The process of change that has started in Zimbabwe must be encouraged and supported and certainly despite the concerns of legality of the origins of the new order and those who feel that the pace change of is slow, the overall consideration should be the commitment by the new order to create conditions for long – term sustainable transformation and development.
Let’s fight for change that we deserve and not changed that is brewed in other people’s pots and served on our political dinner table. We deserve better.

Davison Todson Gomo is a political and economic analyst and has interest in broad development issues and global political systems.

Arsenal twitterdom has found an innovative way to call for an end to Arsene Wenger’s 21-year tenure as manager: by comparing him to former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

Comparisons between the two men have been the basis for jokes all season long, but the meme really took off after Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton over the weekend. And the heat on Wenger has only continued in advance of Thursday’s Europa League match against AC Milan.

Thousands chimed in.

After 37 years in power, Mugabe yielded to pressure to resign as president of Zimbabwe in November last year. Some fans carried the comparisons with notorious rulers even further:

The manager’s controversial reign has been the subject of social media debates for years – including constant duelling under the hashtags #WengerIn/#WengerOut. Arsenal has recently lost four games in succession; it’s the second time that has happened under Wenger.

Wenger/Mugabe origins

The comparison between Arsenal’s manager and Zimbabwe’s ex-president seems to have originated as far back as 2016, in a sweary YouTube video posted by ArsenalFanTV – a channel unaffiliated with the club but run by Gunners supporters.

In the video, an unnamed Arsenal fan goes on a rant to the amusement of a small crowd of supporters.

But the comparison seems to have reverberated far beyond north London – for instance, last year an attendee at an anti-Mugabe rally were spotted with a “Wenger Out” placard.

With nearly 22 years under his belt as Arsenal manager, Wenger is often referred to as the most successful manager in the club’s history. But, like Mugabe, is his time up? – BBC

Whitlaw Mugwinji | Mukoma Alex Magaisa in his blog post titled The day after Tsvangirai rightly pointed out, that what is currently obtaining in the MDCT is purely politics. I too share the same view. I believe these MDCT succession wrangles are an example of politics 101. People must not expect the MDCT to behave like a church. It is a political party. And by nature, power within political parties is contested.
The Political Debate
Most people will agree that Chamisa has won the political debate on this MDCT succession wrangle. Firstly, because he has managed to secure the backing of the National Council. Which is the highest decision making body outside congress. Secondly, because he seems to have the support of the party structures across the country. Thirdly, although this might seem trivial to some, Chamisa controls Harvest House. In power struggles, the control of the party headquarters and party machinery is quite significant.
It is difficult to fathom how Dr Khupe plans to wrestle power from Chamisa when she is not participating in party functions. In my view, her failure to attend party meetings was a big blunder. Now, I agree with Eddie Cross when he said commenting in the daily news, ‘she is fighting a lost battle’. She must bear in mind that even her supporters have self-interest too. With the general elections pending, many of her supporters will stick with Chamisa because he controls the keys to parliament and council.
The Legal Debate
With the political battle seemingly concluded, the new battle frontier is the debate on the legality of Chamisa’s appointment. Interestingly, both parties are using the party constitution, one to question and the other to defend his appointment. It is therefore imperative for us to take a look at the MDCT constitution.
Article 9.21.1 of the MDCT constitution reads and I quote, ‘The Deputy President assumes the role of Acting President, pending the holding of an Extraordinary Congress which must be held within a year of the death or resignation of the President’. Here the party constitution is not clear on who should take over, since the party has three Deputy Presidents. Any debate on this point, is frivolous and a sheer waste of time.
Article 16.1 reads and I quote, ‘The NC not withstanding anything contained herein shall have absolute discretion of determining the manner and process of any selection and including the power and making any appointment for any position’. The NC armed with article 16.1 cleared the ambiguity arising from article 9.21.1. Thus, anyone claiming that the party acted against its own constitution is not only trying to mislead but is attempting to discredit Chamisa’s appointment. And that my friends is an exercise in futility.
Moral arguments
It is hard to envisage, how else this MDCT succession wrangle could have been ironed out, at least in the short term. Khupe is now left with only but moral arguments. Unfortunately, as strong as they maybe, they are not strong enough to tilt power in her favour.
Truth be said, I really like her moral arguments. Surely, no one can dispute that she is an elected official whereas Chamisa and Mudzuri are mere appointees. If natural justice was the arbiter, I am sure, she would be acting president as we speak..
Unfortunately this is politics and natural is no arbiter She must realise that her argument has been overtaken by events. If she has serious ambitions, then she must develop real political strategy. I do feel her frustrations though. Last year, I even penned an article decrying her side-lining within the MDCT. But whining and complaining will only earn her our sympathies. This MDCT succession wrangle is not a moral contest and the sooner she understands this the better for her.
Her second moral argument is quite interesting and perhaps even more persuasive. She argues that the succession debate must be resolved by a special elective congress. Some of my friends have ventured to ask even further, ‘if Chamisa is as popular as many want us to believe, why not settle the matter at congress’?
Let us remember that during the last MDCT congress Chamisa was endorsed by all MDCT provinces except one but he still went on to lose the Secretary General post. I am not saying there is a disconnect between the provincial leadership across the country endorsing Chamisa and the party branches. But, I am saying there is a legitimate claim for the party to hold a special elective congress.

Special Elective Congress
However that said, I strongly believe that it would be unwise to hold a special elective congress, and here is why I believe so. To begin with, I am sure this is public knowledge that the MDCT is financially broke. Do not be fooled by Obert Gutu when he says the party can easily raise money to hold a special elective congress. If that is so, why was the party unable to raise the money to pay its own workers last year? Under such financial handicap, I strongly believe that it would be erroneous to focus the scarce resources internally rather than on campaigning in the forthcoming elections.
Furthermore, the party and the alliance have less than six months to prepare for the forthcoming national elections. I am not sure if the party has enough time to hold a credible elective congress and still have enough time to campaign effectively. We must bear in mind that a congress can be quite divisive. Will the party be able to heal and come together before the general election? In my humble view the risks are just too much. The party cannot place the interest of those seeking office above the collective interest.
To the MDCT family
In that regard, it is therefore important for all members, to abide by the collective party decisions. No party can survive without discipline. As Hegel says in his anti-individualist theory, ‘everything must depend upon the unity of the universal and the particular. Individual interest must play a subordinate role to the collective interest.
I am happy that the party chose engagement rather than confrontation. But in as much as we appreciate engagement and persuasion, this matter must be brought to finality sooner rather than later. The longer this matter drags on, the more the party will witness embarrassing incidents like the recent violence in Bulawayo. Violence is evidence by itself that the relationship has broken.
Whether the relationship has broken beyond repair or not, only mama Khupe and company can answer that. In my humble view, it is not yet too late reconsider the path they have chosen. Yes, they feel aggrieved but confrontation, indiscipline and anarchy at this juncture, is no-brainer. Chamisa has both control of the party machinery and the support of the party structures. If she was a good general, she would retreat because all good generals know when to retreat. By the way retreat does not mean surrender. If she wills, she can mobilise and contest Chamisa at next year’s congress.
In closing, my advice to her is that, with or without her the red army will march forward, the choice is hers.

The former Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe who was removed from power after a military intervention in November 2017 has bounced back to the political spectrum. He has been linked to a major military faction and a newly formed party, NPF. He has been spotted in the economy class travelling to the neighboring South African state. This is the first time the veteran leader has travelled in the lower class cabin since his rise to power. This according to Mr. Godfrey Hausin, a political analyst at the University of Johannesburg is a political tactic meant to expose the military government. ” Mugabe’s latest move of travelling in the poor man’s cabin is ironic and an action meant to sent a message to the SADC, AU and the international communities” he said. In a recent interview by the BBC, the former Head of State revealed how he had been unfairly and unconstitutionally removed from power. Weeks later, his close ally and former Cabinet Minister, Ambrose Mutinhiri was spotted at Mugabe’s Blue Roof mansion before launching their political party dubbed the National Patriotic Front (NPF).

It has been revealed that the Party is a mask of the former G40 faction in Zimbabwe.
Mugabe who is now 94, is working closely with the former CIO bosses and ZNA Commanders to oust the Military government. It has been established that Mnangagwa who is facing a sharp election contest with the young Advocate Nelson Chamisa of MDCT, is standing on the edge. This comes as the current president is likely to lose his Mashonaland Provinces and Consituences to MDC Alliance and the National People’s Party.
In a recent development, Mugabe has in turn been attacked by President Mnangagwa who threatened to confisticate the 40 farms that belonged to the former head of state. The former president is said to be plotting what has been revealed as 1980/18, has been working closely with his former cabinet ministers who are in exile to bring an end to President Mnangagwa’s military rule. The names of former CIO Bosse’s and ZNA Generals who are backing the former President have been exposed as follows:

Former CIO Bosses

Richard Muchawaya 51
Disrael Kakwesi 45
Emilda kamuri 44
Michael Zvita 33
Reginald Mimbumu 32
Carol Masawi 50
George Banda 48
Tafadzwa Sasa 53
Peter J Mukosi 40
Arnold Chirinha 45
Danai Matonhodze 33
Rameck Ndlovhu 30
Isaac Moyo 47
Tinotenda Gande 46
Rosemary Kugakureva 60

According to Erick Juston, University Of South Wales political commentator, “The latest political developments in Zimbabwe are set to trigger turmoil and citizens are set to experience a melt down of two Military Factions one backing the Former President and the other backing Mugabe. The scenario …read more www.wikileaks.co.uk

TWO more Filabusi family members have died due to mushroom poisoning, bringing the death toll of people who have lost their lives after consuming the deadly fungus to 15.

They ate the poisonous mushrooms on Saturday, leading to the death of one person on Tuesday and another on Wednesday. Yesterday’s death brought the Filabusi family death toll to four at a time when four others are admitted in hospital. Three are admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital while one is at Filabusi District Hospital.

The death brings to 15 the number of people who have died so far due to mushroom poisoning.
Eleven others are members of different Mberengwa families who consumed the toxic mushrooms last week.

Mpilo Central Hospital clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya confirmed the two latest deaths from the same Filabusi family.

He said four members were still hospitalised and one is said to be in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
“I received a call yesterday at around 2AM confirming that two members who were admitted at Filabusi District Hospital had been rushed to Mpilo as their health was deteriorating. Unfortunately one of the children died on admission and the second one died at around 4PM,” said Dr Ngwenya.

“Currently we have three members admitted, two are stable and one of them is critical in the intensive care unit. We gathered that these seven children were given mushrooms by their grandmother who is admitted at Filabusi District Hospital.”
Insiza District Medical Officer Dr Mandlenkosi Nkala said the family members, all from Thandanani Village under Chief Ndube in Mahole, Filabusi, were rushed to Filabusi District Hospital on Monday evening after consuming the poisonous mushrooms on Saturday.

“The children’s ages range between three and nine years and they stay with the grandmother. They say the incident took place on Saturday evening. One child, a girl who is in Grade Seven is the one who picked the mushrooms and brought them home for granny to cook,” said Dr Nkala.

He said the grandmother inspected the mushrooms and said they were edible.
“In total the grandmother stays with 10 children and out of those, seven consumed the mushrooms. Three were known not to eat mushrooms,” he said.

“They came to Filabusi Hospital and were admitted on Monday evening. On admission they looked stable but their conditions deteriorated all of a sudden and we realised that it was getting dangerous. We sent three to Mpilo Central Hospital on Tuesday and four on Wednesday.”

In an interview from Mpilo Central Hospital where they were collecting the body of the eighth deceased member yesterday, a relative Ms Patty Mahlangu said her family has so far lost eight family members.

She clarified that three other people who had died of mushroom poisoning from Mberengwa did not belong to her family, as previously reported. Ms Mahlangu said the three were only ferried to Mpilo Hospital together with her family members. “All in all we have lost eight members of our family,” she said.

Ms Mahlangu said they didn’t suspect foul play or witchcraft. She said seven of the deceased were buried on Wednesday and they were planning to bury the remaining one. “The mushrooms were picked up by children therefore we think they might have confused the poisonous mushrooms and the edible ones. There was no adult person to supervise them so we think they couldn’t tell the
difference,” said Ms Mahlangu.

She said they have accepted the untimely deaths of the eight. “As a family we have accepted the tragic deaths of the children but the incident will remain etched in our minds. We have accepted it as it is part of God’s plan. We are at Mpilo Central Hospital collecting the body of the other family member whom we are going to bury tomorrow in Mberengwa,” she said.

According to police, Mr Tenious Shoko (45) from Mberengwa sent his 16-year-old daughter to pick some mushrooms for relish on Tuesday last week.

The 16-year-old prepared the mushrooms which were consumed by the whole family leading to the death of eight of Ms Mahlangu’s relatives. – state media

Violence reared its ugly head on Monday morning when students at Nyanyadzi High School in Manicaland heavily assaulted a female teacher whom they accused of initiating them into Satanism.

Anti-riot police details from Birchenough Bridge had to be called in to restore order at the school after parents and personnel at Nyanyadzi police station failed to contain the rebellious students.

After the melee, authorities at the school were forced to send all the students home as normal lessons could not proceed following the nasty incident.

Cases of suspected satanism continue to wreck havoc at the school after similar skirmishes were witnessed mid last year.

By Farai D Hove| The new political party aligned to former President Robert Mugabe has begun mobilizing voters against ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The development was revealed last night by the party’s spokesman Jealousy Mawarire.

He told the South Africa based, ANN7 the party’s moves include taking legal action at the Constitutional Court against the so called, Junta. VIDEO CHOP BELOW:

Vocal MDC founder politician Job Sikhala has thrown his hat in the ring, to stand in the Zengeza Constituency.

Bulawayo deputy mayor and MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Gift Banda, yesterday apologised for the bloody intra-party clashes that rocked the city on Sunday and pledged to ensure the perpetrators were brought to book.

Banda’s apology came a day after he together with 11 other MDC-T activists were released on bail following their arrest in connection with the clashes which involved supporters from the opposition parties’ two rival camps.

The clashes were centred around leadership of the party, with deputy president Thokozani Khupe refusing to recognise Nelson Chamisa’s recent nomination as party president.
Khupe’s faction insists that she is the rightful heir to the post left vacant after the death of MDC-T founder Morgan Tsvangirai.

“But that as it may be, I unreservedly condemn all forms of violence in the province. We will do everything internally and outside to make sure that all those involved face the consequences,” Banda said.

“As a party, we categorically express our profound and sincere regrets to our supporters, members, residents, motorists and the society at large for the ugly scenes of violence witnessed at our provincial offices.”

On Monday, the MDC-T leadership dispatched its secretary for security, Giles Mutsekwa to investigate the Sunday violence, and make recommendations to the national council on the way forward. Banda said the provincial executive was also executing parallel investigations so as to take disciplinary action against the perpetrators.

He, however, said the provincial executive could not take any disciplinary action against Khupe, saying only the national council could deal with her and other top party leadership.

A meeting organised by Khupe at the MDC-T provincial offices was cut short following the violent
skirmishes. Banda, insisted the meeting was not sanctioned, and clashed with an elections directorate meeting called by his executive in line with the party’s constitution.

“The [Khupe] meeting was convened without the knowledge of me as the provincial chairperson, the provincial administration committee and the secretariat … On the very same day, there was a meeting that was convened by us as the Bulawayo province, which was a meeting of the elections directorate, which was supposed to take place at 12pm,” he said.

“So it’s clear that on the particular day, as a province, we had a programme, and that particular programme was for the elections directorate to come in and explain the details, the template for the selection of candidates for the coming elections.”

“We have got a robust committee system that guides our programmes. The has a responsibility of organising party meetings requested by the party leadership, but on that particular day, the meeting that happened and I have said as the chairperson it was never brought to our attention.” Newsday

Senior police officer based in Mberengwa allegedly shot dead a civilian related to a suspect after he refused to disclose the whereabouts of the wanted man.
The officer (name supplied) from Mataga Police Station, who was in the company of other police officers, allegedly shot and killed Mr Moses Ndlovu at Gaha Business Centre in Mberengwa after he refused to disclose the whereabouts of Cephas Nkomo, a rape suspect.

Police then allegedly opened a sudden death docket stating that the officer had shot Mr Ndlovu by mistake in his line of duty.

On Wednesday when Mataga Police Station submitted a sudden death docket to Mberengwa resident magistrate Mrs Evia Matura in a bid to close the case, the magistrate said she could not just close the docket since “human error” had been cited in the death of Mr Ndlovu.

Mrs Matura ordered the police to re-open the case treating it as murder. “The matter has been referred back to the police for further investigations on the matter. The deceased died from a gunshot wound and the matter is now being treated as murder,” wrote Mrs Matura to Mataga Police Station.

Acting Midlands Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said: “I am not aware of the matter. We will have to get hold of the responsible station and find out if there is anything like that.”
However, a police source alleged that on the fateful day, a police officer who was in the company of fellow police officers went to Gaha Business Centre looking for Nkomo who was on the run.
“When he got to Gaha Business Centre, they saw Ndlovu who is related to Nkomo. Ndlovu refused to co-operate and ran away. He sought sanctuary in a shop.

“The police officers then forced open the door and one of them allegedly shot Ndlovu in the abdomen. He fell to the ground and started bleeding profusely. He later died due to the injuries he sustained,” said the source.

This incident comes barely a month after another police officer, Detective Constable Gift Gorongonya, shot and injured a soldier Corporal Zico Shumba in Gweru’s Central Business District (CBD) after he had tried to restrain him from pointing a gun at unarmed civilians. Herald

Government has gazetted the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill which seeks to strengthen the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe by giving it autonomy to effectively combat the vice.

The Bill is also meant to ensure Zimbabwe complies with 40 recommendations by the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group where Harare was found to be wanting.
Promulgation of the proposed law is consistent with Government under President Mnangagwa’s thrust to ensure zero tolerance for corruption, as it moves to quickly turn around fortunes of the economy.

Clause 4 of the Bill, set up by the Financial Intelligence Unit, formerly under the Bank Use Promotion and Suppression of Money Laundering Unit under Bank Use Promotion Act, will continue in operation, but elevate its head to director-general from a director.

“The unit shall be deemed to be in the administrative establishment of the RBZ having the following special features, namely that, (a) it shall be headed by a Director-General appointed by the Governor of the RBZ in consultation with the Minister (of Finance), (b) it shall consist of such other members of staff as may be necessary for the performance of its functions, who shall be appointed by the Director-General,” reads the Bill.

“The budget of the unit (i) shall be approved by the Board of the Reserve Bank, (ii) be managed by the Director-General independently of the Reserve Bank, but be subject to internal audit by the Reserve Bank and be audited by the auditors of the Reserve Bank.”

The Bill also spells out the conditions under which the DG shall leave office and his qualifications, among other pertinent issues.

“Except as provided for in section 6B (2), the unit shall have operational independence from the Reserve Bank and shall not in the performance of its functions under the Act, be subject to the direction and control of the Minister or any other person or authority,” reads section 6A (f) of the Bill.
The functions of the unit are also spelt out in the Bill.
“Subject to this Act, the function of the unit shall be (a) to receive suspicious transactions reports, cash transactions reports and other financial data from financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses or professions or from any other sources,” reads the Bill.

Other functions include monitoring and ensuring compliance with the Act by competent supervisory authorities, financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses or professions.

“The Minister, after consultation with the advisory committee may in writing give the Director-General directions with regard to policy to be adopted by the unit in the performance of its functions,” reads the Bill.

The proposed law empowers the unit to have access to information from any financial institution, designated non-financial business or profession or law enforcement agency.

The Bill will amend section 27 of the National Prosecuting Authority (Chapter 7:20) section six of the Criminal Matters (Mutual Assistance Act) (Chapter 9:06) section 87 of the Deeds Registries Act (Chapter 20:05) section 210 of the Customs and Exercise Act (Chapter 23:05).

It will also amend section 5 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 23:06) section 34A of the Revenue Authority Act (Chapter 23:11), section 360 of the Companies Act (Chapter 24:03) and the Bank Use Promotion Act (Chapter 24:24.). Herald