Farai Dziva|The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe has announced that the price of mealie meal will go up by 70%.
This has been cause by the announcement of new producer prices by government.
“There is going to be an increase, we can’t stomach 70%. Today’s meeting was to discuss the next maize meal prices.
We have agreed on the new prices and when we are going to increase it, but we cannot announce it to you before we inform the government about it.
South America gives us maize. We think South America is going to be our biggest source of maize coming this season. We are not quite sure of how much they will be able to export to us given the disturbances in Venezuela.
However, our first priority is the region so I will be leading a delegation to Zambia and South Africa to see how much maize we can get in the region.
If there is any excess required then we will approach the Southern Americans,” the association told a daily newspaper.
By A Correspondence| Two soldiers were Tuesday reported killed, while one was seriously injured following clashes with gold panners in Chipadze, Bindura this morning.
ZimEye is reliably told the clashes were over an issue to do with ladies of the night. Details were sketchy at the time of printing.
At the time of writing several women by being detained at the local police outpost in Chiwaridzo.
Police Spokesperson for Mashonaland Central Province, Inspector Milton Mudembe confirmed the incident, while Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Director Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore said four ZNA members taking part in the independence parade rehearsals were involved in an altercation with the artisanal miners, resulting in the death of the two.
By Own Correspondent- Reaching an amazing feat of 85 years and being HIV positive, the Maruta kraal Headman, real name Robert Ticharwa Maruta has claimed that being HIV positive has been a blessing in disguise since it has set him on a path to serve a higher calling.
Sekuru Samba’s moral attitude to life is the epitome of the expression, being positive about being positive.
Sekuru Samba like the biblical Samaritan has been invested in philanthropic work preaching the gospel of abstinence and awareness, educating people of all ages on HIV and AIDS.
” i am educating many school children, mature youths, parents, elders and those with vision impairments, physically challenged and mostly orphans or child-headed families. I am travelling by foot, often visiting them and educating them about pre-marital s.e.x and having unprotected s.e.x with anyone whose status you do not know, you will get an incurable disease for life called HIV and AIDS.”
Speaking to the H-Metro, Sekuru Samba shared the story of his life and how his promiscuity resulted in him contracting HIV.
“My wife passed on in 2000 and left me 100 percent healthy at 66 years old. However I failed to be a decent grandfather and started picking township girls, that’s how I got HIV. I even remember who exactly,” said Sekuru.
However he has used his status to warn youths about HIV and AIDS as a voluntary advocate.
Sekuru also went on to share nuggets of wisdom, targeted to people who refuse to get tested stating that it was better to know your status rather than gradually decomposing in silence. Sekuru Samba said there was need to assist those on ART as they lack supplementary food.
” I come across sick HIV patients desperately needing basic food because these HIV drugs can be difficult to take at first especially if you do not have something to eat first before taking them.
He can also do with some transport as walking is now strenuous. ” If there is anyone who can assist me with a bicycle because I am gradually getting tired of walking, but tremendously getting more passionate in alerting more as I grow older,” he said.
Farai Dziva|Former MDC A MP for Masvingo Urban Constituency, Tongai Matutu, who has been disqualified from contesting against James Gumbi for the provincial chairmanship, says he is not bitter.
Matutu was barred from taking on James Gumbi in the race for the province’s most powerful post because the party Constitution prohibits members who defect to other parties from taking party in electoral processes for a period of five years.
“I am not bitter at all and I accept the verdict.I will remain on the ground working for the party and I will be back in the fold.
This is not the end of the the world.You see these things happen in politics and life has to go on as usual.
I am waiting for the announcement of results.Some people have asked me to lodge an appeal but I will not do so because that is not the way we operate,” said Matutu.
By Ericas Hungwe| Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy Constantino Chiwenga lost balance in front of his local church congregation.
The embarrassing incident happened on Sunday morning at the local Roman Catholic church where he heads for Sunday mass.
Chiwenga was at the time receiving the blessed sacrament of holy communion when his body suddenly went towards the ground.
Chiwenga managed to stage an appearancejust after being administered physical support by his young wife Mary, impeccable sources told ZimEye.
The development comes as an anonymous worshipper at the same Roman Catholic church suddenly donated a brand new (2019 reg number) vehicle to the local priest.
“The donor does not want to be known,” a source told ZimEye.com
Speculation was rife that the donor is none other than the VP himself. Speaking to ZimEye however, sources told this paper the donor “remains anonymous”.
Ever since removing former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017, Chiwenga has collapsed on numerous occasions. At one time early last year, he collapsed while right inside government offices. The former general is suffering from a host of medical challenges which include a burning sensation,
By Own Correspondent- A city man got the shock of his life when he discovered that his wife, was still legally married to another man.
The man discovered a marriage certificate from his wife’s previous marriage stashed in a suitcase. The matter to light at the Harare Civil Court after Bruka Razevera was hauled to court for physically and verbally assaulting his wife Challenge Muzama, who was applying for a protection order against him.
”He assaults me for my existing marriage certificate. He insults me saying I am a prost_itute and that we are in an adulterous relationship and I have no rights to his assets. I am willing to cancel the marriage certificate but I do not have the legal fees needed,” she said.
In response Razevera denied the allegations stating that he had not assaulted her but had simply instructed her to vacate his premises until she had divorced her husband, so that he could marry her.
Razevera sensationally claimed that the relationship between him and his wife Muzama was adulterous since she had not nullified her previous marriage.
”She is lying that she doesn’t have the money to cancel her marriage certificate so I am afraid of being sued by her husband. I never assaulted her,” he said.
The H-Metro reported that Muzama was no longer in contact with her ex-husband who is now married to another woman. Presiding magistrate Noah Gwatidzo granted the protection order in Muzama’s favour.
Farai Dziva|There is controversy over the disqualification of MDC A official Tongai Matutu who was vying for the provincial chairmanship with party members expressing contrasting views on the matter.
Some elements within the opposition party believe the same technicalities used to offer Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube the opportunity to participate in the party’s electoral processes should have allowed Matutu to participate in the provincial electoral process.
“We do not understand what is taking place because Ncube and Biti have been given allowed to participate in internal electoral processes while Matutu who left the party alongside the latter has been barred from participating in the provincial electoral process,” said a senior party member.
However the MDC A Organising Department has indicated that both Ncube and Biti reintegrated on the basis of the political parties they were representing- hence the formation of the alliance.
Farai Dziva|There are reports that Econet Wireless is incoveniencing its clients by secretly hiking Ecocash and data services tariffs.
There are claims that the tariffs have increased by 80%.
” Econet has increased massively ecocash charges.
I have just sent RTGS$ 10 to a relative and they deducted 29 cents, yesterday it was 16 cents.
Have you heard anything concerning this please?” A disgruntled customer told a weekly newspaper.
Farai Dziva|Khama Billiat wants to use the final rounds of the ABSA Premiership season to prepare for the 2019 Afcon Tournament.
Billiat is set to join Zimbabwe at the continental showpiece in Egypt in two months’ time and is looking to enter the tournament on a good note.
According to KickOff.com, the Kaizer Chiefs striker said: “Definitely, it will give you confidence before AFCON, and you’ll be on top of your game if you actually finish the season strong.”
“Going to such a big tournament with a lot of confidence will help you, and it’s always a player’s aim to be on top of his game.
Also, it’s not only for AFCON, you never know who is watching and what happens after, so every game and every time you’re given a chance, but you also need to be on top of your game – because you’re always as good as your last game.”
By Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa admitted that fighting corruption was not an easy task.
He went on to use the words ‘ deep and wide’ when he was trying to explain the magnitude of corruption at various stages.
According to him, there are corruption elements even in the channels that are supposed to help in uprooting corruption.
“To fight corruption, you need the police to investigate, but there are elements of corruption in the police. Once you get past the corruption in the police, the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has to prosecute, but there are also elements of corruption in the NPA.”- Newsday
“Then the case must go to court and there are also elements that are corrupt in the Judiciary, so the fight is so wide and deep.”
PORTO. — Jurgen Klopp admitted he cannot wait to lead Liverpool into a Champions League football semi-final against Barcelona after watching his side crush Porto 4-1 in Portugal on Wednesday night to complete a 6-1 aggregate victory in their last-eight tie.
On a wet night at the Estadio do Dragao, Liverpool weathered an early storm against Porto before scoring from their first attempt just before the half-hour, Sadio Mane prodding home for a goal given after a lengthy VAR review.
Already in control of this tie after a 2-0 win at Anfield in the first leg, Liverpool had effectively killed off Porto there and then, but Mohamed Salah, substitute Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk added further goals after the break.
Eder Militao scored a consolation for the hosts 21 minutes from time, but this was another miserable night for them after they lost 5-0 to the same opponents on this ground a year ago.
Liverpool now march on to a clash with Lionel Messi’s Barca, the first meeting of the clubs since a last 16 encounter in 2006/2007 that the Reds won on away goals.
“I’m looking forward to it. The news that there is a proper football game between Barcelona and Liverpool is great,” said Klopp as his side move a step closer to matching their run to the final a year ago.
Econet boss, Strive Masiyiwa has said Zimbabwe must adopt the South African Rand.
“Let me put the proverbial cat among the pigeons,” said Masiyiwa.
He continued writing, “a loaf of bread in South Africa costs R9.50. It costs R30 in Zimbabwe. 3x!!! Eighty percent of imported goods in Zimbabwe come from South Africa. It’s not uncommon to find those same goods costing anything above three times the cost.
“The people who pay for a lot of goods are Zimbabweans living in South Africa, through their remittances. The cost structure – labour and goods – in Zimbabwe is distorted by the arbitrage of the United States dollar as a currency of settlement for rand imports.”
Writing on Facebook, Masiyiwa said it only makes sense for every business in Zimbabwe to quote their customers for goods and services in the SA rand. “It would go some way to eliminating the dollar arbitrage.”
“This is not the same thing as joining a rand monetary area, or customs union, which is a much more complex process. This one can be done overnight, and even voluntarily,” he said.
Yesterday Zimbabwe marked 39 years after attaining independence from Britain. It is important to note that I have deliberately avoided the use of the word ‘celebrated’ because there is nothing worth celebrating besides the change of white faces at the top echelons of power.
True to what Fannon referred to as “Black Skin White Masks”, our post independence leaders have learnt everything and forgot nothing from the repressive colonial state.
In fact what our post colonial leaders have done is to strategically position themselves as conduits that link the West and of late the East in this looting spree to siphon our motherland of her precious mineral resources.
Corruption and daylight thievery by the highest office in the land is in full swing under the pretext of ‘mega deals’ and sadly these unholy mega deals will have deleterious ripple effects to future generations who will have to bear the brunt of debt.
From Robert Mugabe’s reign of terror to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s so called new dispensation, repression and coercion is the order of the day.
The more things change is the more they are remaining the same or getting worse in this part of the continent!
In fact the post colonial state has betrayed those who sacrificed their lives in pursuit of freedom and the fundamental principle of ‘One man One Vote’ which was one of the reasons why waged the painful 14 year Second Chimurenga.
39 years on we are still struggling with the ghost of LOMA as repressive laws and statutes like POSA, BAZ and Criminal Law and Codification Reform Act have been deliberately realigned to whip any dissenting voices into their cocoons.
39 years on we still have a government that believes in use of live bullets and Gestapo like tactics in silencing critics and voices of discontentment!
From Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation to Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, the motherland still has a single television station as a means to stifle freedom of expression!
However there is a ray of hope in that we have an alternative government in form of a party, MDC whose founding principles are deeply rooted in social democracy.
As such the MDC under the able leadership of President Nelson Chamisa has a duty to extricate the people of Zimbabwe from claws of oppression.
What that means is that the party needs not to fall into the rigours of the vicious cycle by emulating ZANU PF tactics especially when holding own its internal processes.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma is a media practitioner and MDC Youth Assembly National Secretary for Information and Publicity Candidate.
Farai Dziva|Senior government officials in Masvingo Province attempted to seize donations made by an MDC A official last week.
MDC A losing candidate for Chiredzi West constituency during last year’s elections, John Manganye, donated an ambulance, 30 wheelchairs, three 5 000-litre water tanks, blood pressure testing machines, beds and various other items to Chiredzi Town Council-run polyclinic, sending shivers down ruling party honchos’ spines.
Manganye is also helping with the refurbishment of structures, including repainting of the polyclinic.
Government sources claimed Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister, Ezra Chadzamira initially blocked council officials from publicising Manganye’ s name.
“Chadzamira blocked council officials from mentioning Manganye’s name but he gave in due to incessant protests from angry stakeholders,” a government source claimed.
