Prominent Harare lawyer Douglas Coltart has tweeted that he has been called for questioning by police in connection with an Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union meeting where four leaders were allegedly abducted by state security agents.

In a video message posted on Twitter Coltart asked for prayers from the public.

I have been called for questioning at Harare Central Police this morning in connection with the meeting yesterday from which 4 teachers (including ARTUZ Sec-Gen @RobohChere) were abducted and beaten by CIO and later handed over to the police. Would appreciate your prayers. pic.twitter.com/2QD99jEKf5

— Doug Coltart (@DougColtart) April 28, 2019

As murder and violence tear Kwekwe apart, ZANU PF president Emmerson Mnangagwa has disowned his own terror gang, seen on video declaring that they have control of the gold rich Gaika mine (and will never allow the white investors access to it). The development, featuring Mnangagwa frontman and top ZANU PF official Vongai Mupeperi, was first exposed by ZimEye.com in March this year. Clear footage of the terror gang being addressed by the ZANU PF top official clad in full party regalia, exposes the state of utter lawlessness in the mining town. Numerous killings have taken place with the police failing to open cases as the murders are traced right up to Mnangagwa’s bossom.

In March, ZimEye carried out an investigative which revealed that the Kwekwe gang, AlShabbab has taken over the white owned gold mine, Gaika. “As long as I live, these whites will never be able to take over this mine!,” said Mnangagwa frontman Vongaishe Mupeperi in the below short video.

Two senior sources close to Mnangagwa have told ZimEye, Mupeperi “is clearly Mnangagwa’s frontman”. “These two Mupeperi and Owen (Mudha) [the new CIO boss] are ED’s frontmen,” one source said. ” Why do you think he appointed Mudha the new head of the central intelligence organisation?,” said one source. Even if Mnangagwa were to deny, Mupeperi still falls under his personal leadership at the party level. The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Mnangagwa said that reports of looting are fake news: He said: “Gaika Mine is protected by the police and sealed from the public, so those allegations of looting are in all probability likely fake news. “Further, how do you loot something at night which you actually need to dig out? Remember there are no stockpiles of gold in the shafts. It’s just a gold mine from which one can only access the gold through normal mining and milling. “There are no people mining because Gaika Mine is cordoned off. There is no mining going on, so the rest of the allegations are based on falsehoods which makes them falsehoods as well.” A letter was allegedly written by the State Security Minister Owen Ncube instructing Vimbai Mupereri and ZANU PF aligned youths to continue mining activities on the mine. This was again refuted by Mnangwana who said: “No illegal activities taking place at Gaika Mine and law enforcement agents are making sure that no criminal activities will take place there. “You can go and verify that the presence of police who are ensuring that the rule of law obtains at the mine. “I am suggesting you work with what is happening on the ground rather than mysterious social media letters,” he said.

Correspondent|ANC head of elections Fikile Mbalula was left with egg on his face on Saturday after joking around with Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, who did not seem to be in the mood for his jokes.

Mbalula posted a tweet that shocked everyone, including Malema, who only responded “He banna”.

“iCrush kaMama wakho [ Your mother’s crush], Fleek Flikizela dripping sauce. Show this to your mother – watch her as she destabilises to an inability to can,” said Mbalula, in a comment that sent him straight to the Twitter trends list.

Responding to Malema’s comment in which he expressed shock, Mbalula shared a picture of the EFF leader in a purple suit and hat, with sunglasses and said it was his “sauce picture” that could “destabilise” people’s aunts.

It appears as if the EFF leader was attending an old school-themed party, along with former ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa.

However, Malema was not impressed with Mbalula sharing a picture of him without his permission.

He threatened to share pictures of Mbalula that would make him “regret the day you were born”.

Mbalula seemed to have been as shocked by Malema’s comment and questioned why joking around with him seemed to be a problem.

By Own Correspondent- In an interview with the state media after touring Bulawayo wholesalers last Thursday, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the Government was saddened by the unabated price increases, which continue to erode consumers’ purchasing power.

Ncube said this as he toured wholesalers with goods to be delivered to shops that were looted during the January violent strike triggered by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s announcement on fuel price increases,

Ncube said the Government is crafting a pricing model aimed at benchmarking most goods especially basic commodities sold by retailers as it moves to protect citizens against the prevailing wanton price increases.

He said:

“It’s unfortunate that prices continue to be high and are putting a constraint on the purchasing power on most ordinary citizens. I think what we have to do in the end is perhaps to publish what these kind of prices are in a place like in South Africa because most of the goods seem to be imported, what are they (worth) in Rand and we apply the official exchange rate interbank market and convert that into RTGS dollars so that we can get a sense of import parity.”

He said the import parity will then be used to come up with a pricing guide for retailers. Import Parity Price or IPP is defined as the price that a purchaser pays or can expect to pay for imported goods. It takes into account the Cost Insurance and Freight (CFI) import price plus tariff, plus transport cost to the purchaser’s location.

“It looks like at the moment there is no guide, you listen to what the competitors are saying or doing and then you try to benchmark accordingly, it can’t be like that, perhaps we need to benchmark on import parity prices, maybe as Government we should assist in that price discovery process for the retailers, give them a roadmap to know what kind of benchmark to use for pricing,” said Prof Ncube.

Meanwhile, Prof Ncube said he was satisfied with the process being undertaken by the Government towards assisting businesses, which were looted and had their property destroyed during the January protests to restock and rebuild their assets.

The Government disbursed a $30 million emergency relief facility to assist the affected businesses, most of which were grocery shops in Bulawayo.

“We have come here to check or just to make sure that the stock of goods we promised as Government, that we will support the shop owners who lost their goods, is indeed sent down to them and they receive it and do restock. We are pleased to say that we saw the stock. Some of it is on its way. Government has made its commitment to support these businesses. We are also helping them to rebuild their premises, to make sure they go back to what they used to be if not better. So we are really walking the talk and making sure we support those businesses that lost their assets during the unfortunate incidents,” he said.

Prof Ncube said efforts have been made to ensure the fund and the distribution process of goods to beneficiaries would not be flouted.

“I’m very satisfied, first of all we got the names, the invoice numbers and the amounts in terms of the value of the goods they are going to receive, so it’s (the process) very transparent. Those can be published in the media because after all this is tax payers money, they (tax payers) want to know how their monies are being utilised but also we are tracking the invoices. The whole system is well tracked, verified so that there is no leakages and corruption. We certainly won’t allow that through the system we have put in place,” he said.

Prof Ncube’s sentiments were reiterated by Minister Ndlovu who said: “We have made sure the facility is water tight. We don’t want a repeat of previous programmes where businesses benefit from such facilities but fail to repay. These are tax payers’ funds we want to make sure they are utilised in a responsible manner. We believe we have a water tight system now and businesses have begun to benefit from this week.”

He said the ministry has received about 200 applications for the relief fund from the business community.

“It’s still early to give numbers of how many have benefited so far but the initial approval of 25 have gone through. We have received close to 188 applications for various relief needs. We have restocking, we have equipment (replacement) and also we have reconstruction of structures that were burnt down, so we will be assisting in all those three . . . ,” said Minister Ndlovu.

Sunday News is in possession of the list of some of the beneficiaries as well as the varying amounts they have been allocated. The businesses that are restocking are accessing the loan at a concessionary interest rate of four percent per annum and are expected to repay within three to six months.

Those wishing to replace equipment would be paying an interest rate of three percent per annum and have 12 to 24 months to repay, while those who lost their buildings will access funding at a concessionary rate of two percent per annum and have 10 to 15 years repayment period.

Metro Peech and Browne Wholesalers branch manager Mr Erben Ncube acknowledged receiving a list of beneficiaries under the fund from the Government to be supplied with goods.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- A gang of four armed robbers pounced at a Salvation army church in Kwekwe, which is home to President Emmerson Mnangagwa where they tortured the church pastor and his family before looting cash amounting to US$400, $700, property, groceries, laptops and the church vehicle.

The car was however later recovered at Halfway where the robbers dumped it.

Although acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mkwende professed ignorance over the matter saying she was yet to get information, the church’s public relations officer, Captain Victor Mafukidze, confirmed the robbery saying it was the latest in a spate of robberies targeting their church lately.

Captain Mafukidze said their church has of late witnessed four robberies in a space of a month.

“Yes, I can confirm the robbery in Mbizo, Kwekwe which has become the latest in a number of robberies targeting our church. “We are living in fear as we are now a target of armed robbers. I don’t know who told them that we keep money but the truth is that people are now using plastic money and we also bank all the cash that we receive,” he said.

Captain Mafukidze said another pastor who had come from Uganda, where he is based, to attend a funeral, was pounced on in Harare a week ago and the robbers took away cellphones and cash.

The church’s second in command was also a victim at OK Mart Harare where they took away cash and cellphones while another one took place in Kadoma where the robbers left the house empty after they got away with the household property.

Captain Mafukidze said plans were underway to enhance security at their churches including keeping vicious dogs and installing cameras. A Sunday News crew also visited the church premises in Mbizo and listened to the horrendous tale of what pastor Major Martin Chitsiko’s family went through during the robbery.

Mrs Chitsiko said the robbers, four in number, scaled the pre-cast wall before removing burglar bars using a crowbar and gained entry into the house.

“It was around 1am and our two daughters were sleeping in the spare bedroom when one of them saw a torch on the window. But since we stay near Mbizo Polyclinic, she just thought maybe it was one of the ambulances that usually ferry patients to the institution, little did she know they were robbers,” she said.

After gaining entry into the house through the window, the robbers headed straight to the main bedroom where they tied the couple’s hands and legs. “The other robbers went to the girls’ room where they again tied the girls’ hands and legs using their body tops.

“They started beating us up with a hoe handle demanding cash. We gave them all we had and they kept demanding more saying they wanted the church money but we kept telling them that we bank all the church funds,” she said, fighting back tears.

Mrs Chitsiko said the robbers ransacked the bedroom searching everywhere but could not find any more money.

After being convinced there was indeed no more cash, the robbers took property and loaded it into a Toyota Gaia car which was parked outside and drove off, leaving the doors locked and the family still tied and traumatised.

“They took away all our cellphones, blankets, groceries, a brand new two-plate gas stove and its tank as well as two laptops and drove off. Our eldest daughter, however, managed to untie herself and came to our rescue. We then notified parishioners who stay nearby who helped make a police report,” she said.-StateMedia

By Wilbert Mukori| There are many reasons why Africa is a continent dogged by poverty, war, corruption, disease, bad governance, etc., etc. One of the many reasons this is so is our inability to pay attention to detail. We have debated the issue of economic sanctions, for example, thousands of times and will, no doubt, be spending many, many more man-years of time, space, sweat and blood without ever being any wiser.  How can we ever be any wiser when none of what is said make sense!

“Why do you put sanctions, if someone is wrong leave him and he will fail by his own mistakes? Why do you put sanctions if you know you are right and somebody is wrong?” argued President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.

“That’s means we are not sure if the man is wrong. Otherwise if he is wrong let him fail by his own his mistakes.

“If you put sanctions you are just aiding someone to use them as scapegoat for his own failures. I appeal to those who are imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe to lift those sanctions.”

The Americans went to great length to explain that they will lift the sanctions imposed on the Zanu PF leaders and entities with strong links to the party if the 2018 elections were free, fair and credible. The Americans even went on to spell out some of the things they would want to see happen; allow Zimbabweans in the diaspora the right to vote, free public media, a transparent and legal electoral process, etc. None of these things happened. Zanu PF failed to produce something as basic and fundamental for free, fair and credible elections as a verified voters’ roll, for Pete’s sake.

If President Museveni is “not sure” the July 2018 elections were NOT free, fair and credible, it is so because he is refusing to see what is before his own eyes.

Of course, Zanu PF is using sanctions as scapegoat for the regime’s own failures. It is no secret that Zimbabwe adopted the two five-year Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) in 1990 to 95 and 1995 to 2000 because the country’s economy was in a real mess already. The regime could not blame the sanctions then because they were imposed in 2001!

“Why do you put sanctions if you know you are right and somebody is wrong?” The sheer stupidity of that question beggars belief! Surely, surely there is nothing wrong with an outsider telling us denying our own people their basic freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful say in the governance of our country and even the right to life! As an ordinary Zimbabwean citizen whose has felt the heavy boot of the Zanu PF dictatorship on one’s neck these last 39 years, of course I am grateful to the outsider for his concern for my welfare. I am equally outraged by the breath taking stupidity and indifference of mine fellow African brothers and sisters to what Zanu PF has been doing in Zimbabwe.

Of course, the western nations will ignore President Museveni’s call to have the sanctions lifted with the contempt it rightly deserve. Of course the western nation have every right to decide who they will trade with and under what terms.

“I don’t agree with those who say Africa is weak. In 1960s, we were weaker than we are today but we were able to work together and support the struggle for freedom in southern Africa and succeeded,” continued President Museveni. said the Ugandan leader who took power after a protracted rebellion in 1986.

“We worked for the liberation of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and Angola Namibia supported by socialist countries but our great effort was ours.”

What he did not say is that all independent African countries then, with the exception of those under tyrannical black rule, supported the imposing of UN sanctions on the colonial regimes in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, etc. The sanctions were considered necessary in ending white colonial oppression but they are now considered unnecessary in ending BLACK oppression!

President Museveni seized power in Uganda in 1986 and he since ruled that country with an iron fist. He has never held free, fair and credible elections and it is little wonder he saw nothing wrong with Mnangagwa doing the same in Zimbabwe. Indeed, he is in Zimbabwe supporting a fellow corrupt and vote rigging tyrant.

Whilst African leaders did unite in the fight to end white colonial oppression, they have not done the same when a fellow African leader has become an oppressor. Suddenly they all had problems defining what an oppressor is!

Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s last year elections were free, fair and credible. President Cyril Ramaphosa of S A has said the elections “went well!” It is not that these leaders do not know what constitutes free, fair and credible elections. They know. They are being vague, deliberately, so anything goes.

An elephant is an animal with four legs; so a rat, a lizard any animal with four  legs will pass for an elephant. Little wonder the AU, SADC and all the other African organisations have all become popular exclusive clubs of dictators, tyrants and despots!

President Yoweri Museveni, we in Zimbabwe know that Mnangagwa rigged the elections, he is a corrupt and murderous thug, we know that the country’s economic meltdown will only get worse as long as the country remains a pariah state.

We know Mnangagwa is using sanctions as a scapegoat for the regime’s failures. We also know that sanctions are just another way of piling the pressure of Zanu PF to step down so we can implement the democratic reforms to stop the vote rigging. Of course, we, the ordinary Zimbabweans, want the sanctions to stay and are very pleased the sanctions are staying! – SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.com

By Own Correspondent- In a bizarre incident, a church in Kwekwe has come under the spotlight after it was found in possession of a coffin, a human skull and other human remains which its leaders claim are used for ritual purposes.

The church leadership has also failed to explain the source of the remains. The national leader of Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds’ Grand Master, James Chigwedere, revealed that it was their religion’s requirement to keep human remains in temples throughout the country.

In a statement recorded by police, Kwekwe church leader, Marthinus Pretorius also agreed with Chigwedere that their religion prescribes that they keep human remains in the church.

“Police received a tip-off from an anonymous caller that Ian Annandale was keeping smuggled goods at Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds in Newton, Kwekwe. A search was conducted and the team discovered an empty wooden coffin, a skull and two radius bones on top of the cabinet in a room at the back of the church. Annandale referred police to Marthinus Pretorius.

He was contacted on his cellphone and indicated that the skull and bones were for religious purposes left by previous Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds church members.

He said the remains were over 75 years old. Pretorius referred police to James Chigwedere the Grand Master of all Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds churches in Zimbabwe who stated that it was their religion’s requirement to keep the skulls and bones in their temples,” reads a police statement.

Pretorius was dragged to court last Thursday facing charge of violating a corpse. He appeared before Gweru magistrate, Mr Phineas Murandu. He pleaded not guilty and the matter was remanded to 7 May for trial.

For the State, Mr Fredrick Macheza alleged that the church was found in possession of human remains whose source is not known.

He said in 2016, police received a tip-off from an anonymous caller that Ian Annandale was keeping smuggled goods at Masonic Temple of the MacDonalds in Newton Kwekwe. A search was conducted leading to the recovery of the human remains. The remains were taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where they were examined by pathologists who confirmed that they were human remains. This led to Pretorius’ arrest.-StaeMedia

By Own Correspondent- The Government has come up with a comprehensive consultative strategy with its employees that will see an establishment of a platform for engagement, every fortnight, on issues affecting the workers and a periodic review of their salaries.

It is understood that the meetings, every fortnight, will be chaired by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and are part of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF).

The first meeting is set for next week. The purpose of the meeting is to come up with the agenda for technical committees in preparation for the fully fledged TNF. A TNF Bill is now before Parliament.

In an interview ahead of the International Workers’ Day commemorations this week, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Dr Sekai Nzenza said Government was also working on introducing non-monetary incentives for its employees such as housing, transport and medical insurance.

“We are quite excited about the TNF Bill. It is a step in the right direction and it is set to help both parties in the long run. The Bill has been outstanding for seven years and I hope that by the end of May, it will have passed through the National Assembly.

We have been trying to improve our relations with workers since the disturbances that took place in January such that we are now meeting regularly with both Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) and Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Union (ZFTU).

“I met with the unions last week and we agreed that the meetings be held fortnightly. The government recently reviewed civil servant salaries with effect from April 1 and we are going to have another salary review in July this year. The cost of living adjustment will, however, run up to December this year. We are also in the process of introducing low-income houses and this is at an advanced stage.”

Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Union (ZFTU) secretary-general, Mr Kennias Shamuyarira said relations between Government and workers are improving.

“There have been commendable steps that Government has been taking such the TNF Bill. Last week, we met with Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Dr Sekai Nzenza and we agreed that trade unions, which means ZCTU, ZFTU and the Minister will be meeting every fortnight to discuss matters of interest that will be put forward in the TNF. The next meeting is on Thursday, the week after May Day.”

Government has been putting in place measures to improve the welfare of its employees. Recently, civil servants got the green light to import vehicles duty-free as part of non-monetary incentives. The duty-free scheme is covered by Statutory Instrument 52 of 2019 and will see those with 10 years in service qualifying. In addition, a $60 million housing facility for civil servants was unveiled as part of the non-monetary incentives.-StateMedia

In what has now been publicly termed “ZUPCO everything,” the government, through GMB, is setting up retail shops to sell basic foodstuffs. The retail shops are meant to compete with private operators that the government has accused of profiteering by raising prices of goods unjustifiably.

121 shops under Silo Foods (a commercial division of GMB) will be stocked with basic foodstuffs. The government has reportedly injected $70 million into GMB to enable the production. The shops themselves are called Country Feeds and about 25 are already operational throughout the country. GMB depots will also serve as shops. GMB will, however, also continue supplying private owned shops that have been retailing its products.

In January, government-enabled its transport company, Zupco, to introduce buses on various commuting routes around the country. The move was meant to counter private transport operators that were accused of profiteering at the expense of commuters.

The state media announced this development under the headline title: $70m for cheaper basic commodities.

The article quoted, the Silo Foods managing director Mr Daniel Maregedze saying the fresh capital injection would enable it to expand its operations “in a big way”.

“The Government has invested about $70 million in the company. This is fresh capital injection, which will enable us to scale up our operations immediately,” said Mr Maregedze.

“We have already been on the market, but now we are expanding our operations in a big way. On top of that, Treasury is finalising another package for capital equipment, estimated at US$55 million and $40 million over a three-year period. We started operating as a separate entity on 1 April. We are currently recruiting for key positions in order to capacitate the team to deliver on our mandate,” he said.

Farai Dziva|Zimbabwean coach Kaitano “Munhumutema” Tembo has blasted a South African referee for sending off Supersport United captain Dean Furman in controversial circumstances.

Tembo questioned referee Phelelani Ndaba’s performance during their league match against Bidvest Wits on Saturday.

The referee gave United captain Dean Furman an undeserved red card with only 25 minutes before the end of the match.
Ndaba and his assistant also denied Wits forward Terrence Dzvukamanja a legitimate goal which could have changed the outcome of the encounter.The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

“I think from the point of view of the officiating, the game was a mess from the beginning,” Tembo told Kick-Off.com.

“… But I am very proud, they played well in the last 25 minutes with ten men against a team like Wits. It’s not easy, they are a good team.”

Farai Dziva|Barcelona retained the La Liga title following a 1-0 victory against Levante on Saturday night.

However, the Catalan Giants have to overcome English Premiership side Liverpool in a UEFA Champions League semi-final clash at the Camp Nou.

The Catalans amassed an unassailable 83 points with two games to play.
Lionel Messi came on from the bench and delivered the victory, scoring the solitary goal in the 62nd minute.

The hosts were dominant in the first half, with Coutinho hitting the woodwork and also created a couple of chances. It was his replacement who sealed the victory and ensured treble-chasing Barca remain on course for a memorable season.

The triumph is Barcelona’s eighth title in eleven years and 26th overall.

A TEENAGE girl is lucky to be alive after she was left clutching her intestines when she was stabbed for turning down a neighbour’s love proposal.

This was heard when Blessing Masukume of London Farm in Gweru appeared before Gweru regional magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing one count of attempted murder.

Masukume (21) allegedly stabbed Ms Rebecca Ndlovu on the stomach leaving her intestines protruding after she turned down his love proposal.
He was convicted on his own plea and was remanded in custody to Wednesday for sentencing.State media

Dear Family and Friends,
Sitting at the water’s edge watching hippos and crocodiles, white faced whistling ducks and skittish spoonbills this Easter, the reality of Zimbabwe’s political, economic and humanitarian crisis was never far from my mind.

Stopping on the way to my destination I was horrified to discover that the price of bread had gone up from $1.20 to $3.50 a loaf.

On exclaiming at the huge price increase, the teller said: “But it’s only RTGS dollars.” RTGS dollars are the only dollars that most ordinary people have in Zimbabwe but these Bond Notes are now worth 300% less than they were worth just two months ago, as are our bank balances, salaries, life savings and pensions.

Arriving at the National Park to take up an Easter booking confirmed and paid for two months before, I was greeted with the news that “the prices are up.”

For some minutes there was a tense dialogue with the official trying to get me to pay the new rate, an increase of 300%, and me declining. There was no getting around the increase in the other Park entry and conservation fees which had not been covered in the original booking and these were all up by 300%, “unless you pay in US dollars,” the official said.

When I asked what animals there were in the Park the official looked away and mumbled: “poaching is very bad here.” Surrounded by huge chrome and platinum mines, poaching has decimated this national treasure leaving only monkeys, baboons, three waterbucks and one bushbucks seen in six days. Not even an impala? I kept asking myself in disbelief at the beautiful but empty bush; what must the tourists to the Midlands think? Shameful was the only word that came to mind.

One afternoon watching a magnificent saddlebill stork striding  in shallow water looking for fish, frogs and crabs the huge bird suddenly took to the air, startled by what had sounded like a car alarm, followed by a loud explosion; it was in fact blasting at a nearby mine. When I inquired from the Parks staff why the mines were so close to the National Park, the answer was simple: “people pay.”

Sitting on a little grassy island in the water a crocodile lay in the sun with its mouth open, staring unblinking at ducks, a heron and spoonbill just inches away. It was an image which spoke so much about the state of Zimbabwe today: the power and fear versus the little people.

For nearly two decades Zimbabwe has been in a state of almost continual turmoil, facing one man-made crisis after another. Each crisis and currency collapse have resulted in the rich and well connected amassing and then flaunting vast fortunes while ordinary people have been reduced to beggars.

While this has been going on many of our national treasures and special places have been left crumbling, infrastructure collapsing and wildlife eradicated. Recent sightings of a Lamborghini parked outside government offices in Harare speaks volumes to this, our shameful national inequity. 

With a great soreness in my heart at what I had seen, I returned home after Easter to find a message from a friend in Mutare with news of ongoing relief efforts a month after Cyclone Idai.

Her words brought tears and smiles, lifting flagging spirits: “We still have choppers flying in and out daily, mostly with bodies now. They still find the occasional victim alive, they arrive in Mutare with absolutely nothing.  A group of ladies take food to them in hospital every day, as the hospital cannot feed them all. They also give them parcels with the basics; such a sad situation. One of the first victims was a lady who had a crushed pelvis, she was also pregnant. They decided she needed a Cesarean [C section] before they could sort out her pelvis. She has a little girl, has had her pelvic op and is improving and the baby is doing well.”

Over a month after Cyclone Idai bodies are still being found under the rubble and an unknown number of people are still missing. Cyclone relief work is continuing: Miracle Missions and Harare Helps recently called for volunteers to load their 50^th  thirty tonne truck load of aid donated by ordinary people to help those affected by Cyclone Idai. They have now managed to send our donations to people in Manicaland, Masvingo and even across the border to Mozambique. A massive achievement and overwhelming response from ordinary Zimbabweans;  one of the Harare Helps social media posts says it best: “Not all heroes wear capes.” As I write this letter we are thinking of our friends and neighbours in the Comores, Mozambique and Tanzania as Cyclone Kenneth makes landfall and we follow the alerts being issued for parts of Zimbabwe too.

Until next time, thanks for reading this letter, now in its 19^th year, and my books  about life in Zimbabwe, love cathy 26 April 2019

By Brightface Mutema- For a considerable period now I have been going around some of the emerging residential suburbs in and around Harare. My aim was to have an assessment of the progress, or seriousness therein of the drive towards Agenda 2030 with regards to infrastructural development.

To say the least what I witnessed at one of the hubs of activity at Eastview’s Gazebo shopping centre leaves a lot to be desired and one starts to wonder if the relevant ministries of Local Government and Health and Child Care even care about how an ordinary person in Eastview is faring.

Being a proponent of children’s rights, my heart bleeds with the health time bomb I noticed at that place. There are no usable ablution facilities and human waste is common feature at a place where garden produce, meat and groceries are sold. This is a ticking time bomb that should be attended to by the responsible authorities as mainly children helping their parents with vending are left exposed and vulnerable to diseases like cholera, typhoid and dysentery.

Zimbabwe signed and ratified the 1949 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) but the situation obtaining at Gazebo defies the tenets of basic Child Rights and paints a gloomy picture towards the agenda 2030. A synopsis of the UNCRC tells us that a child has a fundamental right to good health and nutrition as well as the right to clean water and sanitation. But it seems authorities are ignorant of such rights in view of the Gazebo neglect.

To the residents there, the situation is normal, oblivious of the risk they face. There is need for an urgent redress of the situation before an outbreak of diseases strikes, a stitch in time saves nine, so they say. We don’t want a
reactive intervention to a disaster but instead a proactive one.

My brief research revealed that the settlement is a legal one and was regularised sometime in 2015 but currently it resembles a ghost settlement ironically still at its infancy. What could be the problem? Is it a matter of weak developmental thrust by the departments responsible or a mere negation of one of the basic Human Right, the right to safe and habitable environment?

It is not a crime that ordinary Zimbabweans are fighting hard to have a place that they call their own home, and authorities should see to it that these people are supported holistically not to pretend caring when they are electioneering and later dumb them. Those people deserve a proper settlement that is self contained just in the same way as other flourishing suburbs.

From the engagements I made with the residents regarding the settlement, I discovered that, Eastview or Caledonia for easy of reference, is an orphaned
location without a clear responsible local authority, a fact that is drastically hampering development and seriously short changing the dwellers.

Researches made revealed that according to Sections 274 and 275 of the Constitution, Local Authorities have a mandate to represent and manage the affairs of the people in urban and rural areas throughout Zimbabwe.

Furthermore, it is said that service delivery is key to the development of such settlements and should be top priority for local authorities. It should not be characterized by heaps of uncollected refuse, lack of water, demolitions, poor road networks and congested central business centres among others.

Unfortunately and regrettably, this has become the order of the day in most
towns and settlements, with Caledonia in particular.

If ever we are sincere of achieving vision 2030 in letter and spirit, something robust should be done about Caledonia and other similar settlements.

Farai Dziva|A social media platform for political analysis and reconciliation matters has challenged Home Affairs Minister Cain Mathema to name individuals and institutions he claims are plotting to topple Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In a statement on Twitter RealVoiceOfZimbabwe challenged Mathema to reveal the names of such individuals and organisations.

“Please name the people/entities who want to unseat Mnangagwa so that other Zimbabweans can get in touch with them to help them in such a beautiful and progressive endeavor.

Zimbabweans want the current Gvt gone, its the best thing that can ever happen to them! (BREAD – $3.50),” RealVoiceOfZimbabwe tweeted.