Seven MDC supporters have been dragged to court on charges of disorderly conduct after they allegedly blocked free movement of vehicle and human traffic along Nelson Mandela during an aborted public address by their leader, Nelson Chamisa on Wednesday.

By Harriet Chikandiwa

Godfrey Karembera (42), Shoko Zindoga (42), Victor Maramba (20), Honzeri Zondai (37), Gift Ben (30), Rose Chitsungo (30), and Maria Tinago (36) appeared before Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba, who remanded them to January 1 next year on $200 bail each.

Karembera, Maramba, Zondai and Tinago’s lawyer Tonderai Bhatasara told the court that his clients complained of assault by police.

“The accused were assaulted upon their arrest, using booted feet and baton sticks after they had inquired why they had been arrested,” Bhatasara said.

Allegations are that on Wednesday, the accused persons acting in common purpose with their accomplices who are still at large, gathered outside Harvest House, along Nelson Mandela Avenue, for an address titled Hope of the Nation Address (Hona) by Chamisa, which was unsanctioned.
It is alleged that the accused blocked the free movement of both vehicle and human traffic along Nelson Mandela Avenue and the nearby pavements. The police engaged them to clear the pavements, but they allegedly refused to co-operate.

The court heard that the accused persons started pelting police officers with stones and other missiles, while chanting “hatidi zvekupihwa order nemasascam” (we do not want to be ordered around by mentally deranged people), leading to their arrest.

Meanwhile, Chitungwiza council director of works David Duma and director of housing Hazel Sithole, who are facing charges of allocating a commercial stand worth over $30 000 to Metalhill Investments without following procedure, are set to stand trial on January 14.
Duma and Sithole appeared before Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba, who remanded them to January 14 for trial.

The court heard that on May 6, Metalhill Investments through one of its directors, Yeukai Mukucha, applied for a commercial stand to build a service station and directed the application to the town clerk.

It is alleged that the town clerk then referred the application to Sithole for processing and due consideration in accordance with the Urban Councils Act and Chitungwiza Town Council housing policy.

After receiving the application, it is alleged that Sithole forwarded the request to Duma to plan for inspection and avail a suitable land for a service station.

It is the State’s case that Duma was supposed to invite the Department of Physical Planning in the then Ministry of Local Government, the Environmental Management Agency and the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority to assess the suitability of the site.

It is alleged that after the assessment, Duma was expected to submit a report on the findings to Sithole and write a memorandum stating whether the land was available and suitable for the construction of a service station.

The court heard that Duma did not have the land inspected for its suitability and instead of following due process, he allegedly generated a memorandum to Sithole allocating stand 10606 in St Mary’s.

The State alleges that Sithole was also supposed to advertise the stand twice in a local newspaper and invite competitive bids, but did not do so.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Tsitsi Gezi has said the 50/50 gender representation remains elusive despite several efforts by the government to address the issue.

BY SIMBARASHE SITHOLE

Officially opening the third Zimbabwe National Gender Forum workshop in Mutare yesterday, Gezi said women’s empowerment and equal access to leadership positions was a key requirement for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The United Nations statistical evidence referred to above, clearly shows that 50-50 gender parity is still far away from being achieved, yet women’s empowerment and equal access to leadership positions is a key requirement for achieving SDGs,” Gezi said.

“Advocacy and lobbying should continue to cultivate the adequate necessary political parties to increase women representation. I encourage all participants to make their contribution at this forum as we lay a roadmap towards 50-50 in Zimbabwe.”

The Deputy Speaker noted that the exclusion of women in developmental programmes hampered community development.

“The cost of excluding women in development programmes is well documented, women political exclusion denies communities a huge potential for growth, the world will only improve if women expand their role as political, economic, family and social leaders,” she said.

“The former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, once said, ‘The world will never realise 100% of its goals if 50% of its people cannot realise their full potential. When we unleash the power of women, we can secure the future for all’.”

The Woman’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) chairperson Siphathisiwe Moyo handed a petition on 50/50 gender representation to the Deputy Speaker, which was signed by 1 000 women across the country.

Zimbabwe Gender Commission chief executive Virginia Muwanigwa said consultations revealed that there were many gender-related barriers that stood in the way of women empowerment.

“The systematic and gender-related barriers were noted as follows; negative perception of the leadership capabilities of women, including by other women; socialisation of women to not seek public offices; tolerance of political violence; lack of resources to conduct aggressive political campaigns; discriminatory policies and practices within political parties relegating women to public relations seats and political parties’ use of women as voters rather than as serious contenders for power,” Muwanigwa said.

The national gender forum, which is being held under the theme Consolidating the Strategies: Laying the Roadmap for Getting 50:50, ends today.

TWO men drowned in a dam in Juru, Mashonaland East, after they had made a $200 bet to swim in a race across the water body last week.

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

The bodies of Marshall Dhlamini (25) and Benjamin Dick (25) all of Mushinje Farm were retrieved by the police sub-aqua unit.

Mashonaland East acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Misheck Denhere yesterday confirmed the incident.

“I confirm receiving a case involving two men who drowned in a dam in Juru. We urge the public not to attempt swimming in dams and crossing flooded rivers to avoid such incidences. Moreover, as the rainy seasons starts, people should (not) attempt crossing flooded streams and rivers,” he said.

On November 12, at around 5pm, the deceased persons teamed up with their colleagues Tatenda Chigwida, Vitalis Matambo and Owen Rawani to Musinje Dam to bath.

It is reported that upon arrival, Dhlamini challenged Dick for a swimming race across the dam with the winner taking home $200.

Dick accepted the challenge and the two embarked on the race across the dam.

It is reported that while swimming back the duo got exhausted at the centre of the dam and drowned.

Their colleagues rushed home and alerted the farm owner who reported the matter to the police.

The police sub aqua unit was called and retrieved the bodies before conveying them to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals mortuary for post-mortem.

EcoCash says most of its critical services are now stable and back to normal, with customers now able to carry out transactions on the platform without facing challenges following glitches stemming from a recent systems upgrade.

By Staff Reporter

Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe chief executive officer Eddie Chibi said services such as send money, airtime recharge (for self and for others), banking services, merchant payments (using merchant codes), cash-in and cash-out, customer balance enquiries, payroll, mobile business wallet services, remittances and agents service were now quite stable and working well.

He said that their teams will continue to work flat out with their experts on the ground to iron out any outstanding issues such as online merchant payments, the EcoCash application and clearing any customer experience issues.

“We are very grateful to our customers for their support and patience at this time, and commit to do everything in our power to deliver the world class service that the public and our customers have come to expect and to enjoy,” Chibi said.

EcoCash carried out a planned major upgrade of its platform at the weekend to enhance security, system availability and greater capacity along with improved user experience.

CAPS United coach Darlington Dodo says he is happy to meet bitter rivals Dynamos at a time they are in good form after an unbeaten run stretching 19 games, setting up a potentially explosive derby on Sunday.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

The city rivals clash in the Harare derby at the National Sports Stadium in a match significant for both sides.

Caps are bidding for the championship and lead the league table with 55 points, two ahead of nearest challengers Chicken Inn and FC Platinum with only three rounds of matches left in the campaign, while Dynamos, on fifth place with 44 points are fighting for a top four finish.

“Derbies are always difficult and it will not be easy facing Dynamos. But I am happy we are facing them at a time they are enjoying good form. It makes it interesting, it even motivates us. But looking at the boys at training, there is great desire, there is hunger and enthusiasm. We really want to win this one and we are going for maximum points and nothing less,” Dodo said.

The Caps coach, whose side squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Yadah at the weekend, a major reversal to their championship bid, said he has had a frank discussion with his players after the drawn games which to them felt like defeats.

“After the match we had a frank discussion about the match as a team. Everyone accepted they had failed as a team and that there were some individuals who didn’t apply themselves. We have since corrected what we did wrong and are looking forward to the match against Dynamos.”

Caps, though will be without top forward John Zhuwawo who is suspended for accumulating three yellow cards in previous matches. Zhuwawo is the club’s top scorer with 10 goals, but Dodo will not run out of options as he has Newman Sianchali to look up to. Sianchali, who scored a double in the victory over ZPC Kariba, missed the drawn game against Yadah due to injury, but bounces back for the Harare derby. First choice goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga, who was substituted after 29 minutes, when he sustained an injury, has started training, but will have to pass a late fitness test.

They face a Dynamos side that last tasted defeat way back in June. The Glamour Boys are unbeaten in their last 19 matches, but 14 of those matches ended in draws while they won just five, the Glamour Boys have undergone a transformation since the arrival of Tonderai Ndiraya.

The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has come under the spotlight after it emerged the company’s acting chief executive (CEO) Saston Muzenda has disregarded its disciplinary committee and dismissed seven workers who were exonerated of any wrongdoing.

BY MOSES MATENGA

This came as panic has gripped the parastatal after it allegedly engaged a private human resources firm to recruit dozens of tollgate cashiers, an indication that a massive bloodbath was looming at the company.

The Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Workers Trade Union general-secretary Lovemore Ngwarati said the union has been left with no option, but to engage the Ministry of Labour to protect the workers from “clear abuse of office” by management.

“I realised that the workers have been found not guilty, even after appeal. I hear the CEO has instructed that they be dismissed, despite a recommendation to reinstate them by the disciplinary committee. We are left with no option but to go to the Labour ministry,” Ngwarati said.

A source said Muzenda had instructed that the workers be dismissed despite winning an appeal against dismissal.

“He has given instruction and tomorrow (today) or Monday they will get letters of dismissal and that is a ploy to maintain their plan and their numbers. They won their cases, there was an appeal and the workers won. What simply needs to be done is to have them reinstated,” the source said.
He said the Zinara boss’ action was clear abuse of office because he had no legal basis to fire the workers who won their cases. “Legally it is criminal, even if you use their own code. It is a criminal issue,” Gwarati added.

Muzenda was not immediately available for comment.

Zinara and its workers are embroiled in serious fights that have triggered mass resignations amid suspicion that Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza was pushing, through the Zinara board, recruitment of workers mainly from Mashonaland East province to solidify his control and secure his position in both the province and constituency.

It is also alleged that Matiza was working in cahoots with the Zinara board chairman Michael Madanha and his Zanu PF deputy in Mashonaland East in the execution of the plan.

Matiza and Madanha have denied the allegations, describing what is happening at Zinara as a “necessary” cleansing exercise.

Mobile Operator Telecel Zimbabwe will this week launch the Sizzling Summer Bundles Promotion. The promotion will run till end of January 2020.

The promotion aims to reward loyal Telecel subscribers who subscribe to the headline data and social media bundles that include MegaBoost, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.

To qualify, Telecel subscribers have to buy either Daily, Weekly or Monthly data bundles by dialling *470# or MegaBoost, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram bundles on *480#. Once the customer buys a bundle, they automatically earn points and stand a chance to win. The more points one accumulates, the more chances of them winning.

Weekly prizes include cash, Zesa Tokens, LTE devices and Wi-Fi routers, with the grand prize of $10 000 cash to be won at the end of the promotion.

Chief Executive Officer, Angeline Vere said the promotion is Telecel’s way of thanking and rewarding customers for their continued support throughout the year, especially with the current difficult economic conditions obtaining.

“We would like to reward our customers for being so loyal and true to us by giving them a chance to win whenever they purchase any of these selected bundles,” she added.

Mrs Vere also took the opportunity to encourage Telecel subscribers to continue recharging in order to get the very popular MegaBonus which gives a bonus on every dollar of airtime purchased. Following recent upgrades, Telecel subscribers are able to purchase their airtime via Telecash by simply dialling *888# and following easy and simple prompts.

Ten percent of Zimbabwe’s population are estimated to be gay or lesbian – they are simply born like this. However, only few dare to disclose their sexual orientation as homosexuality is largely rejected by the Zimbabwean society and considered a taboo.

The current Zimbabwe Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act makes specific sexual acts illegal. According to popular belief, however, homosexuality is a crime. The national media exacerbates this attitude in Zimbabwe with homophobic statements by government leaders contributing to a misinformed, highly discriminatory socio-political environment.

In 2013, Zimbabwe adopted a constitution prohibiting same-sex marriage. It leaves the sexual minorities in a quandary, however, because it is silent on whether or not gay or lesbian love affairs are legal.

The marriage bill that has brought up the concept of civil partnerships has been precise in defining it as a relationship between a man and a woman .The term on its own being interpreted internationally to mean people in same sex relationships has caused the community and cabinet to want to remove it noting that because it has a gay international interpretation thus it does not uphold the countries moral standards. The issue of inclusion of same sex marriages has been removed from conversation totally showing that we are far from realising these rights.

The Bill outlaws same-sex marriages in the definitional section of terms, by defining the term “marriage” as meaning a marriage solemnised, registered or recognised as such in terms of the Act, being a union between persons of the opposite sex.

This is in line with Section 78 subsection 3 of the Constitution, which clearly states that, “persons of the same sex are prohibited from marrying each other”.

Speaking to one of the victims who had to flee Zimbabwe for fear of her dear life, says she was harassed and attacked on a number of occasions whilst she was still in Zimbabwe and now even if she feels that home is best she still fears for her life that if dares returning she might get killed or jailed.

“I have been harassed and attacked on several occasions and that prompted me to flee the country to save my life. There’s this one day I will never forget, I was in the Harare Gardens Park with a woman I was dating, and three men approached us and urinated on us calling us Ngochani (a derogatory name given to gays/lesbians in Zimbabwe).

“Another unfortunate incident took place in 2018 when I was assaulted by six men who stayed in our neighbourhood, these men knew about my sexuality since they always saw me with my partner. I sustained head injuries during the assault, when I reported my case to the police telling them I have been attacked by some men questioning my sexuality. The police said they could not do anything mentioning that my story was a bit complicated to open up a docket for gays/lesbians here in Zimbabwe” she added

Homosexual persons often experience violence and marginalisation due to their sexual orientation. Aggression towards them ranges from verbal abuse and bullying to social discrimination, physical violence and psychological torture. This trend of abuse has been rampant mostly in the central parts of Harare, Gweru, Bindura and Bulawayo.

According to ZimRights, a human rights group, there were approximately 760 reports of attacks on homosexual university students in 2018. Chesterfield Samba leads the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), a civil-society organisation. He says that “suspected gay students are being tracked down by their anti-gay colleagues in clubs, bars and even in their homes. They are openly harassed, assaulted or even killed.”

Zimbabwe is one of the non-accepting countries in the world for gay, lesbian and transgender people. A 2006 revision to the country’s criminal code expanded the penalty for sodomy to include acts that “would be regarded by a reasonable person as an indecent act”. This could include two men/women holding hands or hugging, and it can be punished by an extended prison term.

According to a 2018 survey by the non-governmental organisation GALZ (Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe), 50 % of gay men in Zimbabwe had been physically assaulted, and 64 % had been disowned by their families. Twenty-seven percent of lesbians also reported harassment, assault and disownment. Often, they are accused of exposing their parents to “blame and shame”.

Some families in rural areas assume that their gay son or lesbian daughter is possessed by Satan or demons. Traditional leaders evict them from their villages. A young man from western Zimbabwe, who prefers to stay anonymous, recounts that people in his village, believed that “even with a handshake, I would transfer homosexuality”. The elders decided that he was unfit to stay in the community.

The late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is well known for his furious speeches against Zimbabwe’s LGBT community, calling them “worse than pigs and dogs” and must not be allowed in society.

At some point he was asked by an AP reporter if Zimbabwe had no gay rights this was his response: “They have no rights whatsoever! They are an abomination and against human nature and God,” he shouted as he grabbed him by the arm and jostled him, causing his head to knock against a video camera behind.

In an in-depth LGBT article done by Grace Badza early this year she spoke to several victims who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.

“They say I am the reason why the Biblical towns Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed,” an elderly gay man recounts. “They call me an abomination with no acceptance in the Christian religion.”

Another man says that he was harassed at work: “They fired me. I have no source of income anymore.” Many LGBTI people in Zimbabwe suffer from low self-esteem; they are isolated and often depressed. “I have no place in society,” a young Lesbian in Harare says. “Where do I run to?”

Zimbabwe is no exception. Homosexuality is outlawed in 35 African countries and punishable by death in two countries, Mauritania and Sudan, as well as in some areas of Somalia and Nigeria, according to Amnesty International.

BY CHARLES LAITON

Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri has described Oman-based businessman, Thamer Said Ahmed Al Shanfari as a “fugitive” and accused him of fraudulently attempting to claim properties that belongs to the Zimbabwean military.

Muchinguri said this in her founding affidavit in response to Shanfari’s High Court application, seeking an order for placement of a caveat over four immovable properties namely stand numbers, 98, 99, 100 and 101 Glen Lorne Township 8 of Lot 40A Glen Lorne, Harare.

The businessman approached the High Court after receiving information that his properties were being taken over by the Defence ministry.

But Muchinguri challenged Shanfari’s application saying, the court in Harare cannot, first of all, entertain his application given that he, being a fugitive and a prohibited immigrant, had not offered any security to institute proceedings against the government.

“The applicant (Shanfari) is a peregrinus and in that regard he has not offered any security to institute these proceedings. The applicant is a fugitive from justice. The applicant is a prohibited immigrant and there are disputes of facts which will not possibly be resolved on his founding affidavit. These disputes are clearly apparent from his own founding affidavit,” she said.

“The applicant has no assets in this country, both movable and immovable. The immovable property in dispute does not belong to him, it is a property owned by the second respondent (Defence ministry) through its commercial vehicle which was created for the purpose, among other things, to acquire this property.”

Muchinguri further said Shanfari cannot be trusted given that he has a criminal record culminating from his conviction on charges of forgery in Cairo, Egypt. “The applicant has also been found guilty of forgery for a British passport in Egypt. On the basis of the above points in limine, I submit with respect that the applicant’s application be dismissed with costs,” the minister said.

In his application, the businessman said he filed a court application after realising that chances were very high that he could lose his investments in Zimbabwe given the political power yielded by Muchinguri and her ministry. But, the minister disputed his assertions saying he owned nothing in Zimbabwe.
The matter is pending.

BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE

MPILO Central Hospital yesterday unveiled medical equipment, which include infant incubators, a mobile X-ray machine, radiant warmers, sourced from India by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The institution also received 25 patient monitors, one endoscope unit and two anaesthetic machines, among other equipment.

Chief hospital equipment technician Vulindlela Dube hailed the President for his kind gesture to the health institution.

“The equipment will assist the hospital in saving human life,” he said.

“We received infant incubators; these machines are used for pre-term babies. They stabilise the temperature and create conditions that mimic what was in the mother’s womb.”

Dube also said: “We have also received patient monitors that monitor vital signs in a patient, for example, the blood pressure, oxygen saturation which will ensure the patient is getting enough oxygen.

“We also have a mobile X-ray machine that actually can be transported to a critically-ill patient instead of moving the patient from the intensive care unit.”

Dube said one anaesthetic machine was ready for use, while the other was waiting for components from India.

Meanwhile, 71 general nurses and 58 midwives graduated with certificates and got awards for their achievements at the same institution.

Speaking on behalf of Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube, deputy director in the minister’s office, Agnes Makoni hailed
nurses for their perseverance despite facing challenges.

Makoni said health workers must be reminded that their role is to save lives.

“Midwives, as defenders of women’s rights, should support women to make informed health and life choices; empowering them with information and access to services,” Ncube said.

She added that currently the health system world-wide was experiencing a lot of challengers as the quality of healthcare was deteriorating.

Local health institutions are facing shortages of drugs and equipment.

They have also been crippled by the doctors’ strike, with nurses only working two days a
week.