BY OBEY MANAYITI/ PHYLLIS MBANJE

MDC secretary-general Charlton Hwende has written to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), raising concern over the politicisation of State institutions after Zanu PF instructed NatPham to disburse medicine in Lupane East constituency ahead of the upcoming by-election.

Early this month, Zanu PF commissar Victor Matemadanda wrote to Health minister Obediah Moyo asking for medicines to beef up their campaign in Lupane East. In turn, Moyo instructed his permanent secretary to act on the request with NatPham.

The move has drawn widespread condemnation among various stakeholders, who felt the abuse of State institutions must not have a place in modern times.

Yesterday, the MDC raised the matter with Zec, saying the move also borders on criminal abuse of office.

“This amounts to breach of principle 6 (1) of the electoral code of conduct, which proscribes procurement of support or assistance of any official or public
servant to act in a partisan manner or further the interests of any political party or cause,” Hwende wrote.

“This is a clear act of collusion and coordination between Zanu PF and the minister. At the minimum, it is collusion at the level of the minister and at
worst, it involves the highest offices in the State.

“We hope you take this matter with the seriousness it deserves, considering the level of confidence in Zimbabwean elections by citizens. Your handling of this
matter will determine whether that confidence is restored or not,” added the letter.

Hwende said the issue of abuse of State resources in favour of Zanu PF has also been widely raised by international observers, including during the last
harmonised elections.

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has also castigated Zanu PF for the partisan distribution of medicines to drum up support in the
by-election.

The doctors said the party’s conduct must be investigated.

ZADHR said the conduct was inconsistent with the right to health for all.

“Partisan distribution of medical goods and services is an affront to health for all, and the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical
and mental health,” ZADHR said.

“The move reveals deep-seated structural barriers to health for all in Zimbabwe. Apart from just exposing the Health ministry from dabbling in political party
electoral agendas, it raises questions on the criterion used by the ministry in the distribution of drugs and medical sundries. As ZADHR, we believe the
distribution of drugs and services must be based on population, disease-burden and current stocking levels, and not on parochial partisan political agenda.”

ZADHR said Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) must investigate the conduct by Zanu PF and the Health ministry

“ZADHR calls upon all stakeholders, including the Zacc, to investigate the minister on criminal abuse of office and bring him to account on the move,” added
the statement.

They also reminded the government that health centres must be properly equipped at all times through increased funding into the sector, and that health
services and goods must not be distributed on partisan political lines as it was discriminatory, adding the practice lacked the basic tenants of drug and
medical consumables distribution criterion.

Meanwhile, the Health ministry has denied politicising healthcare services.

“I would like to assure the general public, our donors and technical partners that our [Ministry of Health and Child Care] MoHCC teams are there to provide
equitable and quality healthcare services, including medicines to all citizens regardless of any activities taking place in the communities served. No one is
favoured,” Health secretary, Agnes Mahomva, said in a statement.

MoHCC said the action that was taken through the Provincial Medical Director and District Medical Officer‘s offices, on the instruction provided, was to
establish through reports if the normal and usual drug supply chain management was working well for all clinics in the said district, including the mentioned
clinics.

Mahomva said the teams established that a NatPham team was already on the ground, doing its normal and routine quarterly medicines supply-runs to the clinics
in the district through the MoHCC recommended Zimbabwe Assisted Pull System (ZAPS).

“No additional or extraordinary action was, therefore, needed or taken. Let me, therefore, once again reassure you the public, our donors and technical
partners that the MoHCC teams are there to simply do their work in a professional and efficient way. guided by good governance principles and nothing else.
This is done for the good of all Zimbabweans, regardless of gender creed or affiliation,” Mahomva said.

BY Everson Mushava

Tourism minister Priscah Mupfumira has urged Zimbabweans living in the diaspora to invest back home or risk losing out to foreign companies “stampeding” to set up investments in the country.

Mupfumira said this on Wednesday while addressing Zimbabweans based in Birmingham on the ninth day of her roadshow in the United Kingdom.

The Birmingham event coincided with the official launch of Zimthrive 2020, an ambitious project led by a Zimbabwean national Mike Tashaya, aimed at giving
those in the diaspora an opportunity to engage the government and find ways of contributing to national development.

“We are all Zimbabweans and don’t miss the opportunity to come and invest back home. A person should be measured with what she or he does for her or his own
country,” Mupfumira said.

“We don’t want you to repeat what happened during the land reform programme when most people started realising they needed land when it was already taken up by
others. Right now, while we are here, Russians, Chinese, Europeans and others are flocking to Zimbabwe to invest in energy, tourism, agriculture and other
areas.”

Mupfumira added: “Don’t be left out. The moment you realise you want to invest, all opportunities will be gone. A lot of foreign investors are coming to the
country in response to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zimbabwe is open for business mantra.”

The Tourism minister, who was basking in glory after her ministry landed the 2019 Sustainable Green Award gong for Parks and Wildlife Management’s role in
wildlife conservation in Berlin, Germany three days ago, said the Mnangagwa administration was spearheading reforms to ensure ease of doing business in the
country.

Mupfumira said it was only Zimbabweans working with government who could turn around the economic challenges facing the country. She welcomed government’s
decision compelling hotels in Victoria Falls to pay for electricity in US dollars to reduce load shedding.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority acting chief executive officer Rita Likukuma said the organisation would work tirelessly to make sure that tourism continued to grow
and increase its contribution to the gross domestic product.

The roadshow will be in London today.

BY RICHARD MUPONDE

THREE Chipinge men landed themselves in trouble after being found in possession of suspected Cyclone Idai loot worth over ZW$1 000, which they claimed was given to them by soldiers for safe keeping.

The trio, Joseph Mtetwa, a mechanic, Macdonald Jamburu, a taxi driver and Panganai Simango, who is not employed, appeared before Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware yesterday.

They pleaded not guilty to possession of property reasonably suspected to be stolen as defined by section 125(1)(a) of the Criminal Codification and Reform
Act.

The prosecution, however, saved them after it implored the court to acquit and discharge them, submitting that the trio were, in fact, witnesses in the matter
as the culprits, Anymore Matata, Talkmore Collins Mavudzi and Admire Munonyara, who are soldiers had been arrested and put on remand.

In their defence, the trio had submitted, through their lawyer, Mhungu and Associates, that they did not steal the property, but acted in good faith after
being given for safe-keeping by the soldiers.

“The accused persons believe that they are witnesses against the soldiers for their conduct. They have been forthright to the police, leading to the arrest of
the soldiers and their explanation is consistent even to the present day in court. Simply, their explanation is that the property was delivered to them by the
soldiers, thus is satisfactory and truthful explanation. Consequently, they each pray that they be found not guilty and acquitted,” their lawyer submitted.

Charges are that on April 1, they were intercepted by the police at Joppa turn-off in Chipinge carrying groceries, clothes, fuel and linen believed to have
been stolen Cyclone Idai relief.

They were coming from collecting the goods from Mtetwa’s residence at Silver Streams Wattle Company Estate.

Upon their arrest, they implicated the soldiers and the property recovered was worth ZW$1 740.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

INFORMATION minister Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday said government is ploughing through with media and other legal reforms, with a view to move away from toxic politics and democratise Zimbabwe.

Mutsvangwa made the remarks yesterday at the two-day National University of Science and Technology (Nust) media summit.

The Nust Department of Journalism and Media Studies is co-hosting the media summit with the Zimbabwe Centre for Media and Information Literacy (ZCMIL) under
the theme New Media and Democracy: Beyond Fake News, Disinformation and Misinformation.

The conference is jointly sponsored by the United States embassy and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Zimbabwe.

Mutsvangwa said efforts to replace the widely-condemned harsh Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) under media reforms were a
confirmation of the government’s commitment to democratise Zimbabwe.

“The topic (Media Reform Bill) strives to paint AIPPA and related POSA Bills as a hatchet job of the new dispensation. As the minister on the steering wheel, I
hasten to dismiss that accusation. By principle, your President, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, means exactly what he says. The
new media reform Bill is meant to overhaul the reactionary legislation of the former regime . . .” Mutsvangwa said.

Mutsvangwa’s ministry is spearheading efforts to replace AIPPA with the Freedom of Information Act, the Protection of Personal Information Act, and the
Zimbabwe Media Commission Act.

AIPPA has always been criticised as contradictory to the principles of access to information, privacy, and media freedoms as guaranteed in the constitution.

“What the new dispensation wants is a free and vibrant Press to underpin and propel the vision of a new and prosperous Zimbabwe. The second republic that began
in November 2017, under the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa, committed itself to broaden and deepen democracy in the country. To that end,
government committed itself to improve governance. The media is one such governance sector,” she said.

“Government has embarked on a wide range of legal reforms to align the existing laws to the Constitution and introduce laws that will make Zimbabwe a better
country for its citizens.”

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

Government is set to table the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) forensic audit report before Parliament in the first week of August, saying the delays were necessitated by a number of queries that needed to be unpacked by experts before it is made public.

Labour and Social Welfare minister Sekai Nzenza (pictured) told a Zanu PF gathering in Marondera recently that the audit report is available and that it will be ready for tabling after consultations concerning four major critical areas that needed to be “unpacked by experts”.

“The report is there and will be made available end of this month. The delays are a result of certain things that needed to be unpacked by experts hence, the
report is being examined and scrutinised by these experts in various areas unearthed by the audit. This is critical in that the ministry will come up with a
comprehensive document as well as adopting some measures to handle NSSA interests that is as far as recovery proceedings or criminal action is concerned,”
Nzenza said.

Nzenza, who is also Chikomba East legislator, said the report has irregularities in four critical areas that need to be unpacked by law expert.

“The four critical issues are not hindering the release (of the report), they just need to be unpacked by expert lawyers, and then I will present the report.
The four issues include irregularities in corporate governance, human resources, IT and investments,” she added.

Auditor-General Mildred Chiri handed over the report to government in March and it is yet to be made public.

In May, Parliament gave Nzenza an ultimatum to release the latest external forensic audit report on NSSA which reportedly implicates senior government
officials, including serving and former cabinet ministers in multi-million dollar looting scandals.

However, NewsDay is reliably informed that government has since notified the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda and the Parliamentary Committee
on Budget and Finance on the latest developments with the responsible minister set to table the report during the first week of August.

There are reports of gross abuse of public funds at NSSA, among other scandals that involve dodgy and non-existing investments.

BY JAMES MUONWA/NUNURAI JENA

THE Land Commission, appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to investigate the sale of State land, opened its hearings in Chinhoyi on Wednesday, where it exposed “dubious land developers” who included top Zanu PF officials.

The Justice Tendayi Uchena-chaired probe team raised concern over the calibre and capacity of some of the land barons who were allocated State land, but had, until now, not developed infrastructure to enable beneficiaries to move onto their stands.

The commission also raised a red-flag over some land developers and questioned their capacity to deliver.

The developers include Defence and War Veterans Affairs minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri’s daughter, Tanya Rushesha who is director of Tabularasa (Pvt) Ltd.

The company was allocated 30 hectares of land in 2013 and created 624 housing stands. Tabularasa has, to date, not serviced the area.

Beneficiaries are yet to move onto their stands which do not have water and sewer reticulation systems.

Other developers who got land include Millypack (Pvt) Limited owned by Zanu PF youth league deputy secretary for economic empowerment, Mike Chimombe (30
hectares) and Zanu PF-linked Reverend Obadiah Msindo, the proprietor of Destiny for Afrika Network who received 75 hectares.

Commissioner Heather Chingono said she was not amused by the lack of development, despite land developers having layout plans approved.

She questioned the criteria used by the Local Government ministry in identifying developers, insinuating “most don’t have the capacity and experience to
effectively do their work”.

Chingono grilled Local Government provincial planning officer Sekai Matimba, who struggled to answer questions put to her.

“Do you have selection criteria for developers? Did you have allocation criteria as a department and what has happened to the land you parcelled out to private
land developers, since 2013?” quizzed Chingono.

“We are struggling to see what substantially has been done six years down the line.”

Responded Matimba: “No, we do not have the criteria as these memorandum of agreements are done at head office. We don’t even know what conditions are there.”

Justice Uchena lamented the collapse in governance systems that has resulted in lack of accountability, poor work ethics and procedure lapses.

Zanu PF Zvimba South MP and businessman Phillip Chiyangwa also came under the commission’s radar after it was discovered that his Chinhoyi Citrus Farm, situated on the periphery of the town, was not on the list of farms earmarked for urban expansion.

Chingono asked why Citrus Farm was precluded from the list, prompting provincial lands officer Malvin Mhaka to disclose that the farm was repossessed following
the withdrawal of the mogul’s prior offer letter.

The probe continues today with Chinhoyi Municipality officials led by town clerk Maxwell Kaitano expected to appear before the panel.

Dear Presidents of Political Parties,

We are writing to you on behalf of the 52% of women in Zimbabwe whose interests are underrepresented in a male dominated Parliament and Local Government.

This is an issue that has been raised by many stakeholders and as you are aware it undermines the letter and spirit of the Constitution more specifically Sections 17, 56 and 80 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

These sections collectively envisage a Zimbabwe leadership structure where men and women are equally represented at all levels.

In other words, it aspires for a political and legal order where men and women enjoy equal access to leadership opportunities.

It is disturbing to note that since the passage of the Constitution in 2013, women representation in directly elected positions in Parliament and Local Government structures remains low and in retreat all together.

For example, in 2013 out of the 210 directly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) only 13.8% women were elected and in 2018 the number was reduced to a paltry 12.8%. In Local Government structures (councillors), in 2013 only 16% of the directly elected councillors were women and was reduced to low of 13.3% in 2018.

At the top Presidium level within the country, we currently do not have a woman President nor Vice President.

This precarious situation is reflective of a cross cutting political and patriarchal culture which generally sidelines women from leadership.

The sidelining of women results in policy and legislative frameworks which fail to improve the status of women in the country and causes greater poverty and alienation of women from development initiatives.

We therefore ask your offices to address this serious challenge which puts our constitutional democracy on trial. It poses the critical question that: How can a country develop when a majority of its people are disenfranchised from leadership?

As the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE), drawing our mandate from Section 7(c) of the Constitution, make the following recommendations to Political Parties:

i)Political parties prioritize women as candidates in all by-elections that may arise in Parliament and Local authorities across the country in between now and the 2023 national elections.

ii)Replace all vacant positions left by female MPs or Councillors during by-elections with fellow women leaders. An example is the upcoming by-election in Glen View South Constituency that fell vacant after the death of Hon Vimbai Tsvangirai Java. If Hon Java is replaced by a male MP it means the number of women directly elected in Parliament will fall from 26 to 25.

iii)Create a conducive environment free of violence and intimidation that allows women to freely campaign.

iv)Criminalize vote buying during elections as this disadvantages aspiring female leaders most of whom have limited economic resources to spend on campaigning.

v)Incorporate the 50/50 gender representation in political party constitutions. Those that already have must fully operationalize their gender parity clauses in order to guarantee equal representation in all leadership positions.

vi)Political parties with MPs in Parliament must move motions to fully align the Electoral Act with the Constitution in fulfillment of section 17, 56 and 80. This will help the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in enforcing 50/50 gender representation on all political party lists during elections.

These provisions will ensure that political parties and the arms of Government at every level offer equal opportunities for men and women. It is our sincere hope that as leaders in your parties you will heed our call and begin processes that show real commitment towards empowerment of women because if She Rises We all Rise.

For and on behalf of the Aspiring Women Leaders of Zimbabwe.

EXPECTING mothers and girl children are often forgotten during times of disasters such as tropical cyclones and floods, and they often end up bearing the worst brunt of the catastrophes.

BY FARAI MATIASHE

Most aid agencies’ primary focus will be on rolling out food handouts and shelter to the victims.

The immediate needs of pregnant mothers and girl children are usually eclipsed in the whole matrix, leaving them vulnerable to various forms of abuse.

Some of the girls receiving donations from YMCA in Chimanimani

This was seen when Cyclone Idai pounded the eastern parts of Manicaland province, including Chimanimani and Chipinge, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of many in March this year.

Expectant mothers had some of their preparation kits washed away, while some were left widowed after their husbands went missing or were killed.

Factoring the current economic environment in the country, most women in the affected areas are neither employed nor engaged in any meaningful income generating projects to sustain their livelihoods.

While donations trickled in from well-wishers across the world, very few spared a thought for the unborn child.

Most pregnant women who were affected by Cyclone Idai are housed in camps set up by relief organisations such as Red Cross, Red Crescent, United Kingdom Aid and United Nations International Children Emergency Fund.

Due to deteriorating health standards at most health centres in the country, expecting mothers are expected to bring cotton wool, methylated spirit and preparation for the child.

With the current economic crisis and unemployment rate at over 90%, most women cannot afford the requirements, worse for those in Cyclone Idai-hit areas.

According to United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), about 67 500 women of reproductive age in Chimanimani and Chipinge are in need of sexual and reproductive health services; 1 250 were pregnant.

In the three months following the tropical storm`s destruction, UNFPA anticipated 3 750 live births, among which 560 women were expected to experience pregnancy and birth-related complications.

However, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), with the support from Y-Care International brought back the smiles on the faces of expecting mothers after they handed over hampers of baby preparation sets to them. The hampers included baby clothes, wrapping towels, buckets, bathing dishes, nappies, washing soap, petroleum jelly, cotton wool for the mother and re-usable pads.

An expecting mother at Aboratum Camp in Ngangu, Chimanimani, Kuda Ndima (36), could not hide her joy after receiving the preparation set hamper.

She lost two children and her husband during the cyclone and her only hope is now vested in the unborn child she is expecting to deliver in the next few weeks.

“I cannot hide my joy. This is a surprise. I had no money to purchase this preparation set for my child. I virtually lost everything during the disaster and I had no money to buy another set,” she said with tears of joy.

“I would like to express my gratitude to YMCA and Y Care for their timely intervention. In few weeks, I will be delivering my baby with adequate needs.”

Another beneficiary, Joyline Chatanga (24), said God`s time is the best.

“We are only receiving food aid but we were stressed about the needs of the expected child. There is no meaningful income generating projects in this camp. We are just seated all day and it is difficult to be fed like a chicken. We thank these people for thinking like humans. I am so delighted and I am now stress free as you know stress is not good for pregnant mothers like me,” Chatanga said while packing her delivery baby preparation set.

Bennies Sithole (30) from Kondo Camp, who received goods on behalf of his expectant wife, Stella Dirikwi, 19, said: “I was not expecting from anyone. This is a major surprise because at the moment, I am just holed here in the camp with nothing to do. There is no employment to talk of in these areas because people are still recovering from the effects of Cyclone Idai.

Sithole said without the support of YMCA, he had no other plans on how he was going to raise money to buy preparation materials for the unborn child.

“It was difficult for me to buy preparation for the child as you can see that our source of livelihood, which was agriculture, was destroyed and we were left with nothing to sustain our families. May God bless these people for sparing a thought for the unborn child,” Sithole said while receiving the preparation set.

Yvonne Mutume, 26, from Aboratum Camp, said the donation would give her a peace of mind as it came during her darkest hour.

“This assistance will forever be pitched in my mind because it came just on the right time. I am very delighted with this development,” Mutume said.

Village head for Pfumo village, which falls under Chief Muusha, Nickson Pfumo, expressed his gratitude towards the gesture, saying the support, would go a long way in rebuilding the traumatised society.

“People can easily rebuild their lives if they receive maximum help and support. I am delighted that pregnant women and children are being assisted to rebuild their lives. Without hope and support, we will perish,” Pfumo said.

Besides assisting the expectant mothers, YMCA also handed over stationery to affected students in camps and Machongwe areas, which included satchels, counter books, exercise books, pens and pencils.

Women and girls in both Machongwe areas and camps also received re-usable sanitary pads.

YMCA Zimbabwe youth chairperson Elton Jim said there was a holistic approach to assist the victims of Cyclone Idai.

“We firmly believe and are fully persuaded that to use a holistic approach is not just distributing food handouts. We are looking to something that is more sustainable and our primary focus is women and young children because they are the future of our country.

“We have also seen it fit to remember pregnant women by handing over some preparation set for the unborn child. Despite Cyclone Idai which ravaged these areas, we firmly believe that there should be special attention to maternity needs to ensure decent delivery and reduce risk of post natal mortality,” Jimu said.

He said health was also a focus for their organisation and as such they were giving re-usable sanitary pads.

“Currently, we are at a point where young girls here will be sewing the pads and sell to other communities outside the Cyclone Idai-hit areas so that they can raise income for other needs. Currently, we have a rural branch in Tanda, Rusape we will be operating from there as well.

“This is a critical project for now, looking at our economic situation. Most women cannot afford sanitary pads and it is imperative that we produce re-usable sanitary pads. We are supporting the psycho-social support programme to help the people make sure they heal and continue with their lives,” Jimu said.

Sanitary pads in the country are trading from ZWL$4,50 to ZWL$8, depending with brands, making the essential product going beyond the reach of many.

YMCA national programmes co-ordinator, Francis Lembani, said they will continue to look at gaps in the Cyclone Idai hit areas and assist those in need.

“Maternal health, child welfare and education are our key areas. We believe these are key indicators of the country`s economic growth,” Lembani said.

According to government reports, Cyclone Idai destroyed more than 2 500 houses and displaced 4 000 people.

FORMER Zimbabwe Warriors striker, Shingayi Kawondera has sued Vice-President Constantino Guveya Chiwenga’s wife Marry for US$700 000, claiming that she fraudulently obtained a divorce order against him to facilitate her marriage to the then army commander.

BY CHARLES LAITON

According to the court papers, Kawondera says the US$700 000 is compensation for the immovable property and a company called Latchelle (Pvt) Ltd which were awarded to Marry as a result of the divorce.

The former footballer claims he never consented to divorcing Marry as alleged in the court papers that formed the basis of the dissolution of their marriage in July 2011 and that his signature was forged.

Reports suggest that the Chiwengas customarily married in 2011.

Kawondera said when his marriage to Marry was nullified, he was in Cyprus where he was playing football and there was never a time when he signed court papers confirming receipt of summons seeking divorce by his ex-wife.

“The parties in this matter (Kawondera and Marry) were formerly married to each other and the parties’ marriage was dissolved by a decree of divorce granted by this honourable court on May 19, 2011. The defendant had issued summons out of this court on June 7, 2010 seeking an order of divorce and ancillary relief under case number HC3805/10,” he said through his lawyers.

“Plaintiff (Kawondera) was never served with the summons as required by the rules of the court. Plaintiff was
not in the country, but was in Cyprus where he was a professional footballer at the relevant time.

“Defendant (Marry) fraudulently caused a return of service to be issued by the Deputy Sheriff at Harare falsely claiming that the plaintiff had been personally served with the summons on June 22, 2010 at Harare.”

Kawondera said Marry also fraudulently authored a consent paper dated July 7, 2010 wherein his signature was forged, agreeing to the divorce proceedings under HC3805/10.

The former Warriors star said in the said divorce proceedings, Marry also relied on an affidavit of a waiver and an amended affidavit of a waiver which purported to have been deposed by him.

“In actual fact, plaintiff never deposed to the said affidavits and the signatures purporting to be those of the plaintiff were forged by the defendant. The defendant also caused a firm of lawyers Samkange and Venturas to purport to act on behalf of the plaintiff and to make concession on plaintiff’s behalf. Plaintiff had never at any given time instructed the said firm of lawyers to act on his behalf,” Kawondera said.

“The cumulative effect of defendant’s fraudulent activities referred to above is that an order of divorce was granted on an unopposed basis. Plaintiff was never given a chance to either defend the divorce proceedings under HC3805/10 or to consent thereto.”

Kawondera averred that the High Court judge, who presided over the divorce proceedings, was misled by the VP’s wife into granting an unopposed order when, in fact, he was never made aware of the court proceedings.

“The granting of the divorce order without according plaintiff a chance to be heard constitutes a grave act of injustice and a serious infraction on plaintiff’s right to be heard. As a result of the irregular and fraudulent obtaining of a divorce order by defendant, plaintiff was seriously prejudiced in that: The defendant remained with all the immovable properties that the parties had acquired together during the subsistence of the marriage,” he said.

Kawondera said all of his clothes and property remained with Marry after the fraudulent divorce, thus he is now seeking an order for compensation against her.

“No distribution of the parties’ matrimonial assets occurred and plaintiff was left with nothing as defendant allocated to herself all the parties matrimonial assets, this, in spite of plaintiff having substantially contributed to the matrimonial estate,” he said.

“Plaintiff’s contribution to the formation and capitalisation of a company called Latchelle (Pvt) Ltd was not compensated. This is in spite of plaintiff having contributed various sums of money which defendant had started during the marriage.”

Kawondera added that as a direct result of Marry’s alleged fraud, he has been impoverished as she unjustly grabbed all the matrimonial assets that the parties had acquired together, contrary to the laws of Zimbabwe.

“Wherefore, plaintiff prays for an order that defendant is ordered to pay damages to plaintiff in the sum of US$700 000, interest at the prescribed rate from date of issue of summons until payment in full plus costs of suit on a higher scale,” he said.

Norton MP Temba Mliswa (indepedent) has threatened to drag government to court to force it to improve the welfare of MPs by providing them with vehicles and increase their salaries.

BY XOLISANI NCUBE

Raising a point of privilege in the National Assembly yesterday, Mliswa said lawmakers had been neglected by the Executive and he was now taking the matter to the Constitutional Court to force the state to act.

“The welfare of parliamentarians must be taken seriously madam speaker. When the Executive makes an undertaking, they must fulfil it. Madam Speaker, I am going to approach the Constitutional Court to ensure that this matter is dealt with. The salaries of MPs have not changed and the cost of living has gone up,” Mliswa said

Government has delayed availing vehicles to MPs due to budgetary constraints. Finance minister Mthuli Ncube last week promised to procure the vehicles for the MPs this week.

“The SROC (Standing Rules and Orders Committee) makes decisions and they are ignored by the executive. We were given the ZW$50 000 as CDF (Constituency Development Fund), but the money has been eroded. Something has to be done,” Mliswa said.

In November last year, MPs arm-twisted Mthuli to allocate money for their welfare after refusing to increase the budget.

The MPs want government to buy Land Cruisers, which they said “is the only car good enough for MPs to do their work because the Mazdas and Toyotas we get are not good enough”.

Meanwhile, Mliswa yesterday blocked MDC MPs from quizzing government on claims that First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was being threatened by some military personnel, saying the audio circulating on social media should not be taken seriously.

MDC MP Innocent Gonese had asked Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema on what steps government was doing to protect its citizens who included the First Lady.

Before Mathema could respond, Mliswa stood up saying Parliament could not discuss social media issues and to this end, Mathema did not respond to the question with regard to the first lady.

On Tuesday, the social media was awash with an audio conversation allegedly between the First Lady and a top military commander, believed to be Samson Murombo where she allegedly claimed that some army officers were plotting to kill her and the President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The authenticity of the audio has remained questionable with Zanu PF supporters alleging voice morphing.