BY NIZBERT MOYO

Three people – an elderly woman and her two grandchildren – were burnt beyond recognition when their house in Morningside, Bulawayo caught fire on Wednesday night.

Bulawayo acting fire officer, Lynos Phiri said preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

Phiri said when the fire brigade arrived at the scene, they found the entire house in flames with the roof having curved in, and had to watch helplessly because the gate was locked.

“Prisca Mushore (57), Stacy Mushori (14) and Brendon Moyo (9) were severely burnt in a seven-roomed house under tiles and the estimated value of the property was $500 000,” Phiri said.

“Estimated losses were $300 000 and total value of the saved property was $200 000. The cause of the fire was due to an electrical short circuit which caused an explosion from the ceiling that had accumulated some dust.”

Bulawayo police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the three deaths.

“I can confirm that the (incident) occurred on Wednesday evening. A neighbour at Hillside noticed fire and she immediately informed the police, it was discovered that a woman and a girl aged around 14 as well as a boy aged nine died in the inferno. The cause of the fire is not yet ascertained, but investigations are in progress,’’ Ncube said.

BY NHAU MANGIRAZI

TWO people – a police officer and his prisons counterpart – reportedly drowned in Lake Kariba on Tuesday evening when their boat capsized, a police internal memorandum has revealed.

The leaked memorandum from district intelligence to police Kariba district dated January 29 says police were still searching for the two bodies.

The incident occurred on January 28 around 7pm between Kariba Lake Harvest Bream cages and Nyaodza Fishing Camp.

According to the memo, the missing persons set out for Nyaodza Fishing Co-operative to buy fish aboard a boat, registration number KF 253, belonging to Faula Robson Mumba (36) of Nyamhunga.

“Also on board were the informant (Jephas) Mumari (23 of Kuwadzana, Harare) and Mumba … While on their way, around 1900hrs there were violent winds which made the lake boisterous, resulting in some water getting into the boat. The boat began to sink,” read the memo.

The memo said the pair disappeared underwater. Mumari and Mumba were rescued by a passing dinghy boat at around 11pm.

Stephen Mafolo, who chairs the Nyaodza Fishing Camp, reported the matter to the police under RRB number 4087821.

The incident comes shortly after two rangers from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority drowned in the same lake following a scuffle with suspected Zambian poachers.The incident comes shortly after two rangers from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority drowned in the same lake following a scuffle with suspected Zambian poachers.

BY STEPHEN CHADENGA

A 29-YEAR-OLD Gokwe man who fatally stabbed his elder brother in a dispute over gold ore was yesterday sentenced to an 18-year prison term.

Passmore Musanika was convicted for murdering Jaison Musanika by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese, who was sitting at the Gweru High Court circuit.

Justice Makonese found Musanika guilty of murder with constructive intent.

In passing sentence, Justice Makonese ruled that he had considered that Musanika had served part of the prison term when he was incarcerated for one-and-half years in remand at Whawha Prison.

He, however, castigated Musanika for taking the life of his own brother.

“Your actions in taking the life of your elder brother show the moral decay of our cultural values,” ruled Justice Makonese.

“You acted callously in killing your own brother and your actions and those of other artisanal miners should be punished as the courts cannot tolerate such violence.”

Prosecutor Mirirai Shumba told the court that on August 27, 2018 at Arizona 74 Mine, Matobo Road in Gweru, the deceased was in the company of nephew, Hardline, when the convict approached them accusing Jaison of stealing his gold ore.

A misunderstanding ensued and the convict drew a knife from his trousers, tripped Jaison and stabbed him twice on the chest as he lay on the ground. Passmore fled from the scene after the callous murder.

The deceased bled profusely and died on the spot. A report was made to the police, leading to the convict’s arrest.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

ZIMBABWE’s liberation war fighters have demanded that the proposed Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board, set to take care of their welfare, should be chaired by ex-Zipra and ex-Zanla combatants on a rotational basis.

This came out during public hearings on the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle, 2019 Bill, which were held in the Midlands and Matabeleland North provinces this week. The Bill is currently before Parliament.

Among other provisions the Bill will establish the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board and spell out its composition and functions. Presently, war veterans’ concerns are being championed by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association.

Sonny Key Mguni (Bubi MP Zanu PF), who led a team of MPs from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence and Home Affairs who are gathering evidence from war veterans told Southern Eye that former Zipra fighters were demanding 50/50 representation on the board with their ex-Zanla counterparts.

“Everywhere the committee went in Matabeleland and Midlands, war veterans suggested there must be rotation of board chairpersonship by Zanla and Zipra,” Mguni said.

“They said if a chairperson of the board is Zanla, and their term expires, then the incoming term must be chaired by a person from Zipra,” he said. Mguni said former fighters also demanded that the title of Commander of the Defence Forces be changed to High Commander.

“Everywhere we went – and there was 100% attendance – the committee was told by war veterans that they now want the commander of the army to be a war veteran,” Mguni said.
“They said the term Commander of the Defence Forces must be changed to High Commander, adding that the person they want to command the army must be a very experienced person and not a mafikizolo (Johnny come lately),” he said.

If passed as is, the Bill will have a profound economic impact given that the former freedom fighters are pushing for their pensions to be at the same scale with a retired army major or lieutenant colonel.

“They were clear that they want their legacy respected in the same manner that World War II veterans are cherished and well taken care of. They said their children should benefit and be supported through scholarships, adding that the Bill should stipulate that their medical care should include access to hospitals outside the country,” Mguni said, adding that there were also calls for monthly stipends commensurate with the poverty datum line.Among other privileges, section 21 (1) of the Bill stipulates that war veterans are entitled to 20% of gazetted State land.

BY CHARLES LAITON

VICE-PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi (pictured), together with his 15 other co-defendants have agreed to pay $85 000 compensation to MDC activist Pieta Kaseke, who was abducted by State security agents in 2008.

Kaseke was abducted during the era of the inclusive government when Mohadi (Zanu PF) and Giles Mutsekwa (MDC-T) were Home Affairs co-ministers. The deed of settlement, presented before High Court judge Justice Edith Mushore last week, is dated October 15, 2019.

“The defendants (Mohadi, Mutsekwa and 14 others) shall, jointly and severally the one paying the other to be absolved, pay plaintiff the following amounts in full and final settlement of this matter: $35 000 as damages for unlawful arrest and detention, $35 000 as damages for assault, pain, shock and suffering and $10 000 being costs of suit,” read part of the deed of settlement.

“The above amount of $80 000 due to the plaintiff (Kaseke) shall be paid within 30 days of this deed of settlement being signed by the parties. Payment of the above amount shall be made, free of bank charges, through plaintiff’s legal practitioners of record…”

According to court papers, Kaseke had in July 2009 claimed US$1, 2 million compensation from Mohadi, Mutsekwa, former Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, former State Security minister Didymus Mutasa, former police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, ex-CIO director-general Happyton Bonyongwe, senior assistant commissioners Nyathi and Chiobvu and several other senior police officers.

Kaseke said she was abducted on October 31, 2008 in Banket during which time several other MDC-T activists also fell victim to the countrywide abductions and were eventually charged on “trumped up offences” of banditry, sabotage and terrorism.

Soon after being released from detention following a pact between the late former President Robert Mugabe and the late MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai, Kaseke approached the High Court for compensation.

At some point towards the end of last year, the matter was set down for hearing only to be removed from the roll as parties were negotiating an out-of-court settlement and since then, the matter remained pending.

According to court papers, Kaseke was abducted on October 31, 2008 by police officers and handed over to CIO operatives who subjected her to further unlawful detention and torture.

Kaseke was abducted at a time the Zimbabwe Peace Project director Jestina Mukoko was also in custody facing banditry charges.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines has said its investigations on gold leakages, cartels and machete gangs will begin when Parliament resumes sitting next month.

Committee chairperson and Shurugwi North MP, Edmond Mkaratigwa said they will interrogate the shortcomings of the Gold Trade Act.

“In the process, we are also going to look at the players because these gold leakages are probably being caused by cartels in the gold sector and they could also be the ones involved in the MaShurugwi violence that is causing disturbances in the mining sector,” he said.

Mkaratigwa said the cartels were impeding growth and the possibility of the country getting maximum revenues from gold production. He said the inquiry on gold leakages will be done simultaneously with those of the Gold Trade Act.

“We are also going to look at the value proposition of gold (price) because the pricing has been severely affected by black market trading,” he said.

The Mines Portfolio Committee chairperson said gold mining was a problematic area, especially alluvial mining which is dominated by panners with inadequate experience in mining.

“In alluvial mining, there is a gold rush where various people go there and as a result very serious disputes emanate which end up in violent clashes. Basically these are also people who are not registered and they are difficult to trace and there are also a lot of leakages in the sector. Those are issues that Parliament now wants to investigate,” he said.

Before Parliament adjourned in December, the Mines Committee met the Mines and Mining Development ministry officials to unpack the legal framework on the Gold Trade Act.

Mkaratigwa said the committee will also look at the role of Fidelity Printers and Refineries and that of the Gold Mobilisation Unit.

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

A 23-YEAR-OLD bogus Marondera tutor, who allegedly sodomised four boys while conducting some extra lessons at his residence, appeared before magistrate Patience Chirimo facing aggravated indecent assault charges.

Tonderai Chipara of Cherutombo high-density suburb allegedly committed the offences between November 2019 and this month. After the abuse, he allegedly gave his victims either money or goodies to buy their silence.

Chipara was remanded in custody and is set to appear for trial on February 10.

According to court papers, in one of the counts, a 14-year old complainant went to the accused’s residence to charge his mobile phone battery and watch movies.

It is alleged that during the process, the accused indecently assaulted him and continued doing so on several days, before buying the victim’s silence with money.

Using the same modus operandi, Chipara allegedly sodomised three more boys who had come for some extra lessons.

The boys were sent to Marondera Provincial Hospital where they were medically examined.

Phyllis Mudekwa represented the State.

BY MOSES MATENGA/VANESSA GONYE

IRRESPONSIBLE behaviour and political pressure to settle people on wetlands have contributed immensely to the pollution of the major source of Harare water, Lake Chivero, thereby affecting the supply chain, mayor Herbert Gomba has said.

Speaking during a wetlands indaba at Town House yesterday, Gomba said it was everyone’s duty to preserve wetlands, adding they were a critical part of the environment.

“They hold and replenish water that is withdrawn through boreholes and wells. Without the swamps or wetlands we cannot survive,” he said.

“Lake Chivero is now heavily polluted largely through human action. It should have been decommissioned a long time ago but we are still using it because there is no other source of water. The problems of water in Harare also stem from the destruction of wetlands through illegal settlements and farming activities.”

“I am urging the politicians to desist from encouraging people to settle on wetlands. It is causing major problems at the lake which will result in less water for the city,” he said.

“Ironically when we tell people to move from the wetlands they come to council and demand that we give them land elsewhere because it is enshrined in the Constitution, yet their actions would have been illegal. They are even supported by human rights groups, yet they are violating our residents’ right to clean and safe water.”

During commemorations to mark World Wetlands Day in Harare on Wednesday, Environment minister Mangaliso Ndlovu told journalists that land barons were responsible for the illegal settlements dotted around the city.

“Infrastructure development through commercial and housing construction projects are the greatest threats in the urban set-up of the country, particularly in Harare and Chitungwiza as they have turned our wetlands into a concrete jungle,” he said.

“If we continue business as usual we will lose our wetlands in urban areas by 2040, impacting on ecological goods and services such as water provisioning in the right quantity and quality.”

Chitungwiza council spokesperson, Lovemore Meya told NewsDay yesterday that they had introduced stringent measures to curb development of human settlements on wetlands.

Wetlands provide livelihoods for more than one billion people worldwide and also provide ecosystem services worth US$47 trillion annually.

BY Alfonce Mbizwo/TATIRA ZWINOIRA

State-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) has denied that it uses child labour in its mining operations.

In October 2019, the United States barred the trading of rough diamonds from Zimbabwe, accusing the country of using forced labour at its diamond fields in Marange, in the eastern part of the country.

“There has been a lot of speculation in the media. I mean the one which really brought me to tears is that we use child labour and some journalists wrote this in the media last year,” ZCDC acting chief executive officer Roberto De Pretto told editors during a tour of Chiadzwa mine in Marange, yesterday.

“All I could do was laugh because first of all the legislation in the country prohibits slave labour which was abolished way back in the 18th century. So, we are really looking at balance and factual reporting from all of you and we are opening our house today.”

The Forced Labour Division within the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office received information that the diamonds were produced from forced labour, leading to the CBP issuing a withhold release order (WRO).

However, one of the miners, the Chinese-owned Anjin, has since made a return to the Chiadzwa diamond fields.

In e-mailed responses to NewsDay, a CBP spokesperson said the US Customs and Border Protection was bound by Trade Secrets Act and that they were not able to reveal specific details about companies involved, leading to the WRO.

“We can say that there have not been any diamonds from this area imported into the United States since 2015. When investigating allegations of forced labour, CBP reviews all available information. This information can include non-public materials, such as allegations submitted through our online reporting tools by civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, businesses and industry associations, or others,” the spokesperson said.

“CBP also reviews public facing materials, such as news reporting, published research and governmental reporting. When CBP determines that the information reasonably, but not conclusively, indicates that merchandise within the purview of 19 USC § 1307 is being, or is likely to be, imported into the United States, CBP will issue a withhold release order (WRO) on that class of merchandise.”

The spokesperson added: “As our regulations make clear, a WRO is not a ban. Rather, a WRO allows importers an opportunity to re-export their goods or to provide evidence that their goods are not produced with forced labour.”

Reports that diamonds from the Marange diamond fields, in particular, was coming from forced labour first emerged from Human Rights Watch (HRW) in April 2018.

HRW documented how Zimbabwe’s armed forces had coerced children and adults into carrying out forced labour, tortured and harassed local villagers when they seized control of the diamond fields.

The human rights body also alleged that armed forces personnel also killed in late October 2008 more than 200 people in Chiadzwa, a previously peaceful, but impoverished part of Marange.

Meanwhile, ZCDC says it is targeting to produce 3,2 million carats this year, from 1,6 million carats in 2019 which was the lowest in the miner’s history.

It produced 1,8 million carats in 2017 and 2,8 million carats in 2018.

ZCDC was formed in 2016 after government in February of that year cancelled mining licences for seven miners operating in the area.