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THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance is today expected to seal the fate of a senior party official, Tendai Masotsha, accused of conniving with State security agents in the abduction of a Bulawayo-based journalism student ahead of the July 31 anti-corruption protests. By NQOBANI NDLOVU Masotsha was suspended as Bulawayo MDC Alliance women assembly’s chairperson after she was linked to the alleged abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa, a journalism student. Muchehiwa, who is the nephew of ZimLive editor Mduduzi Mathuthu, was allegedly abducted in the city centre and held in captivity for three days, where he was severely tortured by armed men and later dumped at the family home after being linked to the planned protests. The MDC Alliance had initially promised to publicise the outcome of its internal investigations within 48 hours, but party secretary-general Chalton Hwende told Southern Eye that the report was only submitted to the party leadership this week for debate at the national council (NC) meeting today. “Investigations by the Bulawayo province have been completed. The province submitted their reports this week. Obviously, because of the nature of the allegations, the investigations took longer than expected, but we are glad that the investigations are complete,” Hwende said. “The report will be submitted to the NC and the report will be tabled there. The reason behind that is she is a senior member, and it is only that body that can discuss that matter and take appropriate action. “We understand people are anxious, but it is also necessary for us to afford Masotsha an opportunity to present her side of the story, and be properly treated in terms of the party constitution.” In his account, Muchehiwa said he received a call from Masotsha on July 30, the day he was abducted, asking for his assistance to distribute flyers to be used in the foiled July 31 protests. Muchehiwa said this led to his abduction as he believes it was a set-up, a charge Masotsha has denied. She claims the allegations were concocted to fight her along factional lines. Masotsha added that she was also kidnapped on the same day as Muchehiwa and later dumped close to her home the following day. In January, the MDC Alliance Bulawayo province suspended one of its councillors Donald Mabutho accusing him of spying against the party. lFollow Nqobani on Twitter @NqobaniNdlovu
Many people have been killed since clashes began on Monday. Scores too had been killed in the run up to the vote as protestors marched against Conde's bid for a third term.
Michael Jordan Opens Up A Second Medical Clinic In North Carolina
CHIVHU district development coordinator (DDC) Michael Mariga yesterday stripped two MDC Alliance councillors of their posts and barred them from attending council meetings after they defied orders to resign from the civil service following their victory in the 2018 harmonised elections. BY MIRIAM MANGWAYA Edwin Maseva (ward 11) and Emmanuel Punungwe (ward 10), who are both primary school teachers, were stripped of their titles just before the beginning of the Chikomba Rural District full council meeting. Addressing other councillors during the meeting, Mariga said Maseva and Punungwe had failed to comply with a directive from the Public Service Commission (PSC), which ordered them to resign from the civil service 30 days following 2018 their electoral victory or stop serving as councillors. According to a letter dated April 15, 2020, written by the PSC secretary Jonathan Wutawunashe, which Mariga read out to councillors, civil servants serving as councillors would be violating the Constitution and the Public Service Regulations Statutory Instrument 1 of 2000 as stated in Circular 10 of November 2018. “Given the fact that it is a misconduct to engage in any other employment or service for remuneration without the written consent of the commission, it is advisable that you act immediately to correct the situation,” the letter read. “For avoidance of doubt, the commission hereby directs that as a civil servant, you should cease to serve as a councillor with immediate effect. Failure to comply with this directive will result in disciplinary action taken against you.” Maseva said Mariga had misdirected himself by relying on an old prohibition order which had been overtaken by events. “We are still in talks with the PSC on this issue and we have also engaged lawyers. As it is right now, the DDC’s dismissal is null,” Maseva said. Punungwe described the decision by PSC to dismiss them from council as part of political persecution of opposition officials. “This is a selective application of the law aimed at pushing certain agendas. I wonder why PSC decided to fire us from council instead of the civil service,” he said. Following the PSC directive, three Zanu PF councillors in Buhera Rural District Council who were also teachers, resigned recently from the civil service to continue serving in council. Follow Florence on Twitter @FloMangwaya
By GRANT PECK Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's government and the country's pro-democracy movement appeared no closer to resolving their differences Saturday, as the protesters' evening deadline for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to step down approached. Prayuth's office issued a statement repeating his plea to resolve differences through Parliament, which will discuss the political situation in a special session starting Monday. 'Although the ongoing political situation comprises many opposing views among different groups, we should rather take this as an opportunity for Thais to consult each other on what is best for the nation,' said the statement. Prayuth this […]
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BY STAFF REPORTER THE MDC Alliance has been thrown into mourning following the untimely death of Ambuya Chamisa, mother to party president Nelson Chamisa. Party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere announced the death this evening. “It is with great sadness that the MDC Alliance announces the passing of Ambuya Chamisa, the mother of MDC Alliance president, Nelson Chamisa. Ambuya Chamisa passed suddenly in the late afternoon of July 6 at her home in Gutu,” Mahere said in a statement. She said funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
By REBECCA BOONE and DAVID CRARY Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. coronavirus caseload has reached record heights with more than 83,000 infections reported in a single day, the latest ominous sign of the disease's grip on the nation, as states from Connecticut to the Rocky Mountain West reel under the surge. The U.S. death toll, meanwhile, has grown to 223,995, according to the COVID-19 Dashboard published by Johns Hopkins University. The total U.S. caseload reported on the site Friday was 83,757, topping the 77,362 cases reported on July 16. The impact is being felt in every section […]
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WASHINGTON, DC, United States (CMC) - Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries were divided on the issue of 'free and fair' elections in Venezuela, with The Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, and St Lucia all voting in favour of the resolution tabled at the 50th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) that ended here on Wednesday.
MDC Alliance vice presidents Tendai Biti and Lynnette Karenyi-Kore and several other party leaders have been arrested for trying to gain access into the party headquarters.
The arrest came minutes after the party youth had tried to get into Harvest House hours after a midnight “takeover” by the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T, with the aid of the army and police.
But not before an angry Chinoputsa took time to accuse the police of pursuing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s agenda of destroying the MDC Alliance by working with Khupe and the MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora.
In an earlier interview, Biti told journalists that the real fight was between the MDC Alliance and Mnangagwa, describing Mwonzora and Khupe as mere “enablers”.
Armed soldiers and police last night assisted the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T in taking over the party headquarters, Morgan Tsvangirai house, as the battle for the control of the opposition party rages.
At the courts and polls, President Trump and his allies move to limit voting. The GOP cites fraud, but voting rights advocates see an old foe: voter suppression.
THE arrest of MDC Alliance lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu on allegations of defeating or obstructing the course of justice, so soon in the wake of the abduction and torture of party officials Cecilia Chimbiri, Joanah Mamombe and Netsai Marova appears like another case of abuse of State apparatus to settle political scores with an opponent.
We do not know the merits of the State case against Mpofu, but the guerrilla tactics used by the police show a regime bent on cowing its subjects into submission.
But of course, Mpofu is the lawyer who represents Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the MDC Alliance and the man who has made Mnangagwa’s presidency a nightmare.
One is even tempted to believe that this matter will come to naught, the fate of many other previous cases in which outspoken lawyers whose cases involved politics suffered a similar fate.
We are well aware of the Machiavellian tactics of the law enforcement agents and other State institutions which have everything to fear from lawyers who represent their clients without fear or favour and insist on full compliance with the law and constitutional safeguards.
MUTARE-BASED freelance journalist Sydney Saize has sued Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri and State security agents for humiliation and unlawful arrest in Chimanimani while investigating alleged theft of Cyclone Idai donations last year. BY KENNETH NYANGANI The matter was heard on Thursday by High Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera who reserved judgment on whether it should to a full hearing. The journalist is claiming $500 000 damages. Saize cited Muchinguri, State Security minister Owen Ncube, Sports minister Kirsty Coventry, Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Phillip Vallerio Sibanda and Central Intelligence Organisation director-general Isaac Moyo as respondents. Muchinguri and Sibanda, who were represented by lawyer Mutumbwa Mugabe, raised preliminary objections that the case should not go to a full hearing. Mugabe told Justice Mwayera that Saize in his summons to sue the State security agents did not name the officers who harassed and arrested him. Saize’s lawyer Passmore Nyakureba of Maunga Maanda and Associates said the arguments raised by State were meant to delay the finalisation of the matter. “These arguments are ill taken, they are meant to delay the finalisation of the matter because my client complied with everything the State needed,” Nyakureba said. “He was unlawfully arrested by officers from the army, Central Intelligence Organisation and from the Border Gezi while doing investigative journalism on Cyclone Idai donations to verify if allegations that they were stolen were true.” Saize claimed that on April 11, he travelled to Chimanimani to investigate alleged theft of Cyclone Idai donations by State security agents and government officials. It is alleged that while interviewing the survivors at Ngangu Primary School, the journalist was arrested by some members of the security forces. He was detained at Ngangu Primary School and some officers later forced him to accept a food donation and ordered him to sign for it before posting messages on social media that he had stolen the donations. Saize was handed over to police in Chimanimani who refused to open a docket against him, saying they recognised him as an accredited journalist.
TOMORROW, the Sadc region in an extraordinary solidarity and for the second year running will be demanding that Western economic sanctions against Zimbabwe be unconditionally lifted. Stir The Pot: Paidamoyo Muzulu This is a huge statement and gesture from the region, but Zimbabweans remain split on the issue and are still worlds apart despite the economic and social havoc the sanctions have wrought on the country. At the turn of the century, Zimbabwe embarked on revolutionary land reform programme — a programme that saw a massive seven million hectares expropriated from white commercial farmers for resettlement of landless blacks. The land question was one of the unfulfilled agreements reached at the 1979 Lancaster House independence conference. The United Kingdom (UK) had undertaken to fund the land reform programme and was supported by the United States. However, the Lancaster House agreement had sunset clauses — clauses that controlled how long the transfer of land should take and that whites for the first seven years of independence had reserved 20 seats in the National Assembly. Land was to be bought on a willing seller, willing buyer basis. The process was slow and frustrating, enraging many who had fought in the armed liberation struggle who started accusing their leaders of selling out or getting closer to the former colonisers. The Zimbabwean government acquired about three million hectares of land in the first decade of independence with financial support from the UK. The restless peasants and veterans of the struggle in 1998 started invading white-owned commercial farms and resettling themselves. Seeing an opportunity to revive its waning popularity among the electorate, the Zanu PF administration endorsed the invasions which were chaotic and, in many instances, violent. Zimbabwe became headline news across the world, inviting the wrath of the UK and the US who immediately started imposing economic sanctions and travel restrictions, accusing the Zanu PF administration of violating citizens’ human, property and political rights. Economic sanctions have been a punishment of choice for Americans against governments that upset the global economic structures. Cuba has suffered an economic embargo since 1960 solely because of its communism and nationalisation of land and industries after Fidel Castro assumed power through a war. Iran, too, has suffered the same fate after its 1979 revolution. More recently, socialist administrations of Bolivia (Eva Morales), Venezuela (Hugo Chavez) and Greece (Alexis Tsipiraz) have faced the same fate. Zimbabwe, in a rare diplomatic feat, has gained the support of Sadc and the African Union to have sanctions against the country condemned. Members of Sadc and AU at the 2020 United Nations General Assembly called for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe. Among the countries that openly called for the lifting of sanctions were South Africa, Namibia and Kenya. The sanctions against Zimbabwe, like South Africa’s African National Congress’s former leader Nelson Mandela listing as
By NQOBANI NDLOVU GWANDA mayor Jastone Mazhale yesterday pledged undying loyalty to the MDC Alliance and its leadership as he denied reports of crossing the floor to the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T. Mazhale is among five Gwanda councillors who had a meeting with a delegation from MDC-T over the weekend to nudge them to voluntarily quit the MDC Alliance or risk recall from council. Khupe last month recalled five MDC Alliance councillors in Bulawayo and six in Harare for refusing to recognise her following a Supreme Court ruling which declared her the interim leader of the MDC-T. “The correct position is that I still remain an MDC Alliance member where at provincial level I am the secretary for policy and research,” Mazhale, who is also ward 7 councillor, said as he confirmed attending the Khupe-facilitated meeting. “It’s true I attended the meeting agreeing to engage them in my personal capacity. We engaged and they put their side of the story and eventually I had to tell them that no, I do not buy their story. “It was out of courtesy that I gave them room for dialogue; and even on Tuesday they were saying can we meet again so that we pursue the issue, but I refused because the moment we engage each other, we then spread falsehoods and that affects my principles and personality and it also affects my community role.” Acting MDC-T spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni, who led the Khupe delegation, refused to reveal the outcome of the meeting. “What I can only say is that we are trying to put our priorities right and deliver. We are seized with making sure that services to the people are delivered as we focus on alleviating the people’s suffering,” Phugeni told Southern Eye. The former Deputy Prime minister has also recalled 21 MDC Alliance legislators on allegations of severing ties with her party. Indications are that more MDC Alliance members face recall for refusing to recognise Khupe’s legitimacy, instilling panic into some Bulawayo councillors and legislators.
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Authorities in Kyrgyzstan on Saturday called an early presidential election for January after the nation's previous president was driven from power by protests triggered by a disputed vote. The Oct. 4 parliamentary election was swept by pro-government parties and triggered protests by the opposition, who rejected the official results as rigged. Demonstrators freed several opposition leaders, including Sadyr Zhaparov, who was quickly named the new prime minister. On Oct. 15, President Sooronbai Jeenbekov was forced to step down under pressure from demonstrators and Zhaparov became the acting head of state in Kyrgyzstan, […]
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FORMER Highlanders coach Reuben Tsengwa has died. BY SPORTS REPORTER Tsengwa died on Thursday of a yet to be confirmed ailment. Highlanders chairman Kenneth Mhlophe confirmed Tsengwa’s death in a statement yesterday. “We have learnt with sadness the passing on of a Bosso son Reuben Tsengwa who died yesterday at the age of 60. Tsengwa, a Bosso junior product himself, also served the club as juniors coach before deputising Methembe Ndlovu in the first team in 2006. He also had a short stint as the first team head coach before he left the club in 2009,” Mhlophe said. Burial arrangements are yet to be announced and mourners are gathered at Number Q44 Mzilikazi, Bulawayo.
Marc Short, Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence, tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, becoming the latest in a laundry list of people in or close to the […]
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