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By Staff Reporter

POLICE have distanced President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife and son from a gold smuggling racket fronted by Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya.

Rushwaya was busted at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport Monday last week with 6kg gold which she was about to smuggle to Dubai.

A cornered co-suspect Gift Karanda claimed the loot belonged to the two members of the first family.

The claims set Zimbabwean media abuzz while putting the First Family’s integrity back on the spotlight.

However, police have been called to clear the first family’s name after the claims have ignited a public outcry.

Police said, “Comprehensive investigations have proved that the statement by Gift Karanda was false and malicious with intent to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.”

Also speaking publicly for the first time on the matter, Auxillia denied any involvement in the gold smuggling scandal while ordering police to clear her name.

“I have no dealings nor involvement with Miss Henrietta Rushwaya of any illegal kind.

“I am challenging the Police through their relevant office to issue a statement with regards the utterances by one officer during her arrest that falsely implicated me and my son Collins.

“I am a strong advocate for transparency and honesty and any continued silence by the police can be misconstrued as a cover up.

“If there is any incriminating evidence against me, I challenge the police to present it to the nation without fear or favour. If there be none, I also challenge the police to say so.”

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda Saturday warned corrupt individuals against ‘name-dropping’ the first family to secure easy passage to perform acts of corruption.

Norton legislator and Mnangagwa ally, Temba Mliswa recently told the media the President was clean on corruption, adding his closest link to graft were cheeky individuals who have abused their close association with the national leader to commit engage in acts of corruption.

By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE National Army spokesperson Colonel Overson Mugwisi has died from coronavirus.

Reports say the army public relations officer died at the ZNA’s One Commando in Harare Friday.

The dreaded disease continues to wreck havoc in the country with 3 092 cases now recorded since March, accompanied by 53 related deaths.

By Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is presiding on the burial of late Agriculture Minister Perrance Shiri who died of coronavirus on Wednesday.

The burial is at the National Heroes Acre.

In accordance with the World Health Organisation, ball bearers are officials from the Ministry of Health.

There are also a few relatives, government officials and services chiefs witnessing the burial.

Shiri’s body was not taken to his rural home to lie in state as well as Stodart Hall for viewing by members of the public as per tradition.

It is the first time in the history of the country a national hero is buried in that manner.

By Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has confirmed Agriculture Minister Perrance Shiri died from coronavirus.

He was addressing mourners at the late Minister’s Borrowdale home in Harare Thursday.

“Now that it is confirmed that Minister Shiri died of Covid 19, we will follow World Health Organisation regulations on how the funeral should proceed,” Mnangagwa said.

Shiri died early Wednesday aged 65.

He has since been declared a national hero.

By Staff Reporter

POLICE in Bulawayo have stormed journalist Mduduzi Mathuthu’s home purportedly searching for material linking the scribe to Friday’s anti-government demonstrations.

They were armed with a search warrant indicating the journalist was in possession of phones, cameras, computers and other offensive material intended for use during the national protests.

The Zanu PF led government is on the spotlight for continued harassment on media practitioners.

Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was arrested Monday last week and is languishing in remand prison for allegedly inciting public violence against the state.

By Staff Reporter

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe has appointed Paurina Mpariwa (pictured) as party chief whip, replacing former Dangamvura MP Prosper Mutseyami who was recalled from the house by the party.

Mpariwa will be deputised by Makoni Central representative David Tekeshe.

Tekeshe also replaces Nomathemba Ndlovu who was also recalled by the MDC-T during the current leadership squabbles pitting MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and Khupe.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Tsitsi Gezi announced the new appointments in the lower house.

In Senate, the MDC-T has appointed Tichinani Mavetera as the new Senate Chief Whip taking over from Lillian Timveous, who was also recalled from Parliament.

The MDC-T recently recalled nine senators and 12 National Assembly MPs following a Supreme Court ruling that declared the ex-deputy prime minister was legitimate leader of the main opposition.

By Staff Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) has condemned the arrest Monday of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.

Detectives stormed Chin’ono’s Harare home and broke a glass door to gain entry.

Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa later revealed the journalist was being detained at the CID Law and Order Section in Harare.

In a statement Monday, ZUJ secretary general Foster Dongozi (pictured) said Chin’ono’s arrest was victimisation on the top journalist.

“The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists would like to strongly condemn the brazen attack of a journalist by the Zimbabwean government and its security forces.

“Acts of aggression against journalists such as Hopewell who engage in investigative journalism are a clear sign that he is being victimized for exposing corruption in government.

“We call on the government to immediately stop its unwarranted harassment of Hopewell.”

Chin’ono has unsettled the Zanu PF led administration through cutting edge reportage and analysis on high level corruption in corridors of power.

Police national spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed later during the day the journalist, arrested separately with Jacob Ngarivhume, organiser of the July 31 national anti-government protests, had been arrested.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that Jacob Ngarivhume of Transform Zimbabwe and Hopewell Chin’ono have been arrested in connection with allegations of contravening Section 187 (1) (a) as read with section 37 (1) (a) (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, ‘incitement to participate in public violence’”.

By Staff Reporter

TOP journalist Hopewell Chin’ono had his Harare home raided by some detectives while opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume was also arrested same day Monday as government ups its clampdown on dissenting voices.

Chin’ono has caused sleepless nights to the Zanu PF led administration through exposing on his part, is the organiser of the planned July 31 anti-government protests.

Detectives stormed Chin’ono’s Chisipite home and broke glass to gain entry.

Two separate videos recorded at his home show detectives enter his house and ordering him to place his mobile phone down.

The short video was a foiled attempt by the firebrand journalist to livestream his arrest.

In a latter video recorded of Beatrice Mtetwa at Chin’ono’s home, the human rights lawyer claims the journalist was abducted.

By Staff Reporter

MDC Alliance MP for Harare West Joanna Mamombe and two party activists have been arrested for allegedly faking their May abduction by alleged state security agents.

Party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere confirmed the fresh arrests on the trio.

Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova made world news last month through claims of abduction.

In later interviews with party leaders and the media when they were dumped in Bindura by their captors, the three claimed they were taken from the hands of police and driven outside Harare to be subjected to horrendous acts of torture and sexual abuse.

Government insists the three activists were lying, adding, their claims were aimed at tarnishing the image of the current Zanu PF led administration.

The three already face charges of violating the country’s lockdown regulations through a flash demonstration they staged against government on the day of their alleged abduction.

By Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa says claims of abduction made by MDC Alliance MP Joanna Mamombe and her two party colleagues were fake.

Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were allegedly abducted by suspected state security agents in May following a flash anti-government protest they staged in Harare’s Warren Park suburb together with other party activists.

They were later dumped in Bindura by alleged state security agents who had allegedly subjected them to horrendous acts of physical and sexual abuse.

The activists were later hospitalised for injuries sustained and have since been charged with violating Covid-19 lockdown regulations by the state.

Police have also instituted simultaneous investigations into the abduction claims by the activists with Mnangagwa and some top government officials dismissing the claims.

Addressing a politburo meeting in Harare Wednesday, Mnangagwa said he viewed the claims of abduction and recent demonstrations as an act of provocation against his administration.

“In the last few weeks, we have witnessed an upsurge in the unwarranted onslaught against the party (Zanu PF), government, its leadership, policies and programmes,” he said.

“This culminated in the purported abductions of three MDC-Alliance linked activists.

“To date, more information has come to light to which Minister of Home affairs and Cultural Heritage has made a detailed statement.

“Concurrently, during this period was the resurgence of hate speech and language which are not characteristic of the values we seek to be embedded in our country under the Second Republic.

“This vile culture must be rejected by all peace-loving people.”

Mnangagwa said the acts should never be tolerated while urging his Zanu PF party and nation to remain alert.