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.
Публикувахте от Hopewell Chin'ono в Понеделник, 20 юли 2020 г.
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.
By Staff Reporter
TREASURY has ordered National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) to cancel all its contracts with Drax, a Swiss registered medicines supplier mired in a tender scam involving one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sons.
In correspondence to NatPharm managing director Flora Sifeku, Finance Ministry permanent secretary George Guvamatanga said the cancellation process must be completed by this Friday.
“You are directed to cancel contracts that you had with Drax SAGL with immediate effect,” Guvamatanga wrote.
“Please be advised that this process needs to be completed by latest Friday 12th June 2020 and all documentation showing cancellation of the same to be submitted in my office by then.
“Please treat this issue with the urgency that it requires.”
Drax, fronted by controversial Zimbabwe businessman Delish Nguwaya, made headlines recently when it emerged it was awarded a US$1 million procurement contract without going to tender.
The dodgy deal sucked in Collins Mnangagwa, who was linked to the deal as a partner to Nguwaya.
The scam also spotlighted on President Mnangagwa’s hollow pledges to deal with high level corruption in the country.
