Zimbo24news

 OPINION:  PaMukamba with Alliance for the People's Agenda.  Alois Matongo   28 February 2022 The Lancaster House Agreement of 1979 brought the end of one of the most brutal  wars of liberation on the African Continent that pitted the forces of the Patriotic Front of ZAPU and ZANU against those of the illegal Rhodesian rebel regime. Unfortunately, that war and its concluding agreement created  a dangerous electoral legacy that has haunted this country to this day. The agreement set a precedent that has become the template of the electoral processes in the country, a template that allows elections to be held with the ruling regime enjoying exclusive and partisan support of the armed forces; albeit now without the midwife underwriting role played by the British, the UN and the Common Wealth. Those elections conducted in March 1980 produced the obvious results of landslide wins for the armed parties (ZANU PF and PF ZAPU), aided by ZANLA’s deployment of ar...

  Dmitry Medvedev MOSCOW (AP) — Moscow may respond to Western sanctions by opting out of the last nuclear arms deal with the U.S., cutting diplomatic ties with Western nations and freezing their assets, a senior Russian official warned Saturday as Russia's ties with the West dived to new lows over its invasion of Ukraine. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, also warned that Moscow could restore the death penalty after it was removed from Europe's top rights group. The sanctions placed new tight restrictions on Russian financial operations, imposed a draconian ban on technology exports to Russia and froze the assets of Putin and his foreign minister, a harsh response that dwarfed earlier Western restrictions. Washington and its allies say that even tougher sanctions are possible, including kicking Russia out of SWIFT, the dominant system for global financial transactions. In sarcastic comments posted on a Russian...

  Must read this very interesting analysis. •The Crisis in Ukraine Is Not About Ukraine. It's About Germany. MIKE WHITNEY FEBRUARY 11, 2022 The primordial interest of the United States, over which for centuries we have fought wars– the First, the Second and Cold Wars– has been the relationship between Germany and Russia, because united there, they’re the only force that could threaten us. And to make sure that that doesn’t happen.”George Friedman, STRATFOR CEO at The Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs The Ukrainian crisis has nothing to do with Ukraine. It’s about Germany and, in particular, a pipeline that connects Germany to Russia called Nord Stream 2. Washington sees the pipeline as a threat to its primacy in Europe and has tried to sabotage the project at every turn.  Even so, Nord Stream has pushed ahead and is now fully-operational and ready-to-go. Once German regulators provide the final certification, the gas deliveries will begin. German homeowners and businesses wil...

   Professor Arthur Mutambara Understanding Russian Concerns and the Folly of Western Diplomacy   Arthur G.O Mutambara   Developing the future of knowledge involves understanding the ‘relationship between what we know and what will happen, for the purpose of improving both, for everyone’.  This endeavour demands a questioning and contrarian mindset that challenges conventional wisdom. It requires a festival of ideas that cherishes the diversity of views, becoming a crucible for new knowledge and thought leadership.   What we have witnessed in the public discourse building up to the events in Ukraine does not augur well for creating intelligent and nuanced understanding of global affairs. The single, unsophisticated and wholly unbalanced narrative we have been receiving from Western leaders and the leading global news outlets such CNN, BBC and Sky News is not conducive to resolving global challenges. To the contrary, such brazen and self-serving intellectual...

  Nelson Chamisa Hosia Mviringi Political parties have been urged to desist from making reckless utterances that have the potential to incite violence ahead of crucial elections. As political temperatures continue to swell ahead of the March 26, 2022 by-elections and the 2023 harmonised elections, many political players have fallen for expediency, while forgetting their role to unite people towards peaceful elections. "Now we hear that only yesterday Nelson Chamisa threatened to engage in violence if he loses the elections. What I want to say to him is that you have done a good thing of announcing those intentions with your own mouth. We are now ready for you," warned President Mnangagwa. Of course those who thrive on using toxic twigs to ignite political fires of expediency need not cry fowl when the resultant toxic smoke enters their eyes. The law will not forget its course when one wilfully abandons the correct line of conducting politics in favour of a dangerous pursuit o...

                                 Tendai Biti Hosia Mviringi As the Shona adage goes, "Rine manyanga hariputirwe," (one's true colours can not be concealed forever), this time it was one Tendai Biti's turn to confess and lay bare his sinister political persuasions. Daring the police to arrest him again, apparently without any provocation, Biti began to parade his invisible power, those powerful friends of his who will be sure to intervene if he got arrested 'again'. Tendai Biti is a Zimbabwean opposition politician who is not new to controversy. If anything at all, his political career thrives on such antics which would in the process get him at cross hairs with the law, earning him undeserved sympathy in the process. "My friend you can rest me again, but I can assure you that this time I am loaded. There are big powers behind my back only waiting for you to arrest me. Don't start on what you can not fin...

  Prophet T. Freddy Staff Writer Goodness and Mercy Ministries leader Prophet Tapiwa Freddy has been found not guilty of rape. Presiding magistrate Gloria Takundwa granted his application for discharge at the close of the State case and ruled that from the evidence led, no court acting reasonably can convict an accused person and there’s no probable cause to put him to his defence. Freddy has been in the courts recently over charges of raping a ZBC employee Rutendo Makuti. The charges have however been marred by signs of blackmail as the two consenting adults had been in a secret love affair which only came to light when grapes turned sour. The magistrate said that the state had failed to prove a prima facie case against the man of the popular prophet. Speaking to Zimbo24news, Freddy’s lawyer, Jivas Mudimu, said that the whole case was flawed from the beginning. “It was clear that there was no rape. It was clear from the word go that Freddy never raped the complainant and never phy...

Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Panonetsa Mangudya has true to the wisdom of not changing a winning formula, stuck to existing policies with the latest monetary policy announcement. The Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) is issued in terms of Section 46 of the Reserve Bank Act (Chapter 22:15) which requires the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (the Bank) to issue a statement outlining the monetary policy stance for the subsequent six months, the reasons for the policies and an evaluation of the previous period monetary policy measures. In response to the current inflationary pressures within the national economy, the Bank further tightened the  monetary policy to stem exchange rate volatility and anchor inflation expectations, whilst at the same time safeguarding the ongoing recovery of the economy.  To achieve this, the Bank put in place measures to curb inflationary pressures, stabilise the exchange rate and support the recovery of the econom...

  Mako Jerera  The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has suspended teachers who were absent from work this week for three months. In a statement, MOPSE said the errant teachers will not be receiving pay during the period. On Monday, schools opened for the new school year after being delayed by a month because of the country's Covid-19 lockdown measures, however, teachers were being incited by activists to abscond duty. They are demanding an unrealistic salary of US$520 a month. In response, Government offered a 20 percent pay increase, payment of part of the teachers’ salaries in U.S. dollars, and subsidies on the purchases of cars and houses.  Despite the improvement, some teachers have remained stoic and have refused to meet the Government halfway, leaving the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Evelyn Ndlovu to exert her authority. In a statement, Minister Ndlovu said; “all officials within the Ministry who absented themselves from duty since the offi...

  Hosia Mviringi The Affirmative Action Group, Zimbabwe's premier empowerment movement has raised it's voice to demand right to first refusal in the imminent disposal of building materials manufacturer Lafarge. The empowerment group has come out guns blazing at the apparent exclusion of the local business community in the deal that is expected to see millions of dollars exchanging hands for this prime asset on the Zimbabwean business front. "We want to categorically reiterate that we are not seeking to interfere in the private sale of Lafarge, but we are demanding our stake as Zimbabwean business people. We got the money, we got the resources and we got the expertise to run these companies," said AAG Vice President Mr Tobias Kashambe in a statement to the media. AAG contends that the importance of such an entity as Lafarge to the Zimbabwean economy can not be over emphasised as the country enters the crucial growth phase which is underpinned by the lucrative construct...

Thandiwe Newton Hosia Mviringi As fate would have it, Thandiwe Melanie Newton, the 49 year old British actress of Zimbabwean parentage, has appeared on British television to issue an apology of shame to fellow black actresses for aparent indiscretions Thandiwe, in pretending to be sorry, could not hide the shame that inadvertently drowned and overshadowed her rather well meant intentions, if she had any at all. To conceal her shame and guilt for the greater evil intentions, she pretended to be apologising for the things that never existed. Such things as taking jobs and men away from fellow black actresses, things that never existed as they just came unsolicited from the motor mouth guilty traitorous actress. Nobody had complained over this pettiness. The background to Newton's latest stunt is that she is co-producer to the documentary 'President', in which Zimbabwean opposition politician Nelson Chamisa is being glorified and portrayed as victim to the  2018 elections whic...

                          President Mnangagwa Hosia Mviringi They saying that 'adversity is the mother of all inventions' could have never been more true and apt at any other moment for Zimbabwe than now. Having gone for more than two decades under the York of illegal sanctions, Zimbabwe indeed needs to start living again, regardless if the adversity that faces it. It might as well be that time when reason should triumph over absurdity. Many analysts believe that after such a long time mourning, groaning and complaining over the illegal sanctions, it is now time for Zimbabwe to flip the coin and show the world fruits of resilience through innovation and hard work. President Mnangagwa is on record as having declared earlier on in his Presidency that sanctions were not going to stop national economic advancement as the nation was determined to whether the storm without apology to the erstwhile oppressors who still seek a rev...

Hosia Mviringi Southern African Development Community  Protocol on Trade in Services has entered into force following the deposit of ratification instruments by two thirds of the Member States. This was announced by the block's Executive Secretary, His Excellency, Mr Elias M. Magosi in a notification to the 16 Member States. "I have the honour and pleasure to inform member states that the Protocol on Trade in Services entered into force on January 13, 2022," said Mr Magosi. According to Article 30 of the SADC Protocol on Trade in Services provides that the Protocol shall enter into force 30 days after the deposit of ratification instruments by a simple majority of member States of not less than two thirds. So far eleven SADC Member States have ratified the Protocol, paving the way for it's adoption by the economic block. Zimbabwe is among the eleven countries that have ascended to the Protocol that will facilitate trade in services across the region. The Protocol will...

Yvonne Mutambwa  A mentally challenged 28-year-old man is alleged to have killed his mother and dismembered her body before burying the remains in a grave. It is suspected that Jephat Nyakupira murdered his mother Juliette Chapupuruka (65) last week, and tried to burn the body before burying it in a maize field that is a few metres from their house. Mashonaland East Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii confirmed the incident. “Allegations are that Jephat Nyakupira (28), who has been a mental patient since 2013, killed his mother, Juliette Chapupuruka (65),” said Inspector Chazovacii.  A neighbour, Selina Chitonho (43) of Maruza Village saw some goats grazing in Juliette's field.  She then chased away the goats away before she went to see Jephat. She asked him about the whereabouts of the mother but he ignored. Selina and a neighbour called Bvundura conducted a search for Jephat's mother.  They found Juliette's remains before reporting...

                        Prophet Tapiwa Freddy Mako Jerera The Harare Magistrate`s court has postponed the ruling on Prophet T Freddy`s rape and physical assault charges. Harare Regional Magistrate Gloria Takundwa said she is in the process of compiling the ruling, which she will hand down on Friday. T Freddy, who leads Goodness and Mercy Ministries, is accused of raping a 33-year-old broadcaster. During cross-examination in January, the complainant revealed that her life was now in danger from T Freddy’s fans and followers after she reported the alleged rape and assault against him as he is a famous preacher with a huge following. T Freddy is being charged with two counts rape and another count of physical charges abuse. Freddy denies the rape charges and accuses the complainant of extortion.

Mako Jerera  A month after the initial scheduled date, Zimbabwe has reopened schools and returned to conventional learning. The weekend running up to today, February 7, saw parents running around trying to make last minute purchases. The first term will run from February 7 to April 7, while the  second term is expected to begin on 3 May. Various urban centres around the country were busy as boarding school students travelled back to their respective learning institutions, boarding learners left on Sunday. A picture of hope was painted all over the students’ and parents` faces, as the long awaited schooling activity returns. There is a sense of hope among parents, that with COVID-19 cases going down lessons will not be disrupted again. It is hoped that teachers will utilise this short term to the best of their abilities, to make up for lost time. There is also comfort in the fact that Grade seven results released on Friday revealed an improvement in the pass rate despite COVID-...

  Tumisang Thabela Pretty Manyewe Government is still locked in discussions with its workers, trying to find common ground over remuneration concerns being raised by the civil service, especially teachers. Through the National Joint Negotiating Council, representatives from Government, Public Service Commission and workers` union. In a statement, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said it is committed to the shared aspiration of continuous improvement of conditions of service in the entire civil service. “In that regard, Government is seized with the positive adjustment of conditions for its workers within the current budgetary framework.  Those adjustments will be announced soon when specific details have been finalized by Treasury,” MOPSE Permanent Secretary Tumisang Thabela said. PS Thabela called for patience and diligence from teachers as negotiations progress. “Government urges its workers to report faithfully at their workstations to ensure uninterrupted de...

Brian Rungano Temba  The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has commissioned the first Virtual Court System in Zimbabwe, at Harare Magistrate Court.  The Zimbabwe Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) is the network that allows the existence of a paperless virtual court system. The development is expected to make court business easier, as legal documentation will be easier and accessed in one same database.  Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi today commissioned the virtual court system. Minister Ziyambi said the plan to ensure there is easy access to justice remains a priority. He urged the JSC to open satellite courts, which allow people to access justice without travelling long distances. Chief Justice Luke Malaba promised that the system will be rolled out in courts across the whole country. The automation of the judicial system is a product of collaboration between the Ministry of ICT Postal and Courier Services who trained...

  Peng Shuai  Staff Writer Zimbabwe`s Minister of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation Kirsty Coventry yesterday met with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai whose name was being abused by Western media to spite China. Peng Shuai, considered to be one of the best tennis players ever to emerge from the Asian country disappeared from the public last year in October, after a long post on social network Weibo, in which she alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Zhang Goali, China`s retired Vice Premier.   The disappearance saw the World Tennis Association, banning China from all activities. Other sports bodies like the International Tennis Federation and the International Olympic Committee also raised concerned over Peng`s silence. However, in December, Peng wrote to the WTA, saying everything is fine. She has gone on to appear at several events and has given French Sports Magazine L’Equippe an interview in which she said the alleged sexual assault did not happen. Despite her saying the...