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Women attempt comeback in council elections

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Women attempt comeback in council elections

Selina Maridza

Clever Taperamoyo

MASVINGO – The MDC Alliance has retained the majority of councillors in the city, with one woman being elected back into the council.
The city has 10 wards, all of which were held by males over the past five years, but Selina Maridza of MDC Alliance is now the new Ward 1 councillor following her stunning victory over Garcia Mundondo of Zanu PF.
Another female candidate, Margaret Chakabuda of MDC Alliance, lost to Sengerai Manyanga of Zanu PF in Ward 10.
It is, however, Maridza’s win that amazed many people as Mundondo seemed to have been extremely confident that his was a safe ward.
Maridza was councillor for the same ward between 2008 and 2013, a period which saw her serving as deputy mayor.
She, however, lost the council seat in the 2013 elections.
The opposition coalition also won in wards 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 to consign Zanu PF to the margins for the next five years.politics

Misa urges vigilance in election time

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Tabani Moyo

Clayton Shereni

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe Chapter on Friday, July 27, held a one-day training workshop at the Civic Centre in Masvingo where journalists were encouraged to be vigilant before, during and after the polls.
MISA Zimbabwe director, Tabani Moyo urged journalists to do their work professionally and to be on the lookout for the usual hazards of the trade.
"The primary concern during this time is that journalists covering elections must be able to work in the safest environment possible. We urge authorities to ensure media freedom, and we also urge journalists to put their safety first," said Moyo.
He urged members of the media to download the MISA Alert Button application which Newsday journalist, Blessed Mhlanga used when he was being assaulted by deputy minister, Terrence Mukupe at Classic 263 formerly SFM studios in May this year.
"I urge you to download the MISA Alert Button because you don’t know what may happen. This has been designed to help alert us when a journalist is in distress," said Moyo.
He also went on to castigate the omnibus cyber and computer crimes bill which is being pushed by the ICTs ministry.
The workshop was part of MISA Zimbabwe's series of training workshops that have also been held in such places as Bulawayo, Mutare and Harare.local

ED cornered, shows true colours

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President Emmerson Mnangagwa

…rolls out military tanks to squash protests

Upenyu Chaota

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, which claims to have ushered in a new dispensation has been stretched to its limits and has in turn showed its true colours when it unleashed the military on unarmed protesting citizens in Harare.
The chaos that rocked the capital city reportedly claimed the lives of three people.
In an interview with the BBC in June, Mnangagwa claimed that he was as soft as wool but some people now say the events of Wednesday have shown that he was indeed a ruthless crocodile.
People took to the streets of Harare protesting the delayed announcement of the election results accusing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) of trying to rig the election.
Analyst Raymond Majongwe took to Twitter to say the so-called new dispensation was actually no different from the old.
“The honeymoon is over, the fake democratic dispensation is over,” tweeted Majongwe.
MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti lambasted the Mnangagwa administration for unleashing the army to kill innocent civilians.
“The #MDC Alliance is a peaceful and constitutional body. For years we have fought oppression through peaceful and constitutional means. We condemn all forms of violence and use of army against and unarmed civilian population.
“We condemn the murders of compatriots. We call for restraint,” tweeted Biti.
National Patriotic Front (NPF) spokesperson Jealous Mawarire slammed Mnangagwa for applying cheap propaganda on the shootings in Harare.
“ED bizarrely holds MDC Alliance leadership (responsible) for the loss of lives after the soldiers fired live ammunition at protesters even when his police is still ‘investigating’ what really happened. Does he mean the MDC leadership deployed the army? Very pathetic propaganda bordering on Ediocy,” tweeted Mawarire.
Edmund Kudzayi said that the events of 2008 were repeating themselves.
“This is a repeat of 2008 where Zanu PF MPs won but Mugabe lost to bhora musango. The V11s are being urgently collated and show that Chamisa has defeated Emmerson Mnangagwa. Zec is trying to cook an ED victory by hiding him behind Zanu PF MPs.
“If Emmerson Mnangagwa had won the election, he would have announced the result a long time ago. As the EU observer mission noted, the presidential vote was counted first and there is no credible reason why those results have not been announced,” tweeted Kudzayi.
President Mnangagwa also took to Twitter to express his condolences to the families of the deceased and said an independent investigation will be launched to bring those responsible to justice.
“I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the families of the victims of yesterday’s violence. All human life is sacred, and their deaths are a tragedy, irrespective of the circumstances. I would also like to wish a speedy recovery to all those injured in yesterday’s events.
“We have been in communication with Nelson Chamisa to discuss how to immediately diffuse the situation, and we must maintain this dialogue in order to protect the peace we hold dear.
“Together, we must lead by example and show all Zimbabweans that peace is paramount. This land is home to all of us, and we will sink or swim together,” tweeted Mnangagwa.
Zanu PF aligned Nick Mangwana blames the opposition of trying to sacrifice its supports for their personal gain.
“I am sorry for the spilt blood in Harare. It is unfortunate that some of our politicians have chosen to import the Odinga Book of anarchy into our politics,” said Mangwana.
Masvingo MDC Alliance provincial chairperson James Gumbi said they will not watch as Zanu PF steals their vote and future.
He said as the province, they will soon be doing solidarity marches in the city centre sending a message to Zanu PF that they have had enough.
“We have won this election and we will not watch our victory being stolen. We will show Zanu PF that the people’ will cannot be subverted.
“We will be doing solidarity marches here to show Zanu PF and Zec that we are fed up. At an announced time, we will call on all progressive citizens to stand up and defend their vote. Our people have suffered enough and we say enough is enough,” said Gumbi.
MDC Alliance in Gweru also took to the streets on Wednesday night demanding that Zec chairperson Priscilla Chigumba not manipulate the people’s vote.
They were singing songs with lyrics, “Chigumba haikona kutamba nevote yevakomana. Chigumba ucharohwa chete nevakomana”.top news

Witchcraft:Mwenezi women dump child at neighbour’s home

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Witchcraft:Mwenezi women dump child at neighbour’s home

Cephas Shava

MWENEZI – Three villagers from Pasvana village under Chief Neshuro dumped a bedridden child at their neighbour’s homestead, ordering her eat the child’s flesh, the Mwenezi Magistrate Court recently heard.
The women believed their neighbour, Miriam Mahachi (42) had bewitched the child and caused his illness.
Sophias Tavana (40), Sincengiwe Siziba (34) and Cecilia Sarugwana (34) where last week arraigned before magistrate Honest Musiiwa for contravening section 99(1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 ‘indicating witches and wizards’.
They pleaded not guilty, claiming that Mahachi was just framing them as a way of settling old scores.
Giving her side of the story in court, Mahachi said the three visited her homestead where they accused her of being a witch.
They later on dumped the sick child at her homestead, saying they had delivered her some meat.
Prosecutor Willard Chasi told the court that sometime in April, the trio approached Mahachi at her homestead. Tavana began to demand her undergarments from Mahachi, claiming she was bewitching her through her panties which she had stolen.
Accused two, Siziba joined the fray, accusing Mahachi of being in possessing of a snake that was causing the illness of her child.
She then took her the child, wrapped him in blankets and dumped him at Machachi’s homestead.
The third suspect, Sarugwana allegedly told Mahachi to eat the flesh of the child since she was the one who was bewitching him.
After dressing-down Mahachi, the three accused left the child behind. A police report was filed leading to the suspects’ arrest.
The matter was postponed to a later date for continuation of trial.local

Zanu PF youth league boss survives in Gutu South

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Zanu PF youth league boss survives in Gutu South

Pupurai Togarepi

Upenyu Chaota

MASVINGO – The Zanu PF national youth league boss Pupurai Togarepi has emerged victorious in Gutu South after garnering 7 938 votes against the MDC Alliance’s 6 052.
A total of six candidates raced to represent Gutu South in the national assembly but Togarepi romped to victory.
During his campaign, Togarepi said he would be a servant of the people of Gutu South and would push for development.
“The people of Gutu South deserve someone who takes their issues to parliament and pushes for the development of the constituency. Gone are the days when people used to crave to meet someone whom they would have voted for.
“I will be the people’s servant and will be consulting throughout my term,” Togarepi said at one of his numerous campaign rallies.
Though Togarepi could not be reached for a comment after his victory, provincial youth league boss Brian Munyoro said he was happy that his senior has been given another mandate to lead.
“Leadership is an in born thing. Togarepi has been vilified during the factional wars but he remained resolute until he got back to lead the youth wing.
“He has once again been rewarded to lead the Gutu South constituency in parliament and we are proud as youth from Masvingo to have such an honour,” said Munyoro.
Togarepi takes over from ousted former legislator Paul Chimedza who has been given a five year suspension for supping with the vanquished G40 faction.
During his term, Chimedza did a lot of developmental projects some of which have been left unfinished owing to factional fights.politics

Zanu PF loses Masvingo Urban to MDC Alliance

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Zanu PF loses Masvingo Urban to MDC Alliance

Jacob Nyokanhete

Clayton Shereni

Masvingo Urban constituency has been won by Jacob Nyokanhete of the MDC-Alliance who defied the odds to beat the better-known and well-resourced Benjaman Taguma Mazarire of Zanu PF in the only parliamentary contest that the ruling party lost in the province.
Zanu PF won all the other 25 parliamentary seats in Masvingo, making Nyokanhete the only opposition man standing in the province, and rendering Mazarire the only loser from the ruling party side.
Nyokanhete won over 17 000 votes while Mazarire had over 12 000 votes.
An accountant with the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), Nyokanhete only became known to most voters when he emerged from virtual obscurity in active party politics to contest and win the MDC-T Chamisa faction’s Masvingo Urban primary elections.
He stood in the primaries after Takanayi Mureyi, who had gone uncontested, suddenly withdrew saying he had been offered a national post by the party leadership.
Meanwhile, the MDC-Alliance has also won most votes in the Masvingo Urban local government elections, taking seven out of 10 wards, an improvement from the previous six.top news

MDC Alliance candidate wakes up to bullet casings on doorstep

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MDC Alliance candidate wakes up to bullet casings on doorstep

TellZim Reporter
MDC Alliance parliamentary candidate for Chivi Central in the just ended elections, Henry Chivhanga is living in fear after he woke up to a dreadful sight of bullet casings dumped at his home in Masvingo.
This happened early yesterday morning, Sunday August 5, at Chivhanga’s house in Takazvivakira St in Majange.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula said she had not received the report although Chivhanga maintains he reported the matter at Chesvingo Police Base near Yeukai Shopping Centre.
“My wife woke up in the morning to do her chores and was horrified to see bullet casings outside the door. We are law-abiding people who don’t deserve this. We hope the police will swiftly do their work and bring the perpetrators to book,” said Chivhanga in a phone interview.
Earlier on, Chivhanga had taken to Twitter about the incident, writing that he was at a police station reporting the matter.
“My name is Henry Chivhanga, and I was the @MDCAllianceZW candidate for Chivi Central constituency. My wife just found bullet casings outside our door. I am at the police making a report right now. Maybe this was some sort of warning?” reads the tweet, which was accompanied by a picture of eight bullet casing on a silver foil.
A follow up tweet reads, “We made our police report. Ref 8715/18. Thank you to all who are praying for us and our safety. In God we put our hope and trust. We go to sleep tonight hoping that whoever planted the bullet casings will not come back to ‘finish’ what he/she started. Pray for Zimbabwe.”
The incident comes as other opposition members and supporters have alleged victimisation which includes intimidation, beatings and abduction by suspected State security agents.
Chivhanga lost the race for the Chivi Central parliamentary seat to Zanu PF’s Ephraim Gwanongodza.
He has alleged a suspiciously high number of assisted voters in the constituency, pointing to the possibility of vote rigging.topnews

US State Dept issues first statement on Zim election

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US State Dept issues first statement on Zim election

…condemns post-election violence
 TellZim Reporter
The United States State Department yesterday, 03 August, spoken on the conduct of the Zimbabwe’s recent elections, praising the peaceful voting process but condemning the violence that erupted in Harare on Monday.
In a statement, State Department spokesperson, Heather Nauert says it was unfortunate that what began as a peaceful process had later degenerated into violence.
“The Zimbabwean people turned out massively to cast their votes, underscoring their aspirations for a better future, despite challenges during the pre-election period.
“Unfortunately, Zimbabwe’s success in delivering an election day that was peaceful, and open to international observers, was subsequently marred by violence and a disproportionate use of deadly force against protesters by security forces.
“We extend our condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured and appeal to the leaders of all parties to urge their supporters to act peacefully.
“The United States welcomes the commitment by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release comprehensive election results in a form that provides full transparency. The United States will continue to review the data collected by its own observation teams, international observation missions, and by local observers to make a complete assessment of the overall election,” the statement reads.
It also urges all stakeholders to peacefully seek the address of any grievances they may have, and to do so through the established legal channels.
“The United States remains focused on working with Zimbabwe as its people and government strive toward still-needed comprehensive electoral, political, economic, and human rights reforms,” it reads.topnews

I won Gweru Urban but ground was not fair – Dube

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I won Gweru Urban but ground was not fair – Dube

Itai Muzondo
GWERU – MDC Alliance’s winning parliamentary candidate for Gweru Urban, Brian Dube has said his victory came against huge odds that were stacked against the opposition.
Dube won the race by 17 928 against his closest rival; Esau Natare of Zanu PF who garnered a total of 7 142 votes.
Speaking to TellZim News, Dube said there were a lot of anomalies that marred the elections, adding that the polls had dismally failed the test of credibility, freeness and fairness.
“I am happy I won but I am still troubled by how the Zimbabwe Election Commission (Zec) handled affairs before and during the polls. A good example is how they turned a deaf ear to our reasonable requests for the final voters’ roll as well as the opaqueness surrounding the printing, security and distribution of ballot papers.
“Currently, as results are being announced, there are a lot of issues being raised by our people on the ground but Zec does not care,” said Dube.
“I can’t speak much as most issues that trouble us as MDC Alliance have been noted in reports from monitors,” he added.
Dube also said people who demonstrated in Harare over what he called Zec’s clear bias against the MDC Alliance were justified as they were practicing their right to assembly.
TellZim News also caught up with independent candidate, Nkosikona Ndlovu who said he accepted defeat.
He said he strongly agreed with Dube’s sentiments that several aspects of the electoral environment and the voting process itself had countless anomalies.
“I lost and I accept the result as I have always said this campaign is part of my 15-year plan to get into the hearts of Gweru people. In the process, I will continue working with them regardless of my current loss.
“I however expect better from Zec in future elections because much of the anomalies started on the day of the nomination court. I expect a lot of improvement in how elections are administered in the country if Zec is to regain our trust as citizens,” Ndlovu said.local

ED’s first empty election promise

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ED’s first empty election promise

President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Upenyu Chaota
President Emmerson Mnangagwa in June charmed the people of Masvingo at his provincial star rally held at Mucheke Stadium grounds when he made a bold promise to reopen the local Cold Storage Company (CSC) plant that was shut down years ago.
Mnangagwa told thpusands of supporters who thronged Mucheke Stadium for his address that the plant was to be opened on July 31 but it’s now August and nothing has happened.
Addressing thousands of party supporters then, Mnangagwa said some former CSC workers were already being called back to their jobs and more will be recruited.
“There is CSC which used to be a big employer here in Masvingo but it closed many years ago. We are, in a week’s time, going to sign an agreement with an investor we met in Davos and they will give us the money so we can revive the company.
“I went at the site and saw that they had already begun some renovations and former workers have been called back to work.
“On 31 July, a day after voting, that is when CSC will open and begin operations. So let’s focus on things that brings employment for our people,” said Mnangagwa amid wild cheers from the crowd. 
The current situation on the ground has not changed and CSC remains a sleeping giant. Its huge cold rooms are being used as warehouses for furniture companies such as TV Sales and Home and Teecherz Furnishers.
People who spoke to TellZim News said Mnangagwa lied about CSC just to lure votes but the time frame was not feasible.
“It was election period and candidates would say anything just to get votes. We hoped the President was being sincere in his promise but we later discovered it was just a dummy.
“We were very hopeful because the President repeated that economics first and we believed him. Many people went to CSC to apply for jobs but they said they were not hiring,” said one disgruntled job seeker.
A former CSC employee said they went back to their employer after they heard the President saying the company was rehiring former employees but was shocked when the management professed ignorance over the matter.
“I had high hopes of getting a job because I was with the company when it closed shop but they told us they were not hiring anyone and for them to be opening any time soon was next to impossible and no money came from any investor,” he said.
Towards the end of 2017, deputy minister of Agriculture Davis Marapira said government had secured an investment partner who was ready to release US$20 million for the revival of the plant, but nothing happened ever since.top news

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