Upenyu Chaota

21 April 2017, MWENEZI – Out of the approximately 47 000 people who registered to vote in the just ended Mwenezi East parliamentary by-election, about 20 000 managed to cast their votes with many saying they forgot the day of the election.
Zanu PF candidate Joosbi Omar was left embarrassed after being turned away from two wrong polling stations; Chatagwi Primary School and Vilivili. He only managed to vote on his third attempt at Muzhanjire polling station.
“A new chapter in development has been opened for the people of Mwenezi East. I will challenge myself to develop this constituency, something which my predecessors failed to do,” Omar after finally casting his ballot.
Omar went on to win by 18 790 votes, a resounding victory for a party that did not put much effort in the campaign relative to its previous approach to elections with more formidable opposition. Welcome Masuku of NCA and Turner Muhango of FZC got only 482 and 386 votes respectively
People from Mapapa and other areas, however, told TellZim News they had missed voting day because they confused the dates.
“We were shocked to hear that the election was already done. The information we got was that the election would be conducted on Sunday not Saturday. We spent the whole day busy with our daily routines and never noticed people were voting,” said one villager.
Voter queues were visibly dominated by women, some of whom  arrived at the polling stations as early as 05:00 hrs and sat in an orderly line; an unusual arrangement that led many to suspect that some voters had undergone pre-election coaching.
The voting day was also strikingly lacking in youth participation, a development which does not bode well with opposition efforts to penetrate the rural electorate ahead of 2018
Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, who withdrew form the race citing vote-buying and intimidation of his supporters by Zanu PF, dismissed the election as a farce, claiming that the low voter turnout showed people were tired of Zanu PF’s shallow pretences of democratic rule.
“People are no longer fools. They no longer want Zanu PF. Yes they (Zanu PF) have won but they should know they were running a race on their own. There is nothing to celebrate here,” said Bhasikiti.
“The number of people who voted in the by-election is less than the total votes I got in 2013 before we had added more than 20 000 adult voters who were displaced by the Tokwe-Mukosi floods and resettled here.
“They expected to get over 40 000 votes from the 48 000 registered voters but they could not get even half the figure despite dosing people with food handouts. A big story; I won in absentia. No hope for Zanu PF in the 2018 elections,” said Bhasikiti.local,top news

14 April 2017, ZVISHAVANE – There is serious trouble at the recently re-opened Sabi Gold Mine as informal gold miners (makorokoza), who had thrived on the 30-months-long closure of the mine, are now fiercely resisting losing their space.
Armed clashes between mine security personnel and the informal miners are continuing with several casualties having been recorded.
Deputy Minister of Mines Fred Moyo confirmed that several people had died in the fights at the mine.
“The story at Sabi is very sad considering that the mine had been closed for 30 months after which we managed to get a new investor. There are reports of illegal miners who had been looting from the mine during the time it was closed and when the mine reopened, they still want to stick to their practices.
“The report I am holding says illegals are throwing explosives at security details from the mine. Gunshots are even being fired in mining shafts; the kind of violence we are condemning in the Midlands’ mining sector,” Moyo said.
Mine manager Sithole said the mine had engaged the parent ministry to register the informal traders so that they provide them with gold claims.
“Violence is a challenge we are facing and we have since engaged the police who are doing constant checks at the mine. As Sabi, we do not want to operate that way because the five million capital injection will be under threat.
“In trying to resolve the challenge, we have engaged the ministry to register all those who want to go into the formal mining business so that we give them space to operate from which is out of our boundaries,” Sithole said.local,topnews

Jappy Jaboon
…Jaboon gets the boot     
 …’Masvingo Urban ready for by-election’
…. frightened Ndaarombe pleads for mercy

13 April 2017, MASVINGO – The Generation 40 (G40)’s political fortunes continue to wane in Masvingo as they seen to be doing elsewhere, with the Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) unanimously agreeing to suspend provincial political commissar (PC) Jeppy Jaboon following a Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) report accusing him of gross misconduct.
The PCC meeting, held at the Masvingo showgrounds, also recommended that the party’s national PC Saviour Kasukuwere and Masvingo Urban legislator Daniel Shumba be sacked from the party for disregarding party structures.
Jaboon and Shumba are alleged to be key members of the local arm of G40 and any misfortune on their part is considered a blow to the group’s impetus in the province.
Sensing danger, a hapless provincial youth boss Nobert Ndaarombe, who has long been identified with the Jaboon camp, begged for mercy. It was the same Ndaarombe who, during a G40 meeting at Flamboyant Hotel only three weeks ago, declared that it was now a bare knuckle fight against Team Lacoste.
“We were following those guys because we didn’t know. Now we know that we were being led astray, being led against the party we are working for. We are now rejoining people who are determined to see Zanu PF go far. They (Jaboon and his people) even tried to prevent me from attending this meeting but because I am now enlightened, I am back to get advice from my elders and do the right thing,” Ndaarombe said.
Jaboon’s suspension along with recommendations to sack Kasukuwere and Shumba come as the winds of Zanu PF internal politics continue to blow in Team Lacoste’s favour with Eunice Sandi-Moyo and Sarah Mahoka having been decimated while Kasukuwere fights to save his own skin.
Outlining allegations against the trio during the PCC meeting, provincial secretary for administration Ailes Baloyi, who is believed to be a Team Lacoste disciple, said the decision was guided by reports from the districts.
“Last week we met all districts at Chiefs Hall who complained against Kasukuwere, Shumba and Jaboon among others. Our recommendation to have Kasukuwere sacked comes after realisations of how he disregards party structures and provincial collective decisions in private meetings.
“He also joined hands with Shumba to buy votes ahead of the provincial elections. We are currently informed that Masvingo Urban is ready for a by-election to replace their MP,” Baloyi said.
He also took the time to highlight reasons for Jaboon’s suspension.
“Of Jaboon’s accusations, the biggest is sexual harassment of female youths. The provincial women’s league has also sent a complaint saying he intervenes in their affairs.
“It is also not a secret that Jaboon sabotaged the Mwenezi East by-elections. He is the provincial commissar but he was only seen in the constituency once when Kasukuwere came for a rally. He even snubbed party administrator Ignatius Chombo’s rallly and conducted a parallel programme with Shumba,” said Baloyi.
Jaboon was also accused of authorising the return of suspended party members who are said to have gone to form parallel structures.
The PCC also requested that they hold provincial elections by April 19.topnews