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Chivayo tender investigation intensifies as government demands bank statements

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Ex-convict and businessman Wicknell Chivayo is under a fresh probe over his multi-million dollar energy deals with the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) amid allegations of corruption, money-laundering and externalisation.

Wicknell Chivayo and Sakunda Holdings (Sakunda) founder Kuda Tagwirei

Wicknell Chivayo and Sakunda Holdings (Sakunda) founder Kuda Tagwirei

BY XOLISANI NCUBE

The National Economic Conduct Inspectorate (NECI), a State arm under the Finance ministry, has demanded to see Chivayo’s Intratrek bank statements, cash books and other documents pertaining to the Gwanda Solar Project and Munyati Power Station.

A letter signed by one Musasiwa on behalf of the NECI director on December 7, 2017 indicated that Treasury was probing the businessman to ascertain if his deals were above board and that he did not externalise money.

“As part of an exercise that NECI is carrying out, may you avail the following documents for inspection: All contracts/agreements entered into with ZPC, Intratrek Zimbabwe’s bank statements from January 2015 to date, cash books and all documents pertaining to the Gwanda Solar Project and Munyati Power Station,” the letter read.
In a follow-up letter dated December 12, NECI demanded the same documents after they had initially met with Chivayo.

“This letter serves as a follow-up to a request for documents done through a letter dated December 7 and a subsequent meeting between NECI officers and the managing director Mr Wicknell Chivayo, on the same date. NECI is still waiting for the urgent delivery of the documents,” the letter stated.

Chivayo, who before the ouster of former President Robert Mugabe, used to boast of having strong links to the ex-First Lady Grace Mugabe, was awarded the deals worth over $441 million.

The businessman reportedly received an advance payment of $5 million without offering surety that he would deliver on the project – a violation of public finance laws. Also authorities allege nothing has happened on the ground to warrant the payments made so far.

Chivayo did not respond to questions sent to him on the probe.


Zimbabwean Woman In Court After Passing Urine Into In-law’s Mouth

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MVUMA – A woman from Village 74 in Huchu near Mvuma shocked mourners gathered at a funeral on Tuesday when she passed urine and shoved fresh soil taken from the grave into the mouth of her son’s father-in-law who had collapsed.
Martha Mudzorwi (53) appeared before Magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda in Mvuma on Wednesday charged with violating a dead body.
Prosecutor Michael Kazomba told the court that the complainant, Kenneth Zwihoko died soon after the incident. People gathered at the funeral apprehended Mudzorwi soon after the incident and handed her over to the Mvuma Police Station.
It is the State case that Mudzorwi’s son who is also Zwihoko’s son-in-law was hit and killed by a car in South Africa and they were both attending the funeral when the incident happened.
Zwihoko who had clashes with his son in-law’s relatives because he wanted to take his daughter away to attend her grandmother’s (maternal) burial in Sanyati collapsed soon after the burial of the son-in-law.
Mudzorwi rushed to the scene and passed urine into Zwihoko’s face and mouth. She then collected a handful of fresh soil from her son’s grave and shoved it into Zwihoko’s mouth.
Zwihoko died on the spot and it is not clear whether Mudzorwi urinated on the deceased after he died or when he was still alive.
In her defence, Mudzorwi told Magistrate Chibanda that she urinated and shoved soil into the deceased’s mouth because she believed that her late son was angry with Zwihoko for trying to take away his daughter to go and attend another funeral.
She said she did what she did in order to appease her late son so that he could forgive his father-in-law and hence spare his life.
The son died when he was hit by a car in South Africa where he had gone in the company of his wife. His body was repatriated to Zimbabwe and buried on Sunday and Zwihoko collapsed on Tuesday.
Magistrate Chibanda acquitted Mudzorwi.-mirror

Former Zimbabwe Mines Minister Chidhakwa Arrested

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FORMER MINES minister Walter Chidhakwa was Wednesday arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission, hours after president Emmerson Mnangagwa vowed to get tough on graft.

 Walter Chidhakwa

Walter Chidhakwa

The development was confirmed by national police spokesperson Charity Charamba.

Chidhakwa’s arrest comes after it was recently reported that he was one of the members of the G40 faction of the ruling party who were being investigated for corruption.

His arrest also came on the day when President Emmerson Mnangagwa spoke strongly against corruption vowing culprits would meet the full wrath of the law.

In his state of the nation address Wednesday, Mnangagwa spoke tough against corruption which has seen his administration go after some former government officials and their allies who are linked to acts of corruption during the Mugabe era.

“Every case must be investigated and punished in accordance with the dictates of our laws; there should be no sacred cows.

“My government will have a zero tolerance towards corruption and this has already begun,” he said as he further pledged to deliver a clean poll next year.

“…My government is committed to entrenching a democratic society, driven by respect for the constitution the rule of law, mutual tolerance, peace and unity. To this end government will do all in its power to ensure that the 2018 harmonised general elections are credible free and fair.”

Chidhakwa becomes the second former minister to be nabbed after former finance minister Ignatius Chombo was arrested on the night of the coup last month.-Newzimbabwe.com

PICTURES: Joseph Made Arrested ,Idle Farming , Alcohol And Hospital Equipment Recovered

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New and old farming and hospital equipment most of which was lying idle, was recovered at former Agriculture Minister Joseph Made’s farm in Headlands.

Among them were; 2006 rotten maize seed, generators, wheelchairs and unused storage bags (masaga) from the Presidential inputs scheme were recovered. View the pictures below:

Unused Presidential Input Storage Bags

Unused Wheelchair

Generator

Rotten Maize Seed

Wheelchairs Part of Joseph Made Loot

Numerous Wheelchairs

Joseph Made Loot Tractors

Breaking :Walter Chidhakwa Now at Rotten Row Courts Facing Corruption Charges

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FORMER Mines minister Walter Chidhakwa who was arrested yesterday on allegations of corruption and abuse of office has arrived at Rotten Row courts in Harare.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the development last night.

“Yes, he has been arrested. Kindly talk to Zacc for more details,” she said.

Zacc spokesperson Phyllis Chikudura, however, said she was not in office and referred questions to her bosses, who could not be reached for comment.

Chidakwa becomes the third former top government official to be arrested on graft allegations following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s takeover as Head of State last month. The other two are former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo, on $5 000 bail, and former Mines secretary Francis Gudyanga, who was also granted $300 bail early this week following his arrest on allegations of siphoning $230 000 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund.

Zacc sources said Chidakwa faces allegations of claiming sitting allowances for meetings held by parastatals under his ministry although he did not attend them.

He is also accused of sanctioning the abuse of public funds by Gudyanga.-amh

Auxillia Mnangagwa Kneels Before Chikurubi Prisoners

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The First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa has urged women to be law-abiding citizens and desist from being habitual criminals.

She made the remarks while visiting Chikurubi Female Prison where she donated some Christmas goodies.

Amai Mnangagwa toured the female prison facilities, including ablution facilities, the kitchen and bedrooms for mothers and children.

After the tour, she gave the inmates food and other goodies.

She advised the female inmates to be responsible and desist from committing crimes.

The mentally challenged inmates also benefited from the First Lady’s generosity.

She, however, encouraged authorities to ensure the rights of mentally challenged inmates are upheld.

The inmates applauded the First Lady for remembering them on Christmas Day.

Meanwhile, Amai Mnangagwa has also visited Harare Children’s Home.

Zimbabwean Wife, 41, covered 81-year-old British husband in yogurt…because she thought he was cheating

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Zimbabwean wife then covered the couple’s bed in bleach :: Pensioner husband then got the bus to the police station

Trecey Richards, 41, flew into a rage with her 81-year-old husband inside their Middlesbrough home - accusing him of having a 'whore' before covering him in yogurt (Image: Ian Johnson)

Trecey Richards, 41, flew into a rage with her 81-year-old husband inside their Middlesbrough home – accusing him of having a ‘whore’ before covering him in yogurt (Image: Ian Johnson)

A Zimbabwean woman covered her 81-year-old husband in yogurt after accusing him of cheating.

Furious Trecey Richards, 41, charged at her puzzled partner yelling: “You have a whore in the house!”

She then slapped a cup out of his hand and trashed their home, pouring bleach on the bedsheets and destroying his keyboard – before the pensioner got a bus to the police station.

“She suspected her husband was seeing someone else, she now accepts this wasn’t the case,” said a probation worker at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

But the rampage landed Richards in trouble with the law.

Despite a 40-year age gap, the couple’s relationship blossomed after meeting at the Quaker’s Meeting House in 2009.

After a whirlwind romance, the pair wed a year later, before Richards moved from Brighton to Middlesbrough in 2016.

But Richards flipped at around 10pm on December 6.

Described in court as being “taller and stronger” than her husband, she flew into a rage.

Detailing the cup incident, prosecutor Joanne Hesse said: “This scared him because of the defendant is much younger than he is.

“He kept telling her there wasn’t (another woman).”

But it didn’t stop her, yelling “pervert” at her husband.

She carried out the yogurt attack, which justices heard left her husband in need of a shower.

The dairy covered their bedding, which Richards then poured bleach over.

“The reason she did it was because she felt someone may have been in the bed and it made her feel better to clean it,” said Danielle Hewitt, mitigating.

As Richards’ rage unfolded, her husband sought shelter in different rooms, the court heard.

First he tried the study, but his wife followed – this time dousing his Acer laptop’s keyboard in washing up liquid.

He finally tried to get some sleep but Richards came in yelling: “What are you doing in my mother’s bed?!

“You can sleep in your whore’s bed!”

“He then decided he needed to leave,” added the prosecutor.

As he did, Richards told him she had slashed his tyres, so he hopped on a bus to the station.

When the police arrived, the home was a mess.

The court heard the couple enjoyed more of a “father/daughter” relationship.

However, Richards, currently of no fixed abode, told the court she expects to return to their Middlesbrough marital home.

Her husband, who attended court, had withdrawn his support for the prosecution fearing it could ruin the £18k-a-year carer’s career.

And Richards’ solicitor said she was “worried” it may stop her starting a nursing degree at Wolverhampton University next year.

“She does admit she has a problem with jealousy,” added her solicitor.

“She’s deeply remorseful”.

Richards, a former asylum seeker who has been granted leave to remain in the UK, admitted common assault and criminal damage.

She was handed a nine-month community order, including 40 hours unpaid work.

She has to pay £85 costs and an £85 charge.-gazettelive

Former sports minister Hlongwane arrested over beans

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Former Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister, Makhosini Hlongwane, was Thursday arrested after he failed to account for tonnes of sugar beans found at his farm, police said.

The Member of Parliament for Mberengwa East was picked up by police at his farm on the outskirts of Zvishavane town.

According to sources, police found close to 10 tonnes of sugar beans stashed at the former minister’s farm.

Acting police spokesperson for Midlands Province, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende, said investigations were still underway although the former minister was released after a statement was recorded.

The former ZBC journalist was arrested early Thursday morning following a raid on his farm by the police. He was arrested after he failed to produce receipts for the purchase of sugar beans which he allegedly claimed were donated to him by a firm he could not name.

According to the state media reports, Hlongwane was one of the 40 faction members who skipped the country into Mozambique following a military coup last month but was to later return to the country.

Since his return, he had been holed up at his farm, reports said.


Government warns criminal elements cashing in on Zimbabwe First Family

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Criminal elements have opened social media accounts in the name of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his wife Auxillia without their blessing and are using the accounts to extort money from the public, the permanent secretary for Information George Charamba said in a statement today.

 

“The Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services wishes to advise members of the public that public communication involving the First Family is conducted through official channels only,” he said.

“This advisory comes against reports of rampant abuse of social media platforms by some criminal elements who have opened social media accounts in the name of the First Family without their blessing, and who are using those same accounts to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.

“Kindly note, therefore, that any communication ascribed to the First Family riding on social media platforms but which are outside the official channels should be treated with caution and in any case, cross-checked with the Ministry or Office of the President and Cabinet.

“Members of the public are encouraged to report any such fraudulent communication to the police so that the culprits are brought to book.”

Charamba did not state whether any of the social media outlets are official.  It is therefore not clear whether the site below is official or not.

-InsiderZimbabwe

Six Foreign Immigration Detainees On Hunger Strike In Harare Prison

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SIX foreigners arrested by the Immigration Department on allegations of staying in the country illegally have gone on a ‘hunger strike’ at the Harare Central Remand Prison demanding their release or to be deported to their respective countries.

Some of them accused immigration officials of demanding bribes to facilitate their release although their cases have not been heard in the courts.

The detainees narrated their ordeal to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Deputy Commissioner-General Dr Alford Mashange Dube who had yesterday visited them after they were admitted to the prison hospital. He reportedly promised to address their grievances.

“When they (immigration officials) first arrested me, they demanded $5 000 cash so that they would release me. I did not have enough cash since my wife had just passed on. I only had about $1 650 which I offered them and they took it, insisting they would come back for the balance,” said Charles Oforma (47) from Nigeria who used to run a motor spares shop in Harare and has been in remand since 2015.

Ayele Derilo from Ethiopia, who has been in custody for the past five years, alleged that when he was arrested in Mutare, the officials first asked him if he had any cash on him. Because he did not have any cash, they arrested him, he alleged.

The foreigners allege that they have stayed for too long in prison without their cases being tried by the courts.

There are 109 foreigners currently detained at prison after they were arrested without proper documentation by immigration officials.

In an interview, Deputy Comm-Gen Dube said the six went on hunger strike on December 20.

“This hunger strike started particularly with the prohibited immigrants who are housed at Harare Remand Prison. They are six — one from Nigeria, one from Ethiopia, two from Kenya, one from South Sudan and another one from South Africa,” he said.

“What I found out from them is that they had overstayed in remand prison as prohibited immigrants. The longest one has stayed for five years and that is the one from Ethiopia,” he said.

“As ZPCS, we do not take them as prisoners or inmates because we have two types of inmates — that is the convicted and the non-convicted. As these prohibited immigrants come in here, we think they are being lodged for the purposes of their deportation,” said Deputy Comm-Gen Dube.

He said there was a limit on the number of days according to the Immigration Act and that the immigrants had overstayed.

He said ZPCS was worried since some of them had been in prison for more than five years and did not have criminal records in the courts.

Deputy Comm-Gen Dube said they were facing challenges given the number of prohibited immigrants in the prisons.

“This is costly to the organisation in the sense that we must feed them on a daily basis, we need to clothe them on a daily basis, we need to look at their health aspect on a daily basis,” he said.

He said some of them wanted to go back to their countries while others wanted to be taken to refugee camps where they were staying.

Deputy Comm-Gen Dube said they had engaged the Immigration Department who indicated that they did not have enough resources to deport the foreigners to their countries.

The principal director of Immigration Mr Clemence Masango said; “They are not necessarily detained by immigration but I am not at liberty to disclose who the holding authority is or to go into details. Their cases are being attended to by the relevant authorities.”-Herald

CIO Deputy Director Who Died In Car Accident On Saturday Also Killed A Cyclists In 2002 And Walked Free

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Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) Nixon Chirinda passed on in a road traffic accident on Saturday night.

Nixon Chirinda

Nixon Chirinda

Nixon Chirinda, 57, a former Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss for Masvingo province, was in 2002  remanded out of custody when he appeared in court on a charge of culpable homicide.

He is alleged to have fatally knocked down a cyclist with his vehicle along the Masvingo-Beitbridge road 16 years ago.

Chirinda, later transferred to Matabeleland, pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Masvingo magistrate Crispen Mberewere.

The State alleged that on 24 February 2000 Chirinda was driving a Toyota Hilux vehicle registration number 640-597Q along the Masvingo Beitbridge road.

As he approached the 96,5km peg he saw cyclists, including one identified later as Ignatius Gwara, going in the same direction.

The accident happened near Chinhoyi along the at the 117km peg along the Harare-Chirundu highway. Chirinda is suspected to have died on the spot after his vehicle rammed into a haulage truck.

Mourners are gathered at number 30 Angel King Road, Mzari in Chinhoyi.

 

Zimbabwe Woman Excited As Husband Is Freed From Cameroonian Jail

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A US-BASED Zimbabwean woman says she is excited following the release of her Cameroonian husband who was detained for three weeks on charges of threatening to shoot that country’s president.

 Image copyright Facebook/Patrice Nganang

Early last month, Nyasha Bakare, who was born in Zimbabwe but now lives in the US, led a global campaign to free her husband, Patrice Nganang, who had been arrested at an airport in Yauonde, Cameroon.

A dual US and Cameroonian citizen and a professor at New York’s Stony Brook University, Nganang was arrested when he was about to board a flight to Harare to meet Bakare and their daughter, Nomsa aged eight years for the festive holiday.

Bakare and Nomsa were visiting relatives in Zimbabwe.

Nganang was arrested on 6 December, denied bail and remanded to a maximum security prison on charges that he had threatened to shoot Cameroon president, Paul Biya.

“Patrice faces charges in Cameroon linked to his writings critical of the Cameroonian situation and government.  He was arrested Dec 6, 2017, while embarking on a flight for Harare (Zimbabwe) to join his wife and daughter,” Bakare wrote in an appeal soon after her husband’s arrest.

Her appeal for the release of Nganang immediately attracted global attention and last Thursday a Cameroonian judge was forced to order his release and immediate deportation to the US.

“We are very excited to be reunited and can’t wait,” Bakare wrote after the release of the professor.

Bakare said her husband had been arrested for writing an article for a French magazine criticising Biya’s 35 year-long rule.

Angela Quintal programme coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said international pressure and efforts from supporters played an important role in securing Nganang’s release.

“(It) is a sign that President Paul Biya’s administration has woken up to the fact that violating the right to freedom of expression to silence critical voices, including in the press will not be condoned by freedom-loving Cameroonian citizens, or the international community,” Quintal said.

Bakare and Nomsa have since left Zimbabwe for the US to reunite with Nganang. – NewsZim

Satanism Necklace Murder ‘Suspect’ Arrested In Zimbabwe

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A MAN has been arrested in connection with the murder of a man in Bulawayo’s Emakhandeni suburb on New Year’s Day.

Meluleki Ncube (30) from the same suburb is alleged to have committed the crime in the company of two accomplices who are still at large.

 

A court yesterday heard how the trio allegedly hit the deceased with a stone on the back of the head and he died on the spot.

The murder victim was not identified in court but The Chronicle on Tuesday said his relatives had identified him as Bhekimpilo Moyo (34).

In interviews, the deceased’s relatives also said he had been attacked using an axe, but the court was told that a stone was used in the fatal attack.

Ncube, who was represented by Mr Maqhawe Mpofu and Mr Dicksen Moyo of Samp Mlaudzi and Partners, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi facing a murder charge.

Mr Mkhwananzi postponed the matter to Monday after Messrs Mpofu and Mlaudzi applied for refusal of further remand.

Mr Moyo said Ncube was a member of the Zimbabwe National Army and that there was no evidence that he committed the crime.

He said Ncube was asleep and was only awakened by his brother who informed him that there was a commotion outside and he went there.

Mr Mpofu said there was no mention of a murder weapon being recovered from the scene.

“The investigating officer said they needed two weeks to record witness statements. There has to be more information to warrant further detention not gut feeling. The court should ask itself what the accused person said when he made indications at the scene,” he said.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said Ncube was arrested on Monday at 1PM.

He said: “Ncube in the company of his two accomplices who are still at large hit the deceased with a stone on the back of the head. He fell on the ground and died.”-Chronicle

Man booted out of his village after locals caught him raping a pregnant goat

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A MAN named Rambo was kicked out of his village in Africa after neighbours caught him raping a pregnant goat.

They caught him assaulting the animal after hearing its anguished bleats from his bedroom in Ugo, Nigeria.

 A man named Rambo has been kicked out of his village in Africa for allegedly raping a goat
MYDRIM JONES
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A man named Rambo has been kicked out of his village in Africa for allegedly raping a goat

They forced his door open and caught him having intercourse with the animal, the villagers said.

The alleged pervert, named locally as Shina Rambo, was eventually taken in by the authorities.

But not before his captors handed out their own humiliating justice by parading him naked in public with the goat.

Men, women and children jeered as Rambo, in his 20s, sat on the ground with the animal tied around his neck part of the time.

 Shocked locals forced their way into his house after hearing the goat bleating inside
MYDRIM JONES
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Shocked locals forced their way into his house after hearing the goat bleating inside

The incident is also expected to affect Rambo’s parents who are also believed to have been asked to leave the village.

Community leader representatives claimed Rambo was a serial pervert, local media reported.

“He did not start this today,” said one article.

“He has done it in Ogba and Ibieguai before he was chased out of these communities.

Heartbreaking moment donkey struggles to walk with overgrown hoof

 An angry mob tied the goat to Rambo to embarrass him further
MYDRIM JONES
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An angry mob tied the goat to Rambo to embarrass him further.”He stole there too. We have told his father and mother to leave the community immediately.

“We left him before because his father is a good man.

“He has to make some sacrifice to appease the land. And after that, he will leave this community.”

The Sun

Zanu PF Kwekwe Central MP Who Accused President Mnangagwa Of Terror Is Arrested After Being Found With 30 Tonnes Of Maize Meal

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THE Member of Parliament for Kwekwe Central, Masango ‘Blackman’ Matambanadzo, has been arrested by police after they reportedly searched his house and found about 30 tonnes of maize meal.

Member of Parliament for Kwekwe Central, Masango ‘Blackman’ Matambanadzo

Member of Parliament for Kwekwe Central, Masango ‘Blackman’ Matambanadzo

Police reportedly took the maize meal to Amaveni Police Station and were now investigating the source and how he got the mealie-meal.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba yesterday confirmed police were investigating Matambanadzo.

She could, however, not give details on the matter asking this reporter to call later.

Her mobile phone was not reachable by the time of going to Press. Sources close to the investigations said about six armed police officers stormed Matambanadzo’s Amaveni house on Wednesday evening before they searched the house. “They searched the house and found 30 tonnes of maize meal, which they then took to the police station together with him,” said the source.

The sources said other allegations against Matambanadzo bordered around some bloody clashes between illegal gold panners that used to rock Kwekwe City.

The sources said the legislator is accused of sponsoring the clashes.

“You know there used to be bloody clashes between illegal panners’ rival groups here and Matambanadzo is said to be one of the main sponsors of those terror groups.

“He also planted some thugs at Kwekwe Long Distance Bus Terminus who used to collect money from Kombi crews and police are also trying to prefer a charge around that,” said the source.

Matambanadzo’s personal assistant, Angela Nyathi, said allegations against the legislator were still not clear by yesterday evening.

“He is still with the police but allegations against his are still not clear, we tried to find out with the police but they said we will get the details tomorrow (today) when he appears in court,” she said.-CHRONICLE


Former Zimbabwe Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi Arrested Over Two Television Sets

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FORMER Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi has been arrested for criminal abuse of office after he allegedly donated three television sets to two religious organizations without seeking the approval of the Finance Minister in violation of the Finance Act, his lawyer has said.

Lawyer Job Sikhala said the charges against Mzembi are the former minister allegedly donated two television set to Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa’s United Family International Church (UFIC) and another to Prophet Walter Magaya’s Prophet Healing Deliverance (PHD) without approval from the minister of finance.

Read Also:

 

“He is being charged with criminal abuse of office and we are hoping to appear in court tomorrow morning. The circumstances have to do with the donations that he made in his bid to promote religious tourism. He is being charged with violating the Finance Act,” said Sikhala adding that the televisions set were bought during the 2010 world cup.

Sikhala, who was at the offices of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) said he believed that his client’s actions were not inconsistent with his duties.

Mzembi becomes the third minister to be arrested for criminal abuse of office ever since the demise of former President Robert Mugabe in November last year. Former finance minister Ignatious Chombo and former sports, arts and recreation minister Makhosini Hlongwani are also facing criminal charges before the courts.

President Emerson Mnangagwa has vowed to fight corruption from within the government and the private sector.

Jobless Former Finance Minister Chombo Begs Court to Review Bail Conditions So He Could Go And Farm For Survival

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Embattled former cabinet minister and former Zanu PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo has approached the courts seeking a review of his bail reporting conditions.

Zimbabwes Finance Minister, Ignatius Chombo, left, and Kudzanai Chipanga in leg irons are led to a prison truck at the magistrates courts in Harare, Zimbabwe, Saturday, Nov.25, 2017. The legality of the military take over in Zimbabwe is under scruitiny in new cases against several officals linked to the ruling party faction of Mugabes wife. Chombo told the court that masked men in military uniforms burst into his home and pointed assault rifles at him and his wife as the military moved in. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

In his application Chombo begged the court to lessen his conditions as they were affecting his ability to conduct his new found occupation farming.

 

Chombo’s application for variation of bail conditions was heard before Harare magistrate Ms Josephine Sunday this afternoon.

Through his lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku, Chombo raised new facts which had arisen since his arrest last month on a litany of corruption charges.

He said his original reporting conditions where he reports thrice daily throughout the week was no longer tenable as he is a family man who since the loss of his government and political office now relies on farming for his family sustenance.

Professor Madhuku in a telephone interview said they are seeking a review of Chombo’s reporting conditions to once a day between Monday and Friday

The court will give its ruling over the application for variation of bail on Monday the 8th of January 2018.-ZBC

Top Zanu PF Official On The Run After Police Discovered 7 Tonnes of Rice Stashed At His House

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Former leader of a splinter group of war veterans, Mr George Mlala, is allegedly on the run after police discovered seven tonnes of rice stashed at his house in Bulawayo. The rice, among other things, was allegedly found at his residential Flat Number 6, Trust Building at the Corner of 14 Avenue and Joshua Mqabuko Street in the city centre.

Read Also:

 

 

Police reportedly launched a manhunt after he could not be located to account for the grain. Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed that Mr Mlala was on the police wanted list.

George Mlala

George Mlala

“As police, we are hunting for George Mlala after 159x50kgs of rice was found in his house. The rice amounts to about 7,8 tonnes. It was discovered following a police raid at his house in the city centre. Mlala has not been seen so that he could explain where he got the huge quantity of rice,” said Insp Simango.

She said those who may have information on the whereabouts of Mr Mlala should report to the nearest police station.

“Those who may have information that may lead to the location of Mr Mlala may come forward. Alternatively, they can get in touch with the Officer-in-Charge CID Law and Order, Bulawayo, Detective Inspector Musona or the investigating officer Detective Inspector Mpofu on (09) 64232 or any nearest police station,” she said.

It is not the first time for Mr Mlala to be fingered in allegations of corruption. Last year, former War Veterans Minister Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube accused Mr Mlala of soliciting for bribes from the city business people using the ruling party, Zanu-PF’s name.

Rtd Col Dube said Mr Mlala had imposed himself as Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial secretary for security and used that position to solicit for bribes while externalising money. Mr Mlala vanished from the public scene following Zimbabwe Defence Forces Operation Restore Legacy last November.

He briefly appeared at Plumtree Border Post last month where he was observed hiding in a car in which former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and his family were travelling. He joins several Zanu-PF members who are allegedly being investigated by the Government for corruption.

President Mnangagwa has promised that his Government will fight corruption and already some former ministers have appeared in court for abuse of office. Some of the notable arrests include former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo, former Minister of Mines, Walter Chidhakwa, and Midlands provincial minister Jason Machaya.

Mr Mlala and former Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Manicaland province Mandi Chimene, who is also on the run, had assumed leadership of a faction of the war veterans association.-Herald

Breaking news : Walter Mzembi In Court

Australian Man Arrested For Stealing Z$1 trillion Bill

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Australia — A man has been arrested in Adelaide for allegedly stealing unique bank notes, including a one hundred trillion Zimbabwean dollar bill.

The Harare administration was forced to abandon the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009 after it had been rendered virtually worthless by hyperinflation.

Monetary authorities at the time remarkably decided to tame the inflation beast by feeding it. The higher inflation spiked, the bigger the denomitations minted by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) under then governor Gideon Gono.

By the time inflation peaked at an estimated 500 billion percent in 2008, the RBZ had responded with the one hundred trillion dollar bill — the single largest known note to be printed by any central bank .

According to an Adelaide-based tabloid, The Advertiser, local police arrested a 32-year-old man and found him with an assortment of bank notes thought to have been stolen.

The bills included distinctive German Deutschmarks printed in 1920, $1 000 Korean Wons, 100 Baisa Oman notes, and a one hundred trillion Zimbabwean dollar note.

The suspect was expected to appear in court at a later date.

Investigators called on the public to help identify the owner of the bills but they would be required to provide proof of ownership.

Although no longer in use, the Zimbabwe dollar has become a curiosity for collectors bemused by the country’s hyperinflationary mayhem which was considered as the worst for any nation not at war by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The 100 trillion dollar Zimbabwean dollar note was this Thursday selling for between $5 and as much as $100 on eBay.

Since ditching the Zimdollar, the country has used multiple currencies, dominated by the United States dollar. A local surrogate currency, the bond notes, was introduced in November 2016.
— NewZimbabwe.com

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