Takunda Maodza Assistant News Editor—
BELVIN CHIBI, a Form Four pupil at the Catholic Church-run Mweyamutsvene Mission, yesterday missed his third national examination paper after he was barred from entering the exam room without school shoes, The Herald can reveal. The pupil has already missed two examinations — English (Paper 1) and Commerce (Paper 2) — after the headmaster’s wife, Mrs Nyasha Rubende barred him from the examination room because he had no school shoes.

Yesterday he did not write English Paper 2. Mrs Rubende is a teacher at the school, where her husband Mr Abel Zebron Rubende is the headmaster. The Catholic Church yesterday expressed shock at the incident amid indications Mr Rubende had summoned Chibi to his office and offered to pay for him to sit for the June 2016 examinations.

It is understood Mr Rubende is also keen to engage the boy’s relatives. The boy stays with his grandmother in the poverty-stricken Bocha area of Manicaland Province. Chibi had registered with zimsec to write five subjects and with three national examinations missed, there is no hope he will sit the remaining subjects.

He narrated his ordeal to The Herald yesterday. “I do not have school shoes and so I borrowed a pair of shoes from a well-wisher. It was not a school shoe. As I entered the examination room, Mrs Rubende barred me. I pleaded with her but she would not listen. I was left with no option but to go back home. I failed to write again today (yesterday),” he said.

Chibi confirmed the headmaster had offered to pay for his June 2016 examinations. “He (headmaster) said he was going to pay for my examinations in June next year. What pains me is that I had prepared hard for the examinations. I stay with my grandmother,” said a dejected Chibi.

The Catholic Church yesterday said it was disturbed by the incident. “This is a shocking incident especially considering the fact that most children in rural areas cannot afford to buy shoes and go to school barefooted,” said Catholic Bishops Conference of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Father Fredrick Chiromba. “There is also no regulation that students have to wear shoes. In rural areas the majority do not have shoes. I will need to find out what really happened in this case,” he said.

Mr Rubende refused to comment on the matter yesterday, referring all questions to the district education Office in Mutare.

Asked whether it was true that he had offered to pay for Chibi’s June 2016 examinations, he said: “I do not know where you are getting all that information from. Please tell me who is giving you all that information. I have given all the information to the district education office in Mutare.”

Efforts to get a comment from the district education office in Mutare were fruitless. Meanwhile, The Herald was yesterday inundated with calls from organisations and well-wishers touched by Chibi’s situation who wanted to assist the boy. The callers included lawyers who felt Chibi’s rights were violated.

Some turned to The Herald website to express their anger.

Read one of the reactions by one Jabu, which summarised the feelings of many: “I had my first pair of shoes when I was in Form 2 while at an “Upper Top” in Runde Rural, Zvishavane. My grandmother would brew and sell ‘doro rendari’ and also sell salted peanuts to raise my school fees. I would also do piece jobs by tilling other people’s fields to remain in school. I’m sure this is the story for most people in rural Zimbabwe where each day is a struggle to survive. All that suffering made me to resolve never to have my children have my kind of background and today have already attained a Masters degree in the Sciences.

“Please Mr Headmaster, your wife and priests at Mweyamutsvene have a heart and give this young boy a chance. You are destroying a whole generation and generations to come by denying this boy a right to education on the silly reason that they do not have shoes. This is the only chance for this boy to get out of poverty and be able to buy himself a decent pair of shoes one day. What do you intend to achieve by denying him this chance?”

Cletus Mushanawani in New Delhi, India
PRESIDENT Mugabe is well and has successfully completed his mission at the just-ended India-Africa Summit Forum, says his spokesperson, Cde George Charamba.

Dismissing stories doing the rounds in the private Press and on social media that India Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped President Mugabe to break a fall during yesterday’s summit, Cde Charamba said only fault finders would spend a second on such an incident.

“It is a very minor incident in a big heroic act and only fault finders will spend a second on it.

“President Mugabe is well and has accomplished his mission. He is due in the country at the weekend,” said Cde Charamba.

President Mugabe stumbled as he walked towards Prime Minister who was welcoming him to the summit and did not require a helping hand as what has gone viral in the private media and the social network.

After the much-hyped incident, President Mugabe went on to deliver his keynote address as the co-chairperson of the India-Africa Forum Summit where he called for a reform of the United Nations, saying the current scenario recognises other nations as giants and others as dwarfs.

President Mugabe actively participated at the summit’s closing ceremony last night where himself, Prime Minister Modi, and African Union Commission chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma unveiled commemorative stamps and coins before the thousands of delegates.

President Mugabe continued with his busy schedules this morning where he had closed door meetings with Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Nguema Mbasogo and South Sudan President, Salva Kiir.

Herald Reporter
Government yesterday announced it will be staggering pension payment to war veterans and spouses of national heroes and ex-political prisoners, detainees and restrictees.

In a statement, the Public Service Commission said any inconviencies caused were sincerely regretted.

“The Public Service Commission wishes to advise that the Ministry of Finance has staggered pensioners’ pay dates as follows: November 6 – war veterans’ pension, war veterans’ spouse and children’s pension, ex-political prisoners, detainees and restrictees’ spouse and children’s pension, and national heroes’ spouses and children’s pension. November 10 – rest of pensioners.”

Minister Mombeshora

Bulawayo Bureau
Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora has said the Government is against the practice of new farmers leasing their land to white former farmers, but is open to formal partnerships.

He said this in Bubi District during the launch of the Matabeleland North A1 permits which seek to give security of tenure to resettled farmers.

At least 150 farmers settled at subdivision B of Rouxdale Farm received the certificates.

“We also have cases of people who have been allocated land but have abandoned it and instead sublease it to the former owners. To this we say, NO! Government has agreed to joint ventures, partnerships and contract farming provided the farmers bring their applications to the minister for approval. We see these as progressive as they help to capacitate our farmers,” said Dr Mombeshora.

He said the Government would not hesitate to withdraw offer letters from farmers who are leasing out their farms to the former farmers.

“While we understand that as Government we have not been able to fully support our farmers and financial institutions are not keen to lend money to them, we don’t see subleasing as a solution.

“Those farmers who are subleasing farms to former owners should pave way for genuine farmers who are ready to work on the land and I want to state today that I will not hesitate to withdraw offer letters for those proved to be subleasing their allocated land,” said Dr Mombeshora.

The Lands minister said terms and conditions for the A1 Settlement Permit were gazetted as Statutory Instrument 53 of 2014.

These terms and conditions outline rights of permit holders and their dependants. They state that the permit is valid for an indefinite period.

“Permit holders can do improvements on the allocated land, spouses are recognised, and inheritance procedures are laid down, among other conditions,” said Dr Mombeshora.

He said the Government implemented the Model A1 Settlement Permit based on the principles that, each family should have access to a homestead area covering 0,5 hectares; arable land covering six hectares and grazing space for seven livestock units.

“The Ministry is disturbed with reports indicating that most A1 farms are now overcrowded as arable land per family has been reduced and grazing space allocated to illegal settlers by some traditional leaders in collaboration with some Government officials such as district administrators and district lands officers,” he said.

Dr Mombeshora said A1 farmers who received permits would be paying a development levy and land rental totalling $15 annually while A2 farmers would fork out $5 per hectare per annum.

The event, held at Chief Mtshana Khumalo’s homestead, was attended by lands deputy minister Cde Berita Chikwama, Minister of State in Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Office Cde Clifford Sibanda who is also the area’s legislator, Agriculture deputy Minister responsible for livestock production Cde Paddy Zhanda and Bubi senator Madeline Bhebhe, the district leadership and the local people.

Takunda Maodza Assistant News Editor
MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai is failing to settle a $900 debt he owes a top Harare law firm and risks having his property auctioned to settle it.

The opposition leader has fallen on hard times after his stint in the inclusive Government ended in 2013, following victory by Zanu-PF in the harmonised elections.

Mr Tsvangirai and many other politicians within his party have no other source of income away from politics.

The Herald is reliably informed that Mr Tsvangirai was served with summons on Thursday at the opposition party’s Harvest House headquarters in central Harare.

He was in the middle of a meeting when he was served with the summons.

The opposition leader owes Atherstone and Cook Legal Practitioners $906. 25 in legal fees.

He has failed to settle the debt despite demand, leaving the law firm with no option.

It is not yet clear which case Atherstone and Cook Legal Practitioners represented Mr Tsvangirai, but he filed a number of cases to do with elections during the period.

The summons was filed at magistrates’ court under case number 37401/15.

Reads the summons: “You (Morgan Tsvangirai) are required that you do within seven (7) days after service of this summons upon you, enter or cause to enter with me, and also the plaintiff or its legal practitioners at the address specified herein an appearance (i.e file a Notice of Intention to Defend) to answer the claims of Plaintiff herein for payment of US$906.25 together with interest herein specified and costs, particulars hereof are endorsed hereon, and which, despite demand, remains unpaid.”

“Take note that: in default of your doing so you will be held to have admitted the said claim, and the Plaintiff may proceed therein and judgment may be given against you in your absence, but that, on payment of the said claim and costs to me within the said time, judgment will not be given against you, and that if, before the expiration of the said time you so pay or lodge with me and the Plaintiff a consent to judgment you will save judgment charges.”

If Mr Tsvangirai fails to contest the matter, a default judgment would be handed down against him.

“If you allege any exception, defence or counter-claim you must within seven days after appearance, deliver to me and to the said Plaintiff a statement in writing of the nature and grounds thereof,” further reads the summons.

The particulars of the claims show that Mr Tsvangirai is failing to pay for legal services rendered by the law firm.

“Whereof, Plaintiff claims: payment in the sum of US$906. 25, being an amount due and payable to the Plaintiff by the Defendant, in respect of the reasonable charges for services rendered to the Defendant by the Plaintiff including VAT in December 2013, which amount, despite promises to pay by Defendant and despite demand, the Defendant fails to pay.”

The claim has a 5 percent interest rate per annum from December 21, 2013.

Mr Charamba

Cletus Mushanawani in New Delhi, India
President Mugabe is well and has successfully completed his mission at the just-ended India-Africa Forum Summit, despite private media reports insinuating that he has health problems, Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba has said.

Dismissing stories doing the rounds in the private and social media that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped President Mugabe to “break a fall” during yesterday’s India-Africa Forum Summit, Mr Charamba said only fault finders would spend a second on such an incident.

“It is a very minor incident in a big heroic act and only fault finders will spend a second on it,” he said. “President Mugabe is well and has accomplished his mission. He is due in the country at the weekend.”

President Mugabe appeared to stumble slightly as he walked towards Prime Minister Modi, who was welcoming him to the summit and did not require a helping hand since he remained steadfast on his feet.

After the much-hyped incident, President Mugabe went on to deliver his keynote address as the co-chairperson of the India-Africa Forum Summit where he called for United Nations reforms, saying the current scenario recognises other nations as giants, while others were seen as dwarfs.

President Mugabe actively participated at the summit’s closing ceremony last night where, together with Prime Minister Modi and African Union Commission chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, he unveiled commemorative stamps and coins of the summit before thousands of dele- gates.

President Mugabe continued with his busy schedule yesterday morning where he held closed door meetings with Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Nguema Mbasogo and South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Minister Chinamasa

Farirai Machivenyika in Harare and Lloyd Gumbo in Victoria Falls—
Zimbabwe’S ability to attract foreign investors is badly frustrated by the high cost of labour, erratic electricity supplies, high taxes and a poor transport infrastructure, the inaugural Zimbabwe National Competitiveness Report released on Friday has revealed. The report was compiled by the National Economic Consultative Forum, a grouping of Government, the private sector, trade unions and civil society.

This came as Government ministers and Members of Parliament said over the weekend that the country was not doing enough to attract foreign investment to fund economic growth. They were speaking in no-holds- barred submissions at the ongoing pre-Budget seminar for MPs in Victoria Falls, where they said Zimbabwe was in urgent need of foreign investment. The Zimbabwe National Competitiveness Report was launched by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday last week and released the following day.. It calls for the swift establishment of a Competitiveness Commission to address impediments to the country’s competitiveness on the international arena.

“In terms of power supply, the country is currently experiencing acute shortage of electricity that has resulted in frequent power outages,” the report says. “This has been as a result of subdued power generation caused by inefficiencies in the running of thermal power stations, also associated with ageing equipment and outdated technology.

“This development has rendered our commercial and industrial activities less competitive as companies resort to more expensive alternative power sources such as diesel generators.” The report said the country had the second highest labour costs in the region after South Africa.

“Comparing minimum wages, Zimbabwe has one of the highest labour costs in the region, second to South Africa,” it says. “Given that Zimbabwe’s productivity per unit of labour compared to other countries is low, it implies that labour costs are a major cost driver which affects the country’s competitiveness.” On the cost of borrowing, the report said as of 2013, Zimbabwe’s interest rate stood at 28 percent, nearly double the second highest rate in Mozambique at 15,3 percent.

The report said the high interest rates were a result of non-performing loans, low credit rating and non-availability of Government bonds. On water, the report said: “Zimbabwe’s fixed water charges are the least competitive in the region and the pricing models in use are not sensitive to water-intensive industries. Agriculture, abattoirs and the clothing industry are the most affected as they use a lot of water during their operations.”

The report also said the cost of transport in the country was high, with the situation compounded by the deteriorating state of roads and railway infrastructure. “Zimbabwe’s tax regime is more costly and disadvantageous to a local business in relation to comparator countries, with the exception of Mozambique,” the report read.

“A medium-size business can expect to pay 35,3 percent of its commercial profit, which is about 5 percent higher than what a similar company would pay in South Africa (30,1 percent), twice as much as what would be expected for a similar company in Zambia (15,1 percent) and about 10 percent higher in Botswana at 25,4 percent.”

The report said the establishment of a Competitiveness Commission was critical in addressing these issues. “This report calls upon the operationalisation of the Competitiveness Commission which would spearhead the establishment of industry-specific working groups to address cross-cutting constraints to competitiveness,” it read.

“Priorities include initiatives related to cost-drivers, investing in human resources, taking full advantage of regional trade agreements, improving infrastructure and reducing impediments to business formation and growth by hardworking and dynamic Zimbabweans.”

The report also called for the establishment of a National Productivity Institute to provide training and research in the area of productivity and help bridge the gap between skills being churned out by tertiary institutions and industry requirements.

Speaking at the pre-Budget workshop for MPs, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said foreign investors were not against indigenisation, but wanted clarification on what the policy entailed. He said the majority of foreign investors were hesitant to invest here because they thought indigenisation entailed expropriation of foreign-owned companies.

“So, we have an obligation to explain what we want,” said Minister Chinamasa. “Don’t forget at the back of the investor’s mind is the land reform where we took access without paying. So, we need to go out of our way to explain what exactly we mean and we must come up with one answer.”

Minister Chinamasa said countries bordering Zimbabwe attracted more FDI because they had investor-friendly policies. He said last year South Africa attracted about $5,7 billion in foreign investment, Botswana $4,9 billion, Zambia $2,5 billion, while Zimbabwe only attracted about $550 million.

“All the investors who come, it doesn’t matter where they are coming from whether it is China, Europe or America, the language is the same,” he said. “They are looking at coming to make money in Zimbabwe, so we must create that environment where they can make money, but we can also make our money. “We need an environment which produces a win-win situation. This is why we have been working hard to create a conducive environment and to start talking the language that attracts foreign investors,” he said.

“Our key priority in 2016 is that we must focus on policies that grow our economy. So, we need consensus in key priority areas not just in the Executive, but Parliament as well. If we show contradictions, let me say it, capital is a coward. Once there is disagreement or perceived dis- agreement, capital runs away. So, it is very important that we speak with one voice,” said Minister Chinamasa.

Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Obert Mpofu said inconsistent policy pronouncement from stakeholders, among them Government ministers, scared away investors. MPs also deplored contradictions in policy pronouncements, saying this confused investors.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Mr George Charamba.

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter—
Government is studying the Constitutional Court judgment compelling Prosecutor-General Johannes Tomana to issue certificates of private prosecution with a view to addressing contradictions in the Constitution over the power and the rights it gives to individuals and State institutions. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba said yesterday that the matter was beyond Mr Tomana and his office and the Constitutional Court.

“The matter before us is much more complicated than has been framed in the media,” he said. “It goes beyond parameters of institutions in question and it certainly goes beyond behaviours of persons involved. “There are fundamental principles that are at stake and the remedies may go beyond actions by the conflicting institutions. Government is studying the matter very carefully. The legislature is exercised by the same matter and a solution might emerge from multiple perspectives not any one actor.

Also Read:

• TOMANA JAILED

• Tomana’s application devoid of merit: Concourt

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“The conflict between the bench and the Prosecutor-General might imply bigger problems which go back to the Constitution and powers it arrogates to the institutions of the State and individual rights and institutional rights.”

The Constitution provides for the independence of both the judiciary and the National Prosecuting Authority, while at the same time giving individuals the right to access justice, areas observers said had resulted in the dispute between the Prosecutor-General and the Constitutional Court.

“Section 69 (3) of the Constitution says every person has the right to access to the courts, or to some tribunal or forum established by law for the resolution of any dispute, while Section 164 (1) says the courts are independent subject only to this Constitution and the law, which they must apply impartially, expeditiously and without fear, favour or prejudice and Section 164 2 (a) says neither the State nor any institution or agency or the Government at any level and no other person, may interfere with the functioning of the courts,” said a lawyer who declined to be named.

“The questions that arise then is what is the limit to the enjoyments of these rights? Can they be enjoyed without infringing on other institution or individual rights? These are the questions that should be addressed.” The National Assembly passed the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Bill last week that includes a clause that prevents the Prosecutor-General from being directed to issue a certificate of private prosecution by anyone.

The Bill, which is now before Senate, also prohibits individuals and corporates from applying for certificates for private prosecution. Prominent Harare lawyer Mr Terrence Hussein said: “What the law says at the moment is that prosecutions are carried out at the instance of the Prosecutor-General and his office is independent. However, if he does not want to prosecute he must issue a certificate to say that he does not wish to prosecute.

“Once he does that the matter comes out of his hands and interested individuals would be free to pursue the matter privately. The issue here was that he did not want to issue that certificate and the court overruled that.

“One has to understand that in terms of the Constitution, every institution is a subject to the Constitution and the law. Whenever there is a dispute over the Constitution interpretation the last port of call is the Constitutional Court that is where the disputes are resolved. If there are parties not happy with its judgments the only other way would be the legislative process to amend the Constitution.”

But former Attorney-General Sobusa Gula-Ndebele said if the Prosecutor-General declines to prosecute it did not mean private individuals could not prosecute if they so wish. Section 258 of the Constitution states that: “There is a National Prosecuting Authority, which is responsible for instituting and undertaking criminal prosecutions on behalf of the State and discharging any functions that are necessary or incidental to such prosecutions.”

“This means the independence that he (Tomana) enjoys relates to prosecutions he does on behalf of the State. It is in such cases that he cannot be under the direction of anyone,” said Mr Gula-Ndebele. “So, in this instance he declined to prosecute and the courts only directed him to issue that certificate so that the individuals could pursue private prosecution.

“When they say the Prosecutor-General is independent and is not subject to anyone’s direction it doesn’t mean he is above the courts, that is why even in his appointment the Judicial Service Commission makes recommendations to the President.” University of Zimbabwe law lecturer Professor Lovemore Madhuku said the Prosecutor- General’s independence was not absolute.

“If he refuses to issue the certificate, aggrieved individuals may take the matter to the courts to determine whether his reasons for refusal are reasonable or unreasonable,” he said. “It is a review and the courts have jurisdiction to determine whether the Prosecutor-General was reasonable or not.

“So, there is no interference with his independence because the Constitution does not give him the right to act in an unreasonable way. What that judgment says in essence is that the independence of the Prosecutor-General does not mean independence from the courts.

“In any case, no official is independent from the courts because if we wanted it that way it should have been expressly mentioned in the Constitution like is the case with the Presidential immunity. The Constitution should also have mentioned that the Prosecutor-General prosecutes “at his pleasure” if we wanted his decisions not to be questioned.”

Early this year, Tomana filed the constitutional application after the High Court, the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court ordered him to issue out the certificates in various cases where public prosecution was declined. Telecel Zimbabwe won its case for private prosecution at the Constitutional Court in a case in which former chairperson Dr Jane Mutasa is being accused of defrauding the mobile communication service provider of thousands of dollars in an airtime scandal.

The company has, however, indicated that it was no longer pursuing the matter after reaching an out of court settlement. The High Court also ordered Tomana to issue a certificate for private prosecution in a case in which Bikita West legislator Dr Munyaradzi Kereke is being accused of raping a minor. Tomana was under pressure to comply with the orders and lawyers representing the complainants in the matters had written several letters seeking his compliance, without success.

In his constitutional application, Tomana sought the same court to declare that the issuance of certificates for private prosecution solely lies within the powers of the Prosecutor-General.

Directing the Prosecutor-General to issue a certificate of private prosecution, he argued, was tantamount to a breach of his constitutional independence as provided in Section 260 1(a) which states that the Prosecutor-General “is independent and is not subject to the direction or control of anyone”.

Minister Chidhakwa

Lloyd Gumbo in Victoria Falls—
Government is unlikely to renew mining licences for all diamond mining companies in Chiadzwa because they defaulted on their fees and did not show intentions to renew their papers, parliamentarians heard yesterday. Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa told Members of Parliament and ministers attending a pre-Budget seminar in Victoria Falls that diamond output had drastically dropped in the past few years.

He also told the MPs that Hwange Colliery management could soon be sacked if they did not improve productivity. Minister Chidhakwa said one of the biggest challenges with diamond mining companies in Chiadzwa was that they did not do exploration work. “Is this what we deserve as a country from a diamond perspective?” queried Minister Chidhakwa.

Also Read:

• ‘Marange diamond licences have expired’

• ‘Diamond miners duped Govt’

“When you look at the figures dropping from a peak of 15 million carats before I became minister and now we are sitting on 3,4 million carats it says something about what we did not do over the past five to seven years,” he said.

“The companies went in and mined diamonds. They did not do exploration to establish the life of mines. We explored as we were mining and mined as we were exploring, which is very bad mining. This is where the issue of consolidating all the companies comes from,” said Minister Chidhakwa.

“We have reviewed all the regulatory issues and we have discovered that the licences of all the mines in Marange to date expired and they were not renewed and they did not pay their fees over the years. “If somebody does not pay their fees and renew their licence, I do not believe that they should continue mining.”

There were seven diamond mining companies in Chiadzwa, but only five — Mbada Diamonds, Marange Resources, Jinan, Anjin Investments and Diamond Mining Company — remain in serious mining, while Gye Nyame and Kusena folded last year. Minister Chidhakwa said by the end of this year, they expected diamond output of about 3,3 million carats compared to about 4,7 million carats produced last year.

On gold production, he said 13,9 tonnes had been produced so far this year while at the end of this year they expected about 18,7 tonnes and about 20 tonnes are projected for next year. He said about nine tonnes of platinum were produced in 2014, with output expected to be at least 12 tonnes for this year and 13,3 tonnes for next year.

Minister Chidhakwa said nickel production was projected to be about 16,7 tonnes for next year from 15,8 tonnes this year and 16,6 tonnes for 2014. He said chrome production was expected to double in 2016 to more than 461 000 tonnes from about 211 000 tonnes for this year and 408 000 tonnes for 2014.

Minister Chidhakwa said coal production was 6,3 million tonnes for 2014 and this year it was expected to drop to about 3,9 million tonnes, while it was projected to grow to about 4,8 million tonnes for next year. He said he was not happy with the performance of Hwange Colliery and that despite Government interventions, the company’s production levels were still very low.

“The President signed new concessions for Hwange Colliery. We gave $32,9 million worth of equipment to Hwange Colliery,” said Minister Chidhakwa. “We gave them a new substantive managing director and they are still producing 8 000 tonnes per month, which is absolutely unacceptable. I said to them: ‘If in three months you do not do anything, pack and go’. Furthermore, Minister Chinamasa cleaned the balance sheet of Hwange Colliery of $65 million which was negative. He converted that into equity. Now they have a clean balance sheet and they still want the minister to come and sort out working capital for them. I said this is nonsense.”

Minister Chinamasa

Lloyd Gumbo in VICTORIA FALLS—
Chinese financial institutions will release $1,1 billion early next month for the expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station, the first tranche from mega deals signed between President Mugabe and his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping during his state visit to China in August last year. The expansion of the power station being carried out by Chinese firm Sinohydro will start in earnest once the funds are released.

When completed, the $1,1 billion project will add 600 megawatts to the national grid.

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• ‘Nampower deal gave Hwange capacity lift’
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• ‘Power generation a priority’
• $10bn needed for power plants

Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister Tsitsi Muzenda told legislators attending a pre-budget seminar here that the power deficit affecting the country would be a thing of the past in the near future. “We have been working on Hwange 7 and 8 and, it will add 600 megawatts into the national grid,” said Minister Chinamasa.

“We are looking at $1,1 billion to do it and we should get the money for that in early December from Chinese financial institutions. Financial closure will be done in December.” Minister Chinamasa said there were a number of private power producers at different stages of implementing their projects to increase power generation.

Deputy Minister Muzenda said Government was also implementing a number of projects to address power problems bedevilling the country. “To date, as of 30 September 2015, 33 percent of work (at Kariba South) has been completed,” she said. “Pre-work at Hwange 7 and 8 has been done. I am also pleased to say that the financial closure of this project is going to be signed by December. We have also to date awarded 300MW solar plants to three companies.”

The envisaged release of the $1,1 billion for Hwange Thermal Power Station will be a major milestone in the implementation of the mega deals signed between Zimbabwe and China. More funds are expected in the near future for deals signed between the two countries, which are meant for various sectors, including transport, energy and mining. A high-powered Chinese delegation was in Zimbabwe a few weeks ago to put final touches on some of the deals, which are expected to help with the turnaround of the economy.

On electricity shortages, Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa told the legislators that Government was in discussion with South Africa on the importation of about 300MW that will exclusively be for the mining industry. Minister Chidhakwa said the power shortages being experienced have seriously hampered mining operations, affecting efforts to turnaround the economy.

“We recognise that if we do not sort out power and lose eight hours of power in the mines everyday, all the companies will go on care and maintenance,” said Minister Chidhakwa. “We cannot afford to do that. We have approached the South Africans. We have opened discussions and yesterday, I was briefed that we are very close to arriving at an agreement for an approximatly 300 megawatts, which we will send to the mines.”

Minister Chidhakwa said mines will pay eight cents per kWh for the electricity from South Africa, compared to 13 cents per kWh which they are paying to Zesa Holdings. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy chaired by Gutu Central MP and Zanu-PF Chief Whip Cde Lovemore Matuke said there was need to address the power situation if the economy was to grow.

Meanwhile, the committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment chaired by Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Cde Justice Mayor Wadyajena (Zanu-PF) did not present its report. Cde Wadyajena told the delegates that the new Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Patrick Zhuwao barred his ministry and youth-affiliated organisations from presenting their budgetary expectations for 2016.

He told participants at the seminar that Minister Zhuwao sent a director in his ministry with the message, who told him that his minister was of the view that he was working against President Mugabe. This prompted National Assembly Speaker Advocate Jacob Mudenda to say that he would take up the matter when they returned to Harare.

The committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs chaired by MDC-T MP for Harare West, Ms Jessie Majome complained that efforts to get input from the Judicial Services Commission had been futile in the past two years. Ms Majome said the JSC did not respond to correspondence sent to them and implored Adv Mudenda to intervene.

Mabasa Sasa

Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter—
Police have arrested The Sunday Mail editor Mabasa Sasa, investigations editor Brian Chitemba and reporter Tinashe Farawo following the publication of a story in the weekly’s latest edition which alleged that a syndicate comprising police officers, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers and Asians was behind the latest spate of elephant killings in Hwange National Park.

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The three were still detained at Harare Central Police Station last night and police were still to record their warned and cautioned statements. The trio’s lawyer Mr James Muzangaza of Muzangaza, Mandaza and Tomana said the three were arrested for allegedly publishing falsehoods as police claim that they have inquired at all police stations and found no reports of police investigating their members for alleged involvement in poaching activities.

“Initially when I met the officers at Zimpapers (Herald House) they said they wanted the journalists’ cooperation.

“In the afternoon I got the shocking news that they were arrested for refusing to disclose the source of their story. Attempts to have a warned and cautioned statement recorded were futile as the investigating officer said he was in Ruwa and could not record statements after 4.30 pm,” he said.

He said efforts to get assistance from the police legal department were also futile. Zimbabwe Union of Journalists secretary general Mr Foster Dongozi condemned the arrest saying it was the trio’s right to expose the scandal as it was of national importance.

“Why are they arresting the messengers? Why not conduct investigations to see which officials are involved? “The issue of elephant poaching is of national importance. It was their right as journalists to expose the scandal. We condemn these acts of harassment. Police should not be seen anywhere near the newsroom. They should conduct their own internal investigations,” he said.

The story, headlined ‘Top Cop fingered in poaching saga’, alleged that one of the suspects under active investigation was an assistant commissioner in the police force and that several others had been arrested in connection with the killing of 22 jumbos last Sunday. The Sunday Mail further reported that the syndicate has allegedly killed around 55 Jumbos for their ivory tusks since early 2015.

Zimpapers chief executive Pikirayi Deketeke said he did not have the finer details of the case but said it was regrettable that police rushed to arrest the trio without first exhausting internal remedies available.

“I do not have the finer details of the case but the idea of arresting and detaining them without a charge does not augur well. We hope tomorrow we will get the finer details of the case as our lawyers were the last to get in touch with police,” he said.

Belvin Chibi (center) was denied entry into an exam for not having shoes, his grandmother with worn out shoes used by Belvin and the teenager and his grandmother receiving a cash donation, from a well-wisher Mr Lucky Gashu, from The Herald assistant news editor Takunda Maodza

Takunda Maodza recently in BOCHA—
GOVERNMENT has dispatched a team to Mweyamutsvene Mission School to investigate why the headmaster’s wife Mrs Nyasha Rubende barred a Form Four pupil, Belvin Chibi, from writing his final zimsec examinations. Belvin, who had registered to write five subjects, was barred by Mrs Rubende from sitting for three papers — English (Paper 1 and 2) and Commerce — because he had no school shoes.

Related……………….

• Editorial Comment: Ministry must act on Mweyamutsvene hard-heart
• Barefooted pupil misses third exam paper
• LATEST: Anger over pupil denied exam
• Barefooted pupil barred from exams

The pupil is an orphan who stays with his 65-year old grandmother, Mrs Edna Musagomba. Belvin’s father is late while his mother, Mrs Chamwaita Chibi, is a vendor in South Africa. Manicaland Provincial Education director Mr Edward Shumba confirmed a team was dispatched to Mweyamutsvene Mission last Friday and investigations were underway.

“We dispatched a team from the district office to carry out investigations on the matter. I am expecting a report from them between today and tomorrow. However, preliminary results show the headmaster’s wife sent the boy away. We will put the member to his defence,” said Mr Shumba.

He added: “The headmaster was not there at the scene but was within the school premises. What exactly was he doing which was more important than the examinations? It is like you are playing football and as you are attacking, your number nine chooses to go away.” When told the headmaster, Mr Abel Zebron Rubende, had later offered to pay for Belvin’s school fees next year if he repeats, Mr Shumba said that did not exonerate him.

“That does not remove commission of the offence. That is mitigation,” he said. It has since emerged that Mrs Rubende had a misunderstanding with Belvin a week before the examinations and had vowed to fix him. It is alleged she told the pupil; “Tinodakuona kuti uchandonyorera kupi. (We shall see where you are going to sit for your exams).”

Mrs Rubende teaches Shona at Mweyamutsvene Mission. Now the headmaster Mr Rubende is making frantic efforts to douse a fire started by his wife. Yesterday Mr Rubende met Mrs Chibi and begged for forgiveness. Mr Rubende officially offered to pay for Belvin’s boarding fees, uniforms and to meet all other education expenses if the pupil agrees to repeat next year.

The Herald is in possession of the agreement. It reads: “The school shall assist Belvin Chibi Form Four in 2016 in the following — pay for his examination fees for five subjects, pay for his tuition fees for three terms and pay for his boarding fees if enrolled with the school.” The agreement was signed by Mrs Chibi, Mr Rubende, deputy headmaster Mr G. Chakwakwama and Belvin.

Belvin was a day scholar before the incident. The Herald also caught up with Mrs Chibi. “I am a vendor based in South Africa. I travelled all the way from South Africa to get an explanation from the headmaster on what happened. He apologised. Mr Rubende offered to pay boarding fees for Belvin and to buy uniforms and meet all the other costs to do with his education,” said Mrs Chibi.

When asked why she failed to buy her son school shoes, Mrs Chibi said: “I am struggling. I am a vendor in South Africa where I sell reed mats. Things are not well at the moment as the Rand is depreciating in value.” Mrs Chibi said besides her son, she takes care of five other orphans who stay with her mother, Mrs Musagomba.

When The Herald visited Mweyamutsvene Mission, Belvin’s school mates narrated how Mrs Rubende had a misunderstanding with the boy a week before the examinations.

“A week before the examinations, Mrs Rubende kicked Belvin out of class saying he was improperly dressed. It was on a Wednesday and we were wearing our sports attire. Almost everyone in class was wearing sports attire but she singled out Belvin,” said a pupil.

The allegations were confirmed by other pupils. “Although it was a sports day, Mrs Rubende called for an extra Shona lesson (revision). We were wearing sports attire but she chucked Belvin out of the lesson saying he was improperly dressed. She said tinoda kuona kuti uchanyorerepi,” claimed another pupil.

Belvin’s grandmother, Mrs Musagomba, said the incident left her devastated.

“Belvin does not have school shoes. The pair that I bought him midyear for $15 is now beyond repair. I failed to buy him another pair of school shoes because I do not have money. I survive on selling firewood. As I speak to you my other grandchild is supposed to be in Form One but he is not going to school because I do not have money for fees. Their parents are late,” said Mrs Musagomba.

She showed The Herald a pair of Belvin’s old school shoes. The shoes are damaged. “We tried to repair the shoes on several occasions but as you can see, they are beyond repair now,” added Mrs Musagomba. She said her grandchild was disciplined.

“I was never summoned for any disciplinary cases by the school since he was Form One and this incident pained and shocked me,” said Mrs Musagomba. She confirmed that officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had visited them on Friday. “They also took photographs of Belvin’s damaged shoes,” said Mrs Musagomba.

A Good Samaritan, Mr Lucky Gashu, donated $50 towards the purchase of Belvin’s school shoes. The money was handed over to Belvin’s grandmother on Saturday. Efforts to get a comment from Mrs Rubende were fruitless.

However, Mr Rubende has denied that his wife chased away Belvin from the exam room because he had no shoes.

Comm-Gen Chihuri

WE condemn in the strongest terms possible, the arrest of The Sunday Mail editor Mabasa Sasa, investigations editor Brian Chitemba and reporter Tinashe Farawo for alleged publication of falsehoods over their lead story “Top cop fingered in poaching saga”.

Being at a loss for words over the police’s strong-arm tactics, we defer to Abraham Maslow’s law of the instrument, which he explains as over-reliance on a familiar tool, and in this case, the handcuffs and the 6×8 foot cell.

Said Maslow: “I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.’’

While this statement sums up what the police did to The Sunday Mail trio, the handcuffs are not the only tool at the police’s disposal as they have a full Press and Public Relations unit whose duty is to interact with the media.

This should have made the police alive to other less dramatic forms of engagement like engaging The Sunday Mail editor and giving their own side of the story.

This is not to say the police were not given the chance to give their side of the story as their chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba is quoted in the offending story, but in her wisdom or lack of it, she did not share with The Sunday Mail what she purported to share with the nation in the self-serving Press statement she released yesterday.

We decided, as a matter of principle, to ignore that expedient statement in solidarity with our colleagues as it was akin to closing the stable doors after the horses have bolted.

What shocked us in the afterthought statement was the clear attempt to get our colleagues to reveal their sources, itself a cardinal sin in journalism which is why the new Constitution offers us protection of our sources.

To this end, we wonder if the police are aware that Section 61 (2) of the new Constitution offers journalists such protection.

The section reads: ‘’Every person is entitled to freedom of the media, which freedom includes protection of the confidentiality of journalists’ sources of information.’’

So journalists, just like with lawyers and their clients, doctors and their patients, hold the confidentiality of sources sacrosanct.

Again, let the record show that the police were given an opportunity to speak in the offending story and they did, which leaves us wondering why they are behaving like they were not participants in the story, given that the story names other agencies like the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, which has not shown similar panic.

It is this overreaction that implies that The Sunday Mail story cut too close to the bone, that the police have something to hide. It is our hope that the police are not implying that they are above reproach.

We condemn the clear victimisation of our colleagues who have needlessly spent the past 48 hours in custody without being charged with the police running all over the place alleging publication of falsehoods.

This points to an apparent attempt to intimidate journalists from doing their jobs, a view compounded by the police’s deliberate decision to hold the trio without charging them until the mandatory 48 hours have lapsed.

This smacks of vindictiveness and pre-judicial punishment meant to cow journalists into submission.

Such excitable actions serve no other purpose than to give our country a bad name, and create the impression of media under siege which in turn gives detractors ammunition to abet their nefarious, anti-Zimbabwe agenda.

We all want answers to the tragedy in Hwange National Park, which does not only have a far-reaching ecological impact, but serious implications on our tourism industry.

We, however, do not believe the solutions can come from trying to intimidate the media from getting to the bottom of the story.

We hope police commissioner general Dr Augustine Chihuri is aware that the police and the media should be partners in fighting crime, the one helping the other and vice versa.

• ‘ . . . masterminded Chikurubi jailbreak’
• ‘. . . he shared tea with prison wardens’

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Prison officers begged for tea from jailed Independent End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura (pictured), who was regarded as a godfather at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, the court heard yesterday.

Testifying, an inmate, Claudius Mutizwa, added that Gumbura was the “main actor” who initiated the foiled jailbreak in March this year.

“Gumbura was very popular and was regarded as the godfather in all sections. Prison wardens used to get tea from him,” he said.

“He also supplied cigarettes and jolly juices to inmates. Gumbura is the one who incited the melee. Had it not been for him, there would not have been any violence or blood-letting.”

Mutizwa told the court that March 13 was D-Day for the inmates to demonstrate and a senior prison officer identified as Chikudo ordered him to summon Gumbura into the library.

“Chikudo advised Gumbura that the mission was to be aborted according to instructions from Albert Matapo.

“It was too late because the inmates had started demonstrating. Gumbura was frustrated because he wanted the mission to proceed.

“I later saw Chikudo taking documents from Gumbura and later the prison officer advanced to D-Hall and the shooting started.”

However, before his testimony Mutizwa told the court that he was receiving threats from prison officers.

“There is a lot of nepotism at ZPCS and if I had known that some prison wardens are above the law, I would not have said anything in court,” he said.

“Maybe I misinterpreted the Constitution, I thought it is the duty of ZPCS to protect us but now it seems they are against us. Because of this case, inmates who are testifying are receiving food in dirty plates and cups.

“We started receiving death threats and someone tipped us that our food will be poisoned.

“We wanted to report the matter to the police but nothing is being done to assist us. We are treated as condemned prisoners.”

Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo ordered the State to engage the police and investigate the threats of violence against the inmates by ZPCS wardens.

The magistrate also dismissed the application by armed robber Lucky Matambanadzo (39), Blessing Chauke (25), Lucky Mhungu (38), Taurai Dodzo (47), Thomas Chacha (37), Thulani Chizema (32), Jacob Sibanda (28) and Elijah Vhumbunu (38), to have access to the post-mortem results of four inmates killed during the March 13 attempted jail break in order for them to strengthen their defence case.

Gumbura and the eight are facing charges of attempting to escape from lawful custody, incitement in aggravating circumstances or alternatively, conspiracy in aggravating circumstances for alleged malicious damage to property.

Fungai LupandeCourt ReporterPrison officers begged for tea from jailed Independent End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura (pictured), who was regarded as a godfather at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, the court heard yesterday.Testifying, an inmate, Claudius Mutizwa, added that Gumbura was the “main actor” who initiated the foiled jailbreak in March this year.“Gumbura was very popular and was regarded as the godfather in all sections. Prison wardens used to get tea from him,” he said.“He also supplied cigarettes and jolly juices to inmates. Gumbura is the one who incited the melee. Had it not been for him, there would not have been any violence or blood-letting.”Mutizwa told the court that March 13 was D-Day for the inmates to demonstrate and a senior prison officer identified as Chikudo ordered him to summon Gumbura into the library.“Chikudo advised Gumbura that the mission was to be aborted according to instructions from Albert Matapo.“It was too late because the inmates had started demonstrating. Gumbura was frustrated because he wanted the mission to proceed.“I later saw Chikudo taking documents from Gumbura and later the prison officer advanced to D-Hall and the shooting started.”However, before his testimony Mutizwa told the court that he was receiving threats from prison officers.“There is a lot of nepotism at ZPCS and if I had known that some prison wardens are above the law, I would not have said anything in court,” he said.“Maybe I misinterpreted the Constitution, I thought it is the duty of ZPCS to protect us but now it seems they are against us. Because of this case, inmates who are testifying are receiving food in dirty plates and cups.“We started receiving death threats and someone tipped us that our food will be poisoned.“We wanted to report the matter to the police but nothing is being done to assist us. We are treated as condemned prisoners.” Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo ordered the State to engage the police and investigate the threats of violence against the inmates by ZPCS wardens.The magistrate also dismissed the application by armed robber Lucky Matambanadzo (39), Blessing Chauke (25), Lucky Mhungu (38), Taurai Dodzo (47), Thomas Chacha (37), Thulani Chizema (32), Jacob Sibanda (28) and Elijah Vhumbunu (38), to have access to the post-mortem results of four inmates killed during the March 13 attempted jail break in order for them to strengthen their defence case.Gumbura and the eight are facing charges of attempting to escape from lawful custody, incitement in aggravating circumstances or alternatively, conspiracy in aggravating circumstances for alleged malicious damage to pro-                                                                       perty.

WE condemn in the strongest terms possible, the arrest of The Sunday Mail editor Mabasa Sasa, investigations editor Brian Chitemba and reporter Tinashe Farawo for alleged publication of falsehoods over their lead story “Top cop fingered in poaching saga”. Being at a loss for words over the police’s strong-arm tactics, we defer to Abraham Maslow’s law of the instrument, which he explains as over-reliance on a familiar tool, and in this case, the handcuffs and the 6×8 foot cell.

Related…………

• Editors, lobby groups slam journalists‘ arrest
• Another Zimpapers journalist arrested
• Editor, reporters arrested
• Journalists can’t be arrested, court told 
• Top cop fingered in poaching saga

Said Maslow: “I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.’’ While this statement sums up what the police did to The Sunday Mail trio, the handcuffs are not the only tool at the police’s disposal as they have a full Press and Public Relations unit whose duty is to interact with the media.

This should have made the police alive to other less dramatic forms of engagement like engaging The Sunday Mail editor and giving their own side of the story.

This is not to say the police were not given the chance to give their side of the story as their chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba is quoted in the offending story, but in her wisdom or lack of it, she did not share with The Sunday Mail what she purported to share with the nation in the self-serving Press statement she released yesterday.

We decided, as a matter of principle, to ignore that expedient statement in solidarity with our colleagues as it was akin to closing the stable doors after the horses have bolted.

What shocked us in the afterthought statement was the clear attempt to get our colleagues to reveal their sources, itself a cardinal sin in journalism which is why the new Constitution offers us protection of our sources.

To this end, we wonder if the police are aware that Section 61 (2) of the new Constitution offers journalists such protection. The section reads: ‘’Every person is entitled to freedom of the media, which freedom includes protection of the confidentiality of journalists’ sources of information.’’

So journalists, just like with lawyers and their clients, doctors and their patients, hold the confidentiality of sources sacrosanct.

Again, let the record show that the police were given an opportunity to speak in the offending story and they did, which leaves us wondering why they are behaving like they were not participants in the story, given that the story names other agencies like the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, which has not shown similar panic.

It is this overreaction that implies that The Sunday Mail story cut too close to the bone, that the police have something to hide. It is our hope that the police are not implying that they are above reproach.

We condemn the clear victimisation of our colleagues who have needlessly spent the past 48 hours in custody without being charged with the police running all over the place alleging publication of falsehoods.

This points to an apparent attempt to intimidate journalists from doing their jobs, a view compounded by the police’s deliberate decision to hold the trio without charging them until the mandatory 48 hours have lapsed.

This smacks of vindictiveness and pre-judicial punishment meant to cow journalists into submission. Such excitable actions serve no other purpose than to give our country a bad name, and create the impression of media under siege which in turn gives detractors ammunition to abet their nefarious, anti-Zimbabwe agenda.

We all want answers to the tragedy in Hwange National Park, which does not only have a far-reaching ecological impact, but serious implications on our tourism industry. We, however, do not believe the solutions can come from trying to intimidate the media from getting to the bottom of the story.

We hope police commissioner general Dr Augustine Chihuri is aware that the police and the media should be partners in fighting crime, the one helping the other and vice versa.

Mduduzi Mathuthu and Pamela Shumba—
Professor Jonathan Moyo’s daughter, Zanele, was buried without a heart, The Chronicle can reveal. Just days after Zanele was laid to rest in Harare, the Higher and Tertiary Education Minister’s family has been plunged into fresh agony following the disclosure. A crack team of Zimbabwean detectives probing the student’s death last month in Cape Town broke the news to the minister and his family last week following a second post-mortem conducted in Harare.

Related………

• First Lady consoles Prof Moyo’s family
• Mphoko wants thorough probe into Zanele’s death
• Prof Moyo’s daughter buried
• Zanele’s body arrives for burial
• ‘Govt to pursue Zanele matter’
• Zanele Moyo bled to death, photo shows
• Prof Moyo daughter: SA cops open murder probe
• ‘Zanele’s cause of death unknown’

President Mugabe and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko have called for an urgent and thorough investigation into the 20-year-old’s tragic death. Sources close to the investigation say the family is “extremely distressed” by the findings of Dr Gabriel Alviero Gonzalez and Dr Tsungai Victor Javangwe, both forensic pathologists at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare, who conducted a post-mortem examination of Zanele’s body on October 22.

The post-mortem, conducted at the insistence of the family which suspects foul play in Zanele’s death, was the second following another conducted by Dr Sipho Mfolozi at the Salt River Forensic Pathology Laboratory in Cape Town on October 19.

Zimbabwean investigators now believe Zanele’s heart was removed by pathologists during the autopsy in Cape Town and never placed back inside her body before it was released to her family. Zanele’s body was found lying face-down in the bathroom of her third floor Cape Town apartment on October 17.

She was buried at Glen Forest Memorial Park in Harare on October 23, but the family was only told of the discovery of the missing heart days later after Dr Gonzalez and Dr Javangwe handed their findings to the Criminal Investigations Department, which is leading the Zimbabwe investigation.

Salt River Forensic Pathology Laboratory manager Wayne Mitten declined to comment, after earlier requesting questions to be sent to him through e-mail.

Constable Noloyiso Rwexana, a spokesperson for Western Cape Police, responding to e-mailed questions over their investigation into Zanele’s death, said: “Kindly be advised that this office is not in a position to give you a comment at this stage as the investigation is yet to be finalised.”

Zimbabwe’s national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said: “It must be understood that the investigation into Zanele’s death is being conducted by South African police. We don’t have extra territorial jurisdiction but what we’re doing is to assist our colleagues in South Africa. They’re best positioned to comment on the issues you’re raising.”

Zimbabwean investigators have ordered rape, toxicology, histology as well as alcohol and drug tests from samples obtained from Zanele’s body during the second post-mortem in their bid to establish what caused her death. Zanele’s missing heart has disturbed seasoned doctors who described it as “unheard of”.

Dr Solwayo Ngwenya, the clinical director at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, said: “I’ve never heard of a whole body part that is removed and not placed back.

“The only time that a whole body part is removed and not taken back is when it’s used for teaching purposes or for organ donation and of course this is always done with the consent of relatives of the dead person.”

Dr Solwayo, who has been practising for 19 years, explained that when a post-mortem examination is carried out, small amounts of tissue samples are taken from body parts such as the brain, liver, heart, kidney and bowels.

“The tiny samples are put in a small container with water and taken to the lab for the autopsy. It’s almost impossible to see that any body part has been tampered with because the tissue samples are tiny. Every body part should be just as it was before the examination,” he said.

Prof Moyo declined to comment, but family friend Philip Chiyangwa said: “We can’t wrap our heads around what has just happened. We’re still trying to unravel what killed Zanele, and now we must worry about who took her heart and for what reason?”

He said they were battling with several possible scenarios, including negligence by the Salt River Laboratory, an attempt to conceal evidence or even witchcraft.

Described by her sister, Lungile, as a “very happy person who loved to make people laugh” and “very wise for her age”, Zanele was a second-year student at the University of Cape Town and lived off campus. Her friend Nicole Bento last saw her on Wednesday, October 14, at her apartment.

She was in the company of a Zambian man, Stephen Kenneth Newman Chitobolo (29). Nicole has told investigators that Chitobolo — whom she had earlier observed smoking cannabis — called her at about 9pm on that same day and said Zanele was “passing out”. He claimed he was leaving for Zambia because his father had died.

Nicole, a high school friend of Zanele’s, was unable to go over to her friend’s apartment because her mother had visited. She tried to reach Zanele on Thursday and Friday without success until Saturday, October 17, when Zanele’s mother, Beatrice, called from Zimbabwe and instructed her to find a locksmith and get inside the apartment.

Zanele’s door had been locked from inside. On finding her, she was dead and lying in a pool of blood. The building’s caretaker, it is said, pulled Zanele’s body along the floor leaving a trail of blood smear on the bathroom floor.

A small amount of cannabis was also found in one room. It remains unclear if Cape Town police have been able to interview Chitobolo, who is thought to be the last person to see Zanele alive. Zanele’s family, according to Chiyangwa, believes Chitobolo holds the answers in solving the mystery of her death.

Investigators in Cape Town have, however, told the family that results of toxicology tests can take up to six years – by which time if criminality is established, it could be near impossible to find suspects and witnesses.

The Salt River Laboratory receives between 10 and 15 bodies daily – around 3 300 bodies a year. This explains the inordinate amount of time it takes to get toxicology test results, a state of paralysis that has made Cape Town an attractive destination for “murder tourism”.

Zanele’s family has also expressed concerns with the police investigation in South Africa after they neglected to ask the laboratory to establish the time of death, which resulted in October 17 – the day her body was found – being listed in her death certificate as the day she died. The fact that when her body was found she was dressed in the clothes she was last seen wearing on October 14, according to her family, makes the conclusion that she died on October 17 an absurdity.

Top Harare lawyer Terrence Hussein, who accompanied Prof Moyo to Cape Town to bring Zanele’s body home, said last week: “It would’ve been better to ascertain [the time of death] scientifically. It gives you an accurate picture of what took place and also when connecting individuals to a scene.

“Now, if you want to question people they can simply escape by saying they weren’t there when Zanele died. You literally immunise all suspects, you give a defence. It’s inconsistent with the strict requirements of a criminal investigation, which this one is.”

Takunda Maodza

Herald Reporter
Herald Assistant News Editor Takunda Maodza was yesterday arrested while investigating a story that the Levy family is reportedly funding the People First project reportedly led by sacked former Vice President Joice Mujuru. He was by late last night still assisting police with investigations.

Related………….

• Editors, lobby groups slam journalists‘ arrest
• Editor, reporters arrested

Reports say Mr Isaac Levy called Maodza at his Borrowdale offices at Sam Levy Village, promising to give a comment on the matter, but police detectives pounced on him, accusing the reporter of demanding a bribe. Although impeccable sources revealedthat Maodza declined to take the money offered by Mr Levy, police officers proceeded to arrest him and took him to Harare Central Police Station.

“Police are saying he was offered money, but Mr Levy is saying he declined to take the money, but they still proceeded to arrest him,” said the source. Mr Levy was no answering his mobile phone yesterday night. Maodza’s family lawyer was yesterday night making frantic effort to have him released.

Maodza’s arrest comes barely three days after three Sunday Mail journalists Mabasa Sasa, Brian Chitemba and Tinashe Farawo, are in police custody awaiting an initial court appearance for publishing alleged falsehoods.

Yesterday Chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba issued a statement suggesting that the trio would have to divulge their sources of information, a cardinal sin in journalism practice.

Sunday Mail Editor Mabasa Sasa, Investigations Editor Brian Chitemba and Reporter Tinashe Farawo on the way to court

Herald Reporter

The Sunday Mail Editor Mabasa Sasa, Investigations Editor Brian Chitemba and Reporter Tinashe Farawo on Wednesday morning made their initial appearance at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on allegations of publishing falsehoods.

The journalists were arrested on Monday following the publication of an investigative article that was published in the newspaper’s edition of November 1, 2015.

The article stated that some police officers, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe rangers and Asians were part of a syndicate that is responsible for the poaching that has seen 55 elephants being killed since early 2015.

More to follow . . .

Felex Share Senior Reporter
President Mugabe has left the country for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to attend tomorrow’s inauguration ceremony of Dr John Pombe Magufuli as Tanzania’s fifth President.

The President was invited in his capacity as the African Union chairperson.

He was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Christopher Mushowe, Harare Provincial Affairs minister Miriam Chikukwa, State Security  minister Kembo Mohadi, service chiefs and senior Government officials.

Dr Magufuli will be sworn in together with his running mate, Ms Samia Suluhu Hassan, who becomes Tanzania’s first woman Vice President.

The 56-year old takes over from President Jakaya Kikwete who has been at the helm since 2005 and is stepping down after serving the two fiver-year terms stipulated in the Tanzanian constitution.

Several Heads of State and Government and former presidents are expected to attend the event.
Details to follow…

Dr Mpofu

Herald Reporter
Zanu-PF is expecting to raise at least $1 million from its 15th annual national people’s conference fundraising dinner tomorrow. Vice President and Zanu-PF second secretary Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa will be the guest of honour.

In an interview with The Herald, Zanu-PF secretary for finance Cde Obert Mpofu, who is leading the fundraising committee, said everything was on course for the dinner and the conference.

He said they had approached corporates and well-wishers to contribute towards the successful hosting of the dinner and most of the tables are booked.

“Following our appeals for support from well-wishers, the results have been unbelievingly overwhelming. We had targeted $1million for the dinner on Friday (tomorrow), but we might actually surpass the amount,” he said.

“A number of tables have been taken up and we are confident that by Friday (tomorrow) all the tables will be taken as there is a lot of demand from individuals who want to be associated with the event.”

A platinum table costs $100 000 while gold goes for $50 000.

A silver and bronze table cost $30 000 and $10 000 respectively.

Another dinner will also be held in Bulawayo on November 27 and Vice President Cde Phelekezela Mphoko will be the guest of honour.

“We are starting with Harare this Friday (tomorrow) and then on the 27th will be in Bulawayo due to demand. Bulawayo has complained that it has not been considered in this initiative so we are moving there,” he said.

Cde Mpofu said all the country’s provinces were geared up in preparations for the annual event.

“We are inviting corporates and people from various sectors in the country.

“Government officials, corporates, marketing personnel and community leaders can attend and we have different tables all accommodating 10 people,” he said.

The party’s 15th Annual National People’s Conference is scheduled for Victoria Falls between December 7 and 13 and at least $3 million is needed to fund the conference.

More than 6 000 delegates are expected to attend the conference which will be officially opened by President Mugabe on December 11.