By Veritas Earlier this month reports circulated on social media alleging that a police officer in Harare had struck a woman with his baton and killed a baby strapped to her back. The Police issued a denial, saying that the police officer had tried to stop a kombi by smashing its windscreen. Glass fragments hit a woman…
By Dumisani Muleya (Chairman, Zimbabwe National Editors’ Forum) ON 8 January 2021, Zimbabwean police arrested award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono at his home in Harare for allegedly publishing a falsehood or communicating false information which is prejudicial to the state. After that police also arrested opposition leaders Job Sikhala and Fadzayi Mahere on the same charges….
By Veritas Two further amendments to the Public Health Lock-down Order have been published in the past few days. The first, in SI 11/2021 of 5th January 2021 [link], declared courts to be an essential service for the purpose of the Order; the second, in SI 13/2021 of 8th January 2021 [link], declared legal practitioners to be performing an essential…
By Joyce Mukucha In 2017, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) adopted a form of electronic registration model named biometric voter registration (BVR) and during these grave times of Covid-19, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) is calling on the national electoral management body to provide citizens with alternative platforms, different from the norm, for them to…
The Government of Zimbabwe has warned councillors and senior management of local authorities across Zimbabwe to desist from corrupt activities forthwith when it comes to investigations and criminal cases indicating that such activities will hinder the attainment of Vision 2030 Agenda. This came out after the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works had noted…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Zimbabwean police on Friday 8 January 2021 arrested and detained prominent freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and charged him with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State after he allegedly tweeted about the abuse of a minor by a police officer .Chin’ono, who is represented by Harrison Nkomo and Paidamoyo Saurombe…
By Sindiso Mhlophe Described as the “Democrats’ 2020 social media phenomenon” by various media outlets and research institutes in the just ended United States of America (US) elections, vice-president-elect Kamala Harris was able to generate over 27 million interactions on various social media platforms during the campaign period. Broken down, according to CrowdTangle, Harris, who…
High Court of Zimbabwe Justice Mangota on Thursday 17 December 2020 granted an order in an application filed by Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association as an Applicant for public interest purposes. The order interdicts Chitungwiza Municipality from releasing sewer into water bodies, watercourses, streams, tributaries, or any part of the environment. Further, the Municipality was compelled to,…
Jairos Zondai (not real name) graduated with a degree in veterinary sciences from the University of Zimbabwe at 24 years of age. His mother, a widow, sent him to school as a single parent because his father succumbed to HIV while he was nine years old. Jairos was born with HIV. “I was born with…
By Veritas In a new SI published yesterday ‒ SI 299A of 2020 [link] ‒ the Minister of Health and Child Care further relaxed the national lock-down. The SI is very short – it has only two clauses – but the amendment it makes may be far-reaching. The Position Prior to This Amendment Section 5(1) of the Lock-down…
By Sowell Chikwari (Staff Writer) Parliament must adopt robust measures to combat online gender-based harassment and abuse. This was revealed by civil society organizations (CSOs) and stakeholders who attended the Girls Engage Program organised by Plan International Zimbabwe that was held last Friday in the capital, Harare to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against…
By Kumbirai Mafunda HIGH Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi on Friday 20 November 2020 set free Hopewell Chin’ono, a freelance journalist and an anti-corruption campaigner, who had spent 17 days in detention after he was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers and charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice. Chin’ono had spent 17…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Lawyers representing freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono were on Thursday 12 November 2020 working on filing an appeal at the High Court against Harare Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa’sdecision to deny him bail. Magistrate Gofa dismissed Chin’ono’s application for bail and ruled that the award-winning film-maker had a propensity to commit offences and hence should…
By Kumbirai Mafunda THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) recently attempted to resuscitate a case in which a senior MDC-Alliance party official was accused of undermining authority of or insulting Zimbabwe’s late former leader Robert Mugabe ten years ago. Officials at NPA based in Bindura summoned Gilbert Kagodora, a lieutenant of opposition MDC-Alliance party leader Nelson…
By Anyway Yotamu The land dispute between Ukraine based Harare businessman, Kenneth Raydone Sharpe and his former business partner George Katsimberis opened a can of worms by exposing the City of Harare’s housing department and Pokugara Propeties’ corrupt tendencies. This comes at a time when the government is weeding out land barons across the country….
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) attended the Governance and Legislative Agenda Capacity Building workshop hosted by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD). The workshop was held in Bulawayo on the 31st of October and the 1st of November 2020. The objective of the meeting was to impart information…
By Anyway Yotamu Harare businessman Kenneth Raydone Sharpe also known as Ken Sharpe together with Michael Van Blerk, Mandla Marlone Ndebele and Pokugara Properties have been hauled before the Magistrates court facing fresh criminal charges. The state, led by Zivanai Macharaga of Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) in the Office of the President has summoned the…
By Kumbirai Mafunda MDC-Alliance party youth leader Godfrey Kurauone has slapped President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government and other accomplices with an RTGS$2.4 million lawsuit over his unlawful arrest, detention, and malicious prosecution which resulted in him spending more than 40 days in prison before he was acquitted. Kurauone, who serves as the National Organising Secretary for…
In a letter addressed to Godwin Matanga, the Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General, Linda Masarira, the President of LEAD Party has castigated the brutality and unfair treatment of women by the law enforcers. Below, Spiked Online Media reproduces the strongly worded letter: Open Letter to Police Commissioner-General 16 October 2020 Dear CG Matanga It is with…
By Samantha Sibanda Representatives of vulnerable groups are calling on the government to prioritize their needs as budget consultations gather momentum. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance, and Economic Development and members of the expanded Sustainable Development Goals began the National Budget Consultations on Monday 12 October 2020 with the four teams (A to…
By Kumbirai Mafunda HIGH Court Judge Justice Esther Muremba on Wednesday 7 October 2020 ordered the release from prison of Harare West constituency legislator Hon. Joanah Mamombe, where she had been incarcerated for close to two weeks on the orders of Harare Magistrate Bianca Makwande. Magistrate Makwande on Thursday 24 September 2020 ordered Hon. Mamombe…
By Kumbirai Mafunda THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has withdrawn charges against Dumisani Dube, a Bulawayo-based lawyer, who was arrested in June and charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice. Dube was arrested on 6 June 2020 by Zimbabwe Republic Police members and charged with contravening Section 184 of the Criminal Law (Codification…
By Veritas In Bill Watch 57 of 2020 [link] and 61 of 2020 [link], we analysed the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) Order [SI 200 of 2020] and the amendments made to it. Then last Wednesday the Minister of Health and Child Care published further amendments to the Order in SI 223 of 2020 [link], and yesterday…
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has expressed concern over the indefinite suspension of by-elections by Hon Constantino Chiwenga, the Minister of Health and Child Care who is also the Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. The independent electoral body said the move taken as a health emergency COVID-19 response undercuts Constitutional principles on…
By Veritas The Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill [link] was published in August last year and, after public hearings conducted by the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services [the committee’s report can be accessed on the Veritas website ‒ link], it is currently going through its Committee Stage in the National Assembly. The responsible Minister has tabled amendments…
By Anyway Yotamu Embattled Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, representing the City of Harare has been jointly arraigned before the Magistrates Court together with Michael John Van Blerk representing Pokugara Properties (PVT) LTD facing fresh criminal charges of perjury. According to the summons, the two are to appear in court on the 28th of September…
By Anyway Yotamu Zimbabwe is a low-income country whose economy and livelihoods depend hugely on natural resources with an ambition to leapfrog it to a middle-income economy by 2030. The backbone sectors namely mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism rely heavily on forest, land, and water resources for inputs to the production of goods and services….
Own Correspondent TWO senior police detectives have been arrested over a US$3000 diamonds smuggling racket. Joseph Mlambo, 36, an assistant inspector was arrested for possession of the precious stones and resisting arrest, and his superior Felix Machaka, 44, was nabbed for releasing him after his initial arrest by their juniors. They have since appeared at…
The attack of journalists and the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) President, Takudzwa Ngadziore by suspected state security agents while addressing the media near Impala Car Rental on September 18, 2020, has been roundly condemned. The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) said it was appalled by the continued crackdown on dissent by the Zimbabwean government….
By Kumbirai Mafunda A Harare Magistrate has ordered Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga to pay more than RTGS$50 000 to a Mazowe man as compensation for damages to his vehicle, which was burnt to ashes in 2019 by some law enforcement agents, who were evicting illegal miners at Jumbo Mine in Mazowe, in…
By Kumbirai Mafunda MASVINGO Magistrate Patience Madondo on Thursday 10 September 2020 ended the lengthy detention of Ward 4 Councillor Godfrey Kurauone, who spent more than 40 days in detention after he was arrested and charged with obstructing the free movement of traffic during a protest held in July. Kurauone, who was represented by Martin…
By Anyway Yotamu Harare businessman Mr George Katsimberis has taken his Zimbabwean business partner based in Ukraine Mr Kenneth Sharpe to High Court over 21 hectares land wrangle. Kenneth Sharpe is being sued over US$18 million by his business partner, who claims he has lost millions of United States dollars in three land development joint…
Jacob Ngarivhume, the leader of opposition party Transform Zimbabwe who is facing charges of inciting people to overthrow the government through constitutional means has been granted bail. Ngarivhume has spent 45 days in prison as his previous bids on getting bail were unsuccessful. Justice Tawanda Chitapi read the judgment today on behalf of Justice Siyabona…
Song Details Title: We Party All Night Artists: Rymez, Garry Mapanzure, Soko Matemai Producers: Rymez Composers: Rodney Hwingwiri, Garry Mapanzure, Marshall Muchenje ISRC Code: ZA-56E-20-01228 Girl I’m in love with youIf we meet to part, then let’s party booAnd I’ll depart with youCause this right here is just me and youAnd you feel it too…
By Kumbirai Mafunda A Zimbabwean court on Friday 14 August 2020 ordered Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) to stop the persecution of freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Transform Zimbabwe political party leader Jacob Ngarivhume and allow them access to basic rights while in detention at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. Through their lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa,…
By Veritas The Right to Bail Bail is a way by which people who have been arrested for a criminal offence can be allowed to go free until they are tried for the offence. What happens is that after arresting a person the police must bring them to a court ‒ usually a magistrates court…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Harare Magistrate Ngoni Nduna on Wednesday 12 August 2020 barred media practitioners and the public from covering and following proceedings in a Zimbabwean courtroom in the matter in which freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono will testify on the state of conditions at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.Magistrate Nduna ruled that the evidence that Chin’ono will…
As investigations continue to absolve the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) board of any wrongdoing, the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has come under fire for “arresting in order to investigate.” According to the recently established Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10.31) that is administered by the Office of the President and cabinet (OPC) Corporate Governance…
By Veritas Trade unions, political groupings and civil society organisations have called on the public to take to the streets on the 31st July to protest against economic mismanagement and public corruption. Some of the calls for protests have been couched in intemperate language, and so have threats by members of the Government and ruling…
PAP intensifies consultations on the impact of the pandemic in Africa The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has reiterated that respect for human rights across the spectrum including economic, social, civil and political rights, will be critical to a successful public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa. The call was made at the occasion of…
The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa has said Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume were not arrested for exposing corruption but for using their social media accounts to incite Zimbabweans to violently overthrow the Government. “Even though Hopewell Chin’ono writes about corruption he is not unique in this regard. All the Newspapers…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume on Wednesday 22 July 2020 appeared before judicial officers at Harare Magistrates Court answering to charges of inciting people to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government through unconstitutional means. Chin’ono appeared before Magistrate Ngoni Nduna answering to charges of incitement to…
By Kumbirai Mafunda Zimbabwean police on Monday 20 July 2020 arrested journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume for allegedly inciting people to revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration during some planned anti-government protests called for at the end of the month. Chin’ono was arrested by some armed Zimbabwe Republic Police…
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) held its first virtual public lecture on 30 June 2020 under the theme: “The Role of the African Youth in Achieving the Mandate of the PAP”. Young Africans who took part in the engagement with members of the continental Parliament signaled the youths’ readiness to participate in the building of the…
…Vows to fight smear campaign Former National Social Security Authority (NSSA) chairperson Robin Vela has pledged to continue to fight abuse of power, political expediency and overreach, and corruption after a landmark court judgment vindicated him. Hailing the damning High Court ruling which found that adverse findings and conclusions relating to him in an Auditor-General…
