Steward Bank legal head humiliated by protesting journalists

Steward Bank legal head humiliated by protesting journalists

Saturday, 28 March 2015 / No Comments

Angry journalists yesterday humiliated Econet Wireless and walked out on the mobile phone operator’s business unit, Steward Bank legal head Mr Tawanda Nyambirai at a Press conference called to clarify Thursday’s raid of a business news agency’s offices. 

The placard-waving scribes, some of whom had their mouths tied to symbolise violation of Press freedom, demanded an apology from Mr Nyambirai for invading the newsroom of The Source on Thursday, before proceedings could start.

He refused to do so and all hell broke loose when he was about to go into his prepared speech as journalists broke into song and dance in protest.

“Don’t gag the media”, “Say no to corporate bullies”, and “Press Freedom is a Constitutional right” read the messages inscribed on the placards.

Earlier on, the journalists had refused to partake in a prayer that had been requested by a Steward Bank staffer contending that Econet officials, police and Deputy Sheriff officers had not opened with a prayer when they invaded The Source.

Chaos reigned supreme as journalists and Mr Nyambirai clashed openly, with some journalists flying placards in his face and telling him to “Stop It!” in line with a phrase coined by the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe when she attacked corrupt elements in the country.

A provisional High Court order granted by Justice Joseph Musakwa last week empowered, Econet officials and lawyers, the Deputy Sheriff and security agents to invade The Source’s premises in central Harare, ransacking the online publication’s computers and extracting information from e-mails.

Econet risk officers, instead of the Deputy Sheriff, did most of the searches and in some cases opened e-mails that had nothing to do with their case in a move described by Government and media representatives as a threat to media freedom and freedom of expression as guaranteed under Section 61(1) and (2) of the Constitution.

Justice Musakwa ordered The Source, an affiliate of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, to “delete and expunge” two articles the online publication recently published about Econet and its banking unit Steward Bank. One of the articles titled “Debt-distressed Zimbabwe moves to reschedule domestic debt” claimed that Government had borrowed $30 million from Econet, disbursed through Steward Bank, in a deal brokered by Mr Nyambirai.

The article claimed that Mr Nyambirai pocketed a substantial facilitation fee for brokering the deal. The other contentious story alleged that Steward Bank was considering swapping residential stands worth $2,1 million to recover funds borrowed by a property mogul Mr Phillip Chiyangwa. The Source, through their lawyer Mr Chris Mhike, raised constitutional questions and sought to have the matter referred to the Constitutional Court. Judgment on the application had not yet been delivered.

Yesterday, journalists could be heard shouting: “Nhasi mari yako haishandi Nyambirai” (Your money is of no use today, Nyambirai), and, “How do you feel if your e-mail asking about the facilitation fee is opened.”

Mr Nyambirai tried to explain to the journalists that the documents used in the stories were stolen, but the journalists would have none of it and walked out.

He said: “The information was private and confidential and it related to the private business transactions of the clients of Steward Bank. The banker-client relationship is a relationship in utmost good faith. As much as you have freedom of expression we also have our freedom and privacy.”

One journalist replied: “With the behaviour you exhibited, you are the least qualified person to talk about freedom.”

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists secretary-general Foster Dongozi said Econet had become arrogant and considered itself so big that it could trample on everyone’s rights.  Mr Mhike said they would wait for their urgent application to have the matter referred to the Constitutional Court.

“I have just indicated to Steward Bank and Econet that we are very open to resolving this squabble in a more amicable fashion,” he said.

“We do respect the court processes that are ongoing at the High Court and hopefully soon at the Constitutional Court, but at the same time, as those developments unravel, there is always room for the parties to discuss and resolve the matter.”

MISA chairman Kumbirai Mafunda said freedom of expression and Press freedom were “the life blood of democracy” and should be respected.

Bulawayo vegitable venders scramble for water from corpses

Bulawayo vegitable venders scramble for water from corpses

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Bulawayo- Business to a halt in Lobengula Street in yet another disgusting disclosure, as four Lobengula street fruit vendors hospitalised each other over corpse water that disappeared before sharing. 

The Four, Dumisani Sibanda, Thabiso Tshuma, Melody Mloyi and Monica Mlilo, fought a vicious bloodbath of blows, after the latter accused one of them of stealing corpse water that was acquired by Thabiso from a Kelvin Industrial Funeral Parlour.

The development brings the total number of named-and-shamed corpse water crooks to nineteen (19) after fifteen (15) others were arrested in separate incidents last year.

The water according to other vendors who refused to be identified, is needed to create their business-charm, to attract clients, so they buy their fruits and vegetables. They sprinkle the water that would have been used by undertakers when bathing the deceased at their funeral parlours.

"If you buy corpse water sprinkled fruits, you automatically become a permanent consumer, as this will force your heart and mind to look for me," said a vendor who was identified by others as Na-Nomsa, who plies her vending business in Bulawayo's Lobengula Street.

Thabiso refused to comment on the cause of their fight, that brought business to a halt in Lobengula Street, but she became arrogant and threatened this journalist with assault by her bouncer boy-friend who works at a Bulawayo night club.

But Melody opened up and revealed their source of corpse water in anger. "We contributed $70 to buy corpse water from Mthandazo Funeral parlour, for business, but Monica and Thabiso opted to steal the magical water for their use, forgetting others who contributed," she shouted on top of her voice.

Last year, 15 vendors were reprimanded for public fighting over the ware, and they were handed a final warning by their Association for the offence of using corpse water to lure clients.

When reached for comment, Mthandazo Funeral Parlour Manager in Kelvin, Mr Killian Nkomo, dismissed the allegations as malicious.

"This is malicious and total fabrication. However, we will investigate the issue, with our undertakers, as this is not for the first time to hear such accusations from vendors and the public."

But the Vendors and Informal traders Association National President, Edward Manning speaking to ZimEye.com confirmed the existence of the deals between vendors and funeral houses undertakers. "This has been happening, and we warned our members against using dirty charms on innocent and unsuspecting clients as this is a health hazard," he said.

He added: "The four fought over corpse water and we have issued them with a final warning, this time we are going to chase them away from Lobengula Street for their evil doings," said Manning who appeared visibly angry.

 

Mutare family endured painful sexual encounters with a snake

Mutare family endured painful sexual encounters with a snake

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A Zimbabwean granny's more than two decades ordeal of being sexually abused by a three-metre-long python on a daily basis finally ended recently following the killing of the reptile. The horrific incident, which reads like a fairytale, occurred in Headman Chipfatsura's area under Chief Marange, in Manicaland Province's Marange area and is still the talk of the drought-prone rural community.

 The grey-haired Willie Mutasa (78) confessed that the python was now a thorn in his flesh after acquiring it as a magical charm from a Chipinge-based traditional healer around 1973.

 Apart from having sex with Mutasa's wife and daughters, the snake would suck their blood, resulting in inexplicable deaths of two of his daughters. After numerous failed attempts by different religious persons, the reptile was eventually captured and burnt by Kutenda Kwavapostori Church founder Bishop Trynos Mapuranga recently.

 When news crew visited the Mutasa homestead on Monday, Mbuya Mutasa (59) confirmed that the snake would sleep with them on numerous occasions, leaving them with swollen thighs, while private parts were left red.
 She even explained the modus operandi employed each time the snake wanted to have sex.

 "My son, we went through a torrid time over these years. I came into the Mutasa family in 1976 and the ordeal started only a year after. When it all started I thought I was responsible since I was also into traditional healing, but I was later convinced that it had nothing to do with my calling as a traditional healer.

 "I had 15 miscarriages during that period before I later got help and gave birth to six children — two boys and four girls. Two of the girls died in unclear circumstances, though we now know that the snake would feed on their blood.

 "One of the children died in 2002 and the other in 2013. Many strange things would happen here. For example, the snake would come and immediately transform into little goblins and take turns to have sex with us. Before having sex, the goblins would entice us with small things like guavas and one would get confused, sleep and the next thing the four goblins are done with you.

 "They would leave us the next morning with swollen thighs, while private parts would have turned red. What worried us most is that whenever we told my husband he was unperturbed and at times would demand to have sex with me even in that state.

 "The only good thing is that we have never seen anything strange happening after the snake was burnt and we hope it is now a thing of the past though it caused a lot of damage to the family," she said.

 Her husband Mutasa confessed that he went to a traditional healer called Chinyamunhuwira in the Checheche area of Chipinge South where he was given three sticks that latter turned into the reptile he could no longer handle.

 "Way back in the early 70s, I went to Chipinge together with other boys. Our mission was to pick cotton at farms in the area, but one day we connived to go and get ‘muti' from a traditional healer who was popular in that area.

 "My main aim in consulting the traditional healer was to do away with the spirit of my late wife which was giving me a torrid time and I wanted the traditional healer to turn the spirit against those who killed her. Apart from that, I also wanted to be feared.

 "When we got to the traditional healer's place, we were given different tests. Mine was to get into a granary naked and spend the night there and never to walk out no matter what comes inside during the night.

 "During that night, big fleas came from nowhere and started feasting on my body. It was quite painful, but I was determined to last the distance and I did. When the traditional healer came the next morning he was shocked to find me in the granary and then invited me to give me what I wanted.

 "He then gave me three sticks which I was instructed to depose at my late wife's grave and I did just that. It was in 1973. When I went home after deposing the sticks at my late wife's grave, I then found a thick wooden rod that latter changed into a snake. At times the snake would change into a bird or a hyena. Many strange things happened here since then, but I cannot say all one by one. At times there would be light all over at night," said Mutasa.

 Although those in the know confirmed that he used to feed it with maize-meal after some of it was found at the entrance of a hole it used stay in, he said: "It used to survive on its own. I never gave it anything, although it belonged to me."

 His wife said most of her groceries would not last long.

 "Each time I bought a carton of sugar it would not last more than three weeks or when we went to the grinding mill to have our maize processed, the maize-meal would not last more than three days yet we have never lived here in large numbers," she said.

 However, the remorseful Mutasa said he regrets ever having consulted that traditional healer since he gained nothing apart from impoverishing himself over the years.

 "I have seen the bad side of kuromba. I have never known how it feels to be paid lobola, despite having sired beautiful daughters. I have since lost two of them. My sons are mentally retarded; even the one aged about 13 cannot write his name. I have lost nine beasts since I started trying to get rid of the paraphernalia I got from that traditional healer. I cannot stop anyone from doing what I did back then, but I can only advise them that they will be doing it at their own peril," he added.

Zimbabwean Social worker embroiled in bestiality encounters

Zimbabwean Social worker embroiled in bestiality encounters

Tuesday, 24 March 2015 / No Comments

A Zimbabwean social worker is in big trouble after videos of sex acts with animals were found on his phone. Detectives swooped on social worker Clayton Chigoya's home in Slough after receiving a tip-off he had received indecent images of children on his mobile phone.

A total of 19 electrical devices were seized including a damaged HTC phone which contained 404 videos on its memory card including seven portraying sex acts with animals. Other examples of horrific pornography included two sexual scenes with children believed as be as young as three years old. A jury at Reading Crown Court was told that the extreme pornographic videos portrayed various sex acts with animals including a horse, eels and a large fish.

Prosecuting, Russell Pine told the court two of the animal sex videos had also been forwarded on to other numbers from Chigoya's phone. Mr Pine added: "You were part of a group of people who had a similar interest in these sorts of videos weren't you? "Is it possible you watched them and thought they were a little interesting and maybe a little bizarre but no harm in it?" Chigoya, aged 47 years, denied five counts of possessing extreme pornographic images and two counts of possessing indecent images of children.

The father-of-three, of Gatwick Close, Slough, Berks., claimed that he had never seen any of the seven the videos, which were sent through WhatsApp messages. However, he did admit he had previously watched animal porn films but blamed his faulty phone for receiving and sending messages he claimed he had no idea about.

He said: "They were sent on my WhatsApp. When I saw them, I deleted them but not on this particular phone we are talking about. "I have never in my life requested any videos with animals. It is not because you want to watch it or request it, it is just sent around." However, the jury found Chigoya guilty of all of all seven counts following the three-day trial.

Chigoya, who was suspended from his job working with vulnerable adults and children as a social worker following his arrest, was released on bail to appear at the same court to be sentenced in May. Express

Joyce Mujuru blasts Zanu and Mugabe over loss of vice President post

Joyce Mujuru blasts Zanu and Mugabe over loss of vice President post

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Ousted Joice Mujuru says she feels used and abused by President Mugabe, his wife Grace and their supporters who have called her names and hounded her out of her position.

 Speaking to the Independent, Mujuru said she and her husband the late retired army commander General Solomon Mujuru backed Mugabe and other senior party members who arrived in Mozambique from 1975 onwards from prison to intensify the liberation war against Ian Smith's Rhodesian regime. "We (together with Solomon, her late husband who was a retired army commander) and others were used as their ladder to the top and now we have been discarded like scrubs (cleaning items)," Mujuru said.

 "But I don't feel hurt by the persistent attacks directed at me by both President Mugabe and his wife because the person they are describing is not me. Actually, I feel embarrassed on their behalf because that is not the way I was brought up."

 Mujuru said she is, however, pained by the way Mugabe and others are treating her after her sacrifices to liberate the country and service in the government. "I crossed into Mozambique in 1973 to join the war and people like President Mugabe, Edgar Tekere and Oppah Muchinguri later came in 1975 to find us at the front. Everyone knows this, including VaMugabe. The General (Mujuru) asked me to help people like Muchinguri because she did not want to be with us in the camps," she said.

 Despite that Mugabe ganged up with his wife and supporters to attack and abuse her at the height of Zanu PF's vicious succession battle, Mujuru says she bears no grudge against them and those who ascended at her expense.

 Mujuru was replaced as vice-president by Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa. Her allies were ruthlessly purged from party structures and government. The witch-hunts continue unabated. "I have no hard feelings about what they (Mugabe and others) did to be at the top. God made it so … God is the reason why even in pain I smile, in confusion I understand, in betrayal I trust and in fear I continue to fight," Mujuru said.

 Mujuru's allies, former Zanu PF heavyweights Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo, however, say Mugabe, Mnangagwa and others rose through blatant subversion of the party constitution and related processes. They are challenging the legality of the Zanu PF congress and its resolutions in court.

Asked what her future political plans are and if she would contest in the next presidential elections in 2018 since many in Zanu PF say she has a huge social base and following, Mujuru said: "Only God knows. I am not losing any sleep over that. Even President Mugabe always says that leaders come from the people."

Mujuru says despite all the attacks, she remains loyal to Zanu PF as she served the party since she was a teenager and was ready to defend herself before its relevant structures or in any court of law so long as due process is followed.

 Commenting her relations with Grace and Muchinguri, the main architects of her dramatic downfall, Mujuru said: "I have nothing in common with her (Grace)," adding, "Muchinguri knows the role I played in her life to be where she is." Asked what was happening on her alleged corruption investigations, Mujuru said only her accusers and indicters should be able to answer that. 

"They (Mugabe and Zanu PF) should have an answer to that question. Why would they be scared of an ordinary, simple widow like me to whom they can say whatever they want when they want to?" she said.

Zimbabwean economy worsen as foreign investment declines

Zimbabwean economy worsen as foreign investment declines

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Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Zimbabwe continues to decline as the economic crisis worsens.

Figures show that FDI declined from $400 million in 2013 to $372,6 million last year. According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) statistics released this week, the depressed FDI has worsened the country’s liquidity situation.

“Net foreign direct investment decreased to $300,6 million in 2014, from $373,1 million in 2013. Receivables decreased from $400 million to $372,6 million, while payments increased from $27 million to $72 million,” the central bank said in a 2014 inflation report.

The decline in FDI comes at a time other countries such as Mozambique and Zambia are experiencing strong economic growth due to increased FDI inflows.

A recent report by the International Monetary Fund noted that on a cumulative basis and compared to other countries in the region, Zimbabwe’s FDI inflows amounted to $1,7 billion over the period 1980 to 2013, whereas, Zambia and Mozambique received $7,7 billion and $15,8 billion, respectively.

Experts blame policies such as the seizure of white farms to resettle blacks and, latterly the drive to localise ownership of all major firms, for Zimbabwe’s poor performance in the FDI stakes.

President Robert Mugabe’s government, however, blames western sanctions, imposed on him and his inner circle over allegations of electoral fraud and rights abuses, for the country’s economic woes.

The RBZ noted that similarly, net portfolio investment flows declined to $96,3 million in 2014, from $114,2 million in 2013.

“Receivables decreased from $283,3 million to $270,7 million, while payments increased from $169,1 million to $174,4 million in the same period. The low FDI and other external inflows conspired to dampen economic activity, with knock-on effects on incomes, aggregate demand and declining prices,” said the RBZ.

Central bank governor John Mangudya recently said the government was committed to sound policies to boost FDI inflows, which peaked at nearly 20 percent of the gross domestic product in the 1990s.

“We are anxious to ensure that Zimbabwe benefits from the quantum leap in economic development in line with the rest of the region and also to benefit from the increased foreign direct investments that is coming into Africa which increased by almost seven percent to $52 billion in 2013,” Mangudya said.

“This trend is increasing and Zimbabwe should also benefit. It should not be left behind. Zimbabwe is committed to join Africa in the Africa rising campaign by pursuing credible economic policies for the eradication of poverty and the increase of the welfare of the population,” he added.

Grace Mugabe to replace ousted Tendai Biti in parliament

Grace Mugabe to replace ousted Tendai Biti in parliament

Monday, 23 March 2015 / No Comments

Zanu PF hawks have reportedly started pushing for First Lady Grace Mugabe to contest the Harare East constituency, formerly occupied by MDC Renewal secretary general Tendai Biti who was also Zimbabwe's Finance Minister during Morgan Tsvangirai's tenure as Prime Minister.

This comes amid predictions by analysts that the MDC-T dominance in urban seats was under threat as Zanu PF was working on grabbing the opposition seats following the recent dismissal from Parliament of 21 MDC Renewal MPs.

The Standard reported that the recall of 21 Renewal Team MPs has created room for Grace to contest Harare East and speculation is that she is amenable to the idea.

Zanu PF officials said the Godwills Masimirembwa-led Harare provincial executive and the Godfrey Gomwe-led provincial youth wing — eager to please the First Family — had already started moves to approach Grace to convince her to stand in Harare East.

Grace, who is the party's Secretary for Women's League, was now reportedly ready to become the Minister of Women's Affairs, currently vacant after Oppah Muchinguri was moved to the Higher Education portfolio.

"We are being told the move to urge Grace to contest the Harare East seat is being pushed by Harare province. But on the other hand, we are also seeing the First couple's own aides and a few other party heavyweights quietly toying with the idea of her contesting," said a senior Zanu PF official.

"So at the moment it is not yet clear whose idea it is, whether it is Grace herself or other people bootlicking the First Family."

Zanu PF national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday could neither confirm nor deny Grace's interest in Harare East.

"Is that what you want to speculate? Anybody in the party can be a candidate anywhere," Kasukuwere said curtly.

Masimirembwa also said the province had not started the identification of candidates yet.

"We don't have candidates for the seats in Harare yet as we wait to get direction from the national leadership. We want their direction on the matter," Masimirembwa said.

Grace's candidature, insiders say, cannot be ruled out as speculation has been high since December that she would join her husband's cabinet after her ascension into the politburo. However, her handicap has been her lack of a parliamentary seat which is a pre-requisite for one to be a minister under the Constitution.

Grace was last year endorsed as Zanu PF Women's League boss after she was reportedly approached by the then outgoing Muchinguri executive and war collaborators. But it turned out that Grace herself, with the support of a few party hawks, engineered her political rise which coincided with the fall of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

The former VP was viciously attacked by Grace who accused her of corruption and of trying to topple Mugabe. The First Lady has rapidly grown to be the kingmaker in Zanu PF following her appointment as the Women's League boss at the disputed December 6th national congress. Other seats to be contested include Harare East, Kambuzuma, Kuwadzana, Glen View South, Dzivarasekwa and Highfield West.

Zanu PF officials yesterday said the party was determined to get all the seats in Harare and will leave no stone unturned to achieve this.

"If we managed to get Epworth, Mt Pleasant and Harare South in 2013, what can stop us now? We will get all the seats this time around," said an official.