November 2013

HARARE – A group of Zanu PF politburo members — allegedly aligned to Vice President Joice Mujuru’s faction — is reportedly planning to hit back at the faction led by defence Minister Emmerson Mnangangwa at tomorrow’s blood and thunder politburo meeting in Harare. In the past two weeks, the succession battle has reached alarming levels…

MASVINGO – The Masvingo province leadership of Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC said yesterday it was fully behind the opposition leader amid a push to oust him. The Masvingo provincial leadership, flanked by members of the youth wing, told a news conference here yesterday, that Tsvangirai cannot be singled out for blame in the July 31 poll…

HARARE – The Electoral Court has said that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec)’s chairperson cannot be cited as respondent in election petitions, with the court ruling that the litigation was not permissible at law. Rita Makarau, the Zec chairperson, had been cited as one of the respondents in some MDC petitions challenging the outcome of the…

HARARE – Traditional chiefs yesterday said their communities were yet to receive money from Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOT). The CSOT is a fund set up to benefit communities surrounding every indigenised business in a drive by President Robert Mugabe to force mines and banks to surrender at least 51 percent shares to locals. Chief…

HARARE – Three women found in possession of a pangolin were yesterday hauled before the courts for contravening sections of the Parks and Wildlife Act. The law restricts keeping, having in possession, selling or disposal of any live, specially protected animal, meat or trophy of any such animals. Future Bapiro, 35, of Old Highfield, Daisy…

HARARE – ZimRights, once a target of state-sponsored harassment, this week expressed hope that newly-appointed Prosecutor General (PG) Johannes Tomana will get the support he needs to carry out his duties without fear or favour. Executive director Okay Machisa spoke about this and other niggling issues that should be in government’s purview but appear fading…

HARARE – Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) is honouring outstanding human rights defenders who have exposed rights violations and campaigned for redress for victims. Twenty prizes will be awarded this year, up from 14 handed out last year by Zimrights, a group of 58 civic organisations, including church and legal groups. Human rights defenders (HRD)…

HARARE – Harare City Council (HCC) has revised its advertising by-laws in a bid to come up with watertight regulations. HCC’s decision follows complaints by some councillors on how political and musical print adverts had turned the city into a paper jungle. Everyone wishing to advertise through posters will now have to apply to HCC…

BULAWAYO – A stepfather who sexually abused his 16-year-old stepdaughter and promised to buy her chips as a way of buying her silence has been slapped with a 30-year jail term. Nilford Ncube, 44, from Magulanjenga Mbowane Line in Tsholotsho appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sikhumbuzo Nyathi facing two counts of rape. Ncube who pleaded not…