National

Chamisa says terror has become a daily dose for CCC supporters

Published

3 years ago

August 26, 2022

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s main opposition group claimed Friday that its supporters have come under systematic attacks ahead of next year’s national vote, as rights groups warn of a worsening crackdown on opponents.

Nelson Chamisa, who leads the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), said political gatherings in four rural areas had to be called off this week after attackers beat up would-be attendees and damaged their vehicles.

“There is unprecedented violence — terror has become a daily dose,” he told a press conference in the capital Harare.

“People in those communities are not allowed to freely associate.”

A police spokesman said they were “yet to receive any reports” of the alleged violence.

The CCC is an offshoot of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance party, which lost by a tight margin against the long-ruling ZANU-PF party in Zimbabwe’s 2018 general elections.

Zanu PF representatives could not immediately be reached by phone to comment on Chamisa’s allegations.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement claiming four journalists were also victims of a “brutal assault” after filming a convoy of Zanu PF vehicles on Thursday that were reported to be blockading the CCC rally in the central town of Gokwe.

“Zimbabwean authorities must investigate and hold those responsible to account,” CPJ’s Africa coordinator Angela Quintal said in a statement.

They must “ensure that the press can report freely without fear of attack, especially with the country set to hold national elections next year”, she said.

The CCC, formed in January this year, won two-thirds of seats up for grabs in parliamentary and municipal by-elections in March.

This raised hopes in the party that it could secure nationwide victory in general elections, likely to be held in the first half of 2023.

There is rising discontent in Zimbabwe as President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who replaced long-time ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017, struggles to ease entrenched poverty, end the country’s chronic power cuts, and rein in inflation — which reached more than 280 percent in August.

Rights groups have complained of repeated arbitrary detentions and often exceptionally harsh custody under Mnangagwa.

The former British colony has been ruled by the Zanu PF since independence in 1980, except between 2009 and 2013 when Mugabe was forced into a power-sharing government with veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai following disputed elections.

Chamisa, who is on a rural outreach drive in preparation for next year’s vote, accused the government of coordinating a campaign of violence against his supporters.

“We have government ministers who are behaving like little thugs… They literally incite violence, coordinate violence and sponsor violence,” he said – AFP

National

Ranger killed by elephant in Kariba

Published

3 weeks ago

March 14, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A 62-year-old ranger, Josphat Mandishara, was tragically killed by an elephant in Kariba yesterday.

Mandishara, who worked for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), was on patrol in the Gatche-gatche area with fellow rangers and police officers.

At around 10 pm, Mandishara returned to the harbor where their boat was docked, and that’s when he encountered the elephant. The elephant charged at him, causing fatal injuries. His colleagues were nearby, resupplying at the Gatche-gatche Irrigation Scheme.

Mandishara’s body was taken to Kariba District Hospital for a post-mortem, and the incident was reported to the police.

ZimParks has sent a team to manage the problem elephant and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Director General of ZimParks, Prof. Edson Gandiwa, and his team have sent condolences to Mandishara’s family, friends, and colleagues. Mandishara will be remembered for his dedication to wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe.

National

ZIMRA customs officer appears in court for criminal abuse of office

Published

2 months ago

February 3, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) customs officer, Phillip Kuvenga, has been accused of criminal abuse of office for allegedly assisting in the importation of banned motor vehicles.

Kuvenga, 28, who is stationed at Victoria Falls, allegedly received documents from clients, completed valuation sheets, and carried out the valuation process. However, he is accused of endorsing different chassis numbers to deceive his supervisors during the validation and approval process.

After obtaining approval, Kuvenga would capture the correct chassis numbers in the ASYCUDA World System. He would then alter or replace the documents submitted earlier to his supervisors.

The offense came to light when a motor vehicle that had not yet arrived in Zimbabwe was found to have been already registered. A thorough check by ZIMRA led to Kuvenga’s arrest.

Kuvenga appeared in court on February 1, where he was denied bail by Magistrate Gift Manyka. He is expected to appear in court again today for another bail hearing.

National

Retailers send Mnangagwa SOS as shops continue shutting down over operational woes

Published

2 months ago

January 27, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY ZIMLIVE

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has implored President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene and save the sector which has seen various formal retail and wholesale businesses closing shop countrywide due to operational challenges.

In a statement on Sunday, CZR president Denford Mutashu said the continued closure of formal retail and wholesale businesses is a direct consequence of the tough economic environment that has consistently failed to support formalised sector players who face stiff competition from informal businesses and vendors the majority of whom have no tax obligations to deal with.

Mutashu said his association was concerned that authorities continue to downplay the crisis.

“The recent closure of several outlets under the N. Richards Group, coupled with Spar Zimbabwe’s painful decision to shut down Queensdale Spar, Choppies Zimbabwe’s exit from the market, and Mahommed Mussa’s significant reduction of shop space by 60%, highlights the growing crisis.

“As the representative association for these and other brands, CZR is alarmed that while formal businesses face enormous challenges, the authorities continue to present a different picture of the operating environment,” he said.

Given the situation, Mutashu said, only President Mnangagwa can rescue the troubled sector.

“CZR therefore calls for urgent intervention from His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to rescue what remains of the formalized retail and wholesale sector,” said Mutashu.

He said the sector was in urgent need of rescue.

“While CZR acknowledges the continued support from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, it is clear that the root causes of these challenges are fiscal and monetary in nature. These require urgent and decisive action to ensure the survival of formal businesses.

“CZR therefore appeals to the Presidium to prioritize interventions aimed at saving jobs and mitigating the ongoing wave of shop closures and retrenchments,” he said.