National

Mwonnzora suspends Khupe as MDC-T feud gets ugly

Published

3 years ago

January 20, 2022

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

MDC-T on Thursday said it has suspended its deputy president Thokozani Khupe and her top ally Khaliphani Phugeni as the tussle for the control of the fringe opposition party intensifies.

The Douglas Mwonzora led outfit announced Khupe’s suspension that was allegedly made on January 12 in a brief press statement.

Elsewhere, the party’s spokesperson Witness Dube told an online publication that Phugeni, a senator who was only appointed last year to replace an MDC Alliance legislator that was recalled by Mwonzora, had also been suspended.

The announcements followed an invitation to journalists by Khupe’s team to a press conference that she will reportedly address in Bulawayo on Friday.

“The suspension was with immediate effect, pending investigations into the various allegations levelled against her,” MDC-T said in the statement signed by Dube.

“Investigations are being conducted by a team led by the party’s arbiter General and the suspension is in line with the party constitution.

“This is a result of certain issues that arose. Once the said issues are investigated and fully resolved the party will communicate such.”

The former Makokoba MP’s lawyer Nqobani Sithole told another online publication that the suspension was “null ad void.”

Sithole argued that Mwonzora had expelled himself from the MDC-T after he wrote a letter to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission saying he was leader of the MDC Alliance.

In December last year, Khupe took Mwonzora to the High Court seeking to block alleged attempts to recall her from Parliament.

The former deputy prime argued in court papers that MDC-T’s standing committee had passed a resolution in November 2021 to recall her and other officials from Parliament and local government positions.

Khupe and Mwonzora, who reuinited in 2020 after a controversial Supreme Court ruling that nullified Nelson Chamisa’s succession of the late Morgan Tsvangirai as leader of the original MDC, were behind the mass recall of MDC Alliance legislators and councillors.

The duo, however, fell out spectacularly after the party held its controversial extraoridnary congress in December 2021.

Khupe accused Mwonzora of rigging the elections that landed him the top post.

The party says it will hold its elective congress in March.

Since emerging as the party leader Mwonzora has expressed an interest to work with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ruling Zanu PF party.

He has met Mnangagwa twice at State House.

His critics accuse him of hobnobbing with the ruling party for selfish reasons.

National

Coal train in flames: NRZ locomotive damaged in fire incident

Published

3 weeks ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) locomotive suffered significant damage after catching fire while transporting export coal to Zambi. The incident occurred between Kalala and Matetsi sidings, resulting in the explosion of the locomotive’s fuel tanks.

According to the NRZ press statement on Monday, “A National Railways of Zimbabwe locomotive suffered some damages after it caught fire this afternoon while transporting export coal to Zambia.” Fortunately, the crew members on board managed to escape unharmed.

The NRZ responded swiftly to the incident, dispatching a rescue train with crews to the site. The team successfully extinguished the fire, preventing further damage. However, the locomotive itself sustained considerable damage.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, with investigations currently underway. “Investigations are already underway to establish the cause of the fire and the amount of damage to the locomotive,” the NRZ statement read.

National

Ranger killed by elephant in Kariba

Published

2 months 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

3 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.