National

Victoria Falls mayor pays huge price for war vets rampage

Published

2 years ago

October 11, 2022

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Incarcerated Victoria Falls mayor Somvelo Dhlamini was denied bail on Monday after the Hwange regional magistrates’ court linked him with a move by war veterans to forcibly remove town clerk Ronnie Dube from his office last week.

Dhlamini was arrested Thursday last week, two days after the group of about 14 war veterans and members of the Hwange Residents Association stormed into Dube’s office and locked the town clerk’s office saying they wanted him to stop reporting for work until corruption allegations against him were investigated.

The mayor was whisked away from his council offices by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) investigators to the regional court in Hwange where he was charged with fraud according to his lawyer Givemore Muvhiringi

“(He was denied bail) because the people who locked the town clerk’s office gave the keys to him and the court believes they did it on the instructions of his worship,” Muvhiringi said.

Regional magistrate Collet Ncube remanded Dhlamini in custody to October 24.

Prosecutors said “On the 15th of August 2022 and at Victoria Falls City Council offices the accused Somvelo Dhlamini, who is the mayor of the city council and in his capacity as such unlawfully and intentionally made a misrepresentation and purported to be Valentine Munyaradzi Maseko, who he had earlier on in 2003 purchased stand 1139 by making an application using the name Valentine Munyaradzi Maseko to Victoria Falls City Council under the Wood Road Housing Scheme upon which the council offered him stand number 1771 Wood Road which needed a deposit of US$25 000.”

It was alleged that Dhlamini paid US$10 000 and the balance was supposed to be paid within five days, but he failed to settle the debt and paid $7 500 000 instead.

His lawyers had told the court that the mayor was a good candidate for bail because the case against him was weak and that he was not a flight risk.

“We had submitted that he is a good candidate for bail, that the states’ case is hopeless as he did not misrepresent himself as any other person to council, staff who knows him,” Muvhiringi said.

“Council was not going to suffer any prejudice and he is not a flight risk and has no previous conviction.

“The court agreed to this but made a U-turn on the issue of the demonstrations.”

Before his arrest Dhlamini told VicFallsLive that he did not have any prior warning about the demonstrations.

He also said Zacc investigators were on the ground to investigate the corruption allegations before the tables were turned against him.

The power struggles between the mayor and the town clerk have been raging on for some time amid charges by residents that corruption has paralysed service delivery in the resort city.

Victoria Falls ratepayers have been boycotting the city council’s 2023 budget consultation meetings demanding answers over various allegations of corruption.

Residents boycotted 2023 budget meetings held last month as they demanded to be first addressed by council over the alleged irregular sale of commercial stands.

Ratepayers say they also want on explanation on how Dube was given a US$89 000 loan to buy a car and why the mayor was being bought a luxury car as a handshake and the alleged irregular leasing of council breweries.

The Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association has since written a letter to different government ministries, police and parliament asking them to investigate the allegations.

They said they had proof of corrupt deals by the town clerk and councillors which have resulted in poor service delivery.

National

Cyclone Chido moves away from Zimbabwe

Published

6 days ago

December 16, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

According to the latest updates from the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC), Tropical Cyclone Chido has made landfall in Mozambique, approximately 35-40km south of Pemba, in Cabo Delgado Province.

The intense tropical cyclone brought heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds of up to 220km/h, causing widespread destruction in Mozambique. The system is expected to continue tracking west-southwest towards Malawi, steadily dissipating.

Zimbabwe, which was initially predicted to be in the cyclone’s path, has been spared the worst of the storm.

However, neighboring countries, including Malawi, are expected to experience heavy rainfall and strong winds over the next 72 hours.

The SHOC has issued a multi-hazard impact-based classification, warning of expected impacts, including strong gusts, heavy rainfall, and rough seas, in Mozambique, Malawi, and other parts of the region.

Member states have been urged to closely monitor official weather updates, intensify public awareness campaigns, and preposition relief supplies to enable a swift response to the cyclone’s impact.

National

Senate passes death penalty abolition bill

Published

1 week ago

December 13, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

The Zimbabwe Senate has passed the Death Penalty Abolition Bill, paving the way for the country to join the growing list of nations that have abolished capital punishment.

The bill, which has already been approved by the National Assembly, will now be sent to the President for assent and subsequent publication in the Gazette as an Act.

The country has 62 convicted prisoners facing the death penalty.

Veritas has congratulated the Senators, Members of the National Assembly, the President, and the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for their role in facilitating the bill’s passage through Parliament.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who is also the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, defended the bill in the Senate, citing studies that show the death penalty has failed to deter crime.

He emphasized that the actual number of murders remained the same despite the death penalty’s existence, questioning its effectiveness as a deterrent.

Ziyambi also highlighted the bill’s potential to address the root causes of crime, which he believes the death penalty does not tackle. He pointed out the bias of the death penalty against poverty-stricken people, stating that history shows the majority of those executed are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Zimbabwe has been on a de facto moratorium on executions for about 17 years, with the last execution conducted in 2005.

National

Cyclone Chido bears down on Zimbabwe, government issues warning

Published

1 week ago

December 13, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A powerful tropical cyclone named Chido is moving menacingly towards Zimbabwe, prompting the government to issue a warning and advise residents to take necessary precautions.

According to the Meteorological Services Department (MSD), Cyclone Chido has intensified into an intense tropical cyclone and is likely to affect Zimbabwe on December 17.

The storm is expected to bring heavy rains, thunderstorms, and strong winds to several provinces, including Manicaland, Masvingo, Mashonaland East and West, Harare Metropolitan, and parts of Midlands and Mashonaland West.

The MSD has warned of heavy rainfall exceeding 70mm in 24 hours in some areas, which could lead to floods, rockfalls, and mudflows.

Residents have been advised to plan evacuation mechanisms, avoid open spaces, secure their homes from damaging winds, and stay informed through authentic updates from the MSD and the Department of Civil Protection (DCP).

The government has assured citizens that it is taking necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of the cyclone. The DCP is on high alert, and emergency services are ready to respond to any situations that may arise.

As Cyclone Chido bears down on Zimbabwe, residents are advised to remain calm but vigilant. The government’s warning and advisory come as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety and minimize damage.

Stay tuned for further updates on Cyclone Chido and its impact on Zimbabwe.