POLITICS
Tendai Biti sentenced for claiming poll win
Published
5 years agoon

A Zimbabwe court on Monday convicted leading opposition figure Tendai Biti of an election crime and fined him for announcing his own results for presidential polls last July, which he claimed he won.
Biti, a respected former finance minister, proclaimed his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) the victor of the contested July 30 poll which sparked anti-government protests that were put down by soldiers.
Magistrate Gloria Takundwa ordered Biti to pay $200 — the price of a full tank of petrol — or go to prison for a week. He was also handed a jail term of six months, which was suspended for five years.
MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, who was in court, said the conviction “casts a very dark shadow on our politics”.
Zimbabwe was thrown into chaos following the elections, the first in the country’s history not to feature former president Robert Mugabe following his resignation in the wake of a brief military takeover in November 2017.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa had promised not to repeat the rigging and intimidation that characterised previous votes, but delays in announcing results enraged the opposition and led to street demonstrations.
Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s successor at the head of ruling party ZANU-PF, was later declared the winner according to the official results, but the MDC claims the election was rigged.
Biti fled the country for neighbouring Zambia at the height of the poll tensions but was returned to Zimbabwe despite seeking asylum, sparking an international incident.
The international community has urged Mnangagwa to guarantee the safety of Biti, who was the internationally-respected finance minister in Zimbabwe’s 2009-2013 power-sharing government.
Biti’s lawyer Doug Coltart described Monday’s conviction as a “travesty, and said it remained “open to challenge.”
AFP
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NEWS
Public Outcry Grows Over Mnangagwa’s Appointments of Family Members as Deputy Ministers
Published
3 weeks agoon
12/09/2023
On Monday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa was accused of nepotism for appointing his son, David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa, as the deputy finance minister in his new cabinet, after a controversial re-election. David will be working under finance minister Mthuli Cube. Additionally, the president’s nephew, Tongai Mafidhi Mnangagwa, was named as the deputy minister of tourism and hospitality.
According to Fadzayi Mahere, a member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), the cabinet of Mnangagwa is unacceptable. Mahere stated that it is a combination of illegitimacy, corruption, violence, nepotism, incompetence, and sex scandals. She added that it lacks the ethical leadership that Zimbabweans need and deserve. It is no surprise that the national mood is dismal.
Mnangagwa appointed Christopher and Monica Mutsvangwa as ministers. Christopher will lead the new ministry of Veterans of Liberation, while Monica will be the minister of Women’s Affairs and SMEs.
David Mnangagwa graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a law degree. He was elected to parliament through the youth quota system, listed on a Zanu PF party roster from the Midlands province. Mnangagwa is believed to have almost two dozen children.
Tongai, meanwhile, is the Zanu PF MP for Hunyani constituency. His late father, David, was Mnangagwa’s young brother.
On Monday, sources reported that Mnangagwa is contemplating bestowing an official role on his son, Emmerson Junior, in his office. According to the source, Junior has already attended some of the president’s meetings with foreign investors, which has been an uncomfortable situation. Mnangagwa aims to regularise this arrangement by giving Junior an official position, such as an adviser or director.
On August 23rd, the 80-year-old Mnangagwa was declared the winner of the election amidst opposition allegations that the vote was fraudulent. He is now serving his second and final term as president, becoming another addition to the list of African leaders who have established political dynasties.
In Congo-Brazzaville, President Denis Sassou-Nguesso appointed his son Denis-Christel as a cabinet minister, a move that revived media speculation that he had a dynastic succession in mind.
Teodoro Obiang, President of Equatorial Guinea, appointed his son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, as Vice President. He has been in power since removing his uncle Francisco Macías Nguema in 1979.
The former President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, is the son of Omar Bongo who held the position from 1967 to 2009. Similarly, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila succeeded his father, Laurent-Désiré, after his assassination and remained as the head of state for 17 years.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has appointed his daughter Ange Kagame as the deputy executive director of the Strategy and Policy Unit in the Office of the President.
NEWS
“CCC’s Ian Makone Takes the Helm as Harare’s New Mayor with Kudzai Kadzombe as Deputy
Published
3 weeks agoon
11/09/2023
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has a new mayor in Harare. Ian Makone, who represents Ward 18, won the vote of the council on Monday, replacing Jacob Mafume from Ward 17. Kudzai Kadzombe, representing Ward 41, will serve as his deputy.
The CCC won a large majority in the election, taking 42 of the 45 council seats. Makone received 46 votes from the council, while his opponent, Temany Utete of Zanu PF, received only 7. Kadzombe won with 47 votes, compared to Susan Chuma of Zanu PF, who received 7. Party leader Nelson Chamisa instructed CCC councillors to vote for Makone and Kadzombe, and issued similar instructions for the election in Bulawayo.
In his first speech as mayor, Ian Makone pledged to prioritize service delivery to all residents, regardless of political affiliation. He also promised to tackle corruption and ensure that council workers are fairly paid. Tafadzwa Muguti, Harare’s secretary for provincial affairs, offered government support to the new council in addressing issues such as water supply, garbage collection, and sewer maintenance.
Overall, the message from the council and government officials was one of unity and shared responsibility for the well-being of Harare and its residents.
NEWS
President Mnangagwa Unveils New Cabinet Following Controversial Election Victory
Published
3 weeks agoon
11/09/2023
President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced his new cabinet on Monday, following a controversial victory in last month’s elections. Mthuli Ncube remains in charge of finance while Constantino Chiwenga has been relieved of his dual role as health minister. Dr Douglas Mombeshora has been appointed as the new health minister.
Soda Zhemu has been named the new mines minister, with Edgar Moyo taking his old position at energy. Winston Chitando, the former mines minister, is now the local government minister and July Moyo has been moved to public service, labour, and social welfare.
David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa and Tongai Mnangagwa, the president’s nephews, have been appointed as deputy ministers. David will assist Ncube in finance, while Tongai will be the deputy minister for tourism and hospitality.
Monica Mutsvangwa has relinquished her role in information and is now in charge of women’s affairs and SMEs. Her previous position has been given to Jennifan Muswere, who was previously the ICT minister. Christopher Mutsvangwa, Monica’s husband, has been appointed as the head of a new ministry for Veterans of Liberation.
Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera has been named as the new ICT minister, and Sithembiso Nyoni has been appointed to industry and commerce, replacing the previous minister Sekai Nzenza, who failed to secure a parliamentary seat.
Here is Mnangagwa’s Cabinet in full:
Finance & Investment Promotion
Prof Mthuli Ncube
Deputy: David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa
Youth Empowerment
Tino Machakaire
Deputy: Junior Mupamanga
Sports, Recreation, Arts & Culture
Kirsty Coventry
Deputy: Emily Jesaya
Environment, Climate and Wildlife
Mangaliso Ndlovu
Deputy: John Paradza
Veterans of Liberation
Christopher Mutsvangwa
Tourism and Hospitality
Barbra Rwodzi
Deputy: Tongai Mnangagwa
Defence
Oppah Muchinguri
Deputy: Levy Mayihlome
Women’s Affairs, Community & SMEs
Monica Mutsvangwa
Deputy: Jennifer Mhlanga
Local Government and Public Works
Winston Chitando
Foreign Affairs
Fredrick Shava
Home Affairs
Kazembe Kazembe
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Ziyambi Ziyambi
Deputy: Obert Mazungunye
Information
Jennifan Muswere
Information Communication Technology
Tatenda Mavetera
Deputy: Dingumuzi Phuthi
Mines and Mining Development
Zhemu Soda
Higher Education and Tertiary Education
Prof Amon Murwira
Deputy: Simelizizwe Sibanda
Primary and Secondary Education
T Moyo
Deputy: Angeline Gata
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare
July Moyo
Deputy: Mrs Dinha
Industry and Commerce
Sithembiso Nyoni
Transport and Infrastructure Development
Felix Mhona
Energy and Power Development
Edgar Moyo
National Housing
Daniel Garwe
Deputy: Yeukai Simbanegavi
Lands, Agriculture and Fisheries
Anxious Masuka
Deputy: Vangelis Peter Haritatos
Deputy: Davis Marapira
Health and Child Care
Dr Douglas Mombeshora
Provincial Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet
Lovemore Matuke
Skills Audit & Development
Prof Paul Mavhima
Provincial Affairs Ministers
BULAWAYO – Judith Ncube
HARARE – Charles Tavengwa
MASVINGO – Ezra Chadzamira
MIDLANDS – Owen Ncube
MANICALAND – Nokuthula Matsikenyere
MASHONALAND EAST – Apollonia Munzverengwi
MASHONALAND WEST – Miriam Chombo
MASHONALAND CENTRAL – Christopher Magomo
MATABELELAND NORTH – Richard Moyo
MATABELELAND SOUTH – Evelyn Ndlovu

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