The Zambezi Trader, one of Zimbabwe’s biggest luxury houseboats, which went under the hammer recently has found a new home at the Zambezi Cruise and Safaris.
The Zambezi Trader
Tourism players in the country feared that it could end up being sold to investors across the Zambezi in Zambia bringing direct competition.
In a notice on their social media handle, Zambezi Cruise and Safaris confirmed the development saying it comes to boost the organisation’s fleet.
“The largest luxury houseboat on Lake Kariba, the Zambezi Trader joins Zambezi Cruise and Safaris’ ever-expanding fleet,” said the company.
“There are 23 air-conditioned cabins spread over the Zambezi Trader’s 3 Decks accommodating comfortably 50 pax (people).”
It costs around $2000 to hire the boat per night.
The houseboat business is gaining traction as local people explore weekend getaways in the lake and the idea of a floating hotel. The Herald
The three Hwiridza siblings who died in an inferno after the hut they were sleeping in caught fire are expected to be buried at their rural home in Dema on Friday this week.
File picture of hut on fire
This was confirmed by the siblings’ father Mr Miros Hwiridza, who said funeral arrangements are in progress.
The three brothers are Anesu (16), Kundai (11) and Tadiwa (8).
“We are still arranging for the boys’ burial and by tomorrow we should be done with the paperwork. So we are expecting to bury them on Friday this week. Mourners are gathered here in Sengu Village, waiting for the burial,” he said.
Allegations are that the trio was sleeping in their hut when the roof caught fire and efforts to rescue the siblings by neighbors were in vain.
The three were then burnt beyond recognition.
It is alleged that their parents were not at home when the tragedy struck. The Herald
Wellington Muzengeza is a Development Practitioner, Public Relations Consultant and Social Justice Activist. He is also the director of African Mindshift Trust.
By Wellington Muzengeza
Zimbabwe since 1980 has always had active and vibrant opposition political movements although the playing field has always been the same depending on one’s perspective. The following have been significant opposition players at one point or another.
Wellington Muzengeza is a Development Practitioner, Public Relations Consultant and Social Justice Activist. He is also the director of African Mindshift Trust.
1. PF ZAPU under Joshua Nkomo – since 1960/1
2. FORUM Party under Enoch Dumbutshena – early 1990s
3. Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM) under Edgar Tekere – 1988
4. Zimbabwe Union of Democrats (ZUD) under Kempton Makamure and Margaret Dongo – mid 1990s
5. Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) under Morgan Tsvangirai – since 1999
6. Other MDC formations under Thokozani Khupe, Welshman Ncube, Douglas Mwonzora, Tendai Biti and others
7. ZANU Ndonga under Ndabaningi Sithole later Wilson Khumbula – since 1977
8. UANC under Abel Muzorewa- since 1972/73
9. MDC Alliance under Nelson Chamisa
From left; Enoch Dumbutshena, Ndabaningi Sithole, Patrick Kombayi, Edgar Tekere, Margaret Dongo, Morgan Tsvangirai, Nelson Chamisa Joshua Nkomo, Abel Muzorewa
NB: This list is not in order of existence or importance
What is the role of opposition in politics?
The primary role is to create a veritable system of checks and balances targeted on the government of the day, making sure that the government is held accountable to the public. In the process the opposition has a duty to its stakeholders (i.e supporters and non-supporters alike) to uphold their best interests.
Where the opposition is also in government like in the case of the MDC Alliance and the MDC T today i.e has sitting parliamentarians, councillors and other government related players and stakeholders. It must understand and know that they have a fiduciary obligation to citizens which is almost akin to that of the ruling government.
In a scenario like this, who holds the opposition in check? Do the opposition players have enough literacy and maturity to understand this direct constitutional obligation they have to Zimbabwean citizens?
That opposition in politics is primarily hitched on ideological differences is a given but the common denominator remains the country that bonds both government and opposition players equally to the citizens of the country in question.
The MDC Alliance under Nelson Chamisa seems to court a significantly popular vote in the last elections judging by the number of MPs, councillors and Mayors that are under their party umbrella, but do they understand their direct obligations to their constituents, supporters and Zimbabwean citizens in general?
The “opposition to the opposition” phenomenon
There is an emerging trend of a crop of opposition parties and activists who seem to exist primarily as the opposition to the MDC Alliance. Judging by the character of these “opposition forces” by policy makeup and action programmes, one can easily be swayed to conclude that they exist as allied partners to the ruling ZANU PF party. Examples of these ‘poison chalice’ opposition leaders abound like:
1. LEAD as led by Linda Masarira
2. MDC T as led by Douglas Mwonzora
3. NCA under Lovemore Madhuku
4. Former MDC T leader Thokozani Khupe
Poison chalice politicians from left: Linda Masarira, Douglas Mwonzora, Lovemore Madhuku, Thokozani Khupe
This developing trend, I speculate could be the outcome of a ZANU PF funded agenda to control the agenda of opposition politics in Zimbabwe by the use of state affiliated institutions like the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), Military Intelligence (MI), The Ministry of Information and other related state funded institutions. A ‘handled’, controlled and reigned in ‘fake’ opposition system is easy to manipulate through insincere all-political parties dialogue platforms like POLAD.
Contrariwise, it seems that opposition forces are also being funded, influenced and largely controlled policy wise by external forces opposed to ZANU PF policies like the US Embassy and EU delegation in Harare. Evidence of their subliminal hand is observed through their overt support for well-known antigovernment or anti ZANU PF activists, Hopewell Chin’ono being the most prominent particularly since early 2021.
The NGO and Civic Rights movements have always been clear about their sentiments and feeling towards ZANU PF, its policies and human rights in general as observed by the way they channel funds through OSISA, USAID and other western agencies.
Having said this, at this point I doubt that there is any sincere opposition force in Zimbabwe that is not being ‘handled’ either by external forces from Western Europe or by internal forces in ZANU PF powered by state funded institutions that ZANU PF as the ruling party naturally controls.
Are opposition political parties endangered species in Zimbabwe?
I would say yes after a simple historical trajectory analysis of the major ones since 1980. In Zimbabwe, it seems that all the major opposition political players have succumbed to various machinations of the ruling ZANU PF party which appears to understand and treat opposition, critical and dissenting voices in the civic sectors, journalists and ordinary citizens alike as arch enemies at every turn regardless of the moral high ground the opposition and their related associations may have on certain national issues. I will illustrate this with specific cases below.
PF ZAPU was vanquished in the late 1980s culminating in an uneasy unity accord in 1987 under a cloud of civil unrest, plans for a one party state and a general political mistrust between the parties to the accord.
ZANU Ndonga essentially died with its leader Ndabaningi Sithole who through various shenanigans, some of his own making lost political clout and died an obscure man in Philadelphia, USA without any recognition at home despite his pioneering contribution in our fight against colonialism.
The political detentions of PF ZAPU’s Lookout Masuku and Dumiso Dabengwa in the 1980s The flight of Joshua Nkomo to Britain during the same period The descent into political obscurity of liberation struggle players like Michael Mawema, Henry, Hamadziripi, Leonard Nyemba, Mordecai Hamutyinei, Wilfred Mhanda and others because of their differing views to those in ZANU PF during and after the struggle.
*The treason trials of Ndabaningi Sithole in the mid-1990s
*The treason trial of Morgan Tsvangirai in the early 2000s as triggered by the dubious Ari Ben Menashe
*The shooting in Gweru of Patrick Kombai of ZUM in 1990,
*The forced flight of Margaret Dongo of ZUD into exile in the early 2000s leading to the demise of that promising party,
*The withdrawal of Abel Muzorewa’s candidacy from the 1995 election and his subsequent return to voluntary exile in the USA sealed the fate of the UANC as a political movement etc.
Forgotten liberation war heroes: From left: Michael Mawema, Wilfred Mhanda, and Mordecai Hamutyinei
The “only liberation war heroes can rule Zimbabwe” unwritten code
It is a hazard to participate in opposition politics in a country where only those with a history of participating in the liberation struggle under the auspices of the “right” faction appear to have a monopoly on power, legitimacy and a right to participate without question. The question then is;
1. What is the future of ruling politics Zimbabwe in the aftermath of the natural demise of the so-called rightful heirs or royalty to the leadership of Zimbabwe?
2. Are these political ‘royals’ socialising the youth enough in their ideologies to sustain their hold on power in perpetuity?
3. Is their political model good for the future of politics in Zimbabwe?
One thing is for sure, this belief and system is not sustainable. One would understand reason and logic to dictate that citizenship and patriotism and a call to serve one’s country should be enough credentials for one to lead their country, of course through the ballot and appropriate democratic processes.
Unfair access to information and ruling party strongholds
In a country where the bulk of the electorate is located in the traditional rural areas that widely get information through analogue radio and television services, it is extremely difficult to play opposition politics when the ruling party and government has a monopoly on those mediums.
Freedoms of speech, expression and association are effectively compromised.
The continued disruption of political operating working space for Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance as recently as October 2021 is a prime example of how spatial political access is controlled by those in power to hinder access to ruling party strongholds.
When one concludes that it is not easy to be an opposition politician in Zimbabwe based on these cases, I am sure they would not be far off in exclaiming that the opposition politician is an endangered species in our country.
Why an EFF and DA style opposition is not possible in Zimbabwe today?
I have heard from time to time colleagues express their belief that Zimbabwe lacks the type and form of opposition that is effective and ‘disruptive’ as that exhibited by the Economic Freedom Front (EFF) of South Africa.
The EFF, characteristically is an offshoot of the ANC, almost all its leaders and protagonists are erstwhile members or leaders in the ANC. Their ideologies are largely those of the ANC where their roots are steeped and they basically understand the beast and its nature as they deal with it.”Ndedzemudanga”.
Consequently, the EFF is not viewed by the ANC as an externally controlled and funded neo imperialist force as movements like the MDC are viewed by ZANU PF in Zimbabwe.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in South Africa, on the other hand has roots that are steeped in the moderate values of Helen Suzman and a cocktail of hard-line Afrikaner interests who basically are there to protect white interests unapologetically. In a mature democracy and level political playing field, values are laden, self- interest is paramount as is tolerance, but in Zimbabwe are both the ruling party and opposition forces that mature to operate with that level and magnitude of political tolerance?
These two ideologically diverse groups are only able to operate freely in South Africa because of their solid and temper proof constitution, political maturity in the ANC and a responsibility to the citizens regardless of their divergent persuasions.
The ruling party in Zimbabwe appears to be intolerant to any views other than their own. As long as anyone espouses values, visions, associations or alliances with anyone or anything that they are not agreeable with or to, they are labelled as sell-outs, unpatriotic, traitors counter-revolutionaries or enemies of the state.
Lack of tolerance in Zimbabwe by the ruling party is the main reason why opposition parties are failing to operate effectively. Is the main opposition party MDC Alliance effective?
In the classic opposition politics sense, I would say yes and no at the same time. Yes in the sense that since 1999, the MDC under Tsvangirai has built a formidable opposition movement that resonated particularly in the formative 10 years with the aspirations of their supporters in the labour movement and the electorate in general for a regime change agenda, however I think that once the regime change agenda failed to achieve the intended results after 10 years of the MDC’s existence, the party lost focus and touch with the aspirations of their initial electoral backers.
They also failed to take from the book of successful opposition parties in SADC like the DA and the EFF which lured young voters and practice confrontational politics using formal and constitutional methods, highlighting corruption, misrule and irresponsible leadership ad nauseam, ad infinitum.
Instead, the MDC has largely focused on persons and characters in their movement rather than issues at stake which are “largely” a product of the misrule, corruption and failures of the ruling party.
The MDC in my view lost the eye on the ball. “Vakasiya muriwo vakati takarasima nemasakatire”.
Conclusion
It is my view that if Zimbabwean citizens have to move forward, they need to shift their mindsets towards new ways of dealing with and viewing issues of their governance. A total mind shift towards accepting that the good governance of Zimbabwe is every person’s responsibility is required ASAP if Zimbabweans are to enjoy the potential that their country has to offer. The beginning of this process is by building literacy and capacity for objective and value free analysis amongst all Zimbabweans.
Wellington Muzengeza is a Development Practitioner, Public Relations Consultant and Social Justice Activist. He is also the director of African Mindshift Trust. You can reach him on [email protected]
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou
By Chamunorwa Matanhike
Teachers’ unions have blasted the move by the government to introduce an allowance for school heads depending on the size of their schools by calling it a ploy to divide teachers.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou
Speaking in Victoria Falls recently, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mrs Tumisang Thabela said schools are set to be grouped into Grades 1-3 with school heads in Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 getting allowances of 25, 20, and 15 percent of their basic salaries respectively.
Educators Union of Zimbabwe (EUZ) secretary -general Tapedza Zhou said the allowance is a separatist and divisive attempt to bribe school heads to stop an impending job action of the teachers.
“The recent and divisive attempts to reward school heads with a meagre twenty five percent over and above other teachers is just as cheap as it sounds. The government still assumes that school heads are so usable that they may fall for this bait.”
“The government is smelling a massive job action ahead, hence hatched a plan to bribe school heads either as a strategy to be tough on other teachers, or predicts that that each school head will invigilate the whole examination on his or her own,” said Zhou.
Zhou said that the foolish move will not remove schools heads out of poverty as it shows that the government still looks down upon the school heads.
“This foolish idea will do nothing to remove long suffering school heads out of poverty. At best, it is clear testimony of how the government still look down upon school heads,” he said.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou said the salary boost is a fantasy and called for the restoration of teachers salaries to the pre-October 2018 level.
“Insinuations that school heads will get a salary boost is at best a fantasy and at worst a fabrication trying to ululate at an insult. Any school head worthy his or her salt must realise that even a 100% offer on current salary will still fall far short of the US$540 average earned by teachers before October 2018.”
“What more of allowances ranging from between 10% and 25% of basic salary? A worthy battle for all teachers is therefore the restoration of the purchasing power parity of the salaries of teachers as of pre-October 2018,” he said.
Zhou urged teachers to be vigilant and not to invigilate this year’s ZIMSEC examinations.
“We must also remain vigilant and resilient and ready to reach a higher level punctuated by total withdrawal of labour and non-invigilation of examinations. None but ourselves can restore the status of teachers from grass to grace,” said Zhou.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) Mutoko representative Wellington Gweshe condemned the allowance as it was set to divide school heads and teachers.
“Government is playing tricks with people. These are divisive actions that will bring division amongst teachers and school heads. Rural heads will not benefit anything from the scheme as they don’t have enrollments that will bring a better allowance,” said Gweshe.
Gweshe urged the government to honour the grading systems as per the Public Service Commission standards.
Zimbabwe National Union of School Heads (ZINUSH) secretary-general thanked the government for awarding school heads this allowance although the allowance was not enough.
“As ZINUSH we receive with joy the decision to pay school heads an allowance that shows the important work done by school heads.15% to 25% is, however, not enough,” said Majoni
Majoni said that his union was not happy with the different amount of the allowance to be paid to heads of smaller and bigger schools.
“We are not happy with the taking of those in small schools as if they have less work. We know the important work done by them.”
“We are going to write another letter asking for all school heads to be given 25% percent as we wait for the resolving of all our other grievances,” he said.
It’s been almost over a week now since the dictator of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa flew into the UK for the UN COP26 summit in Glasgow. Looking back at his brief presence in Scotland, there is no other way to describe it other than as a massive flop.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaking at the climate change summit in Glasgow, Scotland on 2 November 2021.
Everything that he did and every attempt he made to portray his presence at this summit as a huge success for his regime fell flat on its face. At the end if it all, he was just another tin-pot dictator gate-crashing an international summit by default.
It’s pointless to analyse his speech because every sentence that he uttered was either a lie or a very big lie. In addition to those lies, he made up other lies about having fruitful meetings with the US President and senior member of the Royal Family.
But the more unhinged of his lies was his claim that his presence at COP26 was evidence that the West are re-engaging with Zimbabwe. Absolute nonsense.
The West has always engaged with the people of Zimbabwe through NGOs which do a lot of humanitarian work. However, the West have rightfully refused to acknowledge or do business with his regime because Zanu are unhinged thieves who couldn’t be trusted to run a village kraal without stealing or using violence.
If Mnangagwa had made that boring speech in Harare there would have been thousands of people bussed in and given scarfs and alcohol to cheer on command. The truth of the matter is that he was invited to COP26 only on the basis that it was a UN event where every country of the world is represented.
In other words, he was there only because Zimbabwe is a country. But he wasn’t the elected representative of Zimbabwe because we know he rigged that 2018 election. He was there because Zimbabwe has people, the same people his government are punishing with poverty and violence, yet he claims to represent them. No shame in this one.
If his presence in Glasgow was such a success and evidence of western re-engagement with Zanu, then why didn’t he go to London afterwards? Why didn’t he host his own scheduled meetings? He could not attend his own Galla on the 2nd Nov (which became flop because of our effective protest); and he was nowhere near his own Presidential Investment Conference.
He was a prisoner trapped in his hotel enclosure (picture). Why not appear at one of those business discussion panels at Chatham House? The truth is, he is still under sanctions and could only be in Glasgow where the summit was being held, there’s no western re-engagement for him and his gang.
His presence in Scotland was a huge flop and rightfully so. It’s now up to Zimbabweans from all walks of life including the people who are having their Road to Damascus moment with the #NgaapindeHakeMukokamana chant to come up with a plan to get rid of this man and his people at the next election.
We cannot go on like this.
Deborah Harry is the Organising Secretary of the opposition MDC Alliance (Reading Branch, UK)
Former cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has denied that he is sponsoring Zanu PF member Sybeth Musengezi to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to power during the 2017 military coup.
Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere
This comes after Kasukuwere was last week accused of funding Musengezi to challenge as illegal, a Zanu PF central committee meeting that was held on the 19th of November 2017 which allegedly forced the late former President Robert Mugabe to resign and installed Mnangagwa.
In accusing him of sponsoring Musengezi, Zanu PF Harare provincial chairperson Goodwills Masimirembwa in his affidavit said: “It is believed, on investigation by the district co-ordinating committee security, that reports to me as chairman of DCC 4 Harare, and also acting chairman of the Harare province, that applicant was ‘planted’ into the relevant district, without the relevant credentials for political and other reasons by the former secretary for the commissariat Saviour Kasukuwere, with whom he is allegedly related.”
But Kasukuwere warned Zanu PF to stop using him as a scapegoat for its chaos and deal with the “political question of the day”.
“The accusations against me are hallucinations from ignorant characters that have no interest of the party at heart,” he said.
“Arguing about an obvious absurdity is indicative of serious lack of emotional intelligence on the part of those who should lead the movement.
“Scapegoats are not the solution, but rather the solution is tackling the core political question of the day. Political maturity and wisdom is urgently required to steer the party back on course.”
In his application, Musengezi through his lawyer Nqobani Sithole argues that Mnangagwa’s rise to power after the “kangaroo” special committee meeting violated the Zanu PF constitution, because the meeting was illegally presided over by Obert Mpofu who was then only the party’s secretary for finance.
He cited Zanu PF as the first respondent and Mnangagwa as the second respondent. He went on to cite Mpofu, acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa, former vice president Phelekezela Mphoko, ex-finance secretary Ignatius Chombo as the third, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents respectively.
Musengezi is also seeking employment of former vice president Mphoko to convene a special Extraordinary Congress of Zanu PF that will decide the lawful position of Mnangagwa and other top party members.
Although the applicant is suing him as leader of the ruling party, Mnangagwa has since filed his opposing affidavit where he is claiming a Presidential Immunity.
“The President’s capacity in the party must not be confused with his official capacity as the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” read part of an opposing affidavit filed by Mnangagwa’s lawyers.
“I am advised that Section 98 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe 2013 provides for presidential immunity. It reads as follows: While in office, the President is not liable to civil or criminal proceedings in any court for things done or omitted to be done in his or her personal capacity; civil or criminal proceedings maybe installed against a former president for things done or omitted to be done or before he or she became president or while he or she was president.”
Mnangagwa assumed leadership of Zimbabwe through a military coup that ousted Mugabe who ruled the country for 37 years. Mugabe died in 2019 in Singapore from prostate cancer. Nehanda Radio
Australian based Zimbabwean model Lia Grace has raised the Zimbabwean flag high after being crowned Miss Africa South Australia last Friday.
Australian based Zimbabwean model Lia Grace has raised the Zimbabwean flag high after being crowned Miss Africa South Australia
The catwalker was crowned the Queen of Africa South Australia after impressing the panel of judges, conquering various models from different African countries.
Celebrating her success Grace posted a lengthy appreciation caption on her Instagram along with a series of pictures and videos from the competition.
She mentioned that the best moment about the competition for her was the opportunity to represent Zimbabwe.
“Other than the genuine hard work it took to perfect and memorize the routines… The pride I had in being able to represent my country and the belief I have for myself carried me all the way to the end,” she wrote.
She added “I believed I was the winner the moment I stepped into the audition room. I believed I was the winner before I stepped on that stage.”
As the reigning queen, Grace says she hopes to inspire more people to stand firm on their identity, roots and personality.
“This truly is just the beginning and I hope to inspire everyone in standing firm in your identity, in your roots, your personality and all those beautiful things that make you, YOU.
“I am proud to be African, I am proud to be Zimbabwean! And I am proud to be your Miss Africa 2021,” she said.
Grace has no traceable track record in the modeling industry and it appears the Miss Africa South Australia 2021 was her big break and first major gig. Nehanda Radio
Zanu PF supporters have reprimanded the ruling party’s Director of Information Tafadzwa Mugwadi over “toxic and insensitive” statements he issued against former cabinet Minister Jonathan Moyo.
Zanu PF Director of Information Tafadzwa Mugwadi insulted an Al Jazeera journalist, the Stream presenter Femi Oke during a virtual debate.
This comes after Moyo ignited social media to probe into Mnangagwa’s problematic academic journey in Zambia. Moyo argued that there was no evidence that Mnangagwa studied law in Zambia.
But Mugwadi went on to post screenshots of articles written about the death of Moyo’s daughter, Zanele Moyo in 2015. With one story alleging “Moyo murdered daughter for political mileage”.
“U see @ProfJNMoyo & yo fake saints lot, I always advise u to stop personalised attacks on people especially @edmnangagwa. Simple reason is that he is not vulnerable as long as we still hv fingers to type. Stop pestering him with falsehoods. There you are. Can you answer the following,” Mugwadi said while posting the screenshots.
His sentiments did not go well with his colleagues in Zanu PF who argued he was ‘insensitive’.
A prominent Zanu PF social media activist (Murakashi) Munyaradzi Rex Midzi said: “Hama yangu @TafadzwaMugwadi mamuka sei shefu! My thinking is insults , and uncouth talk is not part of our creed. We should instead be endearing to the Masses which we MUST serve. It is us who are the servants.”
Another ruling party activist, Kudzai Mutisi said Mugwadi went offside in attacking Moyo using the death of his daughter.
“I disagree with @ProfJNMoyo’s politics, but why would any rational person use the death of his daughter as a political attack line??? @ZANUPF_Official is now full of sickheads especially these Buhera clowns, they really need psychological help. The toxicity is nauseating,” he said.
Lee Ann Bernard on Twitter said Mugwadi was tarnishing Mnangagwa’s image by posting insensitive material.
“I thought you were a respected Man in society, I don’t need to respond to his post because I know My President is an Honourable man, you will never find him responding to negative comments because his integrity is far and beyond shallowness. 😉 you lose value through utterances,” she said.
But Mugwadi gave her a middle finger saying: “I don’t mind. At least the handle tweeting is mine. We don’t share it. Do we? Again, mind your hokoso with your account. With my shallowness as you say, I hv not bothered you. Take your supposed brightness off my handle priz and mind yours.” Nehanda Radio
Opposition MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti says he is being followed by Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agents allegedly sent by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Tendai Biti and Taurai Kandishaya alias Alex Gakanje
This comes after social media and some media publications claimed that unknown gunmen had attacked and kidnapped Biti from his home in Harare last night. The reports were, however, dismissed by the party spokesperson saying no journalist had been advised about such a case.
But the party on Twitter confirmed Biti was being followed by an alleged CIO and ‘overzealous’ Zanu PF supporter Alex Gakanje (Taurai Kandishaya).
“VP @BitiTendai is being trailed by a vehicle driven by Mr Gakanje of Zanu PF who is working with Yeukai Simbanegavi. They blocked his access to his road at home and are constantly parked at his office. He is making a police report on the matter,” the party said.
In an interview with 263Chat Tuesday afternoon, Biti confirmed he was being followed and he accused Mnangagwa and the CIO operatives of being involved in the espionage.
“They have been swarming my office and as you know they invaded our offices when we had a press conference at our office on 26 October 2021. A lot of funny cars have been following me but I believe it’s Zanu PF and I believe it’s Emmerson Mnangagwa and I know that Simbanegavi is involved,” Biti said.
“I know that a CIO operative called Gakanje is involved but there is no unanimity, there is no agreement of the harm that they want to do to me and to Advocate Nelson Chamisa. So it’s a systematic onslaught we saw it in Masvingo, we saw it in Mutare and Mashonaland Central where we were last week.
“It’s like we are in a war zone, a military zone. We have had to use funny vehicles, we have had to walk kilometres and kilometres to avoid blockades, to avoid roadblocks and abductions. It’s 41 years after independence and it’s like I am in Beirut (Lebanon) or Afghanistan and it’s ridiculous.”
Gakanje last year, threatened Biti with death after a heated telephone conversation, hours after the former finance minister was arrested by police in Karoi.
Before the threats, some Zanu PF supporters had gone to Biti’s Law Firm in Harare and left some placards with threatening messages.
Zanu PF accuses Biti of inviting sanctions that were imposed on Zimbabwe by the Western countries over rampant abuse of human rights, economic mismanagement and corruption. Nehanda Radio
Not new to beefing with hip hop artists, Zimdancehall chanter Enzo Ishall has hit back at female rapper Kikky Badass who threw a jab at him over the weekend.
Enzo Ishall hits back at Kikky Badass claims she gave him views by twerking on the video for Magate
In her latest song, Mapisarema with fellow rapper Crooger, Kikky insinuated that Enzo Ishall’s song Magate only got many views because she twerked in it.
“Andina time yema rappers asina ma bars ini ndine 5G. Wakanyimwa crown ye Dancehall now you wanna rap, thought you were O.G … If I ain’t hit your favorite rapper would he still shine? If I ain’t twerk on his hit would he made views?,” rapped Kikky.
Enzo has now responded to Kikky through an Instagram story saying if twerking brought so much views she would have had a lot of views than anyone else since she twerks for 3 minutes in all her videos.
“So twerking on my video brought more views ? (Laughing emojis).
“Woow, ain you twerking on all your videos?” asked Enzo.
Last week Kikky sparked controversy on social media after claiming she is the most paid hip hop artist in the country.
Enzo on the other hand has been laying low after admitting to suffering from depression. Nehanda Radio
“The largest luxury houseboat on Lake Kariba, the Zambezi Trader joins Zambezi Cruise and Safaris’ ever-expanding fleet,” said the company.
