𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

6/19/2025, 10:48:34 AM

*Murume anobata mukadzi chibharo achimutyisidzira nenyoka mhenyu* https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7rR4G5PO0x9W2tlh37 MURUME ane makore 25 okuberekwa wekuChitungwiza akasungwa achipomerwa kubata chibharo mumwe mukadzi kakawanda achimutyisidzira nenyoka mhenyu uye nedzvinyu. Justice Tatenda Charamba wekuZengeza anonzi akabata chibharo mukadzi ane makore 23 okuberekwa kubva muna2023 kusvika gore rino mushure mekunge amukwezva kuti apinde mumba make. Pakubata chibharo kekutanga, Justice anonzi akashandisa dziviriro uye akachengeta kondomu racho rakaputirwa nejira dzvuku kubva muna2023, achiti rakanga razorwa mushonga neimwe n’anga. Jira dzvuku iri rakanga rakanyorwa mazita avo vaviri uye Justice akatyisidzira mukadzi uyu kuti aisafanira kuroorwa kumwe. Aiti wanano yake yaizoparara kana akashinha nemumwe murume asiri iye. Justice anonzi akamanikidza mudzimai uyu kuti amuperekedze kurwizi rwaManyame achiti ndiko kwaifanirwa kuchenhurwa mhiko dzakange dzaitwa pakati pavo mushure mekushinha vose. Musi wa19 Kurume 2025 nenguva dza2pm, vaviri vakaenda kuLeisure Center Dam kunochenurwa. Justice aive akabata bhodhoro raive nekondomu rakashandiswa, nyoka, munhenga weshiri nemucheka mutsvuku waive wakanyorwa mazita avo. Anonzi akakanda bhodhoro iri mudhamu uye vaviri ava ndokuparadzana achiti akanga akange asunungura mukadzi uyu kubva mumunyama waigona kuzomutevera kana achinge azoroorwa. Musi wa21 Kurume 2025 nenguva dza5pm, Justice akashanyira mukadzi uyu kwaaigara ndokumuzivisa kuti imwe n’anga yakanga yamuudza kuti vakanga vaita hurongwa hwekuchenura nenzira isiri iyo. Akamuzivisa kuti mukadzi uyu ndiye aifanira kukanda bhodhoro mudhamu. Kuti vagadzirise hurongwa uhu, vaifanira kushinha vose kana kuti aizozviita nedzvinyu raaiva naro mubhegi rake. Mukadzi uyu anonzi akasarudza dzvinyu. Justice akamupa dzvinyu raive mugaba achibva aenda. Musi wa22 Kurume 2025 nenguva dza3pm, mukadzi uyu akashinha naJustice apo vaiva vakadzivirira nekuda kwekumutya. Mushure mechiitiko ichi, Justice akaudza mukadzi uyu kuti vaifanira kuzviita zvakare pane dzimwe nguva mbiri dzakasiyana uye kuti aisafanirwa kukanganisa “chirongwa” ichi. Justice anonzi akabata chibharo mukadzi uyu kakawanda kwemazuva mazhinji kunzvimbo dzakasiyana-siyana kusanganisira musango, achitora mabhurugwa ake ayo akazopisa pamwe chete nemakondomu akanga amboshandiswa. MunaKubvumbi, Justice akazivisa mudzimai uyu kuti n’anga yake yakamuudza kuti pavakaita chirongwa chekuchenura kekupedzisira pane vamwe vanhu vakavaona vachipisa mabhurugwa, saka hazvina kushanda. Akamuudza kuti vaifanira kushinha vose kubva musi wa10 Chikumi kusvika 30 Chikumi 2025 senzira yekugadzirisa kukanganisa kwavakange vaita. Mukadzi uyu akaramba ndokubva Justice amutumira mameseji achimutyisidzira iye namai vake nerufu. Akabva amhan’ara kumapurisa. Mutauriri wemapurisa mudunhu reHarare, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, vanotsinhira nyaya iyi. “Mapurisa akasunga mumwe murume nemhosva yekubata chibharo pamwe nekuwanikwa aine nyoka mhenyu yaakashandisa kutyisidzira mumhan’ari. “Kuferefetwa kwenyaya iyi kuri kuitwa uye ari kutarisirwa kumiswa pamberi pedare munguva pfupi iri kutevera. “Mumhan’ari akaendeswa kuchipatara cheChitungwiza Central Hospital kuti anoongororwa nachiremba,” vanodaro Insp Chakanza. Source: Kwayedza ------

𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

6/19/2025, 10:24:48 AM

Iran *Trump caution on Iran strike linked to doubts over ‘bunker buster’ bomb, officials say* .... https://chat.whatsapp.com/KCHvneWp7yFFOhKX1aRO38 .. Also Read : *Trump undecided on joining war on Iran as Khamenei warns him not to attack* ..... Exclusive: the likelihood of a successful US strike on the Iranian nuclear facility buried deep underground at Fordow is a topic of deep contention, defense officials say Donald Trump has suggested to defense officials it would make sense for the US to launch strikes against Iran only if the so-called “bunker buster” bomb was guaranteed to destroy the critical uranium enrichment facility at Fordow, according to people familiar with the deliberations. Trump was told that dropping the GBU-57s, a 13.6-tonne (30,000lb) bomb would effectively eliminate Fordow but he does not appear to be fully convinced, the people said, and has held off authorizing strikes as he also awaits the possibility that the threat of US involvement would lead Iran to talks. The effectiveness of GBU-57s has been a topic of deep contention at the Pentagon since the start of Trump’s term, according to two defense officials who were briefed that perhaps only a tactical nuclear weapon could be capable of destroying Fordow because of how deeply it is buried. Trump is not considering using a tactical nuclear weapon on Fordow and the possibility was not briefed by defense secretary Pete Hegseth and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen Dan Caine in meetings in the White House situation room, two people familiar with the matter said. But the defense officials who received the briefing were told that using conventional bombs, even as part of a wider strike package of several GBU-57s, would not penetrate deep enough underground and that it would only do enough damage to collapse tunnels and bury it under rubble. Those in the briefing heard that completely destroying Fordow, which Israeli intelligence estimates to go down as far as 300ft (90 metres), would require the US to soften the ground with conventional bombs and then ultimately drop a tactical nuclear bomb from a B2 bomber to wipe out the entire facility, a scenario Trump is not considering. The assessments were made by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), a component of the defense department that tested the GBU-57, as it reviewed the limitations of US military ordinance against a number of underground facilities. The situation underscores the complex nature of such a strike and what success would entail: dropping GBU-57s would likely set back Iran’s ability to obtain weapons-grade uranium for up to a few years, but not end the programme completely. Spokespeople for the White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Taking Fordow offline – either diplomatically or militarily – is seen as central to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found the site had enriched uranium to 83.7% – close to the 90% needed for nuclear weapons. Any effort to destroy Fordow, would require US involvement because Israel does not possess the ordnance to strike a facility that deep or the planes to carry them. The difficulty with using the GBU-57 to target Fordow, according to the two officials familiar with the DTRA briefing, lies in part with the characteristics of the facility which is buried inside a mountain – and the fact that the bomb has never been used in a comparable situation before. “It would not be a one and done,” a former Dtra deputy director, retired Maj Gen Randy Manner, said of the GBU-57’s limitations, adding that Fordow could be quickly rebuilt. “It might set the program back six months to a year. It sounds good for TV but it’s not real.” The bomb is commonly known as a “bunker buster” because it was designed to destroy underground bunkers, but it can be carried only by a B2 bomber that has air superiority and requires a solid GPS signal to lock in on its target. While Israel has said it has established air superiority over Iran, a successful strike would still require any GPS jammers and other defenses to be taken out in advance, and for the the GBU-57 to penetrate deep enough into the ground to neutralize the facility. Iran built the nuclear enrichment facility at Fordow underground to protect it from the threat of aerial attacks. In 1981, Israel bombed a nuclear facility near Baghdad that was located above ground in order to stop Iraq developing nuclear weapons. In recent years, Israel has devised a variety of plans to destroy Fordow without the help of the United States. In one instance, Israel proposed loading helicopters with commandos who could fight their way into the facility and blow it up – an option that Trump has dismissed, according to people familiar with the matter. ----- *Trump undecided on joining war on Iran as Khamenei warns him not to attack* ‘I may do it, I may not do it,’ US president says as Tehran reportedly prepares to strike US bases in response Donald Trump said he had not decided whether or not to take his country into Israel’s new war, as Iran’s supreme leader said the US would face “irreparable damage” if it deployed its military to attack. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel had made a “huge mistake” by launching the war, in his first comments since Friday. “The Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage,” he said in a statement read out by a presenter on state TV. Tehran was preparing missiles and other equipment to strike US bases in the region if Washington joined the war, the New York Times reported, citing US intelligence officials. Hours later, Trump said Iranian officials had made contact to request a meeting and proposed a visit to the White House. He told reporters on the White House lawn that he felt “it’s very late to be talking” but he had not yet made a final decision about entering the war. “I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do,” he said. That lack of clarity about what comes next may extend to the president himself, who was still in deal-making mode, one ally said. The US is understood to want to keep all its options open to exert maximum pressure on Tehran. It was moving air tankers for midair refuelling to Spain and Greece, where they could be used to supply B-2 bombers on a long run from the Whiteman airbase in Missouri to Iran. Map It is understood that no request has been put to the UK for use of the Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean for a B-2 bombing run or of the Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus for the refuelling aircraft, though the latter is considered likely. Other US military assets are on their way. The Pentagon ordered the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to sail from Singapore to the Middle East, which is expected to take between five and seven days. The USS Carl Vinson is already in the Arabian Sea. Qatar and Oman were trying to mediate a ceasefire, the Jerusalem Post reported, hours after at least one aircraft associated with the Iranian government flew to Muscat in Oman, flight tracking showed. Iran sent a message that it was willing to negotiate a deal with the US, but Israel needed to “calm things down”, a source told the Jerusalem Post. Trump’s claim that Iranians had offered to come to the White House for talks prompted an enraged response from Iran’s mission to the UN. “No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House,” the mission posted on a social media account. The foreign ministers of the UK, France and Germany are planning to meet their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Geneva on Friday in what could represent a potential diplomatic breakthrough after five days of Israeli bombing. Final confirmation from Tehran is still pending, but if confirmed it would represent the first face-to-face diplomatic meeting since the crisis began. In a social media post late on Wednesday, Araghchi wrote that Iran “remain[s] committed to diplomacy. As before, we are serious and forward-looking in our outlook.” The talks in Geneva will focus on how Iran is willing to reduce or close its nuclear programme, and will also be attended by the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. But Araghchi has refused to meet Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, on the grounds that the US is supporting Israel’s attacks. The Trump administration had initially distanced itself from the war, saying Israel had acted alone, but in recent days it has stepped up its rhetoric and its military presence in the Middle East. Bunker-busting bombs Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility is at the heart of demands for the US to join the war, both in Israel and from hawks in Washington. Damage from strikes on other facilities could be repaired within months, Israeli military officials and nuclear experts say. Destroying or crippling Fordow would have much more of a long-term impact. It is buried deep below a mountain near the holy city of Qom, and the only munitions that could possibly damage or destroy it are the most powerful US bunker-buster bombs, which only US B-2s can carry. Penetration depth of bunker-busting bomb Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said the war had been an entirely Israeli campaign but it “will not end without damaging Fordow”, in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 television. If the US does not join, Israel may still have military options but they would be riskier and more complicated. It could fly in special operations troops for a ground operation, like one that targeted a missile factory in Syria last year, or disable Fordow by attacking critical support systems such as its power supply. Israel says it launched the war in self-defence, to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, but Netanyahu and several ministers have made no secret of their desire for regime change. Trump reportedly vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, and critics have questioned why Israel targeted civilian institutions such as the state broadcaster. On Wednesday, the defence minister, Israel Katz, said Israel was bombing “symbols of power” in Iran and suggested the regime could be in its last days. “A tornado is sweeping through Tehran,” he wrote in a post on X. “Symbols of power are being bombed and collapsing, from the broadcasting authority and soon other targets, and masses of residents are fleeing. This is how dictatorships collapse.” The escalating conflict has prompted a growing international chorus of concern. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, offered to mediate between Iran and Israel, after one of his top diplomats urged Washington not to consider “speculative options” for intervention. On a sixth night of attacks, Israel bombed a site that manufactured uranium centrifuges and also said it had targeted a missile component factory and destroyed five attack helicopters. Iran’s military has been battered but not fully destroyed. An advanced Israeli drone was shot down on Wednesday, despite Israel claiming control of the skies over western Iran and Tehran. Overnight, Iran fired 15 missiles at Israel. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Israeli strikes had hit two centrifuge productions in Iran, one in the capital and another just outside it. Iran has reported at least 224 deaths from Israeli attacks, mostly civilians, although it has not updated that toll for several days. A US-based watchdog, Human Rights Activists in Iran, says at least 585 people have been killed and more than 1,300 injured. Iranian attacks on Israel have killed 24 people, all civilians. Israeli air defences have intercepted most of the 400 missiles fired by Tehran, with only about 10% hitting targets inside the country. Map Israel could become more vulnerable if the war continues much longer as supplies of its most effective air-defence missiles are running low, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing a US official. Its Arrow interceptors are complex missiles that cost several million dollars each, and they have a long production process. Although the US has been supporting Israel’s defences with Thaad ground-based systems, interceptions by F-16 jets and missiles launched by the navy, it does not have unlimited supplies of these defensive systems either. Iran is thought to still have a substantial proportion of the estimated 2,000 missiles that were in its arsenal at the start of the war. Israeli strikes have focused on launcher systems that are needed to fire them. Additional reporting by Quique Kierszenbaum ----------

𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

6/19/2025, 11:31:47 AM

*Harare finalises Master Plan* https://chat.whatsapp.com/IfsYfBmCx8mCtw9ldegiFN .... Source: https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-254133.html Harare City Council is on the brink of finalising a comprehensive new master plan, a pivotal development set to reshape the capital's urban landscape and bring order to decades of fragmented growth. The document is expected to receive full government approval before the end of the year. City Chief Planner James Mazvimba confirmed the progress during an address at the Zimbabwe Real Estate Public Lecture, stating that over 80 percent of the written component is complete. The city is now entering the crucial proposal phase, in which development blueprints are being refined based on input from local authorities and urban planning studies. "We should be through with the master plan in the shortest possible time," said Mazvimba. "On the 2nd of July, we are going to have a validation process with the government. In terms of timelines, it shouldn't take long. By year-end, we expect to have a functional, approved master plan document." The plan, now in its final drafting stage, has been years in the making and is a direct response to a directive by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who called on all local authorities to replace outdated urban development frameworks. Harare's current master plan, created in 1994, is now widely viewed as obsolete in the face of massive population growth, informal settlements, and expanding infrastructure demands. "The call to action by His Excellency was about addressing the outdatedness of our plans," said Mazvimba. "In Harare, the 1994 document still guides development, despite the city's vast changes since then. This master plan is our effort to reset and realign." Key focus areas in the new plan include modern land use designation, integrated transport systems, infrastructure investment, and environmental sustainability. The goal, Mazvimba said, is to turn Harare into a modern, world-class city capable of meeting the needs of its current and future residents. Once the plan is fully drafted, the public will be invited to participate in the process through consultations that will allow residents to provide feedback, suggest changes, and identify potential gaps in the proposals. "After formulating the master plan, we'll present it to residents," he said. "They'll get a chance to review our proposals and suggest additions or corrections. If certain areas have been overlooked, the public will be able to raise those concerns." Mazvimba underscored the critical role the plan will play in bringing coherence to Harare's development, particularly in light of recent challenges with unregulated construction, land disputes, and failing service delivery systems. "A master plan guides and coordinates development. It helps ensure consistency and order in urban planning. Without it, you get the discord and disjointed development patterns we often see," he added. With the validation process scheduled for early July and public consultations to follow, Harare is poised to adopt a long-overdue planning blueprint that could lay the foundation for a sustainable, well-managed future. Source - Business Times

𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

6/19/2025, 11:02:22 AM

*BREAKING NEWS: Catastrophic Earthquake Devastates Central Colombia* https://chat.whatsapp.com/JQlnQ6YEtx89G1W4LTCGJj A powerful earthquake has struck central Colombia, leaving a trail of destruction across multiple cities. The most dramatic scene emerged from downtown Bogotá, where a multi-story apartment building partially collapsed, leaning precariously onto a neighboring structure. Emergency services have confirmed multiple fatalities and dozens of injuries, with many residents still feared trapped under the rubble. 🪽The earthquake measured 6.3 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located near Villavicencio, approximately 80 kilometers southeast of the capital. The tremor struck at approximately 10:47 AM local time, shaking the ground for nearly 45 seconds and felt as far as Medellín and Cali. In the image captured from the scene, debris litters the street below a red-brick residential tower that has suffered catastrophic structural failure. Balconies have collapsed, air conditioning units hang dangerously from cracked walls, and steel reinforcements are visibly snapped. Rescue teams and firefighters can be seen coordinating in the foreground, backed by emergency vehicles and heavy machinery as search-and-rescue operations continue through dust and chaos. 🪽Developing story — more updates to follow. Lets pray for Columbia 🙏🙏 ------

𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

6/19/2025, 5:00:27 AM

HOT TOPICS ONLINE ........... *Mnangagwa cronies get lucrative tenders* (B24) *Couple loses Trabablas court case* (B24) *9 rural teachers arrested for protesting* (B24) *Armed robber mysteriously freed by High Court in 2021 has been shot after being caught stealing from a Harare mbinga* (myZimbabwe) *ZRP Calls For Law To Ban Night Driving For Public Transport* (iharare) *First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Dubai Meeting with Indian Billionaire Sparks Outrage* (iharare) *Cabinet proposes 98 day paid maternity leave for female employees* (Zwnews) *Saying Zimbabwe is full of corruption is lack of patriotism- says ZANU PF MP* (Zwnews) *Mafume Faces Prison as Harare Commission of Inquiry Concludes* (ZimEye) ............ ©Zoomic Media https://chat.whatsapp.com/IfsYfBmCx8mCtw9ldegiFN ...... *Mnangagwa cronies get lucrative tenders* (B24) https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaD22E27YScxhpM8Re26 On 5 May 2025, Youth Minister Tinoda Machakaire posted a seemingly heartfelt message on social media expressing deep concern over the dire state of Zimbabwe's public health institutions. Visiting a hospital to see a relative, Machakaire described conditions as “deeply moving” and a clear indication of the challenges facing many Zimbabweans. He appealed directly to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to personally visit hospitals, emphasizing the importance of firsthand understanding. At face value, the minister's remarks appeared to be a brave and sincere call for urgent government intervention in a collapsing healthcare system desperately in need of rescue. Many Zimbabweans praised Machakaire for his courage and timely observations. However, skeptics questioned the unusual openness of a youthful ZANU PF minister criticizing the system and calling on the President to act, suspecting a hidden agenda. Indeed, shortly after Machakaire's message, President Mnangagwa launched a high-profile hospital tour, visiting Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Sally Mugabe Hospital, and the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) warehouse. Behind the scenes, plans were already underway involving multi-million-dollar contracts linked to Mnangagwa's associates — deals that could cumulatively exceed US$1 billion. Among the first contracts to surface was a massive US$437 million tender awarded without competitive bidding to controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo's South African-based firm, TTM Global Medical Exports (Pty) Limited. The contract covers the supply of cancer treatment equipment to hospitals across Zimbabwe's 10 provinces over four years. TTM Global Medical Exports, registered in November 2024 and using Chivayo's luxury penthouse address in Sandton, Johannesburg, received an upfront deposit of US$52.5 million shortly after the March signing. The contract pays out over US$109 million annually and includes monthly installments exceeding US$9 million. Chivayo, known for flamboyant spending and lavish donations to political allies, has been embroiled in previous controversies, including a US$100 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission tender scandal and investigations by South African authorities over suspicious money movements. The unfolding situation reveals Machakaire's public call for action as a prelude to the awarding of lucrative tenders to Mnangagwa's cronies, raising serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and fair competition in the procurement process. Critics warn that politically connected contracts often lead to inflated prices, corruption, and inefficient use of public resources. Parallel to these developments, President Mnangagwa struck a landmark healthcare deal during a visit to Minsk, Belarus, in mid-May. Alongside Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Mnangagwa agreed on a comprehensive plan to modernize Zimbabwe's healthcare infrastructure, supply medicines, and eventually produce pharmaceuticals locally. This US$300 million agreement includes upgrading facilities, equipment, and medical service quality, beginning with Parirenyatwa Hospital. The Belarus deal was the culmination of earlier high-level negotiations in Harare, attended by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Reserve Bank Governor John Mushayavanhu, and Kudakwashe Tagwirei — a close Mnangagwa associate involved as a presidential health sector adviser despite not traveling to Belarus. In addition, investigative journalist Hopewell Chin'ono has revealed further concerns surrounding Mnangagwa's awarding of a multi-million-dollar hospital refurbishment contract to Prevail International Group of Companies, owned by Tempter Paul Tungwarara, Mnangagwa's controversial investment adviser. Registered in January 2025, Prevail International has received numerous government contracts without tendering, including for cybersecurity, housing projects, solar initiatives, and hospital refurbishments. Tungwarara's company operates from modest residential addresses in Zimbabwe, Dubai, and the UK despite handling inflated government projects. He faces multiple corruption allegations, including fraudulent property deals and unpaid loans, yet enjoys diplomatic privileges and a diplomatic passport granted by Mnangagwa. The revelations underscore a disturbing pattern: Zimbabwe's collapsing health sector is being commercialized and monetized by Mnangagwa's inner circle through non-transparent contracts worth nearly a billion US dollars. Public health challenges are exploited as opportunities for political patronage and personal enrichment. As the President's orchestrated hospital visits raise hopes for reform, analysts warn that without genuine transparency and accountability, Zimbabwe's healthcare crisis will deepen — serving not the citizens, but the coffers of the politically connected few. ...... *Couple loses Trabablas court case* (B24) The High Court has ruled in favour of the State in a high-profile land dispute, reaffirming the legal precedence of public infrastructure development over individual property claims when fair compensation has been rendered. The case involved Mr Forbes Goka and Mrs Chipo Goka, who had taken the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to court, alleging that the government had unlawfully encroached on their property during the construction of the Trabablas Road Interchange in Harare. The Gokas claimed they had sold only 555 square metres of their property to the ministry in August 2022, for which they received $251,070. Confident that the remainder of their land was secure, they fenced it off, only to later discover, on April 22, 2025, that contractors had entered the fenced area and commenced construction works. The couple filed an urgent application seeking a spoliation order - a legal remedy to restore possession of property they said had been unlawfully taken. They argued that the disputed land was never part of the sale agreement and that their rights as private landowners had been violated. However, the Ministry of Transport presented a different version of events. It claimed the correct size of the land sold was 2,150 square metres, not 555 square metres, attributing the discrepancy to a clerical error in the agreement. The ministry maintained that the Gokas had already been compensated for the full area, including the disputed portion. The ministry further argued that the couple had voluntarily vacated the land and raised procedural objections to the Gokas' application, citing lack of urgency, a defective draft order, and failure to disclose material facts. Presiding over the matter, Justice Joel Mambara dismissed the application, delivering a strongly worded judgment that found both procedural and substantive faults in the Gokas' case. Justice Mambara noted that the applicants had failed to provide compelling evidence of unlawful dispossession, and that the spoliation remedy could not be granted where key facts had been withheld or distorted. He pointed out inconsistencies in the Gokas' founding affidavit and ruled that their claims lacked a clear legal foundation. "The court found no proof that the Ministry forcibly deprived the applicants of possession," said Justice Mambara. "On the contrary, the evidence suggests that the land had been vacated after payment, and that no spoliation had occurred." In balancing the rights of individuals against public interests, the judge ruled in favour of the broader societal need, especially given that the Trabablas Road Interchange, commissioned last week by President Mnangagwa, is a key national infrastructure project designed to improve traffic flow and regional connectivity. Justice Mambara underscored the principle that individual remedies cannot override national development, especially when fair compensation has been duly paid. While acknowledging the Gokas' sense of loss, the court made it clear that their attempt to halt the project could not be allowed to derail progress that benefits the nation at large. The ruling strengthens the legal framework governing state-led land acquisitions, and reinforces the judiciary's support for development projects implemented in line with the law and public interest. ...... *9 rural teachers arrested for protesting* (B24) The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has strongly condemned what it describes as the targeting, harassment, and arrest of its members in Mutare, Manicaland province, after a peaceful demonstration held on Tuesday, June 17. ARTUZ's Manicaland provincial leadership organised the demonstration following the submission of a petition to the Public Service Commission in Mutare. The petition highlighted urgent concerns about teachers' working and living conditions, reflecting resolutions from the union's recent national congress aimed at holding duty bearers accountable. The union invoked Section 65 of the Zimbabwean Constitution, which guarantees the right to fair remuneration—a right ARTUZ argues is currently being denied to educators. Additionally, ARTUZ pointed to Section 59, which protects the right to peaceful petitioning and demonstrations. In response to the peaceful protest, ARTUZ criticised what it called the "senseless targeting" and "overzealousness of the police," which led to the harassment and arrest of nine union members. Some of those detained were held at Sakubva Police Station, while others were taken to Mutare Central Police Station. Among the arrested was a nursing mother, whose child, ARTUZ said, "will forever be traumatised by this barbarism," underscoring the union's outrage at the treatment of its members. ARTUZ has since appealed to the Police Commissioner General to intervene and ensure the immediate release of the detained teachers. The union also plans to engage the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the International Labour Organisation to document what it calls "gross abuses of human and workers' rights." Reaffirming its dedication to fighting injustice in Zimbabwe's education sector, ARTUZ commended parents and teachers' association (PTA) members who joined the protest. The union reiterated its commitment to championing the right to education for all learners alongside improving the welfare of educators. Zimbabwean teachers, ARTUZ insists, will continue their struggle until their demands for fair treatment and adequate support are met. .......... *Armed robber mysteriously freed by High Court in 2021 has been shot after being caught stealing from a Harare mbinga* (myZimbabwe) By Sekai Moyo Harare – A suspected armed robber, previously granted bail by the High Court in 2021 under mysterious circumstances, found himself back in custody after being shot during a recent robbery attempt in Harare. Gift Moffat, 39, of Glaudina Park, appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo, who convened court at Parirenyatwa Hospital where Moffat is currently receiving treatment. Moffat was not asked to plead and has been remanded in custody until the finalisation of the matter. He is now under the guard of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services. Prosecutor Nomsa Kangara alleged that on June 15, Moffat and his accomplices conspired to steal from Takunda Ushe, 45, the managing director of Financial Clearing Bureau. The gang, armed with an unidentified pistol, allegedly broke into the firm’s premises at number 24 Harvey Road and stole US$565. One of the security guards heard the commotion and alerted Ushe, who then contacted the Safeguard Security Company Reaction Team. Upon arriving at the scene, the Reaction Team guards witnessed Moffat and his accomplices exiting the offices through a window. A chase ensued, and the Reaction Team managed to apprehend Moffat after he was shot. The caretaker also caught another robber, but the suspect managed to escape after being rescued by his accomplices, who struck the caretaker with a pistol butt at the back of the head. This is not the first time that Gift Moffat has been arrested for armed robbery. The incident has brought renewed attention to Moffat’s past and the circumstances surrounding his release on bail in 2021. In April 2021, High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi released Brian Mubaiwa, accused of robbing a Chinese national of gold worth US$50,000, on bail. At the time, Mubaiwa’s co-accused was Gift Moffat. This was despite the fact that the lower court as well as the police had vehemently denied that Moffat and Mubaiwa be granted bail, arguing that once freed, the duo would certainly flee. However, Justice Chitapi granted Mubaiwa ZW$10,000 bail after claiming that the State did not have a strong case against the 47-year-old and his co-accused. Mubaiwa and Moffat had been remanded in custody by the Harare Magistrates’ Courts on February 8, following their arrest for allegedly storming Zhang Guanghui’s home on 2 February 2021. The duo, who were allegedly part of a five-member gang armed with two pistons and a pair of catapults, reportedly jumped over the precast wall surrounding the house and manhandled Zhang and five other occupants. The gang allegedly tied Zhang up with cables and assaulted him before escaping with 600 grammes of gold as well as valuables worth US$50,000. In delivering his judgment, Justice Chitapi said the prosecution had failed to present a strong enough case to convince him to deny Mubaiwa bail. “In weighing the interest of justice against the right of the applicant to his personal freedom, I am inclined in favour of granting bail,” Justice Chitapi ruled. “I do appreciate that the offence is serious. However, the circumstances of each case will determine how the seriousness of the offence is likely to impact on the risk of the applicant absconding.” “The State case is not open and shut, if one considers the allegations made and the evidence said to be available, a conviction is not given.” “The interest of justice will be served if bail is granted and the ensuing order is made. The applicant is granted bail. He shall deposit Z$10 000 with the Clerk of Court at the Harare, Magistrates’ Courts,” Justice Chitapi ruled at the time. He also stated that the prosecution’s concerns that Mubaiwa would flee from justice were unfounded, as he had proven to be of fixed abode. “The applicant does not possess any travelling documents. He is just a peasant farmer with no assets which can sustain him were he to be minded to flee the jurisdiction of the court,” Justice Chitapi said. “He offered to report at Guruve Police Station as a check mechanism to ensure his continued availability,” Justice Chitapi added. Moffat’s co-accused in the 2021 armed robbery case, Brian Mubaiwa, is currently at large after he, and Moffat both absconded the April 2021 bail conditions they were given. Moffat’s recent arrest raises questions about the effectiveness of the bail system and the potential for repeat offenders to continue engaging in criminal activity. The case is likely to spark further debate about the balance between individual rights and the need to protect the public from dangerous criminals. ...... *ZRP Calls For Law To Ban Night Driving For Public Transport* (iharare) ZRP pushes for new law banning night driving for public transport The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has called for the urgent introduction of a law banning night-time driving by public service vehicles, citing high accident rates and unsafe road conditions during the night. The proposal follows a tragic accident along the Karoi–Binga Road on Sunday evening, which claimed four lives. The incident has reignited long-standing concerns about the dangers of travelling after dark in Zimbabwe. ZRP urges lawmakers to act Speaking at a recent road safety event in Harare, ZRP national spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, laid bare the police’s position: “The accident in question occurred at night, and given the cold weather these days, visibility is significantly compromised. We have consistently urged motorists to avoid night driving to help reduce road carnage and promote safety,” said Commissioner Nyathi. “Unfortunately, we currently do not have a legal framework in place to regulate or restrict night driving for public transport vehicles, something we strongly believe Parliament should urgently consider.” The Commissioner said the police are concerned about recurring fatalities, especially during the winter months when fog, poor visibility, and driver fatigue are at their worst. Government backs UN safety goal Speaking at the “Be Road Safe Zimbabwe 2025” campaign launch, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Honourable Joshua Sacco, confirmed government’s commitment to tackling road accidents: “As the government, we recognise the threat posed by road traffic fatalities to health and development. We are fully committed to the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), with the goal of reducing accidents by 50 percent by 2030,” Sacco said. He said strategies already underway include introducing an electronic traffic management system and procuring more breathalysers to tighten law enforcement at night. Statistics from the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe indicate that approximately 2,000 people die annually in road traffic accidents. Many of these occur at night, when visibility is lower, and animals, pedestrians and other hazards are harder to detect. Experts and drivers agree on dangers Transport experts, drivers and road users have echoed similar sentiments over the years. One experienced driver quoted in The Herald explained the strain caused by headlights at night: “Most accidents occur at night hence day driving is safer. Older drivers especially struggle to recover quickly from the glare of bright lights. This makes it harder to spot other dangers on the road,” the driver said. In an older article by The Herald, it was noted that depth perception, colour recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised at night. Vision, which contributes between 80–95 percent to reaction time, becomes significantly impaired. Some drivers have shared their experiences online, warning others against driving at night. One Reddit user said: “Only travel at night if you have to. The roads are unpredictable and dangerous, poorly lit and marked.” Another added: “There are lots of stray animals. The farms along the highways have no boundary fences.” Meanwhile, CMED and the Ministry of Transport have continued to promote hashtags such as #AvoidIfYouCan and #dipyourheadlights, urging drivers to use caution or avoid night travel altogether. The push by ZRP could soon lead to tighter laws targeting public transport operators, especially buses and kombis that continue to operate into the night, despite repeated warnings. ...... *First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Dubai Meeting with Indian Billionaire Sparks Outrage* (iharare) Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, met with Indian billionaire Prateek Suri during her visit to Dubai, and the internet has a lot to say about it. The First Lady is currently attending the 7th Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025 in Dubai. On Wednesday, 18 June, she posted on her official X account that she’d had a side meeting with Suri, the CEO of Maser Group. She said the two explored several areas of investment in Zimbabwe, including education, mining, infrastructure, and sports. “Today, I met with Mr. Prateek Suri, an Indian billionaire and CEO of Maser Group, on the sidelines of the 7th Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025 underway in Dubai, and we discussed several investment opportunities in Zimbabwe in education, sports, mining and infrastructure development sectors,” she said. According to her, the Indian billionaire expressed interest in building a university in Harare with on-campus accommodation. Mnangagwa said she invited Suri to visit Zimbabwe for follow-up meetings with Cabinet Ministers. “Mr. Suri expressed interest in the construction of a university in Harare with student accommodation facilities at the campus. I invited him to Zimbabwe to have further deliberations with the relevant Cabinet Ministers because Zimbabwe is open for business,” Mnangagwa added. But not everyone was impressed. While some commended her for showing initiative and promoting education, others questioned her authority to conduct state business, with some even accusing her of running “a parallel government.” Here’s a snapshot of how Zimbabweans reacted: @mcbaudy: Thank you, Amai, for your heartfelt efforts to uplift our youth! Your role as a mother figure shines through in advocating for more universities and student accommodation in Zimbabwe, truly a blessing for our students who deserve opportunities at home. I strongly support the vision of a new university in Harare, and I urge that it be designed as an inclusive and accessible campus, ensuring every student, regardless of ability, can thrive with proper facilities and support. Let’s build a future where no one is left behind! #EducationForAll #InclusiveEducation @Manpardyfp: On whose behalf do you invite them? Are you in government now, Magogo? @KwadaddyJay78: Why don’t you support local businesses to grow? These takers will never end poverty in Zimbabwe. Have your own to grow this economy and do our own thing as Zimbabwe, not this nonsense of inviting takers who do not respect your very own people. It’s so so wrong. Aaaaaaa nxa @redbakkie13: You might be ED’s wife (fake first lady), but that does not give you the legal right to discuss govt business with foreigners, especially seeing you even mention ‘billionaire & mining’ in the same breath.. You are running a parallel structure, Auxie, that’s why you have the audacity! ...... *Cabinet proposes 98 day paid maternity leave for female employees* (Zwnews) Cabinet has considered and approved the Public Service Amendment Bill, which proposes 98 days paid maternity leave for female employees. The Bill prohibits workplace harassment and ensures non-discriminatory appointments and promotions. Apparently, Cabinet also approved a homegrown traffic management system developed by TelOne. This AI-powered system, using IoT and big data, aims to reduce congestion, accidents, and violations by monitoring traffic, issuing fines, and integrating with national databases. Zwnews .... *Saying Zimbabwe is full of corruption is lack of patriotism- says ZANU PF MP* (Zwnews) ZANU PF Member of Parliament for Zvimba South Taurai Malinganiso says; saying Zimbabwe is full of corruption which can not be proved is lack of patriotism. Making a contribution in the National Assembly Malinganiso said the statement is a wrong marketing altogether. “Lack of patriotism. Without fear or favour, that is a lack of patriotism,” he said. The country recently promulgated a law which seeks to punish unpatriotic acts. Critics bemoaned the introduction of the controversial “Patriotic Act” saying it will contribute to the erosion of political and civil liberties in a country that has been in the grip of one political party since independence in 1980. President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the new act, officially called the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Amendment Act, 2023, into law on 14 July 2024. His government said the law was indispensable to holding accountable those who jeopardised national interests. It allows for monitoring and suppressing of political organisations and journalists who are critical of the government. It carries harsh sentences, including death, for acts the government deems to be “unpatriotic”. Human rights defenders say such a law, in a country with a history of abuses of individual freedoms, will further undermine the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the constitution. Zwnews ....... *Mafume Faces Prison as Harare Commission of Inquiry Concludes* (ZimEye) By Municipal Reporter-Sengezo Tshabangu close ally and Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume could face jail time after Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe recommended prosecution of city officials implicated in corruption and poor governance, following the conclusion of a year-long Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of the Harare City Council. The commission, chaired by retired High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda, submitted its final report to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House on Tuesday. Zimbabwean teak furniture The inquiry was initiated by the President in 2023 to investigate suspected financial mismanagement, corruption, and service delivery failures within Zimbabwe’s capital city. The commission’s findings painted a grim picture of systemic rot at Town House. It exposed widespread corruption, abuse of office, and lavish spending by officials under Mafume’s leadership—despite the council routinely citing a lack of funds to justify failure to deliver basic services to residents. “Harare City Council is decayed to the core,” Garwe said following the handover of the report. “That is why the President established the Commission of Inquiry—to investigate the severe governance failures in our urban local authorities. Harare is the worst, followed by Bulawayo.” He said the commission uncovered shocking levels of extravagance, with top city officials awarding themselves hefty perks and allowances while ordinary residents grappled with unsafe drinking water, garbage piles, and deteriorating roads. Garwe indicated that if the commission’s report provides evidence of criminal conduct, including financial impropriety, the implicated officials—Mayor Mafume included—could face arrest and prosecution. “The President will study the report and act on its recommendations. Where criminal activities are confirmed, those responsible should face the full wrath of the law, including imprisonment,” Garwe said. Justice Cheda confirmed that the commission conducted nine months of public hearings, during which various stakeholders—including residents, city employees, and experts—testified about the dysfunction at Town House. The report is expected to trigger a major clean-up of the city’s governance structures once reviewed by the President. Mafume, as the sitting mayor, remains politically and administratively accountable for the state of affairs at the Harare City Council. His future now hinges on the decisions President Mnangagwa will take after reviewing the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry.Zimbabwean teak furniture -----

𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

6/19/2025, 11:16:26 AM

*Ten Survive Light Aircraft Crash Landing in Mbire* https://chat.whatsapp.com/LZKZQ2406yrAJTc2DBgiKp Ten people narrowly escaped unhurt after a light aircraft crash-landed at Kanyemba Airstrip in Mbire District on Wednesday evening. According to local Mugonapanja village head, Tengo Mugonapanja, the plane was en route from Harare to Kafuko Safaris in Mozambique when it encountered difficulties and made an emergency landing at the remote airstrip. “The plane came down hard but thankfully, no one was hurt,” Mugonapanja said. While the visibly shaken pilot did not shed any light on the crash, the plane sustained some damages. ZimEye ......

𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

6/19/2025, 11:55:00 AM

*Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship explodes into flames at test site* https://chat.whatsapp.com/D1lDFkcUNWRGM9diDcyqHW An explosion occured at the SpaceX Starship test site in Texas on Wednesday night, with the flare bursting into flames at around 11pm local time. Dramatic footage has emerged of a SpaceX flight erupting into flames during a routine test in Texas on Wednesday evening. The blaze occurred at approximately 11pm when the Starship 36 rocket was undergoing a static fire test at Elon Musk's Starbase testing site. In the shocking video, the rocket's nose abruptly bursts open, causing the screen to momentarily flash white. It is understood that the static fire test is a pre-flight procedure where a rocket engine or set of engines are ignited while the vehicle is securely fastened to the launch mount. This indicates that the rocket was not scheduled for launch on Wednesday night when the explosion took place The intensity of the explosion was such that local residents reported their windows shaking and dishes rattling, as per ValleyCentral, and has become a common occurance on Space X tests as they are just that . . . tests designed to catch any snags while no humans are actually on board the ships. Firefighters were promptly dispatched to the scene, with the City of Port Isabel informing residents that SpaceX 'experienced a spacecraft anomaly during testing at its facility' and that it is monitoring the situation, according to KRGV reports, reports the Mirror. This incident follows just weeks after the company's mega rocket Starship exploded. During its ninth demo, the 403-foot (123-metre) rocket launched from the Texas base, only to undergo "a rapid unscheduled disassembly" - resulting in it bursting apart. Elon Musk, speaking post-demo, admitted: "I think I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics," reflecting on his stint as Donald Trump's senior advisor with a candid 13-word admission. Last month, the 53 year old tech mogul acknowledged he'd have to dial back his political involvement to focus more on other ventures. Among these could be his SpaceX ambitions, as the Starship is still waiting for its successful launch. The billionaire mused: "It's less time than people think (on politics), because the media is going to over-represent any political stuff, because political bones of contention get a lot of traction in the media." He clarified: "It's not like I left the companies. It was a relative time allocation that probably was a little too high on the government side, and I've reduced that significantly in recent weeks." Among these could be his SpaceX ambitions, as the Starship is still waiting for its successful launch. The billionaire mused: "It's less time than people think (on politics), because the media is going to over-represent any political stuff, because political bones of contention get a lot of traction in the media." He clarified: "It's not like I left the companies. It was a relative time allocation that probably was a little too high on the government side, and I've reduced that significantly in recent weeks." .....

𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

6/19/2025, 11:45:26 AM

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𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

6/19/2025, 5:38:08 AM

*Hospital in southern Israel hit by Iranian missile* Also Read: *Iranian regime collapse would be serious blow for Russia* https://chat.whatsapp.com/IN2ykxJIr7iJt6mdfkTjti Soroko hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba has been hit by a ballistic missile, Israeli officials have said, after Iran launched its latest wave of retaliatory airstrikes on the country. Unverified footage on social media showed people running through corridors filled with dust and detritus and doctors standing outside amid wreckage from the building. “BREAKING: A direct hit has been reported at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, southern Israel. More details to follow,” the foreign ministry posted on X. A spokesperson for the hospital reported “damage to the hospital and extensive damage in various areas. We are currently assessing the damage, including injuries. We ask the public not to come to the hospital at this time.” Sirens sounded across the country earlier, and Israeli media reported that several loud blasts were also heard in central Israel with several other direct hits reported. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. *Iranian regime collapse would be serious blow for Russia* When a group of Russian and Iranian foreign policy officials arranged to meet in Moscow for a conference titled “Russian-Iranian cooperation in a changing world”, they probably did not anticipate just how timely that phrase would turn out to be. Seated around a table on Wednesday at the President hotel near the Kremlin, officials from both sides were forced to confront a stark new reality: Iran’s regime – a key ally of Moscow – is facing its most serious threat in decades. As Israel and Donald Trump demand Tehran’s “unconditional surrender”, Moscow is growing increasingly anxious about the fate of Iran, while tacitly acknowledging its limited ability to influence the unfolding events. Nikita Smagin, an independent expert on Russia-Iran ties, said: “It has long been clear that Russia wouldn’t defend Iran militarily, because it is simply not prepared to risk a confrontation with Israel and the United States for Iran’s sake.” Analysts say Moscow’s cautious response reflects a cold political calculus: prioritising its war in Ukraine while simultaneously trying to dissuade the US from direct involvement in a conflict that could lead to regime change in Tehran. The Kremlin is unlikely to arm Iran, let alone get involved in the fighting, said a Russian source with ties to the foreign ministry. “Moscow clearly doesn’t want conflict with Trump and is also doing everything it can to urge the US to return to diplomacy. But Russia’s priority remains avoiding any moves that could undermine its warming ties with the new US administration or prompt a shift in Trump’s stance on Ukraine,” the source said. Still, the Kremlin stands to lose from a prolonged US-backed Israeli military campaign that devastates Iran’s economic and military infrastructure and threatens the survival of the regime in Tehran. “If the current Iranian regime collapses, it would be both a strategic and reputational blow for Russia,” the source with ties to the Russian foreign ministry said. “A bigger loss than the fall of Damascus,” the source added, referring to Moscow’s diminished influence over Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, a longtime Kremlin ally whose eventual defeat marked the end of a costly decade-long Russian intervention. On the surface, Russia’s muted response and restrained condemnations stand in contrast to the deepening ties it has forged with Iran since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine – a war that placed Moscow alongside Tehran among the regimes most heavily hit by sanctions. In the early months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Iran proved to be an important partner to the Kremlin, supplying Moscow with thousands of combat drones used to strike Ukrainian cities. Tehran also later sent instructors to Russia to help set up a drone production facility, based on Iranian designs, deep in the Ural mountains. Vladimir Putin in turn praised the deepening ties between the two countries. In January he and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a wide-ranging “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” aimed at strengthening military cooperation and intelligence sharing. Still, the two nations’ relationship has always been complex, observers say. When signing the military agreement, both countries insisted on omitting a mutual defence clause, meaning Moscow now is under no legal obligation to provide military assistance to Iran. Russia has also been slow to deliver a range of weapons Tehran has requested. “Despite repeated requests from the Iranian side for various types of weapons – air defence systems and fighter jets – none of this has been transferred to Iran by Russia to date,” Smagin said. Partly due to its entanglement in Ukraine and its growing ties with other regional players, including Saudi Arabia, Moscow has shown little urgency on propping up Iran, even as Tehran’s position has weakened after blows against its key proxy, the Lebanese movement Hezbollah. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has largely decoupled its reliance on Iranian military support, having already acquired the expertise to mass-produce drones domestically. Some in Moscow have even sought to put a positive spin on Israel’s assault on Iran. For one, oil prices have surged to their highest level in four months – and are expected to rise further – offering Moscow a much-needed economic boost at a time when falling global energy prices had threatened to squeeze its wartime budget. The conflict has also drawn the full attention of Trump, who in recent days has barely mentioned Ukraine. He cut short a trip to the G7 summit, skipping a previously scheduled meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ruslan Pukhov, the director of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a Moscow defence thinktank, wrote on Telegram: “It is likely that Ukraine will suffer the greatest military and political damage in this situation, apart from Iran itself, of course. A new war in the Middle East will not only distract the world’s attention from the [conflict in Ukraine] but will also, apparently, contribute to the final reorientation of the US towards providing military assistance to Israel.” But while these may offer short-term gains, the long-term picture is far more precarious for Russia, analysts and insiders say. Russia risks losing a key strategic partner – along with years of political and economic capital – in a blow that could seriously undermine its broader geopolitical ambitions. Over the past two years, Moscow has become Iran’s leading foreign investor, committing billions to gas, energy and infrastructure projects – all of which could be jeopardised if the regime in Tehran falls. And unlike some of Moscow’s other allies, such as Belarus, Russia shares little in the way of historical or cultural affinity with Iran. Their partnership has been forged less through tradition than through a shared hostility towards the west – and the experience of navigating life under sanctions. “If this regime falls, I think it will be much harder for Russia to retain its assets and influence in the country,” said Hanna Notte, a Berlin-based expert on Russian foreign policy. Notte said the worst-case scenario for Moscow would be a Middle East dominated by US-aligned powers. “That would be a heavy blow to Russia.” ......

𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

6/18/2025, 8:50:03 PM

*Mnangagwa cronies get lucrative tenders* (B24) https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaD22E27YScxhpM8Re26 On 5 May 2025, Youth Minister Tinoda Machakaire posted a seemingly heartfelt message on social media expressing deep concern over the dire state of Zimbabwe's public health institutions. Visiting a hospital to see a relative, Machakaire described conditions as “deeply moving” and a clear indication of the challenges facing many Zimbabweans. He appealed directly to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to personally visit hospitals, emphasizing the importance of firsthand understanding. At face value, the minister's remarks appeared to be a brave and sincere call for urgent government intervention in a collapsing healthcare system desperately in need of rescue. Many Zimbabweans praised Machakaire for his courage and timely observations. However, skeptics questioned the unusual openness of a youthful ZANU PF minister criticizing the system and calling on the President to act, suspecting a hidden agenda. Indeed, shortly after Machakaire's message, President Mnangagwa launched a high-profile hospital tour, visiting Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Sally Mugabe Hospital, and the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) warehouse. Behind the scenes, plans were already underway involving multi-million-dollar contracts linked to Mnangagwa's associates — deals that could cumulatively exceed US$1 billion. Among the first contracts to surface was a massive US$437 million tender awarded without competitive bidding to controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo's South African-based firm, TTM Global Medical Exports (Pty) Limited. The contract covers the supply of cancer treatment equipment to hospitals across Zimbabwe's 10 provinces over four years. TTM Global Medical Exports, registered in November 2024 and using Chivayo's luxury penthouse address in Sandton, Johannesburg, received an upfront deposit of US$52.5 million shortly after the March signing. The contract pays out over US$109 million annually and includes monthly installments exceeding US$9 million. Chivayo, known for flamboyant spending and lavish donations to political allies, has been embroiled in previous controversies, including a US$100 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission tender scandal and investigations by South African authorities over suspicious money movements. The unfolding situation reveals Machakaire's public call for action as a prelude to the awarding of lucrative tenders to Mnangagwa's cronies, raising serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and fair competition in the procurement process. Critics warn that politically connected contracts often lead to inflated prices, corruption, and inefficient use of public resources. Parallel to these developments, President Mnangagwa struck a landmark healthcare deal during a visit to Minsk, Belarus, in mid-May. Alongside Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Mnangagwa agreed on a comprehensive plan to modernize Zimbabwe's healthcare infrastructure, supply medicines, and eventually produce pharmaceuticals locally. This US$300 million agreement includes upgrading facilities, equipment, and medical service quality, beginning with Parirenyatwa Hospital. The Belarus deal was the culmination of earlier high-level negotiations in Harare, attended by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Reserve Bank Governor John Mushayavanhu, and Kudakwashe Tagwirei — a close Mnangagwa associate involved as a presidential health sector adviser despite not traveling to Belarus. In addition, investigative journalist Hopewell Chin'ono has revealed further concerns surrounding Mnangagwa's awarding of a multi-million-dollar hospital refurbishment contract to Prevail International Group of Companies, owned by Tempter Paul Tungwarara, Mnangagwa's controversial investment adviser. Registered in January 2025, Prevail International has received numerous government contracts without tendering, including for cybersecurity, housing projects, solar initiatives, and hospital refurbishments. Tungwarara's company operates from modest residential addresses in Zimbabwe, Dubai, and the UK despite handling inflated government projects. He faces multiple corruption allegations, including fraudulent property deals and unpaid loans, yet enjoys diplomatic privileges and a diplomatic passport granted by Mnangagwa. The revelations underscore a disturbing pattern: Zimbabwe's collapsing health sector is being commercialized and monetized by Mnangagwa's inner circle through non-transparent contracts worth nearly a billion US dollars. Public health challenges are exploited as opportunities for political patronage and personal enrichment. As the President's orchestrated hospital visits raise hopes for reform, analysts warn that without genuine transparency and accountability, Zimbabwe's healthcare crisis will deepen — serving not the citizens, but the coffers of the politically connected few. ......