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 -----