Category: News Feeds

They
argue
that
the
date
on
the
document
does
not
align
with
the
victim’s
date
of
death.

Bigson
Nyoni
and
Langton
Makonye,
members
of
the
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police,
along
with
Ross
Johnston
and
Kyle
Bennet
from
the
neighbourhood
watch
committee,
face
charges
for
the
murder
of
the
then
34-year-old
Paul
Munakopa.

Nyoni
and
Makonye
are
represented
by
Kholwani
Ngwenya
of
T
J
Mabhikwa
and
Partners,
while
Johnston
and
Bennet
are
represented
by
Prince
Butshe-Dube
of
Mathonsi
Ncube
Law
Chambers.

The
defence
argues
that
the
post-mortem
indicates
it
was
conducted
on
May
21,
2020,
whereas
the
victim’s
date
of
death
is
recorded
as
May
24,
2020.
They
claim
this
discrepancy
casts
doubt
on
the
accuracy
of
other
details
in
the
document.

The
State
countered
that
the
defence
could
have
raised
these
concerns
earlier,
as
they
had
the
documents
in
their
possession
for
some
time.

It
also
noted
that
it
would
request
a
medical
expert
to
testify
in
court,
interpret
the
post-mortem
findings,
and
determine
whether
the
report
should
be
accepted
as
evidence.

High
Court
Judge
Justice
Naison
Chivayo
postponed
the
trial
to
November
11
for
continuation.

Munakopa
allegedly
succumbed
to
gunshot
wounds
sustained
during
a
high-speed
chase
and
shootout
that
occurred
during
the
Covid-19
lockdown.

In
their
defence,
the
police
officers
claimed
they
were
on
duty
on
the
night
of
the
incident
and
had
been
briefed
about
a
black
Honda
Fit
vehicle
suspected
to
have
been
involved
in
criminal
activities
in
the
area.

They
stated
that
Munakopa,
who
was
with
his
girlfriend,
violated
lockdown
regulations,
and
when
they
attempted
to
stop
him
for
questioning,
he
fled.
This
led
to
the
shooting
in
an
attempt
to
stop
the
car.

The
fire
brigade
swiftly
responded
to
the
scene
and
managed
to
contain
the
blaze.

When
the
CITE
news
team
arrived
at
the
complex,
business
owners
were
being
instructed
to
gather
their
belongings
and
close
up
for
the
day
as
the
fault
was
being
addressed.

Sources
within
the
complex
indicated
that
the
fire
originated
at
Shop
5L
on
the
ground
floor,
starting
in
the
ceiling
as
a
result
of
an
electrical
fault.

“The
fire
was
spreading
through
the
ceiling
and
slowly
advancing
towards
the
first
floor,
but
it
was
extinguished
before
it
could
reach
other
shops,”
they
said.

Several
shop
owners,
who
spoke
anonymously,
expressed
concerns
about
the
state
of
the
building’s
wiring,
saying
it
is
outdated
and
in
need
of
replacement.

“We
are
worried
about
the
safety
of
our
merchandise.
We
hope
the
issue
will
be
thoroughly
addressed
today,
identifying
the
root
cause
and
finding
a
lasting
solution
to
prevent
such
incidents
in
the
future,”
said
one
shop
owner.

A
witness
who
was
inside
the
building
when
the
fire
started
recounted,
“There
were
flames
in
the
ceiling
on
the
ground
floor,
and
we
saw
smoke
rising
to
the
first
floor.
We
were
quickly
told
to
evacuate
the
building.
It
was
a
frightening
experience,
but
we
are
relieved
that
it
was
brought
under
control
in
time.”

Business
owners
at
the
complex
are
eager
for
the
building
to
reopen
as
promised,
fearing
potential
revenue
loss.

“We’re
concerned
about
our
stock.
We
want
to
remove
it
from
the
premises
just
in
case
the
complex
remains
closed
for
an
extended
period.
Our
livelihood
depends
on
this
business,”
they
said.

One
businessperson
added,
“This
issue
needs
to
be
resolved
quickly.
The
building
owner
has
the
resources—after
all,
we
just
paid
rent
recently
and
didn’t
expect
this
to
happen.
Everyone
here
pays
on
time,
and
if
we’re
even
a
little
late,
they
lock
us
out.
We
hope
the
repairs
will
be
completed
by
the
end
of
the
day
so
that
we
can
resume
work
tomorrow.”

The
Senate
passed
the
PVO
Amendment
Bill
on
17
October
2024,
clearing
the
way
for
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
to
sign
it
into
law.

The
bill
was
initially
gazetted
on
1
March
2024
after
a
previous
version
from
2021
expired,
as
President
Mnangagwa
had
declined
to
sign
it,
citing
reservations.
The
latest
version,
however,
includes
even
stricter
provisions
than
its
predecessor.

ZLHR
expressed
serious
concerns
about
the
rapid
pace
of
the
Senate’s
deliberations,
which
it
claimed
lacked
adequate
debate
and
scrutiny.

“ZLHR
is
shocked
that
despite
clear
and
legitimate
concerns
from
a
significant
segment
of
local
civil
society
organizations
(CSOs),
citizens,
and
regional
and
international
bodies,
such
as
the
United
Nations
Special
Procedures,
regarding
the
PVO
Amendment
Bill’s
inconsistency
with
national,
regional,
and
global
standards
on
freedom
of
association,
this
harmful
law,
which
infringes
on
human
rights,
was
rushed
through
Parliament.
The
March
2024
version
mirrors
the
November
2021
one
but
with
even
more
repressive
provisions,”
ZLHR
said.

The
organisation
warned
that
if
enacted,
the
bill
would
significantly
undermine
Zimbabwe’s
commitment
to
human
rights,
especially
the
right
to
freedom
of
association.

“ZLHR
is
deeply
troubled
by
the
provisions
of
the
PVO
Amendment
Bill,
which
threaten
the
operations
of
CSOs.
Ultimately,
this
legislation
could
lead
to
the
closure
of
civic
space,
which
has
been
gradually
shrinking
since
August
2018.
The
bill
includes
measures
that
legitimize
excessive
executive
interference
in
CSO
operations,
criminalize
the
work
of
CSOs
and
their
leaders,
and
curtail
their
freedom
of
association.
It
also
seeks
to
concentrate
executive
power
in
the
registration
process
of
PVOs
through
the
Registrar’s
office,”
the
statement
continued.

“It
flagrantly
disregards
the
principles
of
association
outlined
in
the
African
Commission
on
Human
and
Peoples’
Rights’
Guidelines
on
Freedom
of
Association
and
Assembly
in
Africa.”

ZLHR
stressed
that
the
bill
threatens
civil
society’s
ability
to
operate
freely,
undermining
its
role
in
defending
human
rights
and
providing
essential
services.

In
contrast,
the
government,
represented
by
Minister
of
Justice,
Legal
and
Parliamentary
Affairs
Ziyambi
Ziyambi,
has
defended
the
bill
as
a
necessary
measure
to
comply
with
the
Financial
Action
Task
Force
(FATF)
recommendations,
which
aim
to
combat
money
laundering,
terrorism
financing,
and
other
illicit
financial
activities.

While
ZLHR
acknowledged
the
importance
of
addressing
financial
crimes,
it
accused
the
government
of
selectively
applying
FATF
standards
to
justify
restrictive
measures
on
CSOs.
The
organisation
also
criticised
the
government
for
overlooking
the
FATF’s
revised
2016
standards,
which
call
for
proportionate,
risk-based
measures
that
do
not
disrupt
legitimate
charitable
activities.

“In
fact,
the
government
has
ignored
the
FATF’s
Revised
2016
Standards
and
Methodology,
which
emphasize
that
measures
to
protect
not-for-profit
organizations
(NPOs)
from
potential
abuse
should
be
risk-based
and
should
not
unduly
disrupt
legitimate
activities.
The
FATF’s
‘High-Level
Synopsis
of
the
Stock
Take
of
the
Unintended
Consequences
of
the
FATF
Standards,’
released
on
27
October
2021,
underscores
the
need
for
targeted
and
balanced
approaches
that
respect
international
human
rights
obligations,”
ZLHR
stated.

The
organisation
further
accused
the
Zimbabwean
government
of
using
FATF
guidelines
as
a
pretext
to
impose
unwarranted
restrictions
on
civil
society.

“The
Zimbabwean
government
continues
to
misuse
the
FATF
Recommendations
and
Standards
to
shrink
civic
space.
Disappointingly,
it
ignored
the
November
2023
revision
of
FATF’s
Recommendation
8
Interpretive
Note,
which
clarified
that
governments
should
adopt
focused,
proportionate,
and
risk-based
measures
to
address
terrorism
financing
risks.
This
includes
acknowledging
self-regulatory
mechanisms
within
the
NPO
sector,
which
should
negate
the
need
for
additional
state
interventions
if
they
are
deemed
adequate,”
ZLHR
said.

ZLHR
called
on
President
Mnangagwa
to
refrain
from
signing
the
bill,
warning
that
it
could
have
profound
implications
for
Zimbabwe’s
human
rights,
humanitarian,
and
development
sectors.

“Zimbabwe
already
has
a
comprehensive
regulatory
framework
for
combating
money
laundering
and
terrorism
financing,
which
can
be
applied
to
this
sector.
This
framework
includes
several
laws,
policies,
and
practices
designed
to
prevent
these
activities
and
hold
offenders
accountable.
ZLHR
urges
President
Mnangagwa
and
the
government
to
respect
the
will
of
the
majority
of
Zimbabweans
and
to
avoid
enacting
legislation
that
tramples
on
the
people’s
aspirations.”

The
group
also
called
for
adherence
to
the
African
Commission
on
Human
and
Peoples’
Rights
guidelines
on
freedom
of
association
and
assembly,
urging
the
government
to
respect
Zimbabweans’
rights
and
aspirations.

HARARE
–
Jacob
Ngarivhume,
the
leader
of
opposition
party
Transform
Zimbabwe,
was
granted
bail
by
the
Harare
High
Court
on
Wednesday.

He
spent
82
days
in
pre-trial
incarceration.

Justice
Emilia
Muchawa
ordered
Ngarivhume
freed
on
US$100
bail.
Conditions
of
the
bail
include
surrendering
his
passport
and
a
prohibition
against
posting
on
social
media
platform,
X.

Ngarivhume
was
arrested
on
August
2
in
the
run-up
to
a
SADC
heads
of
state
summit
in
Harare
on
August
17,
during
which
the
government
feared
protests
by
pro-democracy
activists.
Over
100
activists
were
detained
across
the
country
and
dozens
remain
imprisoned
awaiting
trial,
according
to
rights
lawyers.

The
Transform
Zimbabwe
leader
is
accused
of
disorderly
conduct
in
a
public
place
and
participating
in
an
illegal
gathering
with
intent
to
promote
public
violence,
crimes
he
allegedly
committed
in
June
this
year.