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Manage
consent

Members
of
the
police
constabulary
apprehended
the
suspects,
identified
as
Jethro
Dube
(40)
of
Cowdray
Park
and
Itai
Gwasira
(36)
of
Pumula
East.

Confirming
the
arrests,
Bulawayo
Police
Spokesperson
Inspector
Abednico
Ncube
said
the
incident
occurred
on
Saturday
around
3
p.m.

“Members
of
the
police
constabulary
were
having
lunch
in
the
backyard
of
a
local
butchery
in
Pumula
East,
Bulawayo
when
they
noticed
a
white
Honda
Fit
entering
and
parking
in
the
backyard.
The
vehicle
had
three
occupants
who
disembarked
and
opened
the
boot,
which
was
loaded
with
cattle
carcasses,”
he
said.

The
officers,
becoming
suspicious,
approached
the
driver
and
asked
him
to
produce
a
permit.

“The
accused
persons
were
unable
to
do
so,
leading
to
their
arrest,
while
Jaison
Ndlovu,
the
third
suspect,
escaped.
The
motor
vehicle,
containing
four
hindquarters
and
ribs
in
the
boot,
was
seized.”

Inspector
Ncube
added
that
Gwasira
later
led
officers
to
his
residence,
where
they
recovered
additional
items,
including
offal,
two
ox
heads,
approximately
50
kg
of
steak,
and
eight
hooves.

“Upon
interview,
Gwasira
stated
that
Jaison
Ndlovu
and
Jethro
Dube
had
brought
the
carcasses
from
Village
4
in
Nyamandlovu’s
grazing
area
to
his
residence.
The
two
accused
were
then
taken
to
Nyamandlovu,
where
Jethro
Dube
identified
the
location
where
they
had
slaughtered
two
beasts.
The
registered
owner
of
the
vehicle
was
located,
and
it
was
found
that
Itai
Gwasira
was
his
driver,”
said
Inspector
Ncube.

The
police
spokesperson
urged
the
business
community
operating
butcheries
to
adhere
to
regulations
when
buying
and
selling
inspected
carcasses
from
registered
abattoirs,
warning
against
purchasing
uninspected
stolen
meat,
which
could
endanger
public
health.

“The
community
is
also
urged
to
report
anyone
known
or
suspected
of
selling
meat
from
their
homes,
and
to
refrain
from
purchasing
uninspected
meat,
as
it
is
not
only
illegal
but
also
unsafe.”

The
police
are
appealing
to
anyone
with
information
that
may
lead
to
the
arrest
of
Jaison
Ndlovu
to
contact
ZRP
Pumula
at
0292-422907
or
any
nearby
police
station.

“Our
police
constabulary
members
in
the
Pumula
area
have
demonstrated
their
commitment
in
the
fight
against
crime,”
said
Inspector
Ncube.

This
secretive
dragnet
seeks
to
detain
individuals
who
pose
a
challenge
to
Mnangagwa’s
plans
to
remain
in
power
beyond
the
constitutionally
allowed
two
terms,
which
conclude
in
2028.
The
operation
also
extends
to
the
ruling
Zanu-PF
party
itself,
aiming
to
identify
and
eliminate
internal
opponents
ahead
of
the
crucial
congress
scheduled
for
2027.”This
is
part
of
an
effort
to
stifle
growing
dissent
ahead
of
crucial
leadership
renewal
within
Zanu-PF
at
the
2027
congress
and
the
subsequent
elections
in
2028,”
disclosed
a
source
who
requested
anonymity.

According
to
the
insider,
a
list
of
prominent
individuals
is
under
scrutiny,
facing
potential
charges
ranging
from
rape
and
murder
to
treason.
Notable
targets
reportedly
include
members
of
the
opposition
Citizens
Coalition
for
Change
(CCC),
a
party
that
has
gained
considerable
support
in
urban
and
rural
areas
alike.

Among
those
mentioned
is
former
Mkoba
MP
Amos
Chibaya,
currently
in
remand
prison
for
allegedly
inciting
violence.
Other
high-profile
figures
reportedly
on
the
government’s
radar
include
Tendai
Biti,
a
vocal
lawyer
known
for
his
critiques
of
the
government,
and
Joana
Mamombe,
a
young
opposition
MP
who
has
been
an
advocate
for
human
rights
reforms.

Job
Sikhala,
a
well-known
defender
of
civil
liberties
who
has
frequently
opposed
government
actions,
is
also
reportedly
under
surveillance.
His
previous
detentions
have
attracted
international
attention,
suggesting
a
renewed
effort
to
silence
his
activism.

The
crackdown
reportedly
extends
beyond
Zimbabwe’s
borders,
particularly
targeting
activists
in
the
United
Kingdom
who
have
organized
protests
against
Mnangagwa’s
regime.
Names
such
as
Munyaradzi
Boniface
Zengeni
and
Brian
Chikukwa,
alongside
a
growing
list
of
others,
have
surfaced
as
part
of
this
operation.

In
addition
to
established
activists,
several
student
leaders,
including
Takudzwa
Ngadziore
from
the
University
of
Zimbabwe,
have
been
identified
as
key
instigators
of
anti-government
protests.

As
the
government
escalates
its
clampdown
on
dissent,
there
are
rising
fears
that
these
arrests
could
mark
the
onset
of
a
more
extensive
campaign
to
dismantle
opposition
ahead
of
the
2028
elections.
Observers
note
that
this
operation
bears
resemblance
to
tactics
employed
by
past
regimes,
using
state
machinery
to
suppress
political
competition
and
silence
critical
voices.

Opposition
parties
and
civil
society
organizations
have
condemned
the
targeting
of
political
figures
as
an
abuse
of
state
power
and
a
direct
violation
of
democratic
principles.
A
CCC
activist
stated,
“This
is
a
blatant
attempt
to
muzzle
the
opposition
and
scare
citizens
into
submission.”

Mnangagwa
has
consistently
denied
allegations
of
suppressing
opposition
voices,
asserting
that
the
government
is
merely
enforcing
law
and
order.
However,
with
the
political
climate
growing
increasingly
tense,
observers
are
apprehensive
that
Zimbabwe
may
be
on
the
brink
of
a
new
wave
of
authoritarianism.

Bulawayo
residents
are
enduring
water-shedding
schedules
of
up
to
130
hours,
with
some
facing
even
longer
periods
due
to
power
cuts
and
other
disruptions.

Coltart’s
comments
came
after
he
and
the
Minister
of
Water,
Dr.
Anxious
Masuka,
inspected
three
key
dams—Mtshabezi,
Umzingwane,
and
Insiza—that
supply
water
to
the
city.

“On
Friday,
I
inspected
the
Mtshabezi
Dam
pump
station,
Umzingwane
Dam
pump
station,
and
Insiza
Dam
with
the
Minister
of
Water,
Dr
Anxious
Masuka.
The
key
issues
that
emerged
are
as
follows:
Although
Mtshabezi
Dam
is
over
50
percent
full,
its
pipeline
to
the
Umzingwane
Dam
pump
station
can
only
deliver
a
maximum
of
17
megaliters
per
day,
far
below
Bulawayo’s
daily
requirement
of
165
megaliters.”

He
explained
that
the
17
megaliter
capacity
assumes
continuous
24-hour
pumping,
seven
days
a
week.
However,
due
to
frequent
power
cuts,
the
pumps
operate
at
only
about
75
percent
capacity,
reducing
the
actual
volume
to
around
13
megaliters
per
day.

Additionally,
much
of
the
pipeline
between
Mtshabezi
Dam
and
Ncema
is
gravity-fed,
meaning
that
the
13
megaliters
initially
pumped
drops
to
just
nine
megaliters
by
the
time
it
reaches
Ncema.

Coltart
noted
that
while
Mtshabezi
Dam
holds
a
significant
amount
of
water,
the
city
is
only
receiving
a
small
portion
of
it
due
to
these
limitations.

He
highlighted
two
critical
actions
needed
to
improve
supply:
completing
the
upgrade
of
the
pumps
at
Umzingwane
pump
station,
which
is
expected
within
two
weeks,
and
diverting
a
portion
of
the
pipeline
from
Mtshabezi
to
the
Umzingwane
pump
station
to
facilitate
more
efficient
pumping.

“We
have
been
unable
to
construct
the
diversion
due
to
delays
in
receiving
funding
from
the
government,
which
was
promised
in
April
but
has
not
yet
been
disbursed,
and
delays
in
procurement
processes.
I
am
grateful
that
Dr.
Masuka
committed
to
addressing
both
issues—namely,
the
release
of
the
necessary
funds
from
the
Treasury
and
waiving
the
PRAZ
procedures
due
to
the
urgency
of
the
situation.”

“He
also
committed
to
advocating
for
the
installation
of
a
solar
system
at
Mtshabezi
pump
station
to
increase
the
number
of
pumping
hours.
With
this,
we
hope
to
reach
the
full
design
capacity
of
17
megaliters
per
day.
Increasing
capacity
beyond
this
would
require
constructing
a
duplicate
pipeline,
which
is
costly
and
not
feasible
for
the
immediate
crisis,”
said
Coltart.

Regarding
Insiza
Dam,
Coltart
revealed
that
it
is
currently
at
38
percent
capacity
but
losing
water
rapidly
due
to
evaporation.

“Its
pipeline
to
Ncema
is
designed
to
deliver
55
megaliters
per
day,
but
technical
issues
have
reduced
this
to
about
46
megaliters
per
day.
Our
engineers
advised
that
clearing
siltation
along
this
gravity-fed
pipeline
and
taking
measures
to
increase
water
pressure
could
restore
its
original
capacity.
This
work,
too,
has
been
delayed
due
to
the
lack
of
government
funds
promised
in
April.
Again,
I
am
thankful
to
Dr.
Masuka
for
his
commitment
to
push
for
urgent
funding
and
to
waive
PRAZ
procedures
for
a
quicker
resolution.”

Coltart
also
provided
an
update
on
the
Nyamandlovu
aquifer,
which
has
a
design
capacity
of
20
megaliters
per
day.

“The
aquifer’s
design
capacity
is
20
megaliters
per
day,
but
it
has
been
operating
below
this
due
to
the
theft
of
pumps
and
switchgear.
However,
the
situation
has
improved,
and
we
are
now
receiving
around
15
megaliters
per
day.
As
previously
reported,
Umzingwane
and
Upper
Ncema
dams
have
been
decommissioned,
and
Lower
Ncema
will
follow
shortly.”

He
warned
of
a
dire
situation
if
Inyankuni
Dam,
currently
at
18
percent
capacity,
runs
dry.

“If
Inyankuni
dries
up,
we
will
only
have
the
current
9
megaliters
from
Mtshabezi,
45
from
Insiza,
and
15
from
Nyamandlovu—a
total
of
around
60
megaliters,
far
below
our
daily
requirement
of
165
megaliters.
This
illustrates
the
severity
of
our
water
crisis
and
the
urgent
need
for
upgrades
and
rehabilitation
of
the
Mtshabezi
and
Insiza
pipelines,”
he
said.

Coltart
expressed
hope
that
Dr.
Masuka’s
commitment
would
lead
to
prompt
government
action
in
the
coming
days
and
weeks.

The
mayor
also
urged
the
government
to
approve
the
construction
of
the
Glassblock
Bopoma
Dam,
which
would
provide
an
additional
70
megaliters
of
water
per
day.

“I
also
took
the
opportunity
to
request
that
all
necessary
government
approvals
be
granted
urgently
for
the
construction
of
the
Glassblock
Bopoma
Dam,
which
would
add
an
extra
70
megaliters
of
water
per
day
to
Bulawayo’s
supply.
Although
it
will
take
two
years
to
build
the
dam
and
its
32-kilometer
pipeline
to
Ncema,
starting
work
immediately
is
crucial
to
avoid
a
similar
crisis
in
the
future.”

“When
completed,
the
Glassblock
Bopoma
Dam
will
ensure
Bulawayo’s
water
security
until
2040,
giving
the
government
time
to
finish
the
Gwaai-Shangani
Dam,
which
is
only
55
percent
complete,
and
its
257-kilometer
pipeline
to
Bulawayo.
This
project
will
cost
a
further
US$800
million
to
complete,
compared
to
US$126
million
for
building
the
Glassblock
Bopoma
Dam
and
its
pipeline,”
he
said.