local-news-blog

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended the tenure of Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Philip Valerio Sibanda by a year.

The extension is effective from December 24,2024 to November 23, 2025.

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya announced this in a notice published in the Government Gazette (3 January 2025).

Part of the notice reads, “It is hereby notified that His Excellency the President has, in terms of proviso (i) to the Defence (Regular Force) (Officers) Regulations, 1988, published in Statutory Instrument 152 of 1988, extended the appointment of General Philip Valerio Sibanda as Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces with effect from the 24th December, 2024 to the 23rd November, 2025.”

President Mnangagwa also promoted 26 Zimbabwe National Army lieutenant-colonels to the rank of colonel.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces made these promotions in terms of the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02) Section 20, as read with Statutory Instrument 257 of 2020, Section 19c, Sub-section 2c.

The section reads: “His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces may on the advice of the Minister of Defence, acting on the recommendations of the Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces, reward any member for distinguished service or gallant conduct on active service by promoting an officer to a higher rank.”

MultiChoice DSTV channel, ZTN Prime, will broadcast the bail hearing of popular Zimbabwean business partners Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu on Tuesday.

The hearing was initially slated for January 17, and later brought forward by two weeks, and then postponed to January 7.

Chimombe and Mpofu are accused of defrauding the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme of US$7,7 million.

ZTN Prime is available on Channel 294.

THE daughter of a man, who won an order to eject his whole family from their home so that he could bring in his lover, burst into tears and tried to attack her father in court yesterday.

The courtroom drama started after he father, Forward Mumango, won an order to eject his entire family from their home and bar them from visiting the family house.

Mumango said he took this drastic decision because his family was resisting his move to bring his lover into the family home.

He claims he was being abused by his wife, Primrose Mumango.

Magistrate Meenal Narotam granted Mumango the protection order and the decision triggered dramatic scenes inside the courtroom.

The couple’s daughter, Tofara, burst into tears shortly after the protection order was granted.

She began hurling insults at her father in court, accusing him of being selfish and cruel.

“How could he do this to my mum?”

“He is just doing this because his girlfriend has manipulated him, he doesn’t care about us.

“He is punishing us for not accepting his new girlfriend,” said Tofara.

Tofara had to be restrained by court officials as she struggled to contain her emotions.

Mumango claimed his wife Primrose was abusing him.

“She is so disrespectful and failing to accept my second wife as part of our family,” he told the Harare Civil Court.

“They are making it impossible for me to live in peace with my new wife.

“I want them out of my house because they don’t want to accept my decision as the father of the house.”

Primrose said she felt betrayed by Mumango.

“He is no longer in his normal senses, he has been manipulated by his girlfriend.

“I am heartbroken by his decision to seek a protection order against me and his plans to evict our children,” said Primrose.

IS there a heatwave that is going to sweep across Southern Africa from today and, according to experts, one of the things to avoid when it hits is drinking alcohol.

The Meteorological Department has issued a warning that it will be very hot across the country from today until Sunday with temperatures, in other areas, rising to as high as 44 degrees Celsius in Gwanda.

If it hits us, as the experts are predicting, one of the things to avoid is drinking alcohol.

Interestingly, experts say alcohol and caffeine may contribute to dehydration.

The Met Department urged people to stay hydrated.

“Very hot to extremely hot temperatures in the range of 36 degrees to 44 degrees Celsius are expected.

“Many areas in Zimbabwe will be recording high temperatures, with the highest being Gwanda at 44 degrees Celsius,” the Met Department said. Reports said it will also be extremely hot in Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa.

The South African Weather Service issued a weather warning amid reports that a heatwave was set to affect large parts of the country.

Some areas will be affected until, at least, tomorrow.

They include parts of KwaZulu-Natal, north-eastern North West, Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.

There are signs and symptoms related to heat injuries.

These include weakness, seizures, vomiting, nausea, dizziness and cramps.

According to the Word Meteorological Organisation, this year is on track to be the hottest year on record, with the global average near surface temperature even higher than last year.

WMO’s global temperature analysis covers January to September 2024 and is based on six international datasets to provide a consolidated temperature assessment.

The information was provided to UN Secretary-General António Guterres ahead of the UN Climate Change conference, COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

“Today, the World Meteorological Organisation and partners tell us that 2024 is on track to be the hottest year ever recorded,” said Mr Guterres.

“Humanity’s torching the planet and paying the price. “

The scientists said 2024 will also be the first year in which the planet is more than 1.5C hotter than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale.

Carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal, oil and gas are the main cause of global warming.

In South Africa, they are even giving a few tips of how to deal with the heatwave expected from today:

• Stay well hydrated by drinking a lot of water.

• Keep a close eye on babies, the elderly and children. Ensure they stay well hydrated as well.

• Remember to ensure pets have a cool place to relax and cool, clean water to drink as well.

• Try to keep out of direct sunlight.

• Wear the appropriate clothing and ensure you use sunscreen.

• Limit participation in outdoor activities. If you plan on participating in outdoor activities, ensure you rest and keep well hydrated.

• If you are going to spend time in a pool, ensure your safety and the children around you.

• Ensure that they are supervised while around and in the pool.

• Do not leave children and pets in a vehicle, even with a window open.