News Africa Extended

News Africa Extended

No one will arrest Moyo, says Zim VP Mphoko

Posted: 15 Oct 2016 06:27 AM PDT

No one will arrest Jonathan Moyo, who is alleged to have siphoned off over R5,7 miilion meant for Zimbabwe's manpower development, says Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

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Harare - No one will arrest embattled Zimbabwean Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Jonathan Moyo, who is alleged to have siphoned off over $400 000 (about R5,7 miilion) meant for Zimbabwe's manpower development, says Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

Moyo and his deputy, Godfrey Gandawa, are embroiled in a corruption scam and alleged to have abused money from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) to sponsor their personal and the governing Zanu-PF's activities.

“We will not allow our members from Zanu-PF to be arrested,” Mphoko told a rally in Norton, a small town 40km south-west of Harare, on Thursday.

“Even [public service and social welfare minister Prisca] Mupfumira, here on a programme supporting Zanu-PF in dishing out farming inputs to our members. She will not be arrested. I promise you no one will touch you.”

Mphoko, a former envoy to Botswana and South Africa, is said to have blocked Moyo's arrest last week when Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) officials wanted to take him away.

The Zacc says Moyo channelled Zimdef funds to Zanu-PF rallies as well as buying bicycles and tricyles for traditional leaders in his constituency.

Speaking at the same rally on Thursday, Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere also defended Moyo's actions in the process, saying: “Zanu-PF will use state funds to defend our government. If we are being arrested for taking government funds to defend the government, we are prepared to go to Chikurubi [maximum security prison].” Mphoko and Kasukuwere's sentiments come a day after co-Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa told Parliament on Wednesday that no one was above the law, except President Robert Mugabe.

“All that we are supposed to take into cognisance is that it is only the president who has immunity, and all the other persons in this country can be arrested and are under the laws of this country... corruption can be tackled through the laws crafted by Parliament and it is up to MPs to strengthen them and make them deterrent,” Mnangagwa said.

Moyo himself has challenged politicians accusing him of abusing the Zimdef funds to leave him alone. Speaking at a graduation ceremony at Madziwa Teachers' College, about 140km north of the capital, on Thursday, he said there was nothing wrong with him using public funds to bankroll Zanu-PF activities and community projects in his Tsholotsho North constituency.

“It's one thing for people to disagree with or not like my choices, but quite another for them to label the choices unusual, illegal, or corrupt, simply because my choices do not accord with their political agenda,” he was quoted in a local daily newspaper as saying. “I object to that in the strongest possible terms and I will fight to the bitter end to be left alone to fully discharge my responsibilities as given to me by my appointing authority. Please leave me alone!” -

African News Agency

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Schoolgirl goes into labour while writing Grade 7 exam

Posted: 15 Oct 2016 01:56 AM PDT

A Zimbabwean girl, aged between 12 and 13, went into labour while she was writing exams and was taken home to her village where she gave birth.

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Harare - A Zimbabwean child, aged between 12 and 13, went into labour while she was writing examinations at school and was taken home to her village where she gave birth, according to local media reports.

She then went to hospital where she finished writing her paper, accompanied by two invigilators to ensure she did not cheat.

The girl, who has not been named, was a grade seven pupil at Murongwe Primary School in central Zimbabwe and was sitting in an English examination when she went into labour, shocking fellow pupils who did not know their class mate was pregnant.

The incident is reported in Friday's Chronicle Newspaper, the main daily in second city Bulawayo. Midlands Provincial Education Director Agnes Gudo confirmed the dramatic incident.

She said she was still waiting for a formal report. “I will be able to furnish you with more information once I receive a full report,” she said.

A relative to the minor, who spoke to the Chronicle on condition of anonymity, said the girl, who had concealed the pregnancy, started experiencing labour pains while writing the examination.

The relative said the girl concluded her examinations from a clinic bed under the watchful eyes of the two female teachers.

“She was first taken home where she delivered before being taken to hospital. She had to finish her examination on her hospital bed.”

Local MP Makhosini Hlongwane said sexual activity by juveniles caused so many unwanted pregnancies.

“It is an unfortunate situation that a grade seven pupil was impregnated and gave birth while writing national examinations,” he said.

“Government policy is to encourage the girl child to complete education and desist from indulging in sexual activities at an early age.

This has ramifications on their education trajectory. If we look deeper, the child could have been sexually abused by an adult, which itself becomes a rape case.”

African News Agency

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