adminTsvangirai admits fathering Bulawayo love child
Bulawayo Bureau
MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has for the first time publicly admitted to fathering a child out of wedlock with a Bulawayo woman.
Mr Tsvangirai had always declined to comment on his 19-month-old love-child with Ms Loretta Nyathi.
Although he reportedly made private arrangements to pay US$1 400 maintenance for his son, Ethan, he had never publicly acknowledged him.
He is also reportedly refusing to assist his mother obtain a birth certificate.
However, at a Press conference here yesterday, the MDC-T leader stunned reporters with one of his trademark U-turns in an outburst and denied ever shirking responsibility over Ethan.
“I have my personal life and you have yours. I would prefer that we keep it like that. I am not refusing to assist him. Whatever the reports you have heard, I will take care of it and his mother knows the arrangement that we have.
“I have not refused my responsibilities. It is not true that I am refusing to have my son get a birth certificate. I am happily married,” said Mr Tsvangirai, apparently annoyed by the reporters’ insistence to know why he was refusing to help his son get a birth certificate.
When news broke out last year that Mr Tsvangirai had impregnated Ms Nyathi, he reportedly rushed for an out-of-court settlement.
Zanu-PF DCCs disbanded
Takunda Maodza
Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF has resolved to disband its district co-ordinating committee structure after realising it sowed division in the party.
Powerful Zanu-PF members were allegedly manipulating the DCCs, causing unnecessary divisions and tension.
Addressing the party’s Central Committee in Harare yesterday, Zanu-PF First Secretary President Mugabe said the decision was reached at Wednesday’s Politburo meeting.
“As we discussed the matter, we decided that the Central Committee should look at the issue of DCCs and we came to the conclusion that they are sering a divisive process. They are an organ which must go.
“The Politburo came to the conclusion that DCCs must be repealed. A recommendation would be made to the Central Committee so that it could remove the organ called the DCC from the party.”
The President said the organ was created to co-ordinate work so that the management of party structures could be made easy, but “DCCs have made things more difficult”.
“We have experienced quite a lot of commotion, fighting for places in regard to positions in the DCCs and therefore we have been looking at what is happening and we discussed that in the Politburo.
“We are worried the DCC has become a weapon used to divide the party,” President Mugabe said.
No law governs Zim referendums — ZEC chief
Felex Share
Herald Reporter
THERE is no law that governs the holding of referendums in Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairman Retired Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe has said.
Responding to media enquiries on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ meeting between ZEC, Jomic and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission in Harare yesterday, Justice Mutambanegwe said a referendum would only be conducted after the country comes up with a new Referendums Act.
He said the other option was to amend the current Act.
Justice Mutambanengwe said the current Referendums Act was promulgated in 2000 for the referendum held that year and was now invalid for future referendums.
“As you may be aware, the conduct of a referendum is governed by the provisions of the Referendums Act (Chapter 2:10), the current Referendum Act was promulgated in 2000 and makes reference to structures that were in place then, to conduct elections as well as referendums, that is the Register General of Elections.
“The conduct of referendums is now the function of the commission and therefore there is a need for the Act to be amended first before the referendum can be held.”
Veteran politician, journalist Hove dies
Bulawayo BureauVETERAN politician and journalist Mr Mike Masotsha Hove has died. He was 97.
Magistrate arrested
Masvingo Bureau
Shamu consoles Guzah, Mahomed families
Herald ReporterMEDIA, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu has sent condolence messages to the Guzah and Mahomed families following the deaths of Ambuya Elizabeth Guzah and Mrs Khatidja Koriya nee Mahomed last week. Ambuya Guzah is the mother of the Affirmative Action Group President Keith Guzah while Mrs Koriya is a sister to Mr Khamal Mahomed.
Britain’s banks caught in a storm of scandal
LONDON — Britain’s major banks, including HSBC and Barclays, were ordered yesterday to pay up for misleading businesses over interest rate insurance, in a second blow to the image of the City.
Government unveils new child health card, vaccine
Herald Reporters
GOVERNMENT yesterday launched a new vaccine and a revised child health card for children under five years as the state intensifies the fight against child mortality and morbidity.
deadly wildfires hit Colorado
COLORADO SPRINGS — US President Barack Obama was expected in Colorado yesterday, where the most destructive wildfire in the western state’s history has torched nearly 350 homes and left one person dead.