In a weather advisory issued in conjunction with the Department of Civil Protection on Monday, the MSD said the storms would begin in the southern and western parts of the country before spreading to the northern and eastern provinces by Thursday.

The department said thunderstorms were expected from Tuesday afternoon, October 27, in Matabeleland North and South, Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Midlands, Masvingo and the southern parts of Manicaland.

The weather system is expected to move northwards on Wednesday, October 28, affecting Harare Metropolitan Province, northern parts of Manicaland and all Mashonaland provinces through Thursday, October 29.

Some areas may experience localised heavy downpours, increasing the risk of flash flooding, particularly in low-lying areas, near rivers and in urban centres.

The MSD urged members of the public to exercise caution during the storms and seek shelter indoors when lightning occurs.

“When lightning flashes, go inside a house or building,” the advisory said.

Residents were warned against seeking shelter under trees or standing near tall poles and other exposed objects during thunderstorms.

The public was also advised to postpone journeys where possible and avoid sailing during stormy conditions.

The department warned that the anticipated rainfall could affect agricultural production, particularly crops at the grain-filling and maturity stages.

Continued wet conditions could compromise grain quality and create favourable conditions for fungal diseases, the advisory said.

Farmers were urged to provide livestock with adequate shelter, bedding and feed to protect them from adverse weather conditions.

The authorities also called on communities to guard against possible waterborne disease outbreaks by ensuring that drinking water is clean and safe.

Households were encouraged to repair damaged rooftops, secure loose objects and trim overhanging branches to minimise potential damage from strong winds.

The MSD urged the public to remain alert to weather updates through its official communication platforms and follow safety instructions issued by the Department of Civil Protection.

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Charlotte Choto (39) was convicted of murder with constructive intent in aggravating circumstances by High Court judge Justice Catherine Bachi Mzawazi who dismissed her claim that she had acted in self-defence.

The court heard that the incident occurred on December 27 last year when Choto’s partner, Jehu Rubaba returned home drunk and demanded to be served sadza after finding his family eating rice and chicken.

The demand sparked an argument that escalated into a physical confrontation in the couple’s bedroom.

Choto strangled Rubaba using the hood of his jacket and continued assaulting him after he had collapsed, the court heard.

In passing sentence, Justice Mzawazi said the continued strangulation and further attacks on a helpless victim aggravated the offence.

The judge acknowledged that Choto was a first-time offender and had expressed remorse but said the seriousness of the crime warranted a lengthy prison term.

Choto will now serve 20 years behind bars for the killing.

The post Epworth Woman Jailed for 20 years for Strangling Partner Over Sadza Demand appeared first on 263Chat.

The repeated court challenges to CAA3 have raised concerns over the same litigants flooding the courts with similar cases.

With CAA3 now at the implementation stage, judges and senators appointed under the new constitutional framework have already been sworn in, as the government maintains that the amendment has passed all constitutionally prescribed stages and its implementation is under way.

The position was set out in an opposing affidavit filed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and Attorney-General Virginia Mabiza, who are opposing the war veterans’ application to bypass the High Court and directly challenge the constitutional changes in Constitutional Court.

Represented by lawyer Sylvester Hashiti, the respondents argued that the amendment had already passed through all the required legislative and constitutional processes, rendering the latest challenge legally untenable.

“The Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 has now passed all legally prescribed stages and requirements for its enactment. Accordingly, any subsequent challenge to its validity is legally untenable and ought to be dismissed.”

The six war veterans are contesting the presidential electoral system introduced under CAA3, which provides for the election of the President by Parliament rather than through a direct popular vote.

However, the respondents maintain that the applicants have not demonstrated why they should be allowed to approach the Constitutional Court directly instead of first taking their case to the High Court.

The Constitutional Court has reserved judgment in the application.

Addressing the court, Hashiti said the applicants had failed to comply with the procedural requirements for direct access and had not established exceptional circumstances warranting the bypassing of the High Court.

“So, today we are arguing an application for direct access, where the war veterans are seeking leave from the court to approach it, to challenge the amendments, in particular the issues to do with the direct election of the President,” Hashiti said.

“Procedurally, the applicants did not comply with the rules, did not comply with the requirements required in an appeal of this nature.

“Secondly, the applicants did not set out on what basis they were approaching the court.”

He also questioned the applicants’ legal standing, arguing that they had not provided sufficient evidence to establish their interest in bringing the challenge directly before the apex court.

“They did not prove their voters, they did not prove that they are presidential candidates, they did not prove any interest, even a public interest, on why they were approaching the court,” he said.

Hashiti further argued that the applicants had failed to demonstrate why their case warranted exceptional treatment by the Constitutional Court instead of following the ordinary judicial process.

“We also referred the court to the issue that on the substance of the application itself, there was no case set out as to why exceptionally the war veterans must come to the Constitutional Court and not the High Court,” he said.

“They should have gone to the High Court as a court of first instance, because that is the court which deals with matters as a first instance.”

The respondents also challenged the decision to cite Mnangagwa as a respondent, arguing that the President had no relevant legal interest in the dispute because the process leading to the amendment’s enactment had already been completed.

“The President has no interest, there is no justification for involving him in these things, because his function was already concluded and no one has challenged that the President was wrong in ascending to the throne.”

“So therefore the issues to do with the President are not necessary, they are simply for other reasons, but legally they are unnecessary.”

The respondents maintain that CAA3 has completed the constitutionally prescribed enactment process and that its implementation should proceed in accordance with the law, arguing that any further challenges must meet established legal and procedural requirements.

They insist that the applicants should follow the ordinary judicial process rather than seek exceptional direct access to the Constitutional Court, as the government presses ahead with implementing the constitutional changes.

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The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said the convictions and sentences were handed down during the week ending 25 October.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the offenders had been convicted of various criminal offences.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police releases the names of persons who were arrested, convicted and sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 10 years to life for various offences during the week ending 25th October 2026,” Nyathi said.

Amos Nduna (35) was sentenced to life imprisonment for a murder committed in Chipinge on 5 May 2025, while Felix Siyatunya (48) received the same sentence for a murder committed in Mutare in 2023.

Moses Pandehuni (22) was jailed for 27 years for a murder committed in Shurugwi on 17 May 2026.

Lucia Chibhangu (27) also received a 27-year prison term for escaping from lawful custody, a series of robbery cases and unlawful possession of dangerous drugs in Masvingo between 8 and 14 August.

Other murder convictions resulted in lengthy jail terms, with Brian Chanachimwe (34) sentenced to 25 years for a killing in Waterfalls on 13 January.

Thirty-two-year-old Tinotenda Zambara was jailed for 23 years for a murder committed in Chitungwiza in 2025, while Simbarashe Chikoto (35)received 20 years for a killing in Mutoko on 5 August 2022.

Jonah Nekati (40) was sentenced to 16 years in prison for a murder committed in Waterfalls on 13 January 2026.

In separate cases, Japhet Dzviti (76) and Tichaona Chiduku (42) were each handed 15-year prison sentences for rape offences committed in Sadza in 2023.

Hope Korongwe (37) received a 12-year sentence for unlawful possession of 150kg of dagga in Beitbridge on 10 October 2026.

The courts also imposed 10-year prison terms on several offenders convicted of offences involving electricity infrastructure.

Donald Chatora (26) and Clive Mupare (33) were each sentenced to 10 years for offences under the Electricity Act committed in Chikanga on 6 October 2026.

Tinashe Marapira (35) and Yobbie Muzumba (26) also received 10 years each for similar offences in Masvingo.

Meanwhile, Givemore Moyo (35) was jailed for 10 years for stealing eight rolls of locomotive copper cables in Bulawayo on 9 September 2026.

Darlington Takudzwa (30) received the same sentence for cutting seven metres of underground Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) cables in Mabvuku on 10 October 2026.

The theft and vandalism of electricity and railway infrastructure can disrupt essential services and increase repair costs, affecting communities and businesses.

Nyathi urged members of the public to obey the law and report suspected criminal activity to the police.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges members of the public to abide by the law and report suspected criminal activities to the nearest police station or contact the National Complaints Desk,” he said.

The post Life Behind Bars for Two Murder Convicts appeared first on 263Chat.

The national grant which runs until 2029 is expected to improve the country’s ability to detect public health threats early and respond more effectively with a focus on coordination between human, animal and environmental health services.

Speaking at the launch, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the programme, alongside a regional initiative covering eight countries would strengthen the country’s preparedness for emerging infectious diseases.

Zimbabwe will receive approximately US$2.49 million from the regional grant which is valued at US$35.8 million.

The initiative is backed by about US$49 million in development partner co-financing and US$91.8 million in government commitments bringing the total funding and co-investment to approximately US$155 million.

Mombeshora said previous cholera outbreaks and recurring measles cases had highlighted the need for effective surveillance and rapid intervention to prevent diseases from spreading.

He said Zimbabwe had strengthened its surveillance systems and approved an Ebola preparedness contingency fund although the country had not recorded any confirmed Ebola cases.

The programme is expected to improve coordination among health institutions and strengthen the country’s ability to respond to outbreaks before they escalate into wider public health emergencies.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said local authorities would play a central role in implementing the preparedness measures at community level.

He said councils were critical to environmental health management, community-based disease surveillance, public risk communication and enforcement of health regulations.

Garwe also called for improvements in waste management, access to clean water and community participation in maintaining hygienic environments.

“As the ministry responsible for local government and public works, our mandate is to ensure that national policy translates into global action, as we have the responsibility to deal with people living at a village level,” he said.

He said strengthening frontline systems was among the strategic priorities required to ensure communities were better prepared to identify and respond to health threats.

Garwe added that effective pandemic preparedness required a coordinated approach involving government institutions, communities and regional partners, backed by sustainable investment.

Pandemic Fund Executive Head Priya Basu said the programme was designed to build resilient public health systems capable of protecting communities beyond future pandemics.

She said the project would establish five public health emergency operations centres, strengthen laboratory capacity at national and sub-national levels, train more than 10,000 health professionals and reach up to two million people through community engagement and awareness programmes.

“The project will strengthen surveillance in early warning, including digital and community-based systems, environmental monitoring and cross-border collaboration,” Basu said.

She said the programme would also upgrade laboratories, with plans to strengthen five at national level and 20 at sub-national level.

The improvements are expected to enhance diagnostic testing, genomic sequencing, antimicrobial resistance testing and laboratory biosafety.

Basu said the Pandemic Fund’s contribution of more than US$14 million had helped mobilise additional resources, bringing total funding and co-investment for the initiative to approximately US$155 million.

She urged stakeholders to turn financial commitments into lasting improvements in public health systems, saying the programme’s success would ultimately depend on the country’s ability to detect threats earlier, respond effectively and save lives.

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Dhliwayo said the formation of a new politico-military coalition, the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN) announced by Kabila on 12 October could transform the conflict in eastern DRC from a regional insurgency into a broader struggle over political legitimacy.

The coalition which Dhliwayo says replaces the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)/M23 movement, reportedly includes Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, Sultani Makenga and Kaniki as Kabila’s deputies.

Kabila’s political comeback follows his September 2025 death sentence in absentia for treason and alleged support for the AFC/M23 rebellion.

According to Dhliwayo, the development presents significant challenges for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) which has been involved in efforts to restore peace in the conflict-hit country.

“Kabila’s return shifts the conflict from a peripheral rebellion to a national legitimacy contest, directly undermining the merged Luanda-Nairobi mediation framework,” Dhliwayo said.

He identified three immediate risks for SADC: fragmentation of mediation efforts, defections from the Congolese armed forces and escalating regional tensions involving Rwanda.

Dhliwayo argued that the regional bloc should move away from prioritising military intervention towards political mediation and negotiations involving the main actors in the conflict.

He said Kabila’s return was driven by several factors, including the collapse of a power-sharing coalition between 2019 and 2020, President Félix Tshisekedi’s post-2024 constitutional reform agenda which critics perceive as a possible attempt to extend his rule and the shrinking of political space following judicial action against the former president.

The developments have coincided with a security vacuum in eastern DRC following the withdrawal of the East African Community Regional Force in 2023 and the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2025.

Dhliwayo said the security vacuum had created conditions that could allow Kabila to establish a political base in the eastern city of Goma.

He warned that the emergence of the FRN could complicate existing negotiations involving the Doha process, United States-led mediation and the merged Luanda-Nairobi framework.

The coalition’s formation raises questions about who should be recognised as a legitimate participant in the peace process, potentially reopening agreements on ceasefires, disarmament and political inclusion.

“The existing multiple concurrent mediation initiatives, marked by competing mediator interests and poor strategic coordination, will be further complicated by Kabila’s return,” Dhliwayo said.

He said the FRN could also alter the narrative surrounding the conflict which has largely been framed as a Rwanda-backed rebellion led by M23.

With a former president at its helm, the new coalition could present itself as a national political movement rather than simply an armed rebellion increasing pressure on regional leaders to engage it politically.

Dhliwayo said this would place SADC in a difficult position, given that some regional leaders have historical ties to Kabila while countries such as South Africa and Angola have invested politically in Tshisekedi’s administration.

He added that East African Community members particularly Rwanda and Uganda have historically viewed Kabila as more accommodating to their regional security concerns than Tshisekedi.

The competing interests risk reviving divisions reminiscent of the 1998-2003 Congo wars when regional countries supported opposing sides in the conflict.

“Kabila cannot be avoided. He needs to be engaged,” Dhliwayo said.

He called for the immediate harmonisation of the Doha, United States-led and Luanda-Nairobi mediation processes into a single contact group with a common position on the FRN’s status.

Dhliwayo also urged mediators to move beyond viewing the conflict through a simple distinction between the government and armed opposition, arguing that a structured assessment of the various actors and their grievances was necessary to achieve a sustainable settlement.

He said negotiations should address concerns surrounding Tshisekedi’s constitutional reform agenda and establish safeguards to prevent further political polarisation.

At the same time, Dhliwayo warned that the security vacuum in Goma needed to be addressed through basic services, community outreach, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes as well as inter-community dialogue.

He said the control of mineral-rich border areas by armed groups had deepened the economic interests sustaining the conflict.

“Through mediation, it is of paramount importance to negotiate mineral traceability and revenue-sharing provisions early to prevent the FRN consolidation,” he said.

Dhliwayo urged SADC to preserve its credibility as a guarantor of constitutional order without becoming entrenched in the DRC conflict.

He said Article 11 of the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation provided a basis for prioritising peaceful methods of resolving regional crises, including preventive diplomacy, negotiation, conciliation and mediation.

He called on the SADC Summit to initiate a strategic review of its former military mission in the DRC and develop a transition plan towards a political mediation mission.

He also proposed reallocating part of the former mission’s budget to support diplomatic engagement and shuttle diplomacy.

The regional bloc, he said, should deploy political envoys to engage Kabila and the FRN, Rwanda and Tshisekedi, with the aim of securing guarantees that would allow dialogue to proceed.

Dhliwayo further called for a confidential envoy to be sent to the DRC to explore security guarantees for Kabila, including safe passage and protection against arbitrary prosecution, as a possible precondition for negotiations.

However, he stressed that such engagement should be accompanied by a clear call for a return to constitutional politics rather than armed rebellion.

“The emerging confrontation requires operationalising the primacy of political solutions as enshrined in Article 11 of the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation,” Dhliwayo said.

He argued that treating the FRN merely as a rebranded AFC/M23 would risk reducing a complex political crisis to a military problem.

The challenge for regional leaders, he said is to establish an inclusive negotiating framework that addresses the DRC’s internal political grievances while preventing the conflict from triggering wider regional instability.

The post Kabila’s Return Threatens to Derail DRC Peace Efforts, Warns Analyst appeared first on 263Chat.

In a letter gleaned by this publication, party members raised concerns over the alleged failure to convene formal party meetings, the handling of government funding and appointments to key leadership positions.

They accused Tshabangu of personalising the party and disregarding its constitution, which he said required major decisions to be made collectively through established party organs.

“It is with a heavy heart that we address you CCC party champions through this media platform updating you on goings-on within the people’s party that has sadly been personalized by one individual who unilaterally make decisions that require the collective or party organs as enshrined in the party constitution,” read the letter.

They said, as of last year, Tshabangu had not formally convened a meeting involving other party organs and departments with invitations issued and minutes recorded.

The dispute also centres on the distribution of funds allocated to political parties by the government they said (last year) the government had released more than ZiG25.3 million, equivalent to about US$1.4 million, in political party funding in April 2025, but alleged that the party’s national finance committee had not met to oversee or determine how the money should be distributed.

“As a department we are constitutionally mandated to sit in the National finance committee that oversees or determines the distribution of these funds but that never happened,” they said.

The party memnber demanded the immediate and transparent release of the money to provincial and district structures to support party programmes and also called for a clear record of how the funds had been spent arguing that public funding should be subject to accountability requirements.

The allegations add another layer to the divisions within the CCC which has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership dispute following Tshabangu’s emergence as interim secretary-general.further accused the party leadership of making appointments that, in his view, risked undermining regional representation.

He pointed to the concentration of several senior parliamentary positions among politicians from Matabeleland, including the leader of the opposition, the Senate chief whip, the National Assembly chief whip and the leader of the women’s caucus.

“It’s not just a mere coincidence that the Leader of Opposition is from MATEBELELAND, the Senate Chief Whip is from MATEBELELAND, the National Assembly Chief Whip is from MATEBELELAND, the Woman’s Caucus leader in Parliament is again from MATEBELELAND,” they wrote.

“We need to balance all provinces and as the Organising department we ought to be fully consulted before such crucial and strategic appointments are done.”

The letter also renewed calls for the appointment of an interim presidium arguing that the party needed a properly constituted leadership to function effectively.

He said the organising department had a constitutional responsibility to oversee the establishment of party structures and would consult members on suitable candidates to fill key leadership positions until a congress was held.

“Interim Presidium appointments is long overdue. We want to build an institution that will outlive us,” he said.

“Political parties just like human beings operate effectively when all its body organs are there, we cannot continue to be a party that operates from the intestines without the head and brains.”

The latest dispute comes amid reports that Susan Matsunga has been appointed interim national organiser while Evans Ndaba has reportedly been named interim deputy national organiser.

Sources cited in the reports alleged that the appointments were made without an internal democratic process further fuelling concerns about Tshabangu’s leadership and control of party structures.

The post Tshabangu Under Fire Over CCC Leadership, Funding and Appointments appeared first on 263Chat.

The call was made during an online discussion hosted by the Masvingo Centre for Research and Advocacy (MACRAD) in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Constitutional Movement last week.

A report released by MACRAD said the discussion focused on the human rights implications of land displacements, the vulnerability of rural communities facing eviction and the need for transparent and inclusive land governance.

“Stakeholders who participated in the X Spaces discussion called for urgent action to address forced evictions, protect community land rights and safeguard the safety, livelihoods and dignity of affected communities,” the report said.

Masvingo is among the provinces where the displacement of villagers from land they have occupied and depended on for generations has been reported.

The discussion brought together human rights advocates, social justice activists and civil society representatives including Nyasha Machirori of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, social justice activist Tendai Reuben Mbofana, Ephraim Mtombeni of the Masvingo Centre for Research and Development and Francis Mukora of the Community Alliance for Human Settlements.

Participants raised concerns about evictions linked to commercial agriculture, infrastructure and other development projects arguing that economic investment should respect constitutional protections and the rights of affected communities.

The report said land-related decisions must comply with the Constitution, applicable laws and international human rights obligations.

It also called for assessments of the social and economic consequences of proposed developments before their implementation to prevent affected families from losing their livelihoods or being left destitute.

Community consultation emerged as another key concern with stakeholders saying villagers should have a meaningful role in decisions affecting their land and future.

“Consultation must go beyond informing communities of decisions that have already been made. It should provide genuine opportunities for communities to influence outcomes and explore alternatives to displacement,” the report said.

The report further called for stronger accountability mechanisms where land allocations, evictions or development projects allegedly result in human rights violations.

It said communities facing displacement should have access to legal assistance, independent human rights monitoring and effective remedies when their rights are violated.

Public institutions, traditional leaders and other stakeholders were urged to ensure that land governance processes are lawful, transparent and consistent with constitutional protections.

The discussion also highlighted concerns about the safety of human rights defenders including community leaders, grassroots activists and civil society organisations working to protect land rights.

According to the report, such individuals should be able to document alleged abuses, organise communities and advocate for justice without intimidation, harassment or retaliation.

The report argued that development should be assessed not only by the scale of investment or the economic value of projects, but also by their effects on people’s lives, security and dignity.

“Communities should not be treated as obstacles to development. They must be recognised as rights holders and active participants in decisions concerning their land and future,” it said.

The stakeholders called on the Government, local authorities, traditional leaders, investors, human rights institutions and development partners to take practical measures to prevent unlawful evictions, protect livelihoods and ensure accountability.

They also urged civil society organisations to maintain engagement with affected communities and strengthen collaboration with relevant authorities to pursue constructive solutions to land disputes.

The report concluded that land was more than an economic asset describing it as a foundation of livelihood, identity, dignity and community survival.

“The future of development in Masvingo Province must be one in which investment and human rights protection advance together, and no community is denied dignity, justice or meaningful participation in decisions that determine its future,” the report said.

The post Masvingo Land Evictions Raise Human Rights Concerns appeared first on 263Chat.

Police said some of the remains had been at the mortuary for several years, raising concerns over delays in identification and burial.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi appealed to families with missing relatives to visit the hospital mortuary and assist with the identification process.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing to members of the public whose next of kin’s remains are being held at Kwekwe General Hospital Mortuary to come forward for identification, completion of the necessary documentation and collection for dignified burial,” said Commissioner Nyathi.

Those listed include Menfree Takawira whose remains have been at the mortuary for approximately two years and Munyaradzi M, from Gokwe South whose remains have been held there for about four years.

Also on the list is Benjamin Ncube, the husband of Sharon Chikwari from Chegutu whose remains have reportedly been at the mortuary for approximately two years.

Police are also seeking relatives of Baby Talent from Wishlee Farm whose remains have been held at the facility for about a year, and Blessing Nyama of Alarm 2 Mine, whose remains were taken to the mortuary on August 8, 2026.

Meanwhile, the police said nine unidentified bodies brought to the mortuary between April and September this year were still awaiting identification.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing to the public who have missing relatives or loved ones to visit Kwekwe General Hospital Mortuary and make enquiries regarding nine unidentified bodies currently being held at the hospital,” Commissioner Nyathi said.

Police urged anyone with information that could help identify the deceased to contact Kwekwe General Hospital Mortuary or report to their nearest police station.

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