Crime Archives · Zambezi Observer https://zambeziobserver.com/category/crime/ In the Spirit of Africa Thu, 22 Feb 2024 22:22:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://zambeziobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-Zambezi-Observer-Favico-32x32.png Crime Archives · Zambezi Observer https://zambeziobserver.com/category/crime/ 32 32 Courage in the Face of Tyranny – Remembering Alexei Navalny https://zambeziobserver.com/courage-in-the-face-of-tyranny-remembering-alexei-navalny/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 22:22:11 +0000 https://zambeziobserver.com/?p=5137 “A concrete kennel, measuring 2.5m x 3m. Most often, it is unbearable due to the cold and dampness.…

The post Courage in the Face of Tyranny – Remembering Alexei Navalny appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>

“A concrete kennel, measuring 2.5m x 3m. Most often, it is unbearable due to the cold and dampness. Water collects on the floor, and the window is tiny. The walls are thick, stifling any airflow, and not even the cobwebs stir. There is no ventilation, leaving one feeling suffocated at night, akin to a fish out of water. An iron bunk, reminiscent of those found on sleeper trains, is bolted to the wall.”

This is how Alexei Navalny described the cell in which he spent 308 out of 1125 days in solitary confinement. His imprisonment amounted to both physical and mental torture of a political opponent. The fact that this tragedy occurred in FKU IK-3, known as one of the harshest prisons in Russia with direct ties to the gulag system, is more than symbolic. In other words, Alexei Navalny’s death is not just a personal tragedy, it is also a manifestation of the true nature of the Putin regime: arbitrary, harsh, brutal, and unforgiving.

Alexei Navalny was acutely aware of the risks involved, yet he made the decision to return to Russia following his treatment for poisoning inflicted by Russia’s secret forces. Regardless of one’s opinion on Navalny’s legacy – acknowledging his nationalist views and well-known stance on Crimea – his return stands as an act of unparalleled courage. It’s a profound and enigmatic gesture that many struggle to comprehend, reserved for a select few: individuals of exceptional courage facing extraordinary circumstances.

Even if we may never know the exact circumstances surrounding Navalny’s death, it is clear that President Putin bears direct responsibility. Let us not forget other opponents who have died in mysterious circumstances – remember Anna Politkovskaya and Boris Nemtsov – and the many still imprisoned by Putin’s arbitrary system – remember Ilya Yashin, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Evan Gershkovich, and many others. I wonder what Western propagandists in favor of the Kremlin have to say about this. Aren’t they also complicit?

The question remains if Navalny’s death may signify the so-called black swan that announces the unexpected, yet significant event that may irreversibly change the state of affairs in Russia. Unfortunately, we do not expect that Navalny’s death will cause major upheaval in Russian society. Most probably, we will see an asymmetric response: Russian society – with exception of the absolute minority who saw in Mr. Navalny a source of hope and an alternative for Putin’s reign – will remain indifferent. Two arguments may underscore this statement:

We know that a minority of about 15 to 20 percent of the Russia population is eager for major political change in Russia, that a cohort of about the same strength is supporting the regime in the most fanatical way, leaving about 60 to 70 percent of the population that support the regime conditionally. Moreover, since the start of the war, February 2022, we have witnessed an increased and ruthless repression, first and foremost, against those who oppose the regime even through the most innocent expression. What is left for Putin’s opposition is fear, isolation and depression. It is clear, in an authoritarian regime, courage is required for those who resist. Currently, it is but a flower in the snow on a sidewalk in Moscow.

Western observers may also not forget that Navalny’s political impact is very low, mostly due to his isolation from society. Liberal candidates against Putin are not only systematically silenced or suppressed, they have in most general terms no large appeal to the general public. In the case of Navalny, people were interested in his anti-corruption campaign against the elite, except for Putin himself. Indeed, the Russian elite is most despised by the Russian people, with the exception of the ultimate leader. Seemingly, this is a Russian cultural topos still valid in contemporary Russia. As a result, in public opinion research, Navalny could count on the support of about 1 percent of the population and has not appeared in the ratings of trustworthy politicians lately.

Many questions remain unanswered in Russia’s political labyrinth. Firstly, how will Navalny’s death be interpreted within the presidential administration – often referred to as Putin’s shadow government – given its occurrence amidst the backdrop of the upcoming presidential elections in March? Beyond the veil of political window-dressing, which is essentially a façade for deception, this event is likely to evoke unease. It certainly cannot be construed as ‘good news’ for the political strategists and election managers, with Mr. Sergey Kiriyenko at the forefront, who are keen to ensure a smooth path for Putin’s re-election. Secondly, and closely tied to this, the way the Kremlin navigates Navalny’s demise remains uncertain. How will the Kremlin portray Navalny’s death? What arrangements will be made for his funeral? Ultimately, despite Western condemnation and outrage, the Russian regime holds the key to its own destiny. The only glimmer of hope lies in the possibility that Navalny’s death – and the bravery he exhibited – will not be in vain.

Source: Egmont Institute

The post Courage in the Face of Tyranny – Remembering Alexei Navalny appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>
Terrorists kill 150 in Christmas Eve attack on sleeping Christian villages https://zambeziobserver.com/terrorists-kill-150-in-christmas-eve-attack-on-sleeping-christian-villages/ Wed, 27 Dec 2023 06:14:26 +0000 https://zambeziobserver.com/?p=5070 Update 2: Death toll now 150 with 500 wounded as of December 26. Update: Death toll now 113…

The post Terrorists kill 150 in Christmas Eve attack on sleeping Christian villages appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>

Update 2: Death toll now 150 with 500 wounded as of December 26.

Update: Death toll now 113 in Christmas Eve terror attack on sleeping Christian villagers, according to county Chairman Monday Kassah. Scattered gunfire heard by reporters as thousands evacuate Christmas Day.

Breaking: Fulani Terrorists strike Sleeping Villages in Plateau State on Christmas Eve

Death Toll at 70 as Citizen Guards Shoulder Pipe Guns

By Masara Kim
Truth Nigeria

(Jos) At least 70 unarmed men, women and children have fallen to Fulani terrorists attacking at battalion strength in Central Plateau State since December 23, according to officials speaking to Truth Nigeria senior editor Masara Kim at the scene.

“At present , 70 are dead,” said Monday Kassah, Chairman of Bokkos County to TruthNigeria. Higher numbers of casualties are feared in a series of ongoing attacks targeting Christian villages in Plateau State, Nigeria. The attacks, believed to be driven by land grab and ethnic displacements, have forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes amidst intense gunfire by terrorists speaking the Fulani dialect, according to eyewitnesses.

Police and army authorities have yet to respond to inquiries from TruthNigeria, which published several advance warnings about a potential terror spike in the state leading up to Christmas.

The Fulani tribe, one of the largest in West Africa with around 10 million members in Nigeria, holds significant political influence in the country. However, militants associated with the group have faced accusations of genocidal massacres.

In the first half of 2023, Fulani-linked attacks resulted in the deaths of over 2500 Christians in Nigeria, according to Intersociety, an organization monitoring and documenting genocide in the country. Plateau State alone witnessed at least 500 of these deaths, reports Intersociety.

The latest violence commenced on December 23 in the eastern part of Bokkos county, where at least 16 people lost their lives in the village of Gwana, according to Kassah, the county chairman, speaking to TruthNigeria. The attack site is located just 5 miles from the county headquarters.

“We cannot say exactly why this attack was carried out but the victims are exclusively members of one ethnic group,” said Kassah in a phone interview with TruthNigeria.

“We have drafted securities to the area to help protect the surviving residents and unearth the truth of what happened,” said Kassah at about midday local time, two hours before the attacks spread to neighboring villages the following day leading to more deaths and house burnings according to escaping residents speaking to TruthNigeria.

The attack in Gwana started at 10 pm  local time said a local Pastor, Rev. Danjuma Mandik to TruthNigeria. The majority of the residents according to him were in their homes sleeping amid low temperatures approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

“We had just finished our evening devotion when we heard gunshots,” said Mandik in a telephone interview.

“The entire village was instantly thrown into confusion with people running for their lives in different directions,” Mandik said.

“Those that fled escaped but those that remained in their houses were killed,” he said, adding the victims were members of a family.

The victims were members of the Mwagavul ethnicity, predominantly located in the adjacent Mangu county, as disclosed by Jethro Jacob, a tribal youth leader speaking to TruthNigeria.

The Mwagavul ethnic group, part of the Chadic language family and consisting of over 500,000 members, includes influential figures in Plateau State, such as Governor Mutfwang.

On May 16 and the days following, more than 350 Mwagavul members were killed by Fulani militants in Mangu. Over 80,000 others were displaced, according to town leaders. The attacks followed just two months after Mutfwang’s election as Governor, heightening concerns of ethnic targeting for political and religious dominance by the chiefly Fulani ethnic group. This apprehension was exacerbated by a prior call from a prominent Muslim cleric urging Muslims to vote against Mutfwang, citing religious and ethnic considerations.

Since October 18, an additional 50 residents of Mangu have been killed in the ongoing attacks, according to Jacob who told TruthNigeria the tribe in control of Gwana may have been singled out as part of the persisting ethnic persecution carried out by the Fulani.

“The same thing is what they are doing to other non-Muslim ethnic groups in the surrounding areas,” he said.

Fulani leaders could not be reached by phone for comments.

In a statement on December 24, Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the attack in Gwana as ‘unacceptable’, and expressed concern terrorists often escape Justice.

“[The Governor] questioned the impunity of the attackers who inflict harm on communities, destroy property, and evade justice,” wrote the Governor in a statement signed and shared with TruthNigeria by his Director of Press, Gyang Bere.

The Governor directed security agencies to “promptly apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the heinous acts and ensure they face the full force of the law,” the statement says.

Yet, two hours after the Governor’s statement at 2pm local time, terrorists resumed hostilities shooting and setting fire to houses in at least ten villages in the surrounding areas.

The attacks continuing to the morning of December 25 forced residents, including children, to flee on foot amid worsening weather. A TruthNigeria reporter, native to the area, shared that his mother slept in a dry stream, while his siblings joined 20 civilian volunteers to defend their village. By the morning of December 25, at least 20 people were confirmed killed, five in the reporter’s village Butura Kampani, with others still missing.

TruthNigeria reports that the hardest-hit villages on Christmas Eve include Makabat, Mbar, Tahore, Sanyang, Daress Mandar, Hurum, Danbukur, Maiyanga, NTV and Tudun Mazat. In these villages, numerous houses were burned, and residents were displaced. Officials have not yet commented on the recent attacks.

Source: Truth Nigeria

The post Terrorists kill 150 in Christmas Eve attack on sleeping Christian villages appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>
Tajikistan Journalist, Mamadshoeva Sentenced To 21 Years In Prison https://zambeziobserver.com/tajikistan-journalist-mamadshoeva-sentenced-to-21-years-in-prison/ Fri, 15 Dec 2023 18:45:57 +0000 https://zambeziobserver.com/?p=5026 Brussels (25/11 – 33.3) Tajikistan Supreme Court has sentenced a widely respected 65-year-old female journalist, Ulfathonim Mamadshoeva, to…

The post Tajikistan Journalist, Mamadshoeva Sentenced To 21 Years In Prison appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>

Brussels (25/11 – 33.3)

Tajikistan Supreme Court has sentenced a widely respected 65-year-old female journalist, Ulfathonim Mamadshoeva, to 21 years in prison on charges of incitement to overthrowing the government. Mamadshoeva was accused by the authorities of being a leading figure behind the political turbulence that rocked her native Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) earlier this year. State propaganda has previously alleged that the veteran reporter and activist hatched the purported plot, for which no credible evidence has been produced, at the behest of an unnamed foreign government. 

Mamadshoeva’s brother, Khursand, was last week sentenced to 18 years in prison on related charges. Her ex-husband, Kholbash Kholbashev, a former senior official in the border service, has been given a life sentence. All the trial proceedings were held behind closed doors. The only details to have filtered out have come from relatives of the defendants.

65-year-old female journalist, Ulfathonim Mamadshoeva was accused by the authorities of being a leading figure behind the political turbulence that rocked Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) earlier this year. State propaganda has previously alleged that she had hatched the purported plot, for which no credible evidence has been produced.

Mamadshoeva is just one of a countless number of people from Tajikistan’s eastern Pamirs region to have face arbitrary arrest and summary trials over the last year over claims of involvement in pro-autonomy activism. Few of the accused have been given access to legal representation. The campaign of repression is the culmination of a violent government crackdown in the GBAO in May-June that was unleashed in response to protests.

By the account of the General Prosecutor’s Office, at least 29 people were killed during security sweeps. Prosecutors later filed criminal cases against 109 Pamiri leaders and their followers.  Also last week, the Supreme Court sentenced Faromuz Irgashev, a 32-year-old Pamiri lawyer who attempted without success to run in the 2020 presidential election, to 30 years in prison. 

When unrest first broke out in GBAO in February, Irgashev was accused of acting as an intermediary between protestors and the authorities, assisting in defusing the tensions. One result of negotiations was approval for the creation of a 44-person commission involving all sides of the unrest to investigate the root of the tensions.

By May, 10 members of that commission had charges filed against them on the grounds that they had allegedly formed a criminal consortium.

Source: Genocide Watch

The post Tajikistan Journalist, Mamadshoeva Sentenced To 21 Years In Prison appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>
Zimbabwean Man Brutally Murdered in Limpopo, Stabbed and Left Bleeding on the Street https://zambeziobserver.com/zimbabwean-man-brutally-murdered-in-limpopo-stabbed-and-left-bleeding-on-the-street/ Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:13:19 +0000 https://zambeziobserver.com/?p=4513 POLICE in Seshego, outside Polokwane are investigating a case of murder after a 36-year-old Zimbabwean man was allegedly…

The post Zimbabwean Man Brutally Murdered in Limpopo, Stabbed and Left Bleeding on the Street appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>

POLICE in Seshego, outside Polokwane are investigating a case of murder after a 36-year-old Zimbabwean man was allegedly stabbed to death with a sharp object.

The brutal murder happened on a street at Lepakeng, in Seshego, last week.

“It is alleged that one of the residents was walking along the street at Lepakeng next to a tavern when she heard someone screaming for assistance and went closer to investigate,” Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said.

“The woman found one male laying on the street bleeding, with a stab wound on the upper body and she immediately summoned the police and members of the emergency medical services (EMS).”

Ledwaba said the police and the EMS “quickly responded” but upon their arrival, the stabbed man was certified dead at the scene.

“Preliminary investigations indicated that the deceased was renting a room in the area at the time of his untimely death. Police have subsequently started with a manhunt of the unknown suspects, and location of the friends and relatives of the deceased,” said Ledwaba.

The police urged anyone with information that can assist with the case or in tracing the family of the deceased to contact the police, Crime Stop on 086-001-0111, their nearest police station or the My SAPS App.

Ledwaba said police investigations regarding the murder are still continuing.

Last month, IOL reported that police in Mankweng, in Limpopo, have launched an extensive manhunt following the murder of a 97-year-old woman.

The woman was found murdered at her home in Ramogale village, at GaMothapo.

“At approximately 7.30am, the local police responded to a complaint from a distraught relative who had discovered the lifeless body of the elderly woman at her residence,” Ledwaba said at the time.

Preliminary investigations have so far indicated that the victim was stabbed with a sharp object.

Police have opened a case of murder and the motive for this heinous incident is not yet known.

Source: New Zimbabwe

The post Zimbabwean Man Brutally Murdered in Limpopo, Stabbed and Left Bleeding on the Street appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>
Exclusive: ‘disturbing Trend’ of NZ Wildlife Decapitation https://zambeziobserver.com/exclusive-disturbing-trend-of-nz-wildlife-decapitation/ Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://zambeziobserver.com/?p=4300 Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of animal decapitation incidents that have been reported to authorities, and which…

The post Exclusive: ‘disturbing Trend’ of NZ Wildlife Decapitation appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>

Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of animal decapitation incidents that have been reported to authorities, and which may upset some readers.

Earlier this year, a group on Auckland’s Muriwai came across what appeared to be a recently deceased great white shark.

Instead of leaving it, and calling the wildlife authorities, they decided to first tie the shark to the back of a car in order to tow it around the beach – with one of the people riding the back of a carcass, like a banana boat.

They then decided to cut off its head with a knife.

But they did not stop there.

Next they decided – roaring with laughter whilst also screaming with a twisted horror and delight – to put the decapitated shark’s head on one of their group members’ own, wearing it like a mask.

Another member of the group filmed the event, sharing it among friends and then on social media. It quickly ended up in the inbox of one of the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) investigators, Dylan Swain.

“It’s somewhere between horrified and disgusted,” he said.

“There are some disturbed people out there who think they can treat our protected wildlife in this way, it’s not normal at all.”

However, it was the kind of behaviour that DOC told 1News was trending upwards, with at least a dozen reported incidents of animal decapitation in the past year or so, and a likelihood there were probably more that hadn’t been reported.

One example was a fur seal found dead on a beach near Wellington in late 2022.

Authorities first photographed the seal, but later returned to its body two days later to find someone had removed the animal’s head.

A deceased dolphin, found in late 2021, had the same fate. Authorities also found a mass decapitation event where birds were found on a beach with their heads cut off.

The most recent was in August this year in Whanganui – another fur seal.

“Inevitably we find what appears to be knife or blade wounds, there was one instance of a seal with its head cut off where they described it as having its head removed with scalpel precision,” Swain said.

There are multiple pieces of legislation that protect wildlife – both living and deceased – including the Wildlife Act and the Marine Mammals Protection Act for animals such as dolphins, whales and seals, according to DOC.

Under both laws, the punishments can range from fines to imprisonment.

What was unknown was what drove people to cut off the heads of protected wildlife, with Swain suspecting it could range from trophy hunting, getting likes on social media, or something more “sinister”.

The list of decapitation incidents also came as a shock to DOC’s science adviser Laura Boren — who specialised in fur seals.

“Certainly, when I saw the list, I thought: ‘Woah, this is crazy’,” she said.

“A good portion of these seem to be done after death, but I don’t know if that’s the case for all of them.”

She explained that, in many of these cases, it had to be humans involved – and not just because of the “scalpel” precision of some of the decapitations.

“When you see fresh animals without their heads, with very precise wounds that are definitely not natural – that is going to be done by somebody,” she said.

In nature, animal predators would often target other parts of the body, Boren said.

“Sharks, for example, will go for a form of propulsion [on the seal], they’ll go for their front flippers or their back flippers, or if they are coming from below, they might go for the stomach.

“They’re not going to go for the head.”

Swain said people should as a rule of thumb leave wildlife alone – but if anyone comes across a decapitated animal, they should report it to the authorities on 0800 DOC HOT.

Source: 1News

The post Exclusive: ‘disturbing Trend’ of NZ Wildlife Decapitation appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>
A Wildlife Preserve is Torched but Its Mission Remains https://zambeziobserver.com/a-wildlife-preserve-is-torched-but-its-mission-remains/ Sun, 03 Sep 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://zambeziobserver.com/?p=4233 PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, which offers spectacular scenes of wildlife aloft and oysters below,…

The post A Wildlife Preserve is Torched but Its Mission Remains appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, which offers spectacular scenes of wildlife aloft and oysters below, is now the scene of a crime.

Kayaks, 14 of them, appeared to weep alongside what used to be the Creek Side Lab for children. Last Friday, someone torched the lab, leaving melted kayaks and charred debris that is unrecognizable.

“Our kayaking program, our water monitoring program, and our student oyster restoration program it’s a total loss,” said Executive Director Ashley Morgan in an interview outside the caution tape that now surrounds what was once a cherished destination for children who want to learn about saving precious resources around the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Morgan tells 10 On Your Side a resident on the Suffolk side of the preserve alerted authorities in Portsmouth. There are no known witnesses or surveillance videos, as charred leaves high above the crime scene measured the size of the inferno.

“If anyone saw any suspicious activity we would love for them to let us know. It was Friday, August 11; something between 4:30 and 11 p.m.,” said Morgan, who added there have been no incidents or threats related to the preserve.

The trail destruction ends at the Creak Side Lab, but it appears the preserve’s one-mile walking trail is where the damage begins. At least a half dozen benches, built by Boy Scouts, were dumped in Lake Ballard. Summer intern Ashawne Edwards, a senior at Old Dominion University, is stunned and disappointed.

Regina Mobley: Someone plucked a bench from the trail and dragged it all the way down to the lake. That took some effort.

Ashawne Edwards: I don’t know why they went through all that trouble just to cause some senseless damage.

The 142-acre preserve is still assessing the damage. The kayaks alone are valued at $14,000. While the crime is under investigation, the mission of the preserve remains the same.

“The trails are open so we welcome the public to come take a hike, have a picnic, and enjoy the rest of the preserve,” Morgan said.

Source: Wavy News

The post A Wildlife Preserve is Torched but Its Mission Remains appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>
Zimbabwean Man Sentenced After Being Caught Smuggling Fake Clothing Brands Into South Africa https://zambeziobserver.com/zimbabwean-man-sentenced-after-being-caught-smuggling-fake-clothing-brands-into-south-africa/ Sat, 08 Jul 2023 03:27:00 +0000 https://zambeziobserver.com/?p=3865 A driver of a cargo vehicle caught with counterfeit branded clothing with an estimated street value of more…

The post Zimbabwean Man Sentenced After Being Caught Smuggling Fake Clothing Brands Into South Africa appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>

A driver of a cargo vehicle caught with counterfeit branded clothing with an estimated street value of more than R2 million, has been sentenced.

The man, 37, from Zimbabwe, appeared in the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crime Court on multiple counts of contravening the provisions of the Counterfeit Goods Act, Act 37 of 1997 and Trademark Act, Act 194 of 1993.

Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Thandi Tshabalala said the man was sentenced to a R200 000 fine or two years imprisonment, of which R100 000 or one year imprisonment was suspended for five years.

This was on condition that the accused not be convicted of a similar offence again in the period of suspension, said Tshabalala.

According to the Hawks, the man was arrested near Lebombo Port of Entry Komatipoort on 11 November 2022, while transporting goods from Mozambique to South Africa.

“The accused was a driver for the Mbombela company Cruise Cargo,” said Tshabalala.

In his possession were counterfeit branded clothing, takkies, sandals and jeans.

Source : newzimbabwe

The post Zimbabwean Man Sentenced After Being Caught Smuggling Fake Clothing Brands Into South Africa appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>
Murder Suspects Nabbed at N’anga Seeking Cleansing for Killing Chinhoyi Man, Appear in Court https://zambeziobserver.com/murder-suspects-nabbed-at-nanga-seeking-cleansing-for-killing-chinhoyi-man-appear-in-court/ Thu, 06 Jul 2023 15:14:06 +0000 https://zambeziobserver.com/?p=3859 Three men suspected of killing a 40-year-old Chinhoyi man were last week dragged to court following their dramatic…

The post Murder Suspects Nabbed at N’anga Seeking Cleansing for Killing Chinhoyi Man, Appear in Court appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>

Three men suspected of killing a 40-year-old Chinhoyi man were last week dragged to court following their dramatic arrest at a traditional healer’s shrine, where they sought to fend off avenging spirits of the dead man.

Blessing Kandero (26) of Chitambo suburb, Chinhoyi, Tinashe Pamhidzai (20) of Illanga farm, Chinhoyi and Tatenda Mutamba (28) of no fixed aboard, appeared before Magistrate Shepherd Mjanja facing murder charges.

The trio, which was found in possession of dangerous weapons including an okapi knife, machete and catapults, allegedly stabbed to death Munyaradzi Mahwine of Gadzema suburb in Chinhoyi.

The suspects’ clothes were blood-stained indicating they could have committed the offence.

The matter was moved to July 6, 2023 for routine remand while accused persons were advised to apply for bail at High Court.

The State’s case, led by Tafadzwa Knight Rwodzi, is that on June 18, 2023 accused persons, acting in common purpose with accomplices Lazarus Machaya, and others only identified as Nice and Godknows, connived to use violence to steal from lone pedestrians at night.

The court heard at around 11pm, the six-man gang proceeded to a secluded place on the outskirts of Hunyani section, opposite Chafa bottle store and lay ambush.

The squad pounced on the passer-by, Mahwine and his unidentified colleague, and started manhandling the pair demanding cash, before stabbing the now deceased on right thigh once with a knife.

The victim started screaming thereby attracting the attention of police officers on patrol who rushed to the scene prompting assailants to flee into the darkness.

The cops found Mahwine unconscious while bleeding excessively from a deep wound.

He later died at scene before getting any professional medical assistance.

Source : newzimbabwe

The post Murder Suspects Nabbed at N’anga Seeking Cleansing for Killing Chinhoyi Man, Appear in Court appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>
Zimbabwe Releases More Than 4 000 Prisoners in Presidential Amnesty https://zambeziobserver.com/zimbabwe-releases-more-than-4-000-prisoners-in-presidential-amnesty/ Mon, 29 May 2023 20:00:00 +0000 https://zambeziobserver.com/?p=3566 About a fifth of all prisoners in Zimbabwe were released on Thursday under a presidential amnesty a few…

The post Zimbabwe Releases More Than 4 000 Prisoners in Presidential Amnesty appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>

About a fifth of all prisoners in Zimbabwe were released on Thursday under a presidential amnesty a few months ahead of crunch general elections.

A total of 4270 inmates were let out, according to the country’s correctional service, which described the reprieve as a “noble gesture” by the president.

“We would like to appeal to… society at large to embrace and accept the inmates who have been released,” Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) said in a statement.

“Those aggrieved are encouraged to forgive them”.

The move brings down overcrowding in the country’s more than 50 detention centres, which have capacity for about 17 000 people but held more than 22 000 before the amnesty.

Yet, ZPCS spokesperson Meya Khanyezi told AFP “it was not about decongestion”.

“This was just a noble gesture by the president,” she said.

The amnesty was granted to various categories of prisoners including those who have served at least three-quarters of their sentence, or one tenth if over the age of 60.

Violent criminals as well as those serving time for robbery, treason and public order and security offences were excluded.

Those released will be able to vote in presidential and legislative elections that are to be held in August, although no date has been announced yet.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is struggling to ease entrenched poverty, end chronic power cuts and rein in inflation.

He granted a similar amnesty at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 in a bid to curtail the spread of the virus in detention facilities.

Source : News 24

The post Zimbabwe Releases More Than 4 000 Prisoners in Presidential Amnesty appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>
Who is Angel, the Zimbabwe Ambassador Involved in Gold Smuggling? https://zambeziobserver.com/who-is-angel-the-zimbabwe-ambassador-involved-in-gold-smuggling/ Fri, 19 May 2023 21:58:59 +0000 https://zambeziobserver.com/?p=3394 Harare, Zimbabwe – Since March, a documentary by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit (I-Unit) has shed light on the illicit…

The post Who is Angel, the Zimbabwe Ambassador Involved in Gold Smuggling? appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>


Harare, Zimbabwe – Since March, a documentary by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit (I-Unit) has shed light on the illicit gold trade in Southern Africa and money laundering involving powerful figures in the region including Auxilia Mnangagwa, the wife of the Zimbabwean president.

The footage exposed how several individuals have taken advantage of Western sanctions targeting government and ruling party officials to smuggle large quantities of gold and launder millions of dollars through a complex web of companies and bribes.

In the four-episode documentary,  Zimbabwe’s Ambassador At Large Uebert Angel offered to use his diplomatic status to launder millions of dollars through a gold smuggling scheme, for undercover reporters posing as Asian criminals.

“You want gold, gold we can do it right now, we can make the call right now, and it’s done,” Angel told Al Jazeera’s reporters.

“It will land in Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe can’t touch it too until I get to my house. So, there can be a diplomatic plan … it is a very, very easy thing,” he said.

He also claimed that his laundering operations had the approval of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has been in power since November 2017.

But exactly who is Angel, the controversial character at the centre of the documentary?

Angel the prophet

Uebert Angel, whose real name is Uebert Mudzanire, is a self-styled Zimbabwean “prophet”, preacher and entrepreneur based in the United Kingdom.

The 44-year-old is the founder of Spirit Embassy, a church with branches in several countries including the United Kingdom, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Born on September 6, 1978, in Zimbabwe, Angel grew up in a religious family and was raised as a Christian. He has previously claimed he was “summoned as a child under the wild custard tree” by God and was “bathed in liquid love and shown the Halo,” according to the church’s website.

In 1996, he started a small prayer group in his home, which quickly evolved into a church.

It became known as Spirit Embassy in 2007. The church itself rebranded as the “Good News Church” in October 2015 while “Spirit Embassy” became a term for his overall ministry. He is known for preaching that God wants his followers to be wealthy and for promoting doctrines referred to as prosperity gospel, which assert that financial and material gain are the divine will of God for all pious Christians.

‘Miracle money’

In 2012, Angel shot to fame for performing a series of controversial miracles including creating what he dubbed “miracle money”. He claimed he had prophetic powers to produce valuable commodities such as gold, diamonds and money that could mysteriously find its way into people’s pockets and bank accounts as well as a bank vault.

The sermon was so popular that he ended up travelling across Africa performing for believers and promising them miracle money.

During his tour, he claimed to have performed a controversial weight loss miracle in South Africa where a woman looked on utterly amazed and agreed with him that her husband had suddenly lost weight.

His antics attracted the attention of former Zimbabwean central bank chief Gideon Gono who summoned him and ordered him to stop creating the so-called “miracle money”. But Gono later sided with Angel, saying he had not violated any of the country’s monetary laws.

In 2018, Angel made headlines yet again for sensationally claiming to have successfully walked on water, one of the miracles performed by Jesus Christ in Biblical times.

He later reversed this claim and explained the incident was a metaphorical “demonstration of faith” and not a literal walk on water.

The man who sells everything

Angel, who claims to have two university degrees in finance, is also an author and has written several books on faith and prosperity.

He also runs satellite-broadcasting channels, Miracle TV, GoodNews TV and Wow TV, which broadcast his crusades and sermons.

He runs his church as a business. Under the Millionaire Academy, Angel teaches the fundamental aspects of becoming a millionaire and targets business owners who want to develop their company “into something greater than themselves in his church and beyond”.

His Osborne Institute of Theology charges £499.00 for a theological certificate and £799 for a diploma. The ministry sells merchandise, hosts conventions, takes offerings online via Visa and PayPal and provides what he calls “prophetic retreats”.

Other controversies

In 2014, he was accused of fraud and money laundering by a former member of his church in the UK. He has also been criticised for his lavish lifestyle, which includes luxury cars, private jets and expensive homes.

In one of several documented cases of sexual misconduct, Angel was accused of asking a female congregant to send him nude pictures of herself on Twitter and WhatsApp. The digital communication records were authenticated by Twitter for IP addresses.

Angel attempted to destroy the records, but they were retrieved and compiled into a documentary. He has faced other allegations of infidelity and has been unrepentant when confronted with evidence of his wrongdoing.

“You see moral failure is not a crime. I am dealing with the law here (and) moral failure is not a crime,” he said in the documentary made by ZimEye, a local news website.

In March 2021, he was appointed ambassador at large and a presidential envoy by Mnangagwa. It was in this capacity that he told Al Jazeera that he could facilitate a scheme for exchanging unaccounted-for cash for Zimbabwe’s gold.

Source: Al Jazeera

The post Who is Angel, the Zimbabwe Ambassador Involved in Gold Smuggling? appeared first on Zambezi Observer.

]]>