NewsDay (Zimbabwe)

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IN response to Africa HRDs red flag ED over Chin’ono, SHUMBA says: The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights special rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Informatio­n in Africa, Commission­er Jamesina King is spot in telling President Emmerson Mnangagwa to respect human rights because the situation is dire. The Zanu PF government is taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to trample on people’s rights. Electoral activities were suspended under the guise of curbing the spread of the virulent virus. Protesting has been rendered a taboo in Zimbabwe. How can people express themselves?

IN response to Media organisati­ons cry foul over television licensing, RANGA says: This was expected. Zanu PF has always shown that it has no appetite to open up the media landscape. In every token move to open up the airwaves, licences are usually given to those aligned or sympatheti­c to the ruling party Zanu PF. It seems owning a radio and television station is the prerogativ­e of those with a soft spot for Zanu PF. This latest awarding of television licences to predominan­tly Zanu PF cronies is testimony that a leopard will never change its spots. There is nothing new about the so-called new dispensati­on.

IN response to Stay in your lane, Chamisa tells army, CHUMA says: This issue of the military interferin­g in civilian affairs has been problemati­c to Zimbabwe since time immemorial. The late former President Robert Mugabe praised the then late army General Vitalis Zvinavashe during the 2003 elections when he vowed that he would not salute anyone who did not have liberation war credential­s. It really worked for Mugabe until the military turned against him. Under normal circumstan­ces, the military must confine itself to the barracks and not dabble in civilian affairs. MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is right in telling the military to concentrat­e on their core businesses of providing security and defence to the country. If they want to venture into politics, they should remove the army fatigue.

IN response to Ginimbi’s car not insured: Police, ROMBE says: I was shocked when I read in the NewsDay that the late socialite Genius “Ginim-bi” Kadungure’s posh US$500 000 Rolls-Royce Wraith was not insured. How was he passing through numerous police checkpoint­s? Does it mean the law applies to people of different statuses differentl­y? Is Zimbabwe fast turning into an Animal Farm?

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