A City of Harare councillor on Friday claimed that the Joint Operations Command (JOC) is blocking the reopening of the Mupedzanhamo flea market in Mbare.
JOC is the supreme organ for the coordination of State security in the country and comprises officers drawn from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS).
Harare City Council’s Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs) committee chairperson, Councillor Denford Ngadziore (CCC) t<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004483/joc-blocks-mupedzanhamo-flea-market-reopening">old NewsDay that</a> JOC blocked the reopening of the flea market to prevent violence. He said:
<blockquote>
As Harare City Council, we are worried because JOC stopped the opening of the Mupedzanhamo flea market recently. They said they are avoiding violence.
A meeting was held at the Harare Metropolitan secretary Tafadzwa Muguti’s office, where JOC shot down proposals to reopen the flea market.
We had hoped to open the flea market in October. We think that it is the right time to open the market after we talked to all the warring parties.
We wanted the market to have been opened before the festive season so that traders could benefit.
</blockquote>
Ngadziore said they would continue to engage relative authorities, including the police to ensure that vendors resume their activities.
However, the national spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Ngadziore’s claims were baseless.
He said, “these issues are co-ordinated by Harare Metropolitan provincial secretary” and councillors should not tarnish the image of the police.
Muguti yesterday declined to comment on the matter when he was contacted by NewsDay.
Mupedzanhamo flea market has been closed for years now and vendors had resorted to using the open space outside the market to sell their wares.
A few weeks ago, violent clashes broke out between alleged space barons from ZANU PF and CCC fighting for control of the lucrative vending stalls.

Pindula News

JOC Blocked Mupedzanhamo Flea Market Reopening, Says Ngadziore

The City of Bulawayo has approached the Joint Operation Command (JOC) for assistance to remove ZANU PF activists who have illegally converted one of the city’s streets into a vegetable market.
JOC is a security arm comprising officers drawn from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS).
The City of Bulawayo has accused ZANU PF youths and their leaders of taking over 5th Street in the central business district and parcelling it into vending bays for vendors.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the city’s “Big Spring Cleaning Week” launch Monday, Bulawayo Mayor, Solomon Mguni, said:
<blockquote>
They (vendors) were settled here by politicians from the ruling party (ZANU PF) and we have tried to engage both the party and state security apparatus to try and remove them from this road.
… We have held various meetings with JOC and the vendors’ leaders so as to find an amicable solution.
The engagements are continuing and ultimately it is the JOC which should ensure that these people are removed.
</blockquote>
The ZANU PF-linked “vending space barons” are prejudicing the local authority of millions of potential revenue by taking bribes from the displaced informal traders. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/council-ropes-in-army-to-swoop-on-defiant-zanu-pf-aligned-street-vendors/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Bulawayo Council Ropes In Army To Remove Defiant ZANU PF-aligned Vendors

The heads of Zimbabwe’s security services reportedly held a two-hour meeting after MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa announced plans to roll-out mass protests across the country against the government.
According to Zim Morning Post, the Joint Operation Command (JOC), which brings together the heads of security wings, namely the military, police and state security, met on Thursday from 1400 hours.
The meeting focused on scenarios and reigniting of state machinery in readiness to what Chamisa calls “a season of protests by the citizens.” A JOC insider is reported as saying:
<blockquote>Scenarios presented looked at how the State is likely to react with minimum force. What is clear is that enemies of the State want to destabilise the prevailing peaceful environment. The protests will be stopped.</blockquote>
In his address on Tuesday using the party’s social media platforms, Chamisa said his party will peacefully resist the continued infringement on citizens’ rights. He said:
<blockquote>We will peacefully resist and oppose sustaining businesses and companies that oppress us the people.
We will peacefully resist and oppose institutions that oppress us the people. We will peacefully resist and oppose illegal enforcement. We will peacefully resist and oppose unconstitutional laws.
We will peacefully resist and oppose the weaponisation of laws and judiciary systems. We will peacefully resist and oppose the illegitimate Oppressors that stole the election.</blockquote>
Zimbabwe last experienced widespread protests in January 2019 after the government hiked fuel prices by over 100 per cent.
Thousands of Zimbabweans protested against the price increase, along with increasing levels of poverty, the poor state of the economy.
The government as it is wont, responded with a coordinated crackdown that resulted in hundreds of arrests and multiple injuries and deaths.
<h4>More: <a href="https://zimmorningpost.com/chamisa-protest-threats-joc-holds-crisis-meeting-zanu-pf-frets/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Zim Morning Post</a></h4>

Securocrats Hold Crisis Meeting After Chamisa Protest Threats

A purported Joint <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Joint_Operations_Command" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Operations Command (JOC)</a> memo prepared about a month before the disputed 2013 elections shows that Zimbabwe mistrusted the then South African President Jacob Zuma, who was facilitating dialogue between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
The memo also disclosed that Sino Zim Chairman, Sam Pa pledged to 2 million t-shirts, caps and bandanas, while DRC President Joseph Kabila donated US$85 million. Below is the document:
<blockquote>3 June 2013
Election Brief Meeting (JOC)
Manyame Airbase Station
Harare
SUBJECT: HARMONISED ELECTIONS: REGIONAL SURVEILLANCE (SADC)
Security Overview
Collaborative intelligence shows hostile communication between Mr Zuma, Ms L Zulu and Mr David Cameron through the USA embassy in ZA.
Intelligence gathered show complicity in sharing Cabinet and Government of Zimbabwe secrets by Mr Tsvangirai, Mr W Ncube and Mr T Biti.
Collaborated Intelligence show covert meetings between Governments of South Africa, Nigeria and Britain to strategise on how to use SADC to influence politics in Zimbabwe by way of loyalty buying in Senior Security personnel.
State Of Election Funds VS Budgetary Requirements
Campaign regalia will be covered by Sino Zim Chairman Mr Sam Pa who pledged 2 million t-shirts and a corresponding number of caps and bandanas.
Vehicles- 500 trucks donated so far by Meikles and CPC.
Mbada Diamonds and Anjin Pvt Ltd donated a total of USD800 m for transport and mobilization.
The Commissariat received USD85 m from Cde Joseph Kabila and USD 92 m from E. Guinea.
Other local Donations: Mahomed Mussa USD 2m, Van Hoog USD 3m.
Budgetary Requirements
Nikuv International Projects projected a budget need of USD3 billion to secure 50% of possible adult votes.
Party candidates will cater for most of their costs as most funds will go to Presidential campaign.
33% of the budget will cover regional diplomacy (Next SADC Chair, Liberation movements) to drum up support for poll credibility before, during and after elections.</blockquote>
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-150733 size-full" decoding="async" height="1024" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px" src="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/WhatsApp-Image-2020-02-12-at-08.29.24.jpeg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/WhatsApp-Image-2020-02-12-at-08.29.24.jpeg 771w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/WhatsApp-Image-2020-02-12-at-08.29.24-226x300.jpeg 226w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/WhatsApp-Image-2020-02-12-at-08.29.24-768x1020.jpeg 768w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/WhatsApp-Image-2020-02-12-at-08.29.24-600x797.jpeg 600w" width="771"/>

Alleged Memo Revealing How Security Services Prepared For The 2013 Elections

Manicaland <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Joint_Operations_Command">JOC</a> has raided Odzi gold panners to try and restore sanity after 4 gold panners died in those areas in the past few weeks, Newsday reports.
The operation was confirmed by Acting Provincial spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luxon Chinanda who said:
<blockquote>I can confirm that we carried out a joint operation with the Ministry of Mines, but I cannot provide details because this was a district operation, so I will also need to be apprised on the operation. However, it is the mandate of the police to respond to any distress calls and ensure that there is peace in the country.</blockquote>
The violent clashes at Odzi 1 and 2 mines have left 4 panners dead thereby increasing the need for the police and the army to intervene.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/12/joc-raids-illegal-miners-in-odzi/">Newsday </a>

Manicaland Joint Operations Command Pounce On Odzi Gold Panners

Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Larry_Mavima" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Larry Mavima</a>, said that the Provincial <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Joint_Operations_Command" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joint Operations Command</a> (JOC) has been mandated to deal with machete violence perpetrated by the infamous MaShurugwi gangs.
Speaking during an interview with State media, Mavima revealed that JOC has already met and is currently devising “ruthless” means of dealing with the criminals. He said:
<blockquote>The Government is not taking lightly the maShurugwi menace and the provincial JOC has been tasked with dealing with these machete-wielding gold miners ruthlessly so that we bring to an end unnecessary loss of lives and damage to property these people bring wherever they go. So JOC has met and is working on ways and means of dealing with them and it will be ruthless.</blockquote>
The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/MaShurugwi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MaShurugwi </a>gangs, whose origins are believed to be the small chrome-mining town of Shurugwi in central Zimbabwe, have been accused of unleashing a reign of terror, not only in the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Midlands_Province" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Midlands province</a> but in Mashonaland provinces as well.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/joc-to-deal-with-mashurugwi/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Security Forces To Effectively Deal With MaShurugwi

The situation in Chegutu has calmed down following the involvement of the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Joint_Operations_Command" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joint Operations Command (JOC)</a> late on Thursday after there was an upsurge in criminality by machete-wielding gangs generally referred to as <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/MaShurugwi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MaShurugwi</a>.
This was revealed by Chegutu Miners Association chairperson Innocent Nicks, who said that there was a heavy security deployment done after a 4-hour JOC closed-door meeting. He added:
<blockquote>The situation in <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Chegutu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chegutu</a> for the past 5 days was bad for the Chegutu miners, gold buyers, millers, and the general Chegutu residents.
The machete-wielding men from Kadoma, Kwekwe, Gokwe and their recruits in Chegutu were pouncing on everyone whom they suspect to have valuables including gold, money, cellphones, etc.</blockquote>
The criminal gangs were reportedly in control of certain areas where they robbed people and attacked everyone whom they suspected was involved in mining or mining activities.
JOC brings together the country’s security organs, that is, the military, intelligence, police and prisons for the coordination of state security in Zimbabwe.
<h4>More: <a href="https://miningzimbabwe.com/joc-silence-machete-criminals-in-chegutu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mining Zimbabwe</a></h4>

JOC Involvement Pacifies 'MaShurugwi' In Chegutu

The Joint Operations Command (JOC) has taken over the burial programme of the late national hero Dumiso Dabengwa.
This development was confirmed by Zapu acting president Isaac Mabuka in a telephone interview with NewZimbabwe. He said:
<blockquote>Our secretary general Strike Mnkandla is with the JOC right now, finalising the burial programme for our late president. Phone him to ask for more details.</blockquote>
The move is considered to be a ploy to screen speakers at the burial of the former Minister of Home Affairs.
According to Mnkadla, various foreign dignitaries are expected to attend the burial in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North province.
Among the locals expected to attend are MDC president Nelson Chamisa and local traditional leader Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni.
Chamisa’s spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda revealed that his principal has plans to attend. He said:
<blockquote>The president (Chamisa) was very close to the late national hero, Dabengwa and would want to attend his burial.
There have been changes to the programme but president Chamisa is in constant touch with the family so that he is able to plan with the aim of paying his respects on his passing.
The president (Chamisa) was very close to the late national hero, Dabengwa and would want to attend his burial.</blockquote>
Dabengwa passed away in Nairobi, Kenya last Thursday. He has subsequently declared a national hero but his family requested that he be laid to rest in his rural home as was his wish before he died.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/jittery-military-takes-over-dabengwa-burial-programme-chamisa-set-to-attend/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe</a></h4>

JOC Takes Over Programme Of Dabengwa's Burial

Norton Member of Parliament, Temba Mliswa has spoken against price controls and said market forces should be allowed to determine prices.
Mliswa added that unjustified price hikes are a security threat and the Joint Operations Command (JOC) should be given a role to deal with the arbitrary and unjustified price hikes.  JOC brings together state security arms, that is, the military, police and intelligence. Said Mliswa:
<blockquote>I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s not about price controls but market forces. However above all the scourge of CORRUPTION but be dealt. Unscrupulous businesspeople must stop using any opportunity to fleece the already struggling masses.
Why should talk be left to us, where are the responsible authorities? They must move in with a mechanism to address these issues even beginning with a stakeholder’s meeting which is key to understand everyone’s concerns. Mnangagwa is a listening President.
Where are the Ministers in playing their role? Why isn’t Joint Operations Command (JOC) being given space to do its job or it’ll be redundant in government? Unjustified prices are a security threat. If JOC implement Cabinet decisions and those decisions are reversed then it becomes useless the market a free for all.</blockquote>
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