Hardlife Zvirekwi

Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
CAPS UNITED defender Hardlife Zvirekwi last night joined an elite club of Zimbabwe’s finest footballers by winning the 2016 Soccer Star of the Year award but dark clouds are gathering on the horizon for the country’s top-flght league.

Zvirekwi was crowned at a glittering ceremony held at a Harare hotel to bring down the curtain on the 2016 football season.

The night belonged to the Green Machine as Zvirekwi’s teammate Leonard Tsipa, who was also a favourite for the top gong, landed the first runner-up award while FC Platinum goalkeeper Petros Mhari walked away with the bronze medal.

Zvirekwi was rewarded with $6 000 for his success while Tsipa pocketed $4 000 for coming second and another $4 000 for winning this year’s Golden Boot with 11 goals.

Mhari received $3 000.

However, amid the pomp and fanfare, there was a reminder that the future could be gloomy for the league after their main sponsors Delta Beverages broke their silence and made it clear they were not happy with the squabbles that were tainting the league.

The PSL management have been engaged in a boardroom battle with Zifa over the relegation and promotion puzzle which led to the suspension of the league’s chairman Peter Dube who is also the Highlanders boss.

The marriage between Delta Beverages and PSL comes to and end this month and the sponsors made it clear last night they were unhappy with the boardroom squabbles and would not re-engage the league, for an extension of the deal, because there was a leadership vacuum at the top-flight league.

Delta Beverages’ marketing director, Maxen Karombo, said his organisation was incapacitated to start contract negotiations with the PSL for an extension of their marriage when the league didn’t have a substantive chairman running their affairs.

Karombo said the confusion over the relegation and promotion had damaged their brand, as sponsors, and it was up to the football community to put its house in order if it wanted to continue having them as partners.

It’s the first time that Delta Beverages, who also sponsor the only major knockout tournament in the PSL, have spoken out on the crisis.

Their concerns also come on the eve of a meeting by the PSL emergency committee in Harare today to try and resolve the issue.

Caps United team manager Shakespeare Chinogwenya was over the moon after the champions did not only produce the winner of the prestigious individual football accolade in the country but also the runner-up, the Coach of the Year and the Golden Boot winner in a clean sweep.

Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe was named Coach of the Year while Tsipa graced the podium twice after landing the Golden Boot award.

They also had another player Ronald Pfumbidzai among the finalists.

Chinogwenya said in the case of Zvirekwi, God had proved his faithfulness.

“I think this guy has been the unlucky one in past selections but when God says your time has come no one can stop it. This definitely is his time.

“He has done so well in the past but it appears nobody cared to notice. I don’t know how you guys in the selection always overlooked him when you selected your finalists.

“But when it is written by a Divine hand, you cannot erase it. Zvirekwi has been a pillar to our success this season. That is why national team coach Callisto Pasuwa considers him to be a key member in his squad,” said Chinogwenya.

The other players who made the 11 finalists include Liberty Chakoroma (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Clemence Matawu (Chicken Inn), Gift Mbweti (Hwange),  Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), Godknows Murwira (Dynamos) and Walter Musona (FC Platinum).

In a season in which the players struggled for consistency, Zvirekwi was one of the few shining lights in a successful year for Makepekepe.

He is the latest Caps United player to walk this road since legend Shacky Tauro opened the way for Makepekepe players in 1979.

Stanley Ndunduma (1981), George Nechironga (1990), Stewart Murisa (1996), Energy Murambadoro (2003) and Cephas Chimedza (2004) have put Makepekepe on the podium with Joesph Kamwendo the last one to win it in 2005.

Zvirekwi was among the finalists in 2013 when Tawanda Muparati won the big prize.

But he had probably the most consistent run of form this year in the green-and-white strip.

The 29 year-old defender featured regularly in the championship-winning side and missed only two league games the whole season due to suspension and injury.

Chinogwenya said it’s time Zvirekwi get offers abroad as some foreign clubs have shown interests.

“I can only wish him well in his career. I strongly feel it’s time to be considered to cross the borders and join a host of other Zimbabweans playing abroad. He has the qualities, he has everything and it’s good some foreign coaches are showing interests,” said Chinogwenya.

Zvirekwi also becomes the ninth defender to lift the Soccer Star accolade since 1969 when the awards were unveiled. eteran striker Tsipa, who won the Golden Boot in 2004, has returned to rule the roost again.

With 11 goals in the bag, Tsipa scored two more than closest rivals Mbweti of Hwange and FC Platinum’s Musona who also made it on the calendar.

Somehow, he managed to transform himself from a player who had been condemned after his career took a huge tumble when he was fired by the Green Machine in 2010. The 34-year old forward turned the hands of time back to 2004 when he lifted the Top Goal Scorer award after netting 18 goals to lead Makepekepe to championship success under Charles Mhlauri.

Again, with Tsipa a key man, Makepekepe have just completed a successful season by winning their fifth league title.

Their coach Chitembwe has been credited with transforming the under-achieving Green Machine outfit into champions and last night walked away $4 000 richer.

The former Zimbabwe international midfielder became the first Caps United player to win the title both as player and coach.

FC Platinum’s ‘keeper Mhari, who was voted the best player of the season, also had a night to remember after winning the Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Highlanders’ striker Prince Dube, who exploded on the scene this season with a bang, won the Rookie of the Year award after his impressive show for Bosso.

The Most Disciplined Team award was awarded to the team with the least cumulative points at the end of the season.
2016 Soccer Star of the Year – Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United)

First Runner-up – Leonard Tsipa (Caps United)

Second Runner-up – Petros Mhari (FC Platinum)

Goalkeeper of the Year – Petros Mhari (FC Platinum)

Coach of the Year – Lloyd Chitembwe (FC Platinum)

Rookie Player of the Year – Prince Dube

Castle Lager Premiership 2016 Soccer Star of the Year 8 finalists:

Liberty Chakoroma (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Clemence Matawu (Chicken Inn), Gift Mbweti (Hwange),  Winston Mhango (FC Platinum), Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), Godknows Murwira (Dynamos), Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Caps United).

Takunda Maodza, Harare Bureau
THE National Social Security Authority bought a Harare property for a price inflated by more than $8 million in yet another investment boob at the pension fund bordering on corruption, it has emerged.

Documents in possession of our Harare Bureau from an audit conducted at NSSA by Grant Thornton show that the fired James Matiza-led management bought Celestial Park for $32 million from Matay-Kingdom on September 29, 2014.

NSSA management ignored a BARD valuation report which priced the property at $24 million, a difference of $8 million.

The auditors noted that NSSA could have built a similar structure for about $27 million, meaning the BARD valuation was on point.

The documents show that GreenPlan valuators had valued Celestial Park at $36.5 million as at June 15, 2014.

BARD valuators put it at $24 million as at May 27, 2014.

Eventually NSSA forked out about $34 million when other charges are factored in.

“Given the significant difference of $12.5 million between the two market values derived by the independent valuers, one would have expected both reports to have been tabled for discussion and BARD valuation included for determining the offer for bargaining purposes,” reads the Grant Thornton audit report.

The audit noted that the BARD valuation of Celestial Park was dismissed by the then NSSA management on flimsy grounds.

“BARD valuation reports were being disregarded due to the fact that they were assigning values that were too low to properties and hence the authority would find it difficult to purchase any properties at those values as most sellers would be unwilling to sell.”

It noted that the transaction prejudiced NSSA of about $13,8 million.

The auditors also raised issues with the agreement of sale entered between the seller, Matay-Kingdom and NSSA.

The agreement of sale was prepared by Kantor and Immerman at NSSA’s request.

Reads the audit findings: “Clause 11 and 12 of the general conditions of the agreement of sale stipulate that the property is sold voetstoots even though the property was still incomplete at the time of signing of the agreement. The agreement did not include any set targets for the completion of the property as this was the property that was acquired when it was still under construction.”

It was also noted that the agreement of sale was silent on whether the price was inclusive of VAT.

“The agreement of sale was silent on whether the purchase price of $32 million was inclusive or exclusive of VAT. This led to a dispute with the seller. In terms of VAT (Chapter 23:12), where an agreement of sale is silent on whether the purchase price is inclusive of VAT or exclusive of VAT for registered operator, the amount charged is deemed to include VAT,” reads the Grant Thornton audit report.

It added: “The agreement of sale was silent on interest earned on funds in Trust. There is no evidence to suggest that due care was taken to ensure that the above mentioned issues were ring-fenced in an effort to protect the authority’s interests. There was also no evidence of a quantity surveyor or similarly qualified person being engaged to assess the building and generate a slag list for inclusion before the agreement was signed.
‘‘The satisfactory completion and or addressing of the snag list should have been one of the conditions precedent in the agreement.”

Grant Thornton also noted in its findings that according to the agreement of sale, NSSA was supposed to pay $4 million immediately to Matay-Kingdom with the balance being released upon completion of all conveyancing documents to facilitate transfer of the buyer.

“However, from our review we noted that there were other disbursements apart from the $4 million that were made available to the purchaser,” noted the auditors.

Moffat Tizayi

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
AN illegal gold panner who could not stomach being ditched by his girlfriend petrol-bombed a room she was sleeping in with another man in Gweru in the wee hours of yesterday morning.

The couple suffered severe burns following the attack at around 1AM and has been transferred to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare where the two are both battling for life in the Intensive Care Unit.

Garikayi Zvavada (43) of Ascot suburb allegedly armed himself with two home-made petrol bombs that he made using nine litres of petrol.

He broke a window and threw the bombs into a room at a house in Ascot suburb where he suspected his ex-girlfriend, Ms Cynthia Hlabangana, was having sex with an unnamed boyfriend.

Neighbours said they heard him shouting that he was going to kill his “slut” around midnight.

Police have since arrested Zvavada and he is assisting with investigations.

Zvavada’s accomplice, a taxi driver, Itai Matyoka (34), also of Ascot suburb, has also been arrested.

City of Gweru deputy chief fire officer, Mr Lyndon Hove, said investigations into the cause of the fire were underway.

“We were called to attend a fire at a house along Fusire Street in Ascot at around 1AM. We rescued two people who were badly burnt. We rushed them to Gweru General Hospital but I hear their condition deteriorated and they have been transferred to Parirenyatwa Hospital,” said Mr Hove.

He said one of the tenants at the house brought a boyfriend before the fire started.

“The two people in the room failed to escape as the door looked like it had been locked from outside,” he said.

He said Ms Hlabangana and her boyfriend could have been burnt to ashes if fellow tenants had not united to swiftly put out the fire.

When The Chronicle visited the house yesterday afternoon, the news crew was greeted by acrid stench of charred flesh emanating from the bombed room.

All the furniture in the house had been burnt.

Fellow tenants at the house said they were awakened around 1AM by smoke as the fire spread to other rooms of the nine-roomed house.

They said Ms Hlabangana had been having problems with Zvavada.

“I was choking from smoke and I heard people screaming for help. I went out and realised that there was a fire spreading to my room from this girl’s room. We teamed up and put out the fire using buckets of water. The fire brigade came and the two people in the room were rushed to hospital. This morning we heard that the boyfriend — Garikayi — had been arrested together with a taxi driver,” said Mr Moffat Tizayi.

Another tenant, Ms Farai Phenius, said: “After his (Zvavada’s) arrest he told the investigating officers that he had lost a lot of money pampering his girlfriend.

“Zvavada kept telling the police that he had invested a lot of money into his relationship with the girl and wanted to kill her as revenge for the money he had spent on her,” she said.

“Before throwing the petrol bombs, he shouted that he was going to kill her. He broke a window pane, started a small fire outside the window before throwing the petrol bombs into the tiny room. It’s by the grace of God that they are alive.”

Efforts to get a comment from Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko were fruitless as he was said to be out of office. —

@pchitumba1

Bulawayo is one of the few towns in Zimbabwe resembling some orderliness and we want to believe this is so because the city council is enforcing its by-laws. Vendors in the city are supposed to operate from designated areas hence the constant raids on illegal vendors by municipal police.

When the country was hit by an outbreak of cholera in 1992 Bulawayo recorded very few cases because of its cleanliness. We however continue to have challenges in suburbs such as Makokoba which apart from being overcrowded, has old sewage pipes which constantly burst resulting in raw sewage flowing in the streets thereby posing a health hazard to residents.

Bulawayo has managed to avoid what is obtaining in other cities and towns whereby vendors have occupied every inch of the pavements in the Central Business District because the city council insists that vendors should operate from designated points.

We want to commend the city fathers for this and hope other cities and towns will learn from the City of Kings. It is however regrettable that the Bulawayo City Council’s good intentions of  keeping the city clean and orderly are at times soiled by some overzealous municipal police officers’ high-handedness when removing illegal vendors from the streets.

We have reported numerous cases of brutal assault of vendors by municipal police who are supposed to just arrest the illegal vendors and hand them over to the police. The municipal police have in some cases mistaken innocent citizens for illegal vendors and assaulted them. It is not the responsibility of the municipal police to mete out justice on illegal vendors.

The municipal police’s brief is just to arrest illegal vendors and hand them over to authorities. The latest case of municipal police brutality involved a vendor, Mr Mark Chibanda, who they assaulted and left for dead on Thursday. Mr Chibanda, a fruit and vegetables vendor, sustained injuries following the assault and had to be rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals in an ambulance.

According to vendors that witnessed the brutal assault, the municipal police handcuffed Mr Chibanda, tripped him before stomping on his head with booted feet. The officers only stopped when they realised that Mr Chibanda was unconscious. This brutality is unacceptable and the culprits should be brought to book.

We have already alluded to the fact that it is not the responsibility of municipal police to punish illegal vendors. At this juncture we call upon the city fathers to punish severely the rogue officers that tarnish the council image by abusing their powers. It is these few bad apples within the municipal police that should be weeded out.

The city fathers cannot continue to ignore reports of brutality against residents by its municipal police officers. We however do not condone disorderliness in the city and as such we fully support the exercise to rid the city’s streets of illegal vendors. The municipal officers should just arrest and not assault vendors. Those goods confiscated from the vendors should not be shared by municipal police officers as is being alleged by vendors but should be given back to the owners once their case has been dealt with.

The vendors on their part should strive to obtain vending licences and operate from designated places to avoid confrontation with municipal police.

It is a fact that most families are surviving on proceeds from vending given that Bulawayo was the worst affected by company closures.

Mrs Cecilia Alexander

Felex Share, Harare Bureau
Civil servants have written to the Government demanding to be furnished with dates for the 2016 bonuses and their salaries.

The workers said they wanted their salaries before December 25 to “have a decent festive season”.

This comes as Government and civil servants are today expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will pave way for the implementation of a residential stands scheme being worked on by the employer.

As part of non-monetary incentives, the Government early this year resolved to give civil servants countrywide residential stands at a cost of $4 per square metre.

The workers will also pay an additional $1 each as administration fees.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira yesterday said December salary dates and modalities for bonus payments would be announced in due course.

In a letter to National Joint Negotiating Council chairperson Mr Britton Chimbunde, copied to the Civil Service Commission and Treasury, civil servants said they expected their dues in time for the Christmas holiday.

“We write to seek information on the payment dates for the December 2016 salaries and the 2016 bonus,” wrote Apex Council chairperson, Mrs Cecilia Alexander.

“We would appreciate if our salaries for December 2016 were paid before Christmas (education and the rest of the civil service) to enable us to have a decent festive season with our families. We are also expecting to receive our bonuses for 2016 before year end, this time starting with those who have been receiving salaries in the following month. May you please furnish us with the above requested information and concrete dates as soon as possible.”

The Government today pays the rest of the civil service their November salaries while pensioners will be paid on Friday. The last batch (grant-aided institutions) will be paid on December 13.

Minister Mupfumira recently said efforts were underway to mobilise funds to pay the bonuses as well as ensure that workers get paid within the month worked.

Sources said given the challenges the Government was facing in mobilising resources to pay salaries, payment of the 13th cheque could be staggered as was the case last year. Some workers got paid their 2015 bonuses mid this year.

President Mugabe has assured the workers that despite the low revenue inflows, the Government would still pay bonuses as per tradition.

On residential stands, Mrs Alexander said they would meet officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing today.

“Given that everything is in place, we are likely to sign the Memorandum of Understanding that we agreed on today,” she said.

“We met on November 29 and reviewed the draft MoU between Government, represented by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Apex Council and Urban Development Corporation (Udcorp). The MoU is primarily focused on the modalities of facilitating the acquisition of residential stands by civil servants. The MoU had earlier been scrutinised by the Attorney General’s Office,” she said.

“We took the document to our legal advisors for any further proposed amendments and we now have no issues and are ready to put pen to paper.”
More than 115 000 civil servants have registered for the scheme. All payments will be made through the Salary Services Bureau.

Numbers of beneficiaries under the scheme are expected to balloon because the Government is taking on board every civil servant, including those who are not members of the Apex Council.

Housing delivery is one of the key goals of Zim-Asset and the Government intends to provide 300 000 units by 2018.

The housing scheme will go a long way in cushioning civil servants who have seen many schemes being established in their name but benefiting outsiders and political bigwigs.

Sifiso Ncwane

GOSPEL singer Sfiso Ncwane popularly known for his hit track Kulungile Baba who died yesterday of kidney failure has been described as a humble and noble man by fans and fellow gospel musicians.

Ncwane’s death came on the third anniversary of the death of former South African president Nelson Mandela.

Ncwane family spokesperson Mhlo Gumede confirmed the death of Ncwane who passed away at 9:30AM Monday morning (December 5) in the presence of his wife Ayanda Ncwane at the Fourways Life Hospital after he was diagnosed with kidney failure.

“After a short illness that happened yesterday (Sunday) evening, he was taken to Life Fourways Hospital and he was diagnosed with kidney failure. He was later moved to Intensive Care where he spent the night and unfortunately at 9:30 this morning he took his last breath,” Gumede told eNCA.

Gumede said that Ncwane had been taking antibiotics as he hadn’t been feeling well the whole week.

Zimbabwean gospel musician Tatenda Mahachi, who worked with Ncwane in a collaborative song Ndinoda Jesu, said he was devastated by the news.

“I’m stunned, last spoke to him on Friday and he was supposed to come perform with me at the Permican Awards this Friday. I’m shattered I really can’t come to terms,” said Mahachi.

He described Ncwane as a hard working and humble man who was his source of inspiration.

“Sfiso was more than a friend, a brother. He was a humble soul and was my inspiration, hardworking, true worshipper and one thing you can never take away [from him] was his talent. We were very close. Apart from music we’d share aspects of life he was such a good advisor. He wasn’t ashamed of his past and always thanked God for coming into his life,” said Mahachi.

Another Zimbabwean who had close ties with Ncwane was fashion designer Thembani Mubochwa who tailored some of the late gospel musician’s clothes.

Ncwane gave Mubochwa, who is based in Durban, his break in the South African fashion industry nine years ago.

“I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe it. He was the most humble man one could meet. In 2006 at the bright age on 22 he spotted me and said I should design outfits for him he’d wear when he was performing and his wife’s. I obliged. Through Ncwane I ended up designing for a number of SA celebs and this opened a lot of doors for me. This is a sad day in the gospel music industry,” said Mubochwa.

“I’ve been working on a suit that Sfiso asked me last week for the Prophets Emmanuel and Ruth Makandiwa Invitational Concert Awards Night (PERMICAN) awards where he was billed to perform. We were supposed to be at the airport to welcome him in Zimbabwe as they wanted more time to prepare their performance with Mahachi at PERMICAN awards. But why, I still can’t believe this until I reach SA and see it with my own eyes no it can’t Sfiso just like that,” said Mubochwa.

Following the announcement of Ncwane’s death fans sent messages of condolences to his family, with award winning SA gospel musician Tumišang “Dr Tumi” Makweya saying Ncwane’s death robbed the nation of a talented musician.

“The passing of Sfiso Ncwane gets one reflecting. Someone that has truly made a mark even in his young age. One of the most authentic gospel ministers I’ve come across. With a voice that pierces to the heart. Truly an inspiration and his passing is a loss to the nation. He’ll truly be missed and his music will continue to minister across the globe,” posted Dr Tumi on his Facebook fan page.

Ncwane leaves behind a wife Ayanda and two sons Mawenza and Ngcweti.

He was born in Mthwalume in KZN on April 21, 1979. He was raised by his aunt, and started singing at the age of eight. — Sowetan/Showbiz Reporter

Moses Chunga

Paul Mundandi, Harare Bureau
HARARE City have parted ways with Moses “Bambo” Chunga.

Chunga was appointed the Sunshine City Boys new coach after Taurai Mangwiro was fired in May on the basis of poor performance.

Mangwiro whose charges were tenth the log, had managed just nine points from a possible 27.

City finished the season in 9th position, it was a team that was hated by FC Platinum after it dashed their hopes  of winning the crown when Pure Platinum Play was handed a 3-1 defeat at Rufaro

Club secretary Matthew Marara confirmed that Chunga was given a performance-based contract that will expire at the end of the season and was not going to be renewed.

“His contract is expiring on December 31 and we are not going to renew it and to us that is not firing. Mkhuphali Masuku is going to take over as the head coach on January 1,” Marara said.

Before Chunga, Mangwiro had been given a top-three finish as his target, but  the executive  axed the former Caps United coach after realising he would not be able to meet their target.

The well-sponsored side was also eliminated from the Caf Confederations Cup in the first round.

The greatest former midfielder had a frost relationship with some Harare City supporters and some executive members who wanted him out of the team despite transforming the team.

He also had a bust up with Raphael Manuvirie but they later patched up their differences.

Bambo could not be reached for comment yesterday as his phone went unanswered

Harare City managed 39 points from the 30 games they played. The team just managed 11 wins, six draws and lost 13 games, poor performance for a team that once challenged for honours.

Iyasa this month marks 15 years of being in the entertainment industry. — Picture by Vusa Blaqs

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
CELEBRATED and well travelled dance group, Iyasa will this month mark 15 years of being in the entertainment industry with its director Nkululeko Dube saying it was a time for the group to reflect.

Sandra Ndebele, Nkwali and Tsungi Tsikirai are some of the names that have been at the award-winning dance academy and the trio will take the stage at Hartsfield Tshisanyama on December 23. Entrance will be pegged at $3.

Dube said the 15-year anniversary celebration would bring together past and present Iyasa members under one roof.

“We’re celebrating Iyasa’s legacy by bringing together the founding members with the present members at the celebration. The likes of Sandra, Nkwali, Tsungai and some other founding members now based in South Africa are expected to perform. They’ll be joined by Ghetto Voices, an Iyasa project, that are set to perform on the day,” said Dube.

Artistes that will be supporting on the night include DJs Prince, Mzoe, Jay-B, Wallace, Emitty Smooth, Bongs Deeper and Passe.

Before the main celebrations Dube said there would be a dinner for the group at a local hotel where they would receive an award.

“Iyasa won an award in Austria for the Best Music in the production Mein Bauenhof (My Farm House) at the Stella awards. We shall be holding a dinner to celebrate the award to top off a great year for Iyasa,” said Dube.

Iyasa is Zimbabwe’s multi-award winning performing arts school for youths established in 2001 to support and promote the best interests of young musicians, dancers, actors and poets.

Iyasa was born out of a successful Mpopoma High School drama club in Bulawayo.

It has since expanded to be a resource centre for most established and up-and-coming artistes, especially musicians, singers and dancers.

Iyasa is an abbreviation for Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts which translates to Freedom for Young People School of Arts.

@bonganinkunzi

Adama Barrow

Banjul — The Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow held talks with his team Saturday to plot his transition to power, with the release of political prisoners emerging as a top priority for the new administration.

Barrow’s shock election victory ended the iron-fisted 22-year rule of Yahya Jammeh on Friday, and the scenes of jubilation on the streets after the results were released have given way to a calm but buoyant mood in the capital Banjul.

Jammeh’s rule over the tiny ex-British colony — which began with a coup in 1994 — was marked by frequent allegations of rights abuses and the regular arrests of politicians, journalists and activists, often on spurious charges.

Barrow, a businessman and political novice, met with the eight leaders who make up the coalition that sealed his remarkable rise to power in Thursday’s vote, with the talks focusing on the challenges facing the administration.

The talks went “very well, we are reflecting on the way forward,” said Isatou Touray, one of the leaders.

Touray said the release of political prisoners was the “most urgent” issue facing the new government, with expectations this could happen very soon.

“We are looking at next week,” she said.

The leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), of which Barrow is a former member, is appealing a three-year jail sentence he received with several other UDP officials for holding a peaceful protest in April.

Touray added the team expected the United Nations to play a key role in smoothing the transition that will see Barrow, a businessman who once worked as a security guard as an economic migrant in Britain, take office in mid-January. “We will try to get the UN to give us support,” Touray said. “It is urgent, we need to have it as soon as possible.”

Ibn Chambas, the UN’s west Africa representative, said meetings with the opposition had been fruitful, raising expectations of a government that would reverse some of Jammeh’s policies that have isolated The Gambia internationally.

Barrow has pledged to rejoin the International Criminal Court and the Commonwealth, both institutions which Jammeh railed against and withdrew from, to the dismay of many.

The UN envoy also said he was “willing to work with the Gambians to establish a truth and reconciliation commission”, but would not be drawn on whether Jammeh could face prosecution.

Allegations of rape, torture and execution at the hand of the National Intelligence Agency, which reports directly to Jammeh, have long tarred The Gambia’s image.

Barrow told French media Saturday that “we are not witch-hunting anybody, nothing is personal” when asked whether Jammeh would be prosecuted.

Due process would be followed, Barrow said, adding he had “no problem” with the outgoing president remaining in The Gambia.

The strongman’s whereabouts are currently unknown after Gambian television broadcast an unexpected statement to the nation in which he promised he would step down in line with voters’ wishes.

Jammeh congratulated Barrow late on Friday for his “clear victory” in a jovial conversation that saw him joking about becoming a farmer in his hometown, with the exchange caught on film and broadcast.

It was a shock for many to see Jammeh, who had promised to bury critics “nine feet deep” and whose regime has prosecuted peaceful protesters, calmly accept defeat.

After late-night victory parties held by many Gambians to celebrate Jammeh’s departure after Barrow swept 45 percent of the vote, life was returning to normal.

Sulayman Drammeh, a dock worker, summed up the mood: “We are very happy. Twenty-two years is enough,” he told AFP at a Banjul market.

“That’s why Africa has a problem – if you come to power, you don’t want to move. We are all Gambians, so let’s come together to work,” Drammeh added.

The coalition will govern for three years with Barrow as its figurehead, after which elections will be held and he will step down in line with a memorandum signed by all the parties involved.

“My party will continue but I’m not part of the process,” Barrow pledged to media Saturday when asked about the three-year commitment. “I’m a businessman, I’ll continue my business,” he added.

Greeting UN officials and working with the European Union on development plans will be a completely new experience for Barrow, who until Friday had never held office or even held a senior role within a political party. — AFP

Peter Muduhwa

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS central defender and Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Soccer Star of the Year finalist Peter Muduhwa believes committing to Bosso will improve his career and chances of joining bigger leagues next season.

Muduhwa last month extended his contract with the Bulawayo football giants by two more years until December 2018, a move he believes is best for his career.

Muduhwa (23), a utility player, played a pivotal role in the Highlanders central defence, partnering Tendai Ndlovu, with veteran skipper Felix Chindungwe sitting it out on the bench for part of the 2016 season.

His consistent performances saw him being selected into the country’s best 11 PSL players.

“Obviously I’m grateful to God who gave me this talent, my family, the community of Pumula where I stay, the clubs which had a role towards my development into a player I am today, the Highlanders family who embraced me that is my teammates, supporters, coaches and executive. Without these people it wasn’t going to be easy to achieve what I’ve done in a short space of time. I worked hard at training and gave my best on match days and these are rewards of hard work.

“I think being part of the country’s best 11 is a big honour. Hopefully I’ll be able to maintain consistency next season. Remember I’ve just signed a two year contract with Highlanders, a decision which wasn’t difficult to make because I want to grow as a player and sometimes changing environments can affect one’s career. I know if I keep working hard, better opportunities will come and I believe playing for Highlanders will open better avenues for my career,” said Muduhwa.

He joined Highlanders at the beginning of last year, signing a two year deal Division Two side Ajax Hotspurs. Muduhwa didn’t make it into the first team with the then Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu loaning him out to Division One outfit, Bulawayo Chiefs where he played half a season before returning to Bosso.

He struggled to make it into the first team and started off as a bench warmer at the beginning of the 2016 season. Muduhwa got his chance on Week Nine against Border Strikers after an injury to Honest Moyo and since then he became a regular.

The former Pumula High School student also played for Boot Laces, MK Lions in the junior ranks before moving to Mpopoma-based Ajax Hotspurs, who seconded him to Bosso.

“It’s every player’s dream to play in Europe and that is where I want to be in about five years. I’m young and determined to achieve my goal,” said Muduhwa.

About the Highlanders’ awards ceremony set for the weekend, Muduhwa tips Rahman Kutsanzira for the Players Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards.

“I enjoyed my season but I think Rahman should have been part of the PSL Soccer Star of the Year finalists. He had a fantastic season and made us tick. I think he is a favourite to land the club’s Player of the Year and the Players Player of the Year awards,” Muduhwa said.

Without new funding, the Government will be unable to implement the skills-based new curriculum whose second phase is scheduled to start next year.

The new strategic thrust that the local education system is taking, one that demands the teaching of life skills for children from primary to secondary education, demands much investment which our suppressed fiscus cannot bear. Therefore, the Government has been actively seeking financial support from far and wide for the new curriculum to be implemented.

One revenue stream has been secured — a $20,6 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). It is a four-year facility targeted at improving the performance levels of pupils, particularly the more than one million orphans and other vulnerable groups.

The Government has prioritised investment in education since independence. It has spent huge sums of money in foundational education, secondary education right up to tertiary level. That is why Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate on the continent at 92 percent. That is why the country has one of the highest concentrations of schools in Africa. That is why the country has a state university in each of its provinces except one or two and a number of privately owned universities. That is why the country also has polytechnics in basically all its towns and cities as well as teachers’ colleges.

Donors played, and still play, a huge role in helping the Government build this infrastructure and in investing in the softer issues that make the education sector tick.

In the 2016 national budget, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was allocated $810.43 million, which is about 20.3 percent of the $4 billion total budget and 5.7 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. The allocation was the highest a ministry got with other important ministries such as Home Affairs getting 9.9 percent, Defence, 8.9 percent and Health and Child Care at 8.3 percent.

Historically the ministry has been allocated the biggest chunk of the national cake, which demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring greater access to high quality education.

That pattern should be maintained when the Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa presents the 2017 national budget on Thursday.

However, the sector has suffered drawbacks in recent years in terms of the quantum of the allocations versus the need. This is mainly due to the prevailing economic challenges.

Indeed the need for better education in terms of books, infrastructure, and manpower development and so on is far greater than what the Government can provide through its depressed resources.

The GPE facility will help plug that hole said Dr Lazarus Dokora, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education on Friday.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education continues to work assiduously to meet the goals of our new skills-based Curriculum Framework 2015-2022. The Education Sector Strategic Plan 2016-2020 as guided by the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation blueprint and the 10-Point Plan, carries the burden of the new education policy to mobilise resources from as wide as possible,” he said.

“Consequently, it is my pleasure to announce today (Friday) that, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the Board of Directors of the Global Partnership for Education has approved a $20,6 million grant for primary and secondary education in Zimbabwe.”

The grant, he said, would specifically support learners with special needs, non-formal access to education, teacher professional development, production and distribution of learning materials for the most disadvantaged schools and introduction of assessment systems from early childhood development (ECD) level to last year of secondary school.

The priorities that Dr Dokora’s ministry has identified are very important in delivering education to those in desperate need of it. We have tens of thousands of children who are orphaned or living in financially insecure households that lack the wherewithal to send them to school.

We also have those with special needs, who need special attention and materials like Braille literature, hearing aids which existing funding mechanisms cannot meet. In August, the Government announced that at least 17 000 ECD teachers were needed across the country.

Initiatives already in place cannot cater for these areas. This includes the Basic Assistance Education Model (Beam) and so on. The new $20,6 million grant will help assist the Government in ensuring that where Beam has failed it will be relied upon.

In addition to working through GPE and Beam, donors are also involved in other non-wage expenditures in education, such as providing teaching and learning materials. Unicef says last year Government spending in teaching and learning material amounted to $16,9 million compared to the $61,3 million from development partners through the Education Development Fund (EDF). In 2016, the EDF support to education is projected at $23,8 million compared to $13,1 million from the Government.

This is welcome but a situation where donors spend more on education than the Government is unsustainable and must be avoided. Thus, while we hail the GPE intervention and others through Beam, EDF and the like we demand that the Government takes primary responsibility to educate its people.

Thandeka Moyo, Chronicle Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S HIV prevalence rate has slightly decreased to 14,6 percent from 15 percent, with statistics showing that Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces have rates above the national average.

According to results of the Zimbabwe Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA) 2015-2016, Matabeleland region has the most new HIV infections.

ZIMPHIA, a household-based national survey, was conducted between October 2015 and August 2016 in order to measure the status of Zimbabwe’s national HIV response.

“Matabeleland South recorded a prevalence of 22,3 percent followed by Matabeleland North at 20,1 percent while Bulawayo stands at 18,7 percent. Prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 64 years in Zimbabwe is 14,6 percent: 16,7 percent among females and 12,4 percent among males. This corresponds to approximately 1,2 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged 15 to 64 years in Zimbabwe,” says the report.

Among adults, the prevalence of HIV varies geographically across Zimbabwe, with Manicaland at 11,4 percent having the least prevalence rate.
Mashonaland West has the second least prevalence with 12,9 percent followed by Mashonaland Central at 13,6 percent.

Mashonaland East and Midlands have the same rate at 14 percent while Masvingo province has 14,9 percent.

Harare province is in sixth position with a prevalence rate of 14,2 percent.

In her speech during a media awareness workshop yesterday, Bulawayo Provincial Aids coordinator Mrs Sinatra Nyathi said the burden of HIV was still felt more in the southern region which calls for combined efforts to turn back the tide.

“It’s sad to note that our province still has a high HIV prevalence and that it contributed a lot to new infections. Bulawayo is indeed an HIV hotspot and we therefore encourage anyone who thinks they are at risk to take Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medication which is now accessible to people who are at high risk,” said Mrs Nyathi.

She said women with husbands or partners in neighbouring countries who visit during the festive season must also take precautions.

“There is a number of reasons why Bulawayo remains burdened with HIV and they include the fact that there is a lot of sex working by teenagers and sports bars.

“We also have a lot of child headed families in Hillside, Burnside, Parklands, Suburbs, Mpopoma, Magwegwe, Pumula South, Cowdray Park, Nkulumane, Mabuthweni and Emakhandeni suburbs,” she said.

ZIMPHIA offered HIV counselling and testing with return of results, and collected information about uptake of HIV care and treatment services.

The survey was the first in Zimbabwe to measure national HIV incidence and viral load suppression.

The results provide information on national and subnational progress toward control of the HIV epidemic.

ZIMPHIA was led by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, with funding from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) and technical assistance from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

@thamamoe

President Mugabe

Bianca Mlilo, Business Reporter
The Government has gazetted the Movable Property Security Interests Act, which will see individuals use their movable properties as collateral in accessing loans.

The Act was gazetted on November 28 and will become operational on a date to be set by President Robert Mugabe via a statutory instrument.

A collateral registry is a publicly available database of interests in or ownership of movable assets allowing borrowers to prove their credit worthiness and potential lenders to assess their ranking priority in potential claims against particular collateral.

“There is hereby established a department of the Reserve Bank to be known as the Collateral Registry. There shall be a Registrar of the Collateral Registry who shall be appointed by the Governor of the Reserve Bank,” reads part of the Act.

“The purpose of the registry is to facilitate commerce, industry and other socio-economic activities by enabling individuals and businesses to utilise their movable property as collateral for credit.”

The registry is a welcome development for micro, small to medium enterprises (MSMEs) who have for long lamented their failure to access funding due to financiers’ demands for immovable collateral like houses.

This is despite the recognition that MSMEs contribute significantly to the country’s economy, with more than 60 percent of the country’s population earning their living in the MSMEs sector.

A concept paper by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development released in May this year stated that financial institutions pointed out a need for an adequate legal and regulatory environment, which promotes the use of movable assets as collateral.

The collateral registry shall file notices of security interests in movable properties and determine priority in a borrower’s collateral.

It is believed that a reliable collateral registry or pledge system that allows the use of movable assets as collateral can significantly improve small entrepreneurs’ access to loans.

The collateral registry system will provide a mechanism for efficient registration of security interests in movable property and realisation of such interests in the event of a default.

Among others, it also seeks the creation and perfection of movable security interests as well as providing a platform to notify parties about the existence of a security interest in movable property.

The establishment of the collateral registry is expected to result in the following benefits among others; improve access to finance for SMEs and individuals accessing credit secured with movable property.

The credit registry will not be peculiar to Zimbabwe as more than 10 countries across the world have over the last decade established such registries.

Countries with the credit registry system include Ghana, Rwanda, China, Croatia, Guatemala, Peru, Serbia, and Ukraine.

@BiancaMlilo

Prophet Magaya

Tendai Rupapa, Harare Bureau
Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader, Walter Magaya, has accused the Acting Prosecutor General of harassment after his office indicated it wanted the prophet indicted at the High Court for allegedly raping a congregant despite the complainant having withdrawn charges.

In a letter dated December 1, addressed to Acting PG Ray Goba accompanied by an affidavit, the woman cleared Magaya of rape.

She claims she fabricated charges against Magaya. The woman said she did not want the matter pursued.

However, on Wednesday last week, Chief Law Officer Mr Michael Mugabe told the magistrate’s court that prosecution intended to indict Magaya for trial at the High Court.

Advocate Thabani Mpofu, who is representing Magaya with instructions from Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, then challenged the State’s intention to indict.

His objection was overruled by magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe, who gave the State the greenlight to indict Magaya.

This prompted the defence team to give notice for an application for referral of the matter to the Constitutional Court.

They raised constitutional issues which they said could only be dealt with by the apex court.

In his affidavit in support of the written application filed yesterday, Magaya claimed he was a victim of frabricated rape charges.

He said the State’s intention to proceed with the matter was abuse of judicial process.

“In view of the foregoing, I submit that the following constitutional questions arise; whether in the light of the complainant’s withdrawal of her complaint and her indication that the substance of the complaint is false, the decision of the National Prosecuting Authority and or the Acting Prosecutor General, to bring me to trial amounts to harassment, is in breach of the protection of the law guarantee as encapsulated in section 56(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and is therefore an abuse of court process and is void,” he said.

“. . . Is in breach of section 70(1)(b) of the Constitution in that I am to be presented with a charge which is contradicted by the only meaningful State witness. The witness says the allegations are false but I am miraculously required to respond to what is effectively nonsense.

“Results in the unlawful deprivation of my liberty in breach of section 49(1)(b) in that the deprivation of my liberty is arbitrary under the circumstances of the matter,” he said

“I submit that the State’s intentions are tainted. The State is in pursuit of nothing legal. It seeks to involve the criminal justice system in moral defilement. This in my submission would compromise the integrity of the criminal justice delivery system and would dishonour the administration of justice. The upshot of all this is that the State wants to abuse process at my expense and wishes to do so for reasons that have nothing to do with the law.”

Magaya said a charge was founded upon a complaint and without a complaint, a charge was invalid.

“Notwithstanding the clarity with which the complainant sets out her position, the State still decided that it would not give any heed to her. The confusion afflicting the State is common but simple. It is a complainant who comes up with a complaint. It is the State that comes up with a charge.

The charge is, however, founded upon the complaint. Without the complaint a charge is invalid. Whilst the State has the prerogative to charge and cannot be directed by anyone in doing so, it does not have the right to proceed when it has lost both the complaint and its sole witness. The exercise aborts. Any decision to proceed is not on the authority of the law though it may be presented in the name of the law,” he said.

Magaya wants proceedings stayed pending the determination of his application on the constitutional issues he raised.

“I submit that the issues that I raised are serious and warrant the grant of relief upon their consideration. The relief they entitle me is an immediate cessation of this unconstitutional process. The raising of the issues is consequently not frivolous and vexatious. Proceeding would undermine the Constitutional Court process and render it of no moment,” he submitted.

In his application, Magaya wants the Constitutional Court to determine whether the State’s decision to continue with his prosecution under the circumstances is lawful, constitutional and valid.

The State is expected to file its response on December 12.

Magaya returns to court on December 19.

Minister Prisca Mupfumira

Felex Share, Harare Bureau
THE Government and civil servants yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding that paves way for the implementation of the workers’ residential stands scheme being worked out by the employer.

The empowerment tool is part of Government’s non-monetary incentives to its workers and it fulfils goals spelt out in Zim-Asset.

Under Zim-Asset, Government intends to provide 300 000 housing units to the people by 2018.

Yesterday’s signing ceremony was witnessed by Ministers Patrick Chinamasa (Finance and Economic Development), Saviour Kasukuwere (Local Government, Public Works and National Housing) and Prisca Mupfumira (Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare).

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing secretary Engineer George Mlilo, signed on behalf of Government while civil servants were represented by Apex Council chairperson Mrs Cecelia Alexander.

Under the agreement, Government will approach municipalities and district councils to secure land on which to roll out the scheme, while the workers would provide finance for servicing of the stands.

The Government has pegged the stands at $4 per square metre to ensure affordability with an additional $1 going towards administration fee.

All payments will be made through the Salary Services Bureau.

More than 121 000 civil servants have registered for the scheme, but the number is expected to balloon as Government wanted to take every worker on body including those who are not members of the Apex Council.

Minister Chinamasa described the scheme as a “powerful empowerment tool” for the workers.

“Nothing can beat this,” he said. “The ripple effect on the economy is enormous.

“There is job creation and the anticipation that I expect in the cement, brick making and roof making industries is unimaginable. Just overnight we are on the edge of creating huge employment as well as creating assets in our country. The challenge on Minister Kasukuwere is to identify the land and he has to work with the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora. I want to assure you that we will support you all the way. The scheme should also be accommodative and include pensioners.”

A square metre of land in the high-density suburbs of Harare costs $4, while the same costs between $20 and $25 in low-density areas.

The prices, however, differ in smaller urban centres like Kadoma, with a square metre of land in high-density areas costing $2, while one will have to part with at least $5 for the same size of land in low-density areas.

Minister Mupfumira said the scheme would restore the workers’ dignity.

“When we started it was like a joke but now a lot of work has been done and today is a great day indeed,” she said.

“We need respect and dignity for the civil servants and one critical thing that gives someone dignity is shelter. This is a noble idea that should be supported by all. I know some have land and have been struggling to build but there is the Urban Development Corporation (Udcorp) and we have the National Building Society. It is really up to you to take advantage of that because priority is given to civil servants. Some think it is politicking but the land is there, it’s real.”

Minister Kasukuwere weighed in: “Most of the money paid to the workers have been used to pay for cars from Japan because there was no other alternative investments that the workers could put their money into. Hence we thought about this idea. We are going to succeed together. We are here to ensure that every Zimbabwean has a roof over his or her head. The land reform programme was aimed at ensuring that we free the ownership of the land and we should use it to empower our people. Gone are the days when civil servants would have to be forced to stay in a cottage yet they are teaching the landlords’ children. We want to restore the dignity of our workers and this will also bring huge dividends to our economy.”

In response, Mrs Alexander said the gesture showed that Government respected its workers. “It has been a pie in the sky for a long time and to us it is like a dream. We have got to the stage of signing an MoU which clarifies the role of each part. I don’t see us failing and what is left is to take off. Today when we met, we were actually discussing about the implementation matrix.”

The housing scheme will go a long way in cushioning civil servants who have seen many schemes being established in their names but benefiting outsiders and political bigwigs.

This has resulted in many Government workers being duped by so-called land barons.

Minister Walter Chidhakwa

Tinashe Makichi, Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE’s diamond production declined by 62 percent to 924 388 carats since January this year due to court cases filed by evicted miners resisting Government’s decision to consolidate the sector.

Production of the precious mineral totalled 3,2 million carats in 2015, but has been negatively impacted this year by ongoing court cases where two miners are objecting to consolidation of the industry.

Giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy yesterday, Mines and Mining Development Minister Chidhakwa said diamond production this year was severely affected by resistance to consolidation, which saw some mining companies challenging the decision in the courts.

The Government ordered all diamond miners in the Chiadzwa/Marange to cease operations in February this year to pave way for consolidation of the sector following production and accountability issues, but some of the firms have opposed the directive.

Two of the seven firms that operated in Chiadzwa went to court alleging breach of contract by Government. The Court processes have prevented consolidated diamond mining entity, Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company, from moving into areas where the evicted diamond mines where exploiting the gems.

“So far deliveries to ZCDC in terms of weight, total 924 388 carats and that compares badly with the 3,2 million carats for 2015.

The explanation is that the 924 000 carats are coming from the two mining locations not the seven. So we need to finalise the court cases.

“Since we started consolidation, we have been in and out of courts.

“We were at the High Court for three months and won the case then one of the evicted diamond mining companies decided to go to the Constitutional Court. By that time we then started the process of trying to evict them,” said Minister Chidhakwa.

“As such, out of the seven companies that were operating, we are only mining in two areas, formerly Marange and DMC, whom we had an agreement with and they said they were not going to challenge us in the courts and agreed to move out. We have just finalised discussions with DTZ OZGEO so that we also take over their territory because they also did not go to court,” he said.

Minister Chidhakwa also said Government had shifted from the previous consolidation plan after realising that the mining firms that would form the consolidated company did not have licences. He said there is a new structure of the consolidated mining entity and its mandate was to produce to support inflows to the fiscus.

“ZCDC has not only been about production of diamonds, but the process entailed change of structure, and when I came into office one of the things that became clear was that we needed to make the diamond industry responsive to Zimbabwe’s needs.

“When you look at inflows from diamond companies outside royalties; in terms of declaration of dividends by companies that were making money in Chiadzwa and were 50 percent owned by Government, expectation was that dividends would be declared with 50 percent of the proceeds going to Government.

‘However, that did not happen, which led us to the idea of consolidating the companies, but when we discovered that their mining licences had expired we then said we will not renew the licences because the spirit of sharing, which was contained in the original agreement had not been met in the initial phase of the operation of the licences,” said Minister Chidhakwa.

“We then changed the structure completely and when you change a structure naturally you don’t get good results immediately particularly because they went to Court and up to today. I have already told ZCDC that they need to mine to feeding into the fiscus. We are discussing budgets, equipment and ways of sourcing the equipment so that we help them as the shareholder,” he said.

Minister Chidhakwa said there was need for finalisation of the cases at the courts and he has been talking to the Attorney General and different Embassies so that a diplomatic solution is found.

Nesbert Chikaka

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A PROMINENT Bulawayo businessman who masqueraded as a lawyer and sold his house worth $60 000 to two people who paid for the property in full, has been sentenced to four years in jail.

Nesbert Chikaka (59), director of Nisma Engineering in Thorngrove industrial area and resides in Hillside suburb, was convicted of fraud by Bulawayo magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa.

The magistrate suspended one year for five years on condition that Chikaka does not within that period commit a similar crime.

Chikaka will serve an effective one year after Ms Maphosa further suspended two years on condition that he restitutes $60 000 to the complainant on or before March 6 next year.

The other complainant did not pursue the case in court.

In his defence, Chikaka denied any misrepresentation, arguing that he asked for a loan from the complainant, Ms Vimbai Manemo who then later tried to sell his house without informing him.

Chikaka said he was arrested on the strength of a flawed agreement of sale he made with Ms Manemo.

“I sold the house to Lindiwe Ndebele on December 2, 2014, for $60 000 because I wanted to raise funds for a certain business that I wanted to venture into. Ndebele paid a deposit of $30 000, which was not enough and I then approached Vimbai Manemo who requested title deeds for my house as security in order for her to advance me a loan of $20 000 and I gave her,” he said.

Chikaka said that when Ms Ndebele paid the balance, he contacted Ms Manemo intending to pay back her money, but she refused and reported the matter to police, claiming she had been duped.

Prosecuting, Mr Alfred Makonese said sometime in May 2015, Chikaka approached Ms Manemo and told her that she was selling a house located at Southwold suburb.

The complainant got interested and offered to buy the house which Chikaka was selling for $60 000.

Ms Manemo made an initial payment of $40 000 and she was given the title deeds. The two agreed that an agreement of sale would be drafted once the complainant paid the outstanding balance of $20 000. “During the same month, the complainant approached the accused person after she had raised the remaining $20 000,” said Mr Makonese.

The court heard that Chikaka and Ms Manemo proceeded to the complainant’s lawyers where an agreement of sale was drafted and the complainant paid the balance.

During the process of transferring the property to Ms Manemo it was discovered that the house had already been sold to Ms Ndebele for the same amount on December 2 last year, and an agreement of sale was drawn to that effect.

“Before Ndebele could effect a change of ownership, Chikaka then again sold the house to Ms Manemo for $60 000 and it was also paid in full resulting in an agreement of sale being done,” said Mr Makonese.

Chikaka was found in possession of the two agreements of sale as well as the proof of payment from both complainants. A report was made to police leading to his arrest.

@mashnets

President Mugabe

Nduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday said the Government is forging ahead with the process of realigning line ministries and government departments to achieve leaner structures and effective service delivery.

Presenting a State of the Nation Address in Parliament in Harare, he said the realignment was being conducted following the adoption of the 2015 Civil Service Audit report.

“Following the adoption by the Government of the 2015 Civil Service Audit report, the Public Service Commission aims to realign, rationalise and restructure line ministries and government establishment.

“The commission is currently implementing a number of structural reforms including the abolition of redundant and vacant non critical posts, it is also in the process of rationalising the duplications and overlaps of functions between and among some line ministries and is carrying our job re-engineering, job enrichment and multi skills,” said President Mugabe.

“The resultant effect will be leaner and strata structures that are economic and will thus enhance effective and quality service delivery.”

The audit was carried out by the Civil Service Commission at the instruction of Cabinet to guide Government in the implementation of key reforms in the public service sector.

Audit findings revealed that labour was one of the cost drivers, which pushed the wage bill to unprecedented levels. It also unmasked flagrant abuse of overtime allowances and leave days, salary fraud, idle manpower, duplication of roles and uncoordinated staff recruitment.

The rationalisation is in line with the Zim-Asset Public Administration, Governance and Performance Management sub-cluster, which is guided by the Results Based Management System and focuses on budgeting and resourcing, public sector modernisation and civil service reform, fostering good governance and building capacities for public sector institutions.

In May, our sister paper, The Herald reported that the civil service rationalisation exercise had begun to pay off with implemented recommendations at the time set to cut the wage bill by $300 million this year.

The paper reported that once all the recommendations are effected — some which awaited Cabinet approval — the wage bill would be reduced by a further $144 million by the end of the year.

Government’s wage bill stands at $190 million monthly, translating to $2,28 billion annually.

Public Service, Labour and Social Services Minister Prisca Mupfumira then, said the Government planned to cut its annual bill by $435 982 964.

On another note, President Mugabe paid tribute to Zimbabweans for their love of peace in the face of economic challenges fuelled by the western sponsored sanctions as a punitive measure for the land reform programme.

He also commended the country’s security forces for maintaining peace in the country that is the envy of many countries.

The President’s sentiments come against the background of futile attempts to destabilise the nation by Western sponsored regime change agents through violent protests in Harare and Bulawayo.

“Let me conclude by paying tribute to our peace loving people who have endured all manner of economic hardships since we embarked on the historic land reform programme. I wish to commend them for their resilience and urge them to cherish the peace and tranquillity that continues to be the envy of many,” said President Mugabe.

He reiterated the need for both the African Union and Sadc to wean themselves from over reliance on foreign funding in the areas of peace and security.

“Zimbabwe made history and left a permanent mark at both the regional and continental levels following our chairing of both Sadc and AU in 2014 and 2015. The country championed the development and adoption of a regional industrialisation strategy hinged on value addition and beneficiation,” he said.

“Zimbabwe also steered the adoption of the AU agenda 2063 which is Africa’s development blue print. Meanwhile, we continue to call for the weaning of both Sadc and the AU from over dependency of foreign funding especially on critical issues of peace and security.”

President Mugabe wished all Zimbabweans an accident free festive season and also urged them to pray for rains in the face of the scourge of drought experienced by the country.

“I wish to take this opportunity to wish all of us, whatever our stand in life, whatever our political affinities, whatever our cultural backgrounds and whatever our religious affinities, and to wish all of us an accident free festive season, a merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year,” he said.

The UN peacekeeping soldiers from Rwanda patrol in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic in this file photo

New York — The United Nations has identified 41 peacekeepers from Burundi and Gabon as suspects in sexual abuse in the Central African Republic in recent years, a UN spokesperson said on Monday.

The sexual abuse and exploitation allegedly committed by the members of the Minusca force occurred in the CAR’s Kemo prefecture in 2014 and 2015, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

A four-month joint investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and national investigators in Burundi and Gabon gathered evidence of the abuse against 25 Burundians and 16 Gabonese serving in Minusca.

It is now up to the two UN-member countries to conduct complementary investigations and to punish their nationals if they are found guilty. The suspects have left the CAR.

“The United Nations has shared the OIOS report with both member states, including the names of the identified alleged perpetrators and has requested for appropriate judicial actions to ensure criminal accountability,” Dujarric said.

In total, 139 potential victims of sexual abuse were interviewed, including 25 minors.

The 41 suspects were identified by photos or other evidence by 45 interviewees, while 83 were not able to identify their perpetrators or provide corroborating evidence.

A total of eight paternity claims were filed, including by six minors.

The UN said that investigators relied primarily on the testimony of possible victims and witnesses given the lack of medical, forensic or any other physical evidence of alleged incidents that happened at least a year ago.

The first accusations of sexual abuse surfaced in May 2016. The UN was informed of sexual abuse committed by peacekeepers in 2014 and 2015 in Dekoa in the Kemo prefecture, where Minusca contingents of Burundians and Gabonese were stationed.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon fired the commander of the Minusca force last year amid the mounting allegations of rape of under-age girls.

Minusca, which has about 12 000 peacekeepers, took over from an African Union force in September 2014 as the country was still reeling from a wave of sectarian bloodshed.

One of the world’s poorest countries, CAR has scarcely emerged from the chaos of civil war which erupted in 2013 following the overthrow of former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, by Muslim rebels from the Seleka coalition.

The UN chief Ban’s latest annual report fund 69 cases of sexual abuse committed by UN peacekeepers in 2015, half of them in two missions: the Minusca and the Monusco in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. — Al Jazeera

President Mugabe delivers the State of the Nation Address in Parliament in Harare yesterday

Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday hailed Statutory Instrument 64 that was promulgated in June saying it has started making a positive impact on the economy.

SI 64/2016, which removes several goods from the Open General Import Licence is meant to protect local industry where it has capacity to meet demand.

In his State of the Nation Address to Parliament, President Mugabe said the positive impact of SI64/2016 has so far been noted through the efficient use of foreign currency and enhanced local production in the manufacturing sector.

“SI64/2016 has already started to bear fruit by improving the efficient use of foreign exchange and in enhancing local production, thereby reducing import dependency. A number of local companies in the plastic packaging and food manufacturing sector that include Tregers, Nampack, Proplastic and several others have been the immediate beneficiaries of Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016,” said the President.

He said the national economy could also be rejuvenated through policy reforms.

“Acceleration of the implementation of policy reforms if supported by the Government policy action in revitalising agriculture, infrastructure development, unlocking the potential of small to medium enterprises, encouraging private sector investment, fostering financial sector stability and through the observance of zero tolerance to corruption, the reforms are meant to both rejuvenate the national economy and contribute to poverty reduction,” President Mugabe added.

He said in light of the current drought being experienced in the country, the Government was importing maize in order to address the grain deficit.

“To date, Government has imported over 300 000 tonnes of maize while about 200 000 tonnes have been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board depots by our farmers.

“Meanwhile, the private sector has also supported Government by importing 25 000 tonnes. And to this, the amount of $360 million of grain importation pledged by our development partners, I wish to appreciate and thank the private sector and development partners who have joined hands with Government to ensure that our people get sufficient food surplus,” he said.

He said the Government has introduced command agriculture targeting a minimum of two million tonnes of maize from farmers with irrigable and dry land farms among A1 and A2 and small-holder farmers.

The President added that the Government was also rolling out the Presidential Input Support Scheme to support 800 000 communal farmers with the aim to revitalise agricultural productivity to ensure national food security.

Beyond tobacco production, which has immensely recovered in the last few years, he said the Government would support the production of other crops such as soya beans, wheat and cotton.

“Government is working on the resuscitation of cotton production in the forthcoming two seasons by providing inputs to cotton farmers. It is also part of the cotton resuscitation programme to restructure the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe,” he said.

President Mugabe said Zimbabwe’s dairy industry was poised for further growth as Government together with private players were jointly implementing comprehensive inclusive national milk production programmes.

“In 2015, milk production reached only 58 million litres against an estimated national demand of 120 million litres,” he said.

Turning to the mining sector, the President said this year the mining sector in general performed favourably, buoyed by favourable market prices especially of precious metals.

He said cumulative declared mineral export shipments to June 2016 totalled $981.4 million contributing 63,4 percent of national export proceeds with the major earners being gold, platinum, diamonds, ferrochrome and nickel.

President Mugabe said the recent promulgation of the Special Economic Zones Act should provide greater impetus in facilitating foreign direct investment, employment creation, and increased export receipts among other fundamentals.

He also noted that tourism continues to experience tremendous growth and development registering a total of 902 435 tourist arrivals during the first half of the year.

“The average national room occupancy rate has marginally increased from 41 percent to only 42 percent and by year end it is forecast that Zimbabwe will record 2,5 million tourist arrivals.