Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
HOME Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo and his Tourism and Hospitality Industry counterpart Dr Walter Mzembi are set to meet on Monday to bring to finality the thorny issue of “too many” roadblocks on the country’s highways.

For some time there have been complaints about the high number of roadblocks on the country’s roads.  The Government last week promised to reduce the number of standard roadblocks to four per province.

A standard roadblock has a “Police Ahead” sign, drums and flashing lights. Government further clarified that spot checks by police within cities and towns will remain in place.

Speaking to journalists in Victoria Falls on Thursday, Dr Mzembi said: “I am satisfied with the response to my plea. When I came back I made a promise to take the matter head-on but I didn’t argue emotionally.  I am meeting Minister Chombo on Monday. He is visiting my office where we will be taking the issue in a scientific manner to come up with a very balanced decision that satisfies security issues as well as legitimate travel.”

Tourists and motorists have previously raised concerns about numerous roadblocks in the country.

Dr Mzembi said the issue should be handled with caution as the issue of security overrides all other matters. “Tourism is secured by the security cluster. I have heard their arguments and we must do it in a manner in which we protect the destination without compromising security,” he said.

In addition to reducing the number of roadblocks, Government is also planning to unveil an electronic traffic management system to integrate all transport stakeholders like the police, the Vehicle Inspection Department, the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration, the Road Motor Transport and the Central Vehicle Registry to bring to an end traffic management challenges. — @ncubeleon

VP Mnangagwa

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT remains committed to creating a conducive environment for the holding of free and fair elections and referenda in the country as provided for by the Constitution, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa said yesterday.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Attorney General, Mr Kumbirai Hodzi, at a Bulawayo hotel during a stakeholders dialogue on the Election Resource Centre’s petition to Parliament, VP Mnangagwa said Government was also committed to adhering to regional and international guidelines and principles relating to the holding of free, fair, peaceful and credible elections.

His remarks were part of his response to the Election Resource Centre (ERC) petition to Parliament regarding the alignment of electoral laws to the Constitution.

A two-day stakeholders’ dialogue on the petition was held in Bulawayo over the weekend.

The petition, which was presented to Parliament in September 2015 expresses concern at the slow pace at which the legal reform process is being implemented since the promulgation of the supreme law in 2013.

The ERC, in the petition, implores the executive to uphold the Constitution by ensuring that the country’s electoral laws are reviewed in compliance with the provisions of the superior law.

The issues raised in the petition include the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), political environment, voter registration and voters’ roll, voter education, the right to vote, the electoral court, election observers and delimitation.

VP Mnangagwa, who is also the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs said his ministry will look into the issues raised, with the view to coming up with a perfect electoral law going forward.

“The provisions of the law are common cause and it is the extent to which these are reflected in our legislation and implementation that is crucial for us as a ministry and the petitioners I believe.

“We have so far, as a way of giving effect to implement these provisions, enacted the Electoral Amendment Act of 2014, which incorporates the constitutional provisions pertaining to the Zec. This has led to financial autonomy of Zec in terms of receiving direct support from the Treasury in terms of Sections 11 and 12 of the Act and the Paris Principles of Institutional Independence,” said VP Mnangagwa.

The appointment of the Commissioners, he added, has been done with Parliamentary oversight.

He said if there is a need to expand the voting process to the Diaspora, the ministry will stand guided and maybe redefine what a constituency is in terms of that envisaged electoral law.

“As far as our laws are concerned and the extent to which this right is conferred by our legislation, we feel that our laws are adequate as they confer a right to every Zimbabwean who wishes to vote in a constituency defined by the Constitution.

“What we do as the administering ministry is merely to listen and channel the electoral laws along the law making value chain and wait if Parliament will approve it. If it does then some will celebrate and some will cry foul, and the same goes if it doesn’t win support by relevant law making authorities,” said VP Mnangagwa.

On voter education, the VP said there is no provision that militates against voter education by civic society.

“This is notwithstanding that there is no express provision that arises from the Constitution that directly gives such other players space for voter education other than Zec, except of the Chapter 4 provisions which confer the right to participate in political and civic (for example Section 67 of the Constitution) processes,” said the VP.

He commended the civic society for their continuous monitoring of the constitutional, legislative and administrative measures pertaining to the implementation of electoral processes.

“We surely cherish their democratic foot print in research, advocacy, and monitoring, lobbying, whistle blowing and in extreme cases demonstrating, picketing and petitioning as it is within their right,” he said.

He said the law clearly states that the invitation of election observers is an exclusive function of Zec.

“Section 239 (i) confers this mandate to the Zec. The preamble, sections 5, and 40G-40J of the Electoral Act give effect to this right. When we crafted these provisions, we strongly believed that the involvement of other ministries and agencies of Government is to the extent to which they are indispensable in the diplomatic processes that automatically come to the fore in accrediting these observers.

“Thus, the Office of the President and Cabinet and that of Foreign Affairs naturally become part of the accreditation process. It is not true that the majority of the members are executive members. The opposite is true on the ratio of 5:4 in favour of non-executive members,” said VP Mnangagwa.

The two day workshop was attended by the Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda, the president of the chief’s council Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba, the chairperson of the University of Zimbabwe Department of Public Law Professor Lovemore Madhuku, committee members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and senior officials from various civic organisations.

@pamelashumba1

Dynamos striker Denver Mukamba (right) in this file photo

Eddie Chikamhi, Senior Sports Reporter
Dynamos  4 – 3 Bulawayo City

DYNAMOS were in party mood again yesterday after they overcame their defensive jitters to record their fifth successive win in this high-scoring Castle Lager Premiership soccer match against Bulawayo City at the National Sports Stadium.

Stand-in skipper, Obey Mwerahari, Denver Mukamba, Christian Epoupa and defender Lincolin Zvasiya were on target as the Harare giants appear to have gathered momentum in the championship race after cutting short the gap between them and the top team to just two points with two games in hand.

However, the Glamour Boys’ assistant coach Biggie Zuze, who is holding the fort in the absence of Lloyd Mutasa currently away on national team duty, yesterday said they have to celebrate their success with eyes open following a poor defensive show that could have cost them big time on another day.

DeMbare’s rearguard was suspicious the whole match with goalkeeper Tonderayi Mateyaunga the main culprit as he gifted teenage double scorer Clive Rupiya with an easy goal in the seventh minute while substitute Bellington Damson also benefited from his indecisiveness for Bulawayo City’s third.

“Credit to the guys, they kept on fighting. But the only thing, I think we didn’t defend very well. You could see even their first goal was just a gift from the goalkeeper. These types of things happen in football.

“But I am happy we carried on. Scoring four goals and creating Chances is a plus for us and we are beginning to see a great Change in the team.

“The character is there, the fighting spirit is there and the mistakes these youngsters are making we are rectifying them and I think we will keep on working with these guys. For today, we are happy we’ve got the three points. I think that is what matters most,” said Zuze.

Despite the win, it was a bad day especially for Mateyaunga whose attempt to showcase his dribbling skills failed dismally when he received a back pass and tragically toyed with the ball in front of striker Rupiya.

The keeper complicated things for himself by making one touch too many as Rupiya closed in and successfully wrestled for possession before slotting the ball into an empty net.

Dynamos, however, were quick to bounce back with captain of the day Mwerahari heading home the equaliser from a free-kick by Peace Makaha on the wide right with the clock showing 10 minutes of play.

Mukamba, who appeared to be working hard to rediscover his form, then put DeMbare ahead with a low shot into the bottom corner when Bulawayo City defenders failed to clear their lines from a throw-in into the box by Carlos Rusere.

But Rupiya restored parity soon after the restart with DeMbare defenders flat-footed as the 18-year-old juggled the ball with his back to goal inside the box and still found time to shoot on the turn despite a cluster of blue and white shirts around him.

Cameroonian Epoupa, who has developed a niche for scoring special goals for Dynamos, was at it again yesterday with a classy shot from the tightest of angles after shielding his marker in a tussle for possession with 52 minutes played.

Zvasiya made it four for Dynamos with a first time shot on the edge of the box after Mukamba had kept substitute Phakamani Dube’s high ball in play.

Although midfielder Cleopas Kapupurika could not get his name on the scoresheet, the diminutive winger was the man to watch for DeMbare with his dribbling skills and pace down the wings.

But DeMbare had to endure the last 15 minutes of the game as their defensive frailties were exposed by City’s extensive wing play with goalkeeper Mateyaunga always on the edge. The visitors could have easily walked away with a point with a bit of luck and precision.

Bulawayo City coach Mandla Mpofu was pleased by the duel although losing three points was painful experience after such a spirited fight by his charges.

“I think when we came into this came obviously some quarters thought it was an easy assignment for Dynamos but I guess we had unbelievable performance from my team. As much as I do not like to talk about match officials but the first goal, that foul, he gave them. That’s my feeling.

“But again we conceded stupid goals that we could have avoided. Overall I’m trying to blend youth and experience, (and we had) two goals from Clive Rupiya an 18-year-old who I think is our next Khama Billiat.

“It’s a young team that I’m trying to build and our objective is to survive relegation. With such a performance today I think we are in the right direction. It’s not surprising that we lost to Dynamos but we gave them a good game.

“At one time we were pound-to–pound with Dynamos. I am not demoralised, I am not frustrated by this defeat but I am very pleased with the way we applied ourselves today under a lot of pressure, playing a team that has been on fire. But again seven goals in one game it’s just unbelievable.

“Of course losing three points at this stage is not good enough but the most important thing is to look forward and see how best we can approach the next game that is coming,” said Mpofu.

Still, Dynamos rose to fourth on the log standings with 26 points, two behind log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars.

In fact, they could have been top of the table by end of day yesterday if their match against Chapungu had ended as it were last week after it was abandoned with the Harare giants leading 4-0 when a goalpost collapsed soon after the interval.

The Glamour Boys are still likely to make it six wins in a roll if the PSL Disciplinary Committee rule in their favour as Chapungu, the home team, have since been summoned to a hearing this Thursday facing charges of failing to provide a replacement goal.

Teams
Dynamos: T Mateyaunga P Makaha, C Rusere (P Dube, 41st min), L Zvasiya, M Machazane, T Chipunza, O Mwerahari, D Mukamba (T Macheke, 90th min), C Kapupurika (T Sadiki, 82nd min), E Mandiranga, C Epoupa.

Bulawayo City: A Ngwenya, M Kadzola (Z Ngodzo, 26th min), M Mungadze, N Mukumbi, Z Sibanda, K Madzongwe, I Kutsanzira, M Dube (D Maposa, 64th min) , T Ndlovu, C Rupiya, H Ncube (B Damson 74th min).

Rodney Tongai Jindu

Cynthia Dube, Chronicle Reporter
POLICE in Bulawayo are reportedly investigating the possibility that suspected serial killer Rodney Tongai Jindu (26) may have killed a third person after finding a blood-soaked mat in his car.

Jindu, of Glengarry suburb, was arrested on February 3 this year for allegedly killing his neighbour Mboneli Joko Ncube (30) and childhood friend Cyprian Kudzurunga (28).

Detectives compiling evidence in the case allegedly found the mat when they seized Jindu’s Nissan Gloria sedan early this year.

A source said the incident was kept under wraps to avoid jeopardising investigations.

“Police are trying to determine if there is a third victim or if the blood belongs to one of the two known victims. Samples have been sent to Nust (National University of Science and Technology)’s Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC) for DNA testing,” said the source

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango declined to comment saying it would be sub-judice as the issue was already in the courts.

Nust’s AGTC chairperson Mr Zephaniah Dhlamini confirmed that they had carried out tests of the blood that was found in Jindu’s car.

“It’s unethical to tell you the DNA results. We have done the tests and we are waiting for the police to collect them. Police are in a better position to tell you about the results,” said Mr Dhlamini.

Added the source: “Depending on the results, Jindu might face fresh murder charges. Police have recently discovered a blood-soaked mat in Jindu’s car and we are afraid that it can be Jindu’s third victim since he is suspected to be a serial killer.”

The source said the DNA findings might delay the kick off of Jindu’s case at the High Court.

On June 6, Jindu submitted an application for the release of his car which is in the hands of the State as an exhibit in court, saying that he wanted his mother, Ms Engelina Mawaro, to use it to bring him better food at Khami Remand Prison.

He said he cannot stand prison food and therefore required regular and better cooked meals from home.

On Friday last week, a Bulawayo High Court judge threw out Jindu’s application for bail pending trial, saying there was a real danger that he could commit more offences.

Justice Nicholas Mathonsi said it would be irresponsible for the court to “unleash” Jindu on a society that is “trembling” considering the allegations against him.

Jindu had made an application for bail stating that he wanted to be freed so that he could raise money to hire a strong defence team for his case.

In his judgment, Justice Mathonsi said since Jindu’s arrest there have not been reports of similar cases and that speaks volumes on its own.

“If there is a real possibility or danger that the administration of justice will be prejudiced if the accused person is admitted to bail or there is real danger that the accused person may commit more offences then the court must refuse bail,” ruled Justice Mathonsi.

Last month Jindu refused to confirm his statements, telling the magistrate that he did not write them freely and voluntarily.

Jindu was arrested for allegedly killing Kudzurunga of Queens Park East. Further investigations linked him to an earlier murder of Ncube on January 29.

@cynthiamthembo1

Dr Walter Mzembi

Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
TOURISM and Hospitality Industry Minister, Dr Walter Mzembi, has lamented the shortage of accommodation facilities in the country’s prime tourist resort, Victoria Falls.

Speaking during a tour of some accommodation facilities here on Thursday the minister stressed the need to invest more in developing accommodation to cater for anticipated growth of the sector and increased arrivals.

It emerged that there is a shortage of close to 2 000 rooms in the resort town, according to operators, at a time when arrivals were reportedly picking up with around 600 people entering the country every hour.

Dr Mzembi said with the tourism sector showing signs of a boom, there was a need for a concerted effort to develop accommodation facilities to complement a new lease of life injected into the sector.

Addressing journalists at Batonka Guest Lodge after touring the facility, Dr Mzembi said the tourism industry was critical to the country’s economy as it continually creates jobs.

“I took time to look at assets in the resort town and had to also come to this one because they are celebrating one year anniversary. I am happy with what I saw and they are also telling me that they are fully booked for the next six months, which is a good sign of business,” said the minister.

The 22-roomed, Batonka Guest Lodge, whose proprietors include Messrs Bruno de Leo, Blessing Munyenyiwa and Brent Dacomb, was opened last year and has grown to be one of leading lodges in the town.

Dr Mzembi said: “We have a serious deficit of rooms and we need to up our game.”

He said Government had already signed a master plan agreement with Chinese investors towards developing a multi-million convention centre, which will house hotels, conference facilities and other structures.

“I am happy we have a master plan and what we need is to move quickly and start working,” he said.

Dr Mzembi said he was aware that some residents had transformed their houses into lodges, taking advantage of demand.

He said that was commendable as it empowers residents and all that is needed is for authorities to monitor such facilities so that they do not cause lowering of standards in the industry.

Turning to arrivals Dr Mzembi said the country was recording a boom.

“We want to develop all our resort areas but Victoria Falls is obviously our magnet. With more airlines coming in, we have about 600 arrivals every hour and this means we are experiencing a boom,” he said.

The minister was also concerned about delays at ports of entry where travellers take time to be cleared but said he acknowledges there is a shortage of staff.

@ncubeleon

Anthony B

Tafadzwa Zimoyo, Harare Bureau
Thousands of fans thronged the Glamis Arena in Harare to celebrate the Star FM #5Starversary show despite the chilly weather due to the winter season.

The revellers were kept warm by the stellar performance from a star-studded line-up including Jamaican artiste Anthony B, Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Soul Jah Love, Garry B and Templeman.

The massive gig was jointly organised by Star FM, the popular radio station and 2 Kings Entertainment.

And for the multitudes of fans, this was the “Show of the Week” since there was not much happening in the city.

The stage was lit, and well done Star FM, from the VIP although it was far from the stage but people could be seen enjoying the moments.

The line-up provided a mixed bag although it was largely a dancehall affair there were those who had come to watch award winner music sensation Jah Prayzah.

Headline Act
He came and “damaged” the show.
Yes, the Damage hitmaker, Anthony B proved that he is one of the most gifted artistes with a powerful voice.

However, since he arrived on the very day of the show, he left everything to chance.
It was easy to see that there was little or no rehearsals at all since his otherwise powerful act was marred by glitches here and there.
While he was not entirely to blame, his backing group which consisted of local musicians are equally to blame.

He had his great moments on stage, though, considering that he had an action packed playlist which kept music lovers on their feet.
To show how experienced he is on stage, Anthony B who took to the stage after 1am did not let the microphone hiccups or sound put him off as he would perform Accapella and still connected with the crowd.

He was also kind enough to introduce Freeman before they performed their duet Time Fi Get Rich before he urged Zimbabwe and Africa to work together.

Anthony B also exhibited a level of humility that we hardly see from our local dancehall stars so much so that he is of the Bob Ashanti Movement, the Rastafari who wear long robes and turbans.

He performed his hits including Go Wey, Raid the Barn, Good Cop Bad Cop, My Yes My No, Black Coffee and Damage which had everyone singing along.
He finished his set with Muscle and Grip much to the delight of the crowd.

Winky D pays tribute to Cde Chinx
For one reason or the other Winky D proved his worth at the bash through song and dance.
The highlight of his act was when he performed Panorwadza Moyo a duet he did with superstar Oliver Mtukudzi and dedicated it to Cde Dickson Chingaira.

Winky D

Cde Chinx was buried at Glen Forest Memorial Park last Friday after succumbing to cancer.
It was a befitting tribute to the late liberation hero.

Although music icon Mtukudzi was not there his presence was felt as Winky D used a back-track to fill in the gap.
But his power play continued and the crowd went wild with each song from Abracadabra, 25 to Swagga Muchando, among a captivating play list.

He also went back into time and played some of his early hits such as Green Like Me Garden and Ndiri Rasta which sent fans into a frenzy.
The Ninja president’s new song Rugare with Buffalo Souljah was not well received with the crowd, maybe because it is still new.

Energy was high both on and off the stage and Winky showed great control of the crowd.
He sealed off his set with his number Baba Maitei.

Jah Prayzah — above average act
Yes, Jah Prayzah’s music is loved by many and the fact that he was part of the bill shows his relevance in the music industry in Zimbabwe.
Clad in the military fatigue as usual, Jah Prayzah performed out some of his very best songs but then there was something missing.

Jah Prayzah

It was the “wow” factor, most of the drills he did made the crowd to stop and watch.
You cannot keep up with his dances and so was the music, but somehow, his act was not well polished as many of his fans expected.

It was good that he came on time and performed to his best ability but there were low cheers from the huge crowd, somehow.
He performed Mudhara Vachauya, Seke Mutema, Goto, and Watora Mari with Andy Muridzo providing the vocals for Diamond Platinumz part.

Muridzo sailed well and one could be surprised it wasn’t Diamond.
Soul Jah Love — Man of the Moment

Then last but not least was Soul Jah Love who kept the crowd on their feet paying his dues for the fans who had been waiting for the chanter currently riding high with a number of songs.

And when he appeared on stage it was more fire although the flame was quickly burnt out as he has several hits but then when it comes to putting together a playlist he falls short of expectations.

Kudos go to his band member Supa Yute who always comes handy when his act starts to drag.
Soul Jah Love (Chibaba) made his grand entrance with the latest hit Zvinhu a song he recorded after an unfortunate incident in Mutare.

He also performed Pamamonya Ipapo which saw the whole stadium in sing along.
Fans got so wild as he fired up the stage but again after a couple of songs he stumbled.

Piwayi Dzuda, Star FM deputy general manager said he was happy with the huge turnout.

Dzuda said there will be more shows coming from the leading radio station.

Among the notables who attended the concert were Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi and wife Barbara and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority boss Karikoga Kaseke, Star FM advertisers and presenters from other competing radio stations.

All in all, it was a birthday to remember!

Hebert Zharare, Harare Bureau
About 86 percent of work on the Kariba South Power expansion project has been completed with the first unit expected to start generating 150 megawatts by December this year, while the second one will feed 150MW into the national grid by March next year.

This key Zim-Asset project under the Infrastructure and Utilities Cluster will bring 300 MW power, thereby easing pressure on the national power utility Zesa, that is importing about 350 MW from Mozambique and South Africa.

Completion of the power scheme will see the country making huge savings on power imports. Uninterrupted power supply is one of the key enablers in the economic recovery drive.

In an interview with recently, Sinohydro chief representative in Zimbabwe, Mr Wu Yifeng, said the project was on schedule.

“As you will be aware, His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, President Mugabe, commissioned the project in September 2014 and the project is progressing very well and 86 percent of the works have been done to date,” he said.

“The first unit is about to be completed so we expect that it will start generating 150MW in December this year while the second unit will be commissioned in March next year. That means the Kariba South expansion project would have added 300MW to the national grid by March next year,” said Mr Wu

The country needs about 1 400 MW for industrial and domestic use against a generating capacity of 900 MW, leaving the balance to be covered by imports.

Mr Wu dismissed media claims that the African Development Bank had blacklisted Sinohydro from carrying out its sponsored projects on the continent.

“As a matter of fact, it was during the prequalification process of a road tender in Uganda, where there was a typing error on the completion date of a project that was undertaken by Sinohydro. However, after a meeting between Sinohydro and AfDB, both parties reached a consensus that Sinohydro would continue to participate in AfDB’s projects,” said Mr Wu.

“On the claims that Sinohydro charged $533 million for the Kariba South expansion project compared to what it charged Zambia for the Kariba North expansion, the fact is that the engineering, procurement, and construction contract for Kariba South expansion project is only $355 million and not $533 million. The difference is the money that the employer, who is the Zimbabwe Power Company, spends on paying consultancy firms and on securing bank loans. That money has nothing to do with Sinohydro.

“Yes, the Zambia project was $278 million while for Zimbabwe it is $355 million. This is because of the differences of scope of works, construction duration and the date when the contract was signed,” said Mr Wu.

He said Sinohydro was also contributing to the development of the Kariba community through its corporate social responsibility activities.

Mr Wu said his company had helped in the construction of Mahombekombe Secondary School in Kariba town where they provided equipment and materials for site levelling and classroom building.

“Around 1 100 local technicians and labourers are employed and trained for Kariba South expansion project. When Kariba South expansion project is completed, the annual power generation of the country will be improved by about 25 percent, which will largely reduce the deficiency in industrial and domestic power use and further boost the social and economic development of Zimbabwe,” said Mr Wu.

Highlanders defender Benson Phiri (right) blocks How Mine’s striker Toto banda from getting the ball in yesterday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday. (Picture by Almost Almond Mthembo)

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
How Mine 0 – 0 Highlanders

HOW Mine were unlucky to leave Barbourfields Stadium without maximum points, as they dominated Highlanders in yesterday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.

The gold miners had superior ball possession, which they, however, failed to turn into goals.

So dominant were the gold miners that they had eight corner kicks compared to Bosso’s two, which came in the last 15 minutes of the game.

How Mine stuck to their game plan of denying their opponents the ball and whenever they lost possession, they were quick to press Highlanders, forcing them to pump long balls.

Kelvin Kaindu, the How Mine coach, bemoaned his team’s lack of potency in front of goal and felt that they lost two valuable points.

“We’ve dropped two valuable points considering that we had the lion’s share of the game. Our opponents only played the last 10 minutes of the game or so. I think with the performance we put, we deserved better. We stuck to our game plan, which was to deny them possession and controlled the game. All the same, a point is better than nothing,” said Kaindu.

The miners played Toto Banda upfront supported by Kuda Musharu and Timothy January, who were coming in the midfield.

Musharu and January formed a midfield quintet that also had anchorman Makundika Sakala, Peter Rio Moyo and Pasca Manhanga.

They were ably supported by overlapping left-back Milton Ncube and occasionally Frank Makarati, as they shut out the Bosso midfielders and even caused some anxious moments for their more illustrious opponents.

Highlanders clearly missed the services of playmaker Rahman Kutsanzira, who picked an injury in the build-up to the encounter, as well as young striker Prince Dube, who is with the Warriors’ squad at the Cosafa Cup in South Africa.

Bosso were virtually lifeless, with no creativity, as they spent the better part of the match on the back foot.

They managed to defend well and restrict How Mine to long-range attempts that rarely bothered goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.

How Mine right-back Tsepo Ranthokoane brought the best out of Sibanda from a free-kick that took an awkward bounce, but the alert goalie somehow pushed the ball out for corner in the 52nd minute.

Minutes later January’s weak shot inside the penalty box went straight into Sibanda’s hands.

Just before the hour mark, Banda had a perfect opportunity to score for the miners after losing the defenders to meet a perfect January cross from the right, only to head wide with Sibanda at his mercy.

Highlanders only came out of their shell in the 78th minute when Simon Munawa sent in a cross that Ralph Matema met on the blind side only to be denied by the upright.

A minute later, the upright again came to How Mine’s rescue when centre-back Tendai Ndlovu’s cracker cannoned off into the woodwork.

The gold miners’ keeper Munyaradzi Diya produced the best save of the day when he denied Munawa from close range after being set through by Matema.

Bosso coach Erol Akbay conceded that How Mine were the better side and felt that lack of movement by his strikers and lack of creativity from the midfield cost them maximum points.

“How Mine made it difficult for us to play football as they were really pressing well. We only started to create Chances after 75 minutes. Too bad our strikers were not sharp enough; we were keeping the ball too long in the midfield and our strikers were also not making runs,” said Akbay.

Teams

How Mine: Munyaradzi Diya, Tsepo Ranthokoane, Milton Ncube, Kudzai Chideu, Frank Makarati, Makundika Sakala, Toto Banda, Pasca Manhanga (Tinashe Makanda, 89th minute), Peter Moyo (Brooklyn Banda, 83rd minute), Kuda Musharu, Timothy January

Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Bukhosi Ncube, Benson Phiri, Tendai Ndlovu, Peter Muduhwa, Erick Mudzingwa, Simon Munawa, Allen Gahadzikwa (King Nadolo, 63rd minute), Brian Banda (Gabriel Nyoni, 75th minute), Rodreck Mutuma (Godfrey Makaruse, 46th minute), Ralph Matema

Results

Saturday: Chicken Inn 0-0 Ngezi Platinum, FC Platinum 1-0 Tsholotsho FC
Yesterday: How Mine 0-0 Highlanders, Bantu Rovers 0-1 Chapungu, Triangle United 1-0 ZPC Kariba, Hwange 2-0 Shabanie Mine, Black Rhinos 1-2 Harare City, Dynamos 4-3 Bulawayo City

Fixture
Tomorrow: Yadah FC v Caps United (Morris Depot)

@ZililoR

Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development and now CODEPA chair admires some of the Niger craftwork while Speaker of Parliament Advocate Mudenda and officials from Niger look on during a tour of stands at the Coordination Committee for Development and Promotion of African Handicrafts (CODEPA) conference in Bulawayo on Friday. — Picture by Eliah Saushoma

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
THE illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West prejudiced the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector of about $35 million from 2008 to 2015, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Minister, Sithembiso Nyoni, said negative publicity also impacted negatively on the sector.

“The value of exported art and craft products in Zimbabwe has significantly fallen over the seven-year period from $50 million in 2008 to $15 million in 2015. This was mainly due to the impact of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

“The negative publicity perpetrated by our detractors also negatively impacted on tourist arrivals in the country,” said Minister Nyoni on Friday, while addressing delegates at the 9th edition of the Coordinating Committee for the Development and Promotion of African Handicrafts (Codepa).

The conference, which was officially opened by Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, was held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.

Codepa is a 26-member inter-African organisation formed to develop and promote African handicrafts.

Minister Nyoni, who took over the presidency of Codepa on Friday, said the arts and crafts industry has potential for job creation, income generation opportunities and economic development.

“Worldwide, the handicrafts sector is playing a pivotal role in the economic development of many countries. Codepa member states have since realised the benefits of being part of this organisation.

“These include access to premier international handicraft exhibitions, training in the field of technology and innovation, commercialisation of handicrafts, creation of networks, marketing and distribution of channels of handicrafts and sourcing of funding from financial partners,” said Minister Nyoni.

She added that Zimbabwe had also recognised the importance of handicrafts as a viable sector that is essential for the economic development of the country.

“Handicrafts have the potential to contribute to poverty alleviation and value addition and beneficiation of our resources, in line with Zim-Asset.

“My Ministry in collaboration with the relevant Government departments has put in place various strategies to promote the development and growth of the SME sector, which include the provision of training on business and technical management skills and improving the regulatory environment and provision of financial services through the Small and Medium Enterprises and Development Cooperation (SMEDCO),” said the minister.

She also called on the private sectors in African countries to work closely with their governments in forging partnerships for the development of the continent’s economy.

The SME sector, she added, has allowed crafters to express themselves creatively to talk about their own culture while making a living.

“Furthermore, Zimbabwe is strategically placed in the Sadc and Comesa regions to easily reach out to other markets in the regions,” said Minister Nyoni.

She commended the crafters, who included 50 locals for exhibiting a wonderful display of creativity and pure workmanship alongside the conference.

The Codepa conference was attended by 16 ministers from various member states, including South Africa’s Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu.

Minister of State for Bulawayo provincial affairs Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, War Veterans’ Minister, Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube and senior Government officials also attended the conference.

Honest Moyo

Richard Muponde, Gwanda Correspondent
A 22-YEAR-OLD Gwanda man who was allegedly found with a human head and male private parts last week, harvested them from a mentally ill, homeless man for suspected ritual purposes after being promised $25 000.

Sources yesterday said the suspect, Honest Moyo, sent a chilling message from his phone to a South African number, which read “Isitshebo sesi ready (The meat/relish is ready.”

In a disturbing video that is in the possession of The Chronicle and available on our website, Moyo nonchalantly explains how he cut the parts from the body of the man who was commonly known around Colleen Bawn as Mduna.

He speaks in a conversational tone with villagers who apprehended him on Thursday, seemingly unaware of the gravity of the offence.

Watch video below

“Ngimthole evele etshayiwe elimele efile mina ngasengithatha engikufunayo (I found him already dead and I took what I wanted),” he said.

Moyo allegedly told police he had met one Cosmas Zhou from Chiredzi at a bar who promised him $25 000 for the body parts.

Residents at Colleen Bawn Shopping Centre yesterday identified the victim only as Mduna and said he was well known in the town.

A vendor who spoke on condition of anonymity said when he started selling his wares at the shopping centre about three years ago, Mduna was already roaming Colleen Bawn shopping centre.

“Mduna has been wandering in this area for many years. He sometimes went to the dumpsite, where his body was found, to scavenge. He was a harmless character and no one knows where he originated from,” said the vendor.

He said he was surprised to hear about his death as he last saw him on Monday last week.

“He was always here. He seldom left this shopping centre. I was shocked to hear the news of his gruesome death,” he said.

A shopkeeper who also declined to be named said Moyo could have targeted Mduna because he knew no one would miss him.

“Mduna would sometimes disappear for days and no one looked for him. We always knew he would resurface. That young man is very evil. He has killed one of God’s harmless creatures,” said the shopkeeper.

A resident who only identified himself as Mr Ncube said Mduna was a quiet person who kept to himself.

“Although he seemed mentally challenged, he was not violent. He didn’t bother anyone and was a person who minded his own business,” she said.

Moyo allegedly killed Mduna on Tuesday last week and packed the head and scrotum that had two testicles in a bag and took them to his rural home in Garanyemba.

He denied having killed the man, saying he just “saw” the body at a dumpsite and decided to remove its head and testicles with a view to selling them.

The heinous act came to light when Moyo’s cousin, Mr Thandolwenkosi Ndlovu (19), visited him at his mother’s homestead on Thursday afternoon after hearing rumours that he was in possession of body parts.

Moyo’s mother, Ms Beauty Ndlovu, was not at home as she works at a farm in the Limpopo province of South Africa.

Mr Ndlovu budged into the kitchen and was greeted by the head on a bloodied sack and bolted out, alerting other villagers who effected a citizen’s arrest on Moyo.

On Friday, Moyo led police to a dumpsite in Colleen Bawn where he allegedly said he had left the mutilated body in a shallow grave.

Detectives recovered the headless body and conveyed it to Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary for postmortem.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment yesterday.

@richardmuponde

Minister Mombeshora

The Land Reform and Redistribution Programme has gone a long way in making land available to thousands of land hungry blacks who were denied access to the resource by colonialism.

The erstwhile white ruling class shared the best land among themselves while banishing blacks to small pieces of rocky fields unsuitable for any crop production.  Overcrowding was the order of the day in the badlands, as well as poverty.

As a result access to the land was one of the biggest grievances during the First and Second Chimurenga/Umvukela. Many blacks died fighting for it. Some were injured. Cognisant of the historical imbalance in land ownership, the Zanu-PF Government tried to settle the question soon after Independence through the willing-buyer willing-seller approach but the white land owners would not let go of the resource. As a result the delivery of land to the masses did not occur as fast as the Government and its people wanted. A land donor conference to speed up the process was held in 1998 but still no money was donated to buy land from whites.

However, this did not extinguish the people’s hunger for the land. In fact, it made them hungrier for it. Matters boiled over in 2000 when the masses, led by war veterans, occupied formerly white-owned farmland countrywide, resulting in what is now known as the fast-track land reform and redistribution programme.

At least 380 000 blacks were allocated farms and plots under the Model A1 and A2 schemes over the past 17 years. About 14 million hectares of land was redistributed.  Many of the beneficiaries of the land are utilising it, despite the prevailing economic challenges and recurrent droughts that have occurred over the past 17 years.

However, it has come to the attention of the Government that utilisation levels at other farms is too low, in some cases down to nothing. Reasons for this sad state of affairs are many. It can be because some beneficiaries emigrated, it can be because some beneficiaries are poorly resourced, and it can be that some beneficiaries are simply not good enough on the land.

For this reason, as the Minister of Lands, Rural Resettlement, Dr Douglas Mombeshora told the latest edition of our sister paper, The Sunday Mail, the Government has initiated the process of acquiring idle or underutilised farms for redistribution under the Farm Rationalisation Programme to those itching to work it for national development.

“What we are doing is part of farm rationalisation in line with Government policy to ensure maximum usage of all agriculture land in the country,” he said.

“We have been flighting notices in newspapers where we are advising offer letter holders who are not using their land that we intend to cancel those offer letters.

“What we are doing now is identifying farms and plots where land is not being utilised at all or not being used to its potential with a view to distributing it to others.

“In terms of the law, we have the option of sending letters to the offer letter holder’s given home address, their farms or publishing a notice in a national newspaper, advising them of our intention. But what we are doing across the country right now is send out teams, led by provincial lands officers, to inspect farms in order to ascertain whether they are being utilised or not.

“In cases where the farm is very large and is being underutilised, we have the option of downsizing; that is taking back part of the farm with a view of giving it to others.

“In cases where the land is not being utilised at all, we have the option of withdrawing the offer letter. This is all part of the broader Farm Rationalisation Programme, which Government is implementing as part of the finalisation of the Land Reform Programme.”

Allowing these people to continue on the land would be a betrayal of those who fought to liberate the land from white control since 1890. In addition, that would be unfair if one considers that there are as many as 500 000 applicants on the waiting list.

Seventeen years is more than enough for a capable farmer to establish themselves on the land. We therefore are happy that the Government has taken this decision and is implementing it in a systematic manner.

The Government is not just resettling people on the land for which some have offer letters. It is making efforts to communicate with the persons concerned directly, and as we have seen a few days ago, is publishing notices in the media, announcing its intention to lawfully withdraw a farmer’s title over the land.

This is very important because it limits the possibility of disputes over land, which in many cases have been bloody.

Tonderai Ndiraya

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ONLY three points separate Castle Lager Premier Soccer League leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars and seventh-placed How Mine.

Ngezi, who played to a goalless draw with fellow title hopefuls Chicken Inn on Saturday, dislodged Black Rhinos, who suffered a 1-2 loss to Harare City.

After 15 matches, Ngezi are tied on 28 points with second placed Chicken Inn, who have played a game less.

The top of the table clash between Chicken Inn and Ngezi failed to live to its billing, as both sides employed a cautious approach to the game.

“We didn’t want to open the game because Chicken Inn are a good side,” said Ngezi coach Tonderai Ndiraya after his team picked up a valuable point on the road.

Rhinos, who played 24 hours after the Chicken Inn-Ngezi encounter, blew an opportunity to open a two-point lead as they allowed Harare City to come back from a goal down to win 2-1.

Cliff Chitsamba powered Rhinos into the lead before Harare City drew level through Takudzwa Chimwemwe and then Martin Vengesayi grabbed the winner for the Sunshine boys.

Rhinos went into the weekend at the top, tied on 27 points with Ngezi and Chicken Inn.

Dynamos moved two places up the table to fourth with 26 points, two points behind Ngezi.

DeMbare registered their fifth consecutive league victory by beating visiting Bulawayo City 4-3 at the National Sports Stadium. The result seems to have given their fans reason to believe.

Obey Mwerahari, Denver Mukamba, Christian Epoupa and Lincoln Zvasiya were on target for Dynamos, while Bulawayo City’s goals came from a Clive Rupiya brace and Bellington Damson’s strike.

Dynamos, who are almost certain to be awarded three points for their abandoned game against Chapungu after the goalpost collapsed, can shoot to the top if the airmen are found guilty.

Dynamos were leading 4-0 when the Ascot Stadium goalpost collapsed in the 58th minute and could not be fixed and neither could a replacement be found.

FC Platinum, the only team yet to lose this season, stretched their unbeaten run to 14 games as they finally remembered how to win by pipping bottom side Tsholotsho FC 1-0 in Zvishavane courtesy of a Gift Mbweti fourth minute strike.

The win moved FC Platinum into seventh position with 26 points, while Tsholotsho remained stuck at the bottom of the table with five points and still searching for their first win of the season.

Sixth-placed Highlanders and seventh-placed How Mine played to a dull goalless draw to both move onto 25 points.

Goals by Justine Kaunda and Tendai Mate powered Hwange to their first home Premiership victory of the season, as they beat Shabanie Mine 2-0.

Raymond Sibanda’s 57th minute goal from a freekick gave Chapungu a 1-0 win over relegation threatened Bantu Rovers at Luveve Stadium, while mid-table side Triangle United edged ZPC Kariba 1-0 at Gibbo Stadium, courtesy of a Dzingai Chirambamuriwo goal.

Champions Caps United can move one place up the ladder into 13th place if they beat Yadah FC at Morris Depot this afternoon.

Results
Saturday: Chicken Inn 0-0 Ngezi Platinum, FC Platinum 1-0 Tsholotsho FC
Sunday: How Mine 0-0 Highlanders, Bantu Rovers 0-1 Chapungu, Triangle United 1-0 ZPC Kariba, Hwange 2-0 Shabanie Mine, Black Rhinos 1-2 Harare City, Dynamos 4-3 Bulawayo City

Fixture
Today: Yadah FC v Caps United (Morris Depot)

Table

P    W    D    L    F    A    GD      Pts
Ngezi Platinum    15    8    4    3    23    13    10    28
Chicken Inn    14    9    1    4    15    5    10    28
Black Rhinos    14    8    3    3    17    6    11    27
*Dynamos    13    8    2    3    20    12    8    26
FC Platinum    14    6    8    0    12    5    7    26
Highlanders    15    7    4    4    16    13    3    25
How Mine    14    7    4    3    11    9    2    25
ZPC Kariba    15    7    2    6    17    15    2    23
*Chapungu    14    4    6    4    8    10    -2    18
Triangle United    15    4    6    5    12    15    -3    18
Harare City    15    4    5    6    8    8    0    17
Bulawayo City    15    5    2    8    16    20    -4    17
Shabanie Mine    15    3    6    6    10    14    -4    15
Caps United    8    3    4    1    14    7    7    13
Yadah FC    14    3    4    7    12    19    -7    13
Hwange    14    3    4    7    9    18    -9    13
Bantu Rovers    15    2    2    11    18    35    -17    8
Tsholotsho FC    15    0    5    10    6    20    -14    5

*match abandoned

@ZililoR

Babes Wodumo

This time last year, the BET Awards left viewers with indelible moments that included Beyoncé’s epic performance of Freedom with Kendrick Lamar (and four tons of water) and multiple star-studded Prince tributes featuring The Roots, Erykah Badu, Stevie Wonder, Sheila E and more.

While it can be a difficult proposition to top yourself, this year’s BET Awards came close — thanks to a series of riveting performances, stirring tributes, a couple of welcome trips down memory lane and rapper Remy Ma ending Nicki Minaj’s seven-year win streak. And at the end of the four-hour marathon inside Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theatre — marking comedian Leslie Jones’ debut as host — an absent Beyoncé emerged as the night’s big winner.

The new mum of twins claimed five statuettes including album of the year (Lemonade) and best R&B/pop female artiste – out of her leading seven nominations. Bruno Mars, coming in with five nominations, took home his first two BET Awards for best male R&B/pop artiste and best video (for “24K Magic” tied with Beyoncé’s Sorry). Also joining Mars and Beyoncé in the winner’s circle were Kendrick Lamar (best male hip-hop artiste), and three more first-time winners: Solange (Centric Award for Cranes in the Sky), Chance the Rapper (best new artiste and best collaboration for No Problem featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz) and Migos (best group and also best collaboration for Bad and Boujee featuring Lil Uzi Vert).

On the African front, Babes Wodumo who failed to attend the awards ceremony after failing to secure a visa on time lost out to Nigeria’s Wizkid in the Best International Act: Africa category.

Keeping the audience out of its seats with their own standout performances were French Montana and Swae Lee (Unforgettable), Chris Brown and Gucci Mane (Party), Migos (T-Shirt, Bad and Boujee), Mary J Blige (Set Me Free, Love Yourself with A$AP Rocky) and Future joined by Lamar on Mask Off.

Perhaps one of the evening’s biggest surprises was Tamar Braxton’s powerful, throw-the-mic-stand-down performance of her latest single My Man. By the end, the singer had the audience erupting in a cheer-filled ovation.

In the night’s major upset, Remy Ma won best female hip-hot artiste and ended Nicki Minaj’s multi-year reign in that category. During her acceptance speech, Remy Ma thanked two correctional facilities, her husband Papoose and partner/brother Fat Joe.

“You can make mistakes and come back,” said a triumphant Remy.

DJ Khaled brought the long show to a close as he, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne reprised Khaled’s hit I’m the One. Standing in for the missing Justin Bieber on the song: Khaled brought baby son Asahd on stage for a verse. — Billboard/Showbiz Reporter

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
A MAN from Woodville suburb in Bulawayo died after three people ganged up and assaulted him with a cue (pool stick), police confirmed yesterday.

The trio — two men and a woman — viciously beat up Makhosi Ndlovu (31) after accusing him of peeping at one of them while he was entertaining his girlfriend at Ndlovu’s home two weeks ago.

The incident happened at Umguza General Dealer shops at around 10AM on Sunday.

Ndlovu was pronounced dead on admission to the United Bulawayo Hospitals about an hour after the vicious attack.

Witnesses said Iba Kachikwama, siblings Tafadzwa Makuyana (21) and his sister Tatenda (22), who are all on the run, mercilessly pounded Ndlovu with the stick.

Residents yesterday told The Chronicle they watched helplessly as the trio took turns to hit Ndlovu.

“They just asked him why he peeped into the room. He asked them why he wouldn’t since he stays at the house. Before we even knew what was happening, the three started assaulting Makhosi,” said a shop keeper.

Mr Admire Mamvura, who shared the house with Ndlovu, said he was not buying the story that Ndlovu was killed for being a peeping Tom.

He queried why the trio killed Ndlovu two weeks after the incident.

Mr Mamvura said the trio had a grudge with Ndlovu after assuming he influenced him to send away his sister-in-law back to his rural home in Gokwe.

He said his sister-in-law was Kachikwama’s girlfriend.

“My wife’s younger sister was dating Iba. They are the ones Makhosi spied on,” said Mr Mamvura.

He said he was not happy with his sister-in-law’s relationship with Kachikwama and sent her to Gokwe.

Mr Mamvura said his decision to send the woman — whom he did not name — home could have triggered Ndlovu’s attack.

“I know them (the suspects). They are criminals and I didn’t want to lose my property. So to avoid trouble, I told my sister-in-law to go back home. It seems she met up with Iba to tell him about it. She left for home on Sunday morning and hours later Makhosi was attacked,” said Mr Mamvura.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said a murder investigation had been launched. She urged the public to resolve differences amicably as lives are lost needlessly.

“This is another incident where another life has been lost for no apparent reason. We urge members of the public to resolve their differences peacefully,” Insp Simango said.

@nqotshili

Mr George Charamba

Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau
THE conferment of the right to vote to civil servants and members of the security services by the Constitution means they are entitled to belong to a political party of their choice, a senior Government official has said.

Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba said what was critical was that the two groups were not supposed to be influenced by their political allegiance in the discharge of their duties.

Mr Charamba said this at the weekend while addressing civic society and Members of Parliament’s portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs chaired by Zvimba West Member of Parliament Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi.

He was responding to questions during an interface meeting supported by the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust aimed at considering a petition to Parliament by the Election Resource Centre on the need to review the Electoral Act and align it with the Constitution.

Mutare Central Member of Parliament Mr Innocent Gonese (MDC-T), had asked Mr Charamba who earlier on had said he belonged to Zanu-PF whether or not his allegiance to the ruling party was not in violation of the Constitution which required civil servants to be apolitical and not to hold office in political parties.

“I thought the discussion yesterday related to allowing members of the police, security services, members of the civil service who are on duty to vote,” said Mr Charamba.

“How else do you vote unless and until you belong to a political party? Voting implies making a choice, the only difference is that some are less sincere in that they leave it to conjecture and that you belong to this or that political party.

“In my case, I don’t, I make it very clear where I belong. In the discharge of my function as a civil servant, I must not be seen to be taking decision or action that are traceable to my allegiance to the party.”

Mr Charamba said the reason why he attended the workshop was that he respected a State institution.

Harare West MP Ms Jessie Majome (MDC-T) had also asked Mr Charamba if he respected the Constitution after he had attacked Section 61 of the supreme law, which imposed a legal obligation to the public media to be impartial, but did not impose that requirement to privately owned broadcasting stations.

“What I will submit myself to and I will submit wholly is my subservient to the Constitution, but what I will never agree to is the tyranny of a section of the Constitution,” said Mr Charamba.

“Yes, essentially what it means is there are sections which will have to be interrogated and depending on how they pinch on the foot that wear the shoes you will see a bit of emotions. That particular section of the Constitution does not just make sense at all. I repeat, it just does not make sense.

“What good reason do you have to isolate one section of the media merely by ownership. Absolutely there is no good reason. But that should never be construed to mean that I don’t submit to the Constitution as a body. I do. As a matter of fact, each time I approach it, I treat it with reverence that is next to the Bible.”

Mr Charamba had premised his argument on the fact that privately owned broadcasting stations were using national finite resources, the frequency, hence the need for them to be equally impartial.

He said there was a need to make a distinction between his views as a private citizen with that of him as Government official, which was why he penned a column in The Saturday Herald called The Other Side by Nathaniel Manheru to reflect his personal views.

“The whole purpose of writing as Nathaniel Manheru and not as Permanent Secretary Charamba is trying to draw distinction between the views I might hold as an individual and the views that represent the Ministry,” said Mr Charamba.

“In some cases, people collapse the two so that they follow you. There are instances where I have even attacked members of my own party. And this is precisely George Charamba and please don’t try to gag him because it won’t make sense. I need that right.”

Bishop T.D. Jakes

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
WORLD renowned preacher Bishop TD Jakes is expected to grace popular mass gospel choir Zimpraise’s 10th anniversary celebrations to be held at the National Sports Stadium in Harare from September 5 to 9.

His visit is part of the interdenominational gospel choir’s plans to fill up the stadium, the biggest in the country.

Bishop TD Jakes, who preaches at the Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas in the United States of America, initially met the group in 2014 when he watched them perform in London where he was preaching at Bishop John Francis’ church.

He was impressed by their performance and asked them to grace his annual Megafest conference a year later.

And now, the group has invited him to be a guest speaker at their celebrations.

Sharing the news on the Zimpraise Facebook page, choir director Joseph Madziyire said they were excited to be hosting Bishop TD Jakes.

“We’re excited to be hosting Bishop TD Jakes for the first time in Zimbabwe as one of our guest speakers during this year’s Zimpraise International Gospel and Music Festival as we celebrate 10 years of praise,” said Madziyire.

The 10-year anniversary will be one of Madziyire’s last moments with the group as their director.

“Mixed emotions for us as this will be my last festival on stage as Zimpraise choir director,” he said.

Ever since 2007 when the choir released their first album — ZimPraise Season 1, they have been on the rise.

They have increasingly grown their fan base both at home and abroad, collaborating with some  of the biggest acts in the gospel world including Stanley Gwanzura, Sabastian Magacha, Comfort Manyame and Mathias Mhere, among many others.

Music producer MacDonald “Macdee” Chidavaenzi was instrumental in the formation of the popular and energetic musical powerhouse now well known for its explosive and electrifying stage performances.

The group, which has toured the United States and Canada, is famed for hit song Sungano which was featured on their Live DVD launch at the                 HICC in 2013. Some of their releases include Audio CD Season 1 (2007), Season 2 Audio CD (2008), Season 3 Live DVD Launch (2011), Season 4 Live DVD Launch (2012), Season 5 Live DVD Launch (2013).

President Mugabe

Leonard Ncube/ Walter Mswazie, Chronicle Reporters
PREPARATIONS for the Zanu-PF Youth, Presidential interface rally slated for Friday at Masvingo’s Mucheke B Stadium are now at an advanced stage with 32 buses and a number of lorries having been secured to transport youths.

Speaking during a sub-committee feedback meeting yesterday, Zanu-PF provincial youth chairman Cde Nobert Ndaarombe said preparations have moved a gear up with final touches expected tomorrow.

The interface youth rally will be held under the theme, “Honouring Our Icon, Unlocking the Value in Youth”. About 50 000 youths are expected to attend the rally.

Cde Ndaarombe said Ras Caleb and Soul Jah Love, supported by local groups, will entertain people at the rally.

He said there would be enough transport to ferry youths to the venue and back to their homes.

“Everything is moving smoothly, our preparations are a gear up and not facing any challenges. We have secured 31 buses and several lorries to ferry youths from their respective ward centres to the venue and back to their destinations. We have received about 6 000 litres of fuel and more is still coming from our stakeholders,” said Cde Ndaarombe.

“The stadium we are going to use, Mucheke Arena B, is presently being graded to avert the accumulation of dust. Workmen are busy as we speak and by the time we will have our final meeting on Wednesday where our youth Secretary Cde Kudzanayi Chipanga will attend, the venue will be ready. The Politburo will also be there to give their final approval of the venue on the same day before the big day on Friday.”

Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Cde Shuvai Mahofa, warned MPs against dividing youths along factional lines through providing buses as individuals and not as a party. “I am saying this because there is something I have observed. We do not want to hear that there are MPs who provide buses as individuals and choose which youth members to get into those buses. This is a youth rally, let our children do their own things with President Mugabe. We do not want chaos here, if you harbour divisive tendencies please stay away with your buses,” said Cde Mahofa.

President Mugabe has held similar rallies in Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces. After Masvingo he is expected to head to Matabeleland North.

Zanu-PF’s Matabeleland North youth leadership has since set July 14 as the date for the Presidential Youth Interface rally in the province.

Zanu-PF Youth League provincial secretary for information and publicity Cde Elias Sibanda said the party’s Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Kudzanai Chipanga was in Lupane on Sunday to kick start preparations.

“Cde Chipanga was here and we agreed on July 14 as the date for the big day at Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane,” said Cde Sibanda in a telephone interview.

“We wish to give President Mugabe a moment of his time and we are targeting 70 000 people. We would have gone for a bigger number but our challenge is the geography of our province which is largely rural hence some people will fail to make it but we want this to be exciting for us.”

Cde Sibanda said the province has organised a series of inter-district meetings where youths are being afforded an opportunity to spell out their challenges which will be presented to President Mugabe to address them during the rally.

“As part of preparations, we want youths to speak but it will be difficult for the President to listen and address the concerns on the day. What we have done is to document all challenges which will be sent to His Excellency.

“We have organised a number of inter-district meetings where our provincial youth chair (Cde Mbongeni Dube) is leading a team gathering people’s concerns which will be sent to the President a week before he comes here so that he will be aware of the challenges beforehand,” said Cde Sibanda.

He said various committees have been activated to prepare for the day.

The party’s secretary for Transport and Welfare, Cde Daniel Sithole, said they had already started mobilising transport to ferry people to Lupane.

@ncubeleon

Commander General Constantino Chiwenga

Mabasa Sasa, Editor, Sunday Mail
THE nonsensical behaviour by turncoat Government officials who attack State programmes like Command Agriculture can no longer be tolerated and must stop, the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantino Guveya Chiwenga said yesterday.

In an exclusive interview with our Harare Bureau in Harare, Gen Chiwenga — in apparent reference to Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, and his Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment counterpart Patrick Zhuwao who have been attacking Command Agriculture — said the security services were fully aware of the forces sponsoring the spirited attacks.

Prof Moyo has been on a campaign against Command Agriculture which he derided as “Ugly-Culture’’ equating reports of its success as ‘‘Command Lies’’ while Minister Zhuwao vented against Zimpapers accusing the Group’s titles of promoting Command Agriculture at the expense of Zim-Asset. This is despite the fact that Command Agriculture falls under the Food and Nutrition Cluster of Zim-Asset.

At the two Presidential Youth Interface Rallies he addressed in Marondera and Mutare recently, President Mugabe hailed the success of Command Agriculture amid indications from Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made that the programme would exceed the projected yields.

Gen Chiwenga said of all Government interventions to promote food production since the launch of the fast-track land reform programme at the turn of the millennium among them Operation Maguta and the various phases of the Farm Mechanisation Programme, Command Agriculture had been the most successful in moving the Zimbabwe to national food self-sufficiency.

“So we ask the question: who is saying this is a bad programme? A programme which has been spearheaded, approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Head of State and Government, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

“You go and say no that is not right? He (President Mugabe) pronounced himself in Marondera when he was addressing the youth. He pronounced the same thing in Manicaland.

“And you say no, this is now bringing Communism … some of these people, they have farmed 80 hectares with inputs – seeds, fertilisers – from Command Agriculture, and they are talking of a bumper harvest.

“So these people who are talking against Command Agriculture, linking it to unthinkable things, they are no different from those in Sodom and Gomorrah; those homosexuals, where Lot’s wife was turned in a heap of salt,” Gen Chiwenga said.

He added that it was unthinkable during the liberation struggle for senior officials to leak private discussions held by the leadership for their own selfish ends.

“We have fought a bitter armed struggle and we have never seen it that whatever was discussed at the High Command was leaked to the cadres. What was discussed at the Central Committee of the party was respected and they would tell the cadres what they need to know.

“They could argue and no one would ever talk. We were in the front. We would meet the commanders and sometimes disagree on strategy but it would never reach the ears of the fighters.

“Even those who were there to record what was being discussed would never open their mouths.

“Now before a meeting is complete we already see it on Twitter. What is that? Discipline has been completely lost. Now it shows when individuals come and say I will destroy, not only the party, but the entire system from inside.

“The papers are there for everyone to read. We say enough is enough. This nonsense can no longer be tolerated at all. People have perished because of this land. They died for the land.”

Gen Chiwenga went on: “You think you can divide people, to divide and rule, and bring confusion to the people.

“No, it doesn’t work like that.

“This spirit of Sodom and Gomorrah, of homosexuals should go back where it came from …

“And this programme (Command Agriculture) we will support it,  and support our Commander-in-Chief. It must continue until the end.”

Gen Chiwenga said over and above his right as a citizen to speak on such issues, the military was part of Command Agriculture’s implementation by virtue of Air Marshal Perrance Shiri’s vice-chairmanship of a subcommittee involved in steering the policy.

And then again apparently reverting to Prof Moyo’s recalcitrant behaviour, Gen Chiwenga said: “This guy who is vomiting that nonsense, didn’t he get support from Command Agriculture? He has some other forces behind him. Hasn’t he written in his books that he is going to destroy from within?

“We read. We are all educated. We read. He has said that. Everyone must see. He rebelled before. Not once. He rebelled when we were in the struggle, he ran away. When he was here he did all his nonsense, his column in the Financial Gazette.

“And in his book, when he was teaching, in his commentary on why he went to America — we know. When he left and went independent, was he repentant? And we know now that the tweeting is coming from Baba Jukwa and company; we know that.

“But I think he has got to where we wanted him to. Let me leave it at that,” Gen Chiwenga said.

Mrs Sikhangele Zhou

Business Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council is pursuing twinning arrangements with the Russia’s St Petersburg city among other business contacts established during a recent business visit to that country.

Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo and chamber secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, were part of the business delegation that accompanied Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and a team of economic ministers to Russia.

Mrs Zhou told journalists on Friday at a media briefing that council was grateful to Government for the exposure and fruitful business discussions held with participants during the Russian international economic indaba.

“We were invited by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko to be part of the delegation and the Mayor and I went. Our plan was to engage our St Petersburg counterparts for a twinning arrangement,” she said.

Mrs Zhou said although the programme was packed, they managed to participate in some crucial meetings where they established good contacts that they were still pursuing.

“We attended some meetings and identified issues of interest. We have contacts that we are following up.

“We are very grateful to Government for including us in the programme. With the good Zim-Russia relations there are opportunities mainly in ICTs development. We will continue following up on the contacts we established,” she added.

Meanwhile, the council has said the $60 million Egodini terminus upgrade project is still on. The local authority awarded South African civil engineering firm, Terracotta, the contract to develop a transport hub and shopping mall at Basch Street Terminus, popularly known as Egodini in 2015. However, after the signing of the agreement in 2016, squabbles erupted over the project began, casting doubt over its implementation. A council engineering official reported that Terracotta has assigned an agency to do environmental impact assessment (EIA) process in liaison with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).

“Work designs for the project have been done but are yet to be submitted to council. Council has also started attending to properties that would be exchanged with affected owners. As council we eagerly await to see machinery design deployed there because this has a direct link with the city’s transport policy,” said the official.

The Egodini Mall project will be the largest development project in Bulawayo since independence and is set to create over 1 000 jobs if it goes ahead.

Zimbabwe’s Ovidy Karuru is challenged by Abilio Moucuona of Mozambique during the Cosafa Castle Cup match between Mozambique and Zimbabwe at the Moruleng Stadium in Rustenburg yesterday. — BackpagePix

From Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Maruleng,  South Africa
Mozambique 0-4 Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE started their 2017 campaign of the Cosafa Castle Cup on a sluggish note but turned on the power in the second half to completely dismantle their opponents Mozambique at a freezing Moruleng Stadium in North West province, South Africa, yesterday.

A late first half goal by co-skipper Ovidy Karuru two minutes before half time must have calmed the nerves of the Zimbabwe technical bench led by Sunday Chidzambwa who had painfully watched their boys take turns to miss scoring opportunities.

Karuru scored his second in the 64th minute with the four-time Cosafa Castle Cup winners getting their third goal from a beautifully taken set piece by Ocean Mushure in the 77th minute.

Debutant Blessing Majarira justified the technical team’s faith in him when he rose from the bench late in the game to score the rampaging Warriors’ fourth goal two minutes into added time.

Zimbabwe could have ended the evening on five goals had the second assistant referee Matheus Kanyanga not shockingly flagged a Knox Mutizwa goal for offside at the hour mark.

“I am happy with the win although we could have scored more had we utilised the many chances that came our way,” said Chidzambwa in his post-match interview.

Zimbabwe got off the blocks the more purposeful side but could not break the ice despite enjoying territorial advantage as well as the most following from the vociferous group of supporters who braved the chilly weather.

In the 10th minute Leeroy Mavunga shook his head in disbelief when his shot on the run continued going airborne away from the visitors’ goal.

Mozambique were then forced to make an injury forced substitution in the 13th minute by pulling out Yannik Infante for Danilo Muze. Zimbabwe kept on bombarding their opponents but it was instead Mozambique who almost stole the lead in the 35th minute when Marufo Baicha’s swinging shot was punched back into play by an alert George Chigova.

With the first half clock ticking away, the floodgates were opened thanks to a defence splitting pass from Gerald Takwara that released Karuru who intelligently rounded off a drawn out Antonio Joao Muquetua.

The second half began with Mozambique making their second substitution, taking out Mamo Saide for Milton Gulube whose presence brought life into the Mozambique team.

However Gulube’s industry was never complemented by his teammates who constantly lost possession unnecessarily and in one of those moments the ball fell onto Takwara who quickly released Mutizwa and the on loan Bidvets striker buried it home and celebrated, albeit briefly as the assistant had his flag up.

There was, however, no denying Karuru his second from a well taken corner kick by Leeroy Mavunga and the gates were opened.

Zimbabwe were awarded a freekick 35 metres outside the opponents’ box and up stepped the left footed Mushure to bury it home.

Teams
Mozambique: Antonio Joao Muquetua, Yannik Miguel Infante( Danilo Muze 13th min), Francisco Simbine, Stelio Teca, Abilio Moucuona, Mamo Saide( Milton Gulube 46thmin), Nelson Divrassone, Marufo Baicha, Scander Matimbe, Shelton Jose Dava (Joao Simango 63rd min) Hermengildo Capena,

Zimbabwe: George Chigova,  Ocean Mushure, Erick Chipeta Jameson Mukombwe, Jimmy Tigere, Talent Chawapiwa (Blessing Majarira 80th min),Gerald Takwara, Leeroy Mavunga (Raphael Manuvire 81st min) Ovidy Karuru, Knox Mutizwa( Michelle Katsvairo 62ndmin), Liberty Chakoroma