Mr Nelson Chamisa

Nduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor

Mr Chamisa also attracted the wrath of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo family after falsely claiming that he visited the Joshua Nkomo Museum where he was offered the late Vice President’s intonga.With such behaviour, Mr Chamisa becomes more of a threat to the country’s interests internally and outside

IN what is becoming a weekly dose of lies, MDC-T leader Mr Nelson Chamisa was at it again this week claiming that Zanu-PF “agent provocateurs” were responsible for the attacks on Dr Thokozani Khupe at the burial of Morgan Tsvangirai in February.

Mr Chamisa and Dr Khupe are embroiled in a fight for the control of the MDC-T, in a succession war that started before the founding party leader’s death and things took a violent turn at the burial of Tsvangirai in Buhera when she was attacked by party thugs.

After the attack, Dr Khupe revealed that the youths, whom she said were linked to Mr Chamisa, had tried to burn her and her allies inside a thatched hut in which they had sought refuge by trying to burn its roof.

According to Dr Khupe, they were only saved by the rains which had pounded the area the previous night and dampened the grass but had the attack happened when it had not rained, they would have been burnt inside as the Mr Chamisa linked youths were determined in their mission.

Fast forward two months later, Mr Chamisa tells a South African television station that a commission of inquiry into the incident revealed that the attacks on Dr Khupe were engineered by Zanu-PF plants.

That Mr Chamisa, a theological college graduate, is unrestrained by glaring evidence pointing to his party youths as behind the attacks on Dr Khupe and others, one shudders the kind of person Mr Chamisa would turn out to be if he was, for one day, live his imagination of holding on to State power.

Prof Welshman Ncube

What kind of foreign policy would he adopt when he can lie without shame that the most powerful country in the world had promised to give them $15 billion.

In an age of advanced technology, social media, a platform that allows for the spread of news in real time, Mr Chamisa, in his wisdom still had the courage to mislead people with lies that could be easily verified, dismissed and leave him in shame.

Mr Chamisa also attracted the wrath of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo family after falsely claiming that he visited the Joshua Nkomo Museum where he was offered the late Vice President’s intonga.

With such behaviour, Mr Chamisa becomes more of a threat to the country’s interests internally and outside.

He has done a lot to discredit himself that even some of his colleagues within the MDC-T do not have confidence in Mr Chamisa.

In a recent interview, party deputy president Engineer Elias Mudzuri cast aspersions on the leadership of Mr Chamisa, saying members had followed the wind in choosing the lawyer as Tsvangirai’s successor.

Eng Mudzuri said he was not sure if the party was taking the correct path following its recent split.

“There is a lot I can say, but he is already there and we have to find a way of working with him and to see whether we can deliver the political goods,” said Eng Mudzuri.

“Opinions sometimes don’t matter about public office, it is the public that judges people.

“The only thing that I can say is he has reached 40 years. That’s the age you are allowed to become a president. And we have to work to find if we get there.”
Eng Mudzuri said Mr Chamisa’s fate would be determined by the outcome of the elections.

“But if we don’t (win elections) that will be unfortunate, but people would have seen that maybe, that is when people revise what they would have done,” he said.

“People never revise when they are in a certain mode. There is a saying by Confucius, a great Chinese philosopher; ‘when the wind blows all the grass bends towards the wind’. I mean the grass can only rise when the wind has stopped. But if the grass goes against the wind it will break.”

There are also reports coming from South Africa where MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube was reportedly booed because he addressed an MDC Alliance rally, where he was representing Mr Chamisa, in isiNdebele.

Violence and tribalism have always been part of the MDC-T character from the days of Tsvangirai and continues under Mr Chamisa.

From his theatrics, Mr Chamisa has proven to be a comical experiment by the MDC-T and its backers in the MDC Alliance, an experiment that should be conducted far away from the serious affairs of this country.

With the new direction that the country is taking towards economic recovery and ending years of isolation, Zimbabwe does not need clowns and liars in any sector of society including the opposition.

Zimbabweans, however, take solace in that there is a rejuvenated Zanu-PF under President Mnangagwa that is not only assured of a sweeping victory in the coming polls but geared to take the country forward.

Illegal miners work a section of Old Motapa Mine in Inyathi that has been invaded by more than 300 fortune seekers

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
THE situation is tense at a gold mine in Inyathi where a person has died after police called to restore order allegedly took over operations.

More than 300 illegal panners had allegedly invaded Old Motapa Mine in Bubi District following the discovery of huge gold deposits recently.

Phakamani Ncube (29) of Village 4, Lubanda area, under Chief Mtshana in Inyathi died while his three unidentified colleagues got buried up to their necks after the shaft collapsed when rival gangs invaded the mine on Wednesday last week.

Zanu-PF councillor for Ward 8, Herbert Ngwendu said knives are out after police called in to quell running battles among the panners started mining.

“It is disappointing that senior police officers (names withheld) continue to be behind rampant illegal gold mining activities in the district. When I informed them about the invasion last week, I expected them to come and maintain peace, law and order at the mine but instead, mining is continuing with panners informing me that police instructed them to work at night and they are allegedly sharing the proceeds. Mining at night in an unsecured shaft is even more risky and dangerous,” he said.

A number of illegal panners said the army should be called to the site before simmering tensions boil over.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson, Inspector Sipiwe Makonese confirmed the death of one illegal miner but denied that police were now extracting gold from the mine.

“I am not aware of any looting by police, and as far as we are concerned, a police team was deployed at the site to safeguard, monitor and ensure there is peace on site. Investigations will be made,” said Insp Makonese.

“One person died and three others were trapped for some hours. When police were patrolling the area, they discovered more than 200 people were working on the abandoned and disused mine shafts.”

Insp Makonese said the panners were heavily armed with machetes, axes, picks, shovels, hoes and spears.

Sources at the mine said a 65-year-old man discovered the gold and mined it secretly for almost a month. “Panners in the area smelt a rat when the old man suddenly started flashing money. He would buy beer for everyone and on one occasion he brought a truckload of beer from Bulawayo — more than 75 kilometres away— which was delivered to his homestead,” said a source.

“Some panners followed him and saw him digging at the mine and word spread, resulting in this gold rush.”

The old man allegedly extracted about 60 grammes of gold every three days and earned more than $25 000 in one month.

Cde Ngwendu said unemployment was a contributory factor to the often-dangerous practice of illegal mining.

“Because of desperation, illegal miners invade mines and embark on mining on uninspected sites which are dangerous as they usually collapse, trapping them to death. Locals usually don’t benefit from the riches in their area.

“As a community, our wish is that Metallon Gold re-opens their mine, inspects it, makes it safe for work and employs people. We need them to take control and ensure security and safety at the mine,” he said.

Another gold rush which attracted more than 500 illegal panners started on March 27 in Kenilworth.

Last year, 13 police officers were convicted under the Police Act for engaging in illegal gold mining in Inyathi, Bubi District.

Police prosecutors preferred charges ranging from criminal abuse of office, leaving their posts unattended and engaging in activities which violate the Police Act. — @winnie_masara

Justice Maphosa

Prosper Ndlovu, Business Editor
SOUTH African-headquartered conglomerate, Bigtime Strategic Group, plans to splash about 90 percent of its funds in diverse investments in Zimbabwe, enticed by the positive business climate under the new dispensation.

Responding to questions from Business Chronicle, the giant firm, which is run by Gwanda-born businessman, Mr Justice Maphosa, says it is convinced the “new” Zimbabwe under President Mnangagwa is ripe for increased domestic and foreign investment.

“The current political environment, the political will and zero tolerance to corruption demonstrated by the President creates a favourable environment for us as a business,” said the group.

It applauded the on-going investment reforms, particularly measures to repeal the previously inhibitive indigenisation regulations as well as the ease of doing business processes.

“All we can reveal at this stage is that our board took a resolution to invest 90 percent of Bigtime South Africa’s funds into the Zimbabwe economy. It’s already happening and we are not apologetic about investing in Zimbabwe,” it said without disclosing any figures.

Bigtime Strategic Group believes Zimbabwe has to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of infrastructure development and technology, a process it said cannot be championed by foreigners without involvement of locals, particularly the Diaspora.

“Our belief is that this must not be left to outsiders to come and invest and reap the rewards of an early entry into our own economy. In line with that, Bigtime South Africa has set up a group of companies in Zimbabwe across different sectors.

“This has been ongoing for three years now and plans are at an advanced stage to officially launch these companies. In fact, we are in the final stages of perfecting our technologies and setting up the required infrastructure needed to make this work. We will disclose further details at our launch,” said the group.

Bigtime Strategic Group has major interests in the banking and financial services sector. Given its exposure in South Africa, its investments could impact on the economy by bringing in new financial technology to enable the ease of transacting by the public. The targeted sectors for new investments include aviation, agricultural, insurance services, energy, transport and logistics, real estate, events management, and health.

“Our firm belief is that Zimbabwe is in dire need of financial solutions that are geared towards an all-inclusive economy where everyone is able to participate. Quite interestingly, in the financial services space, the challenges Zimbabwe faces are not unique to it,” said the group. It said many African countries have the same challenges as Zimbabwe hence it looked forward to replicating its interventions in Zimbabwe right across Africa.

“We as a business need to assist our governments in Africa to reduce poverty and promote inclusive growth. As Bigtime, we intend to generate national and individual wealth, while also making sure a lot more people benefit,” it said.

Chief executive officer, Mr Maphosa commented: “If there is no hope from us as Zimbabwean businesses in the Diaspora and no future foresight into how this could work for us as Zimbabweans, then who must shape this country for us.

“Or are we going to sit as slaves in our own country, fold our arms and wait to be economically colonized by those who may see what is clearly an opportunity. If we are not careful, this is going to happen to us as Zimbabweans.”

Registrar General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede

The Registrar General’s Office is conducting a national civil registration mop-up exercise for people to acquire identity documents.

The exercise that started on Monday and is scheduled to end on May 16 is being undertaken after the RG’s Office conducted a national mobile registration which was launched in September last year and ended on January 31 this year.

While the RG’s Office’s district and provincial stations across the country are always open to register births, deaths and process other important registrations, the mobile exercise that was undertaken from September and the ongoing mop-up one are meant to facilitate the acquisition of national identity cards for people who can then be able to register as voters as elections approach in the next three to four months.

Registrar General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede said on Tuesday:

“The mop-up vital civil registration exercise has started throughout the whole country at designated centres and static offices. The said mobile registration began on Monday, April 16, 2018, to May 16, 2018. This exercise is an extension of the vital civil mobile registration which commenced last year in September and ended on January 31, 2018. The documents are required to facilitate the registration of voters in preparation for the forthcoming harmonised elections.”

Documents that are obtainable during the current registration programme include national identity cards, birth and death certificates and documentation for citizens by descent (person born outside Zimbabwe one of whose parents is a citizen by birth).

The RG’s Office this week ran advertisements in the national Press showing the centres at which people could go and have the documents they want processed for them for free.

The process underway is a very essential one as it allows citizens to secure documents without which they may not function effectively in life.  Without a birth certificate one will be unable to legally secure a national identity card.  Someone without a birth certificate will not be able go to school and write examinations. A person who does not have a national identity card will face problems securing a decent, formal job and will definitely be unable to operate a bank account in their name. Without a nation identity card, one will be unable to register as a voter for them to play a role in electing their political leaders, thus determine their personal and national destiny.

The importance of birth registration and a national identify card can therefore not be overemphasized. Thus we urge the people across the country to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to make sure that they get the documents.

The good thing about the mop-up exercise is that it is going right down to where the people live. The people do not have to spend much time and money travelling to the permanent centres in their districts to be assisted. We know that some of our people may not have much money to pay for transport to distant places to obtain the important papers. They therefore just live without a birth certificate or national identity. They just live just as anonymous persons, unknown beyond their localities. This is undesirable.

As we have stated earlier, people will not pay any money to have their papers processed which is another plus for the Government’s mop-up registration programme.

Of some concern is that while we have seen advertisements in major national newspapers, we have not seen a much wider public education campaign on other mass communication platforms and in more languages than English for the message to be really accessible to the majority. Also, we don’t know if the word for this important exercise had, before Monday, been communicated to community leaders in rural areas countrywide for them to sensitise their people of the registration exercise.

It is possible; however, that this was done in the five-month programme that ended in January so Mr Mudede and his team decided that such a publicity blitz was unnecessary for a mop-up exercise now underway. We give him and his team the benefit of doubt on that, but we have heard reports that officials from his office who are on the latest assignment are not showing up at the appointed times and places as advertised.

Zanu-PF Midlands Provincial chairperson Cde Mackenzie Ncube said the mobile teams in parts of Gokwe North are not spending the expected four days at some centres but a day or two. This is most unfair for some people who possibly had planned to go to the centres on the third or fourth day. Such people will fail to get the documents not because of their fault, but the RG’s. Mr Mudede is encouraged to adhere to the schedule that is publicly available.

Barbara Bush

Former president George HW Bush thanked fellow Americans on Wednesday for their “outpouring of love” following the loss of his wife of seven decades, Barbara, saying the tributes flowing in for the one-time first lady were “lifting us all up”.

Long seen as the pillar of one of America’s most prominent families, as wife to the 41st US president and mother to the 43rd, Barbara Bush died on Tuesday at her home in Texas aged 92, surrounded by her family.

Her 93-year-old husband, who was at her side until the end, holding her hand, was said to be heart-broken at the loss of “his beloved Barbara”.
But on Wednesday the ex-commander-in-chief struck a resolutely stoical tone.

“I always knew Barbara as the most beloved woman in the world,” he wrote in a statement. “In fact I used to tease her that I had a complex about that fact.”

“But the truth is the outpouring of love and friendship being directed at The Enforcer is lifting us all up,” he said, using a fond nickname coined by the Bush clan for their matriarch.

“We know life will go on – as she would have it,” he added. “So cross the Bushes off your worry list.”

Known for her trademark faux pearls and tart-tongued comments about life in and out of Washington — but also her deep loyalty to family and self-deprecating humour — Barbara Bush was in many ways a figure more popular among ordinary Americans than her high-flying husband and sons.

US President Donald Trump lent his voice to the chorus celebrating a departed national treasure.

“For decades Barbara was a titan in American life”, and a “tireless champion for literacy”, he told a press conference in Florida.

“Her presence and character were engraved into America’s identity. Her strength and toughness really embodied the spirit of our country,” Trump said, speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who also offered his country’s “heartfelt condolences”.

Having undergone heart surgery in 2009, Bush was treated for years for Graves’ disease, a thyroid condition. As her health failed in recent days, she was moved into comfort care at her home in Houston.

Son George W. Bush, who won the White House eight years after his father left it, told Fox Business that he took solace from “her soul being comforted on her deathbed”.

“It’s the end of a beautiful life,” he said.

Barbara Bush is survived by five children, 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She lost a sixth child — daughter Robin — to leukemia as a toddler.

She will be laid to rest in Texas after a memorial ceremony Saturday in Houston, to be attended by First Lady Melania Trump, former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, and the former vice president Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne.

Former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary were also reportedly due to attend.

Trump ordered flags to fly at half-staff at all public buildings and military posts in Bush’s honour.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum, including from the Obamas who voiced gratitude “to Mrs Bush for the generosity she showed to us throughout our time in the White House”.

“But we’re even more grateful for the way she lived her life — as a testament to the fact that public service is an important and noble calling; as an example of the humility and decency that reflects the very best of the American spirit.”

Bill Clinton, who succeeded Bush’s husband in office, described her as “a remarkable woman” who brought together “grit and grace, brains and beauty”.
“She showed us what an honest, vibrant, full life looks like.”

Barbara met her husband-to-be at age 16 when she was a schoolgirl and he was a student at an elite Massachusetts preparatory school. They married in 1945 while he was on leave from wartime service.

She made history as one of just two women to be wife and mother to two US presidents. Abigail Adams, who died in 1818, was the other.

Her son Jeb, a two-term Florida governor who also ran for president, hailed “the exceptionally gracious, gregarious, fun, funny, loving, tough, smart, graceful woman who was the force of nature known as Barbara Bush”.

Barbara Bush was her husband’s companion and advisor, travelling the world as he rose from Texas oilman to congressman, US ambassador to China, director of the CIA and eventually to the vice presidency and the White House.

But she avoided direct involvement in politics, and the posturing that comes with it – gaining a reputation for toughness, wry humour and straight-speaking.

“I’m not running for president; George Bush is,” she said at the 1988 Republican National Convention. “What you see with me is what you get.” — Al Jazeera

Cde Obert Mpofu

Felex Share, Harare Bureau
Zanu-PF provinces have submitted curricula vitae of all aspiring candidates and the party’s Politburo is meeting in Harare today to deliberate on the submissions ahead of the May 5 primary elections.

Some provinces had reportedly disqualified thousands of aspiring candidates, a preserve of the revolutionary party’s national elections directorate (NED).

The party leadership then ordered provincial chairpersons to accept all CVs and only make recommendations.

Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Cde Obert Mpofu, yesterday said today’s special Politburo meeting would deal with primary elections.

“The provinces have heeded the call and we have received all the submissions,” he said.

“Tomorrow (today) we are having a meeting to deal with those issues.”

Chancers and infiltrators, Cde Mpofu said, had no place in Zanu-PF. “We hope the provinces have done a good job and we will assess what they have done before taking any appropriate decisions,” he said.

“Hopefully, the CVs they have brought are those of members of the party and those who meet the criteria. The final decision on who qualifies and who does not qualify will be made by the party headquarters not district nor the province.”

Zanu-PF provincial chairpersons interviewed yesterday confirmed they had included every aspiring candidate on their lists.

“We submitted all CVs it is only that our social media is polluted with liars,” said Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi.

“As a province we were screening to see if what an aspiring candidate has written is correct and we put comments. Where we had reservations or grey areas, we highlighted that and we even submitted those CVs of aspiring candidates who outrightly did not meet the criteria. As for who is going to make it or not, it is none of our business.”

Mashonaland Central chairperson Cde Kazembe Kazembe said they had made their recommendations.

“We submitted all CVs regardless of whether one had been recommended or not,” he said.

“At the risk of marking our own script, we were the most democratic. We did everything transparently. We even photocopied the guidelines and gave all districts copies way before the dates for submission. On vetting, we had the guidelines to refer to. I also recused myself from the process and left the venue when four constituencies in Mazowe were being done. The organisation and final submission were done by office staff, the secretaries for administration and security. This explains why Mashonaland Central has by far the least number of complaints.”

Masvingo chair Cde Ezra Chadzamira said: “We had no problems as a province and we submitted our list long back.”

Harare provincial chairperson Cde Godwills Masimirembwa weighed in: “Our duty was to receive, vet them and made recommendations. We submitted all CVs to the national elections directorate and we did not remove anyone. We don’t have the powers to disqualify candidates.”

In Matabeleland North, provincial chairperson Cde Richard Moyo said the province never encountered challenges.

“We just submitted everything successfully in Harare and we are now waiting for feedback,” he said.

Mashonald East chairperson Cde Joel Biggie Matiza said the province had no disgruntled aspiring candidates.

Among high-profile people who have joined the political fray ahead of the primary elections are Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo, who is eyeing the Mberengwa Senate seat, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira (Gutu North), Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando (Gutu Senatorial seat), ex-Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Mr Callisto Jokonya (Gutu South) and ex-diplomat Ambassador Jonathan Wutaunashe (Gutu South).

President Mnangagwa speaks to Sadc Executive Secretary Stergomena Lawrence Tax shortly after her arrival at the Munhumutapa Offices in Harare today.-(Picture by Tawanda Mudimu)

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Visiting Sadc Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax has commended the political and legislative environment in the country saying it is conducive for credible elections expected in July.

Dr Tax said this soon after paying a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa Offices today.

“You are about to go for elections so we discussed about the elections (and) that also you are undertaking socio-economic reforms, we touched on that,” she said.

More to follow…

President Mnangagwa welcomes the Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Sofia Calltorp at Munhumutapa Offices in Harare today.-(Picture by Tawanda Mudimu)

Sweden will soon send a business delegation to Zimbabwe to explore investment opportunities in a show of confidence by Stockholm in the new dispensation led by President Mnangagwa.

The Swedish Government has also pledged $50 million per year to support Zimbabwe in various areas like health, climate, women empowerment and human rights among other areas.

This was said by Swedish ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mrs Sofia Calltorp in an address to journalists soon after paying a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices this morning.

More to follow…

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent

A 44-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi suburb was on Thursday found hanging on tree near Madamara shops after he allegedly  committed suicide on his second attempt on his life.

Nelson Ndiweni’s  family said he was suicidal and had been contemplating killing himself for the past five years.

More to follow

Bongiwe Nkomazana

So, we have both dark brown and light brown women using different methods of skin lightening to be that “yellow bone”. I want to emphasise how it is a result of colourism, being prejudiced to a point where you feel like you have to alter the biggest organ of your body into something completely different and it is really not your fault because light skin privilege is real. A dark skin girl’s plight is always feeling inferior to her light skinned counterparts

COLOURISM is not the same as racism. It is the discrimination based on skin colour, also known as “shadeism”.

It is a form of prejudice in which people are treated differently based on the social meanings attached to skin colour. As black women, we can blame other races and our male counterparts for doing us wrong at work, in relationships you name it but shadeism is a demon that we ourselves are fostering.

Colourism was embedded in the black community, I imagine during slavery when light skinned slaves were said to be better or cleaner and were kept closer to the master as either a maid or nanny etc while the dark skinned ones were sent outside to pick cotton.

As much as we did not create colourism, we as a people have sort of encouraged or nurtured it and have used it to create divisions among ourselves. This issue affects a lot of groups of people but as per usual, I will zoom in on how it has affected my fellow black women whom are in the same environment as I am.

I was watching a TV show called Iyanla: Fix my Life and the host had a guest who had sent out a tweet referring to dark skinned girls as something I choose not to repeat and gone on to call herself pretty because she was light-skinned.

Iyanla then traced the root cause back to her guest’s childhood and discovered that her mother had somehow taught her growing up that light skin is better. So you have this black girl evolving into a black woman and becoming the very thing that will bring another black woman down based on her skin tone alongside all the other odds she has to face because she was born black.

The sooner we realise that colourism is nothing more than a separation mechanism the sooner we will stop allowing it to persist in our communities.

The stereotypes that dark skin and light skinned women face are no secret. It is the effects that these stereotypes have on each and every woman that go unsaid. Hands up if you have heard of what I will call the “Ambi” era where the results are our old aunties who were pale and white in their old photos but have no trace of that complexion today?

Right now we are living through the “yellow bone” era which I feel is the same as the “Ambi” era because they perpetuate the same thing. You can see how far back the effects of colourism date.

So, we have both dark brown and light brown women using different methods of skin lightening to be that “yellow bone”. I want to emphasise how it is a result of colourism, being prejudiced to a point where you feel like you have to alter the biggest organ of your body into something completely different and it is really not your fault because light skin privilege is real. A dark skinned girl’s plight is always feeling inferior to her light skinned counterparts.

I have read on how light skinned women also face pre-judgment based on their skin. For example, dark skinned women are seen as more marriage material, more loyal and intelligent while it is almost a fore gone conclusion that if you are a light skinned woman you are a slay queen which is basically a superficial and stuck up individual.

I have heard definitely more than one man point at a light skinned woman they do not know and instantly declare how they can never approach her because she is high maintenance. How do they know that before she even utters a word? They really don’t know that she could be the most down to earth person on the planet because they have been programmed to take her skin tone and attach all the self-absorbed implications that go with it.

As much as it may appear as if dark skin and light skin are at two opposite sides of the spectrum, the issues that colourism presents to both groups is equally upsetting. Chocolate women may say they have always felt unwanted or ugly and what I have realised is that in the dark brown woman’s rejection by the world, it may appear as though the caramel sisters are being accepted by the world yet they are actually being objectified to a point where all people can see and value in them is their skin tone.

Imagine walking into a group of people, say your friends or colleagues from work and the first thing you hear is them welcoming you with remarks like, “Here comes yellow” or “The white one is here”. How is that different from calling dark women “midnight” or “tar baby?” People do the latter more openly because they believe that if they are pointing out that you are light in complexion, surely it is a complement.

But imagine people calling you by your appearance versus your name. Their plight is to then prove that they are more than just a fair complexion, more than just a trophy, more than just a trend.

I did say that colourism does not affect black women only. It also affects men and I have seen hash tags on Twitter like #lightskinmen done in the name of humour but probably propel colourism. It also affects other races like the Coloureds, Hispanics as well the Asians (like the Indian and Chinese), who believe that the fairer your skin is the more beautiful and cleaner you are whereby creating classism which is a topic for another day.

The good thing is that women today are what we call “woke” and they know how beautiful they are in their different shades. The media, which is the biggest influence on planet Earth if you ask me, has begun to show women of different skin tones on the screens. We were talking the other day about how we finally get to look at even the deep, rich brown-skinned girls and see how beautiful they are; be it their eyes are or their lips, instead of just dismissing their beauty because the media does not appreciate it.

The solution will come from us. The moment we start letting go of the self-hate brewed by the different stereotypes of colourism and acknowledging our different battles with it, the easier it will be for us to accept ourselves and then each other.

I always say that if God made us pick our complexions from a catalogue prior to our entrance to the world, we probably would not be the colourful world that we see today. God therefore took it upon Himself to determine everything about you, even your skin shade, before you were conceived, so how dare anyone tell us that it is not good enough?

Simon Khaya Moyo

Felex Share, Harare Bureau
The Zanu-PF Politburo yesterday approved a final list of aspiring candidates for the ruling party’s primary elections.

The names of successful candidates, together with the date of the polls, will be announced today.

Initially, the primary elections were scheduled for May 5.

This comes as Zanu-PF President and First Secretary Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa announced members of the Elections Commission to manage the party’s primary elections.

Zanu-PF national political commissar Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje (Retired) will chair the Elections Commission.

The party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said the full list of aspiring candidates would be out today.

“The chairperson of the Elections Commission, who is also the national political commissar, Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje (Retired), gave a comprehensive report on the vetting exercise of candidates province by province,” he said.

“These covered senatorial, national assembly, women’s quota, provincial councils and local government councillors.

“The Politburo deliberated on all those disqualified by the vetting process. During the deliberations, some were given the green light to stand in the primaries while some had their disqualification confirmed. All in all, the exercise, though intricate, was a tremendous success.”

Cde Khaya Moyo added:

“The chairman of the Elections Commission will issue a full list of all candidates approved to stand in the primaries tomorrow (today) and will call for a press conference. He will also announce the date for the primary elections.”

On the Elections Commission, Cde Khaya Moyo said:

“The President announced the names of members of the Elections Commission. The members are representatives of the provinces and do not include Harare and Bulawayo provinces.”

The members are Professor Simbi Mubako (Masvingo), Cde John Muzamba (Matabeleland North), Cde Tinaye Chigudu (Manicaland), Professor Charity Manyeruke (Mashonaland East), Professor Ngwabi Bhebhe (Midlands), Cde Cecelia Paradza (Mashonaland West) and Cde Irene Mutumbwa (Mashonaland Central).

The representative of Matabeleland South province would be announced later, he said.

“Two proposed names happened to belong to those who are standing as candidates in the primaries and therefore they cannot be members of the Elections Commission,” Cde Khaya Moyo said.

Among other attributes, the members were chosen based on experience and loyalty to the party.

The approval of the aspiring candidates yesterday came after attempts by some provinces to disqualify thousands of aspiring candidates.

The party leadership then ordered provincial chairpersons to accept all CVs and only make recommendations on contentious candidates.

Sunungurai Bhiza and Blessing Marangwanda

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
Harare giants, Dynamos, find themselves in unfamiliar territory, the tail end at a time when their old foes Highlanders are enjoying a bright start to the season with their followers coming in droves for their matches.

Tomorrow Dynamos face city rivals, Caps United,  at the giant National Sports Stadium with their confidence at rock bottom following six-winless games.
DeMbare will be hoping to rediscover the glamour that seems to have eluded them. However, their Bulawayo based fans believe the team’s fortunes will change tomorrow.

The Dynamos FC Bulawayo Supporters’ Chapter yesterday visited the Chronicle office to express their undying love for the club whose pathetic start is no longer a joke and said they will get it right tomorrow.

They are aware that Caps United have also hit top form.

“This has been our worst start in years and seeing that things are not well within the Dynamos family, this is a game where we must unite for a purpose, rally behind the boys and win.

“The Dynamos brand is being torn apart by poor results and what we want is for players to stand up and protect the brand.

“Players should focus on playing and not in club politics.

“As supporters we will be behind them on Sunday and I’m confident that our first victory will be against Caps United,” said Sunungurai Bhiza.

The chapter’s secretary-general Blessing Marangwanda said they have organised three buses which will leave tomorrow morning for the Harare derby.

Marangwanda said they felt disrespected by club chairman Kenny Mubaiwa’s rant that they should go hang.

“I think the derby came at a bad time when we’re not playing well. There are also in-house fights that are threatening the club.

“The club president Mubaiwa (Kenny) told supporters to go hang a few weeks back which is not good. We will go in our numbers on Sunday and support the team away from home.

“However, when it comes to home games, we won’t waste our money and travel to Rufaro because Mubaiwa told us to hang, so we will stay at home for homes games until he retracts his statement.

“As for Sunday, the Bulawayo Chapter is organising three buses for the trip and we are sure that we will beat Caps United 3-1,” he said.

Pardon Marova, a staunch DeMbare fan said: “Derbies are self-motivating and our boys know that we can’t lose this one. We beat Caps United 1-0 in that ZNA Charity Shield match at the beginning of the year and I believe the derby has come at the right time. We are going to win and disappoint Caps United.

“We only want one win to get out of the relegation zone.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has been listed in TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world for 2018.

The magazine’s 100 most influential list features individuals recognised for changing the world in one way or the other.

President Mnangagwa was on Thursday named among other influential people that include China’s president, Xi Jinping, United States President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry.

Presidential spokesperson and Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Mr George Charamba yesterday said the recognition was something to be celebrated by all fair minded Zimbabweans.

“What it means is that our re-engagement thrust with the erstwhile hostile western world is beginning to make a positive impact. What we have in this recognition is an acknowledgement of the face of our nation in the President, which means an embracing of the policies of the new dispensation,” said Mr Charamba.

“It’s a good enough foundation for our economic recovery and goals. TIME is much more than just a magazine. It’s a sensibility of the western world and for that reason it mirrors an attitude which we must build on.”

There is a short write-up for everyone listed by the magazine written by an equally prominent individual.

President Mnangagwa is listed in the leaders’ category and a write-up on him was done by Zimbabwean activist, Evan Mawarire.

“The elation that greeted the end of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year reign naturally enough transformed into hopes for his successor. And in his first 100 days, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa spoke of re-engaging, forgiveness, democracy and unity,” said Mawarire.

Since coming to power in November last year, President Mnangagwa has been working to end the country’s international isolation and woo international investors.

He has promised credible elections and ensured that civil liberties are entrenched.

The President has also been working to promote unity and tolerance, emphasising that even though people may differ politically, they should work together. — @pamelashumba1.

Thomas Mapfumo

Melissa Mpofu, Showbiz Editor
CHIMURENGA musician, Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo, who returned home on Wednesday, is grateful to the new dispensation for their efforts to bring back the country’s lost glory.

After living in self-imposed exile in the USA for the past 14 years, an outspoken Mukanya said he never thought he would return to Zimbabwe.

“I’d like to thank you all for the warm reception you gave me. I spent a lot of years, 14 years, in a foreign land which was no joke. I’m grateful to the Almighty and the ancestors who protected me while I was out there.

“I didn’t think I’d come back because of the way things were being handled here. If it was still the old system and if the old man was still in power, I wouldn’t be here, but I’m glad I’m here,” said Mukanya during a Press conference held for him at the Crowne Plaza in Harare yesterday.

He said he would love to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa.

“We’re one. We are the same people so this is why I’d love to meet both leaders. Africans should unite,” said Mukanya.

If he were to meet former President Robert Mugabe, Mukanya said he would simply tell him that he messed up.

Thomas Mapfumo is in the country at the invitation of Entertainment Republic, who have organised a show that has been dubbed “The Big Bira”. It will be held at the Glamis Stadium in Harare next Saturday.

Mapfumo urged youths to unite saying the future of Zimbabwe lies in their hands.

“You the young ones, I’m requesting you to take charge and speak up. Don’t be afraid when you see something bad as you are the one’s who’ll remain here after we’re gone. Be nice to others and help where you can otherwise the country will be in shambles.

“Don’t be separated by the different political parties, forget about that and unite. Africa is not united because of that, yet it’s the richest continent. We should not be begging from the Western countries but vice versa. You the young ones have the power to unite people.”

On the local music scene, Mukanya, who will be sharing the stage with Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, Gary Tight, Andy Muridzo and Sulumani Chimbetu among others, said he was willing to work with local artistes.

“I’m willing to work with anybody. Right now on the CD, Chauya Chauya, that I’m working on, I collaborated with a young Zimbabwean girl from Bulawayo, Rati Dangarembwa. Most of you here don’t know her.

“I did two songs with her. I did another song with a white guy and an African-American girl and the CD is almost complete. We’re trying to promote these youngsters but at the same time, let’s try and promote our Zimbabwean culture because if you don’t have a culture, you’ll seem like a dressed chicken in a fridge.”

On collaborating with Tuku, Mukanya said it was in the pipeline.

“There’s so much that we want to do before I go back. I was with Sulu and he wants us to do something together. Hopefully, we’ll record some stuff at Tuku’s Pakare Paye studios.”

On his performance next Saturday, he said: “I have a lot of stuff that you guys here have never listened to. Music keeps changing, if you’re a composer or musician, you keep coming up with different ideas. I listen to hip hop, dancehall and jazz among other genres so I get ideas to come up with something new,” Mukanya said.

In apparent reference to artistes like Jah Prayzah, Mukanya said they should not grow big heads when they win international awards. He said people should also desist from comparing artistes as they are not in competition.

“I met Jah Prayzah in South Africa where we played together and I like him. I won a global award, but this doesn’t mean I should believe I’m on top of everyone else. JP has his own way of doing things and we’re different. We’re not in competition, music is not like that. As artistes we work together.”

On the new crop of artistes, Mapfumo said they were struggling to make it because they lacked identity.

“They say they do dancehall, do they know what it is? Dancehall is a Jamaican word so once one gets into that genre, they have to start imitating the culture so that they can be entertained like the Jamaican artistes are.

“Now, Zimdancehall here, they don’t know it there (Jamaica). Artistes need to produce music that’ll go across borders like Lucky Dube who did reggae and crossed borders. If you want to imitate, imitate everything,” said Mapfumo.

As such, he said, there was a need for him to meet decision makers to discuss the country’s arts and culture.

“People are recording stuff and immediately, it’ll be on the streets being sold for a dollar. People are killing the industry because of this piracy behaviour and the artistes who will have worked are not getting anything.

“The arts industry is no longer existent because of this so before buying pirated works, people need to think about the artiste who will have worked tirelessly on it.”

Speaking at the same press conference, Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi, who will be sharing the stage with Mukanya next Saturday, said he was overjoyed that his “brother” was back in the country.

“I’ve been meeting him, but outside Zimbabwe. It’s not a small thing that Thomas is back home because when he was out there, he was promoting our culture.”

“He was our ambassador there meaning our flag was being raised there.”

He concurred with Mukanya saying Zimbabweans need to realise that they possess a lot of talent and support each other in order for the arts industry to thrive.

“Here, we look down upon ourselves and praise others. We must be proud of ourselves because we’re very talented. If we listen to our elders and the government, we’ll go far,” said Tuku.

“These young ones now look outside the borders for validation, yet they forget that they’re equally talented because if they aren’t there, there won’t be a Zimbabwe. Let’s stop looking down upon ourselves.”

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
BUYING stuff online is a risky business as the place is a fertile ground for people to scam you while thieves nowadays, use it to offload stolen property to unsuspecting customers.

Social media networking site, Facebook, is being used by people to buy and sell stuff through pages like Bidding Wars and Storage Wars that have been set up. To participate in the buying or selling, one has to simply join the groups.

Such pages have seen people buying clothes, vehicles and furniture at  bargain prices.

The Facebook pages have unfortunately become a den for thieves who use them to quickly sell stolen property, especially phones at a bargain.

A victim of one of these Facebook pages was Bulawayo DJ Nospa who revealed that his phone, a Samsung Galaxy S8, was stolen and sold on these platforms. The phone was sold to one white lady who lives in Matsheumhlope after she saw it advertised on a Facebook page called Bulawayo Online Market.

DJ Nospa said his phone was stolen on February 21 at a nightspot in the city that has become a hunting ground for phone thieves. The club’s management has even put up posters of people who have been banned from the premises because of thieving.

“I had a cocktail function at Mystic Gardens. After that, I went out for some drinks with friends. I started off at the Lounge, then Red Cafe and my night ended at Club 263. When I got home, that’s when I discovered my phone was missing. I dialled my number with another phone and it rang twice before it was switched off,” said DJ Nospa.

Being techno savy, DJ Nospa quickly went onto the Google Find My phone service which helps one see the location of the phone.

“The Google find my phone shows you the timeline and a map of where you went. The last seen on the application was opposite Club 263. On the following day, I made a police report.”

He said after making the police report, there was a court order that was processed for it to be used to track the phone using the mobile phone service provider and its IMEI number.

“When you report a missing phone, they process a court order that is taken to service providers such as Econet, Telecel and NetOne. That court order will have all the details of the phone like the make and IMEI number. They’ll use the IMEI number to see which line is in the phone and its owner.

“However, the court order took a bit of time to be released. Three weeks down the line, it came and when I took it to the service provider, I was shown that the phone was on and in use.”

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity which is used to identify mobile phones. It is usually found printed inside the battery compartment of the phone, but can also be displayed on-screen on most phones by entering *#06# on the dial pad. The IMEI number is used to stop a stolen phone from accessing that network. The owner can call their network provider and instruct them to blacklist the phone using its IMEI number. This renders the phone useless on that network and sometimes other networks too, whether or not the phone’s subscriber identity module (SIM) is changed.

After establishing the person’s number, DJ Nospa they decided to call them to ask who they were and where they got the phone.

“We called the number and it was a white lady who said she was collecting her child from school. We then went to meet her at Busters Sports Club. When we met her with the police, she revealed that she bought the phone from some person by the name Tafadzwa Ngonidzashe Govo who had advertised the phone on the Bulawayo Online Market on Facebook.

“She said she bought the phone for $630 yet I’d bought it for $1 600.”

He said  the woman then accompanied to the police station where she surrendered the stolen phone.

DJ Nospa said efforts to pin Tafadzwa down were unfruitful as he was evasive.

“We called him but he didn’t want to come to the police station. He was evasive until his number ended up being unreachable. Three days later, he sent me a WhatsApp message with a South African number saying he was already on his way to South Africa.

“He gave me a number of another person called Marshall Manda who apparently runs stand number 42 at Unity Village. However, the number was not reachable and every time we look for him at his stand, he is said to have just left.”

After his encounter, DJ Nospa said it was important that people take down their IMEI and serial numbers and keep them safely somewhere as they will be of great help in the event their gadgets are stolen.

“Without the IMEI number that was on the box of my phone, my phone was going to be lost for good. It’d have been a miracle for me to find it. I advise people to take down their IMEI numbers for all their phones as these thieves sell the phones fast,” said DJ Nospa.

It is important for those who buy stuff on line to be very careful as they may end up in jail for crimes they did not commit.

A team from How Mine called in to assist in the rescue operation yesterday

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
At least 15 people are feared dead after a tunnel of a disused Old Motapa Mine in Bubi District, Matabeleland North Province, caved-in on Thursday afternoon.

Rescue workers had by yesterday retrieved five bodies and were working on retrieving three more whose legs were sticking out following the collapse of the tunnel.

Illegal panners said they suspected 15 or more panners were trapped underground following the collapse of the tunnel.

On Wednesday, it was reported that about 300 illegal panners had swarmed the mine and yesterday sources said the number could have doubled at the time of the tragedy.

The Bubi District Council chief executive, Mr Patson Mlilo said rescue operations started around 3PM yesterday.

Rescuers gather around one of the retrieved bodies yesterday

He said all those trapped were feared dead given the time it had taken to reach them.

“The information we have is that 15 or more people could be trapped underground and our fears are that they could be dead by now. Four panners who were rescued told the police that they left 15 others underground.

Five bodies have been retrieved and we are seeing legs of panners trapped sticking out,” he said.

Mr Mlilo said rescuers from Isabella Mine and How Mine were working with the locals to retrieve the trapped bodies.

Another panner died last week after another tunnel collapsed but this has not deterred the panners who continue to enter the tunnels despite the fact that they are now death traps.

The other three panners who were working together with the panner who died last week, were buried up to their necks in sand but were later rescued.

Zanu-PF councillor for Ward 8, Herbert Ngwendu said police were called in to quell the running battles at the disused mine but surprisingly the situation is becoming worse.

The panners said the army should be called in to bring order at the disused mine before more lives are lost as a result of the dangerous mining activities.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson, Inspector Sipiwe Makonese on Thursday confirmed the death of one illegal miner.

Rescuers from Isabella Mine work with locals to retrieve the trapped bodies yesterday

She denied allegations by the villagers that police officers called in to maintain order, had joined the illegal mining.

Villagers in the area have appealed to Metallon Gold mining company to re-open the mine to enable organised mining. There was another gold rush which attracted more than 500 illegal panners in Kenilworth last month.

Last year, 13 police officers were convicted under the Police Act for engaging in illegal gold mining in the same area.

Police prosecutors preferred charges ranging from criminal abuse of office, leaving their posts unattended and engaging in activities which violate the Police Act.

VP Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga

THERE is a general feeling of despair when one loses their job especially in an African set up where such a development could affect the people beyond one’s immediate family.

While it is natural to feel pity for the nurses who have lost their jobs after termination by the Government, there is a developing and worrying trend of politically motivated job actions disguised as strikes to highlight grievances.

The nurses’ case is an example of such political mischief that after moves by the Government to attend to their plight, the nurses continued with their strike in a bid to destabilise the health sector.

This becomes curious especially when news start spreading that some within these workers’ organisations have political ambitions.

One therefore cannot rule out that this is calculated conspiracy meant to discredit the Government ahead of the general elections due in a few months’ time.

It is important for nurses and all workers under different unions to be careful not to be used to pursue the selfish agenda of a few people at the expense of their interests and those of their families.

The health sector is one of the most critical sectors and any attempts to politick or hold the Government to ransom while risking the lives of Zimbabweans cannot be tolerated.

Vice President General Constantino Chiwenga (Retired) correctly read the mischief behind the nurses’ strike by saying it is politically motivated.

“Against a background of a series of meetings involving Government, the Health Services Board and the Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association (Zina), which were meant to resolve the industrial action by nursing staff in the public health sector and the subsequent decision by Government to accede to the demands made by the striking nurses, Government regrets to note that the industrial action in this essential service sector has persisted,” said VP Chiwenga announcing the immediate termination of employment for the striking nurses.

“What makes the whole action (by nurses) both deplorable and reprehensible is the fact that as agreed yesterday, Government released and transferred a sum of $17 114 446 into the account of the Ministry of Health and Child Care for on-payment to the striking nurses.

“While this demonstrated good faith on the part of Government, the prompt transfers which have been effected against demonstrable economic challenges facing our nation has not, quite surprisingly, persuaded the striking nurses to go back to their work stations in the interest of saving lives and helping hapless patients placed under their care.”

VP Chiwenga said Government “now regards this lack of remorse as politically motivated” and “as going beyond concerns of conditions of service and worker welfare”.

“Accordingly, Government has decided, in the interest of patients and of saving lives, to discharge all the striking nurses with immediate effect,” he said.
“Further, Government has instructed the Health Services Board to speedily engage, as appropriate, all unemployed, but trained nurses in the country. It has also authorised the board to recall retired nursing staff into service.”

The funds originally released to meet the demands of the striking nurses will now be re-directed and allocated towards meeting the costs of effecting the new directive and arrangement, which takes immediate effect.

“In the meantime, Government pays tribute to all nurses who have loyally remained at work and to those from the ranks of the striking nurses who have heeded its call for them to return to work,” said VP Chiwenga.

“Their commitment to duty and patients, both pointing to a deep regard for life as required by their professional oath, is noted and much appreciated.”

That Zimbabwe has been facing economic challenges for the past 18 years is a fact known to everyone.

However, since the ushering in of  the new dispensation under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Government has made great efforts towards economic turnaround.

The problems that the country faced in the last 18 years cannot be solved within four months of President Mnangagwa’s reign but will take some time but already great signs of a turnaround are showing.

The President is also on record calling for Zimbabweans to be patient as his administration does all it can to get the country to its former glory days.

What the country does not need now is organised chaos by enemies of the State with the goal of taking us back to the days of crisis.

It is a well known fact that some opposition parties like the MDC-T have thrived on chaos as they do not have any ideology or plan to take this country forward.

Entertaining such political malcontents has partly contributed to the problems Zimbabwe has faced in the past 18 years and it will be sad if people do not learn from the past.

The Government has shown great commitment towards the revival of Zimbabwe and it is the duty of every patriotic Zimbabwean to support its efforts and not throw spanners in the works.

Madinda Ndlovu

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS are hoping to continue with their fine run when they take on unpredictable Midlands based side, Shabanie Mine, who became the first team this season to put a dent on Ngezi Platinum by denying them a sixth straight win last weekend.

The two mining sides drew 1-1 at Maglas Stadium, a match that saw Madamburo as Ngezi are known, losing their top position on the table to FC Platinum.

While Shabanie Mine are no longer the same potent force that they were during the days of Francis Chandida, Asani Juma and the late Thomas Makwasha, Bosso coach Madinda Ndlovu still believes it will be suicidal to take the asbestos miners lightly.

“We must handle them with care,” says Ndlovu who continues to defy the odds with his ECD kids that has seen them go for an incredible 540 minutes without a loss, one of the only three sides in the 18 team league with such a fine record so far.

The other two teams, FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum’s good performance could be attributed to the fact that they got the best players on the market.

A few therefore gave Highlanders a chance but the youngsters have managed to stand their own.

Ndlovu says while they have respect for Shabanie Mine, they are fully focused and are looking forward to a good game.

“Shabanie Mine are a good team. If you look at the results that they have managed to post on the road, they went away to Dynamos and picked a point (coming from 3-0 down) and they held Ngezi Platinum so they are not a bad side. We have to treat them with a lot of care. Yes, we will entertain them like any other team but kungavuleka nje kuphela izasukuma iSoweto,” said Ndlovu.

Nicknamed Chinda Boys, Shabanie Mine’s last duel against Bosso at Barbourfields Stadium is still very vivid in the home team’s supporters’ minds as they managed to pull a 1-0 win to leave Bulawayo stunned.

“It may have happened but remember no team this season has managed to get three points from us, the story is very clear, that’s how serious we are in terms of our project. In as much as we would want to respect teams that play against us, we also have a mandate which is to see our project run and succeed,” said Ndlovu.

His defence has to contain the league’s leading goalscorer with four goals to his name, David Temwanjira who has scored half of Shabanie Mine’s eight goals so far.

The defence of captain Honest Moyo, roving right back McClive Phiri, confident Peter Muduhwa and promising youngster Charlton Siamalonga should be eyes-on throughout the encounter as they give cover to the last line of defence, Ariel Sibanda.

Set to sit it out due to suspension is holding midfielder Adrian Silla who will be replaced by imposing Ben Musaka. Musaka though needs to control his temper especially towards match officials.

Dribbling duo of Nigel Makumbe and Godfrey “Baba Jukwa” Makarutse as well as inform Brian “BB” Banda and Gabriel “Granvia” Nyoni will complete the midfield brigade that will be expected to supply clean balls to the target man Ozias Zibande who is yet to hit the target at Barbourfields Stadium despite being the second leading goalscorer in the league with three goals.

Fixtures

Today: Harare City v Black Rhinos (Rufaro) ZPC Kariba v Chicken Inn (Nyamhunga Stadium, Bulawayo City v Triangle United (Barbourfields), Yadah v Nichrut (NSS), Ngezi Platinum v Mutare City Rovers (Baobab), Bulawayo Chiefs v FC Platinum (Luveve)

Tomorrow: Caps United v Dynamos (NSS), Highlanders v Shabanie Mine (Barbourfields), Chapungu v Herentals (Ascot).

Bona Chikore (nee Mugabe) and her husband Simba

Bona Chikore and her husband Simba were among the glitterati that attended Davido’s concert held at the Harare International Conference Centre on Saturday.

The daughter of former President Robert Mugabe and her husband proved to be the life of the party at the “All White, Green, Red, Blue, Purple, Black” party hosted by businessman and liquor pusher Ginimbi Kadungure.

Bona took selfies with her adoring fans together with her husband Simba.

Those in the VVIP besides rubbing shoulders with the celebrated couple, also joined the couple on the dance floor.

Pictures of Bona and Simba have been trending on Facebook with most social media users expressing their joy at seeing the couple.

One follower Melody Nemasango wrote: “She looks stunning Chichi.”

Wonai Masvingise also complemented Bona and said: “She is beautiful.”

Another fan Chipo Evelyn Chigama-Gura commented: “She is cute.”

Tapiwa Mapila said: “Bona cute & smart.”

The well attended gig had besides Davido, ExQ, Killer T and Jah Prayzah.—Gemnation

Beatrice Adyero and her grandchildren

Beatrice Adyero* woke up one July morning in 2002 to news that completely shattered her life. Her husband, four sons, and a daughter-in-law were among 56 civilians abducted and killed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group.

Her youngest granddaughter, only two-years-old, wasn’t spared either.

Nearly 16 years after the slaughter of her family, Adyero still struggles to talk about her feelings.

The conflict in northern Uganda lasted for almost 20 years until a ceasefire in 2006. It displaced some 1,8 million people and saw the abduction of an estimated 66 000 children and youth used as soldiers, sex slaves, or porters by the LRA.

A study the year the war ended found that northern Uganda had the highest rate of post-traumatic stress (54 percent) and depression (67 percent) ever recorded among displaced and conflict-affected populations anywhere in the world. It found that women were twice as likely to show symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and four times as likely to have symptoms of depression.

The impact of those long years of violence and hardship still resonates among the survivors. The lack of awareness in Uganda around mental health issues — and an enduring stigma related to them — means most people are unlikely to recognise the symptoms and seek treatment.

And the abuse didn’t end with the war. The lives of LRA victims and former abductees, like those of other rural women, are affected by a range of stress factors that include domestic violence and alcohol abuse — all of which are exacerbated by trauma.

Ninety out of 97 women — all of them survivors of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence — said in a 2014 study that they still faced the same level of sexual violence as in the past at the hands of partners, relatives, or neighbours.

In spite of evidence of very high levels of mental illness, especially among women, Uganda spends less than one percent of its budget on mental health and employs few psychiatrists (around 30) for its population of almost 45 million.

The World Health Organisation estimates that around 90 percent of mentally ill people in Uganda never get treatment.

The only dedicated mental health unit in Uganda’s northern Acholi region, where much of the war was fought, is in the Gulu regional referral hospital. Kateregga Canaan is its overburdened psychiatric clinical officer.

The unit has a trauma centre which provides a group counselling service, but its catchment area covers eight districts.

“It is a vast area. Not everyone can afford transport from their homes to this facility,” said Canaan. “We must have outreach programmes so we can meet people where they are in the community. We must understand their surroundings, the challenges they go through.”

Private initiatives and NGOs like the Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation (TPO) have stepped in to try to fill the gap. At a cognitive behavioural therapy session run by the non-profit under the shade of a tree in her village, Adyero is shown a sheet of paper with a sad face at 0 and a happy one at 10 and asked how she feels.

She scores herself a two out of 10 on the mood scale.

Wearing a red floral shirt and grey skirt, she sits on the ground and absent-mindedly separates leaves from cow pea stems.

Breaking into silent tears after a few minutes, she can’t speak anymore.

Adyero lives with her two surviving grandsons, aged 18 and 20. They support the family of three by farming. Neighbours tells IRIN she often seems unwell, drinks too much, and weeps incessantly.

The group therapy session Adyero is attending is run by TPO as part of a three-year project to provide support to survivors of the war.

Adyero and 14 other members of her group were identified with the help of community leaders, and then assessed for depression and PTSD before being taken through eight to 10 counselling sessions.

Evidence suggests that counselling helps people living with trauma recover faster. But TPO goes a step further, also trying to economically empower the groups.

When LRA rebels abducted Suzanne Acan* and her husband, they first killed him and then ordered her to kill their 18-month-old child, whom she was holding protectively in her arms.

Acan was traumatised by the incident, but 16 years later during her therapy sessions, she makes no mention of it.

“My main worry today is poverty,” she explains. “I raised my children alone and don’t have enough to provide for them.”

Her daughters, though just 15 and 17 years old, are both already married. Her two sons, who went to school until a few years ago, have dropped out due to the lack of money to pay their school fees.

Under the TPO initiative, women like Acan are encouraged to join income-generating initiatives and form savings and loan associations that can help them financially. So far, groups have pooled their resources to engage in activities like poultry farming and bee-keeping.

In the northern region, among the poorest in the country, 30 percent of the population lives below the poverty datum line, with single mothers and widows especially vulnerable.

“We are focused on mental health, but we have taken the economic approach because we have seen that it can really help women stabilise and recover,” said Jude Okeria, project co-ordinator with TPO.

The conflict and its aftermath has worked to increase existing gender inequalities in the patriarchal society of northern Uganda.

More than half the women interviewed in the 2014 study said they experienced psychological effects as a result of this “revictimisation” — from feelings of hopelessness and shame to thoughts of suicide.

Eunice Nancy Atoke, a counsellor with Vivo International, another non-profit outpatient initiative in northern Uganda, told IRIN that every woman she had counselled over the last year was suicidal and had attempted suicide at some point in her life — usually because of her experience of gender-based violence.

Canaan, the clinical officer at Gulu Hospital, said trauma related to domestic abuse has become more common in the years since the war.

“When a man is not sure of his source of income, he drinks, and when he comes back home, he also beats the wife,” he said.

In these scenarios, mental health professionals are limited in their capacity to help: there are no safe houses that women can access, and the option of leaving the husband and returning to their parents’ home is a remote one.

“(When treating the women), we often have to deal with the past, the trauma and the sexual abuse (that they faced when abducted), and then also with ongoing domestic violence,” said Anett Pfeiffer, who leads Vivo’s mental health initiative in the region.

Most women are dealing with so much, all at once, that it sometimes makes treating trauma feel like “the easy part”, she added.

Tackling the complex post-conflict scenario in northern Uganda will require a long-term holistic approach, and the ability to reach out to the many communities beyond Gulu.

In the meanwhile, Adyero says she has reduced her drinking a lot and tries to spend more time with her therapy group, talking to them whenever she feels low.

“I can’t continue thinking about what has happened and what I cannot change,” she said. “I have to take care of myself while I am still alive.”
*Not their real names