Tendai Ndoro

JUDGMENT has been reserved in Ajax Cape Town’s attempt to have an arbitration decision overturned that saw the club relegated from the Premier Soccer League.

Ajax will find out next week if their court attempt to remain in the PSL has been successful.

The were relegated to the National First Division (NFD) following arbitrator William Mokhari’s decision to dock them seven points last month.

This relates to Ajax playing Tendai Ndoro (pictured) while he was ineligible.

The Zimbabwean played for three teams in the 2017-18 season‚ which is in contravention of Fifa rules‚ which state that a player can be registered by three clubs in a single campaign‚ but only play official matches for two.

Ndoro played for Orlando Pirates‚ Al Faisaly of Saudi Arabia and Ajax.

Ajax were back in the South Gauteng High Court over the past two days to convince Judge Denise Fisher to set aside Mokhari’s arbitration judgment‚ which had seen points deducted from the club‚ and Platinum Stars survive relegation.

Fisher reserved judgment in the matter after all the parties made their submissions. A decision is expected early next week.

Ajax were backed by AmaZulu‚ who lost their top eight spot after other teams such as SuperSport United were handed wins from the matches they played against the Mother City club.  — timeslive

Zimbabwe players celebrate a wicket in this file picture

ZIMBABWE Cricket has undertaken to pay all outstanding salaries of players by July 25, a month after the players’ deadline.

The players threatened to “review their availability for selection” if their initial deadline wasn’t met, which threatens to derail next month’s T20 triangular series involving Australia and Pakistan. The series is slated to be held between June 28 to July 8 in Bulawayo and Harare.

In a letter addressed to the players, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, newly-appointed ZC consultant Vince van der Bijl has reiterated the board’s commitment to “pay all outstanding monies up to your June salary by 25 July and July salary by end of July.”

The letter also states the timeline is “conservative” and that ZC are “hopeful” of making payments sooner. The board is also hopeful of paying the Sri Lanka tour fees by end of June. ZC is expected to receive their next payout from the ICC in July.

Despite the assurances, ESPNcricinfo has learnt that a section of the players are unhappy with the proposed plans and consider it to be “unacceptable”. In a separate statement, Titan Law, the firm that represents the Zimbabwe players, confirmed that they had resurrected the players’ association that was disbanded in 2015. The body formed on June 1 is likely to seek affiliation from the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA). — ESPNcricinfo

Sables

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
FOUR debutants have been named in the starting 15 for Zimbabwe’s 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifier opening match against Morocco at the Machinery Exchange Stadium inside Harare Sports Club this afternoon.

Lock Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa, wing Matthew McNab, inside centre Brendon Mandivenga and fullback Shingirai Kasvere will be running out for the first time for the Sables against Morocco. United Kingdom based wing Dylan Baptista will also earn his first cap off the bench if given an opportunity this afternoon.

Sables skipper Denford Mutamangira will scrum down at loose head, with David Makanda at hooker while Farai Mudariki is down at tight head to complete the front row. Nyakufaringwa and veteran Fortune Chipendu make up the second row. The loose trio consists of Takudzwa Mandiwanza, Connor Pritchard and Tapfuma Parirenyatwa.

Hilton Mudariki has the responsibility of retrieving the ball in the breakdowns as well as throwing it into the scrums at scrumhalf. Lenience Tambwera has the duty of deciding whether to run with the ball or kick it once it comes from the set pieces at flyhalf.

Occupying the wings are McNab and Takudzwa Kumadiro. Mandivenga, Zimbabwe’s best player at the 2013 Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week when he played fullback makes his first Sables start at inside centre where he has Kudzai Mashawi on his outside while Kasvere is the last man in defence at fullback.

The Sables have been in camp in Harare since last Saturday and the final squad of 23 was announced last Thursday.  Morocco arrived in Zimbabwe last Sunday, which is an indication of how serious both teams are taking this World Cup qualification match.

Sables coach Peter de Villiers, engaged by the Zimbabwe Rugby Union with his task being to take Zimbabwe to next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan has an opportunity to see how far his players have bought into style of play when they take on Morocco.

Zimbabwe Sables squad: Denford Mutamangira, David Makanda, Farai Mudariki, Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa, Fortune Chipendu, Takudzwa Mandiwanza, Connor Pritchard, Tapfuma Parirenyatwa, Hilton Mudariki, Lenience Tambwera, Matthew McNab, Brendon Mandivenga, Kudzai Mashawi, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Shingirai Katsvere

Replacements: Mathew Mandioma, Gabriel Sipapati, Lawrence Cleminson, Brian Nyaude, Njabulo Ndlovu,  Peter du Toit, Ngoni Chibuwe, Dylan Baptista
— @Mdawini_29

Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has set up a raft of strategies that will see the resuscitation of the defunct King Mine in Mashava, Shabanie Mine in Zvishavane and the Cold Storage Company (CSC) in Masvingo next year.

Addressing thousands of supporters at Mucheke B arena in Masvingo yesterday, President Mnangagwa said more than 7 000 people will get jobs.
Government, he said, had already disbursed $20 million to King Mine and the company had started dewatering its shafts.

King and Shabanie mines which fall under Shabanie and Mashaba Mines (Private) Limited, were closed at the height of economic meltdown in 2004 while the CSC Masvingo plant which employed more than 500 closed shop in 2014.

President Mnangagwa had before the rally toured King Mine and CSC Masvingo plant.

In his address, the President said by June next year King Mine and Shabanie Mine would be fully operational with some workers having already been hired.

He said once the two companies were fully operational, at least 6 000 direct jobs would be created with the downstream industry also set to benefit.
“We have come here at the behest of the commissariat [of Zanu-PF] but before coming here, we toured Mashava, at King Mine. As we all know, King Mine and Shabanie Mine in Zvishavane were closed long back.

“I sat down with my Cabinet and agreed to resuscitate the two companies. The management said they wanted $35 million and we have already disbursed $20 million. Both companies will be fully operational by June next year,” he said.

Turning to CSC, President Mnangagwa said Cabinet would be seized with the matter this coming Tuesday with a Memorandum of Understanding set to be signed with some investors.

“In Masvingo there is CSC which used to offer 500 jobs and on Tuesday, we are signing a Memorandum of Understanding with some investors. By July 31, the company will be working. We are not looking backwards but forward,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa further revealed that Lowveld sugarcane company, Tongaat Huletts had offered 2 000 cattle to help resuscitate CSC.

He said farmers will also provide more cattle under the Government’s ambitious Command Livestock programme.

Besides King Mine and CSC, President Mnangagwa said the province was blessed with the biggest inland dam, Tugwi-Mukosi, which he said has the potential to irrigate 25 000 hectares of land.

The President said in pushing for the irrigation projects, Government was going to give priority to the 3 000 families who were displaced by floods which were experienced in the area in 2014. He noted that with Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri having launched a Command Fisheries project at the dam, which saw more than a million fingerlings being thrown in the 1,8 billion cubic metre dam for breeding, there was a need for people in the area to take advantage of this and ensure dam contributes to the nation’s fiscus.

“We want Masvingo to be a greenbelt through Tugwi-Mukosi Dam so that the province can be able to export food,” he said.

The President said Masvingo was also home to some mineral deposits which could change the economic fortunes of the province singling out lithium which is mined at Bikita Minerals as well as diamond deposits found in Chivi District’s Sese area.

Turning to road network, he said Government was looking for another contractor with a capacity to do the Beitbridge-Harare dualisation project after Austrian contactor, Geiger International, had its contract cancelled.

He said Geiger International had no money to do the $1 billion project, which is set to create at least 300 000 jobs.

President Mnangagwa noted that since the advent of the new dispensation which saw him taking over from former President, Mr Robert Mugabe, his Government had made a number of accomplishments which spelt better economic fortunes for the country.

“From 24 November, those who remember, we said we will be targeting economic development. I went to Davos where (Donald) Trump, Theresa May of the United Kingdom, those from China, India, among other countries meet.

“Davos is a place where one should not shy away from visiting and we were fortunate to be part of it,” he said.

Stephen Mpofu
This conversation is directed at voters trooping out to elect members of parliament, senators and councillors on July 30.

The Fourth Estate — print and electronic media — along with the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary make up the four pillars of society, any society, with the press helping to shape the destiny of a people and their country by disseminating information on policy development and other issues that help to shape the destiny of a country.

Repeated, impassioned pleas have been made by political leaders in this country for the press to give coverage to all political parties in the run up to the harmonised elections.

What has, however, not been stated is that both the beautiful and the ugly faces of political organisations and their leaders  should be exposed with no compromise whatsoever so that the right people are  elected to play a positive role in the social, economic and political emancipation of our motherland right through into a brave new future for all.

Yet it is no exaggeration by this pen to suggest that the various media are both embraced and loathed at the same time by those who want their positive image projected to the public while the negative side of things are kept under wraps.

But, of course, to keep its image clean the press must not pander to fake news to please some people. On the contrary, journalists are compelled by the dictates of their  profession to give preference to veracity over falsehoods whether some bigwigs like it or not.

In fact whether the weather be good, whether the weather be bad the press must tell the truth to liberate the public at large from ignorance and in the process empower the masses to make right leadership choices for their proper governance and national development.

It is for this reason that, helped by media coverage of events and speeches by leaders in the country, the voters are empowered to render their support to leaders most likely to deliver on their portfolios, among other responsibilities allotted to them.

That an unusually large number of 23 presidential candidates this week successfully filed their nomination papers makes it even more imperative for the press to shed abundant light on the capabilities of these politicians ahead of D-Day, July 30, to help voters make the right choices for themselves as well as for this nation as a whole.

And come to think of it, questions must be lingering in the minds of many whether so many people vying for the presidency is a sign of political maturation in our country or whether the scenario points to rampant power hunger.

In the latter case, are Zimbabweans not faced with the case of too many cooks spoiling the broth and with the possible upshot of votes being split so that there is no outright presidential winner, or that the final victor will form a weak government whose task in moving the country forward will be marred by too many opposition political parties  repeatedly railing at its policies and programmes?

Some Zimbabweans will say the large number of presidential candidates denotes democracy having become mature in our country.

But the fact that in old and mature democracies in the West at most three political parties are a common feature with two of them taking turns to rule and the third catalysing the democratic system would seem to provide a sad commentary on “democracy” in our country.

As things stand, some of those presidential candidates served in the past as MPs who during their tenure were rhetorically vociferous in the National Assembly while development in their constituencies has not been just as loud in spite of money provided by parliament for constituency development.

Similarly, a lot of things are not ticking in some urban areas because councillors are not up to scratch and are therefore candidates for consignment into the shade by voters in the forthcoming elections.

In some urban centres, for instance, roads have become so dilapidated that even donkey drawn carts find it difficult to navigate the gaping potholes while pedestrians risk straining or even breaking their legs on those roads in some cases.

Overall, leaders prone to feathering their nests or to corruption or tribalism should never be allowed to hold public office as they are a danger to society.

But, surely, 38 years of independence and self determination should have witnessed more beautiful ones being born politically to become patriotic catalysts in both the political and economic emancipation of our people?

It is of paramount importance therefore that the various communication media in this country should help voters in electing the right candidate so that leaders driven by a development ethos will come to the forefront to give Zimbabwe a bold new thrust developmentally to resuscitate an economy virtually crippled by illegal Western sanctions and corruption which saw the externalisation of huge sums of money by some people in our beautiful country.

The incumbent government’s new dispensation should override which ever political party emerges victorious from the harmonised elections in order to fully revive the legacy of the armed revolution so that the present and future generations of Zimbabweans will jealously guard our independence as a golden treasure which must be kept ad infinitum for generations to come.

The Fifa World Cup, one of the globe’s most widely viewed sporting showcases, started in Russia on Thursday with the hosts soundly defeating Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the first match.

The game, watched by a capacity audience at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium and millions more on television worldwide, was the first in a June 14-July 15 sporting marathon that will offer a total of 64 games. Thirty-two teams representing five Fifa confederations will play at 12 venues in a number of cities in Russia. Europe has 14 representatives, Africa has five, Asia has five, North, Central American and Caribbean has three and South America has five.

Indeed the Fifa World Cup is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in world sport. Many cannot wait for four more years for the next finals to be staged although there are many football events in between such as the Uefa Champions League, African Cup of Nations, and the Olympics and so on.  Yes there are some events, but nothing compares to the Fifa World Cup finals.

It serves to entertain football enthusiasts and brings in the money for the host nation, participating teams and companies.  It brings people together too.

For Zimbabwe, a country where football is the most followed sport, much public focus is on the event, particularly the five African representatives — Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco and Tunisia. Bars and other centres of entertainment will most likely be always full over the next month as people enjoy drinks while watching the games. Businesses will make much money selling drinks as well as merchandise associated with teams competing at the showpiece.

It is unfortunate that the more unscrupulous among us have been known to fake illness for them to be granted medical leave by doctors. This enables them to be away from work and take that absence to spend their time indoors and on television watching the games.

It is sad that Africa started its campaign in Russia on a losing note yesterday when Egypt, who have dominated the continental game for decades, lost 1-0 to Uruguay in a Group A game.  Morocco, another dominant force in Africa, lost by the same goal margin to Iran in Group B. Both losses were a bitter pill to swallow for many given that the Africans conceded late in their respective matches — Morocco an own goal in the fifth minute of time added on and Egypt a headed strike in the 89th minute. We hope that both African representatives will pick themselves up in their next games to mount formidable challenges in the campaign.

Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal in Groups D, G and H respectively are still to play. Nigeria have theirs against Croatia tonight, while Tunisia are in action on Monday and Senegal on Tuesday.

It is not going to be easy for all the five. The World Cup is the World Cup; it is not a stage for small men. Nevertheless, we want them to advance beyond the last eight, the furthest in the competition an African country has gone.  Only three African teams have progressed to the quarter finals — Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010. We hope that that barrier would be broken this time.

Egypt have a chance in a group where Uruguay look favourites to advance. Russia’s biggest advantage is that they are the hosts, not really on account of talent so the Egyptians , and Africa, can dream.

Nigeria are in a very difficult group with Croatia, Iceland and global powerhouse Argentina. We don’t know if they are going to post any positive result there although they have a good record against the leading nation in their group, Argentina at age group level.

Morocco did themselves a massive disfavour in losing to Iran yesterday, a team of comparable strength. We are with them, but we believe that Spain and Portugal, their next opponents in the group, possess too much firepower for them.

It is our considered view that Senegal have a great chance against Japan, Poland and Colombia in their group. The Africans are at the top of their game now, almost the level they were when they blazed the trail in 2002 in South Korea/Japan when they painfully lost in the last eight to Turkey.

Then they had the likes of Salif Diao, El Hadji Diouf and their coach now, Aliou Cisse and others.

Liverpool star Sadio Mane is really a good player in England; the same for Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli in Italy, Keita Balde of Monaco in the French top flight and Idrissa Gueye of Everton in the English top division.

We wish all the five well. We recognise that bringing the cup home from Russia is to dream a bit too much but a last-four                            finish will represent progress for the African game.

Justice Priscilla Chigumba

Felex Share, Harare Bureau
The consolidated voters’ roll for the 2018 harmonised elections is now available and contains more than 5.6 milliom registered voters, Zimbabwe Electoral Chairperson (Zec) Justice Priscilla Chigumba revealed yesterday.

She told journalists in Harare that candidates contesting the July 30 polls would get electronic copies of the voters’ roll free of charge while members of the public would pay set fees.

“This is indeed a historic moment for the Commission and the generality of all Zimbabweans who have remained patient up to this day,” she said.

“The Commission is aware that the voters’ roll is a critical component of the electoral process and in some instances, a source of electoral disputes. Be that as it may, the Commission hopes that the voters’ roll that is being availed today will meet public expectations and stakeholders who have devoted their precious time and resources in complementing Zec’s efforts towards this achievement. The electronic copies of the voters’ roll will be availed to candidates contesting the forthcoming harmonised elections free of charge in terms of Section 21 (6) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13].”
She said for the public, a national voters’ roll would cost $20 while a constituency voters’ roll is pegged at $10.

A ward voters’ roll costs $2.

“A hard black and white copy of the voter’s roll shall be 10 cents per page for the national, polling station, ward and constituency voters’ rolls,” Justice Chigumba said.

“The voters roll contains 5 681 604 registered voters. This figure excludes those who have registered after the cut-off date of June 1, 2018 and those on the exclusion list. The exclusion list has entries which include the deceased, those with ID queries such as sharing the same ID number and invalid IDs as well as some multiple registrants and those whose data is yet to be decrypted who registered during the inspection period.”

She said the exclusion list had approximately 100 000 people including the deceased.

Justice Chigumba handed over a copy of an electronic voters’ roll to Bruce Nyoni, who represented people with disabilities and became the first Zimbabwean to access the final voters’ roll.

She also handed over another copy to 18-year Kelly Gaston, a first time female voter.

She said Zec had failed to avail the final voters’ roll before the Nomination Court sat due to circumstances beyond its control.

“We found ourselves unable to complete the cleaning of the data which we had obtained during the inspection period,” Justice Chigumba.

“During the inspection period people were filling in forms to change polling stations, people were filling hard copies of forms to correct errors. Those hard copies of all those corrections had to be brought here at the head office from all the provinces which took a couple of days and the data had to be uploaded onto computers and it had to be decrypted. Decryption took substantial number of days more than we had anticipated and finally we had to run a final round of de-duplication using our AFIS programme.”

She went on: “When we realised that we were not going to be ready in time for Nomination Court we did avail the provisional roll on computers in all of our nomination centres and all our candidates were ably assisted by our trained officials at those venues to access it.”

Justice Chigumba said following the sitting of the Nomination Court on Thursday, the electoral body was now collecting and collating statistics from provinces to facilitate gazetting of the names of candidates who succeeded.

She said of the 23 aspiring presidential candidates who were successfully nominated, three were women while one was an independent candidate.

She said 28 people aspired to be presidents but five failed to meet the requirements.

On the alleged militarisation of the electoral body, Justice Chigumba said they approximately had 13,8 percent of retired former military personnel within their ranks.

“They answered to advertisement, went through interviews and were successfully assigned to certain duties in Zec,” she said.

“There is no law in Zimbabwe that prevents us from employing anyone who we are sure is no longer serving. I am challenging anybody who has evidence that we have serving personnel in the military within our ranks to bring forward that evidence. Until such a time that evidence is availed to me, I will avail that we are not doing anything wrong.”

Justice Chigumba appealed to political parties and independent candidates to campaign peacefully and desist from intimidating voters for the country to have free, fair and credible elections.

The media, she said, should give balanced coverage to all contestants.

FC Platinum head coach Norman Mapeza (centre)

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
DEFENDING champions, FC Platinum, will be hoping to end the first half of the Castle lager Premier Soccer League season on a high when they take on unpredictable Highlanders at Mandava Stadium this afternoon.

The platinum miners go into the final round of the first stanza topping the table with 41 points, three above title chasing Ngezi Platinum Stars who are away to Black Rhinos.

Highlanders are fourth on the table tied on 29 points with third-placed Triangle United who are quietly doing their business, going through a snail pace as they challenge for the championship.

FC Platinum understand the need to win today’s encounter so that they begin the second half of the season with a comfortable lead.

Yet to lose at home this season, the platinum miners will be out to maintain their record against a Highlanders side who are missing a number of their players due to suspension and injuries.

Bosso, who have been in displaying good football on the road will bank on the multitude of their fans travelling from Bulawayo as well Shabanie Mine followers who are always backing teams playing against FC Platinum.

Highlanders are without suspended trio of goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, defender Andrew Mbeba and defensive midfielder Ben Musaka. Defensive trio of Peter Muduhwa, captain Honest Moyo and Tendai Ndlovu were subject to late fitness tests as they are recovering from injuries while midfielder Nigel Makumbe who is on loan from FC Platinum is illegible to face his parent club.

Evergreen rightback McClive Phiri, midfielders Adrian Silla and Brian Banda as well as Godfrey Makaruse are expected to lead Highlanders search for a sixth win over FC Platinum.

FC Platinum and Highlanders have faced each other 14 times, with both teams recording five wins and have drawn four times.

Going into today’s game, the odds favour FC Platinum. Highlanders have gone for three seasons without beating FC Platinum, losing four of their last six meetings.

The last time Bosso beat FC Platinum was on August 24, 2014 when they won 1-0 courtesy of a Charles Sibanda strike. Sbanda is now at FC Platinum.

However, FC Platinum mustn’t read much to history as Highlanders tend to raise their game whenever they are playing outside Bulawayo.
Highlanders have been impressive away, winning four out of their seven games, drawing twice and losing once to Ngezi in a match that they matched the ambitious Mhondoro-based outfit, being let down by poor finishing.

Highlanders’ away games results this season were Week 2 encounter against Herentals in Harare where Bosso won 2-0, Week 4 clash with Dynamos where they emerged 1-0 victors, Week 8 trip to Yadah which ended 0-0 and the last visit to Harare on Week 15 where Bosso beat Harare City 2-1.

FC Platinum will bank on Rahman Kutsanzira who is enjoying good form, Winston Mhango, Rodwell Chinyengetere, Edwin Madanhanga and Mkhokheli Dube.

Meanwhile, table anchors Bulawayo City are home to Mutare City Rovers at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon with Chicken Inn travelling to Triangle tomorrow while Bulawayo Chiefs welcome ZPC Kariba.

Fixtures
Saturday, June 16: Bulawayo City v Mutare City Rovers (Barbourfields), FC Platinum v Highlanders (Mandava), Herentals v Shabanie Mine (National Sports Stadium), Dynamos v Nichrut FC (Rufaro)

Sunday, June 17: Chapungu v Caps United (Ascot), Bulawayo Chiefs v ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Black Rhinos v Ngezi Platinum Stars (National Sports Stadium), Triangle United v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Harare City v Yadah (Rufaro)
— @ZililoR

Hassan Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stresses the importance of boosting unity and trust, saying all countries must withstand the White House officials’ bullying.

Rouhani made the remarks in Tehran yesterday during a meeting between Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and state officials as well as ambassadors of Muslim countries on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr — which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

“Today, people and countries across the world, Iran’s trade partners, Europe, Russia, China, neighbours, Muslims and all countries must withstand the bullying of White House rulers,” the Iranian president said.

He added that the enemy has currently no experience and wisdom, saying, “The enemy’s decision is to violate not only its commitments vis-à-vis the Iranian nation but all its regional and international obligations.”

It is surprising that a power that has killed people in the region, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, is speaking about peace and negotiations, he said.

The Iranian president added that the president of the Zionist regime of Israel, which is killing people every day, is roaming around in a bid to portray a false image of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian people.

The regime in Israel has lobbied for European countries to follow the example of the US President Donald Trump and pull out of a landmark nuclear accord, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, and to force European firms to pull out of Iran.

The Israeli prime minister made a three-day trip to Germany, France and Britain earlier this month and held talks with leaders of the three European signatories to the JCPOA.

The US president announced on May 8 that Washington was walking away from the nuclear agreement, which was reached between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – plus Germany.

Trump also said he would reinstate US nuclear sanctions on Iran and impose “the highest level” of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear programme in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

Meanwhile, the United States says tough sanctions will remain in place against North Korea until its complete denuclearisation.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said President Donald Trump has been “incredibly clear” about the sequencing of denuclearisation and relief from the sanctions.

“We are going to get complete denuclearisation; only then will there be relief from the sanctions,” Pompeo told reporters after meeting with South Korea’s president and Japan’s foreign minister in Seoul on Thursday.

According to North Korean state media, the country’s leader Kim Jong-un and President Trump had agreed during their Singapore summit held June 12 on the principle of “step-by-step and simultaneous action” to achieve peace and denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula.

Pompeo said step-by-step “sequencing” meant that “denuclearisation” will take place first, and will then be followed by “sanctions relief.”

During the summit, Kim conditioned denuclearisation upon the cessation of hostility between Pyongyang and Washington.

The statement issued at the end of the summit provided no details as to when North Korea would renounce its nuclear weapons or how the dismantling might be verified.

Media reports suggested that South Korea and Japan were worried that the lifting of sanctions on the North would ease pressure on Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, a senior South Korean presidential official said on Friday that the presence of US military forces in South Korea was not subject to the Washington-Pyongyang negotiations and that it was a matter related to the US-South Korean alliance.

“Let me be clear. There has been no discussion and no change in position on the matter of the issue of US troops in South Korea,” said the senior South Korean official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The official also said there had been discussions between North Korea and the United States before Tuesday’s summit about completing an “early” denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The high-level official did not elaborate.

The official said the summit had “jump-started” the stalled denuclearisation talks.

On Wednesday, Trump said the United States was stopping its “provocative” and expensive joint military exercises with South Korea to facilitate denuclearisation talks with North Korea.

North Korea sees the joint war games, which include land, naval and air drills as well as cyber warfare as a threat to its national security.
Around 28 500 US troops are stationed in South Korea. — PressTV.

Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) says there will not be any load shedding this winter.

Speaking on the sidelines of a symposium held in Gweru, Zesa subsidiary, Zimbabwe Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) commercial director, Engineer Ralph Katsande, said power supply will be steady during the winter season.

“This year there won’t be any loading this winter. We have enough power for every consumer throughout this season,” he said.

Mr Katsande said ZETDC has engaged debt collectors as part of its plan to recover money owed by domestic and commercial clients.

“As an institution we have engaged debt collectors to help us recover the money which we are owed by our customers. We have asked all debtors to come forward and make payment plans in order to clear their debts. We have also blacklisted all those who have ignored their debts for more than six months,” he said.

Speaking during the same event, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) senior engineer, Ngoni Zaranyika, said the regulator will soon be moving into the Midlands province to enforce the ban on electrical goods such as incandescent bulbs.

“Very soon we will start enforcing the ban on electrical goods that use lots of electricity like incandescent bulbs in the Midlands. All supermarkets and shops that are selling such products will be penalised,” he said.

Eng Zaranyika said they have engaged the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) to make sure that banned goods do not make their way into the country.

“We have also engaged ZRP and Zimra to make sure that such banned electrical goods do not make their way into supermarkets and streets,” he said.

Zera has so far inspected 500 companies in Bulawayo and Harare to make sure that no companies are using banned electrical goods.

Heath Streak

SCOTLAND have drafted in former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak as a consultant for the remainder of their Twenty20 tri-series in the Netherlands.

Streak, who took over 450 international wickets across Test and one-day cricket, accepted an invite from Scotland head coach Grant Bradburn.

Scotland lost their opener against Ireland before a dramatic tie in Sunday’s second match with the Irish.

“They have really improved since the 2015 Cricket World Cup,” Streak said.

“They have now got a consistently competitive team and their historic first ODI win over England is testament to their progress as a country in world cricket.”

After leading his country as a player, Streak (44) has moved successfully into coaching and had spells as both a bowling coach and head coach with Zimbabwe.

He has also worked with the bowlers at Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and with Bangladesh.

Streak told the ICC website: “Grant Bradburn asked me if I could share my T20 experience with them as a consultant to help the team as well as the coaches to evolve in that format and I was happy to share my knowledge and experience with them.”

After beating England for the first time, Scotland are without a win in four matches following two T20 losses to Pakistan in Edinburgh, followed by a defeat and a tie with Ireland.

They have two further matches in the tri-series tournament, both against hosts Netherlands, on Tuesday, 19 June and Wednesday, 20 June. – BBC Sport

Professor Welshman Ncube

Tendai Mugabe / Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau
THE MDC Alliance is mired in confusion after one of its co-principals and spokesperson Professor Welshman Ncube dismissed claims by MDC-T secretary general Mr Douglas Mwonzora that the coalition has been turned into a single political party.

Prof Ncube described anyone making such insinuations as being “nonsensical.”

Further, Prof Ncube said the alliance leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa, does not have exclusive powers to direct candidates in the coalition to withdraw their candidature in cases where there were double registrations.

In an interview yesterday, Prof Ncube said the alliance remained a coalition of seven political parties and what they have only done was to amend its constitution to make it a corporate body that can sue or be sued in its own capacity.

Last week Mr Mwonzora told journalists at the Nomination Court that they had turned the alliance into a single political party and that its leader Mr Chamisa would have powers to recall its legislators from Parliament if need be.

Prof Ncube yesterday dismissed Mr Mwonzora saying: “I don’t know where you are getting that from. The alliance remains an amalgam of seven political parties. What we have only done was to amend the alliance constitution to make it a corporate body that can be sued or sue in its own name. We are just giving the coalition an identity of its own just like a company or any corporate organisation.

“In Zimbabwe political parties are not registered. Any registration only comes after elections if your party gets five percent of the votes for the purposes of accessing funds provided for by the Political Parties Finance Act. Anyone who is talking of registration before elections is just being nonsensical.”

Prof Ncube rapped the MDC Chamisa faction after it ordered partners who successfully filed their nomination papers without his blessings to withdraw their candidature.

He said the decision to withdraw candidates rested with individuals concerned or their political parties and not the Chamisa-led MDC camp.

“The discretion to withdraw is on the individual candidate,” he said.

“No one can direct a candidate to withdraw unless if it is done through a round table where people would be negotiating. The issue is now at the mercy of those respective candidates and their political parties to withdraw.”

He dismissed reasoning by the Chamisa-led faction that their agreement stipulated that parties would field candidates where they were stronger.

“That is the general guideline. But there is an appendix in the agreement where it is specific that a political party will field candidates in a particular constituency and that should have been respected,” said Prof Ncube.

“This was a specific clause as opposed to a general clause.”

Morale is at its lowest in the alliance as other fringe parties in the grouping accuse Mr Chamisa of undermining the coalition by unilaterally fielding candidates in areas earmarked for them, leading to double registration.

It is understood that in some instances the MDC Chamisa camp refused to sign nomination papers for other alliance candidates, preferring instead to field their candidates.

In yet another show of vindictiveness and complete disregard for the alliance agreement, the Chamisa camp reduced the number of candidates for other partners like that of Professor Ncube- led MDC.

In Harare South, for example, former legislator for the area Mr Shadreck Mashayamombe filed his nomination papers on an MDC Alliance ticket, while Tichaona Saurombe from Transform Zimbabwe was also duly nominated as a member of the Alliance for the same constictuency.

The alliance fielded two candidates each in six constituencies namely Zaka West, Gutu North, Gutu West and Gutu Central, Bikita East and Masvingo South.

In Gutu West, Messrs Stanley Manguma and Knowledge Mupini both filed papers to represent the MDC Alliance, where they will square up against Cde John Paradza of Zanu-PF and Mr Tauya Chinama of People’s Rainbow Coalition.

The situation is the same in Gutu North, where Messrs Hamandishe Maramwidze and Juniel Manyere will both represent the MDC Alliance in a contest against Cde Yeukai Simbanegavi of Zanu-PF and Mr Jonah Wakurawarerwa of MDC-T.

Two MDC Alliance candidates, Messrs Crispa Musoni and Ernest Mandigo also square up against each other in Gutu Central where they will battle it out with Cde Winston Chitando of Zanu-PF, Mrs Shillah Bikoloni of Build Zimbabwe, Mr Pias Rungwaro of MDC-T and Mr Last Mafuratidze of People’s Rainbow Coalition.

The MDC Alliance will also have two candidates in Masvingo South after Messrs Lovemore Matongo and Justin Makota both filed papers to represent the party.

They will square up against Cde Claudios Maronge of Zanu-PF, Mr Knowledge Mabvuure of BZA, Mr Action Haruchenjerwi (Independent), Mr Lawrence Mavhaire (PRC), Mr Victor Vengeyi (Independent), and Mr Simon Senda (UDA).

In Bikita East, two MDC Alliance candidates Messrs Boniface Mudzingwa and Satiya Sengedzeni also filed papers to represent the party, where they come up against Cde Johnson Madhuku of Zanu-PF and Mr Ernest Rambe of NCA.

The situation is the same in Zaka West where the two MDC Alliance candidates, Messrs Festus Dumbu and William Zivenge, both filed papers to contest in the constituency on the party ticket.

President Mnangagwa

Felex Share, Harare Bureau
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa heads to Mashonaland Central province tomorrow where he is expected to tour Eureka Gold Mine in Guruve and lay a foundation rock for a multi-purpose sports centre to be built at Bindura University of Science Education.

The Head of State and Government will wind up his programme with a star rally at Chipadze Stadium.

Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairperson, who is also Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister, Cde Raymond Kazembe, confirmed the development yesterday. “The President will be in the province to lay a foundation for a national sports academy to be built in Bindura, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe,” he said.

“Before that the President will first visit Eureka Mine in Guruve to assess the situation there. The mine, which is the largest employer in Guruve has not been fully operating for quite some time and the President is coming there to give new impetus to the mine for the benefit of the people. This is a welcome development as it will create employment for our people. The President was in Guruve recently and he is coming back again and to us as a province, we value this.”

President Mnangagwa visited Siyalima, Guruve recently where he commissioned an A1 resettlement model structure.

Cde Kazembe said works on the multi-purpose sporting facility were underway.

“The clearing of the ground is underway and the centre will go a long way in developing sports,” he said.

“It will be used to identify talent. Zimbabweans will have an option of enrolling at the national sports academy. The people who are most influential and wealth in this world are athletes and this facility will assist us in developing our athletes. The move is in line with our national policy so we are working with universities and other institutions.”

Cde Kazembe said President Mnangagwa would have an opportunity to address Zanu-PF supporters in the province. “There will be a rally and we have seen it fit that the President meets his people in the province,” he said.

“It is elections time and it is ideal for people to hear the wise counsel from the party’s leadership. We are ready to host him and mobilisation is underway in various districts.”

President Mnangagwa

ONE of the enduring images and stereotypes around African leaders is their detachment from the people and paranoia about security. More often than not, their entourages are huge with security details comprising the bulk of their aides.

While they claim to be popular and therefore strongly connected with the people they govern, they are privately terrified of their subjects to the extent that they invest heavily in their security and are always accompanied by a phalanx of bodyguards. Since assuming power in November last year, President Mnangagwa has been breaking with tradition as he seeks to create a new and more open society.

Zimbabweans have been amazed at the pace with which he has instituted far reaching economic and political reforms in his quest to build a prosperous, stable and peaceful nation. He has received praise from home and abroad with the world marvelling at the revolution slowly taking shape in Zimbabwe.

Unlike his predecessor, former President Robert Mugabe who led an authoritarian Government not given to advice or criticism, President Mnangagwa is an accommodative leader who listens to the voices of the people.

His leadership style and policies resonate with the masses and this has left even the opposition at sixes and sevens. President Mnangagwa is accessible to the people of Zimbabwe through various platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. He interacts with Zimbabweans of all creed, age, tribe and religious persuasions.

As campaigns for the general elections go a gear up, Zimbabweans have had an opportunity to get a closer look at their President who has obliged by removing barriers to his interactions with them. At the weekend, residents of Chegutu got a pleasant surprise when President Mnangagwa joined a queue of food lovers at a fastfood outlet, bought his lunch of a two-piecer and a Minute Maid and even tipped a cashier.

The President, who is now famous for his accessibility, has discarded extravagances of the former regime’s tradition in many areas. For instance, he has done away with the habit of hiring a marquee for official engagements, opting instead for modest tents just to shed VVIPS. He also uses his escort vehicles to accommodate photo-journalists and walks about to greet the crowd during rallies.

On Sunday afternoon, he brought Chegutu to a standstill after he commandeered his full motorcade to Chicken Inn in the city centre. Hundreds jostled to capture the rare moment on their smartphones and they recorded the scene free of any interference from Presidential security details.

President Mnangagwa, who is widely tipped to win the July 30 elections by a wide margin, has left many convinced that Zimbabwe is now witnessing a different political game to that of former President Mr Mugabe, who maintained a buffer zone between himself and the masses.

Ms Isabel Mtongerwa, the Chicken Inn cashier who served the President, could not believe that she met him face to face. “I could not believe that I was serving the President,” she said. “It has never happened in my life and somehow he proved to be worthy of my vote. He ordered a two-piecer and a Minute Maid, paid $3,75 with US$20 and told me to keep the change. He is very welcoming and makes you feel comfortable in his presence.”

Management at Chegutu Chicken Inn could not believe a rare visit by the number one citizen. The food outlet’s manager Mr Peter Mutate said as an organisation, they felt honoured to serve the Head of State. “We can describe him as an amazing man, very friendly and free to interact with,” he said. “In other words, he is a people’s person. Some of our staff members felt free to greet him. At the end of the visit, many people were left convinced that indeed the country is now witnessing a different political game.”

One food lover at Chicken Inn, Mr Lovejoy Ngondo, said: “We have seen for the first time that this is a real President who is human like us. He eats Chicken Inn like us. At least he lives the same way we do. We can trust him with our lives.”

Many who spoke to our Harare Bureau said after walking side by side with the President on his way to and from the food outlet it was now clear that Zimbabwe was witnessing a new political dispensation where leaders are closer to the people. Indeed President Mnangagwa has been a game changer on the political scene and we are glad that Zimbabweans are connecting with him.

Openness and transparency are key tenets of a democracy and the President has shown the way by embracing a culture of servant leadership and humility.
We applaud the way he has won the respect, trust and confidence of Zimbabweans in such a short space of time. With a five-year mandate after the July 30 general elections, who knows where he might take Zimbabwe.

Zodwa Wabantu

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
SA entertainer, Zodwa Wabantu (pictured below) says people should now call her Zodwa Wabantwana as she has realised that most of her followers are young children who look up to her.

Speaking on Real Talk last week, the dancer who is famous for dancing without underwear stunned many when she said she was probably dating her father as she has never met him.

“I’ve never met my dad and I don’t know if he’s alive or not. Maybe he’s one of the men I’m dating,” she said as she laughed.

She said her mother died when she was young and as such, she moved out of their family house when she was 16 years old.

“After my mother died, I decided to move out and fend for myself as I couldn’t stand the pressure from my siblings (fighting for food, the house and everything else).

“I went and lived with a friend and started looking for jobs. I must say I’ve been doing well since then because to me, as long as I can afford bread and eggs, I’m good,” she said.

The entertainer who is famed for her Vosho dance had a talent identified on social media after videos of her dancing at Eyadini in Durban went viral. Since then, she started getting bookings from various spots as people wanted to see her performing. Artistes also started contracting her to feature on their music videos. She said she was initially satisfied with a payment of R2 000 that she was getting from artistes per feature until DJ Tira approached her and told her she was worth more.

He sat her down and told her she was worth at least R35 000.

“UDJ Tira wangibiza wathi Zodwa, you’re worth more than R35 000,” she said.

“And oh yes, I’m living my dream now. I’m now a woman worth R35 000.  Recently I was in the United Kingdom, United States of America and Australia which is a sign of success.”

Now, when she has no bookings, she does not compromise and prefers to stay indoors as she does not want to lower her new standards.

“When I have nothing to do, I sleep in my home because this R35 000 worth face can’t be seen randomly, all thanks to Tira.”

Asked if she was planning to settle down, the mother of one son – Vuyo said: “I’ve no plans of getting married because I don’t want to be having to sleep on Johnnie Walker and Grandpa because of men stress. Yes I have a boyfriend and we’re cool as we are.”

She insisted that she would not wear makeup because she got famous as a natural lady.

“I don’t like make up because I got famous while I was very natural, so why should I change now? Most artists and my competitors out there don’t understand why I refuse to wear make-up but it’s because I prefer myself natural.”

These days, Zodwa is captured removing her underwear on stage. Asked if she has regrets doing so, she responded: “When I take off my pants on stage, I don’t regret anything because I’ll be doing as per the fans’ wishes.

“When they scream that I strip, I do exactly that with no regret, that’s entertainment. As long it’s not ‘ubufebe’ then I’m not worried or remorseful.”

Looking into the future, the entertainer said she hopes to resign from the entertainment industry which she accidentally found herself in, next year.

“I intend to resign and sit home next year as I’ve stated earlier. That hasn’t changed. I think I’m almost satisfied with what I have right now. So I’ll be fine if I retire next year as I’m sure I’ll still afford to put bread and eggs on my table.”

@winnie_masara

Norman Mapeza

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League champions FC Platinum head into the mid-season break enjoying a comfortable six-point lead at the top of the log standings.

The Zvishavane-based side reached the halfway mark with 44 points, while second-placed Ngezi Platinum Stars’ wheels seem to be coming off following a promising start. A last minute Gift Mbweti goal against Highlanders, who had done almost everything to at least get a point at Mandava Stadium on Saturday, powered FC Platinum to their 14th win from 17 outings.

Unlike last season when FC Platinum reached the halfway stage tied on 32 points with Chicken Inn, the champions are in control of their destiny and go into the break with a healthy six-point cushion.

Former champions Dynamos topped the league table at the halfway stage in 2017 with 33 points. Competition was stiff with the top six sides, Dynamos, FC Platinum, Chicken Inn, Black Rhinos, Ngezi and How Mine all in contention for the title then. Only two points separated Dynamos with sixth-placed How Mine.

FC Platinum went on to win the league with 72 points after picking up 40 points in the second half of the season. They claimed the title with a two-point gap over runners-up DeMbare, while Ngezi were third with 65 points.

This time around, the title race has been between FC Platinum and Ngezi. The champions are clearly running away with it, while Ngezi suffered their third consecutive defeat at the weekend, going down 1-2 to Black Rhinos in Harare. Before their bubble burst on Match Day 15 when they lost 0-1 to Bulawayo Chiefs, Ngezi had gone on a 14-match unbeaten run.

Third-placed Chicken Inn beat Triangle United 1-0 at Gibbo to take their points’ tally to 30 and trail FC Platinum by 14 points.

Competition looks intense for teams occupying third to seventh positions, with just two points separating Chicken Inn and seventh-placed Harare City.

Caps United, Triangle United and Highlanders are tied on 29 points.

Inconsistency has been the downfall of most teams as they kept dropping points to lowly placed sides.

At the weekend, Highlanders had a chance to at least steal a point from FC Platinum, but a rushed throw in taken by Charlton Siamalonga in the referee’s optional time exposed the player’s lack of time management. FC Platinum midfielder Edwin Madanhanga, one of the players who have been impressive in the first half of the season, intercepted the throw-in, worked his way past a number of Bosso players before sending a pass to an unmarked Mbweti, who connected perfectly.

Five teams Bulawayo City and Shabanie Mine are tied in 15th position Nichrut (16th), Chapungu (17th) and anchors Mutare City are precariously treading in the relegation zone.

At the halfway stage last season, Tsholotsho anchored the table, followed by Bantu Rovers, Yadah and Hwange.

Yadah survived the chop at the end, with Harare City being relegated. Harare City had 18 points at mid-season, just one above Hwange, who occupied the last relegation slot, while third from bottom Yadah were on 16 points.

Going into the second half of the season, teams are expected to beef up their squads for a final assault on the title and battle from relegation.

Most coaches have been talking about the need to reinforce their strike force.

Shabanie Mine’s David Temwanjira leads the scorer’s chat with nine goals, followed by Ngezi’s Terrence Dzukamanja and John Zhuwawu of Caps United on eight goals.

Results
Saturday: Bulawayo City 1-0 Mutare City Rovers, FC Platinum 1-0 Highlanders, Herentals 1-1 Shabanie Mine, Dynamos 2-1 Nichrut FC

Yesterday: Chapungu 0-2 Caps United, Bulawayo Chiefs 0-2 ZPC Kariba, Black Rhinos 2-1 Ngezi Platinum Stars, Triangle United 0-1 Chicken Inn, Harare City 3-0 Yadah

@ZililoR

NRZ workers mill outside the residence in Bulawayo where two people were found dead yesterday

Nyaradzo Bakari, Chronicle Reporter
AN unidentified woman allegedly gunned down her boyfriend before shooting herself in his room at the National Railways of Zimbabwe single quarters at Raylton in Bulawayo.

The woman is suspected to have shot her boyfriend, identified as Heater Chauke, at point blank range in the head before turning the gun on herself on Sunday night at Reading House building.

Some people at the scene said they suspected the couple was killed and a murder-suicide was staged.

National Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident.

She said Chauke and the woman were found in pools of blood with bullet wounds on their heads.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a murder case where two people were found dead. The man was lying on the floor with a bullet wound on the back of his head while the woman was lying on the bed with a gun wound on the left side of her head,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

She said the pistol that was used was reported missing on the same day the couple is suspected to have died, following an unlawful entry and theft at a house in Bellevue suburb.

“The woman was holding the pistol with her right hand. The weapon used was reported missing from a house in Bellevue suburb on Sunday. The money that was stolen at that house was found in the woman’s bag,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

The whereabouts of Chauke’s roommate, who discovered the bodies, are unknown.

A source close to investigations said the roommate, who was away for the weekend, found the bodies of the couple with bullet wounds on their heads yesterday morning.

Chauke, suspected to be in his early 30s, was a diesel plant fitter at NRZ while the woman is suspected to be in her mid 20s.

Police officers take away the bodies

The motive behind the murder could not be established but it is suspected that the couple had a misunderstanding after spending the weekend together, since Chauke’s roommate was away.

“Chauke’s roommate had visited his family during the weekend. I suppose the woman spent the weekend with Chauke and they had a misunderstanding which pushed her to kill him. When the roommate came back around 7AM, he found the door locked from inside,” said the source.

“He knocked but no one answered so he used his key to push the key that was in the lock and unlocked, only to find the two lying dead. The woman is said to have been holding a pistol. It is very sad that such a young woman can be brave enough to kill someone.”

The source said the pistol was alleged to have been stolen as a report of a missing pistol had been made prior to the incident.

“It seems the pistol was stolen from somewhere because it is said to have been matching a pistol that someone reported missing sometime back. The woman had probably planned to kill him for quite some time and was waiting for a time when the roommate was away.”

A woman at the scene had a different version.

“This is too neat to be a passion killing. I think someone killed these two people. Police investigations will give us the answer,” she said.

When The Chronicle arrived at the scene, NRZ workers were milling around Reading House building where the incident happened.

They appeared to be in shock and resisted security details’ attempts to chase them from the scene.

The bodies were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital mortuary.

Chauke’s relatives, who were at the scene, declined to comment on the tragedy.

“I am still in shock. I don’t even know what happened and have no approval from elders to comment on behalf of the family so I don’t have anything to say,” said a woman who declined to be named.

NRZ public relations officer Mr Nyasha Maravanyika confirmed the incident and bemoaned the tragic death of their employee who he said worked well with others.

“I can confirm that we received news that one of our employees died after a woman came and shot him. We do not know if she was his girlfriend or wife. We are saddened by such loss of life because the man had been working well with us,” he said.

“We urge our workers to prioritise dialogue and share problems with others who can help. They can also go for counselling with their partners to avoid violence.”

@NyarieBakie

Deputy Minister Terrence Mukupe

Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe should abandon its foreign currency allocation framework and delegate the role to individual banks as this gives the impression of a distorted economy, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) has said.

Due to persistent foreign currency shortages facing the economy, the RBZ has come up with a foreign currency allocation framework guided by import priorities for the country. The move has attracted criticism by some businesses who claim their operations are not adequately supported.

Speaking at the CEO Africa Roundtable meeting on financial market distortions and currency reform in Bulawayo on Friday, ZNCC Matabeleland region chairperson Mr Golden Muoni said the panacea to forex shortages lies in growing exports and fostering value addition.

“I don’t understand RBZ’s role in the foreign currency allocation priority list. They don’t have any relationships with customers but they find themselves on the panel or a committee deciding who to give foreign currency, which the Deputy Minister (Terrence Mukupe) has already alluded to, that it breeds corruption,” he said.

“How do you then decide for a customer whom you don’t know . . . so the RBZ priority list on forex allocation must be abandoned and the responsibility must be given to individual banks that have a direct relationship with their clients.”

Earlier, Deputy Minister Mukupe, who also attended the meeting, said the forex allocation system was prone to manipulation and corruption.

“For example, you are distributing $50 million of foreign currency and you have got a group of people that sits in a room and decide who’s getting what and who’s not getting what. You are creating an environment that’s fertile for corruption,” said Min Mukupe.

“My whole feeling is that you can sugar-coat these things and say the people who are doing that job are upright and upstanding people, but we have to move away from a situation where we tempt people. Let’s have proper systems in place, that’s why I am for the view that let the markets decide and not have individuals deciding.”

Mr Muoni further said it was imperative for the RBZ to concentrate on its role as a regulator and not interfere in the allocation of foreign currency under the priority list framework. Under the foreign currency priority list framework, Mr Muoni said the monetary authority had also not prioritised forex allocation to small to medium enterprises (SMEs) despite their critical role and contribution to economic sustenance.

He said businesses were disturbed by headlines of millions of dollars allocated to big corporates for production purposes. “What about those SMEs, do you know who they’re and do you have money to allocate to SMEs,” asked Mr Muoni.

Experts have stressed the need to invest more in value addition and beneficiation of goods produced in Zimbabwe to broaden the export earning value and substitute imports to preserve the little forex reserves.

Last month, the Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe (PSZ) revealed that the pharmaceutical industry, which needs about $10 million foreign currency allocation per month to operate optimally, was receiving less than 10 percent of its monthly requirement from RBZ. The PSZ called on the apex bank to prioritise the pharmaceutical industry and improve foreign currency allocation to the sector as has been done to the fuel industry.

Fuel and electricity are high priorities in terms of foreign currency allocations in Zimbabwe given their centrality to the business in general and Government’s industrialisation agenda. In May, RBZ said it had increased fuel foreign currency allocations by about 50 percent to $85 million per month.

The Central Bank pointed out that this had been necessitated by challenges that were experienced by motorists and industrialists in accessing fuel in recent weeks. In addition, a recent increase in international prices of oil meant that more money was now required to buy fuel.

The RBZ also prioritises allocating about $20 million to Zesa to enable power imports from South Africa and Mozambique as Zimbabwe was importing 300 megawatts to augment local generation.

@okazunga

President Mnangagwa, hands over the cheque to Chiefs Zimunya (second from left) and Marange (second from right)while Vice President Chiwenga (left), Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Monica Mutsvangwa (centre) and Acting Minister of Mines and Mining Development July Moyo (right) look on during the presentation of Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company’s contribution to Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust in Harare today

Felex Share, Harare Bureau
GOVERNMENT yesterday handed over $5 million for the revitalisation of the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Trust as President Mnangagwa’s administration fleshes out empowerment projects to ensure ordinary people benefit from diamond proceeds.

In 2012, diamond mining companies operating in Chiadzwa, Manicaland, pledged $50 million towards Marange-Zimunya Community Share Trust but released only   $500 000.

Some of the firms, under the supervision of the then Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Mr Saviour Kasukuwere presented dummy cheques to former President Robert Mugabe, while others feigned ignorance of the scheme.

President Mnangagwa yesterday moved in to partly honour the pledge, availing a $5 million cheque to the community empowerment fund through the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), a firm wholly owned by Government.

The cheque was presented to the Marange-Zumunya CSOT board of trustees, led by Chiefs Zimunya and Marange.

Present during the ceremony were Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Mines and Mining Development acting Minister July Moyo, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, ZCDC board members and management.

President Mnangagwa said the fund previously suffered setbacks but the new impetus would ensure sustainable economic development in Marange and Zimunya.

“This noble initiative by the State mining company will complement Government’s efforts to build developed and progressive communities as we continue with our quest for inclusive growth and broad-based empowerment under the present national development agenda,” he said.

“As highlighted in Vision 2030, my Government remains committed to broad-based empowerment through multi-faceted strategies, including community share ownership trusts. To this end, I urge all companies to intensify community development programmes so that communities benefit from the natural resource endowments in their environment. This will spur rural development and undoubtedly contribute to the development of strong rural and provincial economies, further resulting in the widespread improvement of the standard of living of our people throughout the country.”

Companies, President Mnangagwa said, should have “harmonious and mutually” beneficial working relationship with communities in their areas of operation.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” he said.

“Government is pleased with the revitalisation of the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust as the company has committed to pay reasonable dividend into the trust annually. It is our fervent hope that through this vehicle, some of the developmental needs of these communities will be addressed, further impacting on Manicaland as a whole.”

He said Government was finalising a diamond policy to ensure the mining sub-sector harnessed its full potential and benefit the masses.

Said President Mnangagwa: “The objective of the policy is to facilitate optimisation of the diamond sub-sector through implementation of appropriate strategies throughout the entire value chain from exploration, mining, beneficiation, value addition and marketing as well as to guarantee security and accountability in the sub-sector. The policy seeks, among other things, to create a viable operating environment that attracts foreign and local investment in the diamond industry in line with the country’s vision of achieving increased investment by 2030.”

He said the mining sector contributed more than 60 percent of the nation’s exports and employed thousands of people.

As such, he said, ZCDC should increase its business capacity to impact positively on the economy.

President Mnangagwa said diamonds were a national resource whose proceeds must benefit everyone. Two years after commencing operations, ZCDC has undertaken several social investment projects in Manicaland.

The firm has upgraded clinics, rehabilitated roads, constructed bridges, drilled boreholes, renovated primary schools and provided bursaries to orphans and disabled children, among other initiatives.

VP Chiwenga said the $5 million gesture was evidence that President Mnangagwa and his team meant business.

“On his inauguration he told us that he was committed to building this country and that Zimbabwe will never be the same again,” he said.

“He has made these promises and sticks to them. He makes sure a problem is solved once he is told of it. Today, he has remembered the problem besetting the people of Manicaland. To him, it is economics first and we talk about politics after there is food on the table.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said there was a lot of discontent in the local community over diamonds.

“The Chiadzwa diamonds generated a lot of international headlines, created excitement across the globe and made far-away businesspeople, greed and corrupt people rich while locals wallowed in poverty,” she said.

“You (President Mnangagwa) have moved to correct this injustice, much to the delight of Manicaland province. In a short period of time, you have swiftly moved in to deliver on the promises made to the Trust and we shall manage this fund and improve our infrastructure in Manicaland.”

On behalf of the Trust, Chief Zimunya said: “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for facilitating that we receive the money. You have done a good job within the few months that you have been in office. We want to assure you that as a Trust we shall ensure the money is used to implement development projects to benefit the entire community. You have led the country with wisdom; we now have peace and development. As such we will support you all the way.”

Cde Ezra Chadzamira

George Maponga in Masvingo
The Zanu-PF national leadership has been told not to lose sleep over the ruling party’s electoral prospects in Masvingo with party provincial chair Cde Ezra Chadzamira promising President Mnangagwa a crushing victory in the province in the coming harmonised elections slated for July 30.

Speaking to a capacity crowd at Mucheke B Arena last Friday where President Mnangagwa and his deputy Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga headlined a contingent of Zanu-PF leaders who graced a ruling party campaign rally, Cde Chadzamira said the province was solidly behind the ruling party’s First Secretary.

He said Masvingo was a “one-party state” under the firm stranglehold of the ruling party and would deliver a thumping win for Zanu-PF and President Mnangagwa in the coming elections.

He said the capacity crowd at Mucheke B Arena was testament to the solid support for President Mnangagwa in Masvingo, which also happens to be the President’s “home’’ as the Zanu-PF First Secretary’s origins can be traced back to Chivi district.

“You have come home, Cde President where you started the long and arduous journey in the fight for the liberation of this country. We heartily welcome you to this province from where the country’s name is derived,’’ said Cde Chadzamira.

“We want to let you know our President that Masvingo is solidly behind you, we are united behind you, this province is a ‘one-party state’ and we are solidly behind you and no one will divide us in our quest to deliver victory for you and Zanu PF in the forthcoming harmonised elections.’’

President Mnangagwa’s liberation war script started being written in Masvingo where as a member of the famous “Crocodile Gang’’, together with late national hero Cde William Ndangana, he bombed a Rhodesian locomotive at Masvingo Railway Station in 1964 in the company of his colleague Cde Mathew Malowa.

The Zanu-PF First Secretary, then known by his nom-de-guerre, “Trabablas” or “Trabablas Dzokerai Mabhunu’’ was subsequently arrested for the heroic act by the colonial regime and earned a death sentence that was later commuted to a decade behind bars on an age technicality.

Cde Chadzamira promised President Mnangagwa a resounding victory saying Masvingo was happy with its historical association with the Zanu-PF leader.

“We (Zanu-PF Masvingo) will give you 26 seats out of 26 in this province in the coming elections,’’ Cde Chadzamira assured President Mnangagwa.

“We will repeat the same feat achieved in the last elections in 2013 (when Zanu-PF bagged all the seats), but the only difference is that this time the numbers will be bigger and better, Masvingo stands by Zanu-PF.’’

The Zanu-PF Masvingo chair dismissed opposition parties that will square up with the ruling party in the coming polls and equating them to pawns which cannot stand the heat in the bigger political chess game.

“Those (opposition parties) who bark are primary school head boys and do not be cowed we are solidly behind you and we will deliver victory,” he said.

Cde Chadzamira paid glowing tribute to President Mnangagwa and the new dispensation for prioritising economic development over politics.

He said Masvingo was set for epoch-making socio-economic transformation thanks to the impending re-opening of Mashava Asbestos Mine and the CSC plant in the country’s oldest town both of which will create more than 6 000 direct jobs.

“You (President Mnangagwa) came here to re-open Mashava Mine and the CSC plant which is a clear indication that your administration puts fixing the economy ahead of politics and Zimbabwe will never be the same again. We are very grateful for your leadership, our President,’’ said Cde Chadzamira.

The looming re-opening of Mashava Mine and the CSC plant in Masvingo coupled with the envisaged expansion of lithium mining at Bikita Minerals and a planned irrigation greenbelt around Tugwi-Mukosi Dam in Chivi is expected to catapult the province to the zenith of socio-economic development in Zimbabwe.