IN a story in our Tuesday edition headlined “Knives out at Bulawayo radio licence hearings,” we reported that Thomas Sithole asked how Amakhosi Cultural Centre could house a radio studio when “it had been turned into a taxi rank by Cont.” It has since come to our attention that another participant uttered the said words that we erroneously attributed to Sithole. We unreservedly apologise to Sithole for any harm or inconvenience caused by the error.

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
THE 18-year-old Plumtree man who allegedly raped his sister, 15, after claiming that she seduced him when she saw him naked and passed a positive comment about his manhood, will know his fate today. Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira remanded the man to today for judgment when he appeared before him facing a rape charge. He pleaded guilty to the charge, but Dzira altered the plea to not guilty after the man raised the issue of having been seduced in his defence.

In his defence, the alleged rapist said: “I had just come from the bathroom and was applying body lotion when my sister walked into my room while I was naked. She stood by the door and passed a good comment about my manhood, saying she admired it. I got tempted and we ended up having consensual sex. I did not rape her at all.”

The siblings’ grandmother also testified in court.
“I just saw my granddaughter entering the yard in the company of another girl from the same village and her blouse was torn. When I asked her why her blouse was torn she revealed to me that she had been raped by her brother in the field. We then went to the scene but there was nothing to indicate there was some sort of wrestling,” the woman told the court.

Prosecuting, Tinashe Dzipe said on August 9, the man took advantage of their parents’ absence from home and invited his sister into his bedroom and asked her to sleep with him but she refused.

The man allegedly wrestled with his sister and when she tried to leave his bedroom, he pushed her onto his bed, ripped off her panties and tore a piece of her blouse, which he shoved in her mouth to prevent her from screaming. He then raped her once.

The girl went to her cousin’s homestead in the same village and narrated her ordeal. They then went back to the victim’s home and informed the grandmother.
A report was made to the police leading to the man’s arrest.

Dzipe said if it is proved that the man was seduced, the charge is likely to be altered to that of incest and having sexual intercourse with a minor instead of rape.

Main picture: Maphisa Agribank branch. Inset: Khangelani Greatman Ndebele

Oswell Moyo Chronicle Reporter
THE Agribank branch at Maphisa which was robbed on Tuesday reportedly operates without security cameras and has no automatic doors to control movement of people. Chronicle visited the bank yesterday and observed that there are no security guards at the bank during the day.

Agribank’s retail banking executive for the southern region Divine Ngwenya who declined to speak to Chronicle on Tuesday, yesterday said the robbers got away with $31,000 and R46,000, not $100,000 as earlier estimated.

The bank’s head of security Elliot Gunguwo could not be reached for comment as he was said to be out of office.
A member of the neighbourhood watch committee at  Maphisa, Khangelani Greatman Ndebele claimed the bank was simply asking to be robbed given the lax security measures at the branch.

“How can a bank operate without a camera in this modern age? In light of the fact that people tried to rob it last year, it is shocking that they do not have security guards” said Ndebele.

Ndebele alleged that the burglar alarm at the bank malfunctioned most of the time.
Another resident who refused to be named said: “It is worrisome that a bank like Agribank entertains a lot of funny stuff such as giving people change which shows their laxity and relaxation.”

Detectives arrested one of the three suspected armed robbers, Gift Moyo, barely two hours after they had robbed the bank.
“They were on the bank of a river and appeared to be counting the money. When they saw detectives approaching they fled in different directions. Gift was pursued and caught but the other two got away,” said a police source close to investigations.

Moyo was positively identified by his victims and appeared before a Gwanda magistrate facing armed robbery charges yesterday.
The suspects allegedly robbed the bank at about 2PM. They locked the bank tellers and a woman who was making a withdrawal in a vault before escaping with the loot.

Officials at the bank’s headquarters in Harare told Chronicle on Tuesday that the trio went into the bank just after lunchtime and pretended to be making transactions.

Armed robbers have struck at least four times at Maphisa Growth Point in the last two years.
They hit Delta Beverages twice and raided Spar and Maphisa Filling Station.

Agribank is wholly owned by the government. The Ministry of Finance holds 50 percent shares in the bank while the other 50 percent is owned by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
THE Meteorological Services Department yesterday said the cold spell that has been affecting the country since Saturday, will continue until Sunday. The chilly weather is odd during this time of the year as temperatures would usually start rising as summer sets in. In a statement, the Met department said the chilly weather is a result of a shifting of the seasons.
“The atmosphere is now transitting from winter to the summer season. This is what the country has been experiencing from Sunday,

August 31, 2014. We expect these conditions to last until Sunday and thereafter, warmer weather should set in,” read the statement.
The department said during the transitional period the country will occasionally experience cold weather spells.

“Indeed the last few days have been characterised by cold weather throughout the country with cloudy spells interspersed by drizzle in Manicaland, Masvingo and Matabeleland South”.

The department said the weather conditions can be attributed to an influx of moist cold air from the Indian Ocean.
“The cold air has resulted in general cloudiness and sympathetic drop in both daytime and over-night temperatures,” read the statement.

Plaxcedes Hove Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO based police officer stationed in Pumula appeared in court facing assault charges after he clobbered a motorist at a roadblock for failing to heed his order to stop. Jeryson Tsikira, 47, allegedly assaulted Clyde Muchineuta at a roadblock along Plumtree road claiming that he had disrespected him by failing to stop at a roadblock when ordered to do so.

Tsikira pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso and he was remanded out of custody to September 11 for continuation of trial.
Prosecuting, Whatmore Tembo said the incident happened in June.

“On June 30 at around 8AM along Plumtree road, Muchineuta was driving and was ordered to stop at a roadblock by a certain police officer of which he complied.

“When he was on his way he heard a whistle and a police officer came from the bush and ordered him to return. Muchineuta complied and returned. When Muchineuta approached Tsikira, he came out of his car and Tsikira slapped him claiming he was running away,” he said.

In his defence, Tsikira denied assaulting Muchineuta and told the court that he was carrying a knobkerrie.
“I did not assault this man. On the day I was carrying my knobkerrie that I move with everywhere I go and on the other hand I was holding a blue diary. How could I have assaulted him? I am also a respected police officer and I would not do anything to risk my career,” he said.

Cde Khaya Moyo

Nduduzo Tshuma Senior Reporter
THE second meeting of Cabinet ministers and Zanu-PF Provincial Coordinating Committees (PCC) to discuss Zim-Asset and its expected benefits for Matabeleland provinces will be held in Bulawayo on Sunday, the Senior Minister of State in the President’s Office, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, said yesterday.

Five ministers — Cdes Patrick Chinamasa (Finance), Walter Chidhakwa (Mines and Mining Development), Dzikamai Mavhaire (Energy), Francis Nhema (Youth and Indigenisation) and Joseph Made ( Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development) would be in attendance and Cde Khaya Moyo said all PCC members from the region should attend without fail.
The meeting is expected to start at 10AM.

“The second meeting of cabinet ministers with Provincial Coordinating Committees of the ruling Zanu-PF provinces of Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North will be held on Sunday, September 7 at Elangeni Training Centre, Bulawayo,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

“The ministers will present papers on implementation of Zim-Asset from a regional perspective. Only members of the three PCCs will be allowed to attend this meeting. It is therefore imperative that all members of these PCCs attend without fail.”
In June, the first meeting was held at the same venue.

Before that initial meeting, Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairman Cde Andrew Langa described it as a “crucial meeting.”
“We’re going to put our heads together and look at how best we can improve the economy of the region. The reason why we are meeting as a region is because problems affecting Bulawayo also affect other regions. As Mat South, we want to hear issues about mining and livestock production,” he said.

Takunda Maodza in KARIBA —
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday commissioned the construction of the $533 million Kariba South Power Extension Project which is expected to generate an additional 300 megawatts of electricity by 2017. This is in line with Zim-Asset, the government’s economic blueprint that seeks to revamp the country’s infrastructure under the “Infrastructure and Utilities” cluster that takes the power sector as one of the economic enablers.

Speaking soon after the groundbreaking ceremony, the President said he was happy that finally the project was taking shape.
“The Kariba Extension project has been on Zesa’s drawing board for a very long time. Its coming to fruition has been hampered by many challenges, which include shortage of foreign currency during the hyperinflation era. The feasibility studies for the project were eventually updated, paving the way for its completion and implementation,” President Mugabe said.

“The successful completion and commissioning of this project, Kariba South Power Station Extension, will add 300 megawatts of power to the national grid. Indeed, the project is a vital component of the government’s strategy to meet the country’s electricity demands. It is part of our major plan to guarantee the constant and consistent supply of energy for our country.”

President Mugabe said the project entailed construction of an additional two 150MW power generating units to the current six 125MW generating units.

“This will increase the total capacity at the Kariba Hydro Power Station from 750MW to 1050MW. This additional capacity will serve the peak demand, significantly reducing the load shedding that we are currently experiencing,” he said.

Added President Mugabe: “Projects such as this one do not merely bring power into our homes and workplaces, but they also empower the people of Zimbabwe. I am informed that over the four years that the project will be implemented, it will employ a total of 700 workers with the majority of the general workers drawn from local communities. To date, about 200 workers have been engaged.”

Under Zim-Asset, the country also strives to improve the people’s living standards under the social services and poverty eradication cluster and the creation of the more than 700 jobs would go some way towards ameliorating suffering among the people.

He said power projects like the Kariba Power Station Extension were an important part of government’s goal towards an empowered society and a growing economy.

“Adequate power supply infrastructure, not only helps attract investors to our country but in bringing electricity to rural areas, which improves the quality of life to our rural people,” President Mugabe said.

He said hydro-power projects were costly to undertake and thanked the Chinese government for funding the extension of Kariba South through a loan facility.

“The implementation of this project is expected to cost a total of $533 million. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Chinese government for extending a loan of $320 million for the implementation of this project. The balance, $213 million, is provided for by Zimbabwe Power Company borrowing from development finance institutions,” President Mugabe said.

“We also need hydro projects such as Batoka and Devils Gorge on the Zambezi River, Gairezi, Tokwe Mukorsi, Kondo, as well as other small hydros, on both existing and proposed national dams. I understand that through such small hydro projects, we can generate a total of 5000MW nationwide. Such a development would provide the nation additional and cheaper electricity for both industry and commerce, and as a result, attract investment to Zimbabwe. We certainly should actively pursue this line of action.”

President Mugabe said government recognised the key role the energy sector plays as an economic enabler.
“For this reason, we have taken great steps to create an environment where participation in the power sector and state owned companies, such as the Zimbabwe Power Company. The regulatory framework and the requisite statutes are in place. This has seen development of power generation projects by independent power producers (IPPs), who, I am advised, are already providing power from small hydro power station generation plants,” he said.

President Mugabe warned that delays in the implementation of public projects as had been the case in the past would not be tolerated.
“I, however, would like to observe that the implementation of public projects has, in the past, been characterized by inefficiency, delays, and lack of commitment, which, cumulatively, have often compromised the cost-effectiveness of the projects. This cannot be allowed to continue. Zimbabwe values the dependable supply of electricity from Kariba Power Station, which has supported the nation’s economy over the past five decades,” he said.

President Mugabe urged the Ministry of Energy and Power Development to ensure Kariba South Extension project is well executed and applauded the Zambezi River Authority for the rehabilitation of flood gates and the remodelling of the plunge pool to ensure it does not become a threat to the integrity of the dam wall.

He bemoaned the theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure saying it was a blow to efforts by government to provide uninterrupted power.

“We are, however, concerned that of late, theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure has been escalated. Thus, as we try to increase power generation and extend the national grid, some elements in our society are hell bent on taking us back. The most effective way of combating this scourge is social policing.

Communities must report the perpetrators of such crimes to the police and other security agents, and the courts must take a dim view of such crimes as provided for in our existing law. Deterrent sentences must be handed down,” he said.

Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire said the construction of Kariba South Power Station Extension would help alleviate power outages.

Several government officials that included Senior Minister of State in the President’s Office Cde Simon Khaya Moyo and Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Lin Lin attended the ground breaking ceremony.

Dr Chimedza

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter—
ABOUT 11,000 people who were tested for HIV since last year have chickened out from collecting their results, according to the National Aids Council (Nac). The statistics were revealed at the Association of Health Funders in Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) all-stakeholders conference that ended in Victoria Falls yesterday.

According to the Nac report that was presented, the 25 to 49 age group has the highest positivity rate at 14 percent followed by those above 50 years at 13 percent.

A total of 196,000 in the 25-49 age group went for HIV tests but only 185,000 collected their results meaning 11,000 do not know their status after testing.

Nac communications officer Tadiwa Pfupa said there are concerns about people not going back to collect their results or not consistently taking their medication. “Some don’t collect their results because of fear while society also is to blame because there is still stigmatisation,” she said.

About 800,000 people are on anti-retroviral therapy and $100 million was used per year to provide for them. 98 percent of the drugs come from donors.

Pfupa said $35 million was collected each year through Aids Levy and plans were underway to ensure ARVs are obtainable at pharmacies to decongest hospitals. It was not clear how much of that was channeled towards the purchase of ARVs.

“Close to 800,000 people are on ART against a target of 1,273,188. This translates to 56.9 percent of people in need of ART against a target of 66 percent per annum,” she said.

There are 668,825 adults on ART and 55,474 children while those in need are 1,152,077 (adults) compared to 121,111 children.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Paul Chimedza said government was working on refinancing the whole health sector.

“We are working on refinancing the health system as we try to revive the sector which took a nose dive in the last few years,” he said.

Ingutsheni Hospital in Bulawayo

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter—
TESTIMONY by a former nurse aide at Ingutsheni Hospital during an inquest into the death of a psychiatric patient who allegedly burnt himself to death last year, has exposed possible discriminatory behaviour by staff at the institution. Rumson Sibanda who worked at the hospital for 37 years revealed this when he was testifying yesterday during the inquest of Trevor Zartmann, 41, a white mental patient who was admitted to the facility.

In his testimony before coroner, regional magistrate Crispen Mberewere, Sibanda told the court that unlike their black counterparts, white patients admitted to Ingutsheni Hospital were not subjected to searches.

“When I reported for duty on March 3, 2013 shortly after 5.30PM, I found three nurses – sisters Moyo, Mkhwananzi and Mutizi – and they indicated to me that there was a new private patient who was transferred from Dawson Ward and his name was Trevor Zartmann. They warned me that he was very violent.

“They then indicated to me that Zartmann had a plastic bag containing his belongings and dissuaded me from touching it. However, under normal circumstances, patients who are admitted to the hospital are searched before they are moved into the wards,” said Sibanda.
Sibanda said: “All black patients are searched before they are moved to the wards, but when it comes to whites they don’t go through that process. I didn’t search Zartmann’s bag because I was told that we were not supposed to search private patients’ bags although it was not proper for Zartmann to keep his belongings in the ward.

“It therefore raises suspicion that an institution like Ingutsheni could allow patients to keep their belongings in their room. It once happened in 1977 when a white patient was admitted to Ingutsheni Hospital and he was allowed to keep his belongings but surprisingly even today nothing has changed.”

Sibanda said he discovered Zartmann’s death while going through the routine check.
“I went to the wards for routine checks at about 7.30PM and found Zartmann lying on his bed but his eyes were still open. At 8.45PM I decided to do another routine check in the wards and at that juncture I sensed that there was something burning in one of the side rooms.

On investigating I found Zartmann lying on his stomach close to the door and his blankets and mattress were burnt and there was smoke all over his room and I informed the matron,” he said.

Sibanda who was the last witness to testify said match sticks were strewn all over the floor. A medical report submitted shows that Zartmann died due to open fire burns, smoke inhalation and asphyxia.

However, his relatives blame the hospital for allegedly causing his death, arguing that there was negligence by the hospital staff.
One of the nurses who testified earlier, Mopha Ncube said he was on duty on the fateful day and gave Zartmann water to bath.

In her affidavit Clara Magagada, the sister in charge of the Dawson Ward said, “Dr Sadoma conducted his routine checks and observed that Zartmann was verbally and physically abusive and ordered that we move him to the Mzilikazi Z Ward. He moved with his clothes, cigarettes, match box and a few groceries because he was being aggressive even to other patients,” she said.

Magagada said she was notified of Zartmann’s death the following morning.
The state led by Jeremiah Mutsindikwa alleges that a routine check was carried out at 7.30 PM last year on March 3 during which Zartmann was alive.

“At around 8.45PM, the nurse on duty doing routine checks discovered that there was smoke coming from Zartmann’s room. He opened the room and saw him lying on the floor on his stomach facing down with no movement. The nurse also discovered that his left side, blankets and pillow were burnt,” said Mutsindikwa.

Mberewere set September 25 as the date for a ruling.

Farai Kuvirimirwa Harare Bureau—
Two Air Force of Zimbabwe officers died yesterday afternoon when a training aircraft they were flying plunged into a squatter settlement next to Charles Prince Airport in Harare. The two AFZ officers were flying an SF260 trainer aircraft when it nosedived at around noon into Willdale settlement in Mt Hampden, killing them on the spot.
No one on the ground was injured, but unconfirmed reports say some structures were destroyed.

AFZ spokesperson, Squadron Leader Simon Matingwina, confirmed the accident.
“The names of the deceased are being withheld and will be announced after their next of kin have been advised,” he said.

AFZ commander, Air Marshal Perrance Shiri, said the news of the accident and death had been received with shock and deepest sorrow.
“We are deeply saddened by the aircraft accident, which has claimed the lives of our officers. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the courageous officers who died in the line of duty,” he said.

Air Marshal Shiri said the cause of the accident would be determined after aircraft accident investigations had been conducted.
He said details of the funerals would be announced in due course.

An AFZ recovery truck arrived and the wreckage of the red and white plane was taken away before journalists were ordered to vacate the area by one Civil Aviation Authority officer identified as Willard Makanha.

Police detectives and senior Air Force of Zimbabwe officers could be seen entering the area that was cordoned off with a yellow warning tape.

AFZ personnel could also be seen collecting the debris of the red and white plane.
Civilians were barred from entering the area including hundreds of residents from the informal settlement who were ordered to vacate the area and stood metres away from their shacks.

In an interview, one of the residents of Willdale, said she heard a loud bang when the plane crashed close to her residence.
“I had to rush and people were afraid to go and assist. In a few minutes the police arrived and the bodies of the deceased were taken away and we were ordered to vacate our houses,” he said.

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO Municipality’s health department has destroyed about 30 tonnes of expired foodstuffs worth thousands of dollars that were being sold by a number of shops in the city. Health inspectors discovered the expired goods during regular inspections on food quality and standards at the business outlets which have also been fined.

The expired goods include margarine, eggs, yoghurt, lotions, and milk products.
The items were destroyed in the presence of the police, health inspectors and shop owners.

In an interview, town clerk Adolf Gusha said their operation was meant to enforce the law.
“Our objective is not to destroy food but we strive to help the public consume non-toxic food. We just want to ensure that all food commodities adhere to Health Act and Food Act,” said Gusha.

He said local authorities have a mandate of overseeing the quality of food sold by shops within their jurisdiction and should from time to time educate businesses on the dangers of selling expired foodstuffs.

“We have a duty to play on safeguarding the quality of food on the shop shelves by checking their shelf life. We do not expect businesses to sell food commodities that have passed their shelf life,” he said.

City health director Zvapano Munganasa said some shops surrendered their expired food stuffs voluntarily and they also witnessed the destruction.
“I think we are doing the right thing because some shops are bringing their expired foodstuffs. However, most of them are caught unaware and these are the ones that are fined. The items referred here date back from January up to June and shows the extent of some businesses’ ignorance on observing food standards. We are only enforcing government laws under the Health Act,” he said.

“Most shops especially, wholesalers would order food commodities in bulk hoping to dispose them before they expire. However, partly because of limited disposable incomes that our residents have, they will not be able to buy them until they pass their shelf life. The business would find it difficult to destroy them and instead put them on the shelves to dispose of them at discounted prices.”

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
THE trial of a teenage hooker who lured a 40-year-old bar patron from Gijima Night Club in Bulawayo to a dark alley for a sex romp before allegedly colluding with her accomplices to rob and fatally attack him, resumed yesterday at the Bulawayo High Court. Prisca Mudyanadzo, 18, of no fixed abode, who was used as bait by a robbery syndicate, jointly appeared before Justice Maxwell Takuva with Maxwell Moyo, 22, of Vundu Flats in Makokoba facing murder charges. The other accomplice, Tafadzwa Hove, died on August 8 in prison prompting charges to be withdrawn against him.

Mudyanadzo, who had initially through her lawyer, Nqobani Nyathi, agreed to remain silent in court, gave her testimony.
During cross-examination by Moyo’s lawyer, Jabulani Mhlanga, the teenage girl staged a dramatic U-turn by turning against her alleged accomplices.

“I was drinking beer with the victim outside the bar while Hove and Moyo were inside the building. The victim later on offered to have sex with me for a fee and we then left the night club intending to go to a lodge.

“However, along the way, my client changed his mind and indicated that he did not have enough money to book a lodge and I then suggested that we go to a nearby recreational park where we started caressing each other. It was during that moment that Hove and Moyo emerged from the bush,” she said.
Mudyanadzo told the court that Moyo struck her client with a stone on the head before, pulling out a knife.

He stabbed him.
“Hove didn’t attack the victim, but he was only holding his hands. It was Moyo who attacked the victim before they searched him and took his wallet containing money. They also robbed him of two T-shirts and a pair of sports shoes,” she said.

The woman denied that she was part of a conspiracy to rob the victim, arguing that she was an innocent sex worker who eked out a living in an “honest manner”.

“I did not lure the victim to the park and neither did I tip Hove and Moyo, but they just followed us. I am a sex worker who raises money in an honest manner. I don’t rob people,” said Mudyanadzo.

When Mhlanga quizzed her why she accepted money from Hove and Moyo if she was not part of the syndicate, she replied: “I was only given $5 which I was offered by Hove and Moyo and I could not refuse the money because I feared they would kill me.”

Mhlanga argued that Mudyanadzo failed to exercise her right to silence because she wanted to incriminate Moyo and extricate herself.
“You realised that you had made a mistake by offering to remain silent in court, but later decided to speak because you wanted to incriminate my client with the hope of going scot-free. You failed to exercise your right to silence as earlier agreed through your lawyer,” he said.

Prosecuting, Angeline Munyeriwa narrated how on July 3 last year, Mudyanadzo, Hove and Moyo were drinking beer at Gijima Night Club when they connived to rob the victim who was not named in court.

“Mudyanadzo who was drinking with the victim colluded with Hove and Moyo and they lured the man to a nearby recreational park for a sexual tryst. Hove and Moyo followed and laid an ambush,” said Munyeriwa.

They pounced on the man and robbed him of $60, a cellphone and clothes.
The trio fled the scene and left the victim lying unconscious. They went to another night club where they shared the money amongst themselves.
The victim was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital where he later died due to injuries he sustained.

A report was made to the police leading to Mudyanadzo’s arrest.
She implicated her accomplices.
Justice Takuva postponed the matter indefinitely.

Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE is likely to receive normal rainfall throughout the 2014/15 season although some areas will experience dry spells towards the end of the season. The Meteorological Services Department forecaster, Linia Mashawi Gopo, yesterday said Zimbabwe would receive normal rainfall in most parts of the country from October this year to March next year.

She said areas in region 1 such as all Mashonaland provinces, Manicaland and northern parts of Midlands were likely to receive normal to above normal rainfall from October to March.

If farmers receive adequate fertilizer on time analysts say the country will record a bumper harvest, more than the 1.4 million tonnes harvested this year. The tobacco output is also likely to increase from the 216 million kilogrammes sold this year and might surpass the 236 million reached by white former commercial farmers in 2000.

This will be another boost for the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation’s “nutrition and food security” cluster that this year registered phenomenal growth.

National food self-sufficiency is a key goal of the economic blueprint, one of whose key clusters identifies food security and nutrition as key drivers of economic revival.

“We expect the bulk of the country to have normal rainfall throughout the season from October to March. Region 1 will receive normal to above normal rainfall with a slight bias towards above normal from January to March, while Region 2, which comprises of Matabeleland North and north western parts of Midlands will receive normal rainfall with a slight bias towards above normal rains from October to January, but as we move into the season we expect a slight decrease in the rainfall from normal to below normal rains,” she said.

Gopo said Region 3 was expected to receive normal to above normal rainfall during the first months from October to January and from January to March would get normal rains with a bias towards below normal rainfall.

Region 3 is comprised of Matabeleland South, southern parts of Midlands south east Matabeleland South and Masvingo provinces.
She urged farmers in Region 1 to increase the area under cropping since the areas were expected to receive normal rainfall.

“Farmers in region 2 and 3 are going to experience a short season hence planting with the first rains is encouraged. They should also stagger the plantings and should prioritise planting small grains,” she said.

“There is need to enhance the rainfall this season, as such the national cloud seeding programme is encouraged. Irrigation is a must for those with access to dams with water. The policies of small dam construction and borehole drilling deepening should continue mindful of changing climate. Those with water should not wait for the main rains to fall but can plant starting end of September as the temperatures will be high enough for crop germination,” she said.

Gopo said small grain seed should be distributed to all regions by the end of September.
“Incentives for maize production for the purposes of grain reserves should be urgently provided rather than wait until the middle of the season.
“People should be warned to refrain from selling maize from the previous season unless they have no choice,” she said.

The forecast for reduced rainfall over Region 3 causes concern especially for people as well as wild animals in the National Parks in Matabeleland and Masvingo provinces hence the need to secure water reservoirs.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union second Vice president, Berean Mukwende, said farmers should not be alarmed by the rainfall forecast, but should keep a normal routine and plant early.

“Farmers should practice conservatory agriculture with minimum disturbance of the soil to keep the moisture,” he said.
He said those in Regions 2 and 3 should rehabilitate their irrigation facilities for use during the farming season. Farmers should continue to listen to daily and fortnightly weather forecasts and rely on Agritex officers for advice.

Last year Zimbabwe received normal to above normal rains, which resulted in the increase in maize production from 785,000 tonnes to above 1,4 million tonnes.

However, there were extreme rainfalls that resulted in floods in Tokwe Mukorsi, mud slides in Domboshava with heavy rains destroying property in different parts of the country.

Harare Bureau
THREE former Air Zimbabwe pilots are battling to recover more than $200,000 outstanding salaries and benefits for the services rendered to the national airline between February 2008 and August 2012. The pilots — Gerald Chiweshe, Sameer Khan and Bruce Thomas — have since left Air Zim for greener pastures but sued Air Zim at the High Court.

They are claiming that the national flag carrier owed them a combined $219,763.76 in outstanding salaries, benefits and allowances.
Initially, the trio had brought separate claims but were later consolidated into a single case for purposes of hearing.

Through their lawyer Advocate Fadzayi Mahere instructed by Coghlen Welsh and Guest, the pilots argued their case before Justice November Mtshiya who reserved judgment to a later date.

The judge requested both parties’ lawyers to furnish the court with written closing submissions before he decides on the dispute.
According to the claims Gweshe is owed $56,511.76 unpaid salaries and allowances for the period stretching from February 2009 to July 2012.
He was employed by Air Zim as a pilot from June1 2003 to August 2012 when he resigned from employment.

Khan who served in the employ of Air Zim as a pilot, in the rank of Captain, from February 2009 to July 31 2012 is claiming payment of $123,473.00 while Thomas is demanding $39,779.00 after repudiating their contracts.

In her argument, Adv Mahere told the court that the critical question, which judge should decide is whether or not the High Court has jurisdiction to determine a civil claim for outstanding salaries, benefits and allowances owing to former workers from their former employer.

She cited several case laws to support her argument. “The competent forum for such a claim to be prosecuted is a civil court,” said Adv Mahere.
“In terms of the Section 13 of the High Court, the High Court shall have full original civil jurisdiction over all persons and over all matters within Zimbabwe . . .” This, she argued that Air Zim lawyers assertion that the High Court has no jurisdiction to determine the case should be dismissed with costs.

Adv Mahere further argued that there was no merit to the Air Zim contention that the three pilots claim was already settled by an arbitrator.
She said the pilots’ case was not premised on the 2003 agreement entered into between Air Zim and the Zimbabwe Flight Crew Association.
“Their claims are based on their individual contracts of employment, which contracts were never under scrutiny before the tribunal.”

But Air Zimbabwe, through its lawyer Ms Gamuchirai Dzitiro of Mutumbwa, Mugabe and Partners opposed the claim arguing that it is purely a labour law dispute arguing that the High Court has no jurisdiction to deal with the dispute as a court of first instance.

“The failure to pay a wage is an unfair labour practice hence a labour dispute to which the High Court has no jurisdiction,” Ms Dzitiro said adding, “The claim should be dismissed on this ground alone.”

She argued that the claim lay in an agreement between the parties to pay remuneration based on an agreement entered into in 2003 following an industrial action by the pilots and their co-workers.

Ms Dzitiro also argued that the dispute regarding the legality and enforceability of the agreement was referred for arbitration by the parties through the Minister of Labour at the time in 2011 and was declared void.

Dr Muchena

Innocent Ruwende Harare Bureau
VICE President Joice Mujuru yesterday challenged researchers in higher and tertiary institutions to come up with research outputs which are relevant to national development. In a speech read on her behalf by Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Dr Olivia Muchena at the first joint edition of the Research and Intellectual Expo — Science, Engineering and Technology (RIE-SET) Week, VP Mujuru said researchers must undertake studies that aim to solve problems facing the country.

“Modern higher and tertiary education institutions can no longer afford to be ivory towers. They have to be seen to be relevant in the national development discourse and agenda. At the end of the day, we are concerned with practical purpose of their research.

“Quality higher education must have a purpose, to the researcher and to society. Quality innovative research must solve problems faced by society,” she said.

She requested the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development to come up with a national research agenda which addresses some of the urgent needs of the country.

VP Mujuru also said research applications in the national development agenda should be guided by the ZimAsset national economic blueprint.
Dr Muchena said VP Mujuru could not attend the official opening due to a family bereavement.

“Vice President Mujuru wanted to be here by she was hit by a double tragedy. Today they were supposed to bury their relative but the plane which crashed at Charles Prince Airport (Harare) claimed another Mujuru,” she said.

In her speech Dr Muchena said the expo provided a platform for sharing knowledge, networking and collaborating by stakeholders in higher and tertiary education in Zimbabwe government and state agencies, industry and commerce, strategic regional and global bodies, local civil society networks, public schools and all higher and tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe.

“Our researchers in various institutions of higher and tertiary education need to be relevant and facilitate the realization of the goals set for science and technology under the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation Programme (Zim Asset).

“It is my hope and expectation that this expo will not be another talk show and we must emerge with a concrete roadmap of research and science and technology that proffers solutions guided by the Zim-Asset economic blue print, reflecting the strong need to fully exploit the internal relationship and linkages that exist between various facets of our economy,” she said.

She said higher and tertiary education institutions have a big role to play in coming up with innovations that can help the industry retool, enhance the country’s competitiveness and stimulate various forms of productivity.

Dr Muchena said she was pleased to observe that since the first expo, which was launched by President Mugabe in 2011, the first two volumes of a scholarly journal have been published containing a selection reearch papers.

She launched The journal of Zimbabwe Studies:Science, Technology and Health and The Journal of Zimbabwe Studies: Arts, Humanities and Education.
The four-day fair which opened on Wednesday this week aimed to showcase creative activity and scholarship in institutions of higher learning.

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
VICTORIA Falls needs a local radio station that will promote tourism as well as tell a positive Zimbabwean story to international visitors for the development of the country. This came out of a Broadcasting Services Authority (BAZ) public hearing held at Elephant Hills hotel yesterday as BAZ chairman Dr Tafataona Mahoso blamed the illegal sanctions for the demise of ZBC and lack of local stations in the resort town.
Victoria Falls residents have access to pirate radio stations — Studio 7, VOP and Short Wave radio as well as Zambian stations.

FairTalk Communications, represented by Cont Mhlanga and Qhubani Moyo, is the only company being evaluated to start a local commercial radio station in the resort town. Relatively new stations Star FM and ZiFM recently penetrated the local area but reception is poor.

Dr Mahoso questioned the Breeze FM directors how they hoped to do better than ZBC in an environment affected by sanctions. This was after Breeze FM CEO Moyo said the absence of a local broadcasting station in Victoria Falls where only foreign stations were broadcasting had motivated them to apply for a licence.

“Victoria Falls is heavily dependent on tourism and very sensitive to embargoes and sanctions. We all know that journalists and NGOs were used to instigate and promote sanctions, which didn’t only affect tourism but destabilised broadcasting,” said Dr Mahoso.

He questioned why Breeze FM directors relied on a research for the establishment of a radio station in Victoria Falls that compared ZBC to pirate stations without making reference to sanctions.

“It raises questions on who framed your questionnaires which compare with ZBC which is a victim of illegal sanctions. What is your view on that as a station and the impact they have because sanctions are there and real?” quizzed Dr Mahoso.

In response, Moyo said the research about Victoria Falls and the need for a radio station was done in conjunction with the Department of Journalism at the National University of Science and Technology.

“There is nothing wrong in comparing ZBC with pirate stations because this research speaks of the atrocities of pirate stations in Zimbabwe. It doesn’t celebrate the demise of ZBC but strives to tell a true local story.

“We are cognisant of the impact of sanctions not only on tourism but on the economy as a whole which is why we have always been on the side of Zimbabwe on the anti-sanctions stance,” said Moyo.

Commissioner Charity Moyo also questioned why the station had indicated that it would employ former ZBC DJ Erick Knight now based outside the country, adding that there were some locals who could be employed as managers instead of him as he left the country 12 years ago.
In response, Moyo said they would invite prospective professionals from the resort town once granted a licence.

He also said they had started engaging the Victoria Falls Municipality for a piece of land to build a state-of-the-art 3D studio.
The station will be broadcasting in about six languages — English, Nambya, Ndebele, Tonga, Chewa and Shona, said Moyo. He said they wanted to come up with a station that would create employment for locals and bring a sense of belonging to stir development.

Members of the public urged the station to employ locals saying it was an opportunity for them to develop while implementing Zim-Asset.
“It seems you do not have a clear gender policy based on the composition of your management, let’s have women and youth empowerment and also employ locals because we have our youths here,” said Khululekile Malunga, a resident.

Dr Mahoso said the commission would be strict with Breeze FM because of lack of competition.
“Here we got one and it is a dilemma for us because we have to evaluate an applicant running against himself. The board has to be thorough because the applicant is competing against himself,” he said.

Chinese ambassador Lin Lin

Takunda Maodza in Kariba—
CHINA will firmly support Zimbabwe in safeguarding her sovereignty and socio-economic interests as the two countries treasure and cherish their historic relations, Chinese ambassador Lin Lin has said. Speaking after the ground-breaking ceremony for Kariba South Power Station expansion project by President Mugabe here on Thursday, Lin said Chinese President Xi Jinping was ready to carry forward the traditional relations between Zimbabwe and China.

“At present, China and Zimbabwe are both at an important stage of national construction, which has brought many new opportunities for the economic and trade co-operation between the two countries,” he said.

“Zimbabwe ranked first in Africa to attract Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in 2013, which reached $602 million and covered a wide range of areas, including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining, tourism and so on. The trade volume in 2013 surpassed $1,1 billion, almost doubling that of 2010.”

Lin said he was happy that Chinese investors were committed to seeing Zimbabwe’s economy recovering to bring about social development.
“Just a few days ago, His Excellency President Mugabe concluded his state visit to China which is quite successful and fruitful in promoting both political mutual trust and pragmatic economic and technological cooperation in many fields,” he said.

“It marks a new start for our bilateral relations. During his (President Mugabe) visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China is ready to work together with Zimbabwe to carry forward our traditional friendship, strengthen cooperation in various fields and continue to be good friends, good partners and good brothers with equal treatment, mutual support, mutual benefit, win-win results and common development.”
Lin said Zimbabwe and China shared similar historical background and enjoyed profound traditional friendship.

“China is ready to work with Zimbabwe to push forward the comprehensive and in-depth development of the bilateral relations, and to further benefit peoples of both countries,” he said.

“As President Xi put it, Chinese will continue to stick to principles, uphold justice, and firmly support Zimbabwe in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and interests of development. The two countries should maintain high level exchanges and enhance inter-party contact.”

He pledged Chinese support for government’s economic blueprint, ZimAsset.
“We should strengthen the exchanges of experience in state governance and administration as well as in reform and opening up,” he said.
“China will support Zimbabwe’s efforts to implement ZimAsset, to develop the economy and improve people’s livelihood. China will continue to cultivate construction talents for Zimbabwe, discuss with Zimbabwe the cooperation pattern and financing channel of reciprocity and mutual benefit, and transfer applicable agricultural technologies to help Zimbabwe increase its agricultural output and income.

“China is ready to take part in the construction of Zimbabwe’s special economic zones and industrial parks, lead the cooperation in infrastructure construction, mining industry, manufacturing industry and other fields, and encourage more Chinese companies to invest in Zimbabwe.”

Lin said Sinohydro, the Chinese company contracted for the expansion of Kariba South Power Station, was a reputable and experienced firm with capacity to come up with a high quality project within the stipulated period. He said the project reflected the strong bond between China and Zimbabwe.

“Over the 34 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two sides have understood and supported each other on issues regarding both countries’ core interests and major concern, and have helped each other in our development progress,” said Lin.

“The traditional China-Zimbabwe friendship is the common treasure of the two countries which we both cherish.”

Nokusa Masuku Chronicle Reporter—
THE majority of children in Zimbabwe are subjected to violence and abuse as a means of disciplinary action at home, according to a survey conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) early this year. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2014 said 63 percent of children aged between one and 14 were subjected to violent disciplinary measures, while 36 percent said they had endured physical punishment, with five percent of them saying the physical punishment was severe.

“The survey collected information on the disciplinary methods used with children aged 1-14 years by adults living in the same household. Sixty-three percent of children aged 1-14 were reported to have experienced psychological aggression or physical punishment”, said the research findings.

Fifty-three percent of children who were interviewed said they had suffered psychological aggression, according to the survey which ZimStat said was designed to collect information on a variety of socio-economic and health indicators required to inform the planning, implementation and monitoring of national policies and programmes for the enhancement of the welfare of children and women.

Hendrix Chigiji, manager tourism and cultural statistics, told Chronicle yesterday that most children had indicated that they were sometimes hit with various objects as a form of punishment.

He said most families were using violent means to discipline their children. “From the information that we gathered from children around Zimbabwe, most of them say they are sometimes hit with belts, hairbrushes and sticks”, Chigiji said.
According to section 53 of the constitution, no one should be subjected to cruel, degrading treatment or punishment.

“No person may be subjected to physical or psychological torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” reads part of the constitution.

His Excellency President Mugabe

Farirai Machivenyika Harare Bureau—
President Mugabe yesterday said pledges made by China during his recent visit have shamed those Western nations that imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe in vain efforts to effect regime change. The Head of State and Government and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces was speaking at the installation of Chiefs Bepere and Chidziva at Murombedzi Growth Point in Zvimba.

“We were in China a few weeks ago and the Chinese promised us help with our various programmes, agriculture or road construction but now we must draw up project proposals and they will help us.

“So they thought we did not have friends and placed sanctions just because we reclaimed our land from their kin. Let them know that we still have friends.
“Anyway our best friends are our people. Our best friends are our supporters who remain steadfast such that their machinations are to no avail,” he said.

Zimbabwe signed nine deals with China where the global giant committed itself to fund viable infrastructure projects in agriculture, transport and communications, roads and railways and energy among others.

China also provided a grant for construction of schools and clinics in resettlement areas.
President Mugabe said the support he continued to receive from Zimbabweans spurred him in defending indigenous Zimbabweans’ right to their land and resources.

He said most Western leaders were afraid of him because of his stance on the country’s sovereignty and right to self-determination.
“So it’s your support, that support, small as I am that the Obamas are afraid of. They invited all the other leaders but said Mugabe must not come. I ask myself but why? Long back at such meetings they were elusive.

“I don’t kill and I am not a witch but your support makes me strong and I will always be by your side. They want a weak leader whom they can intimidate until he bows to their wishes. That will never happen. Don’t they have roots? The English who were here should go back to England, what is their problem? There are planes now that can take them faster than ever before!” he said.

He warned Zimbabweans against entering into partnerships with white former commercial farmers, saying most of them harboured intentions to return.
“Stop inviting these whites back. They will bring tractors and before you know it they don’t want to leave. This is happening but it’s a dangerous, dangerous arrangement which we do not want. If it is contract farming with legitimate companies that is alright but not to allow every white man.

“Some of these whites left with the hopes of returning, leaving their workers telling them they would be back. The workers believed them. We have that information and it is not pleasing,” President Mugabe said.

He also said there was need to complete changing colonial names that still existed in some parts of the country.
“This province was called Lomagundi, how insulting. The white man did not want to pronounce our names properly. They misspelt all our names Makonde, Lomagundi; Chinhoyi, Sinoia; what’s that? Makwiro were the hills of Makwira but they named them Makwiro.

“So our books need to be changed. We changed some of these names like Chinhoyi, Makonde but some remain unchanged,” he said.
Turning to the newly installed chiefs, President Mugabe urged them to use their offices wisely and not to pursue personal interests at the expense of the wider community.

He said the chieftainship was not for the benefit of their families alone, but for every person in their jurisdiction.
“Unite the people not to just respect the house with the chieftaincy. Equality must be practised. Don’t have the tendency to single out the Gushungo as more important than other t otems.

“When people vote for me it’s not only the Gushungos but the whole country from the Tongas, Manyikas, Ndebeles, Karangas all come out in my support as President of the country,” he said.

He warned senior civil servants not to resettle people clandestinely without the knowledge of the local leadership and also urged people to start preparing for the coming farming season

The President had the crowd in laughter when he narrated how his parents got married.
“My father came from Zvimba while my mother was from Chishawasha and she was of the Madyirapanze clan of Gutu. They met at the Mission (Kutama).

They were just told that they were husband and wife. Your wife or husband was chosen for you and you had no say.
“Now today’s young people want to choose partners for themselves – checking the structure, legs. That was not the norm then. Your husband or wife was chosen for you after careful consideration. Had it not been the custom I would not have been born,” President Mugabe said.

Earlier on President Mugabe officially unveiled earth-moving equipment that include a tractor fitted with a grass mower, a bowser, dumper, graders and a tipper bought by Zvimba District Council from the $10 million donated by Zimplats to the Zvimba-Mhondoro-Ngezi Community Share Ownership Trust.

Timothy Makohliso Midlands Reporter—
IN a bizarre incident that has left villagers in Gokwe South shell-shocked, women in Chibarirwa and Demawatema last week woke up without their panties while their babies’ nappies miraculously disappeared. The strange incident was confirmed by Headman Madzivazvido, under whose jurisdiction the two villages fall.

Sources said the undergarments and nappies were found hanging from trees in a bushy area.
They said the bizarre incident is still the talk of the two remote villages.

“The areas are isolated and bushy. There are no homes nearby hence it is difficult to pinpoint someone as the culprit. Some women from both villages claim they just woke up in the morning to find that their undergarments had been stripped off while they were asleep,” said the source.

The source said other villagers said their panties and their children’s nappies vanished from the lines where they had left them to dry after washing.
All victims were later asked to identify their panties, the source said.

“The majority were able to positively identify their clothes and their children’s nappies though all were reluctant to take them as they suspected witchcraft,” said the source.

Headman Madzivazvido said when he received the report, he quickly sought spiritual intervention.
“I received a report about the strange incident last week and we are trying to seek answers from spirit mediums and local prophets in our area. They are telling us that the ancestral spirits are the ones behind the whole issue,” he said.

Headman Madzivazvido, however, said the bizarre incident could be an act of mischief by a naughty villager.
He said he does not subscribe to the notion that ancestral spirits could strip women of their panties.

The village head said when he reported the matter to the police, they told him it needed a cultural solution.
“The police told me they could not handle the matter as they felt no law had been broken. They advised me to deal with the matter culturally,” he said.
This is not the first time that women in Gokwe have lost their panties under mysterious circumstances.

In July 2012, a 62-year-old Gokwe man came out in the open and claimed ownership of a goblin which had been terrorising women in his village by taking off their panties at night while they were asleep.

The man, Lumeck Ncube of Village Charisekera, under Chief Njelele, made the startling revelations at a cleansing ceremony in the village.
The cleansing ceremony, conducted by an inyanga from Hwange District in Matabeleland North and a prophet from an apostolic sect, was attended by Chief Njelele, hundreds of villagers and journalists from different media organisations.

Chief Njelele had invited the traditional healer, commonly known as a tsikamutanda from Hwange District, and the prophet in a bid to bring “peace” to his area after 26 women woke up and found themselves without panties.

It also emerged during the cleansing ceremony that the mysterious goblin had been tormenting women in the villages since 2004.
In another suspected act of witchcraft, a Gokwe man was found in possession of 13 women’s panties and a black mamba during a cleansing ceremony after 13 women from Mubvumbi Village under Chief Njelele in Gokwe woke up without their undergarments in July this year.

Chief Njelele confirmed the incident, saying the culprit, Saviors Nyenyezwa, of the same village, would soon be arraigned before the traditional court for being found in possession of a snake, the panties and other things associated with witchcraft.