HARARE - Zimbabwe wasted a good opportunity to assume total control of Group G when they allowed Congo to come back and rescue a point during yesterday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier.

The Warriors are now on four points in the group from two matches and remain in first place only on goal difference ahead of second-placed Democratic Republic of Congo, who also drew 1-1 away to Liberia last night.

Had they won yesterday’s match, Zimbabwe would have gone two points clear at the top of the group with four more rounds of action to play.

Congo are in third place with only a single point while Liberia anchor the group also on one point. 

The Warriors had taken a first half lead through Khama Billiat at the Stade Alphonse Massamba Debat in Brazzaville.

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Sunday Chidzambwa’s side went on to create a number of good chances but failed to increase their tally.

In the second half, it was a completely different encounter as the Red Devils took the game to the Warriors and duly equalised five minutes after the break through their Turkey-based star forward Thievy Bifouma.

After some nervy opening exchanges, the Warriors opened the scoring in the 22nd minute following a good team move.

Billiat started the move when he ran at pace at the Congo defence before finding Evans Rusike with a neat through ball.

Rusike did well to release captain Knowledge Musona, who had made a dart into the right side of the Red Devils’ box.

Billiat had continued with his run and was at hand to meet Musona’s cut-back before scoring with a rising finish that beat the home side’s goalkeeper Chnasel Massa from point blank range.

After the goal, the Warriors were all over the Red Devils but failed to turn that dominance into goals.

Just before the half hour mark, Musona should have made it 0-2 but missed a good chance when the warrior shad caught Congo on the break.

Once again it was Billiat at the heart of the move when he won possession during a Congo shot corner kick that went horribly wrong.

The Kaizer Chiefs forward combined with Kuda Mahachi, who in turn released  Rusike on the right side.

The Red Devils were expecting an offside flag which did not come and Rusike sent in a cross for the unmarked onrushing Musona.

The Anderlecht forward’s first-time shot was saved by Massa.

The ricochet fell kindly for the Warriors captain but he inexplicably directed his second effort wide with Massa only to beat.

It proved to be a costly mistake as in the second half, Congo were a completely different team swarming the Warriors goal at ease in search of an equaliser.

The home side was duly rewarded in the 50th minute when Bifouma got to the end of a beautiful through ball from Merveil Ndockyt inside the box.

Bifouma did well to shield the ball away from Zimbabwe defenders before firing in a low shot past goalkeeper George Chigova.

Moments later, Junior Makiese came close to giving Congo the lead but his curling shot from the edge of the box went over the bar with Chigova scrambling.

At that stage, the Red Devils were now all over the Warriors with Bifouma causing all sorts of problems for the visitors.

As pressure increased on the Warriors backline, Makiese went down inside the box following a challenge from Alec Mudimu.

Luckily for the visitors, South African referee Victor Gomes waved play on much to the disappointment of the home side’s fans.     

In a rare attack in the second period, Musona almost restored the Warriors’ lead when he got to the end of a cross from Billiat but his shot was again saved by Massa.

TEAMS    

Congo: Chansel Massa, Dimitri Bissiki, Garcia Nkoura, Marvin Baudry (Varel Rozan 20m), Fernard Mayembo, Francoeur Kibamba, Merveil Ndockyt, Thievy Bifouma, Delarge Dzon, Junior Makiese, Carof Bakoua (Junior Loussoukou)

Zimbabwe: George Chigova, Teenage Hadebe, Eric Chipeta, Alec Mudimu, Devine Lunga, Marshall Munetsi, Danny Phiri, Khama Billiat (Talent Chawapiwa 85m), Kuda Mahachi (Tafadzwa Kutinyu 62m), Knowledge Musona, Evans Rusike.

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HARARE - Beitbridge-based cleric Grace Marwa, has just released a book titled Percept of Marriage: Distinct Fundamentals of marriage, Recompense Marital Traits.

The title also captures the message of Genesis 2:18; “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” (King James Version).

Marwa, the founder of the Arise Deborah Arise campaign, says the book is expected to reassert the sanctity of marriage.

“Society has deteriorated so much in terms of its moral fibre and I felt that it was time to go back in time and examine what the Bible itself says about marriage. Most marriages fail today because people have forgotten why they married in the first place.”

To begin with, the writer tries to define the term marriage and also attempts to locate the source of breakdowns of these unions. She defines marriage as a union of two people

“Marriage is a union of two people. It is a bringing together of two different characters, the culture of accepting the weakness and strength of both partners.” (p3)

She, however, notes that marriages that last have their foundation in God. “The revelation of marriage began in the mind of God, when He brought forth the first marriage into being through Adam. Woman was created by God for Man to accurately assess her potential in the life of a man.” (p3)

Today, we read of many divorces, with some being taken before the courts. The author tries to look into the causative features of divorces, some of which she believes find their source in the crisis of expectations.

“Monumental betrayals, history of hurts from the past, broken trust on daily dishonesty contributing to desperate decision and placing the relationship at risks. Most couples transfer potent feelings, needs, beliefs and expectations from negative introvert perception on marriage. Whether the influence is from friends, economy, toxic advice, old age pressure, relatives, loneliness, we are all aware how there might be dysfunctional patterns, realities in a matrilineal circle but we let them ruin over our choices and perception towards marriage.” (Preface)

However, Marwa believes lasting marriages are still possible as long as it has a strong foundation.

“In construct, marriage is an inner and outer bond of two partners, regulates the perceived mismatch between demands, expectations, affections and resources.” (p3)

The 33-page booklet almost becomes a manual or guide for marriage and is invaluable for all those who wish to establish long-lasting relationships that are fortified by faith in the Word.

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HARARE - Veterinary Sciences student Belinda Potts was crowned as the new Miss World Zimbabwe beauty queen at this year’s edition of Miss World Zimbabwe national competition held ddat Orchid Gardens in Domboshawa on Saturday.

The pageant proved to be one of the worst in the history of pageants in the country; it was poorly organised and marred by sound glitches.

Miss World Zimbabwe pageant licence holder Marry  Chiwenga resigned from the day-to-day running of the annual event a couple of months ago, giving her team the mandate to run this year’s event which turned out to be a joke. The team has let down Chiwenga.

The team opted for musicians who charge low for their shows in form of Zimdancehall chanter Killer T and rising sungura musician Tendai Dembo and his Barura Express which grossly compromised the quality of the event.

Killer T failed to rise to the occasion during the event. He performed Kufamba KwaPaurosi and Taramba Hondo off his latest album Mashoko Anopfuura but the act was disastrous.

As if this was not enough, the presenter, Karen Paida, was contacted on the eleventh hour by the organisers — Miss Zimbabwe Trust — to host the red-carpet event, but thank God she tried her best.

“Yes, I got contacted today (Saturday),” Paida confirmed to the Daily News.

Nevertheless, Potts who hails from Masvingo, landed the esteemed title after shrugging off stiff competition from 13 other contestants, among them Patricia Muchenje and Kuzivakwashe Mujakachi who were adjudicated First and Second Princess respectively.

Tall and confident, Potts’ triumph comes along with

$20 000 in winnings, new wheels in form of Kia Picanto, an all-expenses-paid trip to China and a ticket to represent the country at the 68th edition of the Miss World pageant scheduled for Sanya, China on December 8.

“I am so happy to land this title. It did not come on a silver platter but I have been working towards this since I was 16,” said the 21-year-old beauty queen.

However, the Mazowe Veterinary College student has no driver’s licence. She will only drive the Picanto after acquiring the required papers.

It was a double joy for Canada-based model Mujakachi who won two titles on this red carpet event: Miss Personality and Second Princess. The first and second princess titles came with $5 000 and $10 000 respectively.

The First Princess got $15 000.

Other contestants were: Yolanda Warambwa, Bridget Vambe, Gracious Manyanhaire, Nyasha Katozo, Yollanda Chimbarami, Musawenkosi Dhlamini, Courtney Matende, Ivy Mupararano, Francina Katuruza, Concilia Karemba and Wendy Maturi.

Sitting on the judges panel were Helga Mubaiwa who was the chief adjudicator, Frank Buyanga, Denny Marandure, Judith Gwasira and Ali Asidi.

Despite the steep entrance fee of $300, all the tables were occupied making the place too small that some guests struggled to find somewhere to sit.

Some of the notable guests included Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his wife Marry, his counterpart Kembo Mohadi, police spokesperson Charity Charamba, CAPS United Football Club boss Farai Jere and Harare socialite Wicknell Chivayo among others.

Guests came with all sorts of posh cars from the Ferraris to Range Rovers of this world.

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HARARE - The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe has increased visibility in most rural areas, after canvassing the country's 10 provinces, teaching mobile network providers' consumers on their rights.

The telecommunications regulatory authority invaded the Midlands Province area last week, conducting educative road shows in various places.

Talent Munyaradzi, an official with Potraz said road shows are part of a programme started in 2016 to enable the regulator to engage service providers’ consumers in order to educate and understand them better and create rapport.

“The road shows started in 2016 and so far we have managed to cover all the provinces but we have some pockets that have been left in districts. This whole week we have been covering the Midlands Province,” he said.

Munyaradzi said in terms of Section 4 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act, users of mobile networks are entitled to know their rights.

“So we are trying to accomplish that provision,” he said.

Some of the consumer rights, according to the statutes, are, to do with right to choice, disclosure, access to high quality service, privacy, protection against market abuse, safety and education and awareness among others.

Munyaradzi said since 2016, the response has been overwhelming, as people have started raising sticking issues of concern with their mobile network providers.

“The reception is good, we have also seen an increase in the number of people that are seeking redress from service providers,” he said.

According to the regulator, some of the crucial issues that they identified through the road shows, include the need by mobile network providers of the need to educate users on issues to do with mobile insurance, among other issues.

“We were also educating the consumers on children’s rights on the internet on issues to do with cyber bullying, receiving threatening messages and blackmailing,” he said.

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HARARE - Zeco Holdings (Zeco) shareholders on Friday resolved that directors of the engineering company should not be paid fees for the year ended December 30, 2017.

This comes as the company’s performance has been persistently depressed for a decade, recording only losses since dollarisation in 2009. Its stock price currently anchors the local market with a value of $0,0002 after slumping from $0,024 in March, 2009.

Zeco shareholders met for the company’s eighth annual general meeting last week, where the approval of directors’ fees was one of the items on the agenda. It was proposed and resolved that the board not be paid.

The company says it is optimistic that the new government will usher in an environment which will bring better fortunes for it.

“Companies like Delward Engineering rely heavily on entities like the National Railways of Zimbabwe, so we are very happy about the resuscitation of that entity and we look forward to the economy recovering in this new dispensation, we are looking forward to a new dawn,” Marshal Jonga, a non-executive director at Zeco, told the meeting.

Zeco board chairperson Philip Chiyangwa said the company saw some performance improvements in its subsidiary, Crittal Hope, during the year ended December 31, 2017. He said the subsidiary’s performance was, however, affected by foreign currency shortages, adding that it is envisaged the subsidiary will perform better going forward.

“The industry was affected by increasing cost of raw materials due to foreign currency shortages. Positive performance is expected in 2018 due to a further improvement in the political and economic environment,” he said in a statement accompanying the company’s financials.

“Remodelling the subsidiary’s business is now more realistic given the improvement in the new dispensation,” the flamboyant businessman said.

The company says it plans to roll out new product lines that will include handy tools and farming implements. It says it has started filling up vacant positions in the organisation in preparation for the anticipated increased production.

During the period, the company has also been one of the least valued on the local stock market, with a market capitalisation of less than $100 000.

The company reported a loss of $2,13 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.

— The Financial Gazette

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HARARE - Zimbabwe's troubled insurance sector has been urged to embrace digital transformation and use data insights to reduce fraud and increase penetration rate.

The country’s insurance industry is still reeling from hyperinflation, which happened a decade ago and wiped out people’s savings resulting in a low penetration rate.

In the past few years, the industry has also struggled with increasing cases of fraud that include fictitious car accident or death claims, exaggerated claims and backdating of insurance claims.

Blessmore Kazengura, the acting Commissioner of Insurance, Pension and Provident Funds, said technology such as blockchain could help to instil confidence in the troubled sector, which has remained trapped in the past.

“The truth is that we cannot ignore the wave of technological change and assume that the local insurance industry will remain a virtual island in a sea of technological change.

“Insurance is an international business that transcends boundaries, hence the need to be on the watch-out regarding developments in the international markets,” he told delegates attending a breakfast meeting last Friday.

With the youths making more than 60 percent of the world’s population there has been a major shift in client demographics, behaviours and expectations.

Kazengura said agile insurance players have observed the shift in population demographics and consumer tastes and have leveraged technology to create new insurance products, services and business models that are tailored to the demanding needs of growing digital customers.

“Technology is changing business models in both positive and disruptive manner. It is, therefore, imperative that we stay as relevant as possible for our continued existence and development of the sector. In fact, we should be first followers of those insurance markets that have become first movers in terms of technological innovation in insurance delivery,” he said.

The IPEC boss said his organisation was supportive of innovation among its players since it is good for competition and insurance inclusion.

“As you may be aware, the local insurance penetration, which is around 4,7 percent is on the low side given the potential impact of digitisation in increasing insurance penetration.  One interesting fact to note is that Bitcoin has overtaken insurance penetration in many African markets.

“For instance, in Nigeria, the penetration of Bitcoin is at  three percent against insurance’s one percent. This is despite the fact that there are no brokers and agents for cryptocurrency and consumer protection laws in place.

“Therefore, the uptake of Bitcoin demystifies the perception that there is no market for insurance in Africa and Zimbabwe in particular. Thus, the low penetration of insurance can thus be tackled through digitisation,” he added.

New Finance minister Mthuli Ncube concurred with Kazengura and said it was important for regulators to embrace and encourage technology and innovation. — The Financial Gazette

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HARARE - First Money Microfinance Services (FMFS), a fintech with seven branches nationwide, has launched a debit card in partnership with StewardBank.

The innovation called iSave debit card allows customers of the microfinance institution, which was formed two years ago, to transact on all Zimswitch point of sale (POS) machines.

Key iSave debit card features include: no minimum monthly salary required, no monthly service fees, monthly transaction limit of $3 000, access to Ecocash mobile wallet services and access to Mobile App and online banking.

FMFS chief executive officer, MacJones Hunduza, told the Daily News that they have come up with the iSave debit card as part of efforts to promote the financial inclusion of vendors and unbanked citizens.

First Money chief executive officer MacJones Hunduza (third from left) with some guests during the launch of  the iSave debit card

“This innovation demonstrates how committed we are to lead in the digital money space in this cashless economy and how we seek to drive forward the financial inclusion agenda. Financial inclusion is at the heart of what we do,” said Hunduza.

The FMFS chief executive officer added that FMFS, which is owned by United Kingdom-based private investors, recently received capital injection from the wholesale Zimbabwe Microfinance Fund.

According to FMFS operations manager Andrew Munonagira, the fintech offers a range of financing solutions which include working capital loans, group loans, medical, educational, agriculture and bridging loans to micro enterprises and individuals including vendors.

“Our main aim is provide access to affordable, convenient and reliable services to financially excluded communities country wide. We have come up with the iSave debit card in line with our thrust to help those traditionally shunned by banks. We introduced this unique debit card in response to a huge demand from customers generally not catered for by banks,” he said.

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HARARE - Former Higher and Tertiary Education Jonathan Moyo minister has turned against his one-time ally and former first lady, Grace Mugabe.

Yesterday, Moyo turned his guns on Grace, accusing her of lacking leadership qualities and singing for her supper by praising President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

This comes after the former first lady showered praises on Mnangagwa for chartering a private plane to fly her from Singapore where she was receiving treatment to attend her mother’s funeral.

A grovelling Grace described Mnangagwa as heaven-sent and urged her former allies in the now defunct Generation 40 (G40) faction who are still sulking to accept the leadership of the man who removed former president Robert Mugabe from power through a soft coup last November.

However, this did not go down well with Moyo, a former G40 kingpin, now living in self-imposed exile since the military intervention last year.

In a statement released to a private online publication, Moyo said:

“It is an absurd corruption of public morality, values and ethos for Mrs Mugabe to claim that Mnangagwa’s gesture to hire a fancy private plane to fly her from Singapore and to pay for her mother’s funeral constitutes a political paradigm for the country to move on. Narcissism cannot be the basis for politics”.

He said while the former first lady was well within her rights to thank Mnangagwa for assisting her family at a time of need, she had “no rhyme or reason or right to turn that into a national cause”.

Moyo said Grace had no basis to claim that she was most affected by last November coup because there were certain people who suffered more than her.

Several government ministers who were loyal to Mugabe went into hiding following the military intervention, with Moyo, former Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and Mugabe’s  nephew Patrick Zhuwao going into exile.

“Does she care about how these victims of the coup have fared since that fateful November day? What does she think moving on means for these people?”

“Does she think it just means hearing that she has been flown in a fancy private plane by Mnangagwa, who also ordered the government to foot the bill of her mother’s funeral? Is that what it is all about?

Has Mrs Mugabe thought about how Mrs Munetsi and her family struggled to bury her husband?” he added.

Moyo also condemned the August 1 killings of unarmed civilians by soldiers saying it was a continuation of the military takeover of State power that started in November, questioning whether Mugabe had given that incident and those affected a thought.

“The demonstrators were protesting the election theft that was underway on that day, does Mrs Mugabe know the names of these victims?

Does she know how the massacred victims were buried? Did Mnangagwa provide transport to these victims? Did he pay for the funerals?” said Moyo.

Continuing his discrimination against Mnangagwa’s presidency, Moyo said Mugabe can move on with Mnangagwa, but the people are not going to be part of that movement. He said Zimbabweans are moving in a different direction because their vote was stolen.

“Their compatriots were murdered in cold blood and some were maimed; and their livelihoods were destroyed, he added.

“Decent Zimbabweans want to see justice done; and they want to see the people’s vote respected.”

Moyo advised Mugabe to understand that there’s need for mutual respect to enable mutual understanding, and the basis for that is respect for the country’s new Constitution enacted in 2013.

“Mugabe is free to associate and support Mnangagwa or whomever she chooses as her constitutional right, but other Zimbabweans will also exercise the same right using the same freedom without reference to her.”

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HARARE - MDC Alliance elections official Morgen Komichi’s trial in a case he is accused of disputing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (Zec) election results announcement has been set for October 3.

Komichi is being charged with contravening 186 of the Electoral Act which criminalises interrupting, obstructing or disturbing proceedings related to the announcement of the results and believes the Con-Court’s outcome may directly affect his criminal prosecution.

He was represented by Obey Shava when he appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzayi Mugwagwa yesterday.

Prosecutor Sabastian Mutizirwa advised the court that investigations in the matter had been completed and trial would commence on October 3. Mutizirwa alleged that on August 2 Komichi was at Harare International Conference Centre waiting for announcement of the 2018 poll results by Zec.

The court heard that during a break Komichi went to the podium reserved for Zec commissioners and grabbed the microphone before announcing that MDC Alliance disputed the election results.

It was alleged that Komichi said the results were flawed because MDC Alliance election agents were not asked to verify them. Komichi is alleged to have interrupted the electoral process by saying: “I did not sign those results, so the results are fake. The results have just been printed and they have not been verified by the polling agents.

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HARARE - A tribunal constituted to investigate former Prosecutor-General (PG) Ray Goba’s suitability to remain in office will no longer proceed to hear his case after he tendered his resignation.

This effectively means that Goba is now off the hook.

In July this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa set up a three-member tribunal led by retired judge November Tafuma Matshiya to investigate Goba’s suitability.

Other members of the tribunal were Takawira Nzombe and Wendy Chingeya.

But before the tribunal could commence its work, Goba tendered his resignation, which was subsequently published in the Government Gazette last Friday.

This paves the way for the appointment of a new substantive PG. Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told the Daily News during a ceremony to swear-in ministers at the State House yesterday that the probe into Goba will no longer be taking place.

“There is no need (for the tribunal to hear the matter). The reason why the tribunal was appointed was to look into the question of his suitability to continue in office, once he resigns, there is no need to proceed with an academic exercise that will not yield anything.

“So, the effect of that Gazette is to notify the JSC (Judicial Service Commission) that they now have a vacancy and it’s JSC which now has to call for nominations and then interviews will commence. So, the ball is now in the hands of JSC to initiate the process,” Ziyambi said.

Goba was suspended in July this year following a slew of allegations ranging from his alleged failure to prosecute high profile corruption cases to allegedly using abusive language and leaving the country without Cabinet authority.

Following his suspension, Kumbirai Hodzi was appointed acting PG, pending the outcome of a tribunal, which has now been halted owing to Goba’s resignation.

Section (259) (7) of the Constitution says a PG can only be removed from office by a tribunal, after a judicial inquiry.

The complainant in Goba’s matter was Ziyambi — whose wife Florence, was said to have had several run-ins with the former Prosecutor General.

Florence, who was Goba’s deputy, was in March shunted to the Office of the President and Cabinet, where she now works from as a government lawyer.

Goba was initially fired from office last year by former president Robert Mugabe, who rescinded his earlier appointment to the substantive post of PG via a shocking extraordinary gazette which was signed by the chief secretary to the president and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda — who ironically had earlier issued the previous gazette confirming his appointment.

The suspended PG was at the time viewed as sympathetic to Mnangagwa, who previously held the dual roles of vice president and Justice minister — before his powers were initially whittled down by Mugabe in a Cabinet reshuffle before being fired later from both the government and Zanu PF in late 2017.

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HARARE - The  National Social Security Authority (Nssa) is conducting door-to-door inspections of companies within the Midlands and Mashonaland West provinces.

The process, which started yesterday, will be completed on Friday.

In the Midlands, Nssa inspectors will cover Gweru, Kwekwe and Kadoma, while companies in Chinhoyi and Kariba will be visited in Mashonaland West.

“The objective of this exercise is to ensure that all employers are compliant with the Nssa Act and that all employees in the country are covered under the Social Security Schemes,” reads part of the statement issued by Nssa.

Nssa said it is encouraging all employers in arrears in terms of contributions and premiums to contact its offices to arrange acceptable payment plans.

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HARARE - MDC youths leader Happymore Chidziva said the on-going clampdown on opposition party members will not silence them from demanding President Emmerson Mnangagwa to address the issue of legitimacy.

This follows the arrest of several MDC activists and officials before, during and after the July 30 harmonised polls.

Recently, Chidziva was given a $100 bail after he was arrested for allegedly inciting supporters of the opposition party to commit public violence ahead of the elections.

He was ordered to report once a fortnight at Machipisa Police Station in Harare’s Highfield suburb.

Regardless, the Highfield West legislator said he is ready to take Mnangagwa head on to solve the issue of legitimacy.

“As youths, we are not going to be silenced by anyone. For now, we are waiting to hear from our president Nelson Chamisa who is going to be installed soon. We are not cowards. We cannot allow them to have elections which bring more problems than solutions. We want to stop this as youths,” Chidziva said at a rally in Chitungwiza last weekend.

“We are going to get signal from the people’s president on what we are going to do next. We are ready to implement any sort of action our leaders instruct us to do.
All youths must be ready because we do not have time before we take action against this evil regime.”

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HARARE - ZB Financial Holdings (ZB) has committed itself to playing a part in the promotion of health, education, arts and culture as well as environmental sustainability in the communities they serve.

The diversified banking institution’s chief executive officer (CEO), Ronald Mutandagayi, made the remarks at the weekend after making a variety of donations to St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre, The Albino Trust as well as Tariro: Hope and Health for Zimbabwe Orphans.

“As a corporate citizen we recognise that being a responsible business is integral to our success and that of our customers, shareholders and communities we serve.

“We at ZB believe it is everyone’s responsibility to look after the less-privileged of our society and to help each other as the Zimbabwean family,” said Mutandagayi.

As part of ZB’s corporate social responsibility, the bank donated a desktop computer and a laptop to St Giles, a desktop computer and a printer to the Albino Trust while Tariro received $1 000 to be used to stock the institution’s library and buy sanitary pads.

Additionally, ZB has pledged to mobilise its stakeholders donate used books or new books to be presented to the Tariro Library under a campaign themed “Bring a book and build a future.”

Mutandagayi urged Zimbabwean companies have a moral duty to assist the less-privileged.

“I therefore call upon other companies and organisations to consider setting aside a  portion of their profits to alleviate the plight of those in places such as St Giles, members of the Albino Trust and Tariro and those who are being catered for by other organisations,” said the ZB CEO.

St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre is an organisation involved in the rehabilitation of both adults and children with all types of physical disability while the Albino Trust is a youth-founded and led organisation which advocates for the rights and welfare of persons with albinism in Zimbabwe.

On the other hand, Tariro: Hope and Health for Zimbabwe Orphans is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering and educating girls and young women in order to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids in the high density suburbs of Harare.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe has signed an integrated transport management system, which seeks to bring together five key elements of road policing, efficient use of national infrastructure and coordination of information among relevant government departments.

The development also comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has set out to provide efficient government services — in line with its “open for business” mantra — and by adopting policies that can help eliminate corruption, and economic growth in the country.

With some aspects of the revolutionary Zimbabwe Integrated Transport Information Management System (Zimtis) on display at the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID)’s Zimbabwe Agricultural Show stand recently, Transport secretary George Mlilo said the new system is aimed at fostering efficiency and eliminating corruption.

“We have a lot of operations within the transport system, like the VID, Central Vehicle Registry and all these have been working individually. With the new management system, these are being integrated to speak to each other,” he said.

“This is in relation to how many vehicles are licensed, how many are on the road, they will also communicate information about how many have passed on tollgates. That information is now on one system.”

Mlilo noted that the system, which is already operational within several government departments, was delayed by a cumbersome procurement process of software from international companies.

Zimtis, which is being spearheaded by a private company, will result in improved cooperation and information sharing between five key departments or law enforcement agencies such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s traffic department, VID, CVR, revenue body the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration and even the computerised issuance of learner’s licences.

And observers say the development will go a long way in “taming the jungle that is the country, especially Harare’s roads sometimes and stamping out corruption at the VID”, which former Transport minister Joram Gumbo once bitterly complained last year.

The digitalisation of the key department will also ensure that Zimbabwe has “competent and qualified drivers on our roads”.

Albert Mugabe, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) chairperson, said the new integrated transport management system was a vital cog in the tool box of road safety management.

“With an integrated traffic management system, traffic safety council will be able to make tracks of driver behaviour through the recordings of traffic fines and would also allow us to effect the point system for transgressions by motorists on the road,” he said.

Mugabe noted that TSCZ will also be in a position to take appropriate remedial action against serial traffic offenders and unlicensed drivers.

“Unconfirmed reports suggest that a vast number of accidents are occurring where motorists neither have licences nor insured and the victims of these accidents have no recourse, being medical care or in the event of burials,” he said.

National police spokesperson Charity Charamba concurred with Mugabe and said the new system will strengthen crime monitoring on the roads.

“It becomes easier to identify criminals as opposed to identifying them manually,” she said.

“It will also improve the efficiency of police duties on the road, say someone has been involved in an accident without a licence, it will become easier to apprehend such. The system will also reduce cases of corruption as most processes will be done electronically, so the earlier the system is fully implemented the better,” she added.

Zimtis was demonstrated at Harare Agricultural Show where six computers with touch screens were on display and where people could do a computerised learners licence. Stand visitors were able to experience the future and do an actual test and complete it, and immediately get a result of pass or fail. No interventions by an examiner, hence zero room for “negotiation”, bribery or corruption.

Also on display was the new eye testing devise and capturing unit that would firstly certify the goodness of one’s eyesight before taking the electronic test, and all identification details or particulars of prospective drivers are to be captured through the system - and thus eliminating the need for photos, and hand-written documents, according to VID officials at the stand.

Zimbabweans are not only upbeat and enthusiastic about the new technology, and especially when the Zimtis would be implemented, but it would seem the Transport ministry has taken a leaf or cue from Mnangagwa’s spirited calls for programmes to eliminate corruption and truly ensure that “Zimbabwe is open for business”.

Just recently, Mnangagwa decried “reckless driving” on the country’s roads and suggested “offenders must be punished” after 13 people were killed at the 152-kilometre peg on the Harare-Bulawayo highway.

“Ensuring that all drivers on our roads are licensed correctly and there is accountability is the only way to curb these accidents that cost not only life and limb, but also hundreds of millions dollars a year and leave families without bread winners and loved ones,” he said.

Hence, Zimbabwe’s Transport ministry has not only “been applauded for taking such a bold, innovative and progressive step” through Zimtis, but the country can easily provide efficient services and attain its easy-of-doing business goals if other departments follow the same route.

— The Financial Gazette

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HARARE - A soldier reportedly murdered his workmate during a heated dispute over a child’s paternity, a court heard yesterday.

Taguma Chakanyuka who is stationed at Manyame Airbase appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa charged with the murder of Constantine Tapiwa Mudanda.

Chakanyuka was not asked to plead to murder. He was remanded in custody and advised to apply to the High Court for bail due to the severe nature of his charge.

Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa told the court that on Friday last week at around 10pm, Mudanda started boasting that one of Chakanyuka’s children is not his.

Mudanda reportedly boasted that he fathered Chakanyuka’s daughter.

The court heard that a misunderstanding ensued between the two, but they resolved it while they were in the bar.

Moments later, the court heard, Mudanda confronted the accused again on the same sentiments.

“This did not go down well with the accused person, who confronted the now deceased and assaulted him with open hands and booted feet,” said Mutizirwa.

Mutizirwa said the drunk Mudanda fled from the bar and Chakanyuka pursued and caught up with him where he continued assaulting the deceased with booted feet and open hands.

“The accused left the now deceased unconscious and retired to his quarters. The now deceased sustained some severe injuries on his head and body,” he said.

The prosecutor told the court that Mudanda was found unconscious the following morning before being taken to hospital to seek medical attention.

“He was pronounced dead on arrival,” Mutizirwa told the court.

The court heard that Chakanyuka was caught on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance cameras committing the offence and the video footage is being held as exhibit.

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BULAWAYO - In a case reminiscent of the former president Robert Mugabe era, where several citizens where dragged to court for undermining his authority, a commuter omnibus driver here, David Ndlovu, has been arrested for insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Ndlovu, 31, who was arrested on Friday and spent the night at Bulawayo Central Police cells appeared in court the following day before magistrate Gladmore Mushowe facing charges of disorderly conduct in a public place.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody. He is set to appear in court today (Tuesday) for commencement of trial.

Ndlovu of Sauercetown suburb is being represented by Dickson Abraham of Tanaka Law Chambers who was seconded to the case by the Christian Legal Council.

According to the State papers, on September 6 at Puma Service Station situated at corner Lobengula Street and 6th Avenue, the complainant Sibekezile Jele, a nurse aide in Hillside approached a vendor intending to buy paraffin.

The State papers noted that Jele queried that the paraffin was too expensive. The accused person then interjected and said in Ndebele language, Wena hantso wavota wathi ED Pfee, sizabona ukuthi inja yenu leyo izalenzelani (loosely translated to mean you voted for ED, we will see what that dog of yours is going to do for you.)

The complainant immediately proceeded to Mzilikazi Police Station where he made a police report. A follow up was made leading to the arrest of Ndlovu.

However, in his warned and cautioned statement, Ndlovu denied the charge.

“I was talking to my friend called Banda, who is a paraffin vendor. I greeted him saying ED Pfee. That’s how we greet each other,” Ndlovu said.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and star player Sikandar Raza appear to be finding each other again in the aftermath of a minor fallout that saw both parties washing their dirty linen in public recently.

Raza has been one of the few success stories on the local front and leading exemplary on the field with both bat and ball but almost cut short his international career when he decided to play in the Canadian league without getting clearance from ZC.

As a result, he missed the Zimbabwe home triangular series against Australia and Pakistan as well as the One Day Internationals against the later in Bulawayo.

ZC on the other hand in a bid to guard against player power, denied to renew the Pakistan-born cricketer’s central contract.

In a Twitter rant, Raza then made damaging allegations that the newly appointed ZC acting-managing director, Givemore Makoni had a vendetta against him.

“I have been informed by my agent that the new acting MD…Makoni will not offer me a contract and I will not be considered for selection for SA (South Africa) and Bang (Bangladesh) tour. Reasons for that are still unknown to me and hopefully I or my agent will be informed of those soon,” Raza tweeted.

“Hope this answers the question to so many who have been asking regarding my availability. In..Allah I will keep working hard and I remain available and committed and hopefully will be back soon.”

ZC then released a statement slamming the player for taking contractual matter into the public domain.

As the saga threatened to degenerate into total chaos, Raza then helda meeting with ZC board chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani in Bulawayo.

“Travelling back to Harare, I met with the chairperson of ZC to discuss the best way forward. I can happily say a lot of good things came out of the meeting and I am confident that this matter will be resolved sooner rather than later in sha Allah. Thank you all for prayer and support,” Raza said on Twitter.

Makoni yesterday told the Daily News that he does not have an axe to grind with Raza but ZC was simply setting an example on how centrally-contracted players must behave.

“There’s no bad blood between the youngster and me; you can ask him about that. The main objective of the whole thing is to make sure that we are sending the right signal to our players and whoever would want to play for Zimbabwe,” Makoni said.

“It is not meant to punish the player, we don’t gain anything from doing that. Raza is one of our top players, he was the standout performer during the ICC Qualifier and we need him in the team and that is why we are desperate to say you cannot play in a certain league at a certain time when you are supposed to be representing your country.

“But a player — no matter how good or bad — simply has to show respect for the contract that he signed and adhere to that.

“The issue of his contract is not cast in stone it is being looked into and a position should be made known during or after the tour of Bangladesh.”

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HARARE - A Harare man yesterday narrated how businessman Frank Buyanga allegedly fraudulently processed change of ownership of his house before selling it behind his back, a court heard.

Buyanga had advanced a $19 000 loan to Steven Nyoka and recommended title deeds of the man’s Mabelreign house as surety before selling the house to a third party.

However, Buyanga is not the one being charged for the fraud but a property manager, Bishop Jeche, 45, and his company (are charged) for allegedly lying that they had become property owners after buying the house at $35 000 from Buyanga.

According to a Deed of Transfer allegedly doctored by Buyanga during the sale of Nyoka’s house, the businessman misrepresented to have bought the $130 000 property for a paltry $19 000 and later sold it to Jeche at $35 000.

“I now stay at 204 Mazowe Road after being evicted from my Mabelreign house in 2015 by East River Properties. I applied for a loan from Buyanga and the procedure was that as part of requirements for collateral security he would send evaluators to assess the value of your property before concluding…

“At that time he sent Akim Ndlovu and Simon Chareva and after the assessment I was told that I should pay $250 for paperwork and that failure to meet the loan repayment period he would extend time on terms that the interest would also increase,” Nyoka said.

Nyoka told the court that he was made to sign an agreement of sale purporting that he had sold his house to Buyanga before being advised that the document was meant to protect the businessman’s interests since he was not authorised to give out loans.

“I paid interest of $2 000 for two months as agreed and was going to pay a further $1 000 the third month when I met other people who had acquired loans from him who urged me to check the ownership status of my house saying their own houses had been moved into Buyanga’s name,” added Nyoka.

“When I went to check I discovered that my house had been changed from my name into Buyanga’s Orton Drift company on March 10, 2010 and when I confronted him he chucked me out and said I had sold him the house.”

Nyoka said he was shocked at the development because Buyanga had never engaged him during transfer of the property as required at law.

He said it was not possible that he could have undervalued his $130 000 property to $19 000 as purported by the doctored Deed of Transfer.

In his defence, Jeche is challenging any documents that link him to the offence and said Nyoka ought to follow the law in invalidating the disputed title deeds.

Jeche said Nyoka was evicted following a High Court order and said he was never involved in the transfer of the property to Buyanga’s Orton Drift company.

According to State papers, sometime in August 2009, Nyoka entered a loan agreement of $19 000 with Frank Buyanga and his company Orton’s Drift Properties.

The terms of the loan were that an interest of 10 percent per month would be paid together with the capital within three months.

However, since Buyanga’s company was not registered money lenders the loan agreement was to be concealed by disguising it through a simulated agreement of sale of Nyoka’s house number 6 Danbury Avenue, Mabelreign in Harare.

The complainant was made to sign a power of attorney to pass transfer, a declaration as seller and acknowledgement of receipt of the $19 000.

It was alleged that Nyoka then tendered his title deeds as security of the loan.

According to State papers, Nyoka was made to believe that the signed documents were for securing the loan only and this arrangement allegedly happened to many people who later reported cases of fraud against Buyanga.

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HARARE - The outbreak of cholera which first hit the capital city at the beginning of this month has spread to four other provinces.

As a result, government has activated its emergence response systems in a bid to contain its spread.

The death toll from the infectious disease caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called vibro cholera hassince risen to 16 from five as of Thursday last week.

A total of 1,007 suspected cases have been recorded, with 136 new cases reported as of Sunday, of which 39 cases were confirmed.

The director for epidermiology and disease control in the ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Portia Manangaziratold the Daily News yesterday that the outbreak had indeed spread to the Midlands, Mashonaland Central, Masvingo and Manicaland provinces.

She appealed to members of the public to ensure that all drinking water is made safe by either boiling or chlorination with either of water guard, aquatabs or household jik.

“We also urge the public to avoid consuming food prepared in unlicensed premises. They must also avoid open urination and defecation, and use toilets for both urine and stools to curb spread of both typhoid and cholera,” said Manangazira.

Government has since pressed the panic button, with its national taskforce meeting in Harare yesterdayto ensure surveillance, case management and mitigation response measures are well executed.

The taskforce met along with the inter-agency coordinating committee on health,MoHCC and ministry of local government.

The team from the Local Government ministry comprised representatives from the Harare City Council as well as from the Department of Civil Protection.

“MoHCC is coordinating the national response while Harare Health department coordinates the Harare outbreak,” Manangazira said.

She said people who suspect to have been infected with cholera must present themselves early to their nearest clinic or treatment centre.

“They should also prepare and drink salt and sugar solution or oral rehydration salts even as they prepare and are on their way to the treatment facility to avoid dehydration. This is because death from cholera is from extreme dehydration caused by the severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

“Additionally, when handling sick or deceased relatives, use gloves and disinfect their clothes vomit or stool first before touching or cleaning, and afterwards wash hands thoroughly with soap. If not sure get help from the community health worker or clinic staff,” she said.

To raise awareness of the severity of the cholera outbreak, the ministry of Health has begun sending public service announcement smses to best practices of how to avoid the disease and manage it before going to clinics.

The latest outbreak is a clear indication that Zimbabwe has failed to put in place measures capable of subduing cholera.

At the beginning of this year, the small town of Chegutu was hit by the infectious disease which left five people dead, with Zimbabwe reported at the time to have been a victim of the contagion effects of a Zambian outbreak which forced the temporary closure of the border linking the two countries in the run-up to Christmas last year.

In April, three people were admitted in Chitungwiza after the dormitory town was put on high alert following 11 recorded cases of Cholera outbreak.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae. It is an extremely virulent disease that causes severe diarrhoea.

The diarrhoeal disease remains a global threat to public health and an indicator of poverty and lack of social development.

It takes between 12 hours and 5 days for a person to show cholera symptoms after ingesting contaminated food or water.

Researchers have estimated that every year there are between 1,3 million and four million cases, and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths worldwide due to cholera.

Previous researches have shown that the Zimbabwean government’s failure to avail potable water, proper sanitation or safe alternatives has driven the public into using contaminated sources of water, as well as defecating in open spaces.

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HARARE - Zanu PF bigwigs who failed to make it in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Cabinet including former Home Affairs minister Obert Mpofu have been redeployed to work for the ruling party on a full-time basis.

The decision was taken at yesterday’s Zanu PF politburo meeting held at the party headquarters in Harare yesterday.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the decision was meant to keep the party sound by ensuring that some of its cadres remain domiciled in the party while others concentrate on government business. 

“The politburo has reassigned some comrades to work full time at the party headquarters to ensure that the party continues to function smoothly as others concentrate on government business,”  Khaya Moyo said.

This comes amid reports that the Zanu PF politburo merely rubber-stamped a proposal by Mnangagwa to allow some senior officials such as Mpofu and others who include Khaya Moyo, Zanu PF legal secretary Paul Mangwana, former Foreign Affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, former Information minister Christopher Mushowe, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association spokesperson Douglas Mahiya, and youth league deputy secretary Lewis Mathuthu to work full-time at the party, joining national commissar Engelbert Rugeje with full ministerial benefits.

Insiders also told the Daily News that former chief whip in Parliament, Lovemore Matuke, who was appointed deputy Labour minister will be replaced by youth league leader Pupurai Togarepi.

Former Senate president Edna Madzongwe who is a member of the politburo on the other hand was left in the cold after her position in Senate was given to former National Assembly deputy Speaker Mabel Chinomona amid allegations that she was paying for her relationship with former president Robert Mugabe.

Mugabe was forced out of power last November to pave way for Mnangagwa’s rise to power.

While Mugabe’s ouster by his former ally with the help of the army was acrimonious, Mnangagwa and his former boss seem to have found each other again after the 94-year-old threw his weight behind opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa who went on to controversially lose the presidential election in July.

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