HARARE - Zimbabwe has formed two committees tasked with improving the cost and ease of doing business in the country, and also to control inflow of imports.

Industry minister Mike Bimha said the first committee will “identify the causes of increased cost of doing business and other areas which have resulted in the country’s industry becoming less competitive”.

This comes as the country declined two positions to 170 out of 185 countries in a World Bank ease of doing business survey released recently.

Despite the adoption of an economic blueprint, ZimAsset, targeted at unlocking Zimbabwe’s economic potential, the country fared poorly on most indicators, ranking 150 ease of starting a business, 170 on dealing with construction permits, getting electricity 157, trading across borders 167, enforcing contracts 118 and 156 on resolving insolvency.

The country’s trade deficit has also widened to $4,2 billion from $3,7 billion as it remains a net importer.

Bimha said the committee — to be headed by legal practitioner Maureen Chitehwe — would “provide specific approaches and measures required to improve the status quo in line with doing business in the country”.

“We need them to analyse available reports, research studies and data in order to proffer specific interventions and a road map to improve the situation,” he said.

He added that the Chitehwe-led committee should be able to identify the challenges faced in starting a business, sustaining production, getting raw materials and accessing credit lines.

They will also look at the cost of borrowing as well as loans payback periods.

Members of the committee are Brian Kangondo, Adam Molai, Osborne Majuru, Betty Nhachi and Clifford Sileya.

On the other hand, Bimha set up an advisory committee on imports.

The committee is chaired by Mike Nyabadza and includes Tracey Mutaviri, James Maphosa, Eve Gadzikwa and Sibusiso Moyo.

Bimha said the committee will have to establish how goods are currently imported into Zimbabwe, legally or through smuggling, and the quantities involved.

“There has been an outcry in terms of cheap products coming into the country at the expense of local manufacturers. Local manufacturers have been rendered uncompetitive,” he said.

He added that there was a growing concern over importers who use fake licenses, flooding the market with cheap imports.

Bimha said Zimbabwe has been poorly ranked in attracting investment, adding that the country was in dire need of both foreign and local capital, hence the establishment of the committees.

HARARE - Saturday’s Miss Zimbabwe beauty pageant was by far the most innovative and impressive beauty showcase in Zimbabwe’s recent history, even though there is a glaring need to de-militarise the contest.

Even the $300 admission fee could not dampen the spirits of the well-heeled who wanted to witness the crowning of a new Miss Zimbabwe, the vivacious Thabiso Phiri.

Mabvazuva Village, the venue of the pageant, was packed to capacity with the cheering of the apparently tipsy, huge crowd echoing beyond.

It was highly appropriate that such an imaginative event should have been organised in honour of this great nation, given the theme of our heritage, and where we are coming from as a nation.

In all its striking beauty and gilded decoration, the magnificent pageant evoked that very sense of Zimbabwean pride.

It was equally suitable that the pageant would end with the crowning of the smashing Phiri. And the phenomenal success of the event is not just a reflection of our deep affection for beauty, but also a demonstration of how brilliant we still are in Zimbabwe at putting on a show.

Despite the economic decline, nowhere and no one in the world can do pomp and splendour with the same precise magnificence that we can.

No words of praise are too high for the pageant organiser Mary Chiwenga who spent the past year putting the whole event together. That it passed off in such glorious fashion even amid such hardships is a tribute to her vision.

So we can take great pride, not just in the superb organisation of the pageant but also in the huge numbers that turned out to watch, showing those Zimbabwean virtues of cheerfulness, and patriotism.

But there was a downside — the heavy involvement of the military in the pageant.

The army dabbled in the beauty pageant for unknown reasons. Whether it was aimed at showing the army’s human face, or, it’s support for pretty faces, no one really knows, but this is unprecedented anywhere in the world.

The Miss Zimbabwe winner got full honours, with the Presidential Guard escorting her for crowning.

While we have no objection to the presence of the Presidential Guard in full attire complete with swords to give a stately feel to the finale, we take great exception to asking models about military tactics during question and answer sessions.

The Zimbabwe army’s attempt to get involved in beauty pageants raises eyebrows, except if it is aimed at boosting its prestige.

MOGADISHU - Somalia's al-Shabab militants have rounded up around 100 women and ordered them to comply with a strict Islamic dress code or risk being whipped.

The women were arrested in Buale, about 300km (185 miles) south-west of the capital, Mogadishu.

BBC Somali analyst Mohamed Mohamed says it is rare for al-Shabab to carry out such mass arrests.

The al-Qaeda-linked group controls much of southern and central parts of Somalia.

The women were arrested in the market, taken away and warned before being released.

Because it was their first offence, they were not punished but they could be whipped in public if caught again.

Our analyst says the temperature can reach 35C (95F) at this time of year and so many women preferred to wear lighter, traditional clothes than those approved by al-Shabab.

The women were told to wear a niqab, which covers all of their body and face, leaving just a small slit for their eyes.

Al-Shabab, whose name means "The Youth" in Arabic, advocates the strict Saudi-inspired Wahhabi version of Islam.

They have stoned to death people accused of committing adultery and amputated the hands of thieves.

A UN-backed government, aided by African Union forces, has pushed al-Shabab out of the country's main cities but it continues to stage deadly attacks there.

HARARE - The current Brazil World Cup tournament will affect the social life of many Zimbabwean households, for better or for worse, depending on which side you are on.

Every four years, Zimbabweans go crazy when it is time for the soccer World Cup, with life literally changing. For a whole month, lifestyles are dependent on what is happening in the host country.

Popular among Zimbabweans, this particular tournament will be different, because it is happening in Brazil, literally the other side of the world, which have seen many of the games starting very late due to different time zones.

This means the majority of those who watch soccer, will not have excuses to disappear for long periods on end, with the excuse that they were watching World Cup matches with the boys!
Some of the really big games, and most of those featuring African teams, will start late.

If times were normal with the matches happening late afternoon, local bars would be filled with fans singing and chanting in their native languages, cheering as if they were in the stadium. But these are spectators watching the game from thousands of kilometres away.

The pubs will be affected by the match time schedules as not many will be willing to stay the whole night. Watching soccer away from home, with this biting cold weather is unconformable.

The time difference between Zimbabwe and Brazil means Zimbabwean fans will have to stay up until morning, a situation that will result in bleary eyes as they have to report for work or school, what with 43 of the 64 matches taking place during weekdays.

But on a positive note, the local screening times will result in fewer fights over television channels as the World Cup shares the stage with other world class events such as the NBA Playoffs, X Games, US Open Golf and Wimbledon.

In households, there are others who do not like soccer and enjoy watching soapies and African movies, but luckily, most would have retired to bed by the time the matches are screened.

The popular television soap Big Brother Africa (BBA) 2014, which was supposed to be happening now, has been moved to September to accommodate the Fifa World Cup.

Liz Dziva, Multichoice Zimbabwe’s public relations and publicity manager, says organisers of Africa’s most popular reality TV show did not want it to clash with the World Cup.

They decided to move the show (BBA) because holding it at the same time as the World Cup would affect viewership.

With all 64 World Cup soccer matches airing live, a lot of soccer fans will relocate with their blankets to the television room. So it might prove to be a very cold night for most wives.

In several well-to-do households, larger screens have been bought. Just like in 2010 when high definition decoders were sold out, the trend is repeating.

While Zimbabweans would be enjoying watching the tournament from whichever venue they so wish, World Cup screening venues in 10 countries — Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, Iraq, Tanzania, Uganda, Djibouti, Burundi, Ethiopia, Tunisia — face risk of attack, according to Robert Besseling, the lead Africa analyst at the consulting firm IHS Country Risk.

Besseling wrote that there will “almost certainly” be attacks in Nigeria and that “the most likely locations where foreigners will be targeted are Kenya and Tanzania.”

The US embassy in Kenya this month warned its citizens to “exercise caution” at venues with World Cup crowds in the country, which has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks.The British government warned that in Nigeria “terrorists have previously targeted places where football matches are being viewed.”"

Ugandan police and the US Embassy in Kampala have issued alerts about impending attacks.

Ugandan authorities are urging vigilance, and police have been visiting sports bars to check on security measures. Some places were found to have lax security and were threatened with closure, said police spokesman Fred Enanga.

In Nigeria, Defence ministry spokesperson Major General Chris Olukolade said citizens should look out for strange parcels or objects.

HARARE- Twenty-two-year-old Thabiso Phiri was crowned Miss Zimbabwe 2014 on Saturday evening during a colourful pageant held at Harare’s Mabvazuva Village.

Thabiso, who hails from Chitungwiza, shrugged off the challenge from first princess Letwin Chinomona, second princess Tendai Hunda and 12 other beauties.

The People’s Choice Award went to Maita Kainga who was voted for by the rest of the nation who watched the glitzy show on ZTV.

Nineteen-year-old Martha Mangwaira was crowned Miss Legs at the pageant that reportedly gobbled $500 000.

Conspicuous by her absence was Miss Zimbabwe 2012 Bongani Dhlakama who strangely was sidelined by the Mary Chiwenga-led Miss Zimbabwe Trust.

But the night, graced by 450 specially invited senior military figures, government ministers and top businessmen, belonged to Thabiso who has become a regular winner on the Zimbabwean beauty pageant scene in the last few years.

Thabiso took part in the first edition of the Carnival Queen pageant where she was crowned Miss Heritage 2013 in the beauty contest in which Dananai Chipunza walked away with the Miss Carnival title.

On Saturday night amidst the glitz and glamour, Thabiso was clearly the crowd favourite judging by the cheers she attracted every time her name was called out.

Just like in the 2012 edition of Miss Zimbabwe, members of the Zimbabwe National Army were involved in crowning the winner who will represent Zimbabwe at the Miss World pageant to be held in London in December.

Other girls who made it into the top eight were Maita Kainga, Catherine Makaya, Melissa Chikerema, Tendai Hunda, Rairo Gunguwo, Letwin Tiwaringe and Letwin Chinomona.

After the question and answer segment three were chopped off including another crowd favourite Rairo Gunguwo whose failure to answer a few questions undermined her passage into the top five.

The top five were Letwin Chinomona, Thabiso Phiri, Tendai Hunda, Melissa Chikerema and Catherine Makaya.

The judges panel was made up of South Africa-based businessman Frank Buyanga, businessman Kamal Khalfan, France’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Laurent Delahousse, Shirley Chingoka, Laywer Wellington Pasipanodya and Melody Chikomwe.

Miss Zimbabwe 2014, which was attended exclusively by 450 invited guests, turned out to be an event for Zimbabwe’s political and military elite as well as top business people.

Other people in attendance included the guest of honour, Environment, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere who was accompanied by his wife, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi who came with his wife Barbara as well as Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Constantine Chiwenga who was supporting his wife Mary, the chairperson of Miss Zimbabwe Trust.

Also at the swanky event was Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Chief Executive Officer, Karikoga Kaseke along with the Carnival Queen Gamuchirai Kujeke and Miss Carnival 2013 Dananai Chipunza.

GRENOBLE - F1 champion Michael Schumacher has left hospital in Grenoble and is no longer in a coma, his family says.

The 45-year-old has been transferred to Lausanne university hospital in Switzerland, officials there say.

Schumacher was placed in a medically induced coma after suffering a severe head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps on 29 December.

His family thanked people who had sent messages of support, saying: "We are sure it helped him."

They also praised the "excellent job" of medical staff at the hospital in Grenoble, in south-east France.

Doctors had kept the seven-time champion in a coma to help reduce swelling in his brain.

Michael Schumacher had been treated at Grenoble's University Hospital Centre in the French Alps

"Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore," Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, said in a statement on behalf of his family on Monday.

"For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye," she said, without giving further details.

Relatives have previously warned that "it was clear from the start that this will be a long and hard fight for Michael".

The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says the university hospital in Lausanne is one of Switzerland's most renowned hospitals, with all the expertise a patient would need.

But it is not clear what Schumacher's condition is and his process of recovery is still expected to be a long one, our correspondent adds.

Monday's statement was the first substantial update since early April when Ms Kehm said the German racing driver was showing "moments of consciousness and awakening."

Medically induced coma

- Can be induced by powerful anaesthetics and is broadly similar to the sedation and artificial ventilation used during surgery

- Used to shut down many brain functions, lowering blood flow and pressure

- Taking a patient out of an induced coma is a delicate process, especially after a prolonged period of sedation

Neurosurgeon Tony Belli told the BBC that rehabilitation from this sort of injury could take months or years.

"We know that some people can spend three, four years in rehabilitation," he said. "It depends very much on the severity of the injury, how young and fit they are."

Meanwhile, the German football team sent their wishes to the F1 legend from the World Cup in Brazil at the weekend.

Lukas Podolski, the Arsenal striker, told a news conference: "I'd like to greet a good friend, who unfortunately is unable to be here. He is Michael Schumacher.

"He is just as crazy about football as all of us. We wish his family a lot of strength. If we win the title, that would be something that would make him happy."

Michael Schumacher

- Born: 3 January 1969
- First GP win: Belgium 1992
- Last GP win: China 2006
- Races started: 303
- Wins: 91 (155 podium finishes)
- Championships: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

The BBC's James Allen says the reaction from the F1 world has been enormously positive on one level, but the lack of specific details about his condition has left a question mark for many people.

The Mercedes team, for which Schumacher raced in the last three years of his career, posted on Twitter: "Encouraging news on Michael's condition this morning. We couldn't ask for a better start to the week."

Ferrari's Renato Bisignani told the BBC: "My reaction is one of overwhelming joy. There is not one day when we haven't thought of Michael, followed his progress and remembered him."

Investigators probing last December's accident said Schumacher had been going at the speed of "a very good skier" at the time of his crash in the resort of Meribel.

He had been skiing off-piste when he fell and hit a rock, investigators said.

Schumacher retired from racing in 2012 after a 19-year career.

He won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000.

HARARE - Jabulani Sibanda is best remembered for the unsavoury.

He led Zanu PF campaigns in Masvingo and with the finesse of a hardened foot soldier, he delivered constituencies to the ruling party, albeit through violent threats, his opponents say.

But there is more to this sharp-tongued war veteran. He is no saint, but a captivating preacher whose deep knowledge of the Bible left many spellbound.

Deep in Guruve, a downtrodden land, tucked away from the public glare, Sibanda, standing in for Labour minister Nicholas Goche, had the crowd literally eating out of the palm of his hand as he preached the gospel.

On Sunday, over 1 000 members of Habakkuk Apostolic Faith Mission congregated as they unveiled tombstones in memory of the church’s founding fathers and mothers. And there in the thick of things, was Sibanda.

“I know some churches hate war veterans because they accuse us of being violent,” he said in a moment of commeupance.

“But I still go to their churches and sit at the back and hear what the pastor would be saying, because we are God’s people who are going to heaven and know his word,” Sibanda said.

He began his sermon by chiding Zanu PF youths who had chanted party slogans at the church.

“Imi vapfana munoziva Zanu PF. Zanu PF haiite zvemaparty slogans kuchurch. Kana tiri kuchurch tinoita zvaMwari kwete zvemaslogans,” he said.

The moving sermon was hinged on Zephania 3 verse 10.
Sibanda said Africans were looking down upon themselves and this was against the word of God.

“For God said beyond the rivers of Ethiopia lie my people,” Sibanda said.

“He never said beyond Mississippi in America there lie my people, no. He never said beyond the great rivers of Germany, France, Iran, Iraq or England there lie my people, no. But God told Zephania that Africans were his people and I wonder why Africans look down upon themselves when they are God’s people,” said the war veterans’ leader amid ululation and clapping by the congregants.

Sibanda said people have a proclivity of following what they see and not what they are taught at churches.

“God said follow what you are taught and not what you see because the eye loves sin,” he said.

“We have a lot of men who have died because they left behind their wives and children and went and searched kumaAvenues zvinhu zvinofadza meso avo,” he said.

“Kumagrowth point nekumabhawa vasikana vanoziva kuti varume havaendi ikoko kunomwa doro. Vanoziva kuti vanenge vechitsvaga zvinhu zvinofadza meso avo ndosaka vachipfeka maminiskirts,” added Sibanda as the congregants burst into laughter.

HARARE - Switzerland has pledged to help Zimbabwe get re-integrated into the international community after more than a decade of isolation.

Willi Graf, the deputy head of regional cooperation for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, yesterday told journalists that his country was ready to assist the troubled southern African country regain its position in the world economic system.

“We are happy that our relationship has improved significantly over the past few years and since we are a small donor country, our role is to act as a catalyst to integrate Zimbabwe into the mainstream economy,” he said.

Relations between Zimbabwe and Switzerland soured at the turn of the millennium when in 2002 the Swiss Federal Council imposed sanctions on a number of individuals and firms in Zimbabwe, including a prohibition on the supply of arms, the freezing of assets and travel restrictions.

This was after the United States and the European Union (EU) had imposed the restrictive measures on the Zanu PF-led government following allegations of vote-rigging and human rights abuses.

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa said the commencement of negotiations between the two countries was a step in the right direction towards the normalisation of relations between Zimbabwe and Switzerland.

“We are hoping to start step-by-step negotiations towards the signing of a memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation between the Swiss government and ourselves,” he said.

Chinamasa expressed optimism that Zimbabwe will regain her position as favourite foreign direct investment destination in the world with the assistance of Switzerland.

Through the Swiss Development Cooperation, Switzerland is providing more than $18 million annually in form of humanitarian and development assistance in critical areas such as food security, HIV/Aids, water supply and sanitation as well as protection and gender.

Early this year a leading pan-African investment group, Imara Edwards said renewed engagement with the international community and the move by the EU to suspend sanctions against most Zimbabwean officials and some state-linked firms could help the economy to recover quickly.

Tino Kambasha, the Imara Edwards Zimbabwe executive director said timing factors suggest that the country was now at a stage where private investors must take a closer look.

Switzerland is located in the heart of Europe and is almost entirely surrounded by 28 member states of the EU.

However, it is not a member of the EU; instead it conducts its relations with the EU on the basis of bilateral sector agreements.

The EU last year lifted sanctions on the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, a government mining arm, which has allowed it to auction its diamonds in Europe and Dubai.

The bloc will also resume channelling development aid directly to the Zimbabwe government from 2015.

Last week, the International Monetary Fund indicated it was appointing a resident representative in Zimbabwe for the first time in 10 years as the southern African country seeks to mend relations with the lender.

HARARE - CAPS United midfielder Charles Mukanhairi has been hauled before the Harare Civil Court by his girlfriend demanding maintenance for their child.

Mukanhairi’s girlfriend Thelma Batsiao is claiming $250 for the upkeep of their two-year-old son.

She claimed the footballer has neglected his child since he was born.

Batsiao told magistrate Gamuchirai Siwardi that Mukanhairi earns a lot of money from playing soccer and is able to foot the bill.

“He is a soccer player for CAPS United and earns about $600 to $700 per match,” Batsiao said.

“He has a wife but the two have no children together. I am a hairdresser and realise $5 a day. The money I want will cater for rentals, food, medication and clothing for the child.”

Mukanhairi offered $40, saying he earns $300 per month.

“I earn $300 per month and sometimes we do not get paid because of the financial crisis our team is facing,” the footballer said.

“My wife is pregnant and I also take care of my extended family including my grandmother.”

Batsiao queried Mukanhairi’s income and kept on insisting that the footballer earns a lot of money.

Magistrate Siwardi ordered Batsiao to bring the midfielder’s proof of earnings before postponing the matter to today for continuation.

HARARE - Fourteen of the 24 members of the Madzibaba Ishamea Mufani’s Johanne Masowe Church have finally walked out of remand prison after initially failing to raise $100 bail, while 10 of their co-accused were granted bail at the magistrates’ courts.

The 14 appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei for their routine remand hearing yesterday and their next hearing is on July 1.

Ndirowei also granted bail to 10 more Vapositori who were still in custody over the same public violence charges.

The 10, Milton Murinda, Dennis Banda, John Mutasa, Nathan Shamuyarira, Prayer Parira, Gilbert Madyira, Madzimure Madzimure, Darlington Mambayo, Charles Matanga and Alexio Manhanga were represented by Obey Shava and Tawanda Takaendesa.

They are jointly charged with 24 others who were granted bail over the same charges of public violence.

Ndirowei considered the recent High Court ruling on the same case before granting the accused persons $100 bail.
As part of bail conditions, the 10 were ordered to reside at their given addresses and report once a week at Harare Central Police Station.

Allegations against the accused persons arose on May 30 when an entourage led by Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) president Archbishop Johannes Ndanga, that included police officers and journalists, was beaten up by the sect members.

This was after Ndanga had read out a letter banning the church on allegations of abusing women and children.

The congregants challenged the ACCZ leader to read his speech in Shona, claiming they were not familiar with English.

During their bail application, Shava complained about the State’s reluctance to investigate assault allegations which Vapositori raised against the police during their initial court appearance.

He confirmed the release of the 14 and said their wives were making efforts to secure money for the release of the remaining 10.

Shava said the 10 might be released any time soon because there was a well-wisher who had promised to bail them out.
Justice Esther Muremba last week ordered the release of the 24 on $100 bail.

The 24 are Emmanuel Sigauke, 37, Laston Marandure, 23, John Murahwa, 36, Taurayi Supiya, 36, Shadreck Mashonganyika, 25, Robert Paradzayi, 35, Tafa Chakwara, 36, Kudzanai Tichaona Kusekwa, 31, Cabson Chandaona, 43, Alton Makando, 31, Ashton Chinhoyi, 31, Abisha Mutandwa, 30, Brian Machingura, 18, Nathan Muparadzi, 39, Takavengwa Gwenzi, 46, Tichafa Madyegure, 41, Munaro Singadi, 42, Ziwanayi Nyatikonde, 30, Johannes Makumbe, 39, Paul Mupikata, 32, Simango Mharadza, 45, Tachiva Munemo, 37, Regis Bute, 31, and Clephas Muwona.

BULAWAYO - Debate has been raging over what penalty best suits rapists amid concerns that courts have been lenient.

First Lady Grace Mugabe has suggested that men who rape young girls should be beheaded because they have no place in a normal society.

Daily News reporter Dereck Nyathi took to the streets of Bulawayo to glean citizens’ views on what they think the law should do to ensure offenders get a clear message to curb swingeing rape cases. 

Moria Mabaso, 25.

“I support the idea that rapists should be beheaded as most of the victims are young girls who risk HIV infection and enduring life-long trauma.

“Rapists should be given a death penalty because what they do is as good as destroying a young girl’s life. I agree with what Grace Mugabe said because how can a father rape his own daughter?

“Government should not hesitate to introduce harsher sentences. Why should they be allowed to enjoy prison life? They deserve the death penalty.”

Jimmy Ndlovu, 21

“Men who rape are a shame and they should be executed for their wild behaviour. I have seen a lot of articles in newspapers where old men of about 60 years are raping six-year-olds.

“Sentencing that kind of person to a mere 15 years in jail is a travesty. It is unfair for the victim who could have been infected with the deadly HIV virus and pregnant at a very young age.

“I agree with Grace Mugabe, rapists should be sentenced to death.

“A lot of kids have been affected at school. Some commit suicide after they get raped, their lives change totally.”

Bridget Nyoni

“No one is perfect in this world and I don’t agree with the idea of rapists being beheaded because some people rape driven by primitive cultural beliefs.

“Someone visits a traditional healer and he is told if he wants to be cured of whatever disease he should sleep with a minor. The point is, not everyone rapes intentionally.

“It is funny how people would come up with ideas of killing rapists, when they ignore massive corruption that happens in the country.

“They should call for beheading power-hungry people’ who get rich at the expense of other people.”

Melisa Phiri, 23.

“If rapists are beheaded they would simply die without feeling any pain therefore the government is right when they slap them with lengthy prison sentences.

“Rapists should not be sentenced to death but should be slapped with life in prison so that they work hard there and feel the pain that they would have caused their victims. They should be left to suffer in prison until they die there.”

HARARE - Upcoming Bindura-based Afro-jazz musician Partson Never Nguruve has released a DVD compilation album titled Panyaya Dzerudo.

He says the album was poised to rubber-stamp his authority in the music industry.

Nguruve, popularly known as Patso, in the musical dome, is determined to put the small mining town of Bindura on the musical map just like what the late Tongai Moyo did with Kwekwe.

“Releasing a DVD compilation album is a milestone in my musical career and it is my wish to put my home town (Bindura) in the limelight in terms of music,” said the 35-year-old artiste.

The DVD album is made up of 12 videos including Panyaya Dzerudo, Chipoko, Idya Mari and Kumafaro, among others.

The videos reflect the beauty of Bindura and are getting good air play on the local television station, ZTV.

“I am very grateful to the airplay I am receiving from ZBC so far. I hope this will help us to be known in the country hence it will be easier for us to get sponsorship from well wishers as we are struggling to raise money for instruments,” he said.

Born and bred in Bindura, Nguruve’s musical career started in 2005 when he formed the musical outfit Rythm Africa before winning the Chibuku Road To Fame regional competition in 2007.

“We won the Chibuku Road To Fame competition in 2007 in Gleendale and the competition was held between two provinces that is Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West.

“However the final award was won by Romeo Gasa in Harare,” he said.

During the same year (2007), Nguruve released his first and only album Kurarama before concentrating on releasing singles.

In his musical career, Nguruve has shared the stage with most celebrated artistes such as Alick Macheso, Peter Moyo, Progress Chipfumo and Jah Prayzah among others.

HARARE - The prize-giving ceremony for the Miss Zimbabwe 2014 winners has been scheduled for Friday at a venue yet to be advised, according to the trust’s chairperson Mary Chiwenga.

Chiwenga said they would have comprehensive details on the prizes, which include brand new cars by Friday.

The pageant was bankrolled to the tune of $500 000.

“As you know, we already purchased the cars but there are other prizes which we were promised,” Chiwenga said.

“We do not want an event whereby we will say she is receiving a spa voucher without specifics. So by Friday, everything will be in place as well as details of Thabiso’s  programme.

“As the organisers, we will also try to put together some money for her to spend as the queen and she will be operating from our offices. We will also start working on her Miss World preparations and we are sending the DVD of the show to the Miss World organisers.

“Everything is on course and we want to ensure that by the time she goes to Miss World, she will have had enough preparation time.”

HARARE - Miss Zimbabwe 2012 Bongani Dlakama says she was not invited to the Miss Zimbabwe finals on Saturday night.

The beauty queen, who had a difficult reign, says she is not bitter but feels she was unfairly sidelined.

Bongani was the 2012-2013 queen. But there was no queen for 2013-2014.

“I wasn’t invited to the finals,” she told the Daily News.

“In fact, there was never any communication between me and them. All the updates I was getting were coming from the press. I read that they wanted me to contact them if I wanted to be part of the process. No one from the Miss Zimbabwe Trust told me about the show. Maybe if Kiki Divaris was still active, I would have been contacted but there are new people running the show.”

The pageant is now being run by Mary Chiwenga, who is the Miss Zimbabwe Trust chairperson, and former model.

Dlakama said she could not afford the $300 admission, which she said was a top-line ripple for her.

“I did not have the $300 to attend,” she said. “If I had, I would have paid and attended. They said they could not recognise me as my reign had ended in 2013.

“It was their choice not to include me and I cannot be angry at them for that. I cannot force them to recognise me. But my problem is the former Miss Zimbabwe Oslie Muringai-Matsikinyere’s reign stretched like mine and she got to crown her successor.”

Chiwenga said they were starting afresh and that they had no connection whatsoever with people that were running the show before.

“Yes we did not invite her,” Chiwenga said. “She did not try to contact us. The thing is, we started on a new chapter and we have nothing to do with the previous organisers.

“On the crowning, if there had been a Miss Zimbabwe show last year, the winner would have crowned Thabiso but there was not.

“I only had direct contact with Bongani once when she approached me at the Sanganai/Hlanganani Tourism and Travel asking if it was okay for her to wear her Miss Zimbabwe sash for events,” she said.

“I told her that I had no problem with that and that she could do what she thought necessary. When we took over we were starting from scratch, remember me saying that we wanted to bring something new and impressive.

“And according to newspaper reports and responses from people, it was a good event. I am glad that we managed to resurrect it to the appreciation of Zimbabweans.”

The glamorous event was held at Mabvazuva Village on Saturday which saw the crowning of Thabiso Phiri from Chitungwiza.

HARARE - Zimbabwe remains in deflation mode with latest statistics revealing that its annual inflation stood at -0,19 percent in May, gaining 0, 07 percentage points on the April rate of -0, 26 percent.

“This means that prices as measured by the all items Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased by an average of 0,19 percentage points between May 2013 and May 2014,” the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstats) said.

The year-on-year food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation, prone to transitory shocks, stood at -3, 75 percent while non-food inflation rate was 1, 62 percent.

Month-on-month inflation in May was -0, 13 percent, down 0, 71 percentage points on April’s 0, 58 percent.

Economists have predicted that the deflationary pressures are likely to persist unless there is meaningful fresh capital injection into the economy and government implements policies to help the country out of deflation.

“We predict that Zimbabwe will experience deflation over the coming months, with a possible return to inflation in the second half of the year as the South African rand strengthens,” said Business Monitor International, an international think tank.

It highlighted that Zimbabwe’s external accounts remain under pressure due to a massive import bill, lower remittance inflows and insufficient foreign direct investment.

Zimbabwe is grappling with a widening trade deficit hovering at around $4 billion.
 

EDITOR — After silencing renegades who label themselves as the Renewal Team, it is clear that Morgan Tsvangirai has won this battle and will in due course assume presidency.

It has never been questionable that Morgan Tsvangirai enjoys popular support in Zimbabwe.

The Renewal Team had portrayed Tsvangirai as someone who was illegitimately remaining at the helm of the party and therefore had to go by all means necessary.

Thanks to the quick reaction of all those people that chose to remain loyal to their party president.

The de-branding of the Morgan Tsvangirai brand  has really failed and the greatest undoing of the  Renewal Team was their ill-conceived and ill-planned focus on assassinating Tsvangirai’s character .

That many detractors have failed to de-brand Morgan Tsvangirai goes on to show how big the brand has become.

The sacrifice he has made and the amount of harassment, intimidation and personal losses that Tsvangirai has gone through has cemented his place in the hearts of many Zimbabweans.

The Renewal Team has also been heavily undone by its officials who are fronting this campaign as they have shown beyond anyone‘s doubt that they are not cut to the task.

The rebels’ leadership as well as their lack of touch with bread and butter issues affecting people has been their greatest undoing coupled with their love for hate-speech  against Tsvangirai and all those who have stood on the right side.

The love for money and corrupt dealings on the part of people that have flocked to the Renewal Team is well documented as it is in the public domain that they have always been driven by material benefits at the expense of serving the people of Zimbabwe.

The only value the Renewal Team has brought to the movement is that they have awakened Tsvangirai to the need to engage the real owners of the struggle — the people.

Thanks to their ill-fated campaign, Tsvangirai has gone on a tour of the country, re-energising the support base and rebuilding confidence in the masses.

What he now needs to do is to continue engaging the real owners of the struggle, and keep the momentum going for the final onslaught of the regime.  The betrayal by the elite members of our struggle should lead to a critical rethink of the need to go back to the founding values and members of the struggle.

The people’s struggle has always been driven by the working class and it is time that the movement realigned itself on such foundations.

The elite and “Johnny-come-laties” have divided and destroyed the people’s fight and it is my hope that the whole leadership of the party learns that they have to be careful with people whose only interest in this struggle is profit.

Now going forward, the MDC president has to be decisive and firm always reminding himself that it is not everyone who wishes him well in this fight to remove Robert Mugabe.

Morgan Tsvangirai has to soldier on and deliver the people of Zimbabwe from untold suffering and abject poverty that the Zanu PF administration has condemned all of us to.

*Chinoputsa is an MDC National Youth Executive Member and is writing in his personal capacity.

HARARE - We join the nation and the journalism world at large in congratulating Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court for unanimously ruling that the draconian criminal defamation law infringes on people’s freedom of speech and therefore is not a justifiable law in a democracy.

In a case brought by two independent media journalists, the full bench of nine Constitutional Court judges said criminal defamation must be struck off the statutes whereupon they invited Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa to defend the law if he wished before the court passes a final declaration.

And the nation, especially the journalism fraternity, prays that Mnangagwa will concede and make sure the law is buried forever and in the process Zimbabwe will join the rest of the world in outlawing this archaic piece of legislation.

Criminal defamation is an ancient law abused by well-connected individuals and the powerful in society to punish perceived enemies.

In the case of Zimbabwe, the law was being abused by the powerful and well-connected to silence journalists and deter them from pursuing investigative stories.

In the landmark ruling welcomed by the nation, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku partly said:

“...Consequently, I am satisfied that the offence is not reasonably justifiable in a democratic society within the contemplation of Section 20(2) of the former Constitution.

Accordingly, it is inconsistent with the freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 20(1) of that Constitution.”

“They have (journalists) succeeded in demonstrating that the offence of criminal defamation is not reasonably justifiable in a democratic society on any of the grounds mentioned in Section 20(2) of the Constitution,” he said.

We also tend to agree with the minister of Information, Jonathan Moyo, who has been vocal against criminal defamation, saying he was concerned that the law was still being used in a democracy like Zimbabwe.

He said: “We have previously placed on record that in our view, criminal defamation is not only outdated and incompatible with the values and ideals of the liberation struggle with respect to human rights and freedoms but also, and more importantly, criminal defamation is inconsistent with our new Constitution.

“In this connection, we are of the firm view that a criminal defamation charge cannot be sustained in the courts and should therefore be removed from our statute books in order to align the law with the new Constitution and to avoid wasting of police resources and time over a matter that has no constitutional basis.”

It is against this background that we believe the independence of the judiciary is alive and well in Zimbabwe. It is high time aggrieved persons used civil courts to settle matters with journalists or approach the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe for arbitration.

LONDON - For a successful democracy, it is fundamental to have a free and impartial judiciary.

In this country, perceptions of the judiciary have been coloured by suspicion of allegiance to Zanu PF.

President Robert Mugabe has appointed the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, judges of the Supreme Court, Judge President and judges of the High Court after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

To some, these have just been political appointees meant to protect the interests of Zanu PF..

In some cases, the actions of the judiciary, particularly against the opposition, seemed to lend credence to these perceptions of bias.

In a democratic society, functions of the judiciary include implementing the rule of law through the interpretation and application of law and passing impartial verdicts.

The judiciary interprets the Constitution and protects the rights of the majority.

In the past few months, these functions have, rather pleasantly, manifested in an unprecedented manner.

A number of landmark judgments have been passed protecting citizens’ rights.

Rights have been categorised as civil and political rights on one hand, and economic social and cultural rights, on the other.

The recent ruling against the use of criminal defamation falls under the protection of civil and political rights.

The Constitutional Court unanimously ruled that criminal defamation must be struck off the statutes because it was not a justifiable law in a democratic society.

In a unanimous ruling after a case brought by journalists, the court ruled that criminalising defamation violated people’s freedom of expression and muzzled the media.

A civil suit for damages adequately protected defamed people.

The journalists were accused of breaching Section 96 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, a charge also brought against the editor and a journalist at one newspaper.

The ruling should sound the death knell for this odious law.

The fact the judges alluded to incompatibility of the law in a democratic society suggests that democracy — once a most loathed concept by Zanu PF — is now a veritable national aspiration recognised by our judiciary.

But this was not the only  ruling recently. Perhaps, a judgment that passed with little notice regarded the outlawry of municipalities’ tendency to disconnect water supplies for defaulting residents.

However, it is quite significant.

A second generation of rights — economic, social and cultural rights — has evolved in international law.

These rights have increasingly been embraced by national constitutions of many countries, including our own.

They include the right to water, food, education, adequate housing and so on.

However, debate about this group of rights has centred on whether they are justiciable; in other words, can economic, social and cultural rights be subject to judicial enforcement.

In the local sense, the High Court broke new jurisprudential ground by pronouncing that such rights are indeed justiciable.

In a landmark ruling recently, the High Court described as illegal Section 8 of the Water By-law Statutory Instrument 164 of 1913 which empowers local authorities to cut off water supplies arbitrarily in the absence of a court order.

The court stated that Section 8 was in breach of Section 77 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which classifies clean water and food as basic rights.

The fact that the courts have found defamation antithetical to free speech and the right to water justiciable, in accordance with the new Constitution, means Zimbabwe could be falling in line with growing trends in international law.

As long as the judiciary remains impartial, hope exists that Zimbabwe would become a truly democratic country which respects the rule of law.

Other recent judgments include Constitutional Court ruling in favour of Women of Zimbabwe Arise and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights which ordered the State to ensure that all holding cells had clean and flushing toilets with toilet paper and washing bowls.

Whatever perceptions we may have held, on account of the recent judgments, the judiciary deserves our full praise.

MPEKETONI - At least 12 women were abducted during the latest attack on Kenya's coast, which also left 15 people dead, residents have told the BBC.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has blamed "local political networks" for the overnight raid on two villages near the town of Mpeketoni.

But Somalia's al-Shabab group had earlier said it was behind the attack.

At least 49 people died in a separate raid on hotels and a police station in Mpeketoni on Sunday.

Al-Shabab said it was revenge for the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia and the killing of Muslims.

Kenya sent troops to Somalia in 2011 to help the weak UN-backed government defeat the militants.

'Politically motivated'

The attacks were "well planned, orchestrated and politically motivated ethnic violence against the Kenyan community", President Kenyatta said in a national address on Tuesday.

"Evidence indicates that local political networks were involved in the planning and execution of a heinous crime," he added.

He did not give further details of the suspected attackers. However, he said the police in Mpeketoni were given advance intelligence about the attack, but did not act on it.

The Kenyan Red Cross says around 50 people are still missing from Sunday's raid on Mpeketoni. The body of a 49th victim was taken to the town on Tuesday.

"There's no time to mourn, we're just burying [the victims]," a resident told the BBC's Anne Soy in the town.

Al-Shabab fighters have carried out a number of deadly attacks in Kenya in recent months

"We raided villages around Mpeketoni again last night," al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

He was later quoted by the AFP news agency as saying that the militants "have been going to several places looking for military personnel". He said most of those killed were police officers and wildlife wardens.

New tactic?

Kenyan police said the gunmen raided two villages in the Poromoko district near Mpeketoni late on Monday.

The authorities said the militants jammed a telecommunication system before the killings to prevent villagers from raising the alarm.

In Sunday's attack, al-Shabab appeared to target men, in many cases leaving their wives and children unharmed.

The BBC's Dennis Okari in Nairobi says this would be a new tactic for the group.

Mpeketoni, near Lamu Island, is not a tourist resort. It appears the attackers were not interested in foreigners or their interests, our correspondent says.

After last year's Westgate attack in Nairobi - al-Shabab's most deadly raid in Kenya - the group received a lot of criticism for killing women and children.

For fear of losing support from sympathisers, perhaps there is a change in the style of attacks and targets are more profiled, our correspondent says.

Kenya has been on high alert recently following warnings that al-Shabab was planning more attacks.

The US and UK have issued advisories to their nationals to keep away from parts of the Kenyan coast and hundreds of British tourists were evacuated last month.

Last week, the UK closed its consulate in the port city of Mombasa.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi government forces are engaged in heavy clashes with Sunni insurgents who have made major advances in the past week.

Parts of the city of Baquba - just 60km (37 miles) from Baghdad - were briefly taken over by the rebels.

Reports say 44 prisoners were killed during fighting at a police station in the city.

The US is deploying up to 275 military personnel to protect staff at its huge embassy in the capital.

The prime minister of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, Nechirvan Barzani, has told the BBC he thinks Iraq may not stay together as Sunni areas feel neglected by the Shia-dominated Iraqi government.

He said it would be very hard for Iraq to return to the situation that existed before the Sunni militants, spearheaded by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), took control of the northern cities of Mosul and Tikrit in a rapid advance last week, and Tal Afar on Monday.

Government sources say Baquba - capital of Diyala province on the northern approaches to Baghdad - saw Sunni rebels take control of several districts on the western outskirts of the city before these were regained by government troops and allied Shia militia.

The 44 prisoners died in an overnight assault by the rebels on a police station in the city, security officials report.

Accounts of who was responsible differ, with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's security spokesman saying the prisoners were killed by the attacking insurgents, and other officials reporting that they were killed by security forces while attempting to escape.

Richard Galpin, BBC News, Baghdad

Sources in Baquba have told the BBC that people there are frightened and some have started leaving after the Islamist militants took control of several districts.

Baquba is filled with soldiers and a large number of Shia militiamen who are reported to have pushed the gunmen out.

The jihadists from ISIS already control several towns in the area and now are targeting Baquba - the provincial capital and the last city or town before Baghdad, which lies just an hour's drive away along a major highway.

The situation along the frontlines north of the capital had been quite static for several days, but the militants and their allies amongst the Sunni community are on the move again.

At Tal Afar, a strategic city west of Mosul in the province of Nineveh, there are reports that reinforcements have arrived to boost government forces trying to recapture the town from rebels. The Iraqi air force is said to have been carrying out strikes in the area.

The city of 200,000 people, which has a mixed Sunni and Shia population, lies between Mosul and the Syrian border and was taken just before dawn on Monday.

In Anbar province to the west of Baghdad, Sunni militants shot down a government helicopter near the city of Falluja, and say they destroyed several tanks in fighting there. They also say army forces fled from a military base near Ramadi, the provincial capital.

Qasem Suleimani, the commander of an elite unit of Iran's revolutionary guards, is reported to be in Baghdad, helping military leaders and Shia militias co-ordinate their campaign against the rebels.

In Anbar province to the west of Baghdad, Sunni militants shot down a government helicopter near the city of Falluja, and say they destroyed several tanks in fighting there. They also say army forces fled from a military base near Ramadi, the provincial capital.

Qasem Suleimani, the commander of an elite unit of Iran's revolutionary guards, is reported to be in Baghdad, helping military leaders and Shia militias co-ordinate their campaign against the rebels.

ISIS controls the northern cities of Mosul and Tikrit

In Vienna, US officials held brief discussions about Iraq with their Iranian counterparts at a meeting about Tehran's nuclear programme, but American officials have been quick to dismiss reports of military collaboration with a major foe.

In a letter to Congress, US President Barack Obama said the 275 military personnel being sent to Iraq would protect US citizens and the embassy in Baghdad, and would remain there until the security situation improved.

President Obama has already ruled out sending in ground troops to fight alongside Iraqi government forces, but drone strikes remain a possibility.

The aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush has been deployed to the Gulf, along with two other US warships.

'War crimes'

The United Nations says that ISIS fighters have carried out hundreds of summary executions since their offensive began last week, and Sunni militants have posted photos online appearing to show fighters massacring captured Iraqi soldiers.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was deeply disturbed by the reports of probable war crimes, "terrorist attacks" and other atrocities.

He told reporters in Geneva there was "a real risk of further sectarian violence on a massive scale in Iraq and beyond its borders", and called ON the government of Prime Minister Maliki to take a more inclusive approach.

ISIS in Iraq

ISIS has 3,000 to 5,000 fighters, and grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in Iraq

Joined in its offensives by other Sunni militant groups, including Saddam-era officers and soldiers, and disaffected Sunni tribal fighters

ISIS has exploited the standoff between the Iraqi government and the minority Sunni Arab community, which complains that Shia Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is monopolising power

The organisation is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, an obscure figure regarded as a battlefield commander and tactician