HARARE - Zimbabwean Brendon de Jonge finished tied for 28 with a score of seven-over 287 at the US Open at Pinehurst, North Carolina on Sunday after a poor third and final round.

The 33-year-old from Harare has a reputation for poor play on the weekend, so it was a developing story when he charged up the leaderboard with four birdies and two bogeys over his first 11 holes.

After just 36 holes, de Jonge was in the top 10 on the leaderboard eight strokes behind runaway leader Martin Kaymer.

However, de Jonge reverted to his old self we have grown accustomed to seeing over the years, in the final two rounds.

In the third round, the Zimbabwean squared three bogeys and a double bogey over his final seven holes as he dropped on the leaderboard signing off a card of one-over 73.

It got worse for de Jonge with a four-over 76 in the final round.

In the end, Kaymer coasted to his second major victory by eight shots ahead of Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler of the United States.

Five ahead at the start of another humid day, the 29-year-old German left his closest pursuers trailing in his wake as he closed with a one-under-par 69 on the challenging Pinehurst No 2 Course.

Kaymer, whose first major win came at the 2010 PGA Championship, mixed two birdies with one bogey in the last six holes on a layout where danger lurked at every corner to post a nine-under total of 271, the second lowest ever at the event

“To win one major is already very nice in your career, but to win two, it means a lot more," Kaymer, who took a stranglehold on the championship by firing successive 65s in the first two rounds to lead by six shots, told reporters.

"Even though I don't feel like I need to prove anything to a lot of people, somehow it's quite satisfying to have two under your belt. I played really, really well on Thursday and Friday and that gave me a really nice cushion.”

HARARE - Despite having a single album to  her name, songbird Pamhidzai Tracy Mbirimi, aka Pah Chihera, has scooped the Zimbabwe International Women’s Award (Ziwa).

She bagged the award on Saturday at an event held in the United Kingdom.

The Runonzi Rudo singer expressed gratitude to fans who voted her as best musician ahead of Shingisai Suluma, Tariro Negitare and Tendai Nelson.

“I am happy to receive the award and I want to thank my fans for supporting me to achieve this,” she said.

Pah Chihera is set to receive the award in August when will tours the United Kingdom together with other local artistes such as Sniper Storm and Quonfuzed among others.

“We are going to perform in Manchester, Coventry and London from August 1 to 3 and that is where I am going to receive my award,” she said.

In March, the former Prince Musarurwa backing vocalist’s video Runonzi Rudo was voted the best music video on the Zimonline Radio Awards.

Currently Pah Chihera is putting final touches to her second album which is expected to hit market shelves around December.

On the same awards, renowned author Tsitsi Dangarebgwa and actress Danai Gurira were voted author and actress of the year respectively, while Makosi Musambasi was voted media professional of the year.

Daily News columnist Pamela Samusuwo is the fashion designer of the year while Tsitsi Masiyiwa is the inspirational woman of the year.

Ziwa awards were founded in 2013 to celebrate and recognise the unsung heroines in the Zimbabwean community. Women who have made a contribution to our community from entrepreneurship, business, education, social, charity, humanitarian work, entertainment and arts.

Below are the finalists of Ziwa 2014;
Panel award — Maud Chifamba
Author of the year — Tsitsi     Dangarebgwa
Actress of the year — Dananai Gurira
Blogger of the year — Cynthia Moyo
Musician award — Pah Chihera
Media professional of the year —   Makosi Musambasi
Community Champion of the year — Gail Mawocha
Professional woman of the year — Rumbidzai Bvunzawabaya
Fashion designer of the year — Pamela Samusuwo
Lifetime Achievement — Doctor Enour Guti
Sportswoman of the year — Kirsty Coventry
Young achiever of the year — Scola Dondo
Peoples’ choice — Chiedza Badze
Motivational Speaker — Stephanie Gillian
Inspirational Woman of the year — Tsitsi Masiyiwa
Entrepreneur of the year — Langa Sibanda

HARARE - Chengetedzai Depository Company (CDC) is now conducting trials of the central securities depository (CSD) system as part of efforts to fully automate trading on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) by year end.

CDC – a company formed to establish and operate the CSD for Zimbabwe’s securities industry – won the right to establish the depository in December 2010 in a tender from the Securities Commission of Zimbabwe (SecZim).

SecZim chief executive Tafadzwa Chinamo said, “There is a parallel system that is taking place on the CSD.”

“For everything that is taking place (on the stock exchange) there are also mirroring the same thing on the CSD”.

“It’s a project that should become more visible over the next couple of weeks… as to how investors or shareholders are going to be affected and impacted by this. According to them maybe by end of June or July it should be up and running. We should be settling our trades on the ZSE via them,” he said.

The CSD allows brokers and financial companies to hold their securities at one location where they can be available for clearing and settlement.

This is done electronically making it much faster and easier than the traditional way by which physical certificates had to be exchanged after trade.

Demutualisation of the exchange is at the centre of the current reforms.

Once demutualised, the ZSE becomes fully exposed to market forces.

The CSD shareholders will comprise CDC,  ZSE, ZB Bank, the Infrastructure Development Bank and the National Social Security Authority.

Through the four State-controlled institutions, government will have a combined 51 percent shares while CDC would hold the remaining 49.

Chinamo added that the local bourse has also commenced its automation project, with providers of the system, Pakistan’s Infotech Middle East

FZ LLC (Infotech) arriving in the country two weeks ago.
“They have been engaging all the stakeholders. So the two projects should essentially be running by the end of the year,” he said.

This comes as the ZSE anticipates its automated trading system (ATS) to go live during the second half of the year.

ZSE’s chief executive Alban Chirume at the announcement of the deal said that Infotech will supply and install the Capizar ATS after signing the contract.

The automation of the bourse has been on the agenda since 2000 although plans have been stalled due to liquidity constraints

Chirume, a former Securities Commission of Zimbabwe boss, said Infotech will also review the ZSE’s business processes, prepare a request for proposals, advise the local bourse on the process of vendor selection and prepare the system for implementation.

“The immediate next steps are the study of the local environment, and the gap analysis to be carried out by the vendor in order for us to finalise the project plans,” he said.

“We are expecting that in three to four months’ time, the project will be in the training and acceptance testing stages with the final live date being out target within a period of six months from now.”

The automated trading system is expected to augment efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country.

It is also expected to boost equities’ daily turnover to around $5 million as global trends indicate that upon conversion to automated trade, turnover increases by a factor of five.
The local bourse’s daily turnover — which is the value of shares traded per day — currently averages around $1 million.

HARARE - United Kingdom-based African Consolidated Resources (ACR) is set to acquire Falcon Gold (Falgold)’s Dalny Mine (Dalny) for $8 million.

Falgold’s plan to dispose of Dalny has been on the cards since last year, when the Kadoma mine was mothballed due to operational challenges.

“The company is currently engaged in discussions with African Consolidated Resources to dispose of the assets and liabilities of Dalny,” said Falgold.

“ACR have offered a full payment price of $8 million. The estimated net cash from transaction is approximately $2,5 million,” the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed miner said.

Falgold said the transaction is subject to a due diligence and various actions which ACR is in the process of undertaking.

The terms of the disposal include full settlement of Dalny’s all-known trade creditors and payment of salary arrears.

ACR will also settle any capital gains tax or other liabilities due to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.

The balance of funds after the payments will be remitted to Falgold.

ACR is an AIM-listed junior resource development company focused on Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique with projects covering gold, nickel, platinum, copper, phosphate and diamonds.

Dalny was facing operational challenges including, rising labour and power costs, high domestic royalties, taxes and fees, as well as a damaging and costly illegal strike by workers last year.

In March last year, Falgold sought a High Court order to bar employees from taking over Dalny following a salaries dispute.

In an urgent chamber application, Falgold cited Mullasios Sakala and 17 others as respondents.

The court heard that workers stormed the mine, in Chakari — 175km southeast of Harare, on February 23 last year and disrupted work, after preventing other employees from performing their duties at the mine.

According to court papers, the respondents comprised of Falgold’s employees, former employees and those on suspension.

Falgold, owned by Canada-listed junior miner New Dawn incurred a $12.5 million loss in the year to September 2013 after shutting down Dalny.

In addition to Dalny, Falgold owns Golden Quarry and Venice mines and recently indicated that it was looking for more opportunities in the country.

NATAL - John Brooks headed a late winner for USA in a dramatic finale to their opening Group G game against Ghana.

Clint Dempsey put USA ahead on 29 seconds with the fifth-fastest goal in World Cup history, cutting inside John Boye before sweeping home.

Dempsey has scored in three successive World Cups

Ghana upped the tempo and equalised when Andre Ayew latched on to Asamoah Gyan's backheel to fire in a leveller.

USA looked tired but Brooks nodded in from six yards following a corner to give his side a winning start.

Centre-back Brooks reacted with a mixture of disbelief and delight, the Germany-born 21-year-old marking his Fifa World Cup debut and fifth cap in style.

The victory also gave USA a measure of revenge for being knocked out of the past two World Cups by Ghana.

They had looked to be tiring, and a winner seemed unlikely as Ghana dominated the second half and pulled themselves level.

But their tenacity was rewarded to leave the Black Stars precariously placed, with both teams having to face Germany and Portugal.

Ghana exited the World Cup four years ago in tears, when Gyan's missed penalty in the last minute of extra-time against Uruguay denied them the chance to become the first African side to reach the semi-finals.

If they were still nursing that pain, they did not show it as they sang and danced their way into the dressing room at the Estadio das Dunas.

But they fell behind within the first minute. Dempsey collected a Jermaine Jones pass on the left wing, cut inside right-back Boye and shot into the far corner.

Ghana struggled to mount a response as the USA consolidated their lead with a work-rate and organisation that kept their rivals at bay.

Indeed, Jurgen Klinsmann's side could, and maybe should, have extended their lead. Striker Jozy Altidore controlled a low, right-wing cross but his shot from 10 yards was blocked by Boye.

That was Altidore's last major act of the game, a hamstring injury seeing him replaced by Aron Johannsson.

USA centre-back Matt Besler also left the field injured, and his exit, combined with Ghana increasing the pace of their play, resulted in the Black Stars piling the pressure on Tim Howard's goal.

Most of the chances fell to Gyan, but he nodded high from 10 yards when unmarked before having another header tipped wide by Howard.

Gyan may not have scored, but he set up his side's equaliser as his lovely backheel teed up Ayew to shoot home with the outside of his right foot.

It seemed Ghana might have enough time to engineer a winner, but Hertha Berlin defender Brooks had other ideas, and his first international goal following Graham Zusi's corner proved decisive.

United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann:

"I said to the bench a few minutes before our winner, 'We are going to get some chances - we need to push and grind it out.' We trained over and over on set-pieces and it was well deserved.

"We have a great spirit and fight until the last minute. It was a grind but it was a wonderful one at the end of the day.
"There is stuff we need to improve. We had problems with keeping the ball."

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah:

"What I can say is that it was a very tough game. Playing at this high level, any little mistake can cost you dearly.

"We didn't deserve the first goal against us and we did create a lot of chances.

"Unfortunately we could not take our chances and the US took theirs.

"Any loss of concentration can cost the team big time. I believe the first goal unsettled us a little bit but I never expected it to end this way."

Key facts

Hertha Berlin's John Brooks was left out of a match against Bayer Leverkusen in April after a newly-inked tattoo caused him to miss training.

Clint Dempsey has scored in three successive World Cups, with two of his three goals coming against Ghana.

Ghana had 21 shots, a joint-high in the World Cup so far (along with Ivory Coast) but only three were on target.

USA scored more than once for only the third time in their past 12 World Cup games.

HARARE - Former Harare mayor Elias Mudzuri is reportedly in the running for the MDC presidency, although he acknowledges wrestling with whether to run or not given the “political challenges” he might face for attempting to dethrone party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

While MDC officials say Mudzuri was already doing the groundwork for his challenge, the former organising secretary could neither deny nor confirm if he will run for the party’s presidency.

But insiders insisted to the Daily News yesterday that he was preparing to stand for the party presidency and was already laying the ground.

In meetings and public statements ahead of the congress, Mudzuri has presented a united front with Tsvangirai, highlighting their transition from rivals to confidantes.

Yet in the weeks before the congress, insiders have detailed instances of substantive disagreements between the two including the handling of the fall-out between Tsvangirai and expelled secretary general Tendai Biti and his co-conspirators.

Mudzuri’s relationship with Tsvangirai presents a delicate challenge for the former Harare mayor as he rolls out his presidential campaign.

He does not want to appear disloyal to his boss but could use some separation given his anaemic poll numbers.

He would have to have MDC supporters enthusiastically on board a presidential campaign, while fending off attempts to depict him as a rebel.

Mudzuri’s allies dismiss as simplistic the prism through which he is seen as either with Tsvangirai or against him, but insiders are already seizing on any ray of daylight between them, which further complicates his challenge.

Mudzuri described himself as “a politician who is not driven by greed” but the desire to serve the people.

He said instead of thinking about wrestling power from Tsvangirai, he was concentrating more on re-uniting with the Biti faction, now going by the moniker ‘MDC Renewal Team.’

The former Harare mayor said he wanted the party to emerge from the congress with a “winning team” modelled around “people with a national appeal.”

Mudzuri has been snubbing Tsvangirai’s recent campaign rallies.
“I have not been attending these rallies because I feel now is the time to be going underground and work for the benefit of the people,” Mudzuri said.

“I do not want to talk about that (succession) now because people have gone factional and I don’t understand why they have chosen to abandon the national objective.

“For now, Tsvangirai is the leader of the party and we must all respect that leadership. Anyone who thinks otherwise is lost but there are some people who are greedy who want power for the sake of it. I have been trying to bring people together. I am worried, I am pained, probably the most, and I wish we could just go to congress united and not pursue our selfish interests”.

Mudzuri said the call for an early congress had caught him off-guard, suggesting that the party holds its congress in 2016 as previously planned.

That would give him ample time to launch a credible challenge, insiders say.

“I have never been opposed to a congress in 2016 because it gives us time to interrogate ourselves so that we hold a congress that comes out with a national team,” he said.

“We do not want to go to congress and come up with a group that will be labelled to be factional. We want to go there and come up with a national team, modelled around people with a national appeal, having engaged everyone including our rural supporters and national opinion leaders.”

He said divergent opinions were necessary for internal democracy, saying he disagreed with Tsvangirai on several instances but they still co-existed in the party.

“We agree and disagree with the president,” he said. “I offer advice and he takes some and leaves some. That is how it should be. I even suggested to him that he should have left Mangoma and his opinions to burn out under the big tent and meet him at congress. Even Mugabe has his factions but he keeps them around.”

Top sources in the party said Mudzuri has already hit the ground running, coordinating meetings in Harare and other provinces to drum up support for his ascendancy to the top post.

Tsvangirai has invited any challenge to his post, saying congress was the only legal way to claim power.

Luke Tamborinyoka, the MDC leader’s spokesperson, said Tsvangirai and Mudzuri enjoyed a cordial working relationship regardless of reports that the Warren Park legislator was gunning for his throne.

“The president has always made it clear that it is not criminal to aspire for higher office in the party and that includes the presidency,” Tamborinyoka said.

“That is why even after the media reports that Mudzuri wants to be president, the two have gone on to play golf together. It is all because there is nothing criminal about it.”

Tamborinyoka said what was wrong was usurping power by staging palace coups and what he called “confidential letters and memo detats.”

Despite gunning for the top job, observers say Mudzuri lacks a critical mass to mount a serious campaign against the charismatic MDC leader.

With the October congress approaching, jostling for positions in the party has already reached fever-pitch as other potential candidates  are already canvassing for support.

At the last MDC congress in 2011, party organising secretary Nelson Chamisa, who sources say is angling to replace Biti as secretary general, handed Mudzuri a humiliating defeat.

MDC spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora is tipped to battle it out with national executive member Murisi Zwizwai for the post of organising secretary, while Women’s Assembly boss Theresa Makone is reportedly gunning to replace Roy Bennett as treasurer-general.

Thokozani Khupe is set to retain the vice presidency.
The acting secretary-general Tapiwa Mashakada has also set his eyes on the treasurer-general’s portfolio, meaning he could square off with Makone.

Chamisa’s deputy Abednico Bhebhe and Thamsanqa Manhlangu, are reportedly eyeing the deputy national chairman post and deputy national organising secretary posts respectively, while former speaker and national chairman Lovemore Moyo will likely retain his post.

Shakespear Mukoyi, Harare provincial youth chairman, reportedly wants to become national youth president to replace Solomon Madzore.

MDC returnees Job Sikhala, Joubert Mudzumwe and Edward Mkhosi will also contest for top positions.

SAO PAULO - Mexico's inspired keeper Guillermo Ochoa ended Brazil's 10-game winning streak but while home fans were frustrated at the lack of goals manager Luiz Felipe Scolari says his side are improving with each match.

"In my opinion, and it is just my opinion, the team played at least 10 percent better than we played against Croatia," Scolari told reporters after a 0-0 draw in Brazil's second Group A game.

"The team is doing better and better and we still have a way to go and we can play well," he added. "I was pretty happy with what I saw on the pitch."

Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in the tournament's opening match last Thursday. Mexico, too, won their first game against Cameroon a day later and were worthy opponents for the hosts in a match that was more exciting than the scoreline suggested.

"Here in Brazil we tend to believe that other players are not as good as we are and we thought that Mexico weren't any good but today they played as well as we did," Scolari told reporters.

"They had around the same possession, around the same number of shots. They know how to play football. I don't think we got the result we expected yet I'm very pleased.

"They had a very good goalkeeper who had a very good day and that's why we didn't win."

Mexico stopper Ochoa was in outstanding form, making several brilliant saves that won him the man-of-the-match award.

Scolari paid tribute to the France-based keeper and at the same time warned his players they need to hit the net in their final group match against Cameroon next Monday.

"We simply have to get goals," he said. "That's what we lacked today. We had three or four chances but they had a very good goalkeeper. He was spectacular." - Reuters

HWANGE - Dynamos' defeat at the hands of Hwange at the weekend was purely down to the collective teamwork by the coalminers and the industry of Zimbabwe international defender Eric Chipeta.

The tall defender, who was making his last appearance for the Hwange before moving to South Africa with Chippa United, scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot.

The win ensured that the coalminers moved into pole position on the Castle Premiership log standing with 22 points from 11 matches.

Playing in his last match at the Colliery, Chipeta was drafted in central defence where he partnered skipper Gerald Ndlovu.

All the Hwange attacks were initiated from the back by Chipeta and Ndlovu as the defending champions struggled to impose themselves on the match.

Chipeta gracefully carried the ball into the opponents half and at times easily dribbled past the DeMbare players like a seasoned campaigner.

The defender also possesses a deadly delivery with his right boot from set pieces and in Sunday’s match his ability came to the fore.

On many occasions, the defender forced Dynamos goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi to make some good saves from free kicks.

There was, however, nothing Mukandi could do to stop the defender’s expertly taking penalty in the 31st minute.

The DeMbare goalkeeper went the wrong way as Chipeta sent the ball into the back of the net to set the coalminers to a famous win over the Harare giants.

That penalty was the defender’s fourth goal of the season.

In defence, Chipeta was also immense as he made a number of timely interventions to stop DeMbare from equalising.   

In one such instance, the defender put in a last ditch tackle to block a goal bound shot by DeMbare winger Tichaona Mabvura.

The entire stadium thought the ball would hit the back of the net but they were surprised to see the defender putting his body on the line for his team’s cause.

Hwange assistant coach Chenjerai Dube praised the defender for his heroic contribution in dismantling DeMbare.

"The boys played well especially Chipeta and stuck to the game plan, which I believe helped us clinch the vital three points," said Dube.

The coalminers are now franticly making efforts to find a replacement for the versatile defender and have roped in Phakamani Dube.

Dube, a product of the Hwange junior development programme, played at the weekend as a fullback but was given a torrid time by Tafadzwa Rusike.

With a bit more game time, the Hwange technical team hope the youngster will be a dependable replacement for Chipeta.

Dube, however, has big boots to fill because Chipeta was a vital cog in the Hwange team as he was versatile and could play in any position across the back line.

HARARE - Tongogara moved to the top of Zifa Central Region Division One leage after beating Silo United 1-0 over the weekend.

The Kwekwe outfit now lead the log standing with 20 points, three ahead of second-placed Whawha.

Early pacesetters Chrome Stars could forever live to rue the costly defeat to Whawha that saw them slip to third position.

In the Zifa Eastern Region Division One, Eastern Stars beat last week log leaders Buffaloes Juniors to move to the top of the table.

Eastern Stars are now one point above second placed Buffaloes Juniors, the log leaders managed to win seven games draw one, and lost two matches from 10 games played so far.

Ntabazintuna also stayed atop the Zifa Southern Region after beating Hwange Juniors 1-0.

In the World Navi Northern Region, Mushowani bounced back to winning ways after walloping Royal Classic 6-0.

Mushowani started their season well, winning seven games and drawing one in their starting eight matches before losing their previous two matches against Karoi United and Gunners. They currently are in second position, three points behind log leaders Bindura United.

Bindura United managed to maintain their position on of the log despite playing to a goalless draw against Commando Bullets.

Northern Region: Karoi 2 ZRP Morris 0, Gunners 0 Flame Lilly 0, Royal Classic 0 Mushowani 6, Seven Flames 1 Blue Swallowa 2, Twalumba 0 DStv Rangers 0, Bindura 0 Commando 0, Ngezi Platinum 3 Lake Harvest 0, DC Academy 1 Starbill 0, Black Mambas 2 Chegutu 0.

Central Region: Central Region Whawha 3 Chrome Stars 0, Gweru City 0 MSU 1, Silo United 0 Tongogara 1, Blanket Mine  2 Gaths Mine 0, Nkayi United 1 Vumbachikwe 2, FC Platinum Under 19 4 Zvishavane Stars 0, Chemumvuri 0 ZRP Beitbridge 2.

Eastern Region: Eastern Stars 2 Buffaloes Juniors 0, Mutare City Rovers 7 Chivhu Stars 1, Ruwa United 0 Surrey Abattoir 2, Masvingo United 1 Tenax 0, Black Eagles 0 Renco 0, FC Three Leaves 2 Mutare Poly 0, Gutu 1 ZRP Masvingo 0, Mwenezana 4 Gaza Gunners 0.

Southern Region: ZPC Hwange 3 Mpumalanga Junior 0, Technosphere 0 Tsholotsho 0, Ntabazinduna 1 Hwange Juniors 0, Elephant 0  Black Boots 2 Plumtree Chiefs 2.

HARARE - Reigning Mr Zimbabwe, Champion Chienderamwano, has been ruled out of the Mr and Ms Ironman contest to be held in Kadoma in a fortnight.

Chienderamwano is currently nursing a shoulder injury and hopes to be ready for the Musclemania Zimbabwe contest set for August 9 at Ochi City.

The Botswana-based bodybuilder, who is sponsored by a South African nutritional company Nutritech, won two of Zimbabwe’s biggest bodybuilding contests last year.

He first won the Musclemania title in June before adding the Mr Zimbabwe crown in November at the Harare International School.

“I sustained this injury last year and was subjected to pain-killing injections just to compete in the shows. Imagine living on injections every week in order to ease the pain,” Chienderamwano told the Daily News.

“It was really painful but I thank my wife, she has been doing everything for me. Since that injury I was still doing light workouts and just got back to serious business mid-last month.

“Ironman is a prestigious contest and would have loved to take part, but unfortunately I just have to put my focus on defending the titles that I won last year.”

Meanwhile, the National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness (NFZBBF) is set to invite bodybuilders from either Zambia or Botswana to give the Mr and Ms Ironman contest a regional flavour.

NFZBBF is targeting Zambia’s top bodybuilder Sly Mwila or Botswana’s Gontse Seschele to guest-pose on the day of the contest.

Quite Shangai, NFZBBF spokesperson, expressed satisfaction with the preparations for the Odyssey- sponsored event.

“Everything is going according to plan at the moment. We have Odyssey as our principal sponsor while Capri and Kadoma Country Club have added some attractive prizes in cash and kind,” said Shangai.

“We are also quoting at least one top bodybuilder from the region in line with our programme of creating regional ties considering also that Zambia also invited us to attend at the Mr Zambia on August 30.”

HARARE - Zimbabwe rugby coach Brendan Dawson believes his side’s breakdown play and ruck technique is a key area they’ll need to improve ahead of the Sables’ World Cup qualifiers in Madagascar at the end of the month.

Dawson presided over the team’s first field training session at St John’s College in Harare yesterday morning and expressed satisfaction with the way players responded to training.

“It’s really good to be back (at training),” Dawson told reporters.

“The guys are looking really good, sharp and really excited. The intensity was there at the training session today (yesterday), so I was happy with that.

“It’s our first day really, Monday was reserved for the fitness test and today is our first on the field, doing contact work. I’m pretty happy with everyone’s concentration which I thought was exceptional.”

Dawson’s men travel to Madagascar for the qualifiers to face the hosts, Namibia and Kenya in a four-nation Africa Cup contest, whose winner automatically qualifies for next year’s World Cup in England.

“In the afternoon (yesterday) we will be working a bit more on the structured roles, specifically on the line-outs, backline play and will carry on with the rucking,” he added.

“Rucking is an important part of the game and we need to make sure we dominate the ruck area; breakdowns are also important at this level so we need to work on that if we are to do well in Madagascar.”

The areas raised by Dawson will be critical, especially against their better prepared opponents.

Dawson’s men will need to show a tremendous capacity to limit their opponents' attacking opportunities by slowing down the ball at the breakdown in all three tests.

On paper, Zimbabwe looks like they have the back-row quality to achieve that, in a department that appears their strongest link with such players as flankers Jacques Leitao, Andrew Rose and Njabulo Ndlovu alongside eighthmen Takunda Chifokoyo and Kingsley Lang all vying for slots in the loose trio.

Winning on the floor will also give the Sables’ attack space and more time to play off the front foot as well as tiring the opposition.

Meanwhile, the South Africa-based trio of flyhalf Lenience Tamberwa, prop Kevin Nqindi and Sanile lock Sanele Sibanda also took part in the training after arriving on Monday evening.

The Golden Lions pair of half-back Guy Cronje and flank Lambert Groenewald are expected to jet in tonight after they were given the green light by the Johannesburg franchise to turn out for their country of origin.

Both were born in South Africa, but trace their family roots to Zimbabwe.

Scotland-based flank Andrew Rose, who has been battling a calf injury, sat out yesterday’s training session.

Dawson said of Rose: “Obviously every player is a key guy for us to win this tournament, but I’m sure he will be alright, he will come right.”

HARARE - The advent of the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil has brought with it many things for different people but one constant that is gaining momentum across the world is betting.

Since the World Cup opener between Brazil and Croatia on Thursday night, Zimbabwe has not been left out of the haste with thousands flooding various betting shops to place their picks.

Even Castle Premiership stars have joined the bandwagon with Dynamos left back Ocean Mushure and teammate Thomas Magorimbo this week spotted at one of the betting outlets trying their luck.

That sports biggest showcase comes as sports wagering in Zimbabwe is at all-time high with the establishment of many betting outlets across the country.

With the country experiencing a high unemployment rate and rising liquidity crunch, most people have turned to gambling to try and escape the squalor that is evident in most high density areas.

Man of all ages, and most recently women, can be seen at various betting joints across the country going through the fixture list before placing their bets.

With the World Cup lasting until July 13, many of these punters feel that their big pay day is just around the corner.

One punter who spoke to the Daily News on Sunday said: “If I don’t make a killing during World Cup month, I will give up on gambling. Hapana mukana unopfura uyu wekuita mari. (This is the best time to make money.)” 

Local bookmaker, Richard Moor of Moor’s World of Sport told the Daily News on Sunday that there has been a surge in punters flocking their business hoping to strike it rich.

“Betting has obviously become the in-thing. More and more people are getting the hang of it,” said Moor. “The stigma of betting being a sin is gone and people are doing it out of enjoyment.”

According to Moor, the high number of punters during the World Cup does not necessarily translate into higher earnings for the bookmakers.

“Just because you have more people betting doesn’t mean you are making more money. Punters have become more educated,” Moor said.

“Punters are using smart phones. They are following their teams through the internet. Every day we are making thousands of dollars in pay outs. Yesterday someone actually bought a car.

“In the long run there is money in it for us but punters are now making informed decisions.  Sometimes I can’t afford to sleep tracking bets because if you don’t do that you will be crucified.”

During this World Cup month, betting outlets have improved wagering options for their clients.

Instead of simply betting on a game or the overall winner, more outlets have introduced more alternative bets.

A punter can now place a bet on which team will win the group, the player to win the Golden Boot and a host of other exotic options you can think of.

“We have a lot of betting options. Like who will be in the semis? Who will finish bottom of the group? Who will be the top goal scorer?” Moor said.

“The most important thing is that betting makes people feel a part of the team. It’s about feeling a part of the team, watching your team and winning with it.”

If you are feeling lucky, you can place a bet with one of the local betting shops for Ghana to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.

In the event that Kwesi Appiah's men make it to the last four, you will be in or a big pay day because that odd is currently placed at 5000/1.

What this simply means is that if you place a bet of a $1 on option, you will get $5 000 if it happen.

RIO DE JANEIRO - Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta says that the defending champions must ready themselves for a fight when they tackle Chile in Wednesday's make-or-break World Cup encounter in Rio de Janeiro.

Spain's 5-1 drubbing by the Netherlands has left them in a vulnerable position in Group B and they will be eliminated if they lose to Chile and the Dutch avoid defeat against Australia.

Only three defending champions have previously fallen at the first hurdle -- Brazil in 1966, France in 2002, and Italy in 2010 -- and Iniesta knows that Spain face a challenge if they are to avoid inflating that statistic.

"Chile are a difficult team because we'll have to defend and we'll have to fight one against one," said the Barcelona midfielder, scorer of the decisive extra-time goal against the Netherlands in the 2010 final.

"We just hope those who play tomorrow (Wednesday) will be able to escape from their markers so we can find a way to win.

"We must be able to make the right passes, and look for those in space, so we can score goals.

"Sometimes we'll have to be faster, other times we'll have to control the ball, but we'll just play it as a final, because only in that way will we be able to win against Chile.

"Our only goal right now is winning so we can go to the next phase. But we trust ourselves and we're well equipped for that."

Chile won 3-1 against Australia in their first game and have an aggressive, possession-based style reminiscent of Spain in their pomp.

Coach Jorge Sampaoli has admitted that Spain's capitulation to the Dutch will influence his side's approach to the game at the Maracana. He is still however wary of writing off a team who are chasing a fourth consecutive major tournament victory.

"We had already developed a system before the World Cup and we already knew before the World Cup how we'd play against Spain," said the Argentine, whose side have lost only twice in their last 16 games.

"Obviously after watching Spain against Holland, we've considered minor changes, but Spain didn't deserve such a defeat.

"They were much better in the first half, but many things went against them that made them lose the way they lost.

"There's nothing I can tell you right now, but we'll try to use a system that allows us to hurt a team that needs to win to stay in the championship.

"Don't forget they lost against Switzerland in their opening game at the last World Cup, but still became champions."

Sampaoli will wait until the day of the game before deciding whether to hand a start to Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal, who is recovering from knee surgery and managed only 60 minutes against Australia.

There is also a possibility that Sampaoli will bring Osasuna midfielder Francisco Silva into his team and switch to a three-man defence.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has strongly hinted that he will make changes to his starting XI, with Pedro Rodriguez, Cesc Fabregas, Juan Mata and Fernando Torres all in contention to come into the team.

The submission of the team-sheets will also reveal whether or not he has kept faith with captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who felt obliged to issue an apology after a catastrophic display against Holland.

After a one-sided 3-0 loss to Brazil in the 2013 Confederations Cup final on their last visit to the Maracana, elimination for Spain would confirm the end of their six-year reign as the sport's dominant force.

Torres, however, says that Spain are "only thinking about winning", while Del Bosque pointed out: "We still have our destiny in our hands." - Reuters

HARARE - Cash-strapped Chitungwiza Municipality is writing off five percent of the over $50 million owed by residents as an incentive for them to pay up their bills.

The resolution was passed in Kadoma during a capacity building workshop amid a deepening crisis that has seen the local authority failing to pay salaries.

The local authority also resolved to offer residential stands to its restive employees who last week gave them a 14-day notice to strike if they did not get paid.

Reeling under a $50 million plus debt which includes statutory obligations, outstanding Zimra dues, Zimdef and pension funds, the council is locked in a salary dispute with its workers whom they owe 13 months’ wages. The municipality is spending over half of its $1 million revenue on salaries.

An independent arbitrator in the salary dispute last year ordered council to clear all salary arrears by next month. But up to now, the local authority has settled less than half the debt.

The council also owes Harare Municipality over $2 million, which it is paying back in $250 000 per month tranches.

Despite having all outstanding residents’ rates and bills from February 2009 to June 2013 written off after a government directive, Chitungwiza Municipality’s 25 wards owe an average of $2,5 million each, officials say.

Phillip Mutoti, the mayor of Chitungwiza, confirmed the incentive offered to residents saying the resolutions would be adopted at a full council meeting on Friday.

“We are having our full council meeting this Friday where the Kadoma resolutions will be tabled for adoption,” said Mutoti.

Last year’s scrapping of bills by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo was dismissed by critics as an election gimmick, which would backfire on local authorities.

Council officials who spoke to the Daily News on condition of anonymity said the move by council to offer discount on the debt was a short-term measure that would see the local authority pay workers.

The officials said Chitungwiza municipality has since written to government seeking a $10 million grant for salaries, which has not been availed.

“The idea will not work because it has been done before but the debt still accumulated as residents resist paying for services that they are not getting,” said one official.

“Council is even sending water and rates bills separately hoping that residents will pay their rates since they are resisting to pay for water but that has not worked.”

HARARE - Trial dates for Air Zimbabwe and Navistar Insurance Brokers (Private) Limited (Navistar) bosses, facing fraud and theft of trust property charges, have been set.

Air Zimbabwe’s company secretary Grace Nyaradzai Pfumbidzayi; ex-chief executive Peter Chikumba; ex-acting chief executive officer Innocent Mavhunga, and Navistar bosses Givemore Nderere, Vukile Hlupo and Orten Mawire, appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei.

Pfumbidzayi and Chikumba will be tried on August 13 although Chikumba will also appear for another trial in a case that he is jointly charged with Mavhunga on August 25.

Nderere, Hlupo and Mawire’s trial date was set to August 18.
Prosecutor Michael Reza claims the trio connived with Chikumba and Pfumbidzayi to defraud the national airline by inflating aviation insurance premiums.

It is alleged the group presented several inflated debit notes to the airline, leading to payments of aviation insurance premiums last year.

The payments were allegedly made to Colemont Reinsurance (Private) Limited and Marsh Reinsurance Brokers (Private) Limited, both United Kingdom-based companies.

Prosecutors told the court that as a result of the misrepresentation, the airline’s finance department released €15 783 452, 93 to Navistar.

According to State papers, Navistar bosses only remitted €10 607 859,22 to the two international brokers and pocketed €5 895 695, 49.

In May 2009, it is alleged Navistar received $142 300 from the airline for onward transmission to the European Commission to dodge sanctions.

They allegedly converted the money to their own use.

It is further alleged that Colemont Insurance issued debit notes to Air Zimbabwe for aviation insurance premiums between 2009 and 2010, after the Navistar trio allegedly connived with Pfumbidzayi and Mavhunga to pay aviation insurance in the sum of €713 921, 04.

The court heard that the group, acting in connivance, received     $796 079,80 from Air Zimbabwe for insurance cover.

The money was supposed to be paid to Altfin Insurance Company (Private) Limited.

The group allegedly pocketed the money, leaving the airline uninsured for four years.

HARARE - Controversial dancers Beverly “Bev” Sibanda and Zoey Sifelani have lined up “mutually beneficial” joint concerts with upcoming dancehall artistes.

The partnership was confirmed by Dancers Association of Zimbabwe (Daz) official Hapaguti “Harpers” Mapimhidze who is convinced the two parties stand to benefit from working together.

The first joint concert is set for Super Label Night Club in Harare tomorrow and will feature young dancehall rookies like Ras Pombi Mostaff, Makwikwi and Fire Empress who will share the stage with Apama, Bev, Explosion, Zoey, Magesh, Syndicate Girls, Girls of Peace, Universal Queens, Unique, Malaika, Dangerous Scorpion, Cassamoto, Cassablanca, Blood Sisters, Haranga Queens, Four Angels, La Dolce, New Styles, Spice Angels and Charlizie Queens.

“There are many talented dancehall artistes in Zimbabwe but they are denied opportunities to showcase their talents. That is why we have agreed to team up with them so that we both can benefit,” Harpers told the Daily News.

Harpers insisted, though, that upcoming dancehall artistes would benefit more from the partnership than dancers.

“We want dancehall artistes to capitalise on the huge crowds attracted  by dancers. The upcoming dancehall artistes do not have the capacity to pull such huge numbers of fans to their concerts at the moment,” he said.

Tomorrow’s joint concert will be another opportunity for Apama Styles to demonstrate that the sensational performance he delivered at the Miss Zimbabwe pageant held in Harare on Saturday was no fluke.

The presence of Bev, who was recently fined $100 for violating the terms of her stage licence, is also expected to lure the usual big crowds.

HARARE - Media reports that Mary Chiwenga, the new Miss Zimbabwe Trust chairperson did not invite Bongani Dhlakama the Miss Zimbabwe 2012 who by default was still the reigning Miss Zimbabwe to the recent Miss Zimbabwe finals made some sad reading.

Bongani was the 2012-2013 queen, but there was no queen for 2013-2014 as Chiwenga postponed the finals alleging that she could not find enough ladies who met her set criteria.

In an interview with the Daily News this week, Chiwenga confirmed snubbing Dhlakama.

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

I feel it was not polite for Chiwenga to say that and more so considering that it was not Dhlakama’s fault that there was no Miss Zimbabwe contest last year, but the Miss Zimbabwe Trust’s.

Chiwenga should actually have been grateful to Dhlakama who, without any financial resources, managed to keep the Miss Zimbabwe tag up until this year when the pageant was re-launched.

What was wrong then for Dhlakama to grace the event and hand over the title to Miss Zimbabwe 2014 winner?

I would have thought that Chiwenga, as a former model would have treated Dhlakama differently considering that her role now as chairperson of Miss Zimbabwe Trust is to uplift models and the modelling sector itself.

And there is everything to do with previous Miss Zimbabwe winners and even the organisers. The Miss Zimbabwe Trust Chiwenga is chairing now is an old institution whose history and achievements cannot just be washed away so easily.

Miss Zimbabwe Trust is a big family and that family comprises past winners since the contest was launched years back.

It is foolhardy for Chiwenga to want to discard everything that has been Miss Zimbabwe all these years to tell us that she is starting afresh.

I do not see how the new chairperson can just suddenly pretend there was no Miss Zimbabwe before and that she is bringing in a whole new concept and brand for the pageant.

Miss Zimbabwe is bigger than Chiwenga and she should not forget that she was also a model fighting for beauty titles, I see no reason why she had to embarrass Dhlakama the way she did.

An invitation to the outgoing Miss Zimbabwe could not have killed nor could it have spoilt Chiwenga and her team’s fun on the day. Instead, the participating 15 contestants could have cherished Dhlakama’s presence.

I would like to urge Chiwenga to build a family at the Miss Zimbabwe Trust and not to stir divisions as we are already starting to witness.

While she re-launched the Miss Zimbabwe beauty contests, she should be reminded that hers is not a new event or concept, but a continuation of what other former chairpersons of the Miss Zimbabwe Trust built.

I would have loved to see 10 or more former Miss Zimbabwe title holders gracing the just ended Miss Zimbabwe finals because all the past winners still exist, and the pageant is their family.

The former Miss Zimbabwe title holders did Zimbabwe proud during their reign and their contribution cannot just be wished away like that.

How will former queens get jobs or assignments if they are not recognised? Should it not be the former queens who are supposed to be employed to groom contestants while in boot camp since they have been there and have the experience?

The former Miss Zimbabwe queens deserve better, they deserve their place and should be respected.

While Chiwenga and her team might be happy that they pulled off the finals, it was really out of order in beauty pageants that  the new queen could not be crowned by the outgoing queen, but by the Minister of Water and Environment, Savior Kasukuwere.

There is a lot that Chiwenga will have to learn from others and more so past Miss Zimbabwe contestants.

I hope she will quickly learn to embrace others within the world of modelling and beauty who might also not share her vision of running the Miss Zimbabwe Trust.

And she should always remember that Miss Zimbabwe is a public and national event that should not be personalised.

Otherwise, I wish Chiwenga and the new Miss Zimbabwe all the success. As for the new Miss Zimbabwe, Thambiso Phiri, I urge you to engage with Dhlakama, she is your sister and has a lot of tips to share with you about the world of beauty and the Miss World experiences.
 

HARARE - Government has put on hold salaries for newly-appointed boards for parastatals in the energy and power development sector until the corporate governance and remuneration policy is effected.

Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire said government has to first approve the policy, expected to clearly stipulate remuneration parameters for State enterprises.

“Until then, we… leave it up to government to give a go ahead on the remuneration of the boards,” he said.

He added that the “salary drought” was being effected to “keep the new boards in check and avoid abuse of taxpayers’ money”.

“We will publish the remuneration packages thereafter, as soon as the policy is launched by President Mugabe,” he added.

Last week, Mavhaire appointed new boards for 10 parastatals under his portfolio, with former Finance minister Herbert Murerwa nominated as Zesa Holdings (Zesa) chairman.

The board appointments were for Kariba Hydro Power Company (KHPC), Zesa, Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC), Powertel, Zesa Enterprises (ZE), National Oil Infrastructure Company (Noic), Petrotrade, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) and the Rural Electrification Agency (Rea).

The appointments come on the back of Cabinet recently
approving the remuneration policy that will help monitor packages of heads of parastatals, State enterprises and local authorities.

The policy also targets to deal with the restoration of accountability in parastatals, after an exposé of hefty salaries earned by management at practically insolvent entities while ordinary workers went for months without pay.

The framework was drafted in March. It will be implemented through the Corporate Governance and Delivery Agency, which will be working with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to ensure compliance.

Under the new policy, board members will now be required to declare their assets before taking office.

HARARE - We, people of mixed race, want to know and want to know now. If you, black, indigenous people decide that we have no future here, lets us know plain and simple.

“Don’t lead us down the garden path pretending you want nationhood for all Zimbabweans and then pick us off one by one when it’s convenient.”

These words by a contributor to a report on an Internet news site last week couldn’t have said it better when it comes to describing the pitiful state of affairs in our country.

White, brown or beige, born and bred Zimbabweans have all become helpless pawns on the country’s chess board.

We are living in a state of constant uncertainty, not knowing when another law will change and discriminate against us or if our life’s work and assets are ever going to be safe here again because of our skin colour.

One by one, minorities in Zimbabwe are waiting to be picked off depending on who is in power or which piece of land, farm, mine, business or asset is trying to be seized for self enrichment. 

The mixed-race Internet contributor saying that he just wanted to know if he had a future in Zimbabwe, was responding to the report about ex-Gwanda Mayor Lionel de Necker.

Like thousands of white Zimbabweans before him, De Necker said he had just been visited by officials from the National Indigenisation Authority.

De Necker was told he was breaking the law because ‘‘foreigners’’ cannot own more than 49 percent shares in businesses such as his which deal in the retail sector. 

De Necker, born and resident in Zimbabwe had been assumed to be “foreign” because of his name.

Like thousands of white Zimbabweans in the same situation, De Necker said he was born in this country but was now being targeted by Indigenisation officials because he was of ‘‘a particular race.’’

De Necker, a mixed race Zimbabwean, expressed exactly the same sentiments as thousands of white Zimbabweans when they were being evicted from their homes during land seizures.

“Many people do not understand the feeling of trepidation and uncertainty associated with waking up one day and finding that you have been stripped of your country and possessions on the say-so of some official.

“Right now I am worried about my family and for every person of my racial background who may be contributing immensely to the economy but faces an uncertain future under the current policy.”

This is exactly how it felt for farmers: waking up each morning and wondering if that would be the day their life’s work would be grabbed by a rabble at the gate.

Wondering then, and still wondering now, 14 years later, if they would ever get paid for their seized home, buildings and infrastructure which was taken because they were of a particular race. 

De Necker’s employees and their families and dependents are undoubtedly feeling exactly the same way thousands of farm workers felt when their employers were being targeted: will they have a job tomorrow, next month, next year?

How will they pay their rent, feed their families, find school fees?

White, mixed Race, Indian or whatever skin colour God gave us — if we are born in Zimbabwe, then we are Zimbabweans.

We did not choose to be born here but we do choose to live here and contribute to the country and economy.

Whichever way you look at it, empowering a few is disempowering a nation and is plain and simple racism.

Two wrongs will never make a right.

HARARE - It has taken the clarity of the Soweto uprising for youths to grasp that the onus to remind government it owes them opportunities to improve their circumstances through provision of jobs lies with them.

The Soweto uprising sparked by attempting to foist Afrikaans as the main medium of instruction in schools proved a turning point in dismantling an exclusionist, racially segregated  system that favoured a minority white community in South Africa which jolted  the world to concentrate attention on the existence of an evil system.

That poignant event rekindled collective enthusiasm to dismantle entrenchment of an obnoxious system.

By articulating their concerns, Zimbabwean youths of whatever political persuasion are prodding government to account for and fulfill its avowed pledges to prioritise  reversing circumstances that are causing them despair and despondency.

In some way, youth commemoration of the Soweto uprising portends a situation when frustration over broken promises could feed a groundswell of resentment that has great potential for social upheaval. 

Youths have gradually realised that it’s futile for them to remain mere foot soldiers in getting politicians into office.

They see a bleak future ahead unless they constantly remind government to take steps to address their major concerns and fears.

Just as much as they envision a dire future if they do not act now, they agonise over years of strenuous effort they put to get an education; they agonise over years their parents had to forego basic necessities in order to give them that education and still worry when they are forced by circumstances to sponge off the same parents that have already done their part.

Youths are terrified of a future that transforms graduates into mere subsistence traders living from hand to mouth.

With much chagrin they have belatedly realised that 500 000 job losses resulting from unremitting factory closures since last year have been added to the 2,2 million jobs government promised youths through its ZimAsset economic blueprint and now consider the manuscript too theoretical and a hard act to follow.

They are confounded by the rapid deterioration in job opportunities and much more concerned by accelerated company closures.

They are frustrated by the failure to address the spiking unemployment rate and yet government remains adamant it will solve these problems without the slightest evidence on the ground except for the discredit associated with the Youth Fund.

Venting their frustration with the prevailing situation on an internationally recognised day when their counterparts in South Africa made short shrift of the Afrikaans Medium Decree in 1976, portends a bad harbinger unless tangible action is taken to address the situation.