DAR ES SALAAM - Tanzanian President John Magufuli has promised to slash the salaries of senior civil servants, cutting the top wage threshold by almost two-thirds.

He told supporters that it was shameful that some top officials were earning $18,000 (£13,000) a month, while others were paid as little as $140.

Officials not ready to accept the new $7,000 monthly wage limit should "start looking for alternative jobs", he said.

Mr Magufuli has promised to cut wasteful public expenditure in office.

He has announced a range of cost-cutting measures since coming to power last October, including cancelling official celebrations for independence day.

The changes would come into effect in time for the start of the next financial year, which starts on 1 July, the president said.

He likened the gulf in wages to a few "angels residing in heaven", while the majority "languished as if they were in hell", Tanzania's The Citizen newspaper quotes him as saying.

HARARE - Theatre in the Park officially re-opened in the Harare Gardens on Tuesday night after four years on the sidelines.

Zimbabwe’s leading theatre organisation had not had a home since 2012 when they left the gazebo in the Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) grounds after disagreements with the book fair authorities.

Until then, Rooftop Promotions had used the book fair venue for 17 years.

Several artistes who include Hope Masike, Tariro neGitare, Doc Vikela, Chirikure Chirikure, Cde Fatso performed at the opening event that was graced by Norway’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Bard Hopland.

Rooftop Promotions founder and director Daves Guzha revealed on the night that the new venue’s first play would be Super Patriots and Morons, which was banned by the Censorship Board in 2003.

“Unable to perform (the play) in our own community, we took the production to the international stage, performing to wide acclaim in theatres across the region and the world. For the first time in 12 years, we are bringing the play home,” said Guzha.

He added that the play, which revolves around an ageing African dictator who does not want to give up power, is still very relevant 13 years later.

“Over the past decades, we have watched the degeneration of leadership in Zimbabwe. We have seen our political situation become a sad farce. Politicians seem more and more like mediocre actors playing to a crowd, forgetting their lines, squabbling over the best props or the brightest spotlight, stumbling over the disintegrating stage.

“The media is filled with stories about politicians appropriating land, resources, 15 billion dollars’ worth of diamond revenue — but what about appropriating our history, or our culture?”

HARARE - Warriors coach Calisto Pasuwa saluted his troops after turning on the heat in the second half to convincingly thump a stubborn Swaziland in an 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Cup qualifier here yesterday.

In a lively encounter before a decent and appreciative crowd, the Warriors were simply too powerful for Sihlangu and were barely troubled by the visitors.

Warriors did not disappoint, with goals from Knowledge Musona, Costa Nhamoinesu, Evans Rusike and Khama Billiat, ensuring Pasuwa’s charges seize control of Group L.

Following a disappointing 1-1 draw in Mbababe on Good Friday in the reverse fixture, Pasuwa made five changes and chose to start with Kuda Mahachi, Nyasha Mushekwi and Marshal Mudehwe upfront while keeping Khama Billiat on the bench.

Hardlife Zvirekwi got the nod ahead of Eric Chipeta while Vitesse midfielder Marvelous Nakamba started in the midfield where he justified his inclusion with a good outing.

The result saw Warriors assuming top spot in Group L with eight points from four matches while pushing Swaziland to second place. Malawi and Guinea who also make up the Group with two points apiece kick off today’s Afcon qualifiers in Malawi this afternoon..

Pasuwa was happy with the response from his players following a hectic Easter schedule.

“This is the result that we were looking for and it came at the right time,” Pasuwa said after the match.

“Credit must go to the players for the effort they put especially considering we had a difficult schedule”.

Warriors showed their intent from the first whistle playing with urgency but could not unlock the Swaziland defence. And despite their dominance the Warriors were almost caught unaware when Swaziland hit the back of the net in the 24th minute although the effort was correctly disallowed for offside.

The complexion of the game quickly shifted after the break when Pasuwa introduced Billiat in place of Mudehwe and the Mamelodi Sundowns winger made an instant impact causing a lot of problems for Swaziland.

Mahachi was brought down inside the box leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Musona stepped up to take the resultant kick sending Swaziland goalkeeper the wrong side with a cheeky penalty to open the floodgates.

Nhamoinesu doubled Warriors’ lead when he headed home a Billiat free-lick from the right side.

Evans Rusike, who had earlier replaced Mushwekwi found himself on the scoresheet with his first touch. Swaziland’s attempt to defend saw the ball bounce off the Maritzburg United striker for a third. 

Billiat wrapped up the win with a well-taken shot from just inside the box.

HARARE - Zimbabwe Under-21 Women team on Saturday qualified for the Women’s Junior Hockey World Cup set for Santiago, Chile breaking a 11-year jinx since their last involvement at the global stage.

The last time the local junior ladies team participated at a World Cup was in 2005 at the games ironically hosted in Santiago.

Zimbabwe beat Namibia 2-1 in the semi-finals to seal a final berth and automatically qualifying for the World Cup after South Africa who had earlier booked the first final place on a 100 percent winning record.

The team had earlier lost 3-1 to Namibia in the group stages before making a spirited comeback in the semi-finals to dismiss the hosts.

Zimbabwe captain Stephanie Campbell scored the winner deep into second half after Kelly Ziplock had given the locals the lead before Namibia ensured that the scores were level at 1-1 going into the halftime break.

The local ladies, still basking in the qualification glory were, however, clobbered 10-0 by South African in the final to exit the tournament with a silver medal on Sunday.

On the other hand, the men’s team beat hosts Namibia 5-3 to win bronze at the same championships.

Hockey Association of Zimbabwe (Haz) president Humphrey Chigwedere paid tribute to the junior women for their triumph.

“We are very excited by this qualification as it means a lot to Zimbabwean hockey. It was tough right from the start but we always believed in the ladies,” Chigwedere told the Daily News yesterday.

“It’s been trying times for us at Haz because we get little recognition ahead of other sports. We have limited resources and just imagine the players have to play to play for the nation.

“It’s not fair but I’m glad that Haz and the teams decided to go for it on a shoe string budget.”

“We didn’t have the resources, so to get there, everyone had to raise airfares and accommodation.

“So, going forward, we will engage the  Sports minister and see how our ladies can prepare and go to Chile.”

HARARE - Zimbabwe rugby is on the verge of losing another talent to South Africa after former Junior Sables vice-captain Eli Snyman was called up for the Junior Springboks trial camp being held in Cape Town.

The towering lock has been in sublime form for Vodacom Blue Bulls’ Under-19 side and it is no surprise the Junior Springboks technical team believe he can make the grade.

The former St John’s College rugby captain is part of 56 players included in the trial camp which South Africa is using to prepare for their assault on the World Rugby U20 Championship.

The 2016 tournament takes place in Manchester, England in June with the training group assembled in Cape Town expected to be trimmed next week.

Snyman’s call up follows an inspiration year and a half for the Tshwane-based franchise junior side.

Last year, he was named the Blue Bulls Under-19 Forward-of-the-Year following an exceptional debut season.

Snyman was part of the Zimbabwe schools Under-18 side at the 2014 Coca-Cola Craven Week festival in Polokwane where he caught the eyes of the Blue Bulls scouts.

The powerful lock was one of the few bright sparks for the Junior Sables in a tournament they would like to forget after they lost all their three matches.

It was no surprise that the Loftus Versfeld Stadium-based franchise went on to sign the Zimbabwean and enrol him into their academy which houses their development side.

Junior Sables Under-20 rugby assistant coach Bob Mahari admitted it was another loss for Zimbabwe rugby but wished Snyman all the best in his career.

Mahari said Snyman would have been an invaluable asset to the Junior Sables side that is set to battle in an eight-team tournament from April 15 to May 2.

The winner is set to walk away with the sole ticket to compete at next year’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

Several foreign-based players have been included in the Junior Sables’ provisional squad of 33 players with the technical team pulling all the stops in their efforts to make a lasting impression at the prestigious tournament.

However, a host of the players are still to turn up for Zimbabwe while those who could have been the mainstay of the team have been pushed by circumstances to pursue their rugby careers elsewhere.

This comes as the country has continued to experience a drain in all departments due to lack of resources largely due to continued economic decline and political instability.

Junior Springboks trial squad: Jan-Henning Campher, Tinus de Beer, Aston Fortuin, Stedman Gans, Denzel Hill, Jaco Holtzhausen, JT Jackson, Manie Libbok, Andell Loubser, Franco Naude, Divan Rossouw, Hendre Stassen, Eli Snyman, Gavin van den Berg, Franco van den Berg, Luigy van Jaarsveld, De Wet Bezuidenhout, Mosolwa Mafuma, Victor Maruping, Le Roux Baard, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Rhyno Herbst, Lusanda Badiyana, Tango Balelike, Michael Brink,James Hall, Nicolaas Oosthuizen, Lupumlo Mguca, Junior Pokomela, Roche van Zyl, Keanu Vers, Jeremy Ward, Stephanus Nieuwoudt, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Curwin Bosch, Morne Joubert, S’busiso Nkosi, Zweli Siluale, Saud Abrahams, Ruan Brits, Paul de Wet, Eduan Keyter, Daniel Maree, Gary Porter, Duncan Saal, Carlo Sadie, Tiaan Swanepoel, Ernst van Rhyn, Jaco Willemse, Eduard Zandberg, Jaco Coetzee, Zane Davids, Ruben de Villiers, Wikus Groenewald, Edwill van der Merwe, Kuyenseka Xaba.

HARARE - Zimbabwe Under-21 women’s hockey team returned from Namibia yesterday where they finished second behind South Africa to qualify for this year’s World Cup to be held in Chile.

The squad secured their World Cup ticket after defeating hosts Namibia 2-1 in the semi-finals before going on to lose 10-0 to South Africa in the final.

The Under-21 women’s hockey side last qualified for the World Cup in 2005 which was ironically hosted by Chile as well.

Coach Trish Davies praised her young ladies for putting up a spirited performance in Namibia.

“For the girls it was absolutely unbelievable. I ran onto the field and that said something after I played so long ago. It was beautiful honestly; they were so pleased, it was such an achievement to make this World Cup,” said the former national team player, who part of the famous Golden Girls team which won Olympic gold in 1980.

“The last time we played South Africa four years ago, our girls got beaten 21-0 and I think there’s an improvement and we are catching up.”

Captain Stephanie Campbell, who scored the winning goal in the semi-final win against the hosts, travelled straight to university in South Africa but told the Daily News how grateful the entire team is after securing their ticket to Chile.

“I felt very privileged to have been asked to lead the Zimbabwe team. And the team together had such heart which made it so amazing to lead,” Campbell said.

“The fact that we qualified showed how we didn’t once give up and we fought to the end. It’s amazing to have been able to lead such a lovely group of girls.”

Hockey Association of Zimbabwe secretary general Sarah Bennett, who was also in Namibia as a technical official, said: “It’s definitely an advancement for Zimbabwe hockey for both the ladies and the men and it’s definitely a step in the right direction for Zimbabwe sport and hope this is gonna encourage the youngsters in the communities to pick up their sticks and continue to play.”

The men’s Under-21 side also travelled to Namibia but they failed to win a World cup berth after finishing third.

“Obviously, everyone’s dream is to win gold or silver and qualify for the world cup but realistically our expectations were to come third because Egypt and South Africa are on a different level, to us it was really nice to come third and steal the medal from the hosts,” captain Graydon Thornton said.

“It was really nice (ladies’ victory) we were there at the game supporting them, they did steal it away from Namibia and they fully deserve it and I wish them the very best of luck in Chile, I know they are going to do their best and make the country proud.”

HARARE - Zifa has expelled suspended board member, Edzai Kasinauyo, and summoned five individuals to appear before a disciplinary hearing following their involvement in the latest local match-fixing scandal.

The decision to expel Kasinauyo was reached after the former Warriors midfielder launched an urgent High Court application to challenge his suspension from all football activities.

Former Zifa CEO Henrietta Rushwaya, ex-Warriors coach Ian Gorowa and Hwange coach Nation Dube have all been charged with trying to fix Zimbabwe’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Swaziland.

The association’s former programmes officer Jonathan Musavengana and local player intermediary Kudzai Shabba have also been summoned to appear before the Zifa Disciplinary Committee.

Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa said he will see it through that Kasinauyo’s involvement in all football activities is over.

“He (Kasinauyo) is now finished. His post is vacant. We will now go to congress with this,” Chiyangwa said.

“Even if the congress says they still want him in football; I’m going to fight with them in congress and I’ll have my day.

“If I succeed, then the congress will themselves nominate the candidate they want to fill the vacancy; that’s the procedure.

“Even if the High Court rules in his favour, we will not accept decisions made in court. He will not come back to Zifa.        

“Our judiciary and the executive are all government and government must not interfere with football; please take note of that.

“Any interference by government means we will all get into trouble with Fifa. Our football will sink.”

Chiyangwa also said Zifa was now beginning the process to revoke Kasinauyo’s player intermediary licence.

Before being elected onto the Zifa board last December, Kasinauyo was the intermediate of a number of leading Zimbabwean players including star forward Khama Billiat.

In the letter of expulsion sent to the former CAPS United and Moroka Swallows midfielder, Zifa CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze cited a number of breaches.

“You have seriously violated the Zifa constitution by taking a football dispute to an ordinary court in violation of Article 60.1 of the Zifa constitution,” wrote Mashingaidze.

“It is common knowledge that on March 24, 2016, you filed an urgent chamber application as the applicant against Zifa, whom you cited as the respondent.

“Further, you violated the terms and conditions of your suspension which prohibited you from making any contact of any nature whatsoever with Zifa members.”                

Meanwhile, Chiyangwa insists Zifa will put in place more stringent controls at all entry points for future national team home matches.

Although the 60 000-seater National Sports Stadium was almost 90 percent full on Easter Monday for the match against Swaziland, Zifa only accounted for 28 063 paying fans.

As a result, the association only generated $92 009 from ticket sales while a further $3 660 was realised from vending, beverages and car park receipts.

Zifa benefactor Wicknell Chivayo also donated a further $34 000 to cater for the players’ bonuses. All this revenue is outweighed by the expenses Zifa incurred in the last few weeks as they had to pay for all the players’ tickets to travel from their various European and South Africa bases.

The association also had to pay for the team’s upkeep while in camp as well as their travel to Swaziland for the Good Friday match.

Zifa also had to fork out for the stay, air tickets and allowances of the Comoros team of match officials, who handled Monday’s match.

“Generally, we are in Zimbabwe where we have our own special situation, but the norm is that government must take care of their national teams both the men’s and women’s teams,” said Chiyangwa.

“In Zimbabwe, we have to do some financial engineering and that’s why I have a partner (Chivayo) that has to step in when we are short.

“We don’t owe anybody particularly from this match unless you are talking about the (Cuthbert) Dube debts.”

Chiyangwa added: “This (football) is the best entertainment you can find in this country. We have to make sure that the matches are played and they are sustainable.”      
 

HARARE - Indigenisation minister Patrick Zhuwao’s combative stance on foreign firms that are yet to comply with the controversial indigenisation policy is very worrying to say the least.

Yesterday, President Robert Mugabe’s nephew was at it again but this time not only threatening to close all non-complying firms but also to sue all companies that might decide not to comply with the Act — that has over the years seen investors giving Zimbabwe a wide berth.

While we do not condone lawlessness, what Zhuwao — who claims to have a degree in Economics — and his Zanu PF ilk fail to grasp is that Zimbabwe needs foreign investors more than they need us.

The economy is on a downward trajectory and in the absence of balance of payment support and overseas development assistance, only fresh foreign capital might be able to help ease the liquidity crisis in the country and industry to retool.

However, these Zanu PF simpletons in their cuckoo land think that threatening white capital will help extricate Zimbabwe from this economic quagmire precipitated by Mugabe’s populist and injudicious policies in the last 36 years.

The nonagenarian leader was in 2014 forced to extend his begging bowl to China for financial and technical assistance following the decline in government’s revenue streams due to a collapse in industry.

But the so-called “mega deals” from Harare’s preferred investors are yet to materialise as the Chinese are also wary of injecting cash and technical support to a political party that seems to support corruption, greediness and is hell-bent on plundering national resources for personal benefit.

Since winning the 2013 elections — albeit under controversial circumstances — the Zanu PF-led government has done little to attract foreign direct investment into the country.

Recent data supplied by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development shows that Zimbabwe received a paltry $510 million in foreign direct investment in 2015 compared to a regional average of $5 billion.

What these figures reveal — and what the selfish and egoistical people in Zanu PF don’t want to grasp — is that Zimbabwe is not special and investors can equally get better returns in neighbouring countries such as Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia where they are welcome. A cursory look at the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange confirms that foreign investors are fleeing en masse to other regional bourses to the detriment of the local economy.

The local bourse’s main industrial index has, for the first time in six years — dropped below the psychological 100 basis points and is yet to recover.

As such, it is now imperative that government implements productive and proactive policy reforms to attract the much-needed foreign direct investment and restore the country’s external position as a prerequisite for economic growth.

HARARE - Former Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairperson Temba Mliswa says political parties should embrace the youths or kiss goodbye to hopes of winning the eagerly-anticipated 2018 elections.

Presently, the main political parties are led by people over 60 years old with President Robert Mugabe being 92 and declaring that he will stand for election in 2018.

Speaking to Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (Yard)’s ward executive structures in Hurungwe West constituency on Sunday, Mliswa said the old guard has failed Zimbabwe and there is now need to put in place mechanisms that will usher in a new dispensation comprising mainly the youth.

“The youth have to be emancipated from the current retrogressive and polarised political horizon because such an environment has been conducive to those in power who have used tactics to exploit and abuse the youths and to coerce them to engage in political violence, this position however, is fast approaching its doomsday,” said Mliswa.

Youths, who constitute 60 percent of the country’s population, have been in the past used by political parties as agents of violence but rarely occupy lofty positions in government or their respective political parties.

And Mliswa said it was with this in mind that he formed Yard, “a youth -driven organisation where youths from across the political divide meet to work towards the common goal of serving their generation in a peaceful and tolerant manner.”

“Since its inception in October 2015, Yard has set up structures in all 10 provinces, all administration districts, all 210 constituencies of Zimbabwe and is currently working on setting up structures at all ward levels.

“This amazing feat was made possible by the determination and drive of the youthful Yarders whose commitment is a shining beacon to the infinite possibilities that abound when young, learned minds come together,” said Mliswa

With elections fast-approaching, Mliswa said political violence has no place in a modern society and urged people to register to vote so that their voice is heard through the ballot box.

Speaking at the same occasion Mashonaland West provincial committee member Innocent Zvavarashe said they were going to pressurise the government to act on the alarming high cases of early child marriages that are being recorded in Hurungwe West.

“The minister has to protect the girl-child, rather than to protect moral decadence by distributing condoms at schools.

“Money meant for condoms in schools should be channelled towards the provision of basic needs such as sanitary pads for the girls to use.”

“We are going to pressurise Education minister Lazarus Dokora, to implement a ‘free education policy’ for the girl child, as such an initiative will assist in keeping the girls in school, a process which in turn will help to mitigate the scourge of unwanted pregnancies and child marriages.”

HARARE - Despite the fact that the High Court has outlawed water disconnections, Harare City Council (HCC) says it will continue disconnecting water to squeeze defaulters into settling their bills.

HCC spokesperson Michael Chideme said in a statement that the city authorities are owed more than $400 million by defaulters.

“Harare City is intensifying water disconnections and issuance of summons at all premises in arrears of the current bill. Residents with paid up current bills will not have their water disconnected.

“All debtors are urged to make payment arrangements with council to offset their debts. Council needs all residents to be rates-compliant for it to be able to discharge its service delivery mandate,” said Chideme.

Last year, the High Court described Section 8 of the water by-law under Statutory Instrument (SI) 164 of 1913 which gives local authorities the power to disconnect defaulting residents, as illegal as it was ultra vires the Constitution.

Section 77 of the Constitution classifies clean water and food as basic rights.

HARARE - Zanu PF youths yesterday besieged a Bindura farm belonging to former ambassador Agrippa Mutambara, who is now a member of the Joice Mujuru-led Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), baying for his blood.

They were apparently angered by the fact that he is now backing an opposition party.

Mutambara, a retired brigadier general, told the Daily News in a telephone interview that his farm known as Shangere was besieged by rowdy youths whom he suspected to have been dispatched by the Zanu PF top leadership from 6am to 1300hrs.

“Zanu PF youths came to my farm saying they were sent by (Zanu PF Mashonaland Central province chairperson Dickson) Mafios and (Zanu PF national political commissar Saviour) Kasukuwere to take the farm.

“They said the farm belongs only to Zanu PF members and they only left after their ring leaders were taken by the police,” said Mutambara.

When he was asked to comment about the youths’ claims that they had been sent by him, Mafios, who is related to Kasukuwere, said he was in a meeting.

But as dozens of high-profile former Zanu PF officials cross the floor to join former vice president Mujuru and her political outfit, the Daily News also learnt that more such invasions are in the offing as the governing party seeks to strike fear in would-be deserters.

Mutambara said what is now unravelling is the clearest indication that democracy is dead in Zanu PF and also that the governing party brooks no dissent even from “those they shared the trenches with”.

Quoting the youths, Mutambara said they were singing bastardised liberation war struggle songs and heaping praises on Mugabe as the sole owner of the land between Zambezi and Limpopo rivers.

“This is the true face of Zanu PF and this is why I left Zanu PF, they want to win by forcing people to do as they like, this is very sad, they say the farm belongs to Gushungo (Mugabe) but he was our president and never participated in the liberation war, we are the ones who were on the forefront and this is indeed shocking,” said Mutambara.

One of the reasons why Mujuru and her allies broke ranks with Zanu PF is the idolisation of 92-year-old Mugabe who is given demigod status by his toady followers.

And the invasion of Mutambara’s farm also vindicated opposition claims that the ad hoc land reform programme benefited mostly Zanu PF supporters — with those of divergent views being sidelined or as of now risking to lose their farms.

Narrating the stand-off, Mutambara said as soon as he officially announced that he would be joining ZPF, he got wind of plans to grab his farm by his disenchanted comrades who felt he had betrayed the struggle.

“I am at the farm now, the police came and apprehended the ring leaders and when they came back they said they will return before end of the week and take the farm,” said Mutambara.

Asked how his farm labourers reacted when the youths arrived, Mutambara said since he had been forewarned, the workers anticipated the invasion.

“Our workers were expecting this, most of them were in Zanu PF before and they also joined me when I left.

“I had warned them that invaders would come. Some days ago I heard that they were plans to invade my farm so I was prepared,” said Mutambara.

HARARE - Norway will in June this year close its embassy in Zimbabwe as part of its adjustment and restructuring process “in light of budgetary constraints and new priorities”.

The Norwegian ambassador to Zimbabwe Bård Hopland said the closure did not mean the breaking of ties between the European country and Zimbabwe.

“Sadly, but still what an opportunity you gave me to celebrate a special partnership and friendship before I leave. So, even if the Norwegian “farmhouse” now will move to Pretoria, I am certain that there will continue to “lie a trodden road” between us,”  Hopland said at the official opening of the new Theatre in the Park venue in Harare on Tuesday night.

The Norwegian embassy closure comes months after the closure of the Denmark embassy in Harare last year.

Zimbabwe is not the only country which has been affected by Norway’s restructuring as the country is also wrapping up its missions in Zambia, Kazakhstan and Bulgaria.

Norway through Hivos was a major funder of arts in Zimbabwe and also invested in infrastructure development and humanitarian assistance through ZimFund and indirectly through supporting the United Nations.

The embassy was also supporting Zimbabwe’s economic development through facilitation of Norwegian business establishment in the southern African country.

“Please, also allow me to use this opportunity to thank Hivos, through which much of our cultural funds have been channelled, for their efforts to bring together arts practitioners and artists in Zimbabwe with a common vision of developing spaces for freedom of expression.

“The Norwegian ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently launched a strategy for support of freedom of expression. It intends to promote free speech as an integral part of Norwegian development assistance, well aware that freedom of expression is a prerequisite for democracy and good governance,” Hopland said.

In a previous statement on the closure, Norway’s minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende said  budgetary constraints had caused the adjustments.

“We have to adjust to a changing world and the resources available”, Brende said.

Norway established its mission in Zimbabwe in 1981 and has been involved in development aid.

In the past years, the main focus areas have been support to election processes and democratisation, human rights and culture.

HARARE - Barely a month after former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) was officially launched, the young political outfit is coming under increasing pressure from Zanu PF, as more ruling party officials and supporters stampede to join the new kid on the block.

On Monday, a ZPF supporter was hospitalised after he was said to have been savagely beaten by Zanu PF activists, after being told that his party should stop “stealing” supporters from the deeply-divided ruling party.

The assault, which took place in the Harare dormitory town of Chitungwiza, saw the victim Remedy Musokeri, sustaining multiple internal injuries and losing several teeth, in the latest wave of attacks on ZPF followers.

Contacted by the Daily News yesterday, police spokesperson Charity Charamba said she was not aware of the incident.

But ZPF Harare youth co-ordinator, Farai Kuveya, said the new political outfit was “under siege because it is making serious inroads into Zanu PF’s support base”.

The Chitungwiza incident comes after four ZPF supporters were injured when violence broke out at one of the party’s rallies in Glen View last month, after a group of suspected Zanu PF youths ran amok in the area.

“These are the last kicks of a dying horse,” a miffed Kuveya said of the increasing attacks on ZPF.

The party’s spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, said their erstwhile comrades in Zanu PF were now “bereft of ideas and thus resorting to violence”.

“Zanu PF is known to be a violent party. It does not brook any opposition but the reality is that they are losing support left, right and centre.

“But all this will not stop us because we believe in peaceful engagements. Right now our focus is on the economy which is in such a bad shape,” Gumbo said.

Contacted for comment Zanu PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, said he was in a meeting and thus could not respond to the allegations.

“When they were assaulting Musokeri, he was told ‘you guys are taking our people’ and they (the aggressors) were also demanding to know the whereabouts of our Chitungwiza co-ordinator Ephraim Mavungani, who had to flee his house fearing for his life.

“I only managed to assist Musokeri on Monday morning and he was later treated at the Avenues clinic,” Kuveya said yesterday, adding that the party had reported the matter to Chitungwiza police.

“This is not the first time one of our activists has either been assaulted or abducted in Chitungwiza.

“Although we know the perpetrators by name, no one has been arrested in all the cases, so we don’t take any solace from the police because they have never acted. I also don’t see them doing so now and that is what is giving these guys the guts to continue harassing us,” Kuveya said.

Cynical critics say ZPF is getting a taste of its own medicine as some of its members allegedly used to mete out the same jungle justice to the opposition when they were luxuriating in the ruling party.

“It is not fair to say that,” complained Gumbo to the charges, adding, “Have you heard that Gumbo or Mujuru ever incited violence?

“We may have been in Zanu PF, a party that perpetuates violence, but we never condoned that kind of behaviour. We don’t encourage that behaviour and culture at all.

“It’s not just us, the MDC formations are being harassed and intimidated. We have said it time and again that we want to create a peaceful, democratic and stable nation, where people can decide their own future and find space to express themselves”.

HARARE - As the Zanu PF faction opposed to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeding President Robert Mugabe cranks up the political heat on him — the warring party’s ambitious Young Turks, known as the Generation 40 (G40) group, plan to mount a massive demonstration in Harare against the embattled Midlands godfather.

Well-placed Zanu PF sources who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said although the march would be organised under the guise of the bitterly-divided party’s women and youth leagues showing their continued support for Mugabe, its real target would be Mnangagwa.

“You can bet your last dollar that this won’t be a march for Gushungo (Mugabe), this is about Ngwena (Mnangagwa) and how he has to be eliminated at all costs, just as they tried to do earlier in the year when the women’s league organised a similar demo.

“Ngwena’s (Zanu PF) enemies are working hard to ensure that he is dropped from Cabinet. So, while publicly the youths and women are not naming Ngwena, it is an open secret that their march is targeted at him, on the false claim that he wants to topple the president from power,” a senior party official linked to Team Lacoste said.

The mass action, it is said, will be reminiscent of the “one million man march against sanctions” that firebrand former war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda organised in 2007 when he was still a darling of Zanu PF bigwigs.

Tough-talking women’s league national treasurer, Sarah Mahoka — who publicly humiliated Mnangagwa in February this year — confirmed the march, telling the Daily News yesterday that the league’s members would come out in full force to join hands with party youths in the planned demonstration.

“As the women’s league, we believe that wherever you see the youth league, we are always there because they are the vanguard of the party and what they are planning is a noble idea because there are some war veterans who have taken to intimidating our president.

“We will not tolerate anyone who plays around with our leader and the First Lady. Anyone who touches them will have touched a raw nerve and we will not spare him. Anofira mahara (such people risk losing their lives for nothing),” Mahoka declared.

Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF foes accuse him of “overweening ambition” and leading the Team Lacoste faction that is allegedly working feverishly to oust Mugabe from power.

Some of Mnangagwa’s supposed key allies, such as prominent war veterans Christopher Mutsvangwa and Victor Matemadanda, have given grist to the allegations by appearing to question Mugabe’s actions in recent months — and seemingly casting doubts over the nonagenarian’s continuing capacity to control Zanu PF.

Weighing in on the subject of the planned march, ruling party deputy national youth league secretary, Kudzanai Chipanga, says the league will, during the first week of May, mobilise at least 100 000 young people from each of the country’s 10 provinces to “invade Harare to assure the president that we are 150 percent behind him and that he should never lose sleep or be intimidated by anyone”.

“We have individuals in Zanu PF who are saying rubbish things, anticipating ...Mugabe’s death, for them to take power. He (Mugabe) was elected by the people and, therefore, no one will ever dare to remove him,” Chipanga said recently while addressing Mashonaland East youths in Marondera.

Speaking in an interview with Japanese journalists on Monday, Mugabe himself made it abundantly clear that he would not be stampeded out of power, adding that he would stand for the 2018 elections when he would be a very mature 94.

Asked directly if he would stand for elections in 2018, Mugabe said: “At the moment I am the president. Do you see me as not fit? Why not contest two years later?

“My people will want me to be a candidate and they have already nominated me as a candidate for 2018,” the increasingly-frail nonagenarian said.

Meanwhile, Mahoka has also accused some former freedom fighters led by Mutsvangwa of hiding behind the “cloak of war veterans’ welfare” to push for a meeting with Mugabe, albeit supposedly harbouring sinister motives.

However, she said, Zanu PF — and especially the women’s league — would never allow itself to be dictated to by an affiliate association.

“We cannot have our president removed by an affiliate association, not in our lifetime. We will stand together with the youths to defend him, to defend the revolution and its legacy.

“They are now talking about the welfare of war veterans because they want to then go about abusing his (Mugabe’s) name, lying that he gave them tasks to do.

“We know they are desperate for recognition, that even if they get just a handshake from him or the first lady, they will use that to intimidate people saying they are close to them,” Mahoka charged.

The march will also come at a time that Team Lacoste-aligned war veterans are pushing Mugabe to take action against their rivals in the G40 faction — with the VP’s allies accusing the G40 of working to destroy Zanu PF from within.

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's highest court has ruled that President Jacob Zuma violated the constitution when he failed to repay some of the government money used to upgrade his private home.

The treasury had 60 days to determine how much he should repay, it added.

The ruling is a victory for the opposition, which said it would push for Mr Zuma's impeachment.

It accused him of using "ill-gotten wealth" to upgrade his home with a swimming pool and amphitheatre.

Mr Zuma denied any wrongdoing. He has not yet commented on the ruling.

An anti-corruption body, known as the public protector, ruled in 2014 that $23m (£15m) had been spent on his rural home in Nkandla in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province.

Mr Zuma had "unduly benefited", and should repay a portion of the money, the public protector said.

In a unanimous judgement, the Constitutional Court said Mr Zuma's failure to heed the directive was "inconsistent" with the constitution.

"The president failed to uphold, defend and respect the constitution of the Republic," it added.

The case was brought by two opposition parties, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Mr Zuma's conduct constituted "grounds for impeachment", the DA said in its reaction to the judgement.

HARARE - Mashonaland Eagles hard-hitting batsman Cephas Zhuwao is mooting returning to England as he continues to be snubbed by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) selectors for national duty.

The left-handed batsman was instrumental in the Eagles’ triumph at the domestic Twenty20 tournament held in Bulawayo last month after plundering 17 runs in the decisive super over against Mountaineers.

Despite his generally good form and heroics, Zhuwao was excluded from the Zimbabwe squad which was humiliated by Afghanistan at the ongoing ICC WT20 finals in India.

With the frustration of not getting recognition in the format that suits him best, Zhuwao has decided to relocate to the UK.

He however, insists that his sojourn to England is intended to help him develop his game.

“I’m currently sorting out my papers so that I get back to play cricket in the UK and this time I will be going for good,” Zhuwao told the Daily News yesterday.

“Not really (frustrated) but I just want new challenges. I will be heading to Manchester and during the off-season I will go and play in Australia.”

The left-arm spinner said the door remains open for a national team call-up should the selectors and the technical team feel he still has got something to offer.

“If they want me to come back and play, I will come back without hesitation. Playing for my country remains a priority,” he said.

“I have great respect for our selection panel and am very much cognisant of the fact that not everyone can make it into the team at any given time so I believe they were a lot of good player ahead of me and believe my chance will come.”

Zhuwao, known by the moniker “Big Bully” in local cricket circles, has only represented Zimbabwe in five T20 internationals since making his debut against Canada in 2008.

His last appearance for the national team in the shortest format of the game came way back in 2011 against Pakistan.

Last year, the 31-year-old spent the greater part playing in England’s Division A League for Budleigh Salteron in the Devon Cricket League.

His best performance for the side was when he scored an unbeaten 159 against Bideford from just 103 deliveries.

Zhuwao hit 12 boundaries and 14 maximums in the process as he sent bowlers all over the park.

HARARE - CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe says his side will not be under pressure to win the title this season despite investing heavily to add top talent to the Green Machine’s roster.

United, who have not won the league title since 2005, have beefed up their squad by signing winger Tafadzwa Rusike, who returned from a brief stint in Angola, Archieford Gutu, who was released by Swedish side Kalmar FF, and Devon Chafa from How Mine.

Makepekepe have also snapped up goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda from Gunners, 2014 Soccer Star of the Year Dennis Dauda (ZPC Kariba), full back Gilbert Mapemba, who was unattached after leaving South African club Moroka Swallows in 2014.

The club has also signed former Zimbabwe youth international Abbas Amidu, who had been playing for Masafi Club in the United Arab Emirates First Division for the past year while former Warriors captain Method Mwanjali has also rejoined the club.

They have also signed forward Simba Nhivi from arch rivals Dynamos to beef up their front line.

Last season, Makepekepe finished in fifth place some 15 points behind eventual champions Chicken Inn.

“We haven’t made that (winning the title) a priority, what we have made clear is that we want to be competitive,” Chitembwe said yesterday ahead of their opening match of the season against Chapungu on Sunday at the National Sports Stadium.

“We want to do well this season. The championship is the ultimate prize and for us the most important thing is to win games.”

Chitembwe said his side has prepared thoroughly for Sunday’s match and he will be expecting to collect three points against the Gweru-based Air Force of Zimbabwe side.

“Just like any other team, this is one game that has taken us more time to prepare. It took us precisely eight weeks to prepare for this game,” he said,

“We have done well in as far as preparations are concerned, we have had quite a credible preparatory phase and we have no complaints. We are just ready and motivated to see how well we can do in the first game.

“We do respect Chapungu, they have a decent group of players but I personally feel we equally have a very good group of players, we have quality all over and I am sure we should be able to take care of matters on the pitch.”

The Makepekepe coach was also pleased by the form of right back Hardlife Zvirekwi, who was impressive for the Warriors in the 4-0 drubbing of Swaziland in an Afcon qualifier on Monday.

“We have always believed in Hardlife (Zvirekwi) and he showed a lot of character,” Chitembwe said.

“Not so many players can react to such situations the way he does. He is one player I feel if he keeps his cool he will go places.”

Veteran striker Leonard Tsipa and Zvikomborero Bizeki will miss the opening match of the season as they are down with injuries while Mwanjali and striker Nhivi will have to pass a late fitness test to be considered for the match.

Fixtures:

Today: How Mine v Bulawayo City (White City Stadium, SS)

Tomorrow: Chicken Inn v Dynamos (Barbourfields Stadium SS), ZPC Kariba v Border Strikers (Nyamhunga Stadium), FC Platinum v Tsholotsho (Mandava Stadium), Mutare City Rovers v Ngezi Platinum Stars (TBA)

Sunday: Caps United v Chapungu (National Sports Stadium), Hwange v Highlanders (Colliery Stadium), Triangle United v Harare City (Gibbo Stadium)

HARARE - The High Court has thrown out Edzai Kasinauyo’s urgent chamber application to have Zifa avail his legal team with evidence in the ongoing match-fixing scandal.

Kasinauyo, a Zifa board member for development, was suspended last month together with ex-Zifa CEO Henrietta Rushwaya and Warriors assistant coach Nation Dube for their involvement in the plot to fix Zimbabwe’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Swaziland.

After his suspension early last month, Kasinauyo had approached the High Court seeking to have Zifa avail the alleged match-fixing evidence within 24 hours.

The former Warriors midfielder also wanted the courts to bar Zifa from associating, alleging and or accusing him of the match- fixing allegations in any forum whatsoever should they fail to produce the evidence.

High Court Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, however, ruled that the matter was not urgent yesterday.

The ruling comes as another huge blow to Kasinauyo, who was on Wednesday provisionally expelled by Zifa for taking a football matter to court.

“He (Kasinauyo) is now finished. His post is vacant. We will now go to congress with this,” Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa said on Wednesday.

“Even if the congress says they still want him in football; I’m going to fight with them in congress and I’ll have my day.

“If I succeed, then the congress will themselves nominate the candidate they want to fill the vacancy; that’s the procedure.

“Even if the High Court rules in his favour, we will not accept decisions made in court. He will not come back to Zifa.

“Our judiciary and the executive are all government and government must not interfere with football; please take note of that.

“Any interference by government means we will all get into trouble with Fifa. Our football will sink.”

HARARE - Although the Warriors hold the aces in Group L of 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, Guinea’s win over Malawi on Tuesday has complicated matters.

According to the rules and regulations of the qualifying tournament, head-to-head results between the concerned teams will be used as a tie breaker in the event that there is a tie in points.

Article 14 of the regulations reads: “In case of equality between two teams at the end of the group matches, the teams will be ranked according to the following criteria in the order listed below:

“The greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the two teams concerned;

“The best goal difference in the matches between the two teams concerned;

“The greatest number of away goals scored in the direct encounters between the two concerned teams;

“The goal difference in all group matches;

“The greatest number of goals scored in all group matches;

“A drawing of lots conducted by the Organising Committee.”

After four matches in the group, the Warriors are now in first place with eight points following Monday’s emphatic 4-0 win over Swaziland.

Sihlangu dropped to second place as they remained on five points while Guinea also moved to five points after their 2-1 win over Malawi on Tuesday in Blantyre.

Guinea remain in third place as they have an inferior head-to-head to Swaziland after losing to Sihlangu when the two teams met at a neutral venue in Morocco last year.

Malawi anchor the group with two points and the Flames are mathematically out of the race of qualifying for Gabon.

This leaves Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Guinea fighting to top the group at the end of the qualifying campaign.

The Warriors still have to play Malawi at home and travel to Conakry to play Guinea in their remaining two matches.

To book their ticket for the finals, Zimbabwe need at least four points to get to 12 since Swaziland and Guinea can only reach 11 points.

Guinea are the Warriors biggest threat at the moment because in the event they beat Swaziland in Mbabane in June and the Warriors also beat Malawi then the last group match in September will be like a cup final.

The Warriors will go into that match on 11 points while Guinea would be only three behind on eight points.

To top the group the Syli Nationale would only need to beat Zimbabwe by any scoreline to achieve a superior head-to-head advantage over the Warriors.

Knowing the modus operandi of West African teams when hosting such crucial qualifiers, the Warriors would be subjected to all kinds of psychological warfare by the Syli Nationale the moment they touch down in Conakry.

It will take strong heads and a well-disciplined performance from the Warriors to emerge from the Stade de Septembre 28 — a venue where Zimbabwe has suffered a lot at the hands previous Guinea sides.

The Syli Nationale players will obviously target some of the Warriors key players like captain Willard Katsande, who is always fully committed in every tackle he makes.

Katsande and his teammates will need to be smart enough not to be caught up in the silly mind games the Guineans will employ to try and Warriors players sent off.

However, before we can even start to think of a tough trip away to Conakry, the Warriors should not underrate Malawi in their penultimate match in Group L.

Of course the Flames have been doused but they will not be coming to Zimbabwe for a holiday in June.

Malawi will be playing for pride alone while all the pressure will be on the Warriors as they will be after the three points.

The temptation will be for Zimbabwe to go out gung ho in search of goals without paying any attention to defence in this game.

But this might be risky as Malawi have shown that they can be competitive by the goalless draw they achieved in Conakry on Good Friday when most expected them to be crumble.

HARARE - Close to 50 civil society organisations last week handed a petition to Parliament demanding the speedy alignment of local government laws with the Constitution and establishment of provincial and metropolitan councils in line with chapter 14 of the new constitution.

The organisations, led by Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe, Chitungwiza Residents Trust, Zimbabwe United Residents Association and Harare Residents Trust, are demanding the alignment of laws to include devolution of administrative and financial decision-making power to the local and provincial levels as envisaged under Chapter 14 of the new constitution.

“We beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to uphold and fulfil its constitutional representative, oversight and legislative roles to ensure that the local government laws are aligned with the Constitution and international best practice without any further delay.

“In the interests of democracy and in fulfilment of the wishes of the electorate we call upon Parliament to prioritise the establishment of provincial and metropolitan Councils in line with the Constitution,” the petition read.

The organisations said the continued delay in the establishment of these two important local government institutions is hampering development in all districts and provinces which are supposed to play a key role in steering development in local authorities.

“Parliament should also ensure that any local governance laws proposed by the executive are democratic and in line with the current Constitution. These laws need to devolve governance, as enshrined in the Constitution.

“To that end, we pray to the Parliament of Zimbabwe that any proposed Bill should not centralise power, as opposed to devolving it.

“Parliament should ensure that any proposed local government legislation fulfils principles that are spelled out in Chapter 14 (Provincial and Local government) of the Constitution which include; devolution of power to local authorities, provincial and metropolitan councils; enhancing citizen participation in local governance; promoting democratic, effective, transparent, accountable and coherent local government in Zimbabwe; and recognising the right of communities to manage their own affairs and to promote peace, national unity and development.”

The petitioners also called upon Parliament to exercise its oversight role and ensure that there is a clear timeline, benchmarks and milestones in the formulation of the local government laws.

“We further ask Parliament to facilitate ordinary people’s input into the proposed legislation through holding public consultations across the country and with all local government stakeholders before the laws are adopted.”