HARARE - The house of Zanu PF MP for Harare East, Terrence Mukupe will today go under the hammer as a local bank seeks to recover its debt.

Mukupe’s house was attached by the sheriff of the High Court after he failed to settle a debt owed to ZB Bank.

“The defendant’s rights and title in relation to certain piece of land situate in the district of Salisbury being stand number 293 Glen Lorne Township measuring 8 529 square metres AKA(also known as) 293 Coombe Road, Glen Lorne Harare,” read the auction notice.

“Duly instructed by the sheriff of the High Court of Zimbabwe we will be offering the following immovable properties for sale by public auction to be held at Raylton Sports Club corner 5th Street and George Silundika in Harare on April 1 at 10 am.”

The Zanu PF legislator has previously resisted the bank’s attempts to attach his house.

Although Mukupe was not immediately available for comment, the Glen Lorne house is the one he was reported to have been residing at when he was campaigning for the Harare East constituency last year.

Meanwhile, in yet another sign of the current economic meltdown, Bitumen Construction Services will also lose its double-storey administration block in Bluffhill as the Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe seeks to recover its money.

HARARE - Harare and Chitungwiza residents have dragged Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere to the High Court, challenging his decision to rescind the city’s town clerk’s appointment within 24 hours of assuming office.

Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) and Chitungwiza Residents Association (CRA), who are the applicants cited Kasukuwere, the City of Harare and attorney general Prince Machaya as respondents.

According to an affidavit filed by Simbarashe Moyo, who is CHRA’s chairperson, through their lawyer Tonderai Bhatasara, the application is in terms of Section 85 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

The application comes after Kasukuwere rescinded the appointment of former NMBZ Holdings group chief executive officer James Mushore as Harare’s town clerk on March 24 this year.

In their application, the residents claim Kasukuwere’s decision was unconstitutional.

“The Constitution of Zimbabwe…provides for devolution of power and responsibilities to lower tiers of government in Zimbabwe under its Chapter 14,” Moyo argued.

He further argued that the purpose for the devolution of power is to give powers to local governance and enhance their participation in the exercise of the powers of the State and in making decisions affecting them, among other issues.

In the affidavit, Moyo said the minister’s decision to rescind the appointment violated Chapter 14 of the Constitution, adding that Harare City Council cannot continue running without a town clerk.

“Clearly the administrative action of the first respondent (Kasukuwere) is unlawful, unconstitutional and violates the rights of the applicants, its members and/or the public. In his letter first respondent does not say why it is in the interest of residents of Harare that he rescinds the decision to appoint the town clerk,” Moyo said.

CRA said it participated in the application because it gets its water from Harare.

“They have an interest in seeing the proper, efficient and transparent management of the affairs of 2nd respondent,” CRA director Marvellous Khumalo, said.

The residents now seek an order reversing Kasukuwere’s decision. They further demand the court to declare that, “…Sections 132, 133, 134 and 135 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) are…unconstitutional and are struck down.”

MUTARE - Factional fighting in Zanu PF yesterday reached new levels when Members of Parliament (MPs) aligned to Team Lacoste, a faction fighting to have Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeed President Robert Mugabe, demanded to know whether the 90-year-old received $50 million which they said was pledged by Chiadzwa diamond miners.

Matters boiled over yesterday during a fact-finding mission by MPs in the Chiadzwa area when accusations and counter accusations started flying over diamonds revenue.

Team Lacoste MPs claimed that money donated to communities through Mugabe never found its way to the villagers bordering Marange diamond fields but the Generation 40 (G40) MPs, a faction which opposes Mnangagwa’s push to succeed Mugabe stood their ground and accused MPs aligned to the VP of trying to soil the image of the veteran leader.

But Team Lacoste MPs stood their ground and insisted that they wanted to know the whereabouts of the $50 million pledged to the community share ownership trust by diamond mining companies.

In 2012, Mugabe was presented with a $50 million dummy cheque in which the then minister of Indigenisation, Saviour Kasukuwere, said all the five diamond mining companies pledged to contribute $10 million each towards Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust.

But the diamond companies later told Parliament that they had not pledged anything and so did not make any payments to Mugabe.

Trouble started when Chief Zimunya told the parliamentary portfolio committee on Indigenisation that his community believed that Mugabe had received the money which never saw its way to them.

“The name of the president has been soiled because the people think that he actually received the money but did not avail it to them. They do not think the cheque was not genuine but a real one yet none of them benefitted,” said Chief Zimunya.

And when the chairman of the parliamentary portfolio committee on Indigenisation Justice Mayor Wadyajena, a fierce Mnangagwa loyalist and a member of the Team Lacoste faction tried to get more information from the chief, the G40 camp was not amused.

Zanu PF MPs Beatrice Nyamupinga and Keith Guzah protested accusing him of disrespecting Mugabe.

The duo accused Wadyajena of misrepresenting Zimunya’s words in order to score cheap political goals and soil the president’s reputation.

“I dispute what the chief said about the president. In fact he is not clear because he said the people think that the companies lied to the president at first now you chairman say the people think that the president was given the money. We heard you clearly chairman but we did not quite get it from the chief,” Nyamupinga protested with Guzah backing her.

But in his typical defiant fashion, Wadyajena stood his ground and warned his counterparts against intimidating the chief.

“Chief this is Parliament and you have not said anything wrong. You are protected, after all you are simply stating what your people are saying...Nyamupinga and ...Guzah this is the last warning or I will eject you,” said Wadyajena.

In his response to Wadyajena, an unfazed Guzah said he is prepared to die for Mugabe in his defence.

“We are prepared to be ejected for the sake of the president. We cannot watch silently when you disrespect our president like this,” Guzah said.

But shooting from the hip Wadyajena, who recently pulled off the face of First Lady Grace from his car, accused the G40-aligned parliamentarians of trying to personalise Mugabe.

“Stop pretending to like the president more than others. He is our president too and there is no need to be emotional as what we are discussing is good for the people although it may be painful,” he said.

Zanu PF divisions are now manifesting themselves in all spheres as the battle to succeed Mugabe gathers pace with Mnangagwa’s allies now openly questioning the nonagenarian’s capacity to keep up with the rigours of his job as well as keep tabs on the goings-on in Zanu PF.

The committee will today hold public meetings with the Marange community.

Recently, Mugabe claimed during his birthday interview aired on ZTV, his government would take over all mining operations at the Chiadzwa diamond fields because the companies had not remitted all proceeds and claimed that up to $15 billion of diamond proceeds had been stolen, a figure questioned by diamond experts who believe that Marange diamonds are of low quality.

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe’s under-pressure government has torched another political storm after it proposed a new primary and secondary schools curriculum that compels children to salute the national flag and recite a pledge of patriotism — in a move which opposition parties have described as “fascist”.

While several countries around the world have national pledges, which are oaths of allegiance, opposition parties are wary of Zanu PF’s agenda — pointing at the country’s controversial national youth service where graduates have often become unthinking storm troopers for the governing party.

MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu told the Daily News yesterday that the imposition of the national pledge, which would be mandatory for all school-going children to take, was yet another Zanu PF tactic to establish “a fascist and totalitarian state in Zimbabwe similar to the reclusive North Korea”.

“They would like to brainwash our youth by feeding them with toxic propaganda that portrays Zanu PF as the sole patriotic and progressive political party in the country. The good thing is that this nefarious agenda will not succeed.

“Zimbabwe can never be another version of North Korea. We are now living in the digital age and as the MDC, we will do everything legally and politically possible to stop this madness,” Gutu thundered.

Other observers also say the national pledge initiative, which is being spearheaded by Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora, would infringe on children’s rights, including religious ones.

In the proposed pledge, children would be forced to recite: “Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies, I salute the national flag”.

Gutu said instead of coming up with viable and sustainable policies to alleviate the suffering of the majority of Zimbabweans, Zanu PF was “desperately clutching at straws” in its attempt to divert the nation’s attention by having children salute the national flag as well as reciting the “so-called” pledge.

“Section 3 of the Constitution articulates the founding values and principles of the Republic of Zimbabwe. We cannot have a so-called national pledge that is totally out of sync with the dictates of our founding values and principles as a nation.

“Our Constitution obliges us to respect the nation’s diverse cultural, religious and traditional values. Chapter 4 of our Constitution captures the Declaration of Rights.

“One can safely argue that the so-called national pledge violates the right to human dignity as espoused in Section 51 and it can also be viewed as some form of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in violation of Section 53 of the country’s supreme law,”Gutu, who is a lawyer by profession, said.

However, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said there was nothing wrong in introducing such a curriculum in schools.

“Every flag is saluted. Patriotism is key. The flag is very key. If you cannot recognise your flag then you are not in Zimbabwe. This is not a Zanu PF flag, it’s a Zimbabwean flag. It is not a Zanu PF anthem, it is a national anthem. I don’t see a problem with that,” he said.

Asked why this had not been implemented in the past 36 years and only emerging now, Khaya Moyo said, “We are not in Rhodesia, we are in Zimbabwe. Things change every year”.

On the other hand, Fortune Mlalazi of Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said the move to make children worship a flag was “blasphemous”.

“While the idea of a national pledge is laudable, as PDP we want it to be categorically made clear that this national pledge violates the biblical teachings and principles, as well as the constitutional rights of children.

“God, through his word the Bible, clearly instructed us Christians not to swear. By forcing the children to swear, the minister is forcing them to commit a sin before God and, unfortunately, the wages of sin is death.

“Chapter 2, Section 19, sub-section (3) (b) of the Constitution clearly stipulates that the State must take appropriate legislative and other measures to ensure that children are not required or permitted to perform work or provide services that are inappropriate for the children’s age; or place at risk the children’s well-being, education, physical or mental health or spiritual, moral or social development,” Mlalazi said.

HARARE - As Zanu PF’s seemingly-unstoppable succession wars continue to escalate, the party faction loyal to embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is intensifying its fight-back programmes nationally, targeting all perceived supporters of First Lady Grace Mugabe and her Generation 40 (G40) allies.

Well-placed Zanu PF sources who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said Team Lacoste (Mnangagwa faction) was stepping up its counter-offensive strategy against the G40, who are rabidly opposed to the Midlands godfather succeeding President Robert Mugabe — and allegedly working with the powerful Grace.

“It’s aluta continua (Portuguese for the struggle continues) my friend, there is absolutely no surrender. They (Grace’s allies and G40 members) have been attacking us for more than a year now.

“It’s now time to fight back even harder. After all, it’s better to die on our feet rather than on our knees as has been happening. We have nothing to lose now,” a party official linked to the Mnangagwa faction said ominously.

Sources in the troubled Mashonaland West province, where Mugabe hails from, said they had recently seen signs that Team Lacoste was escalating its alleged “successionist agenda” there after a long period in which the faction had appeared to have been annihilated in the region.

Indeed, in various communications seen by the Daily News this week, Mnangagwa’s supporters in the province are proposing to call for votes of no confidence against a number of regional party bigwigs linked to Grace and the G40.

The officials who are being targeted for the big boot in the province include forthright national women’s league secretary for finance Sarah Mahoka, provincial women’s league boss Angeline Muchemeyi, Simbarashe Ziyambi and businessman Jimayi Muduvuri.

“We as the Mashonaland West Zanu PF members have come together in harmony to lodge a complaint against Ziyambi, Muduvuri, Mahoka and Muchemeyi on allegations of contravening article 28 sub-section 2B of the Zanu PF constitution, dishonest, gross misconduct and failure to discharge functions and responsibilities that are mandated to their positions.

“The four engineered the ouster of Makonde district women’s quota representative Jennifer Mhlanga on allegations of consorting with People First; also they passed a vote of no confidence on Joyline Mundunda, Emely Muurakira, Idah Ngirazi and Martha Munondo.

“Mashonalnd West is a stronghold of Zanu PF so we can’t afford to lose in the 2018 elections because of individuals who are fanning factionalism at the expense of trying to build the empire … Ignatius Chombo (Zanu PF secretary for administration) of late was saying let there be unity in the province but, they (the accused) are against that,” one of the letters seen by the Daily News reads.

Contacted for comment, Ziyambi would only say the allegations were “baseless”, while Muduviri said he would not be swayed in his support of Mugabe and Grace.

“We are behind the president and amai. We will not be intimidated by anyone to desert our God-given leaders. Our slogan is ‘kuna baba ndiko kuna amai’ (where there is the father is where you will find the mother) and anyone who thinks otherwise is lost,” Muduvuri said.

Mahoka, who recently humiliated Mnangagwa, also told the Daily News earlier this week that they would defend Mugabe and his wife to the hilt.

“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),” she said.

The latest move by Team Lacoste is a counter measure against the G40 faction which has been on the charge in the province for the past few months. Party officials linked to Mnangagwa — such as provincial secretary for education Fani Phiri, political commissar Simon Solomon, secretary for transport Philemon Ndushu and one Sibongile Bhebhe — were recently reprimanded for allegedly fanning factionalism in the ruling party, and are now also facing outright expulsion from the former liberation movement.

In addition, the province last week recommended that former war veterans chairperson Christopher Mutsvangwa be expelled from Parliament, after it also pushed for his ouster from the party.

The intensifying party ructions in Mashonaland West follow a recent move by Team Lacoste to pass votes of no confidence against Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and other senior officials such as Cabinet ministers Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere — who are all seen as opposed to the Midlands godfather’s ascendancy to the presidency.

As a consequence of Zanu PF’s worsening factional and succession wars, the party has now split into two bitterly-opposed formations in the Midlands and Mashonaland East provinces, with Team Lacoste moving to establish parallel structures from cell level upwards. Indeed, as interim Zanu PF chairperson for the Midlands, Tapiwa Matangaidze, was announcing the party’s decision to sack many of Mnangagwa’s most trusted allies recently, including July Moyo, Team Lacoste was mobilising its followers, creating their own structures.

For example, suspended deputy provincial chairperson Daniel Mackenzie-Ncube has been appointed the acting chairperson by the Mnangagwa faction.

HARARE - Microfinance institution GetBucks Zimbabwe (GetBucks) has declared an interim dividend of $500 000 for the six months to December 31, 2015, despite a difficult operating environment.

In a statement accompanying the MFI’s financials for its half year, GetBucks company secretary Paul Soko said the dividend was $0,0457 per share in respect of all of the company’s ordinary shares.

“The dividend is in respect of the six months ended December 31, 2015 and will be paid in full to all shareholders of the company registered at the close of business on April 15, 2016,” the company secretary said, adding that the payment of the dividend was to take place on or about April 29.

This comes as the MFI managed to raise $3,2 million through an Initial Public Offer (IPO) despite the process being undersubscribed.

Figures released by the company recently revealed that only $72 380 was subscribed by investors out of the initial target of $3,2 million resulting in the group’s underwriter, DBF Capital, taking up 97,71 percent of the IPO.

The MFI opened its offer on December 7 last year with one billion shares on the table but 2 145 120 shares were snapped up by the public — translating to a subscription rate of 2,29 percent.

Before the IPO, the specialist lender was 55 percent owned by GetBucks Limited, a company registered in Mauritius and 34,06 percent owned by Brainworks Capital Management (Private) Limited, also registered in Mauritius.

The balance was owned by various local pension funds, with the total costs associated with the listing  approximately $300 000.

Meanwhile, the group posted profit of $1,9 million for the half year, despite a challenging operating environment.

Total assets surged 15 percent from $14 million to $15,8 million with over 80 percent of the assets being interest bearing.

Customer loans for the half year were also consistently above $11 million during the period under review.

The MFI’s interest income also surged 26 percent to $3,3 million from $2,8 million while operating expenses also grew to $2,4 million from $1,1 million as the group expanded after upgrading to a deposit-taking MFI.

Interest income stood at $3,3 million from $2,8 million as net cash from financing activities was also up to $1,9 million from $957 708.

HARARE - Old Mutual Zimbabwe (OMZ) posted a $13,3 million profit for the year to December 31, 2015 from $10,9 million on the back of a strong performance by the group’s life business.

Old Mutual Zimbabwe managing director, Jonas Mushosho, told analysts in the capital on Wednesday that group revenue had recorded a six percent growth to $203,8 million.

“Of this amount, at least 76 percent came from the life business as well as the banking unit Central African Building Society (CABS),” he said.

The group’s profit after adjusting for short-term fluctuations in the equity markets amounted to $57,3 million, slightly lower than the $58 million recorded in the prior year.

Cabs — whose assets in the year under review surpassed the $1 billion mark — contributed $100,8 million to total revenue as net earned premiums from the insurance business amounted to $171,2 million, up from $160,5 million in the prior comparative year.

The Cabs boss said, Cabs’ performance had been buoyed by a 27 percent growth in loans and advances to $563,1 million.

But, the asset management business recorded a 25 percent decrease in investment income to $126,2 million weighing down group revenue.

“The negative outturn of the asset management business was on the back of negative returns that were experienced on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, where the main industrials index was down 29,44 percent in 2015,” Mushosho said.

OMZ financial director Isaiah Mashinya said the poor performance of the stock market was on the back of depressed company earnings and negative investor sentiment that continued to weigh down equity returns.

According to Mushosho, contribution from investment properties was also subdued, with rental income slumping from $13,4 million to $10,4 million.

“The performance of investment properties was weighed down by downward reviews on rentals and increased vacancy levels. As a result, the valuation of investment properties was reduced to $408,4 million from $439,9 million to reflect the subdued rental yields,” he said.

Performance of the banking unit as well as the life business, however, carried the day with the group closing the period with an adjusted operating profit of $76 million up five percent from prior period.

Basic earnings per share amounted to 3,71 cents, up from 3,09 cents prior year.

Going forward, focus of the group will be on defending and extending the core business as well as driving financial inclusion within the informal market, believed to employ about 94 percent of the working population.

This comes as OMZ parent company Old Mutual Plc recently announced it was going to split up its four main businesses following a strategic review announced last year which led to the appointment of former Standard Bank executive Bruce Hemphill as chief executive.

HARARE - Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe (Stanbic), a unit of South African Standard Bank, recorded a 15 percent increase in profit to $23,9 million from $ 20,7 million for the year to December 31, 2015 buoyed by a surge in net interest income.

In a statement accompanying the group’s financials, Stanbic chairman Stanford Moyo said the profit surge had been driven by an 11 percent increase in net interest income which closed the year at $42,8 million.

“Net interest income at $42,8 million grew 11 percent from the previous period largely because of the additional short term investments and lending assets which were written during the year,” he said.

The group’s non-interest income marginally decreased to $45,2 million from $45,8 million prior comparable period.

Moyo said the bank’s fee and commission income increased marginally by five percent to $36 million on the back of improved transaction volumes passing through the bank’s various banking channels.

The gross lending book grew eight percent to $272 million due to an increase in facility utilisation by customers and the creation of new interest earning assets.

“The cost to income ratio for the bank improved to 57 percent from 60 percent for the same period last year driven by the four percent growth in total income to $88 million,” he said.

Operating expenses at $48,5 million remained flat of prior year as the bank continued to focus on cost containment.

As at December 31, 2015, the Stanbic’s qualifying core capital stood at $84,9 million up from $78,5 million in 2014 against the regulatory minimum of $25 million.

Moyo said the Standard Bank unit remained on course to meet the regulatory requirements of a minimum capital threshold of $100 million by 2020.

However, the Stanbic boss said the state of the operating environment had remained challenging throughout the year 2015.

He also said the outlook to December 2016 was not positive with the country’s economic growth prospects remaining weak due to the El Nino weather conditions, continued decline of international commodities prices and low internal demand.

“We are comfortable that Stanbic will achieve its 2016 targets despite the challenges faced by the economy,” he said.

Total assets for the year under review increased to $594 million from $560 million as total liabilities stood at $506 million.

The group’s loan to deposit ratio marginally declined to 57 percent driven by a growth in total deposits from $447 million to $474 million, this was on the back of an increase in inflows experienced during the year.

HARARE - I have followed singer Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave’s artistic career for years now, from the time she was being produced by fellow singer Elias Musakwa at Ngaavongwe Records.

Through the years, her talent has blossomed to superstardom as a gospel singer and she is counted among the finest and consistent singers of that genre.

Apart from Olivia Charamba, there is no one else worth comparing Fungisai’s prowess with in as far as local gospel music is concerned.

I believe her recent dancehall hit duet song with Killer T hasn’t changed much of her status as a gospel musician; instead it has cemented her profile among the youths.

I admire Fungisai — she is young and educated. She is a family woman who works hard to market her music even going to the extent of selling her own CDs on the streets. The artiste is also into fashion, creating her own labels and designs.

While all that she creates and designs cannot satisfy everyone, her entrepreneurship zeal is really commendable as it is hard to survive on music alone these days due to piracy.

The diva has received some lashing for trying to be different; she performed at a Harare club and all hell broke loose; she played football with the boys during a tournament featuring musicians and former soccer stars and people said she was unchristian; she arrived at the recent dancehall awards in style, accompanied by bikers and all hell broke loose; she released a dancehall song which angered some; her dressing has been described as unchristian; and all the other stuff.

But really, why shouldn’t Zimbabweans just let the girl fly?

Playwright Raisedon Baya said, it is unfair to continue to confine her to one genre. “We can’t continue calling her a gospel artist. Let’s allow her to stretch her horizon and experiment.

“If the memes are being done by pranksters I don’t have a problem with them. It’s part of the hazards of being a public figure.

“My only problem is I hear they are being pushed by other artists. It then becomes unfair on her. But she can turn it all around and use the publicity to her own good.”

Actor Obrian Mudyiwenyama said, Fungisai is a very open-minded individual and an artist. “She is simply ahead of her time and has been reinventing herself to stay relevant to a huge cross section of the public. She has matured as a creative artist and does not think within the box.

“If we had more artists and indeed people like Fungisai, our cultural industry will be somewhere.

“Even though some are dissing and saying all sorts of things, we all have noted her ingenuity in staying relevant as an artist. I have a lot of respect for her. Besides who are we to judge?”

Journalist Loughty Dube said, Fungisai has a right to choose what she wants in life and that choice includes re-defining her musical choices. “While she started as a gospel singer there are no limitations for her to decide otherwise and people must respect her choices.

“Being a gospel musician does not for starters means that she is a Christian in the same manner that those of us that speak English language are English.

“She should be respected like everyone else, we know a lot of singers like Hosiah Chipanga who started their careers singing something else but they are now gospel singers and they have never been criticised for that.”

Filmmaker Elton Mjanana said, Fungisai has a right as a musician to explore different sounds and facets of her trade. It increases her versatility and ensures her a wider net in market. I would encourage her to do so.

“However, she as it were, has lost some supporters big time and right now her career is at a point where she is seen as a joke. That is utterly unfair but it is what it is in an unforgiving world of showbiz and life in the public scrutiny.”

Mjanana added that, Christians on the other hand feel betrayed by Fungisai when she says she never intended to be a gospel artist. “They supported her, and she made a name and some measure of fortune for herself on the back of their support — which was in monetary and emotional terms. It is a very bitter pill for them to swallow when she sounds arrogant and ungrateful like this — especially on a very sensitive subject like this in a society that has seen the rise of fanatical Pentecostal tendencies.”

Poet Mbizo Chirasha said, Zimbabweans need to learn to accept change. “A lot of people think in a straitjacket way and they like frowning at versatility. We are people who have allowed carnality to be present within ourselves and I don’t think it’s fair. The diva must move on and keep on doing what is best for her creativity and for her fans in Zimbabwe.

“I think we have for a long time as a people been destroying our own art by victimising our own creators of art.”

Former broadcaster and Rooftop Promotions publicity Silvester Taurayi Tapfumaneyi said ,this is just a phase which will go away with time. “There was a time in Zimbabwe when music instruments were a thing of the secular world only and it was taboo to play guitars such that when they were introduced some stopped going to church saying the devil has taken over the house of prayer.

“Not only that, women were not allowed to wear trousers in church to an extent that one would be returned home. It goes on and on even lip stick wasn’t allowed. Not only that because there was a rhumba musician who released the song Dombo — he was attacked left, right and centre.”

Poet Blackheat DeShanti said, she does not think it is a crime to be different as an artist or human being.

“However, we must analyse the context of the change. In Fungisai’s case, the transition to her new image is difficult because she had portrayed herself as a gospel musician for a long time. Unfortunately, society seems to have preconceived notions about the expected norms of a gospel artist which are intertwined with “Christian values”. (Could explain anger on the part of Christians).

“Paradoxically, most artists are multi-faceted people who can easily wear many hats and I suppose she feels comfortable wearing the secular music hat. On that note, I feel society might need to give her a chance to experiment with her various capabilities.

“As for her dressing, I do not think people are trying to restrict her per se. I think they were more appalled by the tacky outfit that she wore.

“The pose made it worse. To help her transition, maybe she ought to research (read, browse etc) so she can be up to date with contemporary fashion standards and dress accordingly.”

She said in conclusion: “I think that while this might have been an embarrassment to her, it is also a wake-up call to her and artists in general. Planning is indeed a pre-requisite before launching a public career of any nature.

“It would stand her in good stead to utilise all this publicity to her advantage, instead of wallowing in self-pity. Sometimes opportunity is not always packaged in the way we expect.”

Media practitioner Rashweat Mukundu said, it is only fair to say that Fungisai has every right to be who she wants to be. “Christians, are not called to hate but to love and compassion, and those who feel she has gone astray, must approach her issues with respect. Abusing her is not going to bring her back to the Christian fold.”

HARARE - Dendera crooner Suluman Chimbetu is returning to Mushandirapamwe Hotel in Highfield, Harare tonight before moving to Mutare where he will perform at Club Mandisa on Saturday.

On Sunday, Chimbetu will be showcasing in Ruwa at The Plaka Bar and Restaurant.

Macheso takes Tsoka Dzerwendo to Gokwe

SUNGURA ace Alick Macheso is taking his latest and 10th album Tsoka Dzerwendo to Gokwe for the first time since it was launched in the capital last week.

Last weekend, Macheso toured Manicaland Province and tonight the Tafadzwa hit maker is expected to perform at Club Junior in Gokwe.

Tomorrow, Macheso will be performing at Joy Centre in Highfield at Machipisa shopping centre before dating Jongwe Corner in Harare for a Sunday family show.

On Thursday next week, Macheso will be entertaining fans at Private Lounge in the capital.

Jah Prayzah returns to Tanza

JAH Prayzah is performing in Chinhoyi at CSC tonight before showcasing at the Bridal Show in Harare tomorrow.

On Sunday, Jah Prayzah and his Third Generation will be returning to Tanza Night Club in Chitungwiza.

Ras Caleb and Hwindi President perform at Platinum (Ex Pick and Save) in Mutare

Ras Caleb of the Tokwe Mukorsi fame and Hwindi President will be at The Platinum (Ex Pick and Save) in Mutare tonight.

Tryson Chimbetu and Shinsoman will be at the same venue on Saturday from 8pm.

Zhakata dates Dema

Zora music star Leonard Zhakata will perform at Dema’s Zico nightclub tonight while tomorrow he takes his music to Bhora Shopping Centre.

Mellow Madness Album Launch

Mellow Creme, African Hip-hop’s lover emcee launches his debut album tonight at 6:30pm at Alliance Francaise.

The Circuit

Travel Plaza rooftop will host The Circuit tonight at 9pm. Entertainment will be provided by DJ Dawee from the SWS crew, DJ Trickx, DJ Nize (JHB SA), Vee Mukarati, Tinashe Mukarati and Dice Gamble.

Moonlight Sports Bar

Maselo and Mwedzi Band will be at Moonlight Sports Bar tonight from 8pm.

Easter Fiesta Concert

Magis Zimbabwe hosts the Easter Fiesta 2016 concert at Our Lady of Wayside, Mt Pleasant Parish on Saturday at 12 mid-day. This is a fundraising and fun day full of exciting activities and games for all ages.

Hope Masike performs at New Ambassador Hotel

Hope Masike will be at the New Ambassador Hotel in Harare on Saturday at 2pm. This is part of the Pop Up Book Café events being held at the venue.

Mega Food Festival 2016

An event for the whole family which includes trying different types of food is taking place on Saturday at the Borrowdale Race Course from 8am. There will be various entertainment areas for different members of the family and the whole family.

Inaugural Ladies Tournament

This is the first Ladies Tournament and many more will follow.

It is a day to promote and showcase Polocrosse as well as the up-and-coming Borrowdale Country Club on Saturday from 9am.

There will be six sponsored teams with a mixture of current players and new players, either from other horse disciplines or old players that haven’t played for ages.

Bob at Ligi Mabelreign

“The Headmaster” will be at Ligi in Mabelreign at 9pm.

The Mill

Origins Flashback Party

The party takes place at The Mill on Saturday from 9pm. Entertainment will be from DJ Ray’s playlists from his days as house DJ at the iconic clubs of the early 2000s.

Rhumba Night

The Volt Night Club will host Rhumba Night on Saturday from 10pm. Entertainment will be from DJ Diamond Savane, DJ Werra Fashion, DJ Cavassy and Mnari.

Gayton Mckenzie reveals secrets to success

Gayton Mckenzie, a former jail-bird turned SA millionaire and international motivational speaker reveals the secrets to turning your life around and how to become a super success.

He will be at the HICC today at 9am.

HARARE - Zora music star Leonard Zhakata is surprised that Gramma Records, Zimbabwe Music Corporation (ZMC) and Ngaavongwe Records are being sold when the record companies have not spoken to musicians who happen to own the products at the company.

Zhakata said 19 of his music albums are with ZMC and he only has one. “I do not believe they want to sell the record company (ZMC) without consulting me because I have products there.

“They want to sell my masters (originals) to someone else I do not even know and I haven’t agreed for them to be sold to that person. What if that person hates me and does not want to have anything to do with me — it means my career dies as well.”

Zhakata believes fellow musician Elias Musakawa who has the controlling stake at the three record companies should have sought audience with the musicians first “otherwise as musicians we could have come together and bought shares or even the whole company.”

He said it was wrong for the musicians to read advertisements in newspapers that the companies are on sale. “We have contracts with these record companies and I doubt if the people taking over will respect those contracts.

“The new owners will disown us and tell us to approach the companies we signed contracts with. This sale has to be transparent; there is no need for the sale to be conducted in secrecy.”

The Zora music star said anyone buying those companies will for sure face legal challenges. “I am not sure if the new owners will be able to face all the affected musicians — actually since the three were the main recording companies, they have products for virtually all yester-year musicians.”

He said the companies should have brought affected musicians in batches. “I know they could not have brought them all together because that could have created chaos, they possibly couldn’t handle them but they need to bring in say five at a time and talk to them. Now it is too late because they are already looking for buyers.”

Zhakata said while piracy deflated business at the record companies, there were other people who can be able to survive in this environment.

“I believe there are other business people with other ideas to beat piracy because it is not like there is no market at all for our music. I had kept my 19 albums with ZMC because I still believe the industry’s dynamics may change with time and people would start buying original music again. Not that I was still getting any royalties from ZMC.”

Zhakata added that he did not remember when he last got royalties for his 19 albums, most of them gold and platinum releases. “Go and ask them when they last gave me some royalties – I think they also do not know when, it has been years.

“But you feel sorry for those working there and when you get to their offices you cannot even demand royalties. Varikutotamburawo zvekuti unovanzwira tsitsi (…workers there are in a sorry state that you feel bad demanding royalties). You have to visit them and see on your own — most of the buildings are being rented out and there are bakeries there now.”

Musicians who include the late Leonard Dembo, Tongai Moyo, System Tazvida, Andy Brown, Four Brothers, Deverangwena, Lovemore Majaivana, Thomas Mapfumo, Alick Macheso, Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave, Charles and Olivia Charamba, Hosiah Chipanga and Nicholas Zakaria are among the hundreds of signed musicians.

Sungura musician Nicholas Zakaria said he is having sleepless nights over his products at Gramma Records. “I have more than 20 albums with Gramma and I am not sure what will happen if they sell the company.

“ Emmanuel Vori (a director at Gramma Records) sounded me on the issue but I advised him to look for someone with enough finances but preferably a Zimbabwean. There are Zimbabweans who can turn these record companies around. I asked him to convince Musakwa to sell the companies.”

Zakaria said it is dangerous to just sell them to anyone. “Maybe the person coming will only do dancehall music and this means he will throw away our masters (originals). I need my masters and next week I am approaching them so as to retrieve them.”

Mutare-based singer Hosiah Chipanga who used to record with Ngaavongwe Records told the Daily News on the sidelines of a concert at City Sports Bar in Harare that he was confused. “I am yet to learn what they will do with my music. Is it that the person buying the company will also buy my music? But no-one from the record company has approached me although I have several albums with this label.”

Bothwell Nyamhondera, who has produced most of these musicians and is supposed to receive producer’s fees for every album he produced said he last received royalties in 2008.

“I have no idea what they will do with the musicians’ products but I last received royalties in 2008 if I am not mistaken. You need to find out from them.

Peter Muparutsa, who has also produced and engineered for some of the musicians said: “The new owners buying the companies will inherit all (as is customary) its catalogue and artists contractual agreements.”

Apart from music album masters, the record companies also have video masters for all the videos they are reproducing for sale.

Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Leonard Zhakata this Sunday.

SEOUL - Confused, shocked, bewildered. Just a few of the words used in recent days to describe Japan and South Korea's reaction to some of Donald Trump's latest comments about the region.

The front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination stunned two of America's strongest allies with the suggestion that the U.S. military would be withdrawn from their shores, with nuclear weapons replacing them.

There are currently 54,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan and 28,500 in South Korea.

"Japan is better if it protects itself against this maniac of North Korea," Trump told CNN's Anderson Cooper Tuesday. "We are better off frankly if South Korea is going to start protecting itself ... they have to protect themselves or they have to pay us."

So high was the level of concern, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe felt the need to respond publicly, saying, "whoever will become the next president of the United States, the Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy."

Japan remains the only country to have had nuclear weapons used against it and has had a non-nuclear policy and pacifist constitution since the end of World War II.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida added, "It is impossible that Japan will arm itself with nuclear weapons."

North Korea claims to have miniaturized nuclear warheads

South Korea has a small minority who think Trump may have a point and welcome the idea of nuclear weapons.

Academic Cheong Seong-Chang from the non-profit think-tank the Sejong Institute said, "If we have nuclear weapons, we'll be in a much better position to deal with North Korea."

But his feeling is not mainstream.

MUTARE - Despite the government’s insistence on “cancelling the licences” of diamond miners in Marange, villagers say their lives had improved significantly in the past few years as the companies were contributing to community development.

This follows the recent move by Mines minister Walter Chidakwa to order all diamond mining companies in Chiadzwa to stop their operations — claiming that they were doing so without licences and that they had disregarded a government directive to merge under the State-controlled Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC).

Now, villagers in the area who are feeling the effects of the government’s controversial decision — as illegal panners continue to invade the gem-rich Marange fields in Manicaland, creating total chaos — say they want the diamond mining companies back.

“Life was much better with the diamond miners than now, where it has once again become free for all. Even the police are struggling to contain the deluge of illegal diggers who are also pillaging property,” one villager said.

Yesterday, the parliamentary portfolio committee on Indigenisation, that was touring the fields, heard first-hand from the community that mining companies such as Mbada Diamonds had changed their lives for the better.

The headmaster of the nearby St Noah College, a school that was built by Mbada — Cuthbert Rungwe — told the committee that the government should reconsider its decision to cancel the miners’ licences.

It was disclosed that the Johanne Marange Church-owned college had received $300 000 for its buildings from Mbada, while the company had also spent money on constructing much-needed infrastructure such as roads in the area.

“The company (Mbada) gave us $235 000 worth of building materials. We also got $24 000 worth of school uniforms for our 2 600 students, as well as $26 000 worth of textbooks and a further $10 000 for the construction of staff houses.

“We look forward to Mbada’s continued presence here, as the whole community is benefitting from their social responsibility projects,” Rungwe said.

Headman Chiadzwa told the committee that Mbada diamonds is the only company that took care of the community.

“They gave us food here. Three quarters of their workforce were our children and at the same time they made sure the elderly had access to medication.

“That is why we are saying if government chooses to close them it is up to them but as a community we are happy with the company. They drilled boreholes, repaired our roads, bought cars for local headmen as well as giving them 200 litres of fuel every month.

“Food was given to more than 7 000 families. They installed a 17,5 km water pipe with 35 outlets for the community to access water.”

“This was confirmed by former Manicaland governor Chris Mushowe who raised concern over why it was only Mbada that was helping the community,” said Chiadzwa.

The Chiadzwa edict has spawned pandemonium in the lucrative Marange fields — with artisanal miners (commonly referred to as makorokoza in Shona) invading the area in their hundreds.

The panners had circled the area like vultures once it became apparent that the government and the mining companies were headed for conflict — duly moving to take advantage of the State’s announcement and the lax mine security that followed the decree.

This has all been despite the heavy presence of police in the area, with a serving soldier among those who were recently hauled before the courts in Mutare after he was found with 333 pieces of diamonds near the gem fields.

BULAWAYO - Former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) says it cannot wait to take part in the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections, adding that it will do everything within its power to oust President Robert Mugabe from power in order to rescue the country from Zanu PF’s misrule.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, ZPF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said his party — which is packed with former Zanu PF stalwarts and war veterans — was stepping up its efforts to dethrone Mugabe and his ruling party from power in the interest of all Zimbabweans.

He said of particular concern to ZPF and the majority of the country’s long-suffering citizens was the dying economy which needed “immediate and competent attention” if a complete disaster was to be avoided.

“Our focus is on the economy which is in such a bad shape. And indeed, we cannot wait for 2018 with things going this bad. We have said it time and again that we want to create a peaceful, democratic and stable nation where people can live well, decide their own future and find space to express themselves,” Gumbo said.

With Zanu PF trapped in its mindless bloodletting, as its bigwigs fight to the death to succeed Mugabe, analysts are concerned that Zimbabwe has once again hit the depths of humanitarian and economic despair that were last experienced in 2008, when the country’s seemingly unending political crisis precipitated an economic meltdown of monumental proportions — which culminated in the death of the Zimbabwe dollar and mass emigrations out of the country.

Addressing hundreds of ZPF youths in Bulawayo on Tuesday evening, ZPF interim Bulawayo provincial co-ordinator, Esinath Bulayani, also said the party’s mission was to rescue Zimbabweans from Zanu PF’s misrule of the past 36 years.

“We cannot just sit back and wait for Mugabe to die as if we have no other means to correct this anomaly. This is not a normal situation for Zimbabweans. We have become a laughing stock in neighbouring countries where most of our youths have gone to seek economic refuge.

“We are not a party that is a ‘simple come and go’. We are here to stay, hence power must be given to the youths in order to secure the future,” Bulayani declared.

“We have tolerated oppression for far too long, hence we have resolved that it is time for us all to say oppression has limits and this one has just gone way beyond tolerable limit. In a nutshell, we are simply saying that we do not brook oppression of any dimension, shape or colour,” she added.

Bulayani said it was “a disgrace” to have a country that boasted of having one of the highest literacy levels in Africa and yet it was suffering the outrage of having the highest number of unemployed people, including graduates, on the continent.

“The regime boasts that we have a very high literacy rate yet the very educated youths are without employment or are doing things which are not at all consistent with what they have spent years in school for.

“Fortunately, history will be re-written in two years’ time when ZPF will form the country’s new government” ... Mujuru has declared her readiness to free the children of Zimbabwe once again, after what she already did more than three decades ago.

“She has vowed to take on her former boss who has sworn never to vacate State House alive. But we are saying in ZPF that what everyone else thought to be impossible will be defied by us.

“We are not a violent party. We encourage peace in everything that we do. Other party youths are that type that can be used to commit violence and then be paid by beer and mbanje (marijuana),” Bulayani thundered.

The youth meeting was graced by senior party officials from Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces.

But barely a month after 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 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.

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.

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.

“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”.

MUTARE - Plans by Zesa Holdings (Zesa) to increase tariffs ostensibly to cover import costs hit a brick wall after government ordered that it should first recover more than $1 billion it is owed by its customers and also plug loopholes that cause losses.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa revealed that Cabinet placed Zesa’s tariff increase proposals on ice after discovering that the power utility was not only failing to recover $1 billion from debtors but was also losing nearly half of its electricity during transmission.

To finance power imports and its projects, Zesa had proposed to push electricity charges to 14,64c/kWh from 9,86c/kWh.

Speaking during a Confederations of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI)-organised tour of Mutare industries on Thursday, Mnangagwa said government deferred the request to approve an increase in electricity charges to prevent the State-run institution from covering up its failures in managing its debtors on the nation.

“Zesa is owed $1 billion by the public, now they cannot then compensate the $1 billion they are failing to collect by increasing tariffs.

“We are also informed that Zesa loses about 40 percent of electricity through transmission and distribution inefficiencies, those are the areas they must attend to,” Mnangagwa said.

He added that when Zesa’s tariff increase proposals were brought to Cabinet, the matter was deferred to allow the parastatal to first improve its operations and fully justify the need for the increase.

“We discovered that there are some things Zesa can do in generation and transmission.

“Zesa is owed $1 billion by customers. So, something is wrong somewhere. We would want Zesa to address that. We cannot resolve it by hiking tariffs,” VP Mnangagwa said to applause by captains of industries who are already crying foul over the huge costs of doing business in the country.

“We would want our energy to be competitive…we would want our economic drivers to be competitive to support industry to grow,” he said.

Energy minister Samuel Undenge said the country and the region were suffering an acute energy shortage due to years of underinvestment in the critical sector.

“There was underinvestment in the energy sector,” Undenge said, noting that even warnings that the energy crisis would bite around 2008 were never heeded. 

Undenge, however, said they are now looking at both improving their operational efficiencies and spearheading a huge investment drive into hydro, thermal and solar electricity generation capabilities.

He said construction of the Batoka Gorge project to be jointly built and operated by Zimbabwe and Zambia is expected to commence beginning of next year with feasibility studies expected to be done in two months’ time.

Undenge asserted that the process will then kick-in between July and December with construction expected to begin in 2017.

“It will give us 2 400 megawatts to be shared equally between the two countries,” he said.

He added that the current expansion of the Kariba project was expected to add another 300 megawatts, with two Hwange thermal power plants expected to add another 600 megawatts.

The Gwayi project would also add another 600 megawatts, Binga’s Lusulu project another 600 megawatts and three solar projects in Matabeleland will be expected to generate a further 300 megawatts.

The energy minister also said they have since granted a tender for a 30-megawatt hydro power plant on Gairezi River in Nyanga.

HARARE - Harare businessman Eddie Zviitwa aka Eddie Kebab, who is facing an $85 000 theft charge, has been freed on $300 bail.This is not the first that the Kebab Centre owner has had a brush with the law under more similar circumstances.

In 2013, he reportedly connived with the police to extort $20 000 from an Israeli man.

Kebab, who was represented by Belvin Bopoto, appeared at the Harare Magistrate’s Court yesterday after allegedly conniving to “rob in broad day-light” the complainant Taghlan Hovsep, who was then accused of trying to sell drugs.

His co-accused Keagan Paul Blumears appeared before the same court on Thursday, at a time Kebab was said to be on the run.

However, his lawyer told Harare magistrate Elijah Makomo that Kebab was not on the run, adding that he complied after being called in by the police.

Makomo asked Bopoto about Kebab’s involvement in the whole issue.

Bopoto said Kebab went to the crime scene after being called by Blumears, adding that he never took part in what was happening but was simply a witness.

Makomo later released Kebab on a similar amount of $300 that Blumears also paid as bail on Thursday.

According to court papers, Hovsep, who is a Lebanese national, had been lured to a Mount Pleasant house on the promise of buying a Hyundai excavator.

Prosecutor Sabastian Mutizirwa alleged that on March 29 this year, Hovsep went to Blumears with a bagful of cash, with a view of buying the heavy-duty machine, which was coming from a friend’s mine.

Hovsep was driving a Toyota Wish and on arrival, he was told that the person delivering the excavator would arrive in 40 minutes and  he waited.

Upon leaving the house after about three hours, Hovsep was set upon by about three unidentified men who were driving a gold-coloured E-Class Mercedes Benz and purporting to be policemen on a drug bust.

One of the bogus cops, it was heard, produced an identity card with a Zimbabwean flag on the corner and claimed that he was a CID detective.

Hovsep, it was claimed, was wanted by Interpol and after which he was allegedly handcuffed, and ordered to remain silent, while they searched his car and took the cash.

In that episode, the gang also tried to plant a certain amount of capsules in the foreign national’s bag.

Within five minutes, the court heard, Kebab arrived at the scene and said he was going to “sort things out”.

After claiming that he would mediate, the Harare businessman also claimed he would ensure Hovsep would not be deported after liaising with the purported detectives.

Kebab allegedly left with the bogus cops after the group had allegedly taken Hovsep’s $85 000, an Iphone, a Samsung C4 and wallet, and promised that he would talk to the CID boss, and negotiate for a return with the bag containing the cash.

The court heard that Kebab later returned with an empty bag and two cellphones alleging that the money had been taken by the police boss at a house in Mount Pleasant.

As a result, Hovsep was prejudiced of $85 000 and nothing has been recovered to date.

Meanwhile, Blumears and Kebab will be back in court on May 3.

HARARE - Junior doctors have turned to clinical directors to help them past their contract impasse with the Health Services Board (HSB).

The junior doctors were availed a revised contract by the HSB last week but rejected it on the grounds that it was a one-sided document that violates fair labour practices and existed only to serve the employer.

And as the impasse between junior doctors and the HSB persists, some hospitals have been forced to close certain wings putting the lives of thousands in danger.

But while acknowledging the changes made to the amended contract, there was unanimous agreement that the document was “fundamentally flawed”.

“Our current collective position is that we are willing to go to work as soon as possible for the benefit of the patients, we request that the HSB shelves this extra draconian document they have introduced until such a time they have gone through bipartite channels to re-introduce it and through communications with our representative body,” a communiqué from one of the meetings read.

“The document is elegant and detailed when prescribing punishment and our responsibilities but vague on our conditions of service and remuneration.

“It doesn’t say how many hours we are supposed to work per week, how much if ever we are going to be paid in the second year.

The junior doctors charged that the HSB is bent on controlling them “even when we have gone home but do not even attempt to make our stay in the wards enjoyable.”

However, the meetings revealed that clinical directors were willing to assist the junior doctors resolve the impasse so as to resume work and assist the intensive care units of health care institutions which are currently understaffed.

The dispute between junior doctors and government over new contracts has escalated with emergency cover being withdrawn from State-run health institutions.

That decision means junior doctors are not staffing A&E (accident and emergency) units, intensive care, emergency surgery or other areas of life or death care.

“The clinical directors said they were negotiating for payment of salaries during repeat rotations unless the reasons for repeating are as a result of misconduct in which repeating a rotation is a disciplinary issue,” the communiqué read.

Ministry of Health permanent secretary Gerald Gwinji had hoped the adjusted contract which was sent to the chief executive officers of central hospitals would bring back health institutions to normalcy.

However, it seems the storm is far from over.

JOHANNESBURG - With only a couple of games to go before the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying matches are completed, the Cosafa region is in distress.

The region has only one representative still with a good chance of going to Gabon 2017 bar a miracle happening.

The only team that can save the Cosafa region of its blushes is none other than the Warriors of Zimbabwe. But hey, the Warriors have their own issues.

When everyone is raving about how good they are and how they are gelling at the right time, the Zimbabwe senior national team can do the unexpected. They can turn from being the most imperious side to the poorest in a short period of time.

But can that happen again when the whole of Africa is singing the praises of Kalisto Pasuwa’s charges?

As I said, don’t discount anything from the Warriors, they can turn from being the best into the worst at the same time.

That is how unpredictable the Warriors are. But if they live up to their perennial tag of being unreliable, this is the year they will lose face in the world of football.

With the likes of Bafana Bafana, Zambia and Angola unlikely to represent Cosafa in Gabon, the Warriors have an opportunity to fly the regional flag on their own.

Following the 4-0 defeat of Swaziland at the National Sports Stadium on Monday, Pasuwa and his squad have been the talking point in the world of football.

They now need to beat Malawi at home and avoid defeat in Guinea in September — that should be enough to see them seal a berth to Gabon.

I don’t see why this Zim team cannot go places. It has some of the best individual talent on the African continent and on paper, looks far better than the late Reinard Fabisch’s much vaunted Dream Team.

It has one of the most potent strike forces that would make any coach salivate with envy — the likes of Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat, my favourite player Evans Rusike and the like.

What Pasuwa needs to inculcate in the minds of his players is that winning should be a culture. They must play to win every match regardless of its significance.

They must beat Malawi at home and travel to Guinea looking for a result. That is the mentality of a winning side.

No one must be assured of walking into the team. Every player must earn his place.

I liked Pasuwa’s stance of benching Billiat in the reverse match against Swaziland, although in the bigger scheme of things, I think it was a tactical move.

I am not a big fan of Nyasha Mushekwi, though, I think his big physique will come handy when the Warriors play big West Africans.

I would still go for a regular three-pronged attack of Musona, Billiat and Rusike. This is one strike force that will terrorise defenders across Africa and even win Zimbabwe some medals if they happen to go to Gabon.

The nation’s football fans have suffered enough pain of watching other nations on television and it is high time to translate that into winning things.

Nothing is impossible. We have the capacity to dominate this game.

It is not a privilege of the chosen few.

Go Warriors Go!

HARARE - He drives the latest vehicles and runs successful businesses, but philanthropist and flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo says he is too busy to settle down and start a family of his own.

Chivayo, who is the only son in a family of seven and has a prominent online presence, told the Daily News on Sunday  that he doesn’t want to inconvenience anyone with his busy schedules nor does he want to be interfered with.

“I am in my mid-thirties, unmarried and focused on my achievements as a Zimbabwean businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist,” he said.

The maverick bachelor lives a jet-set life and constantly flies almost everywhere and runs a business portfolio that spans energy development, investment consultancy and venture capital.

He recently made his presence felt in the country when he partnered with the Philip Chiyangwa-led Zimbabwe Football Association to boost local soccer through a three-year $1 million sponsorship deal.

With many business people his age — and with lesser deep pockets — making headlines on the bedsheets instead of the balance sheets, Chivayo believes he is yet to achieve success but has a lot to offer to the Zimbabwean economy before he gets married.

“Success is relative to desire, targets and aspirations. For your information I don’t even consider myself a success yet because I haven’t reached the pinnacles I plan to reach. I concede that I have done reasonably well and am well on path to success but I will only consider myself a success when I have achieved the high standards that I have set for myself,” he said.

“But the reason for my modest achievements to date is focus, vision, hard work, commitment and teamwork. These are not secrets but basic business principles that anyone can apply consistently and faithfully in order to succeed in life and business, Chivayo added.

For a man who has more followers on social media — Twitter and Facebook — than in real life, Chivayo surprised and won the hearts of many when he donated R100 000 to South African based comedian Pepukai Zhemhari — popularly known as Baba Tenson.

“I’m still in the US for a while so I decided not to keep Baba Tenson waiting. He deserves his gratuity for making me laugh all the time. Thank you Baba Tenson… Hapana zvavangatiite … Best wishes from Sir,” Chivayo wrote on his Facebook page after posting pictures of the transaction.

The Intratrek managing director recently clinched multimillion energy deals to build solar, thermal and hydro power stations in Gwayi, Munyati and Gairezi.

Chivayo is, however, not satisfied with what he has achieved and continues to push himself to achieve more in the coming few years.

“I see myself having significantly achieved my dream of creating a business empire that captures the imagination of ordinary Zimbabweans by delivering value into their homes through the energy value chain. I see myself as a pathfinder and pioneer in showing young Zimbabweans that Zimbabwe is a land ripe with opportunity and these opportunities are real and available,” he said.

*See full interview in our tomorrow’s paper.

HARARE - Every working day that I return home from work be it early evening or late, whether I’m beat or not, there is only one thing that instantly revitalises me — the sight of  my sweet little children and my wife.

Just seeing them waiting for me at home makes me glow with happiness.

The elder one could be doing her homework, the other one could be watching his favourite Sponge Bob cartoon while the little one, full of energy, would be running all over the place upsetting anything in his way and keeping his mother on her toes.

Upon entering my home, shrieks and squeaks of joy followed by hugs are what I get.

Occasionally and whenever I can afford, I bring a thing or two for my children and the shrieks and squeaks are noticeably louder. Then we talk. It can be about their day at school; if there’s any homework I’m lucky because my wife usually takes care of that much earlier, it can be about other issues and then we watch TV a little as each one of them slowly dozes off and then I have to carry the little one and tuck him into bed.

The sight of him tucked safely and warmly in bed with those slow motions of breath are enough to melt even the most hard-hearted men.

Every day of the week, this is one of the moments I look forward to. In essence; this is what family does to you, it gives you meaning, stature, happiness, and purpose in life, direction; simply put, it gives you wings.

And I have not mentioned the times I get to take my family to my parents’ home where grandma and grandpa get to see their grandchildren or when I take them to my brother’s place where they mingle with their cousins or to my sister’s place.

The joy, the happiness, the fulfilment, the pleasure, the memories, the very special moments such opportunities present are priceless and irreplaceable.

That’s family for you; that is when it’s complete and all of you are there

But my heart bleeds for the Dzamara family, for his wife Sheffra, for his two children who are constantly asking for him, for Itai’s brother Partson and the other family members and for the mother who brought Itai himself to the world.

This one dear reader, while it is meant for you, it is especially meant for Itai Dzamara’s abductors.

These people must have families, I wouldn’t know but by God I hope you do and I kindly ask you to take a moment and put yourselves in Itai’s shoes; how would that boy of yours whom you adore so much take it if you just suddenly disappeared from his life, yes you, his provider, his protector and his beloved father.

How about that girl you so much love the one whom you probably are sending to one of the best schools around, the one who melts your heart; what would she do if you just vanished like that?

And of course your loving and adoring wife who gave you those two little ones; how would she take it? I know you are all human just like all of us and I know deep inside you there is a soul that drives your conscience and in there is a flicker of human compassion.

I plead with you to search and find it within yourselves to return this man dead or alive to his family so they can have closure.

We are all human.

The dictates of Ubuntu say; your family my family, your children my children, we are one human race and should live to protect, support, love and respect one another.

If you can do that to a human being, where does that leave the beasts of the jungle?

Itai’s children are crying for him daily just as your own children would and his wife is in grief just as would your own families — had you been in the same situation.

If the motive is political, even in politics compassion is allowed.

The beauty of politics is about agreeing to disagree, compromise and be able to go home holding hands.

Itai is just human, after all, he has his opinions just like all of us which must be respected as well.

Let politics be, let hatred be, let enmity be, let the essence and values of family prevail, let kindness and compassion prevail, let Ubuntu prevail but above all let God’s love prevail.

His love for you yourselves, despite your bad deeds, I know He is willing to forgive. Even you, would be free.

I pray to God you are all reading this. It’s an appeal from one family man to another. For the sake of your own families, of Itai’s family, of love, of Ubuntu and humanity. LET ITAI GO AND BE WITH HIS FAMILY.