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Industry calls for clear tender regulations

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HARARE - Zimbabwe must put all public projects bidding to open tender as shadowy processes are costing the country millions, industry experts have warned.

Bankers Association of Zimbabwe immediate past president George Guvamatanga last week said government had to re-look its position on awarding tenders for national projects as “unfit” bidders were getting strategic national contracts.

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“It really does not matter which project is in play from power, road to water. We have been deliberately going for overpriced bidders and it is sad because this generation will not pay for those things, future generations will,” he said.

Guvamatanga, who is also Barclays Bank Zimbabwe managing director, noted that any government project — whether power, water or road — should go to open tender and be awarded to the best service providers with traceable records.

Prominent businesswoman Divine Ndhlukula said the increase in media reports on several national projects being awarded to “unfit” bidders was affecting the country’s international standing.

“We always come across reports in the papers with very important projects being granted to people without capacity at very high prices. How come nothing is being done about this? We have never heard of arrests or anything. The national tendering process is in shambles,” the Securico founder said.

Guvamatanga said from a banker’s point of view, government was mortgaging the future.

“I have done studies and ran numbers on projects done in this country and I have compared the water project by the City of Harare to that done for Tshwane City in South Africa and we have paid double what South Africa paid. This does not make sense,” Guvamatanga said.

Last year, President Robert Mugabe acknowledged flaws in the country’s procurement system, promising an overhaul of the State Procurement Board.

“A new procurement bill will be tabled in Parliament before the end of 2015. The new bill will incorporate Comesa procurement guidelines which include devolution of power,” he said then.

However, little has been done about the state of the procurement process in the country with recent reports indicating that the company that won a lucrative $2 billion contract for the construction of Zimbabwe’s most important highway is under a World Bank(WB) ban for tender rigging and fraud.

A local online news site on Monday reported that Chinese firm China Harbour Engineering Company, main contractor of the Beitbridge-Chirundu highway dualisation project’ s parent was listed by the WB on a listing of firms that are ineligible for contracts that it finances.

Reports have also implicated senior government officials in flawed tendering.

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All-female acappella ensemble to launch second album

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HARARE - Zimbabwe's all female acappella ensemble, Nobuntu  is back from Canada and looking forward to embark on its national tour and second album launch.

Nobuntu, which recently performed across Canada, are excited to be performing in Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls, respectively.

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”Our new album, Ekhaya is an experience of what it means to be Zimbabwean and above all, African. Ekhaya, highlights the importance of being proud of who you are, where one comes from, their tradition, norms and culture.

“There is no place like home, Ekhaya is home”, said Thandeka Moyo, a member of Nobuntu.

The ensemble is made up of five Zimbabwean women — Moyo, Joyline Sibanda, Zanele Manhenga, Heather Dube and Duduzile Sibanda — who took it upon themselves to invade the “men’s genre”  — Imbube and showcase their prowess.

Nobuntu has not performed for a while in Zimbabwe so they will kick off their national tour and album launch on Saturday, June 11 in the City of Kings, koBulawayo, a place they call home. The other concerts will be held in Harare and Victoria Falls, respectively, on June 18 and 25, just before the group departs for Italy where they will perform and tour in July.

“We look forward to the support from all the three places we will be performing in this June. It is an exciting journey and always humbling when you continuously receive so much love from home,” said Joyline.

Their second album, Ekhaya, was launched on online stores in March, prior to having the singles available on local radio stations. The first album Thina, got the ensemble nominated for a Zimbabwe International Women Award (Best Musician Category) which were held in London, United Kingdom. The video to the lead single, Narini from their second album, was on number one for four weeks on the Top 10 Music Videos on Zambezi Magic TV.

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Chipanga dedicates song to General Mujuru

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MUTARE - Controversial but insightful sungura maestro Hosiah Chipanga has released a new album dedicated to the late army commander General Solomon Mujuru, who died in a mysterious fire at his Beatrice farm in 2011.

The CD, emblazoned with the late national hero’s face, is a special dedication to the respected freedom fighter. Titled Gamba, the four-track album which hit the streets on Monday, cements Chipanga’s reputation as a fearless government critic.

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All four songs that include the title track Gamba, KwaMarange, Vendor and Baba Abram are hard-hitting and spot-on, as they highlight the challenges the nation is grappling with.

In Gamba, Chipanga, whose voice clearly breaks as he cried during the recording of the song, questions how Mujuru could be killed by fire after surviving helicopter gunships, mines and grenades.

“This is the first time in my whole career that I cried during the recording of a song,” Chipanga told the Daily News in an interview this week.

On KwaMarange, Chipanga raises questions on the management of Marange diamonds and how the community has ended up being poorer than before the discovery of diamonds.

The song Vendor observes that the nation has been reduced to vending to survive while the police have abandoned fighting crime to concentrate on various fundraising ventures.

The album ends with a prayer Baba Abram as the musician commits the nation to God in the face of what he said was total State failure. The song also summarises all the challenges the country is battling.

“I had nothing else to do but to give everything else up to the Almighty. As human beings, we have completely failed,” Chipanga said.

The sungura singer said the four songs were enough dosage as he feels he had covered all current pressing issues.

“I did not want to overload the album that’s why I settled for only four songs. I feel that for now this is what the nation can handle,” Chipanga said.

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Zim's Ara Kani to showcase in SA

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HARARE - Ara Kani, a Zimbabwean brand by Nkululeko Ncube will be among 50 dynamic designers’ collections that will be presented over four days at the South African Menswear Weekclass  (SAMW) show next month.

Celebrated by the media, industry and designers as Africa’s most credible and leading fashion week on the calendar, SAMW has stamped its mark on global catwalks and look-books.

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The fourth instalment of South African Menswear Week, the 2016/7 Spring Summer collections, will take place from July 6 to 9 , once again at the Cape Town Stadium.

Ara Kani, who participated in the static presentation at the SAMW Autumn\Winter Collections this past February, will be presenting his Spring/Summer 2016/17 collection alongside Tanzania’s Mustafa Hassanali and South Africa’s Nguni Shades on July 8.

Ara Kani was first launched at the Clothing Indaba in 2013, ever since then, the brand has grown and has been showcased at platforms such as HIFashion at Harare International Festival of the Arts, Durban Fashion Fair and Intwasa Fashion Show, amongst many others.

Ncube will be joined by Harare-based designer, Taf the Taylor, who has been showcasing at all the Menswear weeks in Cape Town.

“I am really excited and humbled to be showcasing at the SAMW this Spring/Summer 2016/17 season. I have always wanted to be a part of this forward growing movement and I am glad that my team has pulled this through. I look forward to representing Zimbabwe and to be that young person who has the same dream I had a few years back”, Nkululeko said.

“We have worked hard on Ara Kani and it is high time the brand gets enough recognition and also stand out as one of the best street wear brands.

“The collection to be showcased highlights a little bit on a rebellious young person, but in a very wearable way. Expect to be blown away by the outstanding collection with a clear understanding on the theme. We have everything thought of, from styling to each garment,” said Charlotte Sengu of Hunnar Agency.

Still housing two full show spaces, the experience has extended to an all encompassing fashion night out for guests, whether they attend all the shows or not. For those wishing to be surrounded by — and network with — the top fashionistas, media and celebrities, there will be showrooms, additional lounges, new standing areas and activations. Further fabulous add-ons include shopping schedules (worked around the shows), trend talks and panel discussions.

Limited tickets for most shows will go on sale at Webtickets.

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Comedy Night opens at Sopranos

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HARARE - Zimbabwe's leading stand-up comedy brand, Simuka Comedy will this Friday pioneer a comedy concept dubbed “Abracadabra Magic” and Comedy Night at Sopranos in Avondale.

This show will combine both comedy and a single magical act.

This year and the month of June also marks the comedy company’s fifth anniversary, with a show to celebrate the feat set to be held a few weeks from now.

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“This is not be the first time we have combined comedy with another art forms, we have had shows with artistes from other artistic disciplines, including Tehn Diamond, Munya Chidzonga, ProBeatz, Leonard Mapfumo and many more,” said Simba Kakora aka Simba The Comic King, co-founder of the Simuka Comedy brand.

The event will feature Q Dube, who recently came back from a tour of the United States, Simba The Comic King, Russell The Magician and will be headlined by viral sensation, Prosper Ngomashi, more popularly known as Prosper The Comic Pastor, who stars in Bus Stop TV skits.

The comical pastor said: “I am excited to be part of this event and my fans have supported me a lot on social media, I hope they can further support by coming out to watch me perform.”

Simuka Comedy was founded in 2011 by comedians Victor Tinashe Mpofu aka Doc Vikela and Simba The Comic King who have gone on to achieve individual successes both locally and across the borders.

Simuka Comedy has been exploring various venues for their shows, following the closure of their home, Book Café.

“After the closure of Book Café, we decided to not only branch out but create a comedy circuit as well. A circuit is very important for the growth of stand-up comedy as I witnessed the few times I’ve toured South Africa.

“The idea is to reach out to all types of markets, during the time we have been promoting comedy in Zimbabwe we realised that everyone loves comedy but some people will choose not to go to certain venues. 

“This is the reason we are now setting up platforms in various venues and places so that there is something for everyone,” said Simba The Comic King.

The comedy company pioneered stand-up comedy as an industry and has gone on to establish careers of many top comedians in Zimbabwe and continues to nurture the talent of new comedians through workshops and comedy nights.

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Miss Carnival rebrands

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HARARE - Miss Carnival has rebranded to Miss Tourism Zimbabwe and is appealing to the nation for monetary contributions to fund the pageant.

Dates for the pageant have not been set yet, but the patron, Barbara Mzembi, wife to Tourism minister Walter Mzembi said they expect it to be held in November.

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She appealed for assistance during the official launch cocktail held at a local hotel on Tuesday night in Harare.

“My team and I have been working on this project extensively. I remember one day when one of my domestic workers came to me and said, ‘how do I help you make this project come through? If I have a dollar is it enough to help kick-start the project?’ I slept on it and figured that it was a good idea.

“Imagine if the nation contributes a dollar each towards the project how much would that be? People can send even a dollar or more through their mobile service providers to help boost Miss Tourism Zimbabwe.

“We would not want to have a pageant that only runs for one year and fail to happen the following year due to lack of funding,” Mzembi said.

She added that they were not conforming to the world beauty standards.

“This is a project for the nation, it is not my project, but it’s for the girl child. We are not looking for a girl who is 1,75 metres tall, or weighs 50kg; we are looking for an intelligent and articulate girl who will be able to represent our country on a global platform.

“It is open to all Zimbabweans despite race or social standing. What we only require is that the girl must have at least “A” Levels and a diploma or university degree is most welcome. We will use schools and universities as scouting grounds,” she said.

The girl should be between 17-24 years old and should have never been married.

Mzembi said she even engaged other players in the modelling industry for pointers to do the right thing.

“Over the past few years, there have been unflattering stories about girls in the industry, especially to do with nudity. I sat down with modelling agencies and other stakeholders and asked for their input to help put this thing together.

“We will be working with them in recruiting girls; we want to have a scandal-free pageant with well-groomed ladies. Look at former Miss Carnival Gamuchirai Kujeke who is now married. Nothing scandalous came from her reign; I took her under my wing and groomed her. I want the same to happen for the new ladies,” she said.

Miss Tourism was initially run by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) but they engaged Mzembi in 2014.

“We invited Mzembi in 2014 to help run things . . . she was the right candidate. We trust that she will do a good job and help market brand Zimbabwe to the world,” said ZTA CEO Karikoga Kaseke.

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The Big Boss is gone

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LAGOS - Nigeria football legend Stephen Keshi has died suddenly at the age of 54.

One of African football's best-known figures, the ex-Super Eagles captain is one of only two men to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and a coach.

NFF president Amaju Pinnick: "This is devastating. We have lost a superhero."

Keshi, who is reported to have suffered a heart attack by local media, also managed Togo and Mali, while his playing career included a spell with Belgian club side Anderlecht.

Keshi was part of the Nigeria team that won the Nations Cup in 1994 before narrowly missing out on a World Cup quarter-final place the same year.

He coached the Super Eagles on three occasions, leading them to the 2013 Nations Cup title in South Africa and the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

His contract was not renewed after the World Cup but he returned on a match-by-match deal following the team's failure to reach the 2015 Nations Cup finals.

He was then sacked as caretaker coach but reinstated after intervention from then Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan. Keshi was then sacked for a final time last July.

A family member told the TheCable: “Since the death of his wife, Kate, in December 2015, his life had changed dramatically. He had become hypertensive but was managing it very well… always taking his medications and checking his blood pressure very regularly.

“After the burial of his wife, people practically left him to himself. The calls and visits became fewer, and he felt the pain the more. They were married for 35 years and he watched the love of his life battle bravely with cancer for three years. He was inconsolable.”

Keshi, who was due to travel to the US later in the day, started complaining of excruciating pains in his legs a few minutes to midnight.

In a statement issued by his family, the preliminary cause of death was given as “cardiac arrest”. – Agencies

Two-year ban for Sharapova

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LONDON - Maria Sharapova has been banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation after failing a drugs test.

The Russian was provisionally banned in March after testing positive for meldonium at January's Australian Open.

The heart disease drug, which 29-year-old Sharapova says she has been taking since 2006 for health issues, became a banned substance on 1 January 2016.

The five-time Grand Slam winner says she will appeal against the ban, which is backdated to 26 January 2016.

"I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension," she wrote on Facebook.?

"With their decision of a two-year suspension, the ITF tribunal unanimously concluded that what I did was not intentional.

"The ITF asked the tribunal to suspend me for four years - the required suspension for an intentional violation - and the tribunal rejected the ITF's position.

"I intend to stand for what I believe is right and that's why I will fight to be back on the tennis court as soon as possible."

The ITF said Sharapova tested positive for meldonium in an out-of competition test on 2 February, as well as following her Australian Open quarter-final defeat by Serena Williams on 26 January.

The World Anti-Doping Agency said in April that scientists were unsure how long meldonium stayed in the system, and suggested athletes who tested positive before 1 March could avoid bans, provided they had stopped taking it before 1 January.

However, Sharapova had already admitted she continued taking the substance past that date, saying she was unaware it had been added to the banned list as she knew it by another name - mildronate. – BBC Sport


Muroiwa: Warriors' unsung hero

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HARARE - "I have  to pinch myself sometimes,” admits Elisha Muroiwa, and when you listen to the story of his improbable, miraculous rise from Division One to national team in the blink of an eye then it is not hard to see why.

Just over a year ago, Muroiwa was playing at the now defunct Northern Region Division One side Twalumba FC before he signed for Harare giants Dynamos.

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“Thinking where I was playing not so long ago and where I am today is unbelievable. It is crazy, sometimes I do have to pinch myself if I think of the journey I have travelled,” Muroiwa told the Daily News.

The 27-year-old arrived at the Glamour Boys during the second half of the 2014 season as a direct replacement for Partson Jaure, who was leaving to join the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

But Muroiwa had to wait his turn since Dynamos still had Themba Ndlovu and Augustine Mbara as their leading centre back.

The centre back only made brief cameo appearances before finally making his first start in the toughest of environments in a match against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium in August.

Muroiwa handled himself well at the heart of the Glamour Boys defence on their way to a 1-0 victory.

From there he has never looked back. Following the departure of Ndlovu to Harare City at the end of the 2014 season, Muroiwa went on to establish a strong partnership with either Mbara or at times Linyama in a 3-5-2 formation last season.

His exploits were quickly noticed by Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa who gave him his first national team call-up for the Chan finals in Rwanda at the start of this year.    

The tournament, however, has bad memories for Muroiwa as he was injured in the first match against Zambia to end his participation.

“It was one of the most painful episodes in my career thus far. I was hurt,” Muroiwa said.

“There is nothing difficult like watching others playing while you are injured.

“It was my first call-up to the national team and I could not participate in the tournament. But in a way it strengthened me because I told myself to work even harder.”

Muroiwa quickly put the injury behind him upon his return to Zimbabwe and was called up for the 2017 Afcon qualifiers against Swaziland in March.

From there on, he went on to become one of the Pasuwa’s trusted defenders as the Warriors sealed their place for the final to be held in Gabon.

While much of the credit has been hipped on such players like Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, and Willard Katsande; Muroiwa quietly went about his business with defensive partner Costa Nhamoinesu.

“I only give thanks to the Almighty for taking me thus far,” Muroiwa said.

“Not many people were giving me a chance, especially considering the number of foreign-based players in our team.

“But I worked hard and it feels great to be one of the players who played a part in the team’s qualification for Afcon.”

Muriowa is a smart and reliable defender who rarely allows an attacker to get the better of him.

He is an excellent reader of the game who always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

After accomplishing the quest to help the Warriors qualify for the Afcon finals, Muroiwa now has his sights set on making an impact at the Cosafa Castle Cup which kicks off on Saturday in Namibia.

The DeMbare centre back is among the Zimbabwe squad which left for Windhoek yesterday afternoon.

“We are going there to compete. We have a strong team and we can even go all the way and bring the cup home,” Muroiwa said.

“Of course it will not be easy but we need to fight like true Warriors.”

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Dhoni dreads Zim wickets

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HARARE - India cricket captain MS Dhoni says winning the toss will be crucial when playing at Harare Sports Club (HSC) wickets which are usually on the flat side.

Dhoni and the rest of the India side arrived in the capital yesterday evening for a series comprising three ODIs and three T20 Internationals. All matches will be at HSC starting with the first ODI this Saturday.

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The HSC grounds men usually prepare slow tracks with most captains who win the toss opting to bowl first in order to maximise on the early movement.  

“Zimbabwe is challenging because it’s one venue where toss is vital. There are not many places in the world where you play day games, so you have to accordingly adapt,” Dhoni said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo.

“The fact is that we won’t be playing a lot of ODI cricket. After this we play against New Zealand and maybe another five to seven ODIs more.

“We play a lot of Test cricket this season so I feel every game that we get will be very crucial. We will try to see what is the best thing for the squad overall.”

The Indian skipper is joined by a host of new faces for this away series after the selectors rested several regular players for their incoming tour of the Caribbean, adding that it will be a different experience to lead a youthful side in Zimbabwe.

“You keep playing with almost the same group of players, so you almost know the roles and responsibilities and what each player’s strengths are,” he said.

“There will be quite a few players in this bilateral series with whom I’ll be playing for the first time. So I have to quickly assess their strengths and, at the same time, according to the team composition what is the best possible manner in which each individual can be utilised.”

India have rested a number of their leading players for this series and like in their recent visits here, they have given a chance to some emerging talent to stake their claim in the full strength squad.

Dhoni, however, expressed satisfaction with the amount of talent in this touring squad despite the majority of them not having many matches under their belts.

“When it comes to the talent part, the squad looks good. All of them have been rewarded for their (performances in) domestic cricket. It will be exciting to see them on the field. Most of them are very good fielders, so that will be good,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe returned from their team building exercise in Bulawayo and yesterday had a morning practice session at the match venue.

New interim skipper Graeme Cremer will lead the locals for the first time since the taking over the captaincy from Hamilton Masakadza last month.

South African legendary pace bowler Makhaya Ntini has been elevated to the post of head coach also on an interim basis following the axing of former coach Dav Whatmore.

Former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener also begins his tenure as Zimbabwe’s batting coach on a two-year contract.

Ex-Zimbabwe Test captain Tatenda Taibu now heads the selection panel as the convener taking over from Mid West Rhinos administrator Kenyon Ziehl, who was also sacked following the changes.

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Zanu PF burns as bigwigs meet

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HARARE - Warring Zanu PF bigwigs come face to face at what promises to be an explosive central committee meeting in Harare today, ahead of the ruling party’s National Consultative Assembly tomorrow, as insiders say the strife-torn former liberation movement has split again.

A senior official who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said bluntly that he was “very worried” about the future of the party, which has been in power since Zimbabwe’s independence in April 1980, as its seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars get uglier by the day.

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“The central committee is meeting under a very dark cloud despite Gushungo’s (President Robert Mugabe’s) best efforts to rid the party of the demon of factionalism and tribalism.

“The reality is that after the Gamatox (party faction that was loyal to former Vice President Joice Mujuru) split last year, the party has once again effectively split between Team Lacoste (party faction loyal to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa) and the G40 (group of ambitious young party Turks who are rabidly opposed to Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe).

As if to confirm the bigwig’s fears, some party officials threatened to “expose” Mnangagwa and his camp in front of Mugabe today — as the Midlands godfather’s followers become increasingly more militant in their demands that he succeeds the nonagenarian.

Zanu PF Masvingo chairperson, Amasi Nenjana — who is linked to the G40 — told the Daily News yesterday that he would report alleged Team Lacoste kingpins from the province, Shuvai Mahofa and Josiah Hungwe, for allegedly “stealing from First Lady Grace Mugabe”.

“I am going to tell the president loudly and clearly that these people are thieves who have stolen form the First Lady and the disabled,” Nenjana said.

This follows allegations by provincial women’s league chairperson Veronica Makonese last weekend that Mahofa had converted to her own personal use $2 000 that she had donated to Grace on her 50th birthday last year.

All the startling accusations also come after Mnangagwa’s allies in the province allegedly sought to silence Makonese by recently passing a vote of no confidence in her, along with regional political commissar Jeppy Jaboon and youth league chairperson Norbert Ndaarombe.

Masvingo legislator and Zanu PF deputy secretary for transport in the politburo, Daniel Shumba, also recently accused Mahofa and Hungwe of distributing to their relatives maize that was meant for people living with disabilities in the province.

Contacted for a comment by the Daily News, Hungwe would only say the allegations had not yet been formally put to him, while Mahofa’s mobile phone was not reachable all of yesterday.

But Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo played down fears that today’s central committee meeting would be fiery.

“Tomorrow’s (today’s) central committee meeting is routine. We hold such meetings after every three months, that is four times a year, while the politburo is held once every month. The central committee meeting is not extraordinary, it is a scheduled meeting,” he said.

However, Nenjana said he would also inform Mugabe during today’s meeting that Mahofa, together with her politburo counterparts Hungwe and Pupurai Togarepi, were planning to sue him over the government’s failure to compensate war collaborators.

“I will also inform him of the evil plot to drag him (Mugabe) and government to court, a plot that they hatched during a meeting of the Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborations Association (Ziliwaco) that was addressed by Mahofa at the weekend in Gutu,” he said.

He also alleged that Mahofa, Hungwe and others rallying behind Mnangagwa were in the “horrible habit” of using the Midlands godfather’s name to intimidate their political rivals in the province.

“I will tell the president in the central committee all that they have done, including that they have manipulated party structures in the province to suit their factional agenda.

“I have been quiet for long time hoping that we would eventually find each other, but now I will not remain silent. I am a war veteran myself and will not be dragged into factional politics because I know one leader of the party, President Mugabe.

“I will confront them in the central committee meeting because they will be there as well,” Nenjana charged.

In his broadside, Shumba claimed that Hungwe and Mahofa had used maize meant for the disabled to pay Zanu PF youths who they were using to campaign against sitting MPs they accused of backing the G40.

“Each constituency was supposed to get 44,9 tonnes of maize with 900kg meant for the disabled, but MPs reported to the provincial executive that  vulnerable groups were crying foul as the maize never reached them because the process which was supposed to include MPs, district administrators and the social welfare department was manipulated.

It’s (the Mnangagwa faction) a den of thieves that is being exposed,” he said.

Last Sunday Makonese also narrated during a media conference in Harare how Mahofa was allegedly intimidating her after she enquired about the money.

“I gave her $2 000 to hand over to the first lady for her orphanage but she converted it to her own use and when I asked her, she got mad about it and that is the price I am now paying.

“She wanted to take the money from the $20 000 that was donated by Tongaat Hullet, asking me to lie that they had given us $18 000 but I refused,” Makonese claimed further.

She also accused Mahofa of only tolerating people who massaged her ego and did not question her alleged corrupt tendencies in the women’s league.

“She does not want women who appear to be clever. The moment you do that she uses her position to fight you and since I became the women’s league chairperson I have endured mental torture at her hands.

“Out of fear, as well as the need for freebies that she promises those who dance to her tune, women tend to follow her. She threatens them saying she is close to the president and that nothing will happen to her even if she was exposed,” Makonese said.

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Mujuru faces Zanu PF gun

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HARARE - Zanu PF has apparently ratcheted up its “political programme” to frustrate and cause the implosion of former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s fledgling Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party.

Reliable sources within the ruling party claimed to the Daily News that chaotic scenes around an alleged leadership contest, the many recent acts of intimidation and thuggery targeted at ZPF supporters as well as officials were all “well-orchestrated”.

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“I can tell you that before 2018 People First will be history. Many of the people in that party have skeletons in their closets and just watch this space to see what will happen to them,” one of the sources said.

Another insider said the current Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) drive was also meant to “rattle” some ZPF officials since they were once in government and several key parastatals.

“As you may know, Mujuru herself has a file hanging over her head, detailing her transgressions. There is gnashing of teeth in that little party,” the Zanu PF bigwig said.

This latter claim tallied with what Mujuru herself said soon after launching her party in February, when she alleged that Mugabe had a file on each of his ministers, which kept them on a string like “puppets”.

And as the charade unfolds, ZPF deputy spokesperson Kudzai Mbudzi confirmed that senior officials were under the gun.

“That is lamentable because we think that corruption should be dealt with not as a tool to fix political opponents. Zimbabweans think that if there is really the political will to genuinely deal with the scourge of corruption, the blitz should star with (President Robert) Mugabe himself who should justify his current economic might that has seen him establish the businesses he owns,” he said.

The ex-senior army officer also admitted that Zanu PF, through State security agents, had infiltrated ZPF.

“We know that Zanu PF has no capacity to infiltrate us on its own but  . . . are doing so through the security system. Members of the security sector must be warned, however, that the man they are protecting is in the political departure lounge and they will have to answer for their crimes come 2018,” Mbudzi warned.

Academic and researcher Pedzisai Ruhanya said both the Movement for Democratic Change and ZPF must be wary of infiltration.

He said the two parties must realise that a “broad coalition of meaningful political parties is the way to go”, but warned that such a structure without addressing institutional reforms cannot defeat Zanu PF.

“They (MDC and ZPF) must also do their research because they will be elements, particularly in MDC and People First, who will work day and night to make sure that MDC and PF and the general meaningful parties are not united. It is not in the interests of Zanu PF for such a coalition,” he said.

“They will be people who will be vehement and virulent in opposing a coalition because they will be doing it for Zanu PF and there are some who are doing it for positions within those parties. Zanu PF will invest through the State security to kill prospects of unity between the MDC and PF,” Ruhanya said.

Meanwhile, Mbudzi claims their supporters have become a target of renewed violence in rural areas allegedly at the behest of Zanu PF activists and traditional leaders.

The former serviceman also said members of the security forces had been deployed “to disrupt and intimidate our people”.

“Only recently, a known CIO operative hired a truckload of drunken youths to disrupt our meeting in Masvingo and . . . throughout the country, and it’s lamentable (really). They should know that they have no mandate to meddle in politics of our party because it (is) clear . . . Mugabe is going in 2018, and protecting him is futile,” Mbudzi added.

On the other hand, several party activists who spoke to the Daily News yesterday claimed Zanu PF was working with some ZPF senior members to “sow seeds of disharmony” within the opposition party ranks by maligning its founders Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa.

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Warriors ready for Cosafa

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HARARE - Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa says his team will put up their best when the Cosafa Castle Cup kicks off in Namibia tomorrow.

The Warriors are already in Namibia where they will begin their Cosafa Castle Cup title bid in the qualifying stages where they have been placed in Group A.

Pasuwa’s charges begin their campaign with a clash against Swaziland tomorrow at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek at 3pm.

The other teams in the Seychelles and Madagascar will clash at the same venue at 5:30pm.

Zimbabwe needs to top their group in order to proceed to the quarter-finals where they will take on Zambia.

The other qualifying Group B comprises Angola, Lesotho, Malawi and Mauritius while holders Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia and guest nation Democratic Republic of Congo have been handed a bye and will only begin the tournament in the knockout stages.

But before the Warriors can think of the quarter-finals they must be at their best to negotiate their passage from Group B.

Swaziland have improved a lot in recent years and showed their pedigree by holding their own in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers where they are in the same Group L with the Warriors.

Although Zimbabwe have sealed their place at the finals to be held in Gabon next year, Sihlangu enhanced their chances of sneaking in as one of the best-placed runners-up by defeating Guinea 1-0 in Lobamba at the weekend.

The Warriors were also a disappointing lot at the Cosafa Castle Cup last year in South African when they failed to progress from the qualifying stages.

Pasuwa said his charges need to improve on their showing in Mzansi last year and maintain the momentum they have shown in the Afcon qualifiers.

“I don’t want to put pressure on the boys but we are obviously going there to do better than the last time,” Pasuwa said.

“We will do our best because that is the main reason why we are going there to participate. This tourney is important to every member of the technical team and the playing body.

“Remember last year’s tournament coincided with the Chan qualifiers and we could not field some of the players.

“While we could not get all the players that we wanted, I think we have a relatively strong team. I am confident we can progress to the knockout stages.

“We have a group of very talented and hungry players who are ready to prove themselves. I have seen the passion and determination in these players and I believe they can do it.”

The Warriors left Harare on Wednesday afternoon and arrived safely in Windhoek in the afternoon and are now setting their sights on winning a record fifth Cosafa Castle Cup title.

Zimbabwe have won the tournament in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2009 while Zambia are also on four wins in 1997, 1998, 2006 and 2013.

Zimbabwe squad:

Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva, Donovan Benard

Defenders: Teenage Hadebe, Bruce Kangwa, Farai Madhanhanga, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Elisha Muroiwa, Blessing Moyo, Lawrence Mhlanga

Midfielders: Danny Phiri, Tatenda Mudehwe, Nqobizitha Masuku, Raphael Manuvire, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Talent Chawapihwa

Strikers: Obidiah Tarumbwa, King Nadolo, Charlton Mashumba

VMCZ launches Investigative Journalism Fund

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HARARE - Journalists are a pillar of any society and without them the country’s democratic development is impaired, Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) board chairperson Alec Muchadehama has said.

Speaking at the launch of the Investigative Journalism Fund for local journalists that was attended by investigative journalism trainer Lucinda Fleeson at a local hotel early this week, Muchadehama said journalists are an independent voice for the public.

“Acting as an independent voice for the public, journalists should not be intimidated by power or influenced by special interests, advertisers, politicians or news sources. The independence of journalism must not be compromised by greed and conflicts of interest,” Muchadehama said.

He said the duty of journalists is to hold those in public offices to account, adding that this is critical to democracy and the preservation of human rights.

The year-long Investigative Journalism Fund for journalists is being supported by the US Embassy Public Affairs section.

VMCZ executive director Loughty Dube said the programme will also see 17 journalists attend the Global Journalists Conference to be held in South Africa next year.

“The main reason why the VMCZ embarked on this investigative journalism programme was after a realisation that the media was not carrying in-depth media stories,” Dube said.

The initiative, was preceded by a three-day training workshop headed by Fleeson and Reyhana Masters that was held at Pandhari Hotel and attended by over 17 journalists from different media houses.

Muchadehama said journalists are essential in an open society.

“Their duty is to defend free speech, inform citizens, encourage deliberation on public policy and serve the public interest in the promotion of democratic institutions.

“These duties will sometimes require that journalists expose criminal activity, investigate abuses of power and bring to the fore wrong-doing and shenanigans happening within our midst. That is the nature of journalistic work,” he said.

He further said that journalists need to demonstrate courage and resilience to unearth the truth and deliver accurate stories.

He, however, noted the harsh economic environment, which he said has the potential of affecting the work of journalists and had the power to influence them to neglect their own professional values and affect their ability to remain neutral.

Mother-in-law takes Kereke's side in court

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HARARE - The step-grandmother to two minors that were allegedly sexually molested by Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke yesterday curiously recited in stunning detail events relating to the rape period but failed to recollect anything else beyond those dates.

Anna Muswapadare, the mother to Kereke’s wife Patience, who was staying with the minors when they were allegedly molested, claimed that her step-grandchildren were liars who had fabricated the allegations against her son-in-law.

She testified in favour of Kereke yesterday before Harare regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa.

Kereke is being charged with rape and indecent assault after allegedly sexually abusing his wife’s two nieces.

“I left my rural home for Patience’s home on August 17 and for the days I stayed there my son Vincent, two housemaids and the second complainant were present at the residence,” Muswapare said.

“On August 20, the accused person came to the house saying he wanted to pay his security guards and also inform me that Patience and her son would be discharged from Avenues Clinic the following day.”

Muswapadare said she could not believe that one of her step-grandchildren could allege that they were raped on August 20 around 3am because she wakes up for prayers every day around that time.

“It is a lie; she never left the room during early hours on that morning. I remember waking up to pray at exactly that time and saw her sleeping peacefully in the spare bedroom,” added Muswapadare.

“She also lied that after the alleged incident she woke up and washed her clothes and linen on her own. I always folded their blankets every morning and never noticed any spoiled sheets or clothes.

“... as usual that morning, the complainant was jovial and went outside to play with other children.”

Muswapadare said she later left the residence on August 20, 2010.

She, however, failed to recall dates relating to when her statement was recorded at the police or when she had it commissioned with her daughter’s lawyers.

“... so you do not remember the date you made that affidavit statement? Your daughter told this court that she went to see lawyers on November 10, 2011 at what time did you leave and return home? Do you still recall how much time you spend at Borrowdale Police Station or the details of who attended to you?”

Muswapadare responded that she could no longer recall the events because of the lapse of time.

The trial continues today.


N'anga exposes rapist father

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HARARE - A 50-year-old Epworth man who was on the run after he raped and sired a son with his biological daughter was brought to court yesterday.

The man (name withheld) is said to have acted on the advice of a n’anga that he would become rich after raping his daughter.

Police officers handling the rape case managed to trace him to Ruwange in Nyanga where he had engaged another n’anga to have the court case he is facing dissolved.

The n’anga alerted Ruwange police of the accused person’s case and he was arrested and brought back to Epworth.

He appeared before Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe yesterday and was remanded to June 14 for commencement of trial.

Prosecutor Sabastian Mutizirwa alleged that sometime in 2010 the victim was at home with her father.

The court heard that the father approached and dragged her into the bedroom before raping her.

It was alleged that the daughter would confide in her friends about the incidents but this did not help.

The complainant began staying with her aunt and then went on to work as a housemaid in Harare’s Avenues area.

During weekends, the father would go and collect his daughter at her workplace before proceeding to lodges.

The accused person would continuously rape his daughter claiming that since he was the one who had broken her virginity and was responsible for the pregnancy.

The girl conceived but did not reveal that her father was responsible until she gave birth to a son who is now five years old.

She later went to Hopley Farm and stayed with her brother while their father catered for rentals and other expenses.

The court heard that she confided in a female neighbour about the rape incidents.

The unidentified neighbour later discussed the issue with complainant’s brothers who subsequently neglected her because she had been impregnated by their father.

They later engaged their grandfather to resolve the issue without involving the police.

However, the grandfather took advantage and raped the girl after promising that he would conceal the offence.

The accused person moved in with his daughter at Retreat in Waterfalls and they stayed there as husband and wife.

It was further alleged that the victim was continuously sexually molested.

In May this year, an unknown informer dropped a note disclosing the rape incident at Chitungwiza and Waterfalls police stations.

This led to the matter being investigated at Epworth Police Station before the complainant was located and recorded statements.

The accused person then fled to Ruwange in Nyanga to get charms that would make the case crumble.

However, the n’anga reported the accused person to the police leading to his arrest.

Tuku, Eriza date Kariba

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HARARE - In Kariba, all roads will lead to Cutty Sark Hotel on Saturday where a potentially explosive concert featuring the highly-valorised musician Oliver Mtukudzi will be sharing the stage with an equally talented artiste Lynn “Lady Storm” Magodo, popularly known as Eriza.

Eriza, who will be dating Kariba for the first time, earned her name in local showbiz after featuring in Jah Prayzah’s video Eriza as a star dancer.

Mtukudzi told the Daily News recently that it is his wish to work with virtually every artiste in Zimbabwe, either through collaborations or sharing the stage like he is set to do in Kariba.

Mtukudzi’s publicist and band manager, Sam Mataure, said Tuku wishes every local artiste to be a superstar like him.

“Mdara struggled to be what where he is today and as a result he feels obliged to assist everyone in the showbiz industry. He also has a soft spot for young artistes such as Gary Tight, Lady Storm, Munyaradzi Mataruse among others as he knows that they are legends of tomorrow,” Mataure said.

On the other hand, Eriza loves working with other artistes as she has collaborated with Andy Muridzo and Roki on separate projects as a way of keeping her musical boat afloat and she is happy that this time around she is sharing the stage with one of the most respected artiste not just in Zimbabwe but the world at large.

The bubbly 23-year-old ex-soldier, who fronts rhumba outfit Swagga Band, has an album under her belt called Ndisvikewo. However, some of her critics believe she stormed into the limelight mainly owing to her vivacious looks.

Though she has proved to be a darling to many entertainment lovers since she rose to popularity, Eriza has fought endless battles with fellow female dancers such as Zoey Sifelani and Beverly Sibanda among others.

Zoey, Bev return to Private Lounge Bulawayo

Leading erotic dancers Zoey Sifelani and Beverly Sibanda will be returning to Bulawayo by public demand and the duo will be performing at the new joint, Private Lounge Bulawayo tonight.

Bev said the idea of opening a new joint at Cecil Hotel tomorrow has come at the right time.

“I was born a dancer; the opening of Private Lounge in Bulawayo is a positive development to us as it means our territories are being enlarged. More dance groups are being formed on a daily basis hence we need more joints for our shows,” said the multi-award winning Sexy Angels front lady.

On the other hand, Zoey, who is credited for initiating Bev into pole dancing, is equally happy with the new development.

“Vachandiona ini muchawa ndauya. Vachatiguta chaizvo chaizvo (They will have enough of me there),” said the Red Angels founder.

Chibuku Neshamwari goes to Manicaland, Bulawayo

Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance is hosting two provincial competitions in Manicaland and Bulawayo tomorrow.

Rusape’s Vhengere Stadium is hosting this year’s Manicaland competitions while Habane Bar in Esigodini hosts Bulawayo provincial finals.

In each province, 10 traditional dance groups will be clashing for supremacy. In Bulawayo, Khaya Arts, Imvimbi Arts, Ingwenyama Arts, Woza Africa Per Arts, Sekunjalo MaAfrica, Iluba le Mvelo, Abangane, Jaiva Traditional Group, Thandanani Women Ensemble and Bambanani are set to compete tomorrow while last year’s winners Ezimnyama Dance Ensemble will showcase as a guest group.

In Manicaland, there is Watyamhembwe, Machena Traditional Dance, Mansa, Echoes, Maungwe Traditional Group, Redwing Mine Bheni Arinoti, Usatya Traditional Dance Group, Charurwa, Mutare Polytechnic and Gure Wamkulu (Mutasa Nyau Dance).

Dhuma Tasangana, the winners of Manicaland Province last year, will perform as a guest group tomorrow. The winning group from each province will pocket $500 and compete in the national Chibuku Neshamwari traditional dance competition scheduled for Bulawayo on July 30 at White City Stadium.

National winners will pocket $4 000 while $3 000 and $2 000 will be for the first and second runners-up respectively.

Australian Embassy brings Australian Indigenous Film Festival to Zimbabwe

The Australian Embassy in Harare is proud to present the Black Screen Australian Indigenous film festival in Zimbabwe, showcasing the best of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait film-making and storytelling.

The festival will be screening for free at Alliance Francaise in Harare from 12-8pm on Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11, and all are welcome. The festival will show 30 features, short films and documentaries by renowned filmmakers from the Black Screen Collection, part of Australia’s National Film and Sound Archive.

The Black Screen Collection promotes cultural awareness and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen culture, showcasing and supporting Australia’s indigenous talent on and off screen.

Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Suzanne McCourt said ‘this festival provides a unique opportunity for Zimbabweans to experience Australia’s rich and diverse Indigenous culture and history. ”

Bollywood Night: House Full 3

Sterkinekor Borrowdale will bring House Full 3, a Bollywood movie at 6:30pm tonight. Three men have to convince a father that they are a good fit for his daughters.

Love Over Hate

Downtown Night Club, Machipisa will tonight host the “Love Over Hate” reggae and dancehall night. Entertainment will be provided by Afrikan Star Sound, Silverflame Sound and Black Empire Sound.

Roll Out the Barrel

Tonight at 7pm, One67 Enterprise Road brings “Roll Out the Barrel”. A fun pub night, with bangers and mash, fish and chips and other pub grub. There will be music from Mande Snyman and Tony Palmer.

Mokoomba Farewell Concert/Party

Tonight at the New Ambassador Hotel rooftop at 10pm Mokoomba will hold a farewell concert from June 15 to August 22. Bryan K will be a supporting act.

Sulu headlines Destiny reopening

Suluman Chimbetu will tonight perform at the official reopening of Destiny Nite Club in Westlea.

He will share the stage with prolific guitarist Progress Chipfumo at this particular gig.

On Saturday, June 11, the Gunship lands at Takarangana Nite Club in Hatcliffe for another special performance. On Sunday, June 12, the Captain and his Orchestra Dendera Kings holds a family show at Wedza Spacemen in Glen Norah.

Grace likens Guti to Mugabe

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HARARE - First Lady Grace Mugabe yesterday heaped praises on Zaoga leader Ezekiel Guti, saying the popular preacher has traits similar to her husband President Robert Mugabe.

Grace extolled Guti and his wife Euna, as she officially opened Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Waterfalls yesterday, which was founded by the couple.

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“Let me say baba (father), you remind me of my husband, you are smart and you are articulate. Look at you baba, I love you. At this age? No third leg, it means something, may God continue to bless you with more years so that those who doubted what you were doing and what you are doing can see it for themselves, that if you believe in the lord, nothing is impossible,” Grace said.

“You are a great man; We shall always remember you as a great man.”

Grace also described the 93-year-old church leader as a man who “glow because of the thoughts you carry with yourself in your heart. The positive thoughts will actually help you not to develop wrinkles. People who develop wrinkles always carry negative thoughts. When the girls were singing you remarked it wasn’t easy back then, baba, I can say to you I am one of the beneficiaries of your work. 

“A lot will be said, but don’t despair just continue to look ahead to transform lives.  And to amai, mom, we always look to you as a role model. We, as Zimbabweans, are proud to have you as a mother; we would want . . . as Zimbabwean women to walk in your footsteps,” she said.

Grace was accompanied by her daughter Bona and her husband Simba, and the couple’s child Simbanashe.

Mbuya Dorcas Hospital is named after Guti’s late mother.

The hospital has two wings: non-medical which focuses on healing and deliverance and a medical wing focusing on science.

“We take pride in knowing that there was no donor or external hand in the construction of the facilities we see here today.

“This is clear evidence that as indigenous Zimbabweans, we are capable of embarking on projects, without soliciting for external assistance.

“When a church organisation single-handedly accomplishes a task of this nature, any observer is easily convinced to conclude the congregants are a blessed, and indeed an empowered lot,” said Grace.

Mugabe earlier this year promised to give Guti, who also owns a university in Bindura, more land to build more projects.

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I'll fight back: Mujuru warns

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HARARE - Former Vice President and now leader of the Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), Joice Mujuru, has warned Zanu PF bigwigs with a penchant for throwing unprovoked brickbats at her that they must not mistake her dignified silence as a sign of cowardice.

Responding to the thuggish behaviour of her erstwhile Zanu PF colleagues via a statement that she released through her recently appointed spokesperson Gift Nyandoro, Mujuru — whose liberation struggle nom de guerre was Teurai Ropa — also promised to fight back with interest if the provocations continued.

Her protestations and threats to fight back follow her ongoing vilification by senior Zanu PF officials, including President Robert Mugabe, as well as the worsening harassment and intimidation of her supporters by ruling party apparatchiks around the country.

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So bad have some of the insults and claims that have been directed at her, that in addition to being called a witch, she has also been accused of gross corruption while in high office and plotting to assassinate Mugabe — charges that are yet to be tested in court more than two years after they were first made.

Until yesterday, Mujuru had stoically resisted the temptation to respond to the litany of insults and serious charges that have been thrown her way.

In the statement, Nyandoro — who referred to Mujuru as Mother Zimbabwe — came out swinging, taking particular aim at war veterans’ chairperson Christopher Mutsvangwa.

“Is it that Mutsvangwa and others in the party think that Mother Zimbabwe is a soft landing and who one can bully as he pleases? With respect, that is not the case. The humility and quietness that she exhibits is not cowardice, but a manifestation of her wisdom and resilience,” he said.

Nyandoro added that Mujuru was wondering why ruling party officials continued to attack her even after she had moved on and was now “leading a progressive political party that is clearly giving the regime sleepless nights”.

“On all the occasions of the attacks on Mother Zimbabwe they (Zanu PF officials) were never provoked nor did she reply in the hope that they would keep quiet. This she did as a sign of decency and reasonableness, but Mutsvangwa and others continue to be reckless canons.

“They should just leave Mujuru alone so that she can peacefully deliver Zimbabwe to the promised land of Canaan. Mother Zimbabwe is not responsible for the failure by Mugabe to account for the stolen $15 billion.

“She is not responsible for the reading of a wrong speech by Mugabe in Parliament. She is not responsible for the pronouncement by Mugabe that the MDC leader (Morgan Tsvangirai) won the 2008 elections by 75 percent.

“Mujuru is not responsible for the unconstitutional pronouncements by Mugabe that the army assisted Zanu PF during its election campaigns,” Nyandoro thundered.

He also warned all the Zanu PF factions that attacking Mujuru would not “guarantee” their respective preferred candidates in the ruling party’s brutal succession battle the right to take over from Mugabe.

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And Mujuru, through Nyandoro, reminded Mutsvangwa that she was his senior and commander during the war, further pooh-poohing his recent claims that she had failed to protect women during the liberation struggle.

“We hope as ZPF that he has verifiable and independent evidence to support his malicious claim. This is the same Hatikure (Mutsvangwa’s middle name) who made promiscuous utterances to the effect that Mujuru did not down a helicopter on the 17th of February 1974.

“Surprisingly, the heroic act by Mujuru occurred before he joined the liberation struggle in 1975 and here is a person who sounds highly verbose and presents himself the ‘Rambo’ of the struggle,” Nyandoro said.

Mutsvangwa was also reminded that when Mujuru joined the liberation struggle as a young girl aged 18 years, he was “making frantic efforts to finish his education which he only abandoned at University level to join the liberation struggle in 1975, not out of the zeal to prosecute the war but because of the situation that had become difficult back home.

“By the time Mutsvangwa joined the liberation struggle, and by his own admission, Mujuru was the first woman he witnessed to have been trained and was his commander”.

Meanwhile, ZPF deputy spokesperson Kudzai Mbudzi says any leader within the new opposition party who thinks Mujuru is another “Mugabe in the making is hallucinating”.

In a broadside that appears to target ZPF founding fathers such as former Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa, Mbudzi said those who were of that inclination should go back to the warring ruling party.

He said some of his comrades did “not seem to fully understand the actual objectives of this new revolution, which is to create a just and democratic environment in which all can prosper”.

“Some want to transplant and transpose the old Zanu PF ethos onto the new party for personal glory and pleasurable plunder,” he charged.

“There are some people who are trying by all means to hold Mujuru hostage so that she glorifies their appointments into certain positions. If she resists those attempts on constitutional grounds, sometimes they overreact and become slow to visualise and internalise her long-term objectives.

“If some individuals would not circumstantially see reason to take a much deserved rest, we urge them to go through the mill at the national elective congress,” Mbudzi said.

Over the past few weeks, ZPF has been caught in a confusing vortex of infighting — with some of the party's founding members said to be so disgruntled that they were now mulling forming their own party.

However, others have pointed to Zanu PF as being at the centre of the chaos, ostensibly to neutralise ZPF before it properly takes off.

“We are different from Mugabe in word, deed and thought and can’t be seen trying to promote the same values of despotic individualism for which we are running away from Mugabeism in Zimbabwe People First party.

“Mujuru is not the one centre of power, but simply a brand. Our centre of power is the people,” Mbudzi said.

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Angry Mugabe mauls war vets

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HARARE - An angry President Robert Mugabe yesterday launched one of his fiercest attacks on his own party members, threatening to deal severely with disaffected war veterans who are pushing unyieldingly for Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed him.

Addressing a Zanu PF central committee meeting in Harare, Mugabe shocked all and sundry when he described recent pronouncements by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) that Mnangagwa was a shoo-in to take over from him as tantamount to a rebellion.

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“The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association was formed to cater for the welfare of our veterans and not to champion the struggle for political change, not to be the boss of the party and never to be the bully of the party, nor the entity to make the choices of who should be and who should not, never ever!

“Expect that within the party, always within the party and not outside the party. The dissidents tried it, they were war veterans, and you know what happened. Lots of trouble, lots of fighting, lots of suffering of course to our people, and these dissents activities cannot be allowed.

“Do we see another rise of dissident activity? The leadership with our experience says no to the war veterans association. It’s not your function, it’s not your business to talk a lot on who shall succeed the president.

“Dissident activities cannot be allowed. It ended in December 1987 when Joshua Nkomo and I put our hands together and our hearts together to say never again shall we allow this to happen,” the visibly agitated Mugabe said.

The president’s reference to the dark era of the early 1980s when the government unleashed the North Korean-trained 5th brigade that massacred an estimated 20 000 innocent civilians mainly in Matabeleland and the Midlands dropped jaws and sent a chill down the spines of most of the gathered Zanu PF bigwigs.

Mugabe was insistent that it was not the responsibility of the ZNLWVA to anoint his successor, but that of Zanu PF.

“I am stunned on what they do. You want to spill the blood again? We say to them that could not be allowed and steps are going to be taken (against them).

“It is not proper for any man to use the war veterans association as a platform to attack party top leadership, or seeking to direct party processes in the same direction preferred by some individuals in that same body.

“The mandate of the association does not allow directing party directions. It’s not your function. Yours is to improve the welfare of the war veterans,” Mugabe fumed.

He said the Zanu PF constitution was clear about the issue of succession and that “it remains the bible of all of us. We must respect the rules drawn by the party and organs of the party must be respected”.

Mugabe’s diatribe comes after the Christopher Mutsvangwa-led war veterans have increasingly appeared to challenge the nonagenarian’s authority and those of his key lieutenants.

Only last week, the former freedom fighters responded with interest to a savage assault on them by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko who had accused them of engaging in “treason” by endorsing (Vice President Emmerson) Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s shoo-in successor.

In his own polemic, delivered while addressing a Zanu PF Matabeleland North provincial committee meeting in Lupane, Mphoko warned the pro-Mnangagwa war veterans against talking about Mugabe’s succession while the increasingly frail nonagenarian was still on the throne.

Responding to the attack, the secretary-general of the main faction of the ZNLWVA, Victor Matemadanda, roundly savaged Mphoko, once again accusing the under-fire VP of having deserted Zimbabwe’s war of liberation.

“What do you think is more treasonous between saying Mnangagwa is the most senior person in the Zanla (Zanu PF military wing) ranks and deserting the war, going to Mozambique and selling guns meant for waging the liberation struggle?

“We will not be intimidated by his misuse of the word treason. We never said Mnangagwa should take over today or tomorrow. We are simply investing in our future as Zanla and Mphoko must not interfere because we never interfere in Zipra (Zapu military wing) issues.

“He is annoyed by our discourse because he is the face of G40 and he thinks either Jonathan Moyo or (Saviour) Kasukuwere should be president. But that will never happen, unfortunately. That will not be decided by one who deserted the war.

No-nonsense ZNLWVA spokesperson Douglas Mahiya chipped in saying Mphoko “has no knowledge of the issues he is commenting on”.

“We have not endorsed anybody. We were simply discussing the arrangement we had during the war of liberation. We were in Zanla and he (Mphoko) was in Zipra. How does he know events that took place in Zanla?

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