HARARE - Opposition political parties have said President Robert Mugabe’s “reckless” statements in which he referred to war veterans rallying behind Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s presidential ambitions as dissidents evokes painful Gukurahundi memories, a chapter they say is still to be closed since the 92-year-old has not apologised for the death of an estimated 20 000 civilians.

In a press statement former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who now leads Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), expressed deep concern over Mugabe’s utterances that have sent shivers down the spines of many Zimbabweans.

“Ordinarily, such issues are a preserve for Zanu PF internal processes and should remain as such but Mugabe’s allusion to Gukurahundi where he used the disgruntlement of a handful war veterans as an alibi to embark on ethnic cleansing of mostly Ndebele-speaking citizens in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces gives rise to fears that the cornered dictator might once again use this excuse to unleash unprecedented violence on the swelling opposition to his failed incumbency countrywide,” ZPF spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire said.

The party described Mugabe’s “gloat” as “shameless and callous”.

“That Mugabe wants to use the barbaric massacre of innocent civilians, children and pregnant mothers disembowelled in front of their now traumatised, impoverished and pauperised offspring to scare off disgruntled war veterans is psychopath taken too far,” Mawarire further said.

Mawarire also warned that Mugabe’s threats must not be taken lightly, as history proves that he is a man who uses all means necessary to remain in power, including the isolation of his allies.

“His reaction to political challenge has often been excessive hence the need for us to rise and stop this madness at the polls in 2018 or earlier if he brings them forward. At the moment, however, we urge all opposition political parties, civil society and every right-thinking and patriotic Zimbabwean to register their disquiet with the aging dictator and pile pressure on the regime to attend to pertinent issues affecting the country,” he said.

Adding its voice to the discourse, the Welshman Ncube-led MDC, through its spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi, also castigated Mugabe’s stance.

“The MDC is utterly shocked that as the country is still trying to come to terms with the senseless killing of thousands of innocent people in Matabeleland and Midlands at his command, Mugabe has the temerity to utter a reckless statement like: ‘Dissidents tried it, and you know what happened’,” Chihwayi said.

He said the statements showed that Mugabe is unrepentant.

“At his old age we expect him to be asking for forgiveness and exercising wisdom in words and deeds, but he is giving the people of Zimbabwe the exact opposite. It is unfortunate that this sickening tirade from Mugabe has just taken efforts and what little progress there was towards peace and reconciliation in the country a thousand steps backwards,” he said.

He further said that Mugabe’s statements were a “stark reminder of the sheer evil, hate and selfishness that drove Gukurahundi”.

“While it is easy to dismiss these utterances as being a result of senility and old age, it is clear that Mugabe through anger and hate allowed his guard to drop and spoke the evil that is truly in his heart,” Chihwayi said.

He said Mugabe’s tactics are aimed at assuring his continued stay in power, which in turn exposes his hypocrisy.

HARARE - President Robert Mugabe torched a political storm on Thursday when he described recent pronouncements by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa should be his guaranteed heir, as akin to the behaviour of dissidents.

A number of liberation struggle stalwarts who spoke to the Daily News yesterday savaged Mugabe, accusing him of having no interest whatsoever in the interest of the people and the country, following the nonagenarian’s threat that he would deal decisively with those rallying behind Mnangagwa.

War veteran and former Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said there was no need for Mugabe to “criticise and condemn” war veterans in the manner that he had done.

“War veterans have a vision of creating a democratic society. They see that the party (Zanu PF) has been hijacked by people who were not involved in the liberation struggle, which does not work.

“Look at the people in the leadership now. They (war veterans) are not there. And because of that, they are bound to complain. They (Zanu PF leaders) have to understand their plight,” Gumbo said.

“The war veterans have grievances. He (Mugabe) should talk to them. The country has problems and the war veterans have problems and he should address that in a mature way,” he added.

Another war veteran, Thomas Chitauro, also said Mugabe seemingly had no interest in the advancement of Zimbabweans, adding that an impression was being created that the president wanted to create a dynasty.

“Mugabe has never liked war veterans. He was being hypocritical all along, appearing as though he loved them. Freedom fighters were wholly marginalised.

“Some of them have been living under the illusion that they are part of the system, but they are now seeing that they are not. They are now in unison that leadership must be passed on,” Chitauro said.

“They are only realising now that Mugabe is building his own dynasty. Mugabe has no interest in the war veterans, and the country. He only considers himself and when people start seeing that, he becomes angry.

“We expect him to use violence. Mugabe has always been violent,” Chitauro, whose nom de guerre was Kabhasikoro, added.

A Zanu PF official perceived to be close to Mnangagwa, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said Mugabe “was reckless” and that it was “time that we all stand up against him”.

“He has been abusing us for a long time and we want that to stop now. This is not a private company, but a country that belongs to all of us. We are free to talk about succession because it affects us,” the war veteran said.

“He (Mugabe) does not know war and violence, that is why he speaks in such a manner. We do not want a repeat of what happened in the early 1980s. The president must actually apologise for that dark period and not invoke painful memories,” he added.

A civil society organisation, Heal Zimbabwe, also castigated Mugabe’s dissident statement, which it said threatened peace and reconciliation efforts in the country.

“Heal Zimbabwe notes that such utterances by the president have the potential of eroding the gains of the 1987 Unity Accord and inciting warring parties from within his party to resort to violence. Actions and utterances by the war veterans in past weeks do not warrant violence as a solution.

“Peacefully addressing concerns of the war veterans in line with Section 90 of the Constitution which compels the president to promote unity and peace in the nation for the benefit and well-being of all citizens is one good option the president has,” the organisation said.

It said further that the country was still “in dire need” of healing and reconciliation

“What is disturbing and worrying about the president’s utterances is that he compared the annihilation of what he describes as ‘dissidents’ during the Gukurahundi era in the 1980s to the fate that awaits the war veterans who are talking about succession.

“Scars from violent episodes such as Gukurahundi, land reform, Murambatsvina and elections, particularly the 2002, 2005 and 2008 ones have not been addressed. Making reference to the sad violent past as a solution to dissent is a threat to peaceful co-existence,” Heal Zimbabwe added.

HARARE - Sensing danger, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa (pictured) was apparently forced to beg for his political life in the warring Zanu PF on Thursday, disowning restless war veterans and other senior ruling party officials in the process who have been agitating for him to succeed President Robert Mugabe.

Consistently reliable Zanu PF sources told the Daily News yesterday that the embattled VP had allegedly taken the humiliating decision of begging Mugabe for mercy publicly, saying he had nothing to do with the dissenting former freedom fighters and the campaigns of other senior party officials who are operating in his name, after the angry nonagenarian threatened to deal severely with all of his offending followers.

Analysts said yesterday that if the claims were true, this would be the second time in the last 12 years that Mnangagwa has left his most vocal supporters within the brawling ruling party hanging high and dry, without political cover and like lambs to the proverbial slaughter.

Zanu PF is currently split along two main factions, one loyal to Mnangagwa and going by the moniker Team Lacoste, and another one that is fiercely opposed to him succeeding Mugabe and going by the name Generation 40 (G40).

Shooting from the hip, Mugabe reminded war veterans loyal to Mnangagwa on Thursday that he would deal ruthlessly with any dissenting voices within Zanu PF, likening their behaviour to those of dissidents, and in the process invoking ugly memories of the Gukurahundi massacres of the early 1980s.

A well-placed source who attended the closed door meeting where Mnangagwa allegedly begged for mercy from Mugabe after the nonagenarian undressing war veterans was adamant that Mnangagwa had “pleaded for forgiveness from Gushungo”.

“He read the signs well and rightly felt obliged to beg for mercy. As you all saw, the president was very angry and made it clear that the war veterans were being sent by someone to cause pandemonium within the party,” the Zanu PF bigwig said.

According to another source, Mnangagwa — who enjoys the support of war veterans’ leaders such as Christopher Mutsvangwa, Victor Matemadanda and Douglas Mahiya — allegedly told Mugabe that people were “abusing” his name.

“He apologised indeed and duly disowned the war veterans,” the second source said.

It was not clear yesterday what the way forward would be for the usually-boisterous war veterans, who want to be seen as “country stockholders”. None of them would comment on all the developments of the past two days.

An angry Mugabe launched one of his fiercest attacks on his own party members to date on Thursday, threatening to deal severely with disaffected war veterans who are pushing for Mnangagwa to succeed him.

Addressing a Zanu PF central committee meeting in Harare, Mugabe shocked party members when he described recent pronouncements on the matter by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) as tantamount to a rebellion.

“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 came after the Mutsvangwa-led war veterans had 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 Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s shoo-in successor.

In his 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?

“What is the bigger crime between saying Mnangagwa is senior and staying in a hotel for two years, refusing to stay in a $3 million house in a country where the economy is struggling?” Matemadanda asked angrily, referring to Mphoko’s continued and controversial stay in a five-star Harare hotel.

To highlight their resolve to fight Mphoko to the bitter end in Zanu PF’s worsening factional and succession wars, he added ominously that war veterans were “ready to defend themselves” in court if it came to that.

“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.

“What is so special about him and his Mozambican wife? He must just quietly enjoy the good life that he was given by our president which he does not deserve anyway.

“He is least qualified to talk about our revolution because he was not part of its critical stages after he deserted,” Matemadanda said, adding that the only reason why they had a semblance of respect for Mphoko was because he was appointed by “our president”.

Jumping into the melee feet first, no-nonsense ZNLWVA spokesperson Douglas Mahiya told the Daily News that 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?

“In our Zanla camp, we knew Mugabe was our number one candidate followed by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Is he (Mphoko) refuting that arrangement when he was not part of our Zanla group?

“In any event, are we not allowed to discuss and speak about our history? What kind of a country is it where you are not allowed to discuss your history?” Mahiya asked, dismissing Mphoko’s treason claim as “a fruitless plot by the G40” camp.

HARARE - Jamaican musician Romain Virgo will grace Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe (Bofoz) at the pageant slated for September 17 at the Glamis Arena in Harare.

Bofoz is a pageant that seeks to identify a brand ambassador for Black Opal in Zimbabwe. The competition is open to Zimbabwean women aged 18 and above.

The 26-year-old lovers’ rock style of reggae music is best known for his rendition of international hit songs including Soul Provider, Stay with Me and others.

He confirmed the gig in a video clip, “Yes Zimbabwe this is Romain Virgo getting ready for Bofoz September 17, you cannot miss this one alright. Chipaz Promotion represents this one, I will be coming soon,” he said.

Bofoz spokesperson Tanaka Ngorora said they want to provide a dancehall- themed event.

“Black Opal is an international brand, hence the decision to engage international musicians.

“We finalised with Romain Virgo but are still in negotiations with another big name.

“Our intention is to have one musician who specialises in soft music and renditions, another more on the hard-core side.

“At Bofoz we run with different themes each year, we had African, Dress to Kill (Red Carpet), now it’s dancehall. Zimdancehall is big and it has been accepted by the entire population.

“On the local side, we are still in negotiations and Chipaz is doing that. He is highly competent in that field. Our main focus is on the entertainment side, it is going to be bigger than ever,” he said.

There will only be one winner this year who will walk away with $8 000. And one lucky voter will win a car. Entries for this year’s editions are closing on June 16.

“Also, one of the co-founders of the Black Opal brand is actually a lady from Jamaica who lives in America and established the brand specifically for darker skinned woman, but the brand is also set to grow beyond that,” said Tatenda Mutseyekwa Bofoz  marketing assistant.

Previous winners of the pageant include Betty Moyo (2013), Tendai Farai (2014) and Cynthia Mafume (2015).

The competition is open to any Zimbabwean woman older than 18 years and residing in Zimbabwe for at least the next two years.

HARARE - Former Zifa board member Edzai Kasinauyo is determined to clear his name after he was banned for 10 years from all football activities for his alleged involvement in the Warriors match-fixing scandal.

Zifa banned former officials Henrietta Rushwaya and Jonathan Musavengana for life while Kasinauyo and former Warriors coach Ian Gorowa were handed 10-year bans at last weekend’s Annual General Meeting which saw the birth of the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz).

Ex-Warriors assistant coach Nation Dube was handed a five-year ban while football agent Kudzi Shaba was cleared on any wrong doing.

It is alleged Rushwaya working together with Kasinauyo, Gorowa, Dube and Zifa’s key witness Leeroy Waguta tried to fix Zimbabwe’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group L qualifiers against Swaziland back in March.

Kasinauyo insists the sanctions handed out by the dissolved association last weekend are a travesty of justice since he was not afforded a chance to defend himself.

“I was so surprised to hear that I have been banned for 10 years. I was never called to any hearing and I’m actually waiting for that; then all of a sudden I read in the newspapers that I have been banned for 10 years,” Kasinauyo told the Daily News.

“It’s actually a surprise and at the same time my lawyers are still waiting for the written confirmation of this ban.

“I have never been called for any hearing. I’m actually waiting to attend any hearing if there is going to be any one.”

The former CAPS United and Moroka Swallows midfielder is aggrieved Zifa did not give him an opportunity to present his case before a competent disciplinary committee.

However, Nafaz legal representive Itayi Ndudzo said: “He (Kasinauyo) is completely misguided because due process was followed. There is an expulsion by congress in terms of article 34 which is what transpired.”

But Kasinauyo contends that it was un-procedural: “When Zifa began making these allegations they were saying they have got mountains of evidence against me; they said they have got e-mails, text messages and photos.

“If they have such evidence then they should not be afraid to call me for a hearing where they would easily convict me using their tonnes of evidence against me.

“It seems they are just in a hurry to bury this issue without giving me a chance to prove my innocence.”  

Kasinauyo, who now runs a sports goods retail entity, added: “As I have been saying since the beginning; I have never done anything wrong and I have never done things to defeat the progress of Zimbabwean football.

“What I have actually done is work hard to uplift Zimbabwean football. Even during my playing days; I used to give 100 percent and after retiring, I have pushed 100 percent for the development of local football.”

With Zifa dissolved, Kasinauyo said he is now working with his lawyers to see how he can lodge his appeal.

“Now with what is happening; it’s a pity that I can’t say much regarding the match fixing allegations because we have only read about it in the press,” he said.

“We also have got a court case and a lot of issues and at the moment, my lawyers are working to clear my name.

“They (lawyers) are working hard to see where and to whom we can appeal against this injustice.”

HARARE - Suspended Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni has approached the High Court again challenging Local Govenment minister Saviour Kasukuwere's decision to suspend him for the second time, within 24 hours of re-assuming duty.

The High Court initially gave an order, ruling that in terms of the law the minister was only empowered to suspend a mayor, but remove him from office through an independent tribunal that is supposed to look into the matter.

The matter, according to the law, was supposed to be heard within 45 days from his day of suspension.
However, Kasukuwere failed to set up the independent tribunal board, leading to Manyenyeni re-assuming duty.
Manyenyeni was, however, suspended within 24 hours of re-assuming duty, which prompted the current urgent High Court application.
The basis of his suspension is that he employed banker James Mushore as the town clerk without getting approval from the Local Government Board.
In his current High Court application in which he cited Kasukuwere and Attorney-General Prince Machaya as respondents, Manyenyeni argued that his suspension is “unlawful, void and of no force or effect”.
“There is no scope under Section 114 (1) of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) for a second suspension, whether on the same or different grounds, if the allegations founding the previous suspension were never determined by the independent tribunal contemplated under Section 278 of the Constitution,” Manyenyeni, who is represented by lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, said.
He argued that Kasukuwere was not entitled to re-suspend him after the lapse of the first suspension.
“If a minister invokes Section 114, he or she must follow it through. If he or she does not, and is overtaken by operation of law, he or she cannot re-suspend as he has purported to do. If that was so, to me, would have a ridiculous scenario, where a mayor is suspended, returned by law, suspended again, returned by law again, suspended a further time and so on. This is not permitted by Section 278,” he said.
Manyenyeni now seeks an order nullifying his suspension for the second time.
“The letter of re-suspension of the applicant (Manyenyeni) from the 1st respondent (Kasukuwere) dated 6 June, 2016 be and is hereby suspended. The applicant be and is hereby allowed to continue to carry out council business and receive allowances in line with his post of mayor.
“The 1st respondent be and is . . . hereby ordered to refrain from suspending, dismissing or engaging in any other activity with a view to removing applicant from the office of Mayor of Harare,” reads part of Manyenyeni’s demand.

HARARE - In yet another horror accident on Zimbabwe’s jungle roads, seven Dynamos Football Club supporters died on the spot along the Harare-Bulawayo highway yesterday when the minibus taxi they were travelling in burst a tyre and veered off the road before overturning at Battlefields.

The fans were travelling to Gweru where the Glamour Boys, Zimbabwe’s most successful and followed football club, was playing Chapungu in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Ascot Stadium.

Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the fatalities yesterday saying: “The accident occurred near Battlefields Police Station (before Kwekwe).
“As police, we are worried with people who are using tyres which are not roadworthy. We want to urge people to desist from this habit.”

Yesterday’s accident came exactly a week after 15 people perished along the Mutare-Chimanimani Road, following a head-on collision.

That crash occurred after another minibus taxi travelling from Mutare burst a tyre before colliding with a Nissan Caravan on its way from Marange.

Although Dynamos proceeded to play their match yesterday, club president Kenni Mubaiwa, board member Bernard Marriot and National Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz) president, Philip Chiyangwa, visited the accident scene.

“I’m very saddened because of this loss that has befallen the Dynamos family, at a time when football fans in general are still celebrating Zimbabwe’s qualification for the 2017 Afcon finals in Gabon.

?“We are now trying to get in touch with the families of the deceased and those injured to see how we can assist them in this difficult moment,” Chiyangwa said.

“This is a great loss to the Dynamos family. We were hoping they were going to be with us in Gweru to support the team.

“Their support was going to help the team get a good result and push us to try and win the championship back,” Mubaiwa said.

Motorists and commuters alike have increasingly become very fearful of using the country’s roads, with statistics from the Traffic and Safety Council of Zimbabwe indicating that at least five people die in vehicle accidents every day.

While many of the accidents are said to be a result of human error related to speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, the bad state of roads and faulty motor vehicles is also contributing to the carnage.

HARARE - Former Finance minister Tendai Biti is having a laugh but laced with a tinge of disappointment.

In 2010, during the inclusive government era, Biti suggested Zimbabwe join the Rand Monetary Union (RMU) as a way of adopting the South Africa Rand instead of using a basket of multiple currencies, including the US dollar.

The US dollar became the dominant currency on the Zimbabwean market but its elusiveness has nearly brought President Robert Mugabe’s government to its knees, prompting it to use unpopular means such as introducing bond notes, in a desperate attempt to arrest the cash crisis.

Biti this week told the Daily News on Sunday that it is too late to join the RMU or adopting the South African Rand.
“There are some who are now calling that we should join the Rand Monetary Union.

“In 2010, I moved that Zimbabwe should join the Rand Monetary Union and I was heavily opposed, ironically, by the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (Baz) among other groups but now I think it’s too late,” Biti told the Daily News on Sunday, exclusively.

“Now it’s no longer a solution because of the volatility of the South African Rand and also the disequilibrium of our own economy.  

“The current cash squeeze which has seen long queues forming at local banks on the back of pronouncements of introducing the bond notes, has led to suggestions that Mugabe’s administration must adopt the Rand as its major currency.

Baz, a professional and lobby group representing local bankers, has also waded into the Rand use debate.

Last week, its chairperson Charity Jinya told Parliament that government should explore the use of the Rand.

Jinya heads MBCA Bank, a subsidiary of Nedbak South Africa.
But Biti said Zimbabwe’s problems are too many to be exported into the RMU.

“The members of the RMU will not accept us because our economy has deteriorated so much” it would be like “the importation of Zimbabwe’s structural problems into the RMU.  

“And so they won’t accept unless we attend to certain structural problems.

“The underlying structure of the Zimbabwe economy is wrong, so whatever currency you use and change, it will be delegitimised by the structure of this economy and that’s why you need reform.

“It’s like a crook with a scar on his face it doesn’t matter what make-up you use, the scar remains the same.

“So deal with the fundamental problem of that structure. That is a problem we have it’s no longer a currency issue but a structural issue.

“So let’s reduce the cost structure and make it more competitive. So what needs devaluation is not the US dollar; what needs devaluation is the cost structure of Zimbabwe which is fundamentally skewed.” 

Biti’s successor Patrick Chinamasa has ruled out adopting the Rand while Mugabe has put the speculation on whether the bond notes are coming or not to bed by declaring there will be in circulation in October.

Most Zimbabweans, victims of Mugabe’s toxic and disastrous policies, have received with trepidation the announcement of bond notes introduction.

Although central bank governor John Mangudya has ruled out the immediate return of the Zimbabwe dollar, insisting conditions are not yet ripe for its re-introduction, there is palpable fear that Mugabe’s government will take back the country to the days of hyperinflation in 2008.

Millions of Zimbabweans sank into poverty while pensioners’ savings were wiped off as they were left to contend with the worthless local currency.

HARARE - With Zimbabwe's political and economic decline accelerating by the day, and President Robert Mugabe’s broke government continuing to battle to meet its obligations — including salaries for civil servants — economists say only the departure of the “financially illiterate” Zanu PF government from power can save the country from imploding completely.

In saying so, economists have now also joined growing calls for Mugabe and his party to step down from power in the interest of the country, following recent such pleas by opposition political parties, church leaders and ordinary Zimbabweans.

Veteran economist John Robertson was among those who told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that there was now only one “sure-fire solution” left for the country to come right again, and this was “a new political administration” in power.

“Clearly, they (Zanu PF) have absolutely no idea what they are doing. They now need to step down, as not much can be done or achieved in this country as long as they are in power.

“Even children will tell you that once an organisation fails to pay workers and its overhead expenses, it goes under. But as a country, we cannot afford to go under, so they need to go,” he said.

“We all know that this government is corrupt and broke. This is why the minister of Finance has been raiding Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe accounts because Mugabe has no financial discipline, which is why he made promises regarding bonuses that now can’t be kept,” another prominent economist Vincent Musewe said.

He said if the country had been a company, Mugabe would have long been booted out both for poor management and corporate governance.

“They have manufactured this crisis and must now resign, including Mugabe who must take full responsibility as the CEO of a broke Zimbabwe.

“Our government cannot honour any of its financial obligations,” Musewe said, adding that “the only solution to the country’s plight was immediate resignation on the part of government”.

Among the latest litany of embarrassments to befall Zimbabwe’s cash-strapped government are irregular pay dates for civil servants.

In addition, one of the most crucial branches of the State, the National Prosecuting Authority, is facing eviction from its offices over outstanding rentals to the tune of $434 000.

Over and above this, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa announced last week that outstanding bonus payments to some civil servants had been moved again, from June 3 to June 10 — with employees not receiving their 13th cheque at the close of business on Friday.

Chinamasa almost lost his job last year after he announced that the government was planning to suspend bonus disbursements until 2017 — utterances that saw a raging Mugabe humiliating his minister in public.

However, economic experts warn that Zimbabwe’s woes are set to worsen for the rest of this year, as more companies that pay badly-needed taxes to the government continue to close.

“I do not even see why we have to keep talking about this. They (Zanu PF) have failed. Because of their poor policies the banks are not giving people money and everyone is uneasy.

“We have more vendors on the streets than we have enough streets to accommodate all of them. Over 50 percent of companies have closed since 2013 and the few that are operational are operating on the brink of closure, so really, they need to go,” analyst Issis Mwale said.

According to the United Nations, the average Zimbabwean is living on about half a dollar a day — well below the poverty datum line — with many people in some cases going for days without food.

Zimbabwe has also been experiencing cash shortages in the past few months — reminiscent of the 2008 economic and political crisis — with depositors queuing for days at banks to get their little hard-earned money.

Church leaders have also recently added their voices to calls for Mugabe and Zanu PF to step down, to give the country an opportunity to revive its fortunes.

In unexpected statements that marked a radical ?departure from their quiet diplomacy towards local politics, the county’s churches also said Zimbabwe deserved leaders who had the interests of the people at heart.

Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHCD) said leadership renewal was crucial for the future of the country.

“We recommend that there be a leadership renewal across the board and for increased political accountability, as well as for the executive to adhere to the rule of law for the removal of political patronage and factionalism.

“The current political landscape in Zimbabwe is characterised by polarisation, intolerance to opposing political views and ideologies, intra and inter-party fighting and succession issues, further weakening the political discourse.

“Immediate steps need to be taken by the Executive to improve the economy, reduce poverty, improve international relations, reduce, repay and restructure debt, increase the capacity to borrow, support the informal sector and create genuine wealth,” ZHCD said.

HARARE - A convincing all-round display by a visiting second-string India cricket team swept aside Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the first match of the Killer Cup ODI series here yesterday.

The visitors captain MS Dhoni won the toss and sent in Zimbabwe to bat first and the locals seemed to have no answers to the youthful Indian bowling attack as they reached a paltry 168 all out inside 49.5 overs.

India reached the target with relative ease as they made a score of 173-1 inside 42.3 overs to draw first blood in the three-match series.

Debutant batsman KL Rahul was the star of the show with an assured batting display notching his maiden 100 from just 115 ?deliveries hitting seven boundaries and a single maximum.

The 24-year-old, also a wicketkeeper, was duly named man-of-the-match after starring in a 162-run unbroken second-wicket partnership with the experienced top-order batsman Ambati Rayudu.

Rayudu, who is one of the more senior players in the squad with 32 ODIs under his belt, finished unbeaten on 62 from 120 deliveries.

Seamer Tendai Chatara picked Zimbabwe’s only wicket when he dismissed opener Kuran Nair for seven in the fifth over.

The locals were playing in only their first bilateral series since the ICC World T20 debacle in India where they failed to reach the main draw after being eliminated by Associate side Afghanistan.

Earlier in the day, the youthful Indian quicks made instant inroads with medium seamer Barinder Sran trapping Zimbabwe opener PJ Moor lbw for just three runs on the last ball of the second over.

Left-arm seamer Jasprit Bumrah, 22, and playing in only his fourth ODI since making his debut in January against Australia in Perth, was the pick of the Indian bowlers with four wickets for 28 runs from 9.5 overs.

Fellow seamers Dhawal Kulkarni and Sran picked up two wickets apiece for identical 42 runs from 10 overs each.

Former captain Hamilton Masakadza perished for 14 in the ninth over.

Chamu Chibhabha (13), Vusi Sibanda (5) and Craig Ervine (21) all departed without giving a spirited fight.

Elton Chigumbura (41) top-scored for the locals batting at number seven while Sikandar Raza (23) in at six summed up Zimbabwe’s struggles with the bat.

Zimbabwe interim captain Graeme Cremer admitted his batsman did not come to party yesterday.

“We didn’t get enough runs; maybe if we would have 220, it could have been a different story,” Cremer said.

“We lost a couple of wickets to good balls, but few of the guys didn’t kick on after getting 20s and 30s. Indian batsmen showed how easy batting can get once you get in. Our seamers bowled well but it just didn’t go our way. We know we are much better than that and we can hopefully win the next game to make the third ODI a final.”

Dhoni, who played an inspiring role to this youthful Indian side, was pleased with his team’s performance.

“It was a very good performance. I felt the fast bowlers did well, and were backed by the spinners even though there wasn’t much help for them,” he said.

“A win first up is important in a three-game series.

“The batsmen did a very good job but the bowlers laid the ground work.”

The second ODI is scheduled for tomorrow at the same venue.

HARARE - Dynamos dedicated their hard-fought 2-1 win over Chapungu in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Ascot Stadium to their supporters who passed away in a road accident on their way to Gweru.

Seven supporters died when the vehicle they were travelling in burst its front tyre and overturned at Battlefields just before Kwekwe.

Among those injured was an aunt to DeMbare forward King Nasama, who scored the winning goal during yesterday’s match.

“We want to dedicate this win to our supporters who died in the accident. It’s sad when lives are lost in such a manner,” Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa said after the win.

Chapungu had taken an early lead when Hillary Mugoniwa’s cross-cum-shot fooled Dynamos goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga after only eight minutes.

However, Dynamos were not affected by conceding early as they probed the Chapungu defence.

The Harare giants turned around the match in a space of three minutes with two quick goals that caught out the Air Force of Zimbabwe side cold.

Masimba Mambare equalised for the Glamour Boys on 20 minutes when he headed home a free kick taken by Godknows Murwira.

Dynamos won a free kick on the left and Murwira sent in a cross which the Chapungu defence failed to clear allowing Mambare to score with a diving header.

Three minutes later, Nasama headed home what proved to be the winning goal from an Ocean Mushure cross.

From there on, the youthful Dynamos trio of Nasama, Kudzanayi Nyakasaka and Brett Amidu continued to threaten the Chapungu defence but they failed to add to their sides lead.

Chapungu upped their game in the second with Ngoni Murisa, who came on for Cleopas Kapupurika at halftime, stabilising the midfield together with veteran Tafadzwa Mombeshora.

The airmen fought hard but their script remained the same for their home matches as they failed to find an equaliser.

After the match, Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino said: “We conceded soft goal; we went to sleep for those three minutes otherwise it’s one of those games which we should have won.”

HARARE - Defender Elisha Muroiwa scored with a spectacular overhead kick to rescue a point for the Warriors in their Cosafa Castle Cup Group A opening match against Swaziland in Namibia yesterday.

Sihlangu looked set to collect maximum points, courtesy of a brace by Felix Badenhorst, but the Dynamos defender stepped up with 12 minutes to go to keep the Warriors alive in the group.

With only the group winners progressing to the quarter-finals, a defeat for Kalisto Pasuwa’s men in the opening match would have been disastrous.

Now the Warriors need to convincingly beat Madagascar tomorrow night and Seychelles in their final group game on Wednesday to reach the last eight.

Sihlangu enjoyed a frantic start to the game as they had the Warriors on the back foot from the first whistle.

Warriors goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the early stages and it was no surprise when Swaziland took the lead after only 16 minutes.

Sihlangu defender Sifiso Mabila sent what looked like a ponderous cross into the Zimbabwe box and Badenhorst arrived at the back post to punish the static Warriors defence.

Hardlife Zvirekwi should have tracked Badenhorst’s run but the big forward was allowed free space to head across Mukuruva to give his side the lead.

Sihlangu continued to press the Warriors in their own half but they could not find a way past Mukuruva, who was having an inspired afternoon.

In the second period, the Warriors were a much better side as they began to ask more questions of the Sihlangu defence.

Zimbabwe were back on level terms 11 minutes after the breakthrough forward Obadiah Tarumbwa’s header. The goal was exactly a carbon copy of the Swaziland opener.

Winger Marshal Mudehwe sent in a cross from the left into the box where Tarumbwa had wheeled away from his marker to head the Warriors level.

From there on, the match was now an open affair with both sides throwing men forward to find a winning goal.

Sihlangu were given a great chance to take the lead when Warriors captain Danny Phiri handled inside the box.

Badenhorst made no mistake from the spot kick as he sent Mukuruva the wrong way from 12 yards out.

The onus was now on the Warriors to look for an equaliser and they began pushing more men forward.

Sihlangu remained dangerous on the break and they wasted a number of chances to increase their lead.

They were made to pay for those misses when a Tarumbwa free kick caused all kinds of problems in the Swaziland box.

With the ball bubbling up in the air, Muroiwa and Ronald Pfumbidzai went for the same ball with their backs to goal.

Muroiwa got the all important contact to equalise for the Warriors.

PARIS - The French government has urged cities hosting Euro 2016 matches to ban alcohol near venues and fan zones.

It follows three days of clashes between fans and police in Marseille.

Uefa is investigating after Russia supporters appeared to rush at England fans in the stadium after their draw on Saturday. It has threatened to ban both teams if there is further fan violence.

The UK government has offered to send extra British police ahead of England's next match in Lens on Thursday.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said: "I have asked for all necessary measures to be taken to prohibit the sale, consumption and transport of alcoholic drinks in sensitive areas on match days and the day before, and on days when fan zones are open."

The ban will include public areas, as well as shops and off-licences, Mr Cazeneuve said.

Senior local officials can also ban bars and cafes from serving drinks on their terraces in containers that can be used as missiles.

"The events which took place in Marseille... are unacceptable. Unacceptable for the authorities, unacceptable for society, unacceptable for football lovers," Mr Cazeneuve said.

LAGOS - The Nigerian Army on Sunday denied allegations that those affected by the recent retirement exercise it embarked upon were deliberately pooled from a section of the country to further advance a ‘northern agenda’, describing the reports as “unfair and unethical.”

The Army had come under fierce criticism following claims that senior army officers were compelled to retire because they were from the south of Nigeria and loyal to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The allegations, which came overwhelmingly from commentators in the southern part of the country, said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the exercise in order to purge southerners from the top hierarchy of the military while replacing them with northerners.

But in a statement issued late Sunday by its acting director of public relations, Sani Usman, the Nigerian Army pushed back against the attacks, saying the exercise was carried out in strict compliance with the country’s extant laws.

“The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to speculations and rumours regarding the number and names of the senior Army officers affected in the recent retirement exercise.

“This is worrisome as some individuals and media houses went to the ridiculous extent of publishing outrageous figures and names of serving officers as being retired. This is unethical and unfair.

“We are quite aware that some mischievous elements are trying to whip up sentiments. This is quite unfortunate because all the affected officers were retired based on Service exigencies and in line with the Armed Forces Act, CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004,” the Army said.

The statement did not specify the section of that law the Army relied on to compulsorily retire the officers.

Mr. Sani, a colonel, also gave a breakdown of the affected officers by ranks.

“We wish to state that only 38 senior officers were affected by the retirement exercise.

“For the avoidance of doubt the following is the statistics of the officers retired compulsorily; 9 Major Generals, 10 Brigadier Generals, 7 Colonels, 11 Lieutenant Colonels and a Major.”

When asked to provide a state-by-state breakdown of the affected officers, Mr. Sani told PREMIUM TIMES it was not in the interest of the country to do so, saying the Nigerian Army does not thrive on unnecessary sentiments.

“The Army does not thrive on that. These people were retired strictly in accordance with the dictates of the Armed Forces Act and not based on ethnic or tribal consideration. The context of the law is what the people should look at,” Mr. Sani said.

The Army had on June 10 announced the retirement of some of the officers for being allegedly partisan during the 2015 General Elections.

“Similarly, the investigation by the Presidential Committee investigating Defence Contracts revealed a lot,” the statement said. “Some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). People should therefore not read this out of context.

“The military must remain apolitical and professional at all times.”

HARARE - Civic organisations have called upon Parliament to exercise its legislative and oversight powers derived from the Constitution to reject the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill which they say leaves intact the powers of central government to issue directives to local authorities, to suspend mayors and councillors and to appoint caretakers to assume the running of councils.

Ministry of Local Government developed the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill, which it has cynically claimed is part of the process of aligning local government legislation with the Constitution.

But Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ), Combined Harare Residents Association (Chra) and Chitungwiza Residents Trust (Chitrest) want Parliament to direct the Local Government ministry so it ensures a comprehensive alignment of local government laws and not the piecemeal approach as proposed by the Bill, 2016.

The organisations believe the proposed Bill should not be passed into law as it is ultra vires the Constitution as they allege government has developed the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill with the intention, not to align the laws with the Constitution, but, on the contrary, to restore ministerial powers which the Constitution has abolished.

CCDZ executive director Phillip Pasirayi said: “The sole stated purpose of the Bill is to establish the so-called ‘Independent Tribunal’ for the removal of elected mayors, chairpersons and councillors from office, but in so doing, it makes no attempt to ensure that its provisions in this regard are in accord with constitutional imperatives.

“The Bill violates constitutional provisions relating to the devolution of local governance, the right to a fair trial and the right to administrative justice. Furthermore, the tribunal to be established is not independent as section 278(2) of the Constitution requires.”

Pasirayi said the manner in which the tribunal is to be composed and function, makes it clear that the purpose of the Bill is to create a tribunal which will merely be an instrument by which the Local Government minister continues to ensure the removal, from office — of mayors, chairpersons and councillors.

“The Local Government Laws Amendment Bill which proposes to establish an Independent Tribunal has been as a result of High Court judgments which were passed on the suspensions of Gweru and Harare mayors.

“Both judgments cited that there is need for an Act of Parliament which allows an independent tribunal to dismiss the mayors and councillors.”

Chra chairperson Simbarashe Moyo said the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill proposed by the ministry seeks to entrench Executive control over local government.

“The Bill retains ‘imperial’ powers vested in the minister of Local Government to dismiss democratically elected councillors and mayors.

“There is micromanagement of the affairs of councils by the Local Government minister, for instance the suspension of the mayor of Gweru and the Gweru City Council as well as the mayor of Harare.

“However, government has identified and anticipated a difficulty in continuing this modus operandi in section 278 of the Constitution.

“The new Constitution, precisely to prevent the dismissal of democratically elected mayors and councillors by central government, provides that the removal of such persons from office can only take place on specified grounds, adjudicated upon by an Independent Tribunal —thus limiting the powers of the minister.”

Moyo said to attend to this problem; the government has developed a Local Authorities Bill, which it has cynically claimed is part of the process of aligning local government legislation with the new Constitution.

“The Bill makes no attempt to align the Urban Councils Act and Rural District Councils Act with the Constitution.

“It leaves intact the powers of central government (particularly the minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing) to issue directives to local authorities; to suspend mayors and councillors; to appoint caretakers to assume the running of Councils; and to veto Council resolutions.”

Marvelous Kumalo, director of Chitrest said while the Local Government Laws Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Urban Councils Act and the Rural District Councils Act, in actual fact the minister’s intention is to entrench his powers to control local authorities.

“The existing local government laws are ultra vires the Constitution. The continued use of old legislation is unconstitutional.

“Chitrest thereby calls upon Parliament, as people’s representatives, to ensure that any proposed local government legislation fulfils the following principles that are spelled out in Chapter 14 (Provincial and Local Government) of the Constitution:  devolution of power to local authorities, provincial and metropolitan councils;  enhancing citizen participation in local governance;  promoting democratic, effective, transparent, accountable and coherent local government in Zimbabwe; and recognising the right of communities to manage their own affairs and to promote peace, national unity and development.”

HARARE - Suspended Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni actually advised Harare Sunshine Holdings (HSH) of an audit that was to be conducted on the city’s wholly-owned companies and joint ventures as requested by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere, the Daily News has learnt.

Manyenyeni was on Tuesday last week suspended by the then acting Local Government minister Jonathan Moyo on allegations of failing to deal with corruption at HSH’s various entities as directed by the ministry.

In the suspension letter, Manyenyeni was accused of having failed to engage forensic auditors to produce a report on operations at Easipark and City Parking and other council-owned companies as directed by the ministry.

The companies that were to be investigated under the audit include Easipark, City Parking, Sunshine Meats, Mabvazuva Village, Shawasha Business Complex, High Glen Textile Factory, Pearl City, CC City and Sunshine Development.

Documents seen by the Daily News show that Manyenyeni actually advised HSH board chairperson Percy Toriro of the need for an audit.

In a letter dated April 8, Manyenyeni advised that, after Kasukuwere’s directive, council had written to the auditor-general Mildred Chiri on September 21, 2015 seeking guidance on the appointment of auditors.

Pursuant to their request, Chiri advised council on January 25, 2016 that Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) were the successful tenderers for the job.

The terms of reference for PWC were set out by Chiri in consultation with the Local Government ministry and comprised arrangements to ascertain relevance of agreements or contracts entered into enhancing the value of business.

Manyenyeni advised that as the audit would begin on April 11, PWC had requested for information pertaining to their work by April 8.

“Please be further advised that I expect full cooperation from Harare Sunshine Holdings and its subsidiary companies and joint venture companies when the audit commences on 11 April 2016. The auditors should be allowed access to all the information and records they need from all entities to be audited during the audit,” Manyenyeni said.

A departmental memorandum to the audit committee chairperson Peter Moyo from the acting town clerk Josephine Ncube dated May 26 showed that Toriro had assured Manyenyeni of compliance with the ministerial directive, however, he retracted his assurance on April 11.

The memo stated that on the day the assurance was retracted (April 11), a meeting between the auditors, council and HSH was held, however, no representative of the latter was present.

According to the memo PWC in consultation with Ncube suspended their audit on April 20.

“The board made the following observations on the matter; that the committee did not understand the motive of the audit.

“The committee is not sure whether the minister was made aware that City Parking has been subject to annual statutory audits and that NECI had conducted an audit after the minister had issued his directive for the pending audit,” said Toriro.

“That there is no council resolution to support the audit. That the joint venture parties should be consulted as they are independent of council authority.

“That HSH has nothing to do with most of the entities cited for audit since they are at the stage of drafting agreements whose responsibility lies with Harare City Council,” read part of the memo.

HARARE - Outspoken former Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairperson Temba Mliswa says it is high time the country’s youths rise up and liberate Zimbabwe from the present problems that he said cannot be solved by President Robert Mugabe.

Speaking to members of his Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (Yard) in Harare recently,  the former Hurungwe West MP said youths have gone to sleep while the older generation has been making disastrous decisions which affect them adversely.

“We want to have a police commissioner or an army commander who is 32 years,…(former Vice President Joice) Mujuru was a minister when she was only 25, but for now we don’t have a minister in that age range, this is because youths are not participating in decision-making processes.

“The likes of (Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, Constantine) Chiwenga  and Shiri (Air force chief Perance) went to war when they were 16 years old.

“But our struggle is not about war, the war has been fought and enough blood has been spilled, the struggle we have to fight is to equally liberate those that went to war to liberate this country, we need to liberate them economically. Because when it comes to economics they are not there and who can liberate them... you”.

Mliswa said youths must confront Zanu PF head-on to claim their space.

“People fear Zanu PF. Our mothers and fathers do not want to question Zanu PF when it goes wrong, but your generations must remove that fear.”

“The only opposition party which Zanu PF is currently facing is the economy.

“I am not saying opposition parties are not doing well. The MDC is doing something, they managed to demonstrate against the Zanu PF misrule.

Mliswa added, “As Yard we want to spread our wings to ward levels, we want to have demonstrations in various wards.”

“We don’t need a book or a constitution to tell us that people are suffering and we also don’t need anyone to tell us that we must act on this current situation.

“Most youths don’t understand even the Constitution, everyone has the right to criticise the president because of the office he holds but not to insult him, and the executive must be brought to account.

“Look at South Africa, the president, Jacob Zuma is facing criminal charges from the young generation in Parliament. We can also do that.”

HARARE - Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo lept to the defence of President Robert Mugabe, who has been under criticism for threatening to crush war veterans loyal to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Writing on his twitter account, Moyo said Mugabe’s stance is not bad considering that they threatened bloodshed if their preferred candidate did not become the party’s next president.

“It’s illegal for groups that are armed or are linked to arms to threaten bloodshed to achieve a political end,” Moyo twitted.

While some have been saying Mugabe’s threats to crush war veterans in similar manner to the way he dealt with dissidents in the 1980s invoke Gukurahundi memories, the former government spin-doctor thinks otherwise.

“Did ... Mugabe threaten a 2nd Gukurahundi as alleged by political arsonists? No! No!

“... Mugabe warned dissident war vets on bloodshed threats but didn’t warn their supporters or any civilian. The tendency by political arsonists to abuse Gukurahundi for opportunistic political purposes is very hurtful to Gukurahundi victims.

“The evil of Gukurahundi was the brutalisation of the civilian population seen as supporters (of) armed dissidents. What’s sad here is the failure by self-righteous do-gooders to condemn threats by some war vets to spill blood.”

Addressing a Zanu PF central committee meeting last week, Mugabe described the move by Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) as tantamount to a rebellion.

“The ZNLWVA 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 dissent 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.

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HARARE - Despite growing calls for him to step down in the wake of an unprecedented economic crisis characterised by cash shortages and his now visible frailties, President Robert Mugabe told his backers last week that he will soon launch his campaign for the 2018 presidential elections anytime from now.

Addressing the Zanu PF central committee meeting last week, Mugabe challenged the party members to warm-up for the 2018 election saying the current problems which include the cash crisis are “temporary”.

“…as we drift closer and closer to elections, we must take full stock of our structures ensuring that our people stay ready and mobilised.

“Above all, the party must be in the lead in addressing the needs of our people. The youth recently made known their expectations, the war veterans whose families must be supported.

“Cash shortages are being faced across the board by our people who cannot easily access their savings or earnings. You might have deposited money in the bank, you have savings in the bank, but there is no money. But this is a temporary problem which should be behind us soon, sooner rather than later,” the frail looking Mugabe said.

Many of Mugabe’s former party cadres have in the past described him as a man obsessed with power, adding that he is creating his own dynasty.

Being the only leader that Zimbabwe has known for the past 36 years, Mugabe is even bracing to contest the 2018 elections at 94 years old, despite having been accused of running down the economy, through policy inconsistency and the controversial land reform programme, which observers said was meant to prolong his hold on power.

However, during the central committee meeting, Mugabe promised that he will soon visit all the country’s provinces to make sure that the party is ready for the 2018 elections.

“Now we, at the headquarters, would want to see that achievement of so many people registered, so many people with membership cards also making their subscriptions.

“So, VaMphoko (Vice President Phelekezela) vanenge vakagaririra kuno. You can’t say you have a hundred thousand members when you registered two each one having a membership card.

“Where is the proof of subscription? So, we will have to have an auditing system. So, when I visit the provinces as I said I shall, that is also one aspect I will look at. At the province we should be sufficiently computerised.”

Mugabe dismissed the opposition parties grand coalition saying it will be just a grouping of failures.

“So, let us have parties which are genuinely in existence and not just mere assumptions.  Let us not be put into sixes and sevens by the opposition which is writing nonsense all the time of my wife or People First.

“The likes of  (People’s Democratic Party president Tendai ) Biti are claiming coalitions which are coalitions still in the air and never concretised…, but it doesn’t matter — all can come together, all of them bundled together.

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“Zanu PF is saying group, in a matter in which we desire, we give you just one of these (showing clenched fist).

“I hope we are building that one huge fist which will settle firmly once again all the little party organisations. I hope our preparations will be a success today.”

For the past 36 years, Mugabe has been blamed for putting more energy into consolidating his grip on political power, leaving the economy burning.

He has been accused of being selfish at the expense of the general populace.

Despite a visibly-waning popularity, Mugabe maintains he is still loved by the people and that he will govern until “God says come”.

And if there is anything that he has managed to achieve since he took over power; it is to instil fear in citizens and the use of violence to cow and crush every pocket of resistance, opponents contend.

Amid these governing principles, Mugabe has been accused of stomping on people’s constitutional rights. However, as the growing injustices continue taking toll on the hapless citizens who        have seen it all over the past years, they are now taking to the streets to register their disgruntlement.

Only recently, church leaders took to the streets to demonstrate against government’s national pledge, which compels children to salute the national flag and recite a pledge of patriotism.

The church leaders argued that the pledge is against their Christian beliefs and must be dropped immediately.

On the other hand, the National Railways of Zimbabwe workers, who have been going for months without salaries, have been demonstrating.

Many are resorting to social media to campaign against Mugabe and his government over its failures to bring meaningful change to people’s lives.

HARARE - The long-running feud between Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and disaffected war veterans loyal to his embattled counterpart, VP Emmerson Mnangagwa, has now hit an all-time low, with one freedom fighter telling the Daily News yesterday that they were now “officially at war” with him.

At the same time, other former freedom fighters who are operating outside the ruling Zanu PF say they “regret having plucked (President Robert) Mugabe from obscurity” to be their leader — adding that he was now allegedly “so drunk with power that he wants to succeed himself”.

The battle of attrition between Mphoko and the main faction of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has been raging on for months, with the group’s members passing an unprecedented stunning vote of no confidence in the VP earlier this year.

So bad and fraught has the relationship become, that the war veterans claim that Mugabe’s furious outburst against them on Friday was allegedly “at the instigation” of Mphoko who had earlier in the week accused them of engaging in treasonous activities by endorsing Mnangagwa as their preferred successor to Mugabe.

It was also reported at the weekend that Mphoko had allegedly presented a report to Mugabe last week in which ZNLWVA chairperson Christopher Mutsvangwa, secretary general Victor Matemadanda and spokesperson Douglas Mahiya were described as threats to national stability.

“When we said that Mphoko was an accomplished war deserter all along, some people thought that we were being unfair to him. Now, it’s all in the open and everyone can see him for what he is. We are now officially at war with him, and he has no one to blame but himself. He is going down,” one of the war veterans, who spoke to the Daily News yesterday, said.

In the meantime, war veteran Parker Chipoyera — who is now among the senior ex-combatants in former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party, reiterated yesterday that were it not for freedom fighters “Mugabe would not be the president now”.

This follows Mugabe’s threat last week to deal ruthlessly with all war veterans who are pushing for the ascendancy of Mnangagwa to the throne.

Chipoyera, whose real name is Bernard Manyadza, also told the Daily News that Mugabe was now “no longer fit to continue as the country’s president”.

“He is no longer suitable to govern. Chaanogona kutaura chirungu asi kutungamira nyika nekumanager economy haagone (He is only good at speaking English but is clueless about running the country and managing the economy).

“Izvozvi muhomwe mangu hamuna mari asi mwana wake akanosunungukira kuSingapore (as we speak I do not have a cent in my pocket but Mugabe’s daughter went all the way to Singapore to give birth there),” he said.

The forthright Chipoyera also said Mugabe was “so obsessed with power and wants to crush anybody who opposes him”.

“Kudhakwa nemasimba (He is now drunk with power). He is not qualified to be the country’s president anymore. That is why the comrades (war veterans) are saying let us find an alternative. He now has the king mentality. This is a democratic country and that is why it is called a republic,” he said.

He added that there was “no democracy in Zanu PF and that anybody who dares to challenge that is labelled a dissident”.

Chipoyera’s sentiments came after Mugabe said war veterans must not bully the ruling party and impose on it who should take over from him.

“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 dissidents 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,” Mugabe thundered.

However, Chipoyera said Mugabe had “forgotten that it was the people who saved him and pushed him to be in his position”.

“Macomrades akarwa kuti abude mujeri muna1974 (war veterans fought hard for him to be released from prison in 1974),” he said, adding that Mugabe had much to be grateful for, for freedom fighters accepting to be led by him.

Chipoyera also said that the threat against the war veterans was “synonymous with the Gukurahundi era” where an estimated 20 000 innocent civilians were killed mainly in Matabeleland and the Midlands — all because “Mugabe did not want to work with others”.

“You (Mugabe) want one centre of power and now want to use the scorched-earth policy to crush the comrades. We all know that the campaign which led to the killing of the 20 000 innocent civilians in the 1980s that were called dissidents was only led by less than 100 people.

“That is the same trick that is being used now. That’s outrageous. Who are you (Mugabe) targeting, because the comrades are the ones who took you from jail. You are who you are because of the war veterans.

“You go to Singapore to get treatment and your daughter flew over 8 000 kilometres to give birth in a foreign land, but the comrades are giving birth in their homes,” the emotional Chipoyera charged.

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