HARARE - Former vice president and now leader of the Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), Joice Mujuru, is finally hitting the campaign trail ahead of the much-anticipated 2018 national elections — beginning with a star rally scheduled for Stanley Square in Bulawayo on Saturday.
Her buoyant spokesperson, Gift Nyandoro, told the Daily News yesterday that the popular widow of the revered late liberation struggle icon, General Solomon Mujuru, had now completed putting together a comprehensive and countrywide political programme, as she bids to become Zimbabwe’s first female leader by removing President Robert Mugabe from power in two years’ time.
He said the programme included “the mother of the nation” meeting her supporters around the country and “offering practical solutions to the myriad economic challenges that Zimbabwe is facing”.
“The mother of the nation will make her maiden appearance before the nation as leader of ZPF on Saturday where she will address supporters at Stanley Square in Bulawayo.
“It’s at that venue that Zimbabweans will get solutions from the future president of the country to all the issues relating to their suffering, including the cash crisis, shortage of medicines in hospitals and the unacceptably high unemployment rate among many other pressing issues,” Nyandoro said.
By moving to officially launch her campaign, Mujuru has now snuffed discordant voices within her fledgling party, as well as snide remarks by her political competitors that ZPF had suffered a stillbirth because she was reluctant to take Mugabe head-on for a number of reasons — including a supposed fear of being arrested on untested allegations of corruption, that was allegedly committed while she was in government.
Mujuru was hounded out of Zanu PF and the government in December 2014 on dubious charges of plotting to oust from power and assassinate Mugabe.
She had appeared to give grist to rumours that she had no appetite to tangle with Mugabe by going into hibernation soon after launching ZPF early this year — and also failing to conduct a single public meeting since then.
But Nyandoro retorted yesterday that the allegations that she had developed cold feet were being peddled by Mugabe and Zanu PF party as an act of self-preservation by the ruling party.
“Let me state quite categorically that such Machiavellian political tactics will not work, because Mujuru is absolutely determined to rescue long-suffering Zimbabweans from Zanu PF”.
“From Bulawayo, the president (Mujuru) will address a rally in Harare before she heads to Masvingo and Manicaland, and then the rest of the length and breadth of the country, laying out her vision and giving policy direction on how ZPF, the only solution there is in the country, will extricate Zimbabweans from the Zanu PF-induced suffering.
“We know that Zanu PF has devised a strategy to infiltrate us and derail our progress to make sure that the party does not see the light of day but they have since failed because we are on a roll.
“The party is much stronger and intact than ever before now, and we are expecting tens of thousands of supporters to throng Stanley Square.
“We also invite all supporters of the opposition party in waiting, Zanu PF, who face an uncertain future because of the ugly succession fights in the party to come and hear the future president speaking,” Nyandoro said.
He also moved to dispel recent media reports that there was growing disharmony in ZPF and that some of her supporters who had come from Zanu PF were ditching her for the former liberation movement.
“If you are talking about reports that there is one of our members by the name Jim Kunaka, who has supposedly left us, then to be honest with you, I am shocked because when I checked with our data base we don’t have anyone with such a name.
“Maybe it could be that Kunaka, who led the notorious Chipangano in Zanu PF, may have tried to join ZPF only to realise that the party was not for those whose hands were dripping with blood, and then left before being given a membership card.
“Concerning reports that the party was sidelining its elders Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa, again that is unfounded because you have never heard them complaining about that.
“We value our elders so much for their wisdom and they are the ones who give the party inspiration,” Nyandoro said.
By firmly signalling her desire to compete for the leadership of the country in 2018, Mujuru is now set to do battle with Mugabe, who is Zanu PF’s presidential candidate, as well as indefatigable opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in those much-awaited polls.
But how things will eventually pan out then is hard to tell at this point, given the growing calls for her and Tsvangirai to join hands and take on Mugabe and Zanu PF together.
When Mujuru was previously asked if she would consider working with Tsvangirai, she indicated then that she was more than willing to do so — a sentiment that is shared by the MDC president.
This possibility has caused visible anxiety within Zanu PF which is ravaged by its seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars that have seen embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa come under increasing pressure — amid ruling party fears that the grand coalition could spell doom for Mugabe and his minions.
NAIROBI - An unknown gang reportedly broke into a Catholic church in Kenya and made off with offerings on Sunday night.
According to Nairobi News, the incident took place on Sunday evening in Meru County, some 200km north east of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
The gang attacked St Joseph Chuka Catholic Church around midnight, local time. Nuns at the convent suspected that it was an inside job.
Sister Jacinta Gakii was quoted as saying that she had heard a big bang after the thieves broke a door into the convent around midnight, and that she screamed for help.
She said a second nun, who was responding to the distress call, was grabbed by the gang and ordered to take them to the priest’s house, where they made off with the day's offerings.
It was estimated that the gang made away with about KES 16 000, collected during the day, Kenya County News reported.
Area Police Commander Beatrice Karaguri confirmed the incident and said that no one was injured. She noted that the incident must have been well planned because a window at the priest’s house was marked.
In late December 2015, The Star reported that two people were arrested for allegedly breaking into a church and stealing a KES 6 500 offering in Nyangusu town, Kisii county.
Police said that the "notorious thieves" also stole a generator, regulator, baptism cards, a radio, clothes and a bag of maize from the church.
HARARE - Cash-strapped State hospitals are routinely detaining patients to press family members and friends to pay up — sending a message to poor people to stay away.
In government-run hospitals, there should be provisions meant to waive the bills for the poorest patients, but the policy is rarely applied properly — even in the case of a child dying.
We quote the deputy Health minister Aldrin Musiiwa promising to take action against hospital administrations who detain patients for failing to pay hospital fees.
The deputy minister apologised on behalf of government for the actions that some State hospitals were taking against patients.
During a parliamentary session he expressed sympathy for the detained patients — but also for the hospitals.
He said it was an inhuman situation for mothers to be detained but also absolutely out of order for a patient to be treated and expect not to pay their medical bill.
We applaud the minister because this policy is illegal, unnecessary, nonsensical and there is no way that many of these patients, mostly women, can settle their bills. It’s a government working against its people.
These detentions are a form of psychological torture.
While we applaud the deputy minister, government must conduct an investigation into the detention of patients.
Conditions under detention include overcrowding, insufficient food and water, and withholding of further medical treatment.
Mechanisms designed to exempt or reimburse the health fees of low-income and indigent people are clearly failing to protect patients from being detained.
The detention of patients is a clear violation of rights established under international law, including the right not to be arbitrarily detained or detained as debtors and the right to accessible healthcare.
And by the way, what happened to the policy aggressively pushed by then deputy prime minister Thokozani Khupe during the inclusive government to abolish user fees for women giving birth and for children?
We need to revisit that noble policy, especially in light of the worsening economic hardship in the country.
We know hospitals are run as a business and also as a social service, and must be self-sustaining given the funding shortfall blighting government.
Yes, at the end of the day, the employer must pay the health workers and other staff of the hospital apart from paying for the consumables procured to save the life of that patient. But ordinarily, it is not right to detain patients.
EDITOR — I write in response to your last week article titled Churches call on Mugabe to resign . This is a move in the right direction by the churches as previously the media was always coming up with programmes that criticised the Church for being involved in politics.
The unexpected statements by the Church marks a radical departure from their usual quiet diplomacy towards local politics.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) and the influential Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) among others said Zimbabwe deserved leaders who had the interests of the people at heart. This is true and right to the point.
The Church should be extremely concerned by the country’s deteriorating economic conditions, characterised by a biting cash shortage, food price increases and rising unemployment.
The Church represents the voice of the people, especially the poor and the marginalised.
The church has the right to freedom of expression as is recognised and protected by human rights under the Constitution and various international human instruments to which Zimbabwe is a State party to.
The Constitution, states that everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference and everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression.
In my view, the Church should engage in politics. I am convinced that God is calling more clergymen into politics.
The political office is a proper place to do public theology and enlarge the ministry to benefit the Church and the community they serve.
Civic engagement makes it ever more important that our country should figure out, how to mix religion and politics in a way that respects constitutional principles and democratic values.
The word “Church” is the same as “Ecclesia” and this is a “political” word.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu said in the thick of the battle against apartheid, “When people say that the Bible and politics don’t mix, I ask them which Bible they are reading.” In the Old Testament, we see Daniel and Joseph serving God in the office of the “president”.
HARARE - RioZim chairman Lovemore Chihota has come under fire from the company’s shareholders and other interested stakeholders for misleading the nation on the Murowa Diamonds (Murowa) deal.
Chihota told the country that global resources firm Rio Tinto, which operated in Zimbabwe for close to 60 years, disposed its 78 percent shareholding in Murowa to RioZim but latest information shows that the stake was bought for a paltry $19 million by a British national Harpal Randhawa, owner of RZ Murowa Holdings.
Shareholders who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said Chihota was aware of the fact that Randhawa, the principal behind GEM RioZim, the largest shareholder in RioZim, negotiated the deal for himself at the expense of other shareholders.
At the time of Murowa sale, Chihota said RioZim was “committed to running this company better than how we found it.
“There’s no reason why we should fail to run these things for the betterment of our people” giving the impression that RioZim was now the majority shareholder in the Zvishavane-based mine.
“Chihota, who was Mines minister Walter Chidakwa’s chairman at the Zimbabwe Investment Centre, used his relationship with the minister to hoodwink the nation.
“He single-handedly assured Randhawa that RZ Murowa would not be subjected to indigenisation regulations,” sources knowledgeable about events at RioZim said.
Zimbabwe’s indigenisation laws, which came into effect in 2008, force foreign-owned firms to cede 51 percent of their shareholding to locals.
Sources also said local construction firm, Tarcon, was forced to cease operations at Murowa when Randhawa assumed control of the diamond mine.
“Tarcon was the largest contractor at Murowa for close to eight years and despite having signed long contracts to continue mining on behalf of Murowa, the contract was immediately stopped without any meaningful explanations,” former Tarcon employees said.
Although RioZim claims that the mine was closed for nine months in 2015 due to lack of capital, information at hand shows that Murowa had stockpiles of diamond ore during that period, a move that was aimed at making Randhawa a lifesaver, shareholders say.
Unveiling new mining equipment at Murowa in November last year, Chihota said RioZim had invested $60 million as part of the company’s expansion programme.
However, sources said the mine, which had been operating at the same scale for the past 10 years, did not require such huge amounts to re-open after “mothballing” for only nine months.
The latest developments come at a time when the government and the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange are investigating the sale of Murowa after shareholders pointed out a lot of irregularities.
For instance, shareholders accuse Rio Tinto of violating a July 2004 Agreement with RioZim that empowers local shareholders to have pre-emption rights in the event of a sale.
“As shareholders…we were not offered an opportunity to exercise our pre-emptive rights with regards to Rio Tinto Plc’s sale of 78 percent of Murowa Diamonds in accordance with the steps spelt out in the shareholders’ agreement,” disgruntled shareholders told the Daily News.
“In fact the first time we heard of this transaction was with the media release of the 26th of June 2015 when the stake had already been sold to RZ Murowa Holdings — a foreign related party.
“Should it turn out that the Board of Directors of RioZim Limited waived shareholder’s pre-emptive rights in Rio Tinto Plc’s Murowa Diamonds, they will still have failed to comply with the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange rules to deal with Related Party transactions and the issuance of cautionary statements when dealing with material transactions,” the shareholders added.
It has also since been established that RioZim failed to publish cautionaries to warn shareholders about the impending transaction of its subsidiary — Murowa — as per requirement of listing rules.
Shareholders noted that the diversified mining concern issued eight successive cautionary statements between September 2014 and May 2015 with regards to the $10 million rights issue for the Cam & Motor Project.
The rights issue closed on June 29, 2015 while Rio Tinto made an announcement of the sale of Murowa Diamonds on June 26, 2015.
“We strongly believe the larger shareholders and insiders should not ride roughshod over smaller and minority shareholders.
“How can the investing public have any trust in Zimbabwe’s capital markets if such ‘cowboy’ and high-handed transactions are allowed to stand?
“We also believe that we will suffer irreparable financial losses should this swindle be allowed to stand,” irate shareholders said.
Chihota, however, remains adamant that the disposal of Murowa was done above board.
“The relationship between RioZim and Murowa Diamonds (Private) Limited has not changed as a result of Rio Tinto Plc’s sale of its interests in Zimbabwe last year,” he said.
“On June 10, 2015, the Board of Directors of RioZim passed a resolution to irrevocably and unconditionally waive the company’s rights of pre-emption in connection with the transfer of the sale of shares to RZ Murowa Holdings Limited,” he added.
Chihota said the resolution was made in light of the financial challenges being faced by RioZim, its inability to raise the required financing plus the challenges faced by Murowa which was closed down at the time and faced huge hurdles that required, among other things, substantial additional capital investment.
The decision was also discussed and approved at the annual general meeting held on August 28, 2015, he said adding that the company kept authorities informed on the developments.
HARARE - Nyau group Bheni Arinoti from Redwing Mine in Mutare won Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Manicaland provincial finals while Sekunjalo MaAfrica were crowned Bulawayo province winners on Saturday.
The Manicaland provincials were held at Vhengere Stadium in Rusape, while Habane Bar in Esigodini hosted Bulawayo finals.
Bheni Arinoti won ahead of Watyamhembwe, Machena Traditional Dance, Mansa, Echoes, Maungwe Traditional Group, Usatya Traditional Dance Group, Charurwa, Mutare Polytechnic and Gure Wamkulu (Mutasa Nyau Dance).
In Bulawayo, Sekunjalo MaAfrica were crowned the winners after outshining Khaya Arts, Imvimbi Arts, Ingwenyama Arts, Woza Africa Per Arts, Iluba le Mvelo, Abangane, Jaiva Traditional Group, Thandanani Women Ensemble and Bambanani.
The winning groups walked away with $500 each and a ticket to compete in the national competitions scheduled for July 30 at Bulawayo’s White City stadium.
Since the annual festival kicked off in Harare last month, so far five provinces had successfully hosted the event and Nyau dancers have won in three provinces.
Maramuro Agure (Malawi Nyau) and Kalawi Gure (Zambia Nyau) won in Harare and Mashonaland Central province respectively.
Pezhuba Pachena who showcased Msubhule dance won in Matabeleland North province recently at an event held at Kulya Bar in Binga.
National winners will pocket $4 000 while $3 000 and $2 000 will be for first and second runners-up.
Last year, the national competition was held in Bulawayo and Mashonaland East’s Makarekare Traditional Dance Troop were the winners while in 2014 Ngoma Dzepasi a dance group from the same province won the competition. Founded in 1963, Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance festival is a tripartite partnership between sponsors, Delta Beverages, the National Arts Council and the Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association.
HARARE - Miss Zimbabwe Trust, coordinators of Miss World Zimbabwe pageant are targeting university students as potential candidates for the coveted national title.
Miss Zimbabwe Trust programmes and communications manager, Tendai Chirau said there will be a boot camp sometime in July, time which they will hold the finale.
“Most university students closed school last week and they are our targets. Scouting is still ongoing and they are welcome to come and audition,” he said.
Chirau said they will camp for two to three weeks.
Miss Zimbabwe Trust patron, Kiki Divaris died in December last year and her position is yet to be filled.
The pageant is running under the theme, “Celebrating the Life of our Icon, Kiki Divaris” in honour of the late founder and patron.
“We still haven’t sat down as a Trust to determine who will be the new patron but Chiwenga is the current licence holder and chairperson of the Miss Zimbabwe Trust.
“We are still celebrating the life of Divaris as seen by our theme this year, so when the time comes to select a new patron we will let you know,” he said.
At the finale, there will be 30 finalists who will battle it out for the crown from the reigning queen, Annie-Grace Mutambu.
“Our aim is to have 30 girls at the finals. The numbers at the boot camp can be more, as the name suggests, some get evicted as we search for the right candidate,” said Chirau.
The finale will be held at Borrowdale Brooke Golf Course.
HARARE - Ammara Brown has finally spoken about the tragic deaths that have dogged her family in quick succession with sister Shahla being the latest loss.
Ammara, the daughter of the late musician Andy Brown took to social media platform, Facebook, pouring her heart out, painting a gloomy picture of her loneliness after losing a number of close relatives.
“With every funeral the essence of the deceased always takes hold and I have laughed these past few days even with my shattered heart. When I went to the cemetery I could feel her spirit and it resonated true happiness and pure peace.
“I have grieved enough to know that it’s my physical loss because I cannot hold her but it’s Shahla’s spiritual triumph because she’s with Allah, our beloved Nina, our idolised father, Andy, our love incarnate mother, Soraya, our sister Chiedza and yes, Chiwoniso.
Death is not even the true definition because it is in faithful fact; transcendence,” she posts.
“Shahla means desert flower and that is exactly how I will remember you Lala. You were perfect imperfection because your heart was always gorgeous. It is your turn to watch over me, and I am not afraid of transcendence anymore because I know I’ll be seeing you in Jannat someday,” she posts.
Ammara said Shahla who succumbed to chest pains was a pillar of strength to her especially when in times of tragedies like deaths.
“As we buried our family members one by one we handled our grief differently. Nina (her grandmother) passed away but Shahla and I had each other and my son.
“...18 months ago Shahla’s chest began to fail her. We frequented the hospitals and doctors’ offices more times than I’d like to count. So much so that visiting hours barely applied to me. Sometimes I would wake up to check if she was still breathing.
“If she was in hospital, every phone call I got in the night scared me. She couldn’t come to the Bring Chiedza Home concert because she was too weak. Somehow she always pulled through. Even the doctors could not understand it,” she wrote.
Shahla died barely eight months after the death of Andy’s other daughter Chiedza who committed suicide in America.
All in all, Andy had left behind 10 children sired with different women among them the late mbira Queen Chiwoniso Maraire and these are Devona 33, Ammara 26, Shahla (now late), Alexander 20, Chengeto 19, Chiedza (now late), Ushe 14, Jason 13, Andy Brown Junior 10 and Alzaeed who is seven.
HARARE - FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza says his team will not allow last weekend’s home defeat to ZPC Kariba to affect their confidence.
The defeat ended the platinum miners’ eight-game unbeaten streak with the only consolation being that they remained in pole position on the log.
Mapeza’s side had gone on an 28-game unbeaten run in the league dating back to last year May when they lost 1-0 to Dynamos.
Against ZPC Kariba, FC Platinum were the better side for larger parts of the match before Tawanda Nyamandwe cancelled a Winstone Mhango opener and Never Tigere sealed all three points for Sunday Chidzambwa’s side.
Mapeza, who won the league title with the now-defunct Monomotapa in 2008, does not believe the defeat will damage his side’s momentum.
“It’s normal in a game of football. There is no way you can go for the whole season undefeated. We are not surprised though about the defeat. We knew it was something that was going to happen,” Mapeza told the Daily News yesterday.
“The team was really up for the game and there is nothing else we can do but lift ourselves up. Defeats teach you things, they teach you that every game is difficult and the players know that.”
The former Warriors coach says his team is committed to work hard and the important thing will be how they respond to the defeat in their next league game.
“This game doesn’t exist anymore, there is no pain. You can’t choose when you are going to lose. We have to recover and remember that the most consistent team normally wins the title,” Mapeza said.
“We need to keep on working hard. I’m very proud of my players and how they are performing.”
FC Platinum are enjoying one of their finest seasons in recent times, with expectations of a top four finish now replaced with a belief that they could manage the incredible feat of winning the title.
For ZPC Kariba, their win against FC Platinum lifted them to third place on the log with 18 points, the same number as second-placed CAPS United but they have an inferior goal difference.
In other matches played over the weekend, CAPS were held to a frustrating goalless draw against plucky Triangle at the National Sports Stadium.
Had the Green Machine collected maximum points in that match, they would have gone top of the table.
Defender Stephen Makatuka felt they gave everything but it was not their day.
“I think we played well but it was just not our day,” Makatuka told the Daily News after the game.
“We need to keep our heads high going forward. We are playing well but obviously it is difficult to win every match.”
HARARE - Zimbabwe cricket fans staged a protest following the team’s insipid performance during yesterday’s eight-wicket defeat to a second-string India in the second match of the Killer Cup ODI series.
India effectively sealed the three-match series with yesterday’s win having won Saturday’s opening ODI by nine wickets.
With all signs during the game pointing towards another heavy defeat for the home side, Zimbabwe fans abandoned their Castle Corner in the city end and left a huge banner with the words: “WHAT A SHAME”.
For the greater part of the match, the angry fans, who braved the cold weather, sang revolutionary songs denouncing the poor display from the local cricketers.
The fans’ anger can be understood considering how Makhaya Ntini’s side capitulated after crumbling 126 all-out inside 34,3 overs.
A lot had been expected from the hosts in this match after Saturday’s defeat but it was India, who looked like the hungrier of the two sides. India captain MS Dhoni won the toss and stuck to the winning formula as he opted to field first just as was the case with the first ODI.
The Zimbabwean batsmen failed to occupy the crease losing wickets in clusters as they failed to contend with the Indian bolwers.
Perhaps the only positive from the match was that at least Vusi Sibanda managed a half century scoring 53 runs from 69 deliveries batting at number four.
Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer was not pleased with his batters whom he said set a below par score on a batting track.
“Losing the toss again may have played a part but our batters didn’t’ look the part. The wicket was still doing a little bit and we were looking to get around to get them under pressure,” Cremer said.
India were in a hurry to wrap up the match unlike in the first ODI and took them 26,5 overs only to reach the target scoring 129 for the loss of two wickets.
Ambati Rayudu top scored for the visitors as he finished unbeaten on 41 from 44 deliveries.
Rayudu closed out the innings with Manish Pandey 4 (1) after KK Nair and KL Rahul had been dismissed for 39 and 33 runs respectively.
Dhoni was naturally ecstatic with the series win.
“It’s always good to take catches and inside edges are always good to take. It was a different performance from the first game...,” Dhoni said.
“Our bowlers did a great job ... I feel they would cross 200 and our spinners got us important breakthroughs. Most important thing is to win games and our batting when it comes to professionalism is right up there, even in the first game.”
HARARE - Police yesterday released five names of the Dynamos supporters who perished in a road accident on Saturday on their way to Gweru.
The fans were travelling to support their side in a Castle Lager Premiership match against Chapungu at Ascot Stadium.
The accident occurred when a minibus the supporters were travelling in burst a rear tyre and veered off the road before overturning killing seven passengers on the spot near Battlefields.
The victims were identified as Peter Maemba, male (34), Spencer Gwasira, male (50) of Mt Darwin, Mahwupete Rukudzo, female (43) , Prince Nheweyembwa, male (34) and Last Nezandonyi, male (29) of Kambuzuma.
National police spokesperson senior assistant commissioner Charity Charamba said the other two victims are yet to be identified.
“Police are appealing for those who are missing their relatives to proceed to Kwekwe General Hospital and identify the remaining two bodies,” Charamba said in a statement.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned with the loss of lives in road accidents. We are urging motorists to avoid speeding and to exercise caution when travelling.”
Other injured passengers were taken to Kadoma and Kwekwe general hospitals before being transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after the intervention of National Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz) president Philip Chiyangwa.
Some of the casualties have since been treated and discharged from the hospital. Dynamos president Kenni Mubaiwa said the club is assisting the bereaved families.
HARARE - Former Warriors coach Ian “Dibango” Gorowa says he will not recognise the 10-year ban handed to him by the dissolved Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) over match-fixing allegations.
Gorowa, together with former Zifa officials Henrietta Rushwaya, Jonathan Musavengana, Edzai Kasinauyo and ex-Warriors assistant coach Nation Dube were accused of match fixing by the dissolved association.
Zifa alleged the officials tried to infiltrate the Warriors set-up earlier this year in order to fix the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Swaziland back in March.
Gorowa and his group are alleged to have tried to approach certain Warriors players in South Africa to entice them with substantial amounts of money to guarantee Zimbabwe lost both matches against Sihlangu.
The match fixers are also accused of trying to fix a number of matches in the South African Absa Premiership.
However, South African Football Association (Safa) and Super Diski officials are no longer pursuing any investigations.
Zifa on the other hand swiftly moved in to ban the alleged culprits during their last annual general meeting at the start of this month where Rushwaya and Musavengana were handed life bans.
Gorowa and Kasinauyo were handed 10-year bans each while Dube was given a five-year expulsion from all football activities.
Football agent Kudzi Shaba, who was also alleged to have been part of the syndicate, was acquitted of any wrong doing.
Gorowa insists he has done nothing wrong and Zifa, which was dissolved to bring the birth of the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz), have no jurisdiction to prosecute him.
In an emailed statement to the Daily News, the former Moroka Swallows coach listed nine points to highlight that Zifa had erred.
1. Zifa has no jurisdiction over myself .I am not affiliated to Zifa.
2. There was no procedure of a disciplinary hearing which is clear in the constitution.
3. Besides that I’m sure Zifa realised they cannot conduct that hearing or disciplinary measure against me as I’m not a member or affiliate to them hence just deciding to do that un-procedurally.
4. Zifa proposed and gave all their alleged accusations to Safa and the PSL here in South Africa who in turn threw their case away.
5. No written correspondence or form of communication to me since the alleged offences were first announced. This was done only through the press. Again Zifa knew they cannot do anything as I’m affiliated to the PSL here in SA.
6. Zifa owes me about $80 000.
7. It is null and void in any court whether sport or criminal as an accused is given a chance to prove himself, again because of the jurisdiction Zifa has no case.
8. It looks like a personal vendetta.
9. My reputation and integrity are being put in jeopardy because of malicious intents.
Gorowa, who was in charge of the Warriors when they reached the semi-finals of the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) in South Africa, said he was now praying to the Lord to ensure his accusers will face justice one day.
“Having said all the above, I still maintain my innocence with integrity and high level of esteem in football,” he said.
“Football has made me who I am today and I will never do otherwise to the God-given talent. I’m still hoping to get an apology from all those who have fabricated this whole farce.
“I’m even going further to say I’m praying to God to make sure that the false accusers should be shamed. Furthermore someone or some people are lying before God , and I say the Lord’s wrath should imply.”
Gorowa, who made his name at Black Rhinos and Dynamos before moving to South Africa, went on to quote a number of Bible verses.
“There were affidavits done and they were all lies against me. I will quote the Bible on Psalms 27 and Proverbs 19:5 ‘A false witness will not go unpunished and whoever pours out lies will not go free’.
“Proverbs 12:19: ‘Truthful lips endure forever but a lying tongue lasts only a moment’.
“Lastly, I will say if Jesus Christ comes back on earth today and He asks me to confess my sins for me to go to heaven these accusations will never be part of my confession.
“So somewhere somehow the truth will come out but I refuse to be accused for something I didn’t do.”
HARARE - Insurance giant, Old Mutual, has become the latest local prominent voice to observe that Zimbabwe’s supposed all-weather friend, China, is treading carefully about investing more in Zimbabwe, due to the country’s poor property rights record.
Old Mutual’s observations came in the wake of China injecting nearly $20 billion into Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy in 2015 alone, with Zimbabwe receiving only $500 million of that investment — translating to 2,6 percent of the Asian giant’s total investment in the region, according to World Bank data.
“In order for Zimbabwe to improve its economic fortunes, a number of excessive legislation governing business operations and red tape need to be simplified.
“The country has had a bad reputation ... and will need to seriously overturn this deficiency if it hopes to attract the sort of investment that its neighbours have been able to attract,” Old Mutual said in its latest quarterly review.
The prognosis will come as a major blow to President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF government, who have been pinning their hopes on China helping Zimbabwe to revive its dying economy.
The International Monetary Fund expects the local economy to grow by a paltry 1,5 percent this year due to a deadly combination of mismanagement, policy inadequacies and drought.
Although China was initially very enthusiastic about funding Zimbabwe’s economic blueprint, ZimAsset, the high-profile “mega deals” that it signed two years ago have failed to materialise thus far, with Beijing now seemingly more focused on stemming its own economic challenges.
A senior government official who spoke to the Daily News recently said while the Chinese were still very keen on doing business with Zimbabwe it was also wary of the deadly factional and succession wars devouring Zanu PF.
“If you look closely you will see that several feasibility studies have been started between China and Zimbabwe, including studies into coal exploration and a 600MW thermal station in Sibugwe, as well as the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Harare, Harare-Nyamapanda, Harare-Chirundu and Mutare-Harare highways.
“But the Chinese borne of contention at the moment is whether their investments would be secure after the old man is gone, considering that there is no clear succession plan in place. Until we sort that issue, it would be difficult for these good projects to take off,” the official said.
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Other experts say a slowdown in China’s growth rates, as well as scepticism over whether Zimbabwe can repay previous loans, has crept into the finalisation of the mega deals.
On its part, Old mutual noted that the Zanu PF government must do more to attract foreign direct investment in the manufacturing sector, to allow the country to add value to its predominately raw product exports.
“Foreign investors require comfort in the security of their investment and policy consistency in the environment in which they operate. Zimbabwe would benefit by eradicating corruption, improving its ease of doing business requirements, policy consistency and respecting property rights.
“Of growing concern has been the growth in public sector debt through the continued issuance of treasury bills by government. In the absence of a public auction system, the exact amount of the debt attributed to treasury instruments alone is difficult to ascertain,” it said. Information at hand shows that government’s net debt ballooned from $0,5 billion in January 2015 to $1,2 billion by August 2015 against shrinking tax revenue collections.
Economic experts said this has increased concerns over the default risk of these treasury instruments and they are currently being assumed by banks at significant discounts from parties holding these instruments that are desperate for liquidity.
“In the absence of foreign direct investment or debt re-negotiations from external financiers these instruments are most likely to be rolled over by government to avoid default on the more significant maturities,” Old Mutual added.
HARARE - The succession wars ravaging Zanu PF are getting more intractable by the day, with war veterans rallying behind embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying defiantly yesterday that they were not losing any sleep over President Robert Mugabe’s ominous warning to them last week.
The disaffected former freedom fighters, who are forcefully agitating for Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe, also told the Daily News that they were “not afraid of anyone” — adding that it was allegedly clear that those opposed to Mnangagwa were feeding the increasingly frail Mugabe with lies.
This followed Mugabe’s stark warning to the war veterans on Friday last week, when the angry nonagenarian warned that he would deal with them severely if they continued to try and impose on Zanu PF his successor.
Amid the bloodletting, a respected South Africa-based think-tank has also moved to claim that despite his furious protestations, Mugabe was not in any position to stop the ex-combatants from either voicing or working to anoint his successor.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) secretary general, Victor Matemadanda, told the Daily News yesterday that former freedom fighters had done nothing wrong to make them fearful of anyone or anything.
“We do not fear anything. Kusungwa unosungwa kana pane mhosva. Mutongi ndiye anoziva kuti pane mhosva here kana kuti kwete. Nyaya iripo ndeyekuti pakataurwa nhema (One can only be arrested if one has committed an offence. Only judiciary officers can determine if one has committed an offence. The problem is there is that some people are spreading lies about us).
“At five of our rallies, Black Jesus (a prominent war veteran) said ... Mugabe is a life president. Vanhu vakanoreva nhema kuna president (Despite all this our detractors told the president lies).
“They realised that if they told the president the truth, he would not get annoyed. So, they cooked up some documents to anger him,” the straight-talking Matemadanda charged.
Zanu PF has recently been consumed by its seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars, with the former liberation movement currently split between two main factions — Team Lacoste, which wants Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe, and ambitious young party Turks who are rabidly opposed to the Midlands godfather, and who go by the moniker Generation 40 (G40). Matemadanda said Mugabe’s threats that he directed at them last week were “a culmination of the information that he is being fed by the G40” — a group that he once again accused of “pushing a sinister agenda”.
However, he said, war veterans and other “right-minded Zimbabweans” would not lose sleep over “the G40’s schemes”.
“We are not panicking against nyaya dzenhema (lies). We are going to continue fighting the G40. We know that they are pushing a sinister agenda,” he thundered.
He also implored Mugabe “to get the correct information” of what had transpired in their meetings from security agents, instead of getting it from the G40. Matemadanda also dismissed outright claims that deliberations at their hotly-debated Gweru meeting, where the war veterans are said to have endorsed Mnangagwa’s candidature for the presidency, had been recorded.
“Hatityi nhema. Inyaya yavanhu vari kuda kutsvaka kuputsa musangano (We are not afraid of lies because these are the machinations of people who want to destroy Zanu PF). We don’t know anything about that so-called Blue Ocean document that they presented to the president. We never said vaMnangagwa ngavatorere vaMugabe chigaro ivo vari vapenyu (we never said Mnangagwa must take over as president while Mugabe is still alive).
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“We never said that. That’s a blue lie,” he said forcefully.
Meanwhile, Cape Town-based think tank, African Economics (NKC), has said in its latest instalment on Zimbabwe that Mugabe’s rant last week was nothing more than “empty threats” as his power within Zanu PF was waning.
“Mugabe’s threats of brutal force against the war vets are empty words. The clear tension between the old freedom fighters and what they see as a party and a president that have lost their way does hold some potential for violence,” it said.
NKC analyst, Gary van Staden, also pointed out that by threatening the ex-combatants, Mugabe was allegedly trying to appease his powerful wife Grace.
“Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association may well regard Mnangagwa as entitled to the presidency by virtue of his current position and old established agreements, as to who would take over, but local sources believe the move was equally a rejection of the ambitions of (Mrs) Mugabe who has already become the voice, if not the power, behind the crumbling throne,” he said.
According to NKC, the recent threats by Mugabe could also invoke violence and serve to further isolate the nonagenarian.
“The tit-for-tat threats and the undercurrents of the succession struggle will continue to reduce the once all-powerful Zanu PF to a shadow of its former self,” the think-tank said, adding that the current in-fighting would work as an advantage to opposition parties going forward.
“Like (Mrs) Mugabe, Mnangagwa is using proxies to fight his battles, but when the dust settles it may well be the opposition parties that steal the prize from under the noses of the current, squabbling ruling party,” it said.
Addressing a Zanu PF central committee meeting in Harare last week, Mugabe shocked his lieutenants when he described recent pronouncements by the ZNLWVA, that Mnangagwa was a shoo-in to take over from him, 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 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.
“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 Korea-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 can 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”.
BERLIN - Germany will not recognise polygamy or marriages involving minors, Justice Minister Heiko Maas has said.
"No-one who comes here has the right to put his cultural values or religious beliefs above our law," he told Bild.
In some Islamic countries, men are allowed to take up to four wives, but in Germany polygamy is banned by law.
Concern about polygamy and underage marriage has risen recently, as Germany has been taking in record numbers of migrants, many from Muslim countries.
The law in Germany is clear: no-one is allowed to be married to more than one person at a time, and that includes recent arrivals in the country.
But in practice polygamous relationships are often quietly tolerated, the paper reports. For example, if a man dies, his inheritance may be distributed between his two wives.
But Mr Maas wants to stop authorities turning a blind eye.
"Everybody must abide by the law, no matter whether he has grown up here or has only just arrived," he told the tabloid.
This also applies to forced and underage marriages.
"We cannot tolerate forced marriages, above all, if they affect under-age girls," Mr Maas said.
HARARE - The current cash shortages must jolt President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF government into action to quickly adopt the South African rand to save the economy from total collapse.
Instead of introducing the much-hated bond notes, which have induced all manner of trepidation in the public and rekindling 2008 déjà vu moments, the central bank and Treasury need to look at the rand as a potential saviour.
Over the past six years, the dollar’s appreciation has made imports cheaper, exports more expensive and contributed to a cash crunch resulting in local companies losing their export competitiveness.
To save what’s left of our industry and ease the cash shortage, we suggest that the country adopts the Rand.
Official figures show that Zimbabwe imported goods worth $2,5 billion from neighbouring South Africa last year, more than from all its other trading partners combined.
In addition, the two countries’ economies are further entwined by the estimated two million Zimbabweans who migrate to find jobs in Africa’s most industrialised economy, according to United Nations estimates.
By using the rand or joining the Rand Union, Zimbabwe stands a better chance of economic revival through the removal of restrictions on the transfer of funds, whether for current or capital purposes among the member States.
We totally agree with Bankers Association of Zimbabwe president, Charity Jinya, who recently suggested that the country needs to craft a mechanism to introduce the rand into the system.
Adoption of the rand also entails that there is no restriction on cross border investments from South Africa, thus contributing to economic growth and economic integration.
It will be easier for local investors and deficit units to enter into South Africa’s rich capital and money markets to increase their capital bases, making it easier for local firms to court partnerships with listed firms on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, resulting in capital inflows.
The existing Rand Union regulations provide that a member can issue out its own currency pegged at par with the South African rand, as is the case with the current signatories. Since South Africa is one of Zimbabwe’s major trading partners, joining the union will mean fixed and predictable exchange rates.
This will assist in giving economic agents a platform to plan over a long planning horizon without uncertainty due to exchange rate volatility.
As is currently the situation with the member countries in the Rand Union such as Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia, Zimbabwe will be presented with a platform to resuscitate the operations of the country’s central bank, being responsible for the country’s monetary policy.
HARARE - Given that Africa has entered the new millennium with very little improvement in the way it has been conducting its affairs over many years and the fact that the present systems and models of governance and leadership look most unlikely to produce radical changes that may lead to poverty being at the very least reduced, on the contrary, all likelihood points to poverty getting worse and entrenching itself.
The Daily News caught up with Chief executive officer of African Leadership Convention, Davison Todson Gomo, to speak about the issue of poverty in Africa with more emphasis on Zimbabwe.
Q: Can you define poverty, what is poverty?
A: The famous Wikipedia says; Poverty may be defined as either absolute or relative. This definition vividly illustrates the fact that poverty must be viewed in the context of a country’s general state of development. Often we hear of American poverty which by all accounts is relative because the general socio-economic conditions in America are much better than those in Africa.
Whereas when viewed from the African perspective, poverty is generally absolute because very few people have access to basic and essential needs.
In fact, poverty is a reflection of failure of public policy, economic and social exclusion and lack of political will to confront poverty decisively. Poverty is a dangerous social evil that leaves those exposed to it unable to meet requirements for food, shelter, health, clothing, education and opportunities for jobs.
We need not go too far to see that as most of our people are a living witness to the desperate day to day unacceptable poverty conditions.
Q: What causes poverty?
A: Generally speaking, the causes of poverty are many and diverse. For example, conflicts are responsible for the destruction of public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads and bridges etc.
The rise of corruption propelled by those meant to stop it and its consequences are there for everyone to see.
In fact, corruption transfers state and community resources into the hands of few people leaving much of society totally stranded with very little recourse to the judiciary system as it is also controlled by the privileged classes who use it to protect their loot and interests.
Lately in Africa and Sadc area to be specific, the occurrence of droughts has had a devastating impact on agricultural production and productivity and millions of people who depend on agriculture as a source of livelihood are left extremely exposed to hunger and poverty.
Q: How is poverty in urban areas?
A: Although it is generally believed that urban dwellers often have a much better life, but the last few years have clearly demonstrated that with the economies performing well below par and governments literally showing little capacity to provide answers to these problems, the situation in urban areas is already bad and deplorable. The poverty situation in rural areas drives more and more young people into urban areas in search of job opportunities.
This is where the Sadc framework to combat poverty should kick into action to assist to stem the drift into cities when there is no capacity to absorb more people. The increase in street vending is essentially a confirmation of the shrinking economic base and not an exhibition of entrepreneurial talent.
The cities cannot cope with an uncontrolled population growth and influx. Unfortunately, this development has led to the mushrooming of urban squalor on a huge scale. It is these urban poor who are most indigent and as such, are on the periphery of society.
If this problem is not addressed seriously by all nations within Sadc, there is a real chance that xenophobic behaviour that we witnessed in South Africa to a large extent and recently in Zambia will continue to show its ugly head.
Some people move into neighbouring countries in search of jobs and business opportunities but because most of the countries suffer from the same condition of underdevelopment, locals resent immigrants for fear of being squeezed out of opportunities.
Q: How do we then deal with poverty?
A: Some argue that poverty is a mindset. The big question is whose mindset? Surprisingly, authorities live in denial of the reality of poverty and often choose to see poverty a transient phenomenon.
Unfortunately, the universal image of Africa and its people is one of poverty.
If you are of African origin and you happen to be travelling around the world, people can be forgiven for always raising questions around the issues of poverty because that is the only major thing Africa is known for and about.
The world is awash with images of school children learning under deplorable conditions, clinics that have no medicines, people sleeping on the streets, villagers looking for food in the wild, drinking water from unsafe sources and disorganised urban transport systems, dysfunctional local authorities, the list is endless.
Africa looks like a place where people are in self-help mode permanently.
The big question is; where are the responsible authorities when poverty continues to wreak havoc on the population?
Q: What has been Sadc’s response to poverty?
A: In August 2006, the Sadc countries accepted the reality of poverty amongst the member states and the region as a whole.
What is interesting as it is important is that Sadc member states were not reinventing the wheel.
They developed their strategy guided by the Millennium Development Goals and the Strategic Plan of the African Union Commission.
At continental level, there was recognition that “political instability, corruption and the difficulty in consolidating democracy” would leave the continent unable to address effectively the problem of poverty.
At Sadc level, the Council of Ministers was convinced that poverty posed the major threat to development and stability of the region.
Sadc correctly identified that among other challenges, “high levels of malnutrition, illiteracy, unemployment, under-employment, declining life expectancy and unsatisfactory access to basic services and infrastructure needed sustain basic human capabilities” was a serious challenge for the region.
It has to be said that except for its wide spread nature, the profile of poverty in Sadc meets the general worldwide description of it.
Q: What has been some of the challenges facing Sadc when it comes to poverty?
A: Millennium Development Goals, Policy after Policy, Conference after Conference, including Summits have come and gone and the general poverty and marginalisation through civil strife, inappropriate policies, instability and fragile economies continue to be part and parcel of our daily lives.
It is time that we accept that poverty is a national and Sadc wide crisis. To look at this from any other way or angle is missing the point.
The current generation of leaders may not pay for it. However, the next generation will not be excused for even one single moment because the people have had enough of the same song for nearly the entire period of our freedom.
Freedom yes but poverty is certainly totally unwelcome. It is not as if we have no resources at all. Sadc is home to some of the sought after minerals and other natural resources. Why not use them to eradicate poverty?
The irony of it is that we have somehow allowed the resources to enrich other countries and a few from our midst.
It is hard to see how we can sustainably carry on this way without risking sinking our people into deeper poverty.
We have been duped to believe that we live in a boarderless world and somehow we have accepted this notion very uncritically.
While Foreign Direct Investment is great but it has to be managed so that it does not increase our debt burden.
Ostensibly, the idea of Foreign Direct Investment is to enable us to raise receipts that we can use to pay off our debt but regrettably, we usually end up with more debt and less gains.
Q: How strategic are the World Bank and International Monetary Fund(IMF) in all this?
A: By the same vein, we need to look very closely at policy regimes from the World Bank and the IMF we cannot avoid them because we already owe them money.
The biggest challenge is that these institutions are like pouring your money into a bottomless pit. You never come out of the debt problem based on their advice.
The debt issue contributes massively to the existence of poverty as we lose potential resources to the International Financial Institutions.
This is a big international and economic relations problem. Effectively, when these institutions propose strategies as a remedy to our failing economies, the focus is primarily on saving their interests because after all they claim that we often drive our economies to a halt through our misplaced priorities, mismanagement and corruption.
Since our countries suffer from technology, financial, markets and leadership deficit, it makes some of the home grown solutions weak and unable to provide answers to industrialisation and value addition strategies.
Q: And what happens when the population realises there are no opportunities for them?
A: We have already demonstrated the causes of poverty and how its existence can put a country and its people on stress mode. It so happens that when the population realises that all gates to opportunities to decent livelihoods are closed they resort to whatever means that is available to make ends meet.
Generally, the population starts by resorting to informal and illegal activities within their own borders.
However, sooner or later, they cast their eyes beyond the boundaries of their own countries. Incidentally, citizens are likely to be exposed to illicit business activities which include cross boarder informal trade that generally promotes corruption and squeezes locally produced manufactures as foreign produced goods are preferred. This is where the problems have the potential to create serious foreign policy challenges.
Q: How does trans-border crime play out in these circumstances?
A: One of the major areas of concerns is trans-border crime such as poaching of endangered species, dealing in the sales of precious minerals illegally, illegal entry into another country in search of employment opportunities and human trafficking mostly for prostitution purposes or demeaning jobs.
There are concerns about the potential of dangerous drugs crossing borders and young people become susceptible drug abuse which in itself creates serious social problems.
These problems are real and common place in the Sadc region and unless countries find a way to manage the challenges mutually and through co-operation treaties, the potential for conflict remains high.
The fact that the integration process remains only a declared intent among the member states leaves each country rooted in its own domestic policies and these by nature are inward looking policies that are at variance with the objectives of the Sadc Treaty and various protocols that are aimed at creating greater integration opportunities.
Essentially, it must be recognized that if a member country remains trapped in poverty for long, the possibility of economic refugees becomes a huge challenge and can spillover to other member states.
Q: Can poverty lead to conflict?
A: Yes, this is also true in cases where poverty leads to conflict, for example Tanzania is heavily affected by the instability in Burundi and is forced by good neighbourliness and foreign policy objectives to act in order to manage a crisis that is forced on its border towns and villages by a conflict in another country.
It is unavoidable to enhance security on a country’s borders to prevent illegal entry of persons. A case in point is the tension between Zimbabwe and Botswana on border control issues. The cases may not be vicious but they remain uncomfortable and unnecessary.
Botswana had to erect fences on some parts and stretches of its border to prevent the entry of border jumpers from Zimbabwe.
On the eastern side of Zimbabwe, there are problems that have to do with the smuggling of second hand clothes that are banned in Zimbabwe.
This situation arises because incomes of Zimbabweans are falling thus forcing people to resort to illegal trade in banned items. Given that the generality of the population in most Sadc countries is relatively poor, member states must find a way to manage intra-regional movement of people and trade.
However, because the poor cannot afford to pay for all the customs and duty regimes, they prefer to use illegal means to bring in goods from across the border.
HARARE - German car giant Volkswagen is poised to introduce what will be the most luxurious truck ever sold in Zimbabwe — complete with special seats designed to pamper drivers who have a bad back.
The new flagship of the Volkswagen Amarok fleet, which will be priced close to $75 000 when it goes on sale later this year, is part of a growing trend to transform workhorses into show ponies.
The latest version, compared with the inaugural 2009 model, comes with a new engine, and in a world of downsizing, it’s curious to note that it’s a bigger, more powerful one of 3,0 litres and six cylinders, making 221bhp, rather than the 161bhp four-pot unit of old.
Partly it’s because customers told VW they’d like more power; partly it’s because the new engine will give the Amarok a towing limit of up to 3,5 tonnes — partly it’s because customers have been asking for something more refined and classy.
Given that the Amarok was first in line when VW’s cheat-software emissions recalls began, perhaps partly the 2,0-litre engine was being asked to work harder than it was comfortable with in the first place, too.
Certainly, at what is likely to be 199g/km and 37,1mpg on the combined fuel economy cycle, the more capable 3,0 is claimed to be less thirsty than the old model.
At launch, the Amarok will offer only this top-spec 3,0-litre engine, driving through a permanent four-wheel drive system and eight-speed automatic gearbox. Later, 161bhp and 201bhp models, manual gearboxes and part-time four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive will supplement that.
Other changes to the Amarok include a new dashboard, to improve interior ambience, and the fitment of more luxury car features. But on the outside, not so much is different — what was the most distinctive pick-up stays that way, with some bumper amendments.
Dimensions, then, are unchanged at 5,25m long and 2,23m wide, including mirrors.
Despite the fact that the Amarok — and rivals such as the latest, pretty classy Nissan Navara — are poaching sales from larger SUVs, it’s worth pointing out that you shouldn’t expect it to feel just as sophisticated to drive as one.
The Amarok has a separate body on a ladder chassis and leaf rear springs supporting a live rear axle — hence the 1000kg-plus payload and a load bay that’s wide enough for a pallet. Inside, though, the latest cabin has a good driving position, and the switch gear is logically, clearly laid out. There’s a distinct VW feel to it, even if the hard-wearing materials, undamped glove box and so on feel more Polo than Passat in terms of ambience.
That’s to be expected. Highline trim will be the top and most popular specification, bringing a central touchscreen with sat-nav, as well as climate control.
Room in the rear of the cabin is less generous than in the front. Think Golf levels of seat space rather than Passat; tall adults behind will find knee room at a premium, but as a family utility vehicle, it’s okay. And the rear deck is massive.
Even without loaded goods, possibly cabbages form the farm, in the back, the Amarok feels comfortable enough — not too bouncy — and isolation from road and wind noise is good.
This is a long car, though, and a separate chassis never quite brings the rigid feel of a smaller car’s monocoque, so you can feel the front and rear working in different ways and the occasional shimmy through the steering wheel — although no more so than in rivals. The steering itself is well weighted, if occasionally sticky.
Volkswagen claims a 7,9sec 0-62mph time and a top speed of 120mph for this 221bhp diesel, but you have to work it to get that kind of performance.
If you do, you’ll not find it as refined as a V6 diesel in one of VW group’s family cars, either. But it’s smoother than a four, and the eight-speed automatic shifts really cleanly and intelligently.
The Amarok is good off road, too.
There’s a limited-slip differential between the axles that can be locked, while an off-road button as standard brings hill
descent control, modifies the way the ABS and stability control work, holds lower gears and dulls the throttle response.
As an option, you can get a limited-slip diff on the back axle, too.
On the right tyres, then, an Amarok will do what you need. Till next week, drive safely!
HARARE - Zimbabwe’s worsening cash-crisis has resulted in a significant rise in mobile money transactions, latest central bank figures show.
In its weekly update for the period to May 27, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) said while total National Payment Systems (NPS) transactions stood at 5,5 million 84,6 percent of these transactions had been conducted on the various mobile money platforms.
“The total number of NPS transactions stood at 5 563 099 during the week under analysis, down from the 5 702 979 transactions recorded in the previous week.
“The transactions were distributed as follows: Mobile, 84,64 percent; Point of Sale (POS), 11,37 percent; Automated Teller Machine (ATM), 3,11 percent; Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), 0,77 percent; and cheque, 0,11 percent,” the central bank said.
However, the total value of transactions processed through the NPS increased from $1 126,74 million in the previous week, to $1 129,51 million during the week ending May 27, 2016.
RTGS transactions stood at $929,23 million, up from $921,46 million registered in the previous week.
“RTGS payments constituted 82,27 percent of the total value of transactions processed through the NPS, followed by Mobile, 8,03 percent; POS, 5,73 percent, ATMs, 3,76 percent; and cheque, 0,21 percent.
Zimbabwe has been experiencing cash shortages in the past few weeks — reminiscent of the 2008 economic and political crisis — with depositors queuing for days at banks to get their hard-earned money.
Market watchers say mobile money is emerging as a reliable cash outlet as depositors can now synch their bank accounts to various mobile wallet platforms to easily access cash as Zimbabwe’s cash availability situation worsens.
Mobile money subscribers have been on the rise as the mode emerges as a cash alternative.
In the first quarter of 2016, subscribers increased by 9,9 percent to reach 7,3 million subscriptions from 6,7 million subscribers recorded prior comparable quarter.
The number of agents also increased by 11,7 percent to reach 33 259 from 29 775 agents recorded in the previous quarter.
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe chief executive Douglas Mboweni recently said his company’s mobile money platform, EcoCash, has become the largest mobile banking and money transfer service in the country, and one of the largest in the region.
“As of February 2016 year-end, EcoCash had 5,8 million registered users and had moved $6,6 billion through money transfer, both within Zimbabwe and from Zimbabweans remitting money from outside the country,” he said.
HARARE - The Insurance and Pensions Commission (Ipec) says it has placed Altfin Insurance under its watchful eyes to protect policyholder values and interests.
This was after Altfin registered a negative growth of 32 percent in the quarter to March 2016, followed by CBZ Life and Heritage which both recorded negative growth of 22 and 13 percent respectively.
“Except for two players, the life insurers were adequately capitalised as prescribed by Statutory Instrument 21 of 2013.
“Care and maintenance measures continue to be applied especially to Altfin Life.” Ipec said.
Altfin shareholders were late last year summoned by Ipec to discuss the firm’s recapitalisation process
after the insurance company had failed to meet the prescribed $2 million capitalisation requirement.
In its Life Report for Life assurers for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, Ipec said it was working with Altfin as to the next course of action in line with the Insurance Act.
Altfin, whose licence was cancelled at the beginning of 2015, recorded $7,1 million current liabilities compared to $3,1 million current assets in the quarter to September 2015 and indications are the company is still in the woods.
The insurance firm’s woes started a few years ago following the collapse of Interfin Bank, which failed to settle total gross outstanding claims resulting in Altfin being left exposed to a $3 million deficit as at December 31, 2013.
Meanwhile, all the 13 life insurers reviewed by Ipec paid a total of $46 million in net claims during the first quarter of 2016, a 14 percent increase prior year on the back of a tough operating environment.
In its report for the first three months of the year, Ipec said the insurers had paid out claims to the tune of $33 million prior period comparative.
“Total claims expenditure grew by 41 percent against the net premium growth rate of 18 percent reflecting an unfavourable imbalance given the challenging investment environment,” the insurance industry regulator said.
During the period under review, major claim types were surrenders, maturity and death.
However, with a debtor’s book worth $5 million out of gross premium written of $88 million, the sector had a premium collection rate of 94 percent.
“This is deemed reasonable in view of the challenging liquidity environment prevailing currently,” Ipec said.
Meanwhile, reinsurers wrote $1,4 million in net written premiums 22 percent down from $1,8 million despite FBC coming on board by opening a life reinsurance division.
“This could be attributed to limited local growth opportunities and increased capacity to retain risks on their balance sheets,” Ipec said.
