ZVISHAVANE - FC Platinum produced a clinical display to dump defending champions Harare City out of the Chibuku Super Cup and keep their hopes for a league and cup double alive in an incident-filled encounter here yesterday.

Rodwell Chinyengetere, Charles Sibanda and Marshal Mudehwe scored for the platinum miners to ensure a comfortable passage into the final in a game that saw five match balls being deflated by rowdy FC Platinum supporters inside the first 30 minutes.

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Every ball that flew over to the stands was punctured as the fans were suspicious of the Harare City match balls.

Harare City provided the balls as it was technically the home team according to the tournament’s draw.

FC Platinum will now face the winner between Highlanders and Ngezi Platinum Stars who clash this afternoon in another semifinal tie at Barbourfields Stadium.

It was, however, sweet revenge for FC Platinum having lost 2-1 to the Sunshine Boys two weeks ago in a league encounter — a result that dented their title hopes.

FC Platinum, who are third on the Castle Premiership log standings, as they trail log CAPS United by two points, are now fancying their chances of a league and cup double and their coach Norman Mapeza was elated with the win.

“I’m happy the guys did well today. The most important thing is for us to remain focused, we still have a lot of games to play,” Mapeza said.

“Credit should also go to Harare City, they gave us a good game,” Mapeza said in spite of his side having dominated play from the first whistle.

Harare City coach Moses Chunga was disappointed with the result and refused to grant a post-match interview to the media.

Although FC Platinum fans demanded Mapeza’s head for having substituted speedy striker Mudehwe in their drub premiership one-all stalemate with Ngezi Platinum last weekend, the striker gave a stellar performance capping a wonderful afternoon with an 81st minute goal off an individual solo effort.

Fans also showed their appreciation with chants of Mapeza’s name ringing round the stands after Mudehwe’s goal.

Mudehwe flew down the right wing leaving Harare City defenders in his trail before slotting past a badly exposed Tafadzwa Dube.

The platinum miners had opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after Chinyengetere produced a brilliant goal by curling past a scrambling Dube in a congested box.

Second half substitute Sibanda then put the game beyond City in the 77th minute when he chipped over a drawn-out Dube, in a quick counter attack before Mudehwe capped up a fine afternoon with a third goal.

FC Platinum had settled first but the municipal side had their fair share of chances to score but their forwards took turns to fluff the chances that came their way with Raphel Manuvire being the chief culprit.

FC Platinum, however, dominated play with five corner kicks against one for Harare City in the first period.

Harare City began the match with greater intent but fluffed their lines in a congested defence in the opening minute of the half.

Soon after Ian Nekati forced an acrobatic save from Dube with a stinging close range shot from an angle that the shot-stopper tipped over.

Their best chance of the afternoon, however, came in the 68th minute when William Manondo’s effort glazed the crossbar on its way out.

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HARARE - The two FC Platinum players, Charles Sibanda and Winston Mhango, who were involved in an accident on Saturday night on their way to Bulawayo after their Chibuku Super Cup semifinal victory against Harare City — are now out of danger.

FC Platinum spokesperson Chido Chizondo last night told the Daily News that the two are recovering well and were discharged from hospital yesterday morning.

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The duo had hiked a private vehicle from Zishavane to Bulawayo when they were involved in an accident before being rushed to Mater Dei Hospital.

“They have been discharged this morning from Mater Dei, it wasn’t anything too serious but just some bruises,” Chizondo told the Daily News yesterday.

“They are both recovering at home now and will wait for their assessment with the team physiotherapist on Wednesday to ascertain whether they will be available for the weekend assignment.”

Reports are that the players were given a lift by a friend.

The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle resulting in the accident.

The two players had featured in FC Platinum’s 3-0 demolition of Harare City to progress to the final of the Chibuku Super Cup.

Sibanda scored the platinum miners’ second goal after Rodwell Chinyengetere had scored the opener while Marshal Mudehwe scored the third.

The Zvishavane-based side will now meet Ngezi Platinum Stars, who dismissed Highlanders 1-0 in another semifinal clash yesterday.

Injury to the two players could be a massive blow for coach Norman Mapeza as they are still in the running for a league and cup double.

Mapeza would definitely want his strongest squad in the remaining three matches and the Chibuku Cup final. The platinum miners travel to Chapungu for their next Castle Premiership tie.     

Last year, Sibanda also survived another accident then playing for How Mine when he crashed his Toyota Vitz, sustained injuries on his right shoulder and was admitted at Mpilo Hospital.

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HARARE - Rising BMX rider Emmanuel Gore re-affirmed his growing status as one of the hottest emerging riders in the country after winning the 2016 Zimbabwe BMX Inter-Provincial Series held in Bulawayo over the weekend.

The St John’s Preparatory School, Grade Two pupil, buoyed by his recent exploits in South Africa where he came second in the SA BMX National Age Groups Series, finished first after getting the better of his opponents in the seven-year-olds category.

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En-route to the big price, Gore came second in the opening two qualifying legs before he blitzed the field in the final to add another accolade to his growing trophy cabinet.

The weekend victory was a fitting achievement for the six-year-old having settled for second place in last year’s inter-provincials in his debut in the sport. 

And after celebrating Emmanuel’s win in front of a good crowd, his mother Ashleigh who accompanied her six-year-old to Busters BMX track in Bulawayo could not hide her joy.

“It was a tight race though but God saw him through,” Ashleigh told the Daily News.

“The first place wasn’t just given to him but he worked for it. I am happy he is doing well and is enjoying the sport. It’s quite a great achievement for him and I hope he keeps working hard.”

While Emmanuel’s success can be attributed to natural talent, his mother said he has taken the initiative on his own to work as hard as he can to be the best rider on the track.

“One thing about him is he loves the sport and is very committed. He wants to grow in the sport and he dreams of one day being like Conner Fields, the Olympic champion in BMX.

“I think his future is bright because he wants BMX. It’s not us pushing him but he pushes us and all we do is try and support. God willing we believe he will go places.”

Gore’s victory at the weekend came hard on the heels of another impressive display in South Africa earlier this month where he came second in the SA BMX National Age Groups Series.

Gore’s racing skills have already seen him being crowned the Zimbabwe nationals champion in his first year on the track last year, which earned him respect amongst the riders at the Harare BMX Club, a fitting achievement by the young rider.

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HARARE - A  solitary Liberty Chakoroma strike was all Ngezi Platinum Stars needed to dump Bulawayo giants Highlanders out of the Chibuku Super Cup and progress to the final.  

Chakoroma made no mistake after Ngezi won a penalty on 62 minutes. Bosso defender Peter Muduhwa handled inside the box under pressure to clear his lines, which all but sealed the victory for the newboys as Chakoroma successfully converted.

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Ngezi Platinum Stars’ victory sets the stage for an intriguing final between the two platinum mining sides after FC Platinum triumphed 3-0 against Harare City in the other semi-final on Saturday.

The defeat to the Bulawayo giants dashed their dream for a league and cup double. Highlanders are now left to fight for the Castle Premiership title if they entertain any hopes of ending the season with some silverware.

With three matches left in the Castle Premiership title race, Bosso trail log leaders CAPS United by a single point with 53 points. They will be counting on some twist and turns to topple the Green Machine from the top of the log.

Coming into yesterday’s match, Bosso were on a six-match winning streak but they came unstuck from a disciplined performance by Ngezi Platinum Stars who are in their debut season in the top flight league.

With many having not given Tonderai Ndiraya’s charges a chance against an in-form Highlanders, the former Dynamos coach had the last laugh defeating the much-fancied opponents.

“We are a small team while Highlanders are the giants of Zimbabwean football so coming here to Barbourfields and getting a positive result is a huge achievement,” an elated Ndiraya said after match.

“We are over the moon, the objective was to try to make it to the final and we did just that. Contrary to sentiments by our opposition coach that we were coming here to park the bus, our game plan was actually to play an open game.”

Backed by their multitudes of supporters, the Bulawayo giants were the first to settle creating some early chances but were mostly denied by Ngezi Platinum Stars’ impressive goalkeeper Nelson Chadya.

For Ngezi Platinum Stars in the early stages of the match, it was only a combination of poor finishing and at times good defending that prevented Highlanders from getting goals.

Bosso striker Gabriel Nyoni could have opened the scoring in the 16th minute but watched his header miss the target by a few inches after connecting a Tendai Ngulube cross.

Arguably the man-of-the-match for commendably marshalling his defence Patson Jaure almost gifted Nyoni with a chance in the 30th minute after failing to clear inside the box but the Bosso man directed his shot wide with Chadya to beat.

Ngezi Platinum Stars, however, came back fighting in the second half and were duly rewarded when Chakoroma converted from 12 yards to seal a memorable victory. Bosso tried to come back into the game but found the Ngezi defence unyielding.

After the match, Bosso gaffer Erol Akbay was a disappointed man.

“I’m disappointed with the result because we had hoped to make it to the final. We failed to play compact football and allowed our opponents to come at us,” said Akbay.

FC Platinum and Ngezi will now battle it out for the Chibuku Super Cup $75 000 winners’ cheque and the right to represent the country in the Caf Confed Cup.

Ndiraya will surely be out for redemption in this year’s after losing out in last year’s final to Harare City, while he still interim coach at Harare giants Dynamos.

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HARARE - Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Tonderai Ndiraya hailed his team’s feat of reaching the Chibuku Super Cup final as a great achievement.

The platinum miners beat giants Highlanders 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday to book a final date with FC Platinum, who defeated Harare City 3-0 in the other semi-final at Mandava Stadium on Saturday.

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Defender Liberty Chakoroma was the unlikely hero when he converted a second half penalty that sent Bosso packing out of the country’s most prestigious knockout tournament.

With Highlanders sitting on a six-game unbeaten run in the league and the match set for Barbourfields, Ngezi went into the last-four clash as underdogs.

“Not many gave us a chance against Highlanders but we believed it and when we stepped onto the pitch we realised it was possible,” Ndiraya told the Daily News.

“From a fighter’s point of view; it was amazing what the side did. These boys have shown a lot of character and credit should go to them. For a team coming from Division One playing in the country’s biggest tournament for the first time, I think it’s a great achievement.

“Since I came here in June, every one of them (the players), the whole team over this entire stretch of time, has kind of grown together and we have given each other so much support. It’s really fun to watch this team grow.

“We are very happy and glad with the help from our management. They are very supportive and I think this is the best way to reward them. Just being in the final for us I think it’s a huge achievement regardless of what will happen in the final.”

Ngezi showed their intent from the first round when they dispatched Hwange 3-1 before trouncing Tsholotsho 4-1 in the quarter-finals.

Looking forward to the final, Ndiraya is optimistic his side can cause another upset. 

“It’s going to be an epic one and a very tight contest,” Ndiraya said. “They are playing well and are in the title race. But we will do everything that we can in the final. One thing for sure is that it will not be easy for FC Platinum. We will definitely give them a good run for their money.”

Ndiraya said the prospect of playing in Africa was a source of inspiration for his boys from the start.

“We sat down with the boys from the start telling them how opportunities will come. I am glad they listened to the call and it’s one game from achieving the big one,” he said.

“Playing in Africa has been our major motivation. Of course the decision to participate lies with the management but it is a great feeling. Our immediate task for now is to beat FC Platinum.”

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HARARE - The Federation of International Cricketers Association (Fica) says their door remains wide open for Zimbabwe should the local cricketers apply for affiliation with them again.

In 2014, Fica made concerted efforts to help the now-defunct Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers Association (ZPCA) formalise their registration with the international players’ representative board but failed to reach common ground.

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In view of local players’ recent regrets over the fall out after delays in the payments of their match fees and new contracts as well as Zimbabwe convenor of selectors Tatenda Taibu’s call for a local players union, the Daily News spoke to Fica executive chairman Tony Irish on the issues surrounding the nasty fall out and the way forward.

Irish said his association invested time in their efforts to see ZPCA gain affiliation while he also rubbished allegations of an unholy alliance with the then ZPCA chief executive Eliah Zvimba.

“Yes both Fica and Saca (South Africa Players Association) put a lot of effort into assisting the Zimbabwe players and the newly-established players association in 2014. Our efforts were primarily in time all the time we put in to this but Fica also made a small financial contribution specifically to assist ZPCA to pay for an office facility,” Irish said.

“Players associations are about improving the situation of all the players not just a few at the top. We were assisting ZPCA to improve things for the national players and the franchise players at the time. When we heard that certain players wanted to do their own deal which was outside the collective arrangement, Fica decided that it no longer wished to be involved as this was against the fundamental principles of a players association.”

On the issue of an unholy alliance with Zvimba, Irish said, the accusations were baseless.

“The players themselves had appointed Zvimba to run ZPCA and we assisted him only in this capacity,” he said.

“Since Zvimba was terminated we have had very little communication with him. We are, however, prepared to work with anyone the players appoint, but if they appoint someone then they also need to support that person in his work and not undermine him in the job he is trying to do for them.”

On Taibu’s opinion that the local players should have a union that represents them and whether the formation of one would help the country in any way, Irish said that was the way to go.

“A players association will definitely assist in allowing players to focus on performance on the field. Both the players and Zimbabwe Cricket in general will benefit from a responsible and properly-run players association,” Irish said.

“The vast majority of people will tell you that this has been the case in South Africa. Well run players associations look after players in many ways and it’s not just about contracts and money.”

“As far as we are concerned, Zimbabwe currently doesn’t have a fully functional players association. If, however, the players re-established their players association and we were confident that the players are united in this then we would probably re-consider affiliation with Fica going forward.”

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HARARE - Dynamos' off-field problems continue to mount after CBZ Bank Limited was awarded a writ of execution to attach the club’s property and that of former executive members owing to a 2011 debt.

With interest rates and legal costs, DeMbare are now required to pay approximately $250 000 to offset the debt according to the writ of execution handed down by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku on October 7 this year.

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The Glamour Boys have failed to service a loan with the bank which dates back to 2011 when they used the funds borrowed from the bank to travel to Algeria for their African Champions League qualifier against MC Algiers.

Besides the club, the other five respondents listed on the writ of execution include current board chairperson Bernard Marriot Lusengo and former executives Farai Munetsi, Michael George Ignatius, Richard Chiminya and Harrison Mbewe.

Munetsi, Ignatius, Chiminya and Mbewe were in the executive committee that applied for the loan on behalf of the club hence they have been named as respondents in the suit.

“You are required and directed to attach and take into execution the movable goods of Dynamos Football Club, the above mentioned 1st Defendant, . . . Ignatius, the above mentioned 2nd Defendant, . . . Mbewe, the above mentioned 4th Defendant . . . and  . . . Munetsi, the above mentioned 5th Defendant and . . . Lusengo, the above mentioned 6th Defendant and of the same cause to be realised the sum of $247 505,75 plus interest @ 30 percent p/a from 27/3/12 until date of issuing summons together with costs on a Legal practitioner and client scale for CBZ Bank Limited, the Plaintiff, which it recovered by judgment of this Court dated 21st of June 2012, in the above-mentioned suit,” Justice Chidyausiku instructed the Sherriff of the High Court.      

Bailiffs have already attached a number of movable properties from the respondents’ homes and now awaiting removal.

In an unsuccessful bid to try and block the attachment of their property, lawyers representing the former executive members had written to Muvingi and Mugadza Legal Practitioners, who are representing CBZ in the matter.

“We engaged your client and it was agreed that our clients will be excused from payment of the debt. Your client undertook to pursue the football club and members of the current management,” reads the letter.

“May we advise that other debtors who excused our clients were paid through attachment of gate takings at home matches and garnishee of Dynamos dues from the PSL.”

This legal battle between DeMbare and CBZ has dragged on since 2012 which has left some of the affected respondents crying foul over the matter.

“We were acting as agents on behalf of the club when we applied for the loan from CBZ and I think it is unfair for us to be persecuted for this debt when we long left Dynamos,” said one of the respondents.

“Dynamos, the club and the current board should have serviced this debt a long time ago rather than keep it under wraps; look, now it is affecting some of us who are no longer associated with the club in any way.”

The Daily News was shown a letter written by Marriot and addressed to the former executive members when they were booted out in 2011.

“The Board of Directors of Dynamos Football Club (Pvt) Ltd at their meeting held on Saturday June 25, 2011 unanimously resolved to dissolve the present Executive Committee of Dynamos Football Club, which they hereby do,” reads the letter.

“You have now ceased being . . . of Dynamos Football Club with effect from the 25th June 2011. Please be advised that the board is not obliged to give or state the reason for this action.”

The former executive member said: “Surely, this letter clearly states that I have nothing more to do with this club since our executive was dissolved. Even though we applied for the loan, it was on behalf of the club not in our personal capacities.”

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HARARE - Those who have frequented the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) say this year’s edition, which took place this past weekend, was a poor cousin of last year’s classy edition held at the Durban International Convention Centre.

Be that as it may, it could not mask the disappointment felt particularly by Zimbabweans in the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg on Saturday night when Jah Prayzah didn’t turn up to receive this year’s MTV Africa Music Awards Listener's Choice gong.

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I, along with several Zimbabweans at awards, could not understand why “Soja rinoenda kure,” as Jah Prayzah prefers to call himself, could abandon the war at the victory parade. With many in the Dome throwing around who, what and why questions when Jah Prayzah was declared the winner, the Zimbabweans at the event couldn’t understand why the “Jerusarema” singer had stayed away from the biggest music stage in Africa.

According to Jah Prayzah’s manager, Keen Mushapaidze, the Zimbabwean music star could not attend the awards because he had lined up some concerts this past weekend.

“We did not attend the awards ceremony because we had other pressing obligations here in Zimbabwe. It did not make sense to shift goal posts on our promoters and fans because of the awards ceremony,” Mushapaidze.

This is very confusing coming from a manager of an artiste who claims to be ambitious. On the surface, the huge amount Jah Prayzah has invested in videos such as Watora Mari and Mudhara Vachauya, is indicative of an ambitious artiste ready to take his career to the next stage. How then did fail to attend the event and capitalise on the limelight he has been seeking all along?

Interestingly, among the Zimbabweans at the MTV Africa Music Awards ceremony was Walter Wanyanya-the founder of a local arts development organization called Ngoma Nehosho. Wanyanya, who also manages rising star Bryan K, was with the “Heavy Machine” hit-maker at the event.

The music promoter and manager believes that Zimbabwean musicians will benefit from attending such events whether nominated or not.

“Ever since I took over as Bryan’s manager I have tried to expose him to the biggest music platforms on the continent. I also took him to the MTV Africa Music Awards held in Durban last year so that he can aspire to perform on the same stage and other similar events,” Wanyanya told the Daily News.

It is therefore clear that Jah Prayzah spurned a big opportunity by not turning up at the awards. Awards of this nature present numerous networking opportunities for artistes. At the MTV Africa Music Awards, for example, nominees are normally booked in the same hotel a couple of days before the gongs which makes it possible for them to interact .It is during this time that some musicians agree on collaborations.

Another aspect which makes the MTV Africa Music Awards attractive is the pre-party which is attended by all the nominated artistes where they get more opportunities to share notes.

Given the foregoing, one can only wonder why Jah Prayzah failed to create time for the awards since he was nominated a long time ago.

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HARARE - Gospel musician, Elias Musakwa, has been dragged to court for allegedly threatening to shoot dead his neighbour after he had reported him to police for making noise during functions hosted at his house.

Musakwa, of Ruwa, appeared before Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti on Friday facing contravention of Section 186 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act on charges of threats of future violence.

He was released on $100 bail and ordered to continue residing at the given address and not interfere with the witness, as part of conditions.

Musakwa, 48, was remanded to November 8 pending finalisation of the case.

The complainant is Kennedy Mudukuti, 28, also of Ruwa.

Prosecutor, Nancy Chandakaona, alleged that sometime in September this year, Mudukuti filed a complaint against Musakwa at Ruwa Police Station.

He alleged that Musakwa was causing noise pollution in the neighbourhood, as he played music loudly at his house during functions.

The court heard that police officers from Ruwa proceeded to Musakwa’s residence and cautioned him of criminal nuisance.

This did not go down well with Musakwa who allegedly planned to confront the complainant later about the issue.

It was alleged that on October 19 this year, the Wanga Murena hit-maker saw Mudukuti by his gate and confronted him.

The court heard that he threatened to shoot him dead, if he continued to take their matters to the police.

Musakwa reportedly warned Mudukuti that he and his family would be in “serious trouble” if they interfered with functions that he frequently held at his residence.

The threats made Mudukuti uncomfortable, compelling him to notify the police.

Musakwa was subsequently arrested.

HARARE - MDC secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora, has told People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Tendai Biti, to “follow his sheep” after more members of his party defected over the weekend.

Biti’s party members defected to the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC.

PDP activists — Don Mavhudzi and Brian Kanzunzuma — turned up at an MDC rally on Sunday announcing they had made the decision to cross the floor.

Mwonzora said the continued defections by PDP members to the MDC were proof that the party was more “credible” and the only plausible route to eclipse President Robert Mugabe in the approaching 2018 elections.

“We have had several members of other parties, including Zanu PF, who have defected to the MDC. We are welcoming them back,” Mwonzora said while addressing a rally in Msasa on Sunday.

“I also want to give this message to my friend. He knows himself. We went to school together,” he said in clear reference to Biti.

“You left the party but your sheep have seen the light and are now flocking back home. My friend, follow your sheep. We will welcome you back,” Mwonzora said.

In recent days, PDP has lost the party’s vice president Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, deputy national chairman Watchy Sibanda and deputy secretary-general Tongai Matutu.

Other former PDP bigwigs that have left the party include former deputy organising secretary Gift Mabhena and Gladys Mathe.

On his part, Biti is on record saying he will “never” re-join MDC.

In reaction to the defections, Biti said what Zimbabwe needs is a “strong converged opposition and not another large awkward Zanu (PF) oligopoly infiltrated by pseudo democrats”.

He added that although PDP was disappointed to have “lost courageous and esteemed comrades”, the embattled party would not hold their decision to dump those against them.

The former Finance minister said “the biggest enemy of democracy was Zanu PF which was plotting how to make Zimbabweans suffer more” and “it needed to be fought by a coalition as it would never reform itself out of power”.

HARARE - Zimbabwe has seen an increase in the number of civil protesters — anti-President Robert Mugabe demonstrators not aligned to any political party — in the past months, a human rights group has said.

In the country’s political history, protests have always been led and taken part in by members of opposition parties and civic groups.

In a report, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), said the number of civil protestors recorded between July and September this year stood at 3 383.

“An intriguing phenomenon has been the identity of the victims, traditionally victims of political violence were members or supporters of established political parties,” ZPP said.

“However, there has been a marked increase in a group of victims identified as ‘unknown’.

“In September 2015 — 41,4 percent of the victims were identified as unknown and in September 2016 the figure has almost doubled to 81,9 percent,” the organisation added.

ZPP said “the increase in the number of unknown victims of violence is indicative of the rise in the number of protesters who do not belong to mainstream political parties but are part of a growing socio-political movement in Zimbabwe”.

Mugabe’s government has been battling to quash rising dissent from protesters who are demanding his immediate resignation due to grossly mismanaging Zimbabwe’s once flouring economy, turning a blind eye to curb glaring corruption by his officials and failing to fulfil his 2013 election promises, particularly to create 2,2 million new jobs.

Several non-politically aligned groups have emerged in the form of #Tajamuka, #ThisFlag movement, #ThisGown and a host of other groups calling for the 92-year-old leader to step down.

The protesters further blame the government of failing to arrest the serious cash crisis and improve the people’s poor living conditions.

However, as the groups took to the streets, police responded through brutal attacks, water-spraying and teargassing the demonstrators.

“State-sponsored violence is pervasive in Zimbabwe and the statistics recorded in September point to a shocking reality of how violence is perpetrated by State institutions,” ZPP said.

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HARARE - Relief agencies working with government in developmental programmes including food aid — have warned they could suspend funding if there is lack of transparency in the distribution of resources which are meant for vulnerable groups.

This comes as government has spiritedly batted away allegations of partisan distribution of food aid in the impoverished communities.

At an emergency meeting held in Harare yesterday between the Labour and Social Welfare ministry and its developmental partners — it was revealed that government’s biggest partner in the distribution of grain — the World Food Programme (WFP) had received more than 1 000 complaints in six months from aggrieved communities.

“We just started the hotline this year. From April to now, we have already received more than 1 000 calls and people raise all kinds of issues from the selection of beneficiaries, issues related to registration, from the quantity of the food basket even issues related to exclusion of vulnerable households or wrong inclusion of certain households,” said WFP  head of Vulnerability Analysis Unit, Joao Manja.

“We are in the process of actually hiring the services of an external consultant who will probably with an independent eye, analyse these reports and assess how this could be substantiated.  62 percent of our callers have been females so far.

“We are guided by humanitarian principles, humanity neutrality, and gender equality.

“These are the torches that illuminate WFPs programmes and we cannot move away from that, we are really strict about these principles. Credibility and transparency of our systems are an issue,” he added.

United States Agency for International Development (USAid) Humanitarian Assistance and Resilience office director, Jason Taylor said lack of credibility in drought relief programmes would affect future funding.

“We take the issue of El Nino extremely seriously and have been working very hard to mobilise resources, that said we also take the concerns around partisan targeting of assistance extremely seriously and doing everything we can to follow up on whether or not it exists in our areas of operation or outside those areas of operation and,” said Taylor.

“The reasons or our ability to advocate for future resources depends on our ability and excellence in implementing our current resources and ensuring they are distributed in a way that is verifiable, accountable, evidence based, transparent and in keeping with other humanitarian principles.”

Rights and opposition groups have accused government of distributing food on partisan lines —preferring to reward Zanu PF supporters at the expense of vulnerable groups that are not necessarily the former liberation movement’s backers.

Labour and Social Welfare minister Prisca Mupfumira who hosted the relief agencies and rights groups at her offices yesterday, dismissed allegations of partisan food distribution.

“I think its lack of information and not understanding how the system works. When people are given food no one requests a party card. The accusation is not true,” said Mupfumira.

“The president himself has said no Zimbabwean should starve of hunger.  It’s not along any party lines but for everyone.

“Assessment of individuals needing assistance is not done on party lines, religious lines or anything of that sort.

“I have no problem with any MP or any Senator wanting to know what is happening, my problem arises when they want to be the ones distributing the food. Whenever there is distribution it must be done through social welfare.

“The position is clear. That’s why we have the Food Mitigation committee, the drought relief committee and social welfare. Yes there can be a distress call from an MP, but we do the distribution through social welfare. I want them to be interested but I don’t want them to be part of the distribution,” added Mupfumira.

The United Kingdom Department of International Development (DFID) humanitarian advisor Mira Gratier said the agency took seriously allegations of politicisation of resources.

“Although we might not be funding some of the programmes, they affect all of us.  They affect our credibility collectively in being able to respond.

“Our focus is to making sure the resources we have are able to reach the most vulnerable and I think we need the entire system to be transparent.

“We welcome the leadership in ensuring this, not just for food aid but all the different sectors and we welcome the leadership to ensure that this is going to be the case,” said Gratier.

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HARARE - Disaffected war veterans, who appear to be revelling in Zanu PF’s stunning loss to Temba Mliswa in the Norton by-election, have warned President Robert Mugabe that if he contests the 2018 elections, they could once again campaign for an opposition candidate.

Forthright war vets secretary-general Victor Matemadanda also told the Daily News yesterday that ex-combatants, who played a major role in the weekend by-election, would perform “another Norton” in 2018 if Mugabe stood in those keenly-anticipated polls.

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This comes after Mliswa knocked cold Zanu PF’s Ronald Chindedza to win the Norton constituency, which fell vacant earlier this year following the expulsion of war veterans’ leader Christopher Mutsvangwa from the ruling party — which is being ravaged by its deadly factional and succession wars.

“We are happy Mliswa won and Zanu PF should know that we are plotting another Norton for 2018 after realising that Zanu PF in its current state cannot be the vehicle with which the people’s aspirations can be realised, hence we will back a party that will field a candidate that we feel is incorruptible.

“We are going to support anyone who is going to represent the people’s aspirations with the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) acting as a fair referee in the election.

“Should we come to the conclusion that there is none among the candidates that the parties will have fielded, we are in the process of amending our constitution ahead of our congress, and there the association will decide if it seconds its own candidate without it necessarily turning into a political party,” Matemadanda said.

War veterans, since falling out with Mugabe, have been working with pro-democracy and opposition groups to help end their former patron’s rule, which they now openly say has been disastrous.

The former freedom fighters had been Mugabe and Zanu PF’s strongest pillars of support over the past five decades, playing particularly significant roles to keep the nonagenarian in power in the hotly-disputed 2000 and 2008 elections which were both marred by serious violence and the murder of hundreds of MDC supporters.

But they served Mugabe with divorce papers in July to end a long relationship which dated back to the days of the 1970s liberation struggle. This was after the war veterans’ executive issued a damning communiqué in which they said churlishly that the nonagenarian was now “a hard sell” for the 2018 national elections.

Subsequently, authorities launched a brutal crackdown against the war veterans, resulting in the arrest of a number of their leaders, including Mutsvangwa, while also moving to as expel them from Zanu PF.

On Saturday they gained a measure of revenge when Mliswa won the Norton constituency which they viewed as theirs because of Mutsvangwa’s hotly-disputed expulsion from the ruling party.

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HARARE - Newly-elected Norton legislator Temba Mliswa says a grand opposition coalition led by indomitable MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and including war veterans, will beat President Robert Mugabe and his warring Zanu PF hands down in the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections.

Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, the gutsy Mliswa said among the lessons that long-suffering Zimbabweans and the country’s brutalised opposition could learn from his stunning victory last Saturday, was that they could once again defeat Mugabe and Zanu PF, just as Tsvangirai and the MDC had done in 2008 — as the ruling party was “nothing” without the backing of war veterans.

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Indeed, and despite battering and bribing voters with residential stands, as well as printing and distributing fake MDC flyers to confuse the people of Norton, Zanu PF was given a royal hiding in last weekend’s keenly-followed by-election in the constituency which was resoundingly won by the former ruling party bigwig.

Mliswa blew out of the water Zanu PF’s little-known Ronald Chindedza to win the Norton by-election, which came about following the expulsion of former war veterans’ leader and Cabinet minister Christopher Mutsvangwa from the ruling party — which is being devoured by its seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars.

He polled 8 927 votes to Chindedza’s 6 192, to deliver a hammer blow to Zanu PF which was bidding to avoid defeat in Mugabe’s own backyard, as well as preventing disgruntled war veterans who campaigned for Mliswa from gaining a measure of revenge on Mugabe and his former liberation movement, following their recent hounding out of the party.

This was also despite the fact that the Norton by-election had been marked by violence, the controversial parcelling out of residential stands and mega rallies by vice presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, among other prominent Zanu PF politicians, as they drummed up support for Chindedza.

Analysts and opposition officials who spoke to the Daily News at the weekend also said Mliswa’s unexpected victory had raised optimism among both pro-democracy groups and the ranks of the opposition that the 2018 national elections could be up for the taking.

Speaking yesterday, Mliswa said the support that he had received from Tsvangirai and the MDC, war veterans, village heads and ordinary Zimbabweans, among many other people, was both “amazing and critical”, and a sign-post to what would happen in 2018 if “like-minded people come together”.

“To be honest and truthful, I wouldn’t have won this seat had it not been for Morgan Tsvangirai. He promised to support me to make sure that I win the election and true to his word, he came to the party. He dispatched his team and MDC vice president Nelson Chamisa was actually on the ground campaigning for me.

“Even when Zanu PF unleashed violence on us, Chamisa was caught in the crossfire and inhaled teargas just like all of us. It’s a fact of life that Tsvangirai has the people. It took him just to advise his structures to work with me and victory was delivered.

“The war veterans also played a crucial role in my victory. That is why it is important for Tsvangirai to lead the planned opposition grand coalition in 2018 which will involve everyone, including war veterans,” Mliswa said.

“If Tsvangirai decides to accommodate Mai Mujuru, then so be it, but that man is not only popular and genuine, he is also a natural leader and a father figure. The people of Zimbabwe like him and we can’t take that away from him.

“The problem with many of the country’s leadership is that they only think about themselves and not the people. I am grateful for the support I received from Tsvangirai and the MDC, as well as war veterans and the PDP (People’s Democratic Party),” he added.

Elaborating further on the possible role that Mujuru could take in the mooted coalition, Mliswa said “the problem with People First is that it has relegated the founders to the terraces”, after “she was invited to the party”.

“My concern is that Mujuru is trying to relegate people like (former State Security minister Didymus) Mutasa and (former Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare) Gumbo when they are the founders of the party. Those people principally suffered for Mujuru.

“In Norton, we stood up against the brutal Zanu PF regime. The election was testing the coalition and electoral reforms and I don’t have to be a member of the MDC to support Tsvangirai. Zanu PF rigs elections but without war veterans they are nothing.

“People should also realise that both Mujuru and (vice president) Emmerson Mnangagwa were hand-picked by Mugabe while Tsvangirai has his own massive constituency. So let’s all back Tsvangirai for 2018,” he said.

Mliswa’s Norton victory has put the burning Zanu PF in more turmoil, amid divisive accusations and counter accusations of internal sabotage by warring factions angling to take-over the reigns from Mugabe.

Meanwhile, MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu told the Daily News yesterday that Mliswa’s victory offered the opposition “a launch pad” for the proposed grand coalition.

“This is very good news that creates the possibility of having a grand coalition to confront the Zanu PF regime in 2018. United we are stronger and divided we are weaker. The people of Zimbabwe can rest assured that the coalition is coming. The Zanu PF regime will be history come the next elections,” he said.

Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire said any attempts to derail the mooted grand coalition would not prevail.

“As ZPF, we know there are people desperate to scuttle the proposed coalition of opposition political parties and part of the strategy is straining relationships among the top leaders of the parties involved.

“However, we know that the will of the people, which is to see a united opposition in 2018, will be respected and is on firm ground. It can never be derailed by contrived statements cooked by enemies of the people and mischievously attributed to our leaders,” he said.

Speaking at the weekend, political analyst and former civic leader, Gladys Hlatywayo, urged the opposition to build on Mliswa’s victory which she said had been made necessary by a united approach.

“Lessons learnt here are that a united front of the opposition  coupled with lack of elite cohesion in the ruling party, can be lethal to Zanu PF. The opposition needs to be crafty going forward, especially on the reform agenda, to ensure that the election process is democratic and immune to the electoral shenanigans of yesteryear.

“The united front forged by the opposition was crucial. The war veterans ditched the ruling party and supported Mliswa. Having been part of the ruling party himself, Mliswa was able to withstand Zanu PF’s intimidation and violence and fought for the seat.

“The manner in which (Zanu PF national political commissar Saviour) Kasukuwere conceded defeat also signals a willingness to re-strategise on Zanu PF’s part and the opposition must equally up its game,” Hlatywayo said.

University of Zimbabwe politics professor, Eldred Masunungure, said while it was too early to read “too much” into Mliswa’s shock victory, Zanu PF could expect more shocks in the 2018 polls.

“One swallow does not make a summer and this is only one victory out of dozens other by-elections since 2013. In addition, Norton has traditionally been an MDC seat and the 2013 result was rather weird.

“Nonetheless it is a cardinal lesson for Zanu PF that patronage has its limits. You can dole out 9 000 stands but still get 6 000 votes. This is also so, considering the amount of effort that was put in by Zanu PF, with two vice presidents going there to try and persuade and force the electorate, or both.

“It is a lesson for 2018 that they can expect to see repeated. They are reaping what they are sowing through the partisan distribution of food aid and other electoral ills,” Masunungure said.

Zanu PF insiders also told the Daily News that Mliswa’s victory was a significant blow to the ruling party, adding that disaffected party bigwigs and war veterans, who had a stunning fall out with Mugabe earlier this year, had vigorously campaigned to ensure that Zanu PF did not win the seat.

The ex-combatants served Mugabe with divorce papers in July to end a long relationship which dated back to the days of the 1970s liberation struggle. This was after the war veterans’ executive issued a damning communiqué in which they said churlishly that the nonagenarian was now “a hard sell” for the 2018 national elections.

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DRINKING binges and domestic violence are among the major circumstances under which murders occur, Police said, as it recorded 16 killings in a week — signifying a 23 percent increase in the cases.

Police national spokesperson, Charity Charamba, said some people had lost the respect for the sanctity of life.

“During the week ending October 11, 2016, murder cases rose by three...from 13 cases the previous week to 16 cases during the week under review translating to a 23 percent increase,” Charamba said in a statement on Monday.

“Five of the cases emanated from disputes after drinking binges, three as a result of domestic violence while the remaining cases were due to other causes particularly where the victims would be found dead after being stabbed by unknown accused persons,” she said.

Meanwhile, 17 people died in road traffic accidents in three days, with police attributing most accidents to human error.

Seven people died on Friday night after a Mitsubishi Canter they were travelling in collided head on with another vehicle in Guruve.

Six more people were killed along the Harare- Bulawayo road near Kadoma, in another head on collision on Saturday night.

On Sunday morning along the same highway, four people died after a Toyota Wish and a Nissan March collided head on, according to the police.

“This has become common to see drivers encroaching on our roads without thinking of consequences and checking for safety. Tyres must be checked constantly and drivers must ensure that roads are clear before overtaking,” Charamba said.

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HARARE - Higher Education minister, Jonathan Moyo, has warned “factionalists” who are “corruptly using public and State institutions” that they will soon be caught, exposed and face the consequences.

His statements come as he is facing allegations of corruption after siphoning over $400 000 from the State-controlled Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef).

He has claimed that the allegations being levelled against him were a political plot, apparently being pushed by a Zanu PF faction reportedly led by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa — popularly known as Team Lacoste.

“Sooner or later the capture and corrupt use of public and State institutions to enable a factional power grab will be exposed with consequences!” Moyo wrote on his Twitter account.

He went on to retweet a tweet from one of his followers, Nduku Nduna, which read, “Team Lacoste is busy wasting resources fighting Prof (professor) Moyo instead of fighting poverty”.

Zanu PF is embroiled in factional fights pitting Team Lacoste and Generation 40 (G40), and Moyo is alleged to be a key member of the latter.

Moyo, who is jointly accused with his deputy Godfrey Gandawa in the Zimdef corruption case, is facing serious fraud, money laundering and criminal abuse of office charges following donations — including bicycles he gave to his Tsholotsho North constituency — which the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) alleges was not done above board.

But Moyo has blamed his political rivals in the factional torn Zanu PF of trying to silence him.

At one point, the former Information minister took to Twitter to plead his case and equated himself to the legendary Robin Hood, who robbed the rich to give to the poor.

In an interview with the Daily News recently, soon after the corruption allegations emerged, Moyo said he had done nothing unlawful, claiming everything was above board.

And in a thinly-disguised attack on Mnangagwa, whom he clearly believes is behind the attempts by authorities to arrest him on the charges, Moyo also said he was “sick and tired of Gukurahundi politicians and their mouthpieces poking their dirty noses over what we can and cannot have in our communities, as if we ever poke our noses into their communities”.

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HARARE - Local Government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, is the latest minister in recent weeks to formally come under the cosh from his own constituency, as Zanu PF’s seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars continue to rip the former liberation movement apart.

Kasukuwere, also Zanu PF’s national political commissar, has landed in trouble after Parliament yesterday recommended that he be arrested over alleged criminal abuse of office during his tenure at the Indigenisation ministry, where he stands accused of misrepresenting facts on $10 million meant for communities in the rich diamond mining area of Marange.

This comes as Zanu PF is still burning over a corruption storm in which Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo and his deputy Godfrey Gandawa are facing a slew of charges relating to alleged graft at their ministry.

Zanu PF insiders say both Kasukuwere and Moyo are key members of the party faction going by the nickname Generation 40 (G40), which is rabidly opposed to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeding President Robert Mugabe.

At the same time, analysts said yesterday that the army’s unusual statements that the government should work more decisively to root out corruption by pursuing public sector officials implicated in graft has fuelled fears that Zanu PF’s succession ructions have become even more intractable, and that the country’s service chiefs are now heavily at the heart of the ugly infighting.

In the drama in the National Assembly, the parliamentary portfolio committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, which is led by youthful legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena, tabled a detailed report on its findings on the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust (MZCSOT), which was set up to empower communities living in the area.

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But before Wadyajena could table the report, there was heated debate among MPs after the clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda, and the acting speaker, Mable Chinomona, tried blocking it, causing mayhem as legislators from both Zanu PF and the MDC protested heavily and delayed proceedings by almost an hour.

Chinomona sought to have the report toned down before it could be presented, but eventually relented after she faced resistance from members across the political divide.

MDC Chitungwiza North MP  Godfrey Sithole, and Zanu PF MPs led by Joseph Chinotimba and Oliver Mandipaka, were particularly vociferous while arguing that the report should be debated.

“As veterans, we did not fight the (liberation) war so that we can have corrupt leaders being protected here in Parliament either by yourself as speaker or by anyone.

“We have seen in other countries like South Africa where even the president (Jacob) Zuma is roasted in Parliament. If someone is corrupt, let him face the music because the president has spoken against it on several occasions,” an angry Chinotimba, said.

When order prevailed, Wadyajena, whose detractors link him to the Mnangagwa Zanu PF faction, said Parliament should order both police and Zacc to make Kasukuwere account for the allegations of criminal abuse of office which happened during his time as Indigenisation minister.

He added that the evidence his committee had gathered after visiting the Chiadzwa diamond fields persuaded it to conclude that the minister had misled the nation and lied to Mugabe about the trust.

“With the findings of this enquiry revealing clear deception bordering on criminal abuse of office, the committee calls upon the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, the Auditor General and all relevant authorities to institute formal proceedings within 14 days from the adoption of this report to investigate the conduct of ... Kasukuwere, officials from the ministry of Youth,  Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board (Nieeb) as well as the diamond mining companies in relation to the MZCSOT.

“The committee further recommends the president ... establishes a commission of inquiry led by a judge or any other suitable candidate to investigate the intricate web of deceit, corruption and fraud related to the establishment and implementation of the MZCSOT.

“Further, that particular attention must be paid to a likely covert strategy meant to discredit and malign the office of the president,” Wadyajena said.

“The ZRP and responsible authorities must work towards concluding the investigation around the alleged externalisation of $500 million by Jinan and possibly other mining companies.

“The commissioner general of the police must issue a statement by November 30th, 2016 on the progress.

“An amendment of the Indigenisation and Economic  Empowerment Act (14:33) as read with the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment General Regulations 2010 and the Mines Minerals Act to reflect the legal status of Community Share Ownership Trusts, as a matter of priority,” his committee added in its report.

Yesterday’s recommendation by Parliament to have Kasukuwere arrested comes as Zacc has widened its investigations into Moyo’s alleged corrupt practices, to include activities that happened 17 years ago.

At the same time, the High Court has been petitioned to compel the police and Zacc to have him arrested over his alleged abuse of money at the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef), which falls under his purview.

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HARARE - Concerned by the simmering tension within some ranks of the opposition — which has the potential of getting in the way of the mooted grand coalition — former vice president and now Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) leader, Joice Mujuru, is doubling her efforts to keep her relations with former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai warm.

Well-placed ZPF sources told the Daily News yesterday that Mujuru had become “acutely aware” of heightened Zanu PF machinations to divide the opposition and disorient their planned alliance, which has spooked the ruling party, ahead of the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections.

This comes as the proposed opposition grand coalition is facing challenges amid reports of premature differences over who should lead such a pact, which is widely seen as the best prospect of ending President Robert Mugabe’s and Zanu PF’s long stay in power.

Both MDC and ZPF officials have variously made divisive statements about who should lead the coalition, even though opposition parties coalescing under the banner of the National Electoral

Reform Agenda (Nera) are yet to firm up the idea of the coalition and pronounce on their leadership principles.

Contacted for comment yesterday, ZPF spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire also fingered Zanu PF for “trying to destabilise opposition parties”, to avoid the formation of a grand coalition.

“The coalition is on course and as parties we have chosen not to do our negotiations in public. As ZPF, we know there are people desperate to scuttle the proposed coalition of political parties and part of the strategy is straining relationships among the top leaders of the parties involved.

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“However, we know that the will of the people, which is to see a united opposition in 2018, will be respected and is on firm ground. It can never be derailed by contrived statements cooked by enemies of the people who mischievously attribute the same statements to our leaders,” he said.

Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka also told the Daily News that coalition talks were ongoing, and that through platforms such as Nera, all parties interested in the alliance were “slowly finding each other”.

“Our position has not changed. Positions are not the issue here but conditions. We are ready to work with others in dealing with the crisis in the country. For now, we are coalescing around issues. The electoral reform agenda is the issue we are coalescing around as political parties.

“For us it (the coalition) is about conditions and not positions. Norton is a prime example of what happens when people work together. So, we are getting there as Zimbabweans,” he said.

Analysts say a united opposition fighting with one purpose would bring to an end Mugabe’s long rule, especially at this time that the country’s economy is dying and the increasingly frail nonagenarian is fighting to keep his warring Zanu PF united.

Mujuru and Tsvangirai signalled their intent to work together last August, in a move which analysts described as “very significant”, when they took part in a massive demonstration in Gweru.

Describing the scenes then as “heart-warming” Tsvangirai showered praises on Mujuru for joining the MDC in its protest and public rally.

“Did anyone ever dream of Mujuru becoming a part of the opposition? I want to congratulate her together with the ZPF leadership for seeing it necessary for us to have this joint programme. It’s not by accident that the MDC and ZPF are here together.

“I know that there will be a lot of talk, especially from Mugabe because he is afraid of the people, and by the end of the day he will even be afraid of leading Zimbabwe. We in the MDC respect Mujuru for the contribution she has made to this country. Mujuru is not the enemy,” he said.

The renewed efforts to unite the opposition comes as newly-elected Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa, has said a grand opposition coalition led by Tsvangirai, and including war veterans, would definitely beat Mugabe and his warring Zanu PF in the 2018 national elections.

Speaking to the Daily News on Wednesday, the gutsy Mliswa said among the lessons that long-suffering Zimbabweans and the country’s brutalised opposition could learn from his stunning victory last Saturday, was that they could once again defeat Mugabe and Zanu PF, just as Tsvangirai and the MDC had done in 2008 — as the ruling party was “nothing” without the backing of war veterans.

Indeed, and despite battering and bribing voters with residential stands, as well as printing and distributing fake MDC flyers to confuse the people of Norton, Zanu PF was given a royal hiding in last weekend’s keenly-followed by-election in the constituency which was resoundingly won by the former ruling party bigwig.

Mliswa blew out of the water Zanu PF’s little-known Ronald Chindedza to win the Norton by-election, which came about following the expulsion of former war veterans’ leader and Cabinet minister Christopher Mutsvangwa from the ruling party — which is being devoured by its seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars.

He polled 8 927 votes to Chindedza’s 6 192, to deliver a hammer blow to Zanu PF which was bidding to avoid defeat in Mugabe’s own backyard, as well as preventing disgruntled war veterans who campaigned for Mliswa from gaining a measure of revenge on Mugabe and his former liberation movement, following their recent hounding out of the party.

This was also despite the fact that the Norton by-election had been marked by violence, the controversial parcelling out of residential stands and mega rallies by vice presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, among other prominent Zanu PF politicians, as they drummed up support for Chindedza.

“To be honest and truthful, I wouldn’t have won this seat had it not been for Morgan Tsvangirai. He promised to support me to make sure that I win the election and true to his word he came to the party. He dispatched his team and MDC vice president Nelson Chamisa was actually on the ground campaigning for me.

“Even when Zanu PF unleashed violence on us, Chamisa was caught in the crossfire and inhaled teargas just like all of us. It’s a fact of life that Tsvangirai has the people. It took him just to advise his structures to work with me and victory was delivered.

“The war veterans also played a crucial role in my victory. That is why it is important for Tsvangirai to lead the planned opposition grand coalition in 2018 which will involve everyone including war veterans,” Mliswa said.

“If Tsvangirai decides to accommodate Mai Mujuru, then so be it, but that man is not only popular and genuine, he is also a natural leader and a father figure. The people of Zimbabwe like him and we can’t take that away from him.

“The problem with many of the country’s leadership is that they only think about themselves and not the people. I am grateful for the support I received from Tsvangirai and the MDC, as well as war veterans and the PDP (People’s Democratic Party),” he added.

Elaborating further on the possible role that Mujuru could take in the mooted coalition, Mliswa said “the problem with People First is that it has relegated the founders to the terraces”, after “she was invited to the party”.

“My concern is that Mujuru is trying to relegate people like (former State Security minister Didymus) Mutasa and (former Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare) Gumbo when they are the founders of the party. Those people principally suffered for Mujuru.

“In Norton, we stood up against the brutal Zanu PF regime. The election was testing the coalition and electoral reforms and I don’t have to be a member of the MDC to support Tsvangirai. Zanu PF rigs elections but without war veterans they are nothing.

“People should also realise that both Mujuru and (vice president) Emmerson Mnangagwa were hand-picked by Mugabe while Tsvangirai has his own massive constituency. So let’s all back Tsvangirai for 2018,” he said.

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HARARE - Midlands made sure the overall Mr Zimbabwe title remained in the province after, new kid on the block Paul Goredema defied odds to walk away with the coveted gong last weekend.

The 27-year-old bodybuilder who recently completed his degree in Business Studies at the Midlands State University, becomes the 16th individual to win the Mr Zimbabwe title in the post-independence era since Nigel Bothwell won the crown in 1980.

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Goredema outclassed seasoned campaigners in his category such as 2008 Mr Zimbabwe Tarirai Chirume, Simbarashe Dube (second place), returning Munashe Mutandirotya and Blessing Nyapimbi (third place).

He takes the mantle from fellow Midlands bodybuilder Champion Chienderamwano, who was ruled out of this year’s competition due to a shoulder injury.

Goredema won the senior men bodybuilding heavyweight category and squared off in the overall line up with senior men light-heavyweight champion and his personal friend Nigel Maphosa also from Midlands and Harare’s Garikayi Mujuru, who had won the middleweight category.

He received a cash prize of $1 000.

“It’s worth everything that I invested and with every effort from the first day I started training I think it’s worth it,” Goredema said after being crowned champion.

“It took me about three months to prepare for this competition and I’m honoured to be the winner though I didn’t expect to be the last man standing... I was shocked.”

Chienderamwano said: “I’m happy for Paul, he worked hard for this title and I’m glad he has managed to keep the Midlands fire burning.

“That’s what we want and like I promised earlier, he is only taking care of the trophy on my behalf; I will come and take it next year when I return to the stage.”

Midlands bodybuilding guru Isaac “Sugar” Chimuchenga was delighted with Goredema’s triumph.

“Midlands has always produced champions and going forward we would want to take the sport seriously so that we try to win every category so that we can compete as Midlands in the overalls,” said Chimuchenga.

“As a senior and trainer I have already laid down a programme for our athletes for next year and even if it means competing in the region, we will go as a team.

“I purposefully pulled out of the championships so that the sponsors would see some of the efforts we are doing in this part of the country and for everyone to see that Midlands is not all about Sugar but a host of all these talented athletes.

“Many thanks to (Mr) Vann Gopal the owner of Muscle and Fitness Gym for availing his facilities free of charge to all the competitors and everyone who is fitness conscious.”

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HARARE - Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford said injuries to key players have  dealt a heavy blow to his side ahead of the two-Test match series against Zimbabwe.

The series gets underway at Harare Sports Club on Saturday and the Asians arrived in the capital last night without their captain Angelo Mathews, who is side-lined by multiple leg injuries.

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In Matthews’ absence, left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will lead the team.

Apart from Mathews, vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal and seamers Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera were all ruled out due to injuries leaving Suranga Lakmal, a veteran of 29 Test matches to lead the seam attack.

Sri Lanka are coming into this series high on confidence after beating Australia at home in their last Test.

“Obviously, it will be different conditions for us. We were on home soil against Australia and we are a lot more comfortable at home so this will be a bit of a challenge for us,” Ford told reporters soon after touching down at Harare International Airport.

“We also have a couple of injuries and some new younger players in the squad.

“He (Mathews) is a world class player, one of the best players in the world so obviously it’s a big loss but when you lose a player like that it’s an opportunity for somebody young to step into his shoes.

“We are on a rebuilding exercise with the Sri Lankan national side, so opportunities for young guys are pretty important. It’s sad not to have Angie with us.”

The Sri Lanka coach also lamented on the little time they have to prepare for the series as there are no tour matches to fine tune to the Zimbabwean conditions.

“Hope it’s not going to affect our play but it is very rushed. We’ve got pretty short preparations,” the South African said.

“We have worked hard back home and we will have to work very hard in the next couple of days and hopefully we are going to hit the ground running when the games start.”

Herath, 38, who is set to become the oldest player to lead a Test team for the first time in 33 years since Somachandra de Silva in 1983, said he was looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s a different challenge but I will take it as a positive I’m sure the guys will do their best because we have a good side — a mixture of experienced and inexperienced players,” Herath said.

“Luckily, I have good experience under a lot of captains so I’m sure I’m going to use that experience against Zimbabwe.”

Sri Lanka Test Squad: Rangana Herath (capt), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, , Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Kasun Madhushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Lahiru Gamage, Suranga Lakmal, Asela Gunaratne

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