BULAWAYO - Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, who is already reeling from a cocktail of hotly-contested corruption charges that have been filed against him over the past few weeks, is facing a fresh onslaught from his enemies within President Robert Mugabe’s warring Zanu PF.

Well-placed sources told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday that development projects running into millions of dollars in the embattled Zanu PF politburo member’s impoverished Tsholotsho North constituency had allegedly been stopped by his party foes.

This comes as anti-graft body, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) — which Moyo says is being used by his Zanu PF enemies to hound him — is reported to be widening its probes into him to include cases which happened 17 years ago.

The impeccable sources who spoke to the Daily News on Sunday, who include former Tsholotsho senator Believe Gaule, said at least four projects, including an irrigation scheme, the resurfacing of local roads and the construction of a local stadium, had been “halted” in the last few weeks — amid claims that this was all a result of Zanu PF’s escalating factional and succession wars.

Moyo and other bigwigs such as Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere stand accused by their ruling party foes of being kingpins of a Zanu PF faction going by the moniker Generation 40 (G40), which is rabidly opposed to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe.

What has particularly frustrated local people, as the Zanu PF fights burn hotter, is that even the construction of a $600 000 120km road from Tsholotsho to Phelandaba Business Centre which was officially launched by Transport minister Joram Gumbo in April this year, has also been halted.

Apparently, the contractor had abandoned the project after resurfacing 46 kilometres, gravelling 18 kilometres and compacting seven more kilometres of the road, due to non-payment of his fees.

The resurfacing of the Tsholotsho Business Centre road which had also been shelved after the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) had pulled the plug on the project in disputed circumstances.

A Daily News On Sunday team which visited the area witnessed equipment intended for the various projects lying abandoned at Tsholotsho Rural District Council’s offices and at high risk of being vandalised.

Gaule said there was enough evidence to show that Zanu PF politics was at play in all this.

“When Transport minister Gumbo came here, he promised that everything (construction of the Tsholotsho to Phelandaba Business Centre road) will be done.

“And true to his word construction started and everything was going on very well until recently where the construction company removed its vehicles from the site due to non-payment from the relevant authorities.

“But my query is what’s really happening. Ever since Moyo took over he has been working very hard, introducing a number of projects. But it seems his opponents are doing their best to bring him down. It’s clear there is a war to destroy him, but in the end the war only destroys innocent people,” Gaule said.

Chief Siphoso also blamed Zanu PF’s deadly infighting for stalling the projects.

“Honestly, how can you have all such powerful community projects stopping at one time? Yes, we know it’s politics, but it should not affect development because as it is we the ordinary people of Tsholotsho are now the ones suffering.

“Right now the rainy season is almost here and obviously the road will not be accessible since the constructors left before completing the job,” he said.

Tsholotsho Rural District Council finance director, Patrick Ngwenya, also blamed Zanu PF’s “intractable factionalism” for the area’s development woes.

“It’s clear that Zanu PF is now putting politics ahead of the people’s welfare. Yes, they may not like Jonathan Moyo in politics, but what about the welfare of the people?

“You can’t stop irrigations, a crucial road that takes people to the major hospital, road surfacing and other things. We as members of the community don’t want to suffer because our leaders are fighting,” Ngwenya said.

Early this month, Zacc swooped on Moyo and his deputy at the ministry of Higher Education, Godfrey Gandawa — accusing them of being involved in multiple serious fraud, money laundering and criminal abuse of office activities involving Zimdef funds.

The ensuing storm has not only exposed Zanu PF’s nasty tribal, factional and succession fissures, but also the ruling party’s gross abuse of State resources to advance its interests and those of its senior officials.

But Moyo has accused Team Lacoste (the Mnangagwa faction in Zanu PF) of working with key players at Zacc to wage a factionally-driven war against him, claims which Zacc denies.

Meanwhile, and separately, Zacc is also said to be investigating Moyo over $5 million which was released for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) promotion which the anti-graft body suspects could have also been improperly handled.

It has also widened its probes to include activities that occurred during Moyo’s tenure at the Constitutional Commission (CC) in 2000, as well as his time at the Information ministry between September 2013 and last year, before the Tsholotsho North MP was appointed Higher Education minister.

Under the new probes, Moyo is being investigated over funds that were paid to Lintas advertising agency by the CC when he was its spokesperson between 1999 and 2000.

The defunct commission was set up by Mugabe to lead the government-driven constitution-making exercise in 2000, in which Zanu PF’s preferred “Vote” campaign was roundly rejected by ordinary Zimbabweans in the ensuing referendum.

Apart from the CC, State media has confirmed that Zacc had extended its investigations to the Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (Impi), a fact-finding process which was set up by Moyo in December 2013 to investigate the state of the country’s media and information sector.

The anti-graft body apparently wants to know details of how the money released to Impi was used, including allowances and salaries set aside for the secretariat.

In the meantime, Moyo’s close ally Kasukuwere had also recently come under the cosh from the duo’s 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, landed in trouble after Parliament recommended last week 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.

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HARARE - Harare’s dire water crisis has led to the emergence of unscrupulous merchants who are making a killing off selling the precious liquid to desperate residents in the capital’s poor townships.

This comes as water levels at the country’s major dams have receded to precarious levels with Zimbabwe’s largest dam, Kariba, said to be at just 9 percent of its capacity.

Zimbabwe’s overall dams are at 42 percent of their capacity.

In Harare, the water situation is so dire that the city has introduced water rationing amid revelations that it is left with four months’ supply of the precious liquid.

Unemployed youths have capitalised on the water woes in stricken townships such as Mabvuku where they “hoard” water at boreholes for resale to desperate residents at $1 per 20 litre container.

They bulldoze their way in the long and winding queues of residents fetching water and fill their containers before slapping a charge on the desperate people who fail to gain access to the boreholes. So brisk is their business that residents said the youths were running huge stocks of water at their homes.

One Mabvuku resident,  Elina Gutu told the Daily News that there is a gang of young men that always arrive at the borehole with cartloads of empty containers only to skip the long queues.

“Vakomana ava havatombomire muline vanongosvika voti ‘ndini ndiripamberi’. Vanogona kuita three hours vachingochera mvura isu takangomira. Kana uchitoda kuchererwa mvura vanoti bhadhara iwe unenge usina mari (These young men do not wait in the queue but simply impose themselves at the front and can spend up to three hours fetching water while people wait. If you approach them they demand that you pay a fee,” Gutu told the Daily News.

Another resident Phanuel Mbiri said area D and old Mabvuku can go for two months without any municipal tap water.

“The boreholes have become easy prey for these ‘waterprenuers’ so women and children now go to places such as churches, pre-schools and private colleges to fetch water.

“At some places, the boreholes use solar pumps so if it is cloudy, access to water becomes even more difficult,” said Mbiri.

Mabvuku councillor Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi said waterpreneurs have taken advantage of the desperation of people to advance their own selfish needs.

“We will be having a meeting with the district officer to come up with a solution to the ‘waterpreneur’ problems.

“What I had earlier suggested was that an individual only fetches a maximum of four containers so that everyone accesses the water,” said Kufahakutizwi.

“Mabvuku and Tafara have always had water problems particularly areas that are on higher ground.

“When we last received municipal tap water it was after two months and that puts a strain on boreholes,” he said.

With Harare requiring a total of 800 megalitres a day to meet its full demand, the city is currently only able to pump 450 megalitres, prompting authorities to introduce water rations.

The water rationing measures come as the Harare City Council (HCC) is owed $513 million in unpaid rates and water bills by cash-strapped consumers, including businesses.

HCC announced at the beginning of October that the council had introduced water rationing because of the precarious supply from Lake Chivero Dam.

Acting water director Hosea Chisango said according to the latest water rationing schedule, Mabvuku gets water at least three times a week.

“The bowsers that we have should afford at least 20 litres to every individual in order for all the residents to benefit. Areas on higher ground may experience problems due to gradient,” he said.

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HARARE - Political violence in Zimbabwe has increased dramatically in 2016, with record levels of assault, abduction and torture recorded as opposition to President Robert Mugabe’s 36-year rule escalates.

About 654 cases of political violence were recorded by a local non-governmental organisation, the Counselling Services Unit (CSU), as of October 21, compared to 476 cases in the whole of 2015.

The CSU found that assaults were overwhelmingly perpetrated by State security forces — including police, military and the secretive Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) — while opposition supporters and civil society activists had been on the receiving end of the increasingly violent treatment.

One activist interviewed, Gift Siziba, a student protest leader at the University of Zimbabwe, said he was abducted by State security agents in August and taken to Zanu PF headquarters in Harare where he was hung from the ceiling by his feet.

“It is at this time that I experienced brutal, callous and inhumane treatment,” he said. “I was tortured and assaulted with my feet hanging upwards and my head downwards as 21 youths and men exchanged chances to beat me until I passed out.”

Siziba said his interrogators demanded information about other human rights defenders, and claims at one point he was dangled over a large drum of sulphuric acid.

Siziba was then transferred to Harare Central Police Station, where the beatings continued.

“At this instant, I had lost a lot of blood and I was still bleeding. I was injured in almost all parts of my body. I was denied water, and the right to call my parents, a lawyer, or anyone. I received no treatment and had to become my own doctor,” he said.

Siziba’s experience tallies with testimonies from other victims, indicating that it is not just the frequency of political violence that is on the rise, but the severity too.

Other victims reported being injected with unknown substances during interrogations, kept in solitary confinement, and subjected to sexual threats.

Frances Lovemore, the director of CSU, said the allegations of torture were becoming increasingly shocking.

“The injecting of unknown substances during torture is of concern, as is the abduction of relatives of human rights defenders when the target cannot be found. The sheer force of the beatings by the police, resulting in bone fractures and life-threatening soft tissue injuries is reminiscent of the previous violent responses by the State and ruling party when opposition parties were deemed a threat to power,” Lovemore said.

Lovemore’s NGO provides medical and rehabilitation services to survivors of organised violence and torture in Zimbabwe.

The statistics are a record of people who have sought medical and counselling assistance from the organisation, and therefore provide an indicative rather than complete picture of political violence in Zimbabwe. The real number of incidents of political violence is likely to be even higher.

Popular resistance to Mugabe has intensified this year ahead of the presidential election scheduled for 2018. Opposition has been increased by a severe drought, which has left millions hungry, and a cash shortage that is disrupting businesses and has left the government struggling to pay wages.

CSU’s statistics show that of the 654 incidents of political violence recorded, the vast majority occurred in Harare (334 incidents) and Bulawayo (92), both of which have become centres for the recent wave of political opposition.

The CSU found that 45 percent of victims were of indeterminate political affiliation, and of those with clear links to the opposition movement, more than 52 percent were supporters of the official opposition, the main MDC.

MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu, responded to the findings by saying the ruling Zanu PF regime had “over the years routinely targeted MDC supporters for assault, torture and intimidation”.

He added: “We are the largest and most popular political party in Zimbabwe and the regime is acutely aware of the fact that we command massive support throughout the length and breath of Zimbabwe. Hence, the regime has always targeted our supporters for victimisation”.

Linda Masarira, a former National Railways of Zimbabwe employee-turned independent political activist, has also suffered at the hands of the police. She was arrested on July 6 and charged with engaging in violent demonstrations, and spent 84 days in jail before being released on bail.

She says she experienced constant physical and psychological abuse while in detention, beginning on the day of her arrest.

“I was the only female person that had been arrested, made to sit between male people’s legs (on the prisoner transfer vehicle). They were touching me all over. Police were poking me with baton sticks. They try to take away your dignity and self-esteem,” she said.

After leading a protest by prisoners against the poor conditions of the Chikurubi female prison, she was moved to the notorious Chikurubi maximum security facility, which is usually reserved for male prisoners. There, she was kept in solitary confinement for 18 days, and forced to wear leg irons.

“These are some things I had to deal with. When you oppose the ruling party, you know you’re going to go through hell. I told myself all this, that I had to be strong. And it actually made me stronger. I thought: if they are doing this to me, then what I’m doing has an impact,” said Masarira. 

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HARARE - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says President Robert Mugabe’s stunning fallout with war veterans earlier this year is a potential game changer in Zimbabwe’s tortured politics which could see the nonagenarian and his warring Zanu PF being turfed out of power in the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections.

Tsvangirai’s predictions come as the country’s economy continues to die — fuelling growing civil unrest which has seen fed up ordinary Zimbabweans, pro-democracy activists and the Church uniting in their calls for Mugabe to step down.

“The split between Zanu PF and the biggest section of the war veterans, who were once described as the reserve army to protect Zanu PF interests, is a potential game changer.

“This is a clear sign that the war veterans are now clear about how Mugabe and Zanu PF have lost the founding principles, aims and objectives of the liberation struggle, hence his failure to take the country forward.

“What still remains is for other institutions such as the security sector and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to begin to respond in similar fashion, to begin to realise that the country is greater than the whims of individuals,” Tsvangirai told an enthralled international audience in Johannesburg at the weekend.

War veterans served Mugabe with divorce papers in July this year, to end a long relationship with the nonagenarian which dated back to the days of the 1970s liberation struggle.

This was after war veterans had issued a damning communiqué in which they churlishly said that the nonagenarian was now a national liability and “a hard sell” for the 2018 presidential poll.

Subsequently, angry authorities launched a brutal crackdown against them, resulting in the arrest of a number of their leaders, while also moving to expel them from Zanu PF which is being devoured by its deadly and seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars.

Until then, 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.

Since their stunning fallout with Mugabe, many of the ex-combatants have also been working with pro-democracy and opposition groups to end their former patron’s rule, which they now openly say has been disastrous.

Last week, the disaffected war veterans also bluntly warned Mugabe again that they would campaign for an opposition candidate in the 2018 elections, if the nonagenarian stood as a candidate in those polls.

“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,” war vets secretary general Victor Matemadanda said.

This was after Temba 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 — with disgruntled former freedom fighters playing a key role in the by-election.

In his address in South Africa on Saturday, Tsvangirai said the MDC anticipated that different political parties would see the need to come together and put in place a framework that would decisively deal with Zanu PF in the 2018 elections.

“The benefits of this coalition building go beyond increased power in relation to us as the opposition. It will strengthen the ordinary citizens’ resolve who are not MDC members and are keen on hearing of a method that can take them out of the oppression and poverty they currently face, and remove Zanu PF from power.

“A coalition can also bring more expertise and resources to bear on complex issues, where the technical or personnel resources of any one party would not be sufficient ... Whether we go into this election as a coalition is not the question, but the great wish and aspiration by all of us as Zimbabweans in our broad sense.

“It is important that this election will not see Zimbabwe sliding into another illegitimacy crisis approved by Sadc, hence the call for the implementation of far-reaching reforms as a precondition for participation,” Tsvangirai 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.

Tsvangirai and former vice president and now Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) leader, Joice Mujuru, are seen as the best combination of bringing to an end Mugabe and Zanu PF’s rule in 2018.

Both the MDC and ZPF are among opposition parties coalescing under the banner of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera), which is pushing for far-reaching electoral reforms ahead of the much-anticipated next polls.

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.

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HARARE - The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) councillors have plunged the Castle Lager Premiership (PSL) into disarray after they voted to relegate four teams from the top flight league this season.

Meeting for the first time since their failed bid to disband Zifa and form the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz), the councillors reversed a resolution they passed at their 2015 Annual General Meeting (AGM) that starting from the 2016 season only two teams would be demoted from the PSL.

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The winners from the four Division One leagues namely Southern, Northern, Central and Eastern would then play in a play-off with the top two teams getting promotion to the top flight league.

However, when the Zifa councillors met in the capital at the weekend, there was a heated argument over the issue of relegation.

In the end, the matter was put to a poll with 26 voting in favour to revert back to the old format and 16 voting to relegate two teams.

As things stand, it means Border Strikers, who have already been demoted, Mutare City, Tsholotsho and Chapungu would be relegated at the end of the season.

There was no official comment from Zifa after the meeting which has made the scenario precarious.

PSL chairperson Peter Dube also refused to comment on the matter.

“There really must be some form of communication from the one who must lead the way. For now I think it is our association which is more qualified to comment than the PSL. It’s only fair that the association gives details on what really transpired,” Dube said.

The Daily News also understands that if the latest resolution is adopted then the league is likely to appeal against the decision.

The motion to relegate two teams was recommended by Fifa after the world football governing body observed that there was limited continuity in the local league.

By relegating four teams, it means 25 percent of the top flight teams go down at the end of every season which is not a healthy situation in terms of continuity.

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MUTARE - Canisious “Navara” Nyamutsita finally claimed victory at the Old Mutual Vumba Mountain Run Half Marathon after peeping last years’ champion Millen Matende to cure his 2013 heartbreak.

Nyamutsita hit the ribbon in 1:14:55 ahead of Matende, who came home in 1:15:40 with Munyaradzi Jani far behind on 1:30:54.

Three years ago, Nyamutsita thought he had won the same race but was later disqualified after he had strayed from the course due to unclear markings.

This time there was no denying Nyamutsita the win.

“I’m so excited with this win. I wanted it so much since my disappointment in 2013…I trained so hard for this and even ran in pain as I’m injured,” he said.

Matende conceded defeat saying having won the event last year fellow racers would naturally have trained specifically to beat him.

“To defend a title is very difficult because everyone would have trained and planned for you,” Matende said giving credit to Nyamutsita for a deserved win.

There were no surprises in the women’s race with Rutendo Nyahora blazing home in 1:29:17 with Constance Nyasango a close second on 1:30:50.

Nyahora remained modest in her joy insisting she was not a mountain runner in spite of dominating the field over the past three years.

“I’m not a mountain race runner and this is the most difficult course in all the races I participate in. This is not an ordinary marathon but a mountain run,” Nyahora said.

Manicaland Athletics Board (MAB) chairperson Joshua Matume said the race was a major success and continues to improve with each year.

“After our migration from Leopard Rock to Vumba Botanical Gardens, we had a few challenges with the route but we continue to learn from our experience and had a more polished event this year,” Matume said.

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HARARE - After neglecting the Sables in recent years, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) has finally seen the light and is now treating the men’s national XVs side with dignity.

The Sables were relegated to the lower tier Africa Cup Group B earlier this year after they lost all their matches in group A.

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It was not the players’ or the technical team’s fault but the side never had proper preparations before matches against Kenya, Uganda and Namibia.

This time around, ZRU has provided funds for the Sables to camp and prepare adequately for next week’s Four Nations Cup in Hong Kong.

In the past, players used to stay at their homes only regrouping in the morning to resume training which greatly affected the coaches’ plans.

Sables coach Cyprian Mandenge, who was reinstated after he was sacked following the Africa Cup fiasco, is pleased with the current scenario ahead of their departure for Hong Kong on Sunday.

“This is a very important developmental tournament for world rugby, we were there last year, lost all our matches but the bigger picture is to use this competition to build-up for the Africa Cup because we want to get back to where we belong,” Mandenge told the Daily News yesterday.

“I’m happy that we will be having a full week of training, everyone is really trying their best to give us the ideal preparations that the team needs, including ZRU and it will be nice to see the players fighting for jerseys in the team.”

The locals kick-off their Hong Kong Cup campaign against Russia on November 11 before taking on the hosts four days later and wind up their round robin games against Papua New Guinea.

Sables squad:

Forwards: Denford Mutamangira, Irvine Nduwa, Brian Makamure, Lawrence Clemenson, Victor Chiwara, Farai Mudariki, Matthew Mandioma, Sandile Lupuwana, Tolerance Zishe, Costa Dinha, Kudakwashe Chimukuyu, Witness Mandizha, Michael Passaportis, Tapfuma Parirenyatwa, Connor Prichard, Biselele Tshamala, Njabulo Ndlovu, Osborne Muhambi, Jason McKay, Andrew Rose, Lucky Sithole

Backs: Joshua Gando, Taddy Dzandiwandira, Lenience Tambwera, Tichafara Makwanya, Gideon Muyaba, Gavin Nyawata, Kudzai Mashawi, Stephan Hunduza, Lungile Tshuma, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Riaan O’Neill, Ngoni Chibuwe, Kuziva Kazembe, Brad Ellse

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HARARE - The Warriors have lined up a friendly against Zambia and Tanzania in the build-up to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to be held in Gabon next January.

Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) president Philip Chiyangwa confirmed that Kalisto Pasuwa’s men will take on Chipolopolo this Saturday at the National Sports Stadium.

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It is not immediately clear how Warriors coach Pasuwa would assemble a side in time for Saturday’s match against the former African champions.

The Fifa International Match Calendar has provisions for clubs to release their players from November 7 to 15.

On the same day, the Chibuku Super Cup final between Ngezi Platinum Stars and FC Platinum will be taking place at Baobab Stadium in Mhondoro Ngezi.

When asked regarding the timing of the fixture, Chiyangwa said: “National teams are a collective of our best players against those of other countries. I will have the team on the 5th.”

According to the agreement for both matches, the Tanzanian and Zambian associations will cover their airfares from Dar es Salaam and Lusaka while Zifa will take care of their accommodation and local transport while in Harare.

The two clashes will give Pasuwa’s charges a good run as they prepare for the Afcon finals.

Zimbabwe were pooled in a tough Group B for the tournament which also includes continental heavyweights Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia.

The Warriors need all the help they can get as they prepare to square up against these aristocrats of African football.

Although they did not qualify for next January’s tournament in Gabon, Chipolopolo and the Taifa Stars are strong sides on the continent.

There were also plans for the Mighty Warriors to take on their Tanzanian counterparts on November 13 but the Twiga Stars have a date with Cameroon.

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HARARE - CAPS United defender Stephen Makatuka is backing the Green Machine to end their decade-long wait to win the Castle Lager Premiership title.

The Green Machine tightened their grip at the top of the table following a 1-0 win over Harare City at Rufaro Stadium on Saturday.

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Lloyd Chitembwe’s side are now on 57 points while FC Platinum are in second place with 55 point and Highlanders third on 53.

With two games to go before the season comes to an end, Makatuka is confident they can win the title they last captured in 2005.

“We are very happy as a group and we can’t afford to drop points at this crucial stage,” Makatuka told the Daily News following their victory over City.

“It’s now two games before the end of the season and I think the onus is on us to become champions.

“All we need in the remaining two matches is to pick up maximum points so that we can rest assured. There is no need for any slip-up at this stage.”

Makatuka, however, reckons it will not be easy as they still have to face a strong Ngezi Platinum Stars side and Chapungu, who are still fighting relegation, in their remaining two matches.

“Of course it’s not going to be easy because every opponent is difficult,” he said.

“If you look at Ngezi Platinum, they are a solid side and I think their results lately speak a lot about what they are capable of doing.

“Again Chapungu are fighting for their survival and they will not make it easy for us.

“But I think if we show the same hunger like in the previous games nothing will stop us from realising our dream. We have come a long way and we just need to keep working hard until the end.”

The league will take a break at the weekend to pave way for the Chibuku Super Cup final between Ngezi Platinum and FC Platinum at Baobab Stadium on Saturday.

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HARARE - Dynamos insist they are a professionally-run club and there is no way club officials can siphon gate takings from their home matches.

Responding to an article published in the Daily News last Thursday, the Glamour Boys’ lawyers Farai Nyamayaro Law Chambers said there is an laid down procedure to handle their cash inflows.

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“Our client advices that, the article contained information that was misleading. It denies in toto that there is any siphoning of gate takings at the club,” Farai Nyamayaro Law Chambers said.

“After receiving money from whatever source including the said gate takings, the budget committee sits to prepare a budget. Payments are then made according to the budget that would have been prepared.

“The budget committee is constituted by the following: Board Chairman, Finance Director, Club President, Club Secretary, Club treasurer, Club Advisor.

“No expenditure or payment is made outside the budget that would have been prepared by the budget committee. It is therefore virtually impossible for the Treasurer to make payments from the car boot as he will be required to account for every cent at all financial meetings.

“You may also need to know that it is not the even the Treasurer, who effects payments but the Finance officer. The Finance Officer effects payments in accordance with the approved budget.”

The Harare giants also denied there was interference from the Board of Directors in the day-to-day running of the club.

“The Club President Keni Mubaiwa is still very much in control of the and not even an inch of his wings has been clipped. At no point in time has the Board of directors interfered with his powers as the club president,” the lawyers said.

“Dynamos is being run professionally by current office bearers. The allegations in the report are as result denied in toto.

“We have also been instructed to notify you that, there is no handpicking of office bearers at dynamos. All appointments are made by the full Board of directors after wide consultations. That was the procedure followed when...(Webster) Marechera , the team treasurer and... (Richard) Chihoro the team manager were appointed.

“Our client is of the view that, this information that is misleading is being peddled by some individuals whose agenda is to cause instability within Dynamos. Dynamos has had its books audited annually and all the records are available.”

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HARARE - Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs, who could be affected by the Zifa assembly’s decision to relegate four teams instead of two at the end of the season, came out guns blazing yesterday.

Winners from the country’s four regions — Northern, Southern, Eastern and Central — were supposed to battle it out in a play-off with the top two teams getting promotion to the top flight league.

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However, Zifa councillors who met at the weekend, found themselves having to reverse a resolution they passed at their 2015 AGM.

On current log standings, it means Chapungu, Tsholotsho, Mutare City Rovers and already relegated Border Strikers will be playing in the second tier leagues next year.

Chapungu chief executive Chris Mukotekwa had no kind words for the Zifa councillors yesterday.

“To be honest with you as Chapungu we don’t subscribe to such highest level of unprofessionalism,” Mukotekwa said.

“They actually agreed that two teams will be demoted so what has changed now? I think these councillors need to be schooled on how to run football. It’s only two games before the season ends and...(they) want to turn the PSL into a Mickey Mouse league.

“They must know this is a serious professional league. There is need to respect corporate governance, professionalism and the quality of service. Who are they to say reverse what they once agreed to?”

He added that: “I have never seen this happen anywhere in the world. Why sudden change of events. You see that’s why our football is not progressing... They want to relegate 25 percent of the teams in the league seriously, does it make any sense?

“They are actually destroying our football. I don’t know where they are getting the power to challenge the PSL. They should be reminded that this is a serious football league and such level of incompetence must be dismissed with the highest bidder of contempt.”

Mutare City Rovers spokesperson Clayton Masekesa said: “As a team we are saying that’s unprofessional. It’s actually cowardice to say the least. We assume that the change at the last minute is strategically meant to benefit certain teams...while disadvantaging those who are already in the premiership.

“...how will they explain this to us that at the start of the season we were told only two teams will be relegated and they want to reverse it now? We hope that decision will not find the light of the day. We want justice to take its course in football matters.

“It’s sad that we have been fighting relegation with the view that two teams will be relegated. But some selfish decisions want to stifle our efforts.”

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HARARE - Timmy naBhonzo, a ZBC-TV comedy featuring veteran actor Lawrence “Mudhara Bhonzo” Simbarashe and Timothy Tapfumanei which hogged the limelight in the 90s, is making a comeback.

The two actors, mostly remembered for their silly and hilarious pranks, will launch a DVD titled The Return of Timmy naBhonzo” on Friday at Theatre in the Park.

The Timmy naBhonzo comeback is part of efforts to “rescue” main actor Bhonzo who became a destitute when production of the hilarious comedy ceased thanks to the economic hardships ravaging Zimbabwe.

A few months ago, well-wishers came to Bhonzo’s rescue, a situation which prompted Tapfumanei to engage his partner on the comeback.

According to Timmy naBhonzo publicist, Robert Tapfumaneyi, Rooftop Promotions has agreed to let the hilarious duo launch their DVD at no charge.

“The story is on the impact of social media in various aspects of life.

“Be it in the workplace where workers waste productive time while on social media, in church where preachers speak to people busy on their phones. The DVD also looks at how social media has killed face-to-face interaction,” said Tapfumaneyi.

He said the DVD is part of attempts to make Mudhara Bhonzo self-reliant.

“Timmy and some well-wishers mobilised money and groceries after the story on how he was in a bad space came out.

“Timmy then realised that Bhonzo is still talented and that he should make money out of his talent.

“He then went ahead to write the script and gave it to Bhonzo who edited and loved it. Timmy mobilised resources for the film which is two hours long,” he added.

The DVD will be sold for a dollar.

“Mudhara Bhonzo will get his own copies to sell and keep the money just like most musicians are doing. They are selling their works by themselves on the streets.

“We hope the momentum built from this launch will create more demand, enabling Timmy naBhonzo to go back into the studio and shoot another production,” said Tapfumaneyi.

HARARE - Upcoming musician Innocent “Bontoman” Chinyani has joined artistes like Andy Muridzo and Commander Lee who imitate Jah Prayzah.

Bontoman, who appears to have mastered the art of imitating the Watora Mari hit-maker, has just released his fourth album titled MaVendor which can easily be mistaken for a Jah Prayzah production.

The Uzumba-born rookie artiste is not apologetic about mimicking Jah Prayzah.

“I was inspired by Jah Prayzah, who like me, comes from Uzumba. I was also inspired by international artistes like Fantan Moja and Joseph Hill.

“Back in my home area, Jah Prayzah is our hero and as such there is nothing wrong following in the footsteps of my icon,” the 23-year-old Bontoman said.

Songs making the controversial album which was launched at Dandaro Inn a couple of weeks ago are Yahwe, MaVendor, Nguva Yerudo, Pfumo Nebakato, Tinosangana, Zvirimberi, Chihwande and Maguta.

Like Muridzo and Commander Lee, Bontoman has been supported by Partson Chimbodza of Chipaz Promotions who sees nothing wrong with bankrolling “copycats.”

“I do not care about who imitates who but I am only interested in talent. Every footballer wants to play soccer like Lionel Messi so there is nothing wrong about that,” said Chimbodza.

He added that his ultimate aim is to create more crowd-pulling artistes.

“So far in Zimbabwe we only have less than 10 popular artistes who are real crowd-pullers and these cannot cover the entire country that is why I want to produce more quality artistes,” said Chimbodza.

The award-winning promoter denied allegations that he is out to derail Jah Prayzah.

“It is not like I am plotting Jah Prayzah’s downfall, not at all. I have nothing against Jah Prayzah. I am still in good books with him. Even though I had disagreements with Muridzo, this won’t  stop me from promoting other talented young artistes,” he said.

Jah Prayzah’s manager Keen Mushapaidze told the Daily News the music star was happy with the “endorsement” from upcoming artistes.

“Jah Prayzah is not the first artiste to inspire other rising musicians; we have gurus like Oliver Mtukudzi and Alick Macheso who have inspired a lot of artistes.

“We wish them well and we are prepared to assist them for example Jah Prayzah has collaborated with Muridzo on his debut album and Bontoman came to the office seeking guidance and he was helped by Jah Prayzah,” Mushapaidze said.

HARARE - Muvhango actress Rami Chuene, 41, who plays the role of the “super bad and manipulative Khomotjo” in the soapie, will be a guest speaker at the monthly Mambokadzi African Media and Entertainment Network meeting set for Harare this Saturday.

Chuene and songstress Ammara Brown will make speeches at the event dubbed “Mambokadzi Empowerment of Women High Tea” alongside keynote speaker Hope Cynthia Sadza, the founder and vice chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa ( Wua.)

Mambokadzi African Media and Entertainment Network founding director Rhoda Mandaza is hopeful that Chuene’s input will help take forward the ongoing debate around the empowerment of women.

“All things being equal, She (Chuene) will arrive on Friday for the meeting which will be held a day later at 23 Oxford Road,  Newlands.

“The weekend meeting is part of monthly events we are hosting which will see the unpacking of a series of conversations around the topical subject ‘Patriarchy vs Matriarchy,’ said Mandaza.

She added that the nonprofit Mambokadzi

African Media and Entertainment Network was formed in 2013 to focus on the overall empowerment of women in southern Africa.

“Our mission at the point of inception was to create fora for dialogue between women in the leadership of Africa with the women of the creative industries of Africa,” said Mandaza who runs an information technology company in Harare.

While Sadza and Ammara’s speeches will obviously be among the focal points at the forthcoming women empowerment meeting, the one by the Muvhango actress is expected to attract the most interest.

In addition to being an actress in Muvhango — one of South Africa’s leading soapies — Chuene is also a singer, dancer and voice-over artist.

She recently released her biography titled We Kissed the Sun and Embraced the Moon which details her upbringing.

The book includes the dark and sad side of sexual molestation and kidnapping that she survived.

It also talks about how as a darker child in the family she would be bypassed for the role of a bridesmaid or flower girl at family weddings.

“I just felt that there was a gap from the times of great Pedi writers like (OK) Motsepe and (CN) Phatudi who wrote the Limpopo stories I grew up reading.

“We should tell our stories to our children and share those tales. It’s something to enjoy, laugh about and go nostalgic over,” Chuene was quoted by the Sowetan recently.

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HARARE - Sungura kingpin Alick Macheso’s ex-wife Tafadzwa Mapako yesterday made stunning revelations that she was three months pregnant as she appeared in court over an assault charge.

The news of Mapako’s pregnancy comes barely two years after the 33-year-old mother ended a four-year marriage to Macheso.

The couple sired two children together.

Mapako appeared before Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba yesterday facing assault allegations after fighting a male reveller over a chair at the recently held Castle Biggest Braai Festival.

She was released on $50 bail and remanded to December 5 for trial.

As part of bail conditions, Mapako was ordered to continue residing in Mabelreign, Harare and not to interfere with witnesses.

This was after Mapako had been asked of her position on the charges to which she admitted but justified her actions as self-defence.

“I did beat him up but I was trying to protect myself because the complainant touched my body in an offensive manner. I had advised him to stop after telling him that I was three months pregnant but he did not take heed,” Mapako told the court.

The complainant is Talent Munyanyi, 32, of Glen Norah A in Harare.

Prosecutor Tariro Gwatidzo alleged that on October 29 around 7pm, Munyanyi was enjoying himself in the company of friends at the braai festival.

The court heard that Mapako then approached Munyanyi and her friends claiming that one of them had taken her chair.

It was alleged that Mapako then took food that was being eaten by Munyanyi and his friends intending to throw it away.

Munyanyi prevented Mapako from throwing their food away and asked her why she was acting in that manner.

This did not go down well with Mapako who went on to hit Munyanyi with an empty beer bottle once below the left eye.

According to court records a medical affidavit to ascertain the degree of injury is yet to be supplied.

HARARE - Zimbabwe needs to introduce comprehensive reforms to meet its $5,5 billion ZimAsset annual investment target, after investment traffic tumbled 70 percent in the period to July on the back of policy uncertainty, a Zimbabwe Investment Authority (Zia) official said.

Zia chairman, Nigel Chanakira, last week told delegates at the Investor’s Awards that the country was still a long way from being the ideal investment destination, despite current efforts being made towards putting investor friendly policies.

“Just talking about it is not enough. We are punching way below our weight in terms of investment and it is disappointing that last year we only managed to attract about $500 million compared to the $5 billion we should have seen according to ZimAsset,” he said.

Chanakira said Zia and the Office of the President were working closely with the World Bank on reforms aimed at making the country an attractive investment destination after the country dropped six places from number 155 last year to 161 this year on the World Bank’s Doing Business Report  .

“Issues around the cost of doing business in the country along with the time it takes to register a company in Zimbabwe used to be major issues affecting investor sentiment.

“However, these offices and the World Bank are working on the Rapid Results Approach to address the situation.

“To date, Harare City Council has managed to cut the cost and duration it takes to run a business in the country,” Chanakira said.

He also pointed out that Zia had submitted several proposals for the 2017 National Budget to the ministry of Finance aimed at improving the ease of doing business locally.

“Among these proposals are recommendations that Zia works together with the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe on coming up with practical ways of attracting investment in the construction industry,” Chanakira said.

This comes as the Zia boss recently pointed out that policy inconsistencies were responsible for the poor investment inflows being recorded in the country.

He also said most investors had adopted a wait-and-see attitude with the country after several government pronouncements on clarification of the country’s empowerment laws.

“In April, the president clarified on Indigenisation, right now the process is sector specific and applications are now being processed through Zia in three working days.

“So what we need is for the diplomats here tonight to pass this message to investors from their countries. We have worked on the law and their investment is safe here” he said.

In the first half of 2016, investment approvals stood at $305,58 million from 84 projects compared to 67 that were approved same period last year.

“Last year, Zimbabwe received a record $3,1 billion of investment applications but only $421 million of those materialised to real investment inflows,” the Zia chief said.

He also revealed that 2015 had recorded the highest statistics for the authority, with the investment body expecting less statistics this year given the low investment traffic.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe's financial sector — which has been faring well in recent years — recorded a decrease in customer satisfaction in the period from October 2015 to September 2016, on the back of cash uncertainties.

Service Excellence Awards adjudication committee chairperson, Darlick Marandure, last week said the financial services sector had recorded a marked decrease in customer gratification in the period under review following the country’s prevailing cash crisis.

Marandure highlighted that in its research for this years’ Service Excellence Awards winners, the adjudication team had conducted research on local brands from October 2015 to September 2016.

“Generally, the hospitality sector still remains at the top in terms of customer satisfaction rating with 81 percent.

“Notable decrease was recorded in the banking sector with 44 percent from 64 percent and local authorities with 35 percent from 42 percent,” he said.

The country is currently battling a cash shortage situation, which has seen depositors queuing overnight for their hard-earned cash with banks setting maximum withdrawal limits of as low as $50 in some instances contributing to customer scepticism and dissatisfaction.

In its half-year report, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe pointed out that between June 2016 and the corresponding period last year, hard cash balances declined by 37 percent from $546,3 million to $343 million.

This comes as equities firm, IH Securities, recently warned that Zimbabwe’s financial sector was facing an uncertain future on the back of doubts in market around central bank-issued Treasury Bills (TB).

According to the excellence services survey findings, product and services quality with 24 percent, was the main driving factor in customer purchase decisions followed by staff attitude and speed of service and price being the fourth with 15 percent.

During the study, physical questionnaires were distributed in Bulawayo, Harare, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Gweru, Victoria Falls, Kwekwe, Marondera, Chinhoyi, Masvingo and Kariba.

The targeted feedback was 12 500 questionnaires and the actual response rate was 78,33 percent.

Meanwhile, Barclays Bank Zimbabwe walked away with the Service Excellence Banking Sector Award as CBZ was named first runner-up while Steward Bank walked away with the second runner-up gong.

In the hospitality sector, Meikles Hotel was named the best service excellence company followed by Victoria Falls Hotel and Rainbow Towers Hotel.

Wireless solutions provider, ZOL Limited, was crowned ISP IAP company of the year as TelOne and Utande were named first and second runners-up respectively.

In the mobile and telecommunications sector, Telecel Zimbabwe was named best service excellence brand as Econet and NetOne came in first and second.

State-owned fixed network operator, TelOne, was crowned best service excellence public sector company followed by NetOne and the Department of Immigration Services.

In the local authorities category, the City of Bulawayo walked away with the excellence services gong as First Mutual Medical Aid was crowned best health insurance company.

HARARE - In one of our recent issues, we pointed out that a grand coalition of all opposition political parties is the way to go, but it seems we jumped the gun as egos of politicians yet again stand in the way of such a noble idea.

Past experiences have taught us that a united front has better chances of defeating Zanu PF than a divided one but it seems as though selfish ambitions are getting the better of the political leadership.

There is this question of who is the first among equals, MDC’s Morgan Tsvangirai or Zimbabwe People First leader Joice Mujuru.

Yes debating on such an emotional issue should be encouraged but it should also be constructive and objective and there is certainly no need for name calling and cheap pot-shots.

Of course we are not there to direct the trajectory of the grand coalition talks or who should be in charge. We are here to tell it like it is and show the politicians the pitfalls and shortcomings of a divided opposition.

It does not need a rocket scientist to understand that it is of critical importance to harness Tsvangirai’s urban support with Mujuru’s appeal among the rural folk especially in Mashonaland provinces.

No doubt such a formidable partnership will deliver the knockout blow for Zanu PF, which is currently running along factional lines. Reckless statements from self proclaimed honchos of either the MDC or ZPF should not be allowed to muddy talks of a coalition because this is what the broad masses are interested in.

Thus the politicians should learn to sublimate their parochial interests for the good of the nation because in them the nation has invested hope for a better future, yet the disturbing trend is that some are now caricaturing those with whom they want to join hands.

We are aware that people are living in abject poverty yet the signals coming from the opposition parties show that there are some individuals who are hellbent on self aggrandisement and only want to advance their party interests.

Mujuru and Tsvangirai should show the world that Zimbabweans are a mature people who are ready to embrace unity in order to defeat Zanu PF and of course bringing an end to the rot that party has spawned for 36 years.

Zimbabweans need a new direction and only dialogue involving all the major parties will shape that.

With the keenly-anticipated 2018  drawing closer each passing day, we would like to tell those in opposition parties to hasten coalition talks and show us that they mean business.

Zimbabwe needs selfless men and women who are ready to compromise for the good of the people, which is the chief law.

HARARE - At 34, he is easily one of the oldest students to become the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Student’s Representative Council (SRC) vice president.

It is little wonder why university students in their 20s did not want him to assume a post in the council arguing it would set a bad precedence to future student leaders.

But all that did not seem to faze Zivai Mhetu who only five years ago bizarrely made the daring decision to undertake ‘‘A’’ Level studies at the advanced age of 29, long after many of his age mates had forgotten they had walked that route.

Still, almost half a decade later he would stride into the university campus as a 32-year-old freshman with zero college experience.

At that stage he had a steep road ahead of him, but with decades of life experience to draw from, Mhetu was confident he could build a strong foundation for academic success.

His persistence paid off last weekend when he received the second highest votes at UZ’s SRC elections.

He lost out to SRC president Tinotenda Mhungu who is 13 years his junior.

“Many would-be students aged 35 and older see age as an obstacle to furthering their education. But it should actually be a motivator,” Mhetu told the Daily News on Sunday.

Mhungu and Mhetu have big shoes to fill if they are to build on the dramatic exit of predecessor Tonderai Dombo the immediate past UZ SRC president.

Dombo was arrested after raising a placard at this year’s UZ graduation ceremony in September.

The placard read “Graduate today rovha mangwana!”

Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo immediately warned students against using politics to interfere in academic processes saying those who choose to cross the line will face “costly” consequences.

However, that protest has since seen police now systematically searching students before every graduation ceremony fearing Dombo’s actions could be repeated.

After the ruling party Zanu PF hemmed on protests, Dombo’s daring gambit was old school — a sneak view into the golden days of student activism.

The yesteryear student activists revolutionised activism when corruption started creeping into government and human rights abuses were first registered.

“The task has always been huge but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done,” said Mhetu whose mother a subsistence farmer single-handedly put him through school after his father died early in his childhood.

“There is no riper ground for student activism than now when our tertiary institutions are facing serious problems.

“People are dropping out of school because they lack educational funding, there is no college accommodation, and some are selling their bodies for food and there is also a mass exodus of seasoned lecturers.”

The former vendor who put himself through ‘‘A’’ level with money gained from selling wares   said students “should never hide in the closet but should continue to fight for their rights even though they risk being victimised in the process of doing so”.

Mhetu also waded into the politics of the day saying political parties should stay adrift of fostering divisions in student affairs and unions at the expense of student rights.

The Public Administration student, however, felt sections of Cabinet ministers and politicians were reluctant to lobby better living conditions for tertiary students because they are benefiting from the crisis.

“Government has an obligation to ensure that at least they provide the bare minimum for students,” Mhetu said, he added:

“Unfortunately, ministers and politicians are taking advantage of a system they do not want to capacitate.”

Mhetu who started off as a street hawker said he would use his position as the SRC vice president to push for reforms in tertiary institutions.

“I fail to see the sense in forcing students on attachment to pay full fees,” said Mhetu.

“I am also baffled by the fact that students who fail to pay fees during stipulated time-frames are forced to pay late registration fees as if government has ever been punished for shifting pay dates for civil servants.

“I vow to stop such exploitative acts by institutions of higher learning and promise to initiate dialogue, demonstrate and file litigation if government and institutions of higher learning continue to pay a deaf ear to the plight of students.”

Mhetu said if government subsidised students’ fees, some of these social ills would be eradicated.

“This issue of fees must fall doesn’t affect an MDC student or a Zanu PF student. It affects all students,” he said.

“It’s time we put away partisan cards and fight for student freedoms. We will engage government but if they fail students will make a stand.”

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HARARE - Newly-elected Norton MP, Temba Mliswa, has said President Robert Mugabe’s government has let long-suffering Zimbabweans down by failing to revive the country’s broken economy.

His remarks are on the back of Mugabe and his ruling Zanu PF’s failure to fulfil their 2013 election campaign promises — under the much-hyped economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset) — which included growing the moribund economy by seven percent per annum and creating 2,2 million new jobs, among others.

Speaking at a meeting held at Chinhoyi Golf Club on Saturday, Mliswa — once a Zanu PF legislator and staunch supporter of Mugabe — said he planned to form a Norton Business Alliance (NBA) group that will help revive the business sector in Norton.

“The NBA is meant to ensure that we revive the industry here (Norton), thinking outside the box, the economy has certainly failed, the town council has got no money, so we have to find alliances outside Zimbabwe, people who have money and... are prepared to put money in Zimbabwe, especially in Norton,” Mliswa said.

Mliswa was recently elected into the House of Assembly after winning a by-election as an independent candidate against Zanu PF’s Ronald Chindedza.

Apart from Norton being located close to water sources like Twin Lakes,  Lake Chivero and Darwendale, Mliswa said the water situation in the town remains dire.

He urged the local community to invest in various projects adding that they must also be in a position to contribute a certain percentage towards the initiatives.

“If we all decide that we must get water, we are also forced to put in something at the end of the day, like what tobacco farmers are expected to do in a contract, put in 30 percent of your effort…and the company gives you the rest of the input.

“We need to package it in such a way that there will be investor confidence. Whatever people in Norton decide to do, they must be able to ... benefit at the end of the day,” he said.