HARARE - President Robert Mugabe’s stone-broke government has once again failed to raise funds to bankroll civil servants’ bonuses, raising the spectre of widespread protests by the restive workers.

Last year, Mugabe — in a typical populist move — vowed that the public service workers would receive their 13th cheques, despite advice from Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa that Treasury had no funds.

Yesterday, government announced staggered pay dates for the civil servants, but failed to give a specific date when it will pay 2016’s bonuses.

In response, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu said government must come up with a payment plan because teachers were now anxious about their bonuses.

“Right now, we are implementing a new curriculum which is so taxing in terms of work and planning. The last thing you should worry about are your financial concerns,” he said.

But while Zimta is calling for engagement, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) has called on all government employees and teachers in particular to engage on a go-slow until their bonuses have been paid.

In a statement, Artuz national president, Obert Masaraure, said the union has to fight for bonuses, adding that the 13th cheques are part of their national share of the cake.

Since last year, government has struggled to pay bonuses due to dwindling national revenue collections, among a myriad of challenges.

George Mushipe, spokesperson of the Apex Council — the umbrella union for State workers — said there are on-going consultations with government over the bonuses matter.

He told the Daily News yesterday that civil servants had turned down government’s proposal to “get residential stands in lieu of bonuses.”

“We are still negotiating with government over bonuses but we had refused government’s proposal to offer us stands,” Mushipe said.

Government’s non-monetary incentive of residential stands is currently on the rocks, with 122 000 signed-up civil servants threatening to pull out following revelations that they will have to pay for the servicing of their stands.

Labour minister Prisca Mupfumira told State media that presently there is no money to pay civil servants their bonuses.

“The government does not have money at the moment. This makes it difficult for us to announce dates. We don’t want to make promises that we will not be able to fulfil,” she said.

“Chinamasa, I and hopefully (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John) Mangudya will meet on January 25 to map the way forward,” Mupfumira said, adding she would also soon meet with the Apex Council.

For some months now, government has struggled to pay salaries on time, but teachers have been the hardest hit as they are usually the last to be paid.

In a statement issued by the Finance ministry, the health sector would be paid their salaries on January 20 followed by the police and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services on January 24.

The education sector will be paid on January 30 while the rest of the civil service will be paid on February 3, followed by pensioners on February 7.

The staff in grant-aided institutions will be the last to be paid on February 10.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Ptuz) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe raised concerns over government’s “divisive machinations”.

“ . . . we are not happy with the way the issue of our salaries is being handled by both government and the Apex Council,” he said.

“Government has shown they favour their uniformed employees.

“It’s so pathetic for an employer to show obvious bias as government is doing,” he added.

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BULAWAYO - Opposition political parties and civic organisations have described as insensitive Zanu PF youth league’s decision to celebrate President Robert Mugabe’s 93rd birthday in Matobo District, Matabeleland South, ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Gukurahundi atrocities.

Mugabe’s annual birthday celebrations, which are held amid pomp and fanfare, will be held at Matopos National Park in Matabeleland South Province, which is just a few kilometres from Bhalagwe — a flashpoint of the atrocities which happened between 1983 and 1987.

More than 20 000 civilians died in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces when government deployed a North Korea-trained army unit, the Fifth Brigade, to these provinces to fight “insurrection” in a dark period which became known as Gukurahundi.

Yesterday, the opposition led in condemning the birthday bash which is organised by Zanu PF youth league yearly under the auspices of the 21st February Movement.

“As a chairman who works with the people in Mat South, they are saying we don’t want him (Mugabe) celebrating here. They are saying he should first apologise for the Gukurahundi sins or go conduct their celebrations in Zvimba,” raged Pilate Ndebele, chairman of Welshman Ncube-led MDC, in Matabeleland South.

“This is a serious high level disregard of the people’s feelings. Imagine just less than 50km from where they want to dine and wine, that’s where a place called Bhalagwe is, where Mugabe’s government dumped thousands of bodies in a disused mine.”

Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) secretary-general Mbonisi Gumbo said the decision by Zanu PF “is in bad taste and an insult to the victims and survivors of Gukurahundi.”

“As far as we are concerned, there is nothing to celebrate here. Mugabe and his Zanu PF have caused a lot of untold suffering in Matabeleland. As we speak there are thousands of dead bodies in Bhalagwe and they are all Mugabe’s victims,” Gumbo said.

“We are not stupid and forgetful. Just a few years ago, Mugabe insulted us saying Kalanga people are uneducated and are criminals who only trek down to South Africa and he never apologised for that.”

“We know Zanu PF has a tendency of force-marching villagers to their rallies without their consent. And this time around, we encourage our people to boycott the evil party that is meant to mock them and is meant to celebrate the success of Gukurahundi genocide. Let all peace-loving Matabeleland people boycott,” added Gumbo.

The Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC also said it was a classic disrespect.

“The same person who killed our forefathers is back to celebrate his birthday in a way this is celebrating his victory against the Ndebeles.

“Again this is happening just a few kilometres away from our respected traditional and sacred spiritual site Njelele. These people really do not have respect for anyone as long they are ruling,” said Mat South MDC provincial chair Njemnyama Solani Moyo.

“So these people are telling us that they want to do a lavish bash right on top of the graves of the people they massacred in cold blood, no this is unheard of.”

Pressure group Ibhetsu LikaZulu also said they were in the process of encouraging people not to be intimidated or lured by food and donations to attend the birthday celebrations.

“It’s an insult to the people of Matopo and Matabeleland in general,” Mbuso Fuzwayo, the group’s secretary general told the Daily News.

“Mugabe’s birthday is not worth celebrating if you are from Matabeleland because he led the genocide in Matabeleland. He is so proud that even today he doesn’t want to just say sorry.

“It is like going to a funeral and start playing wedding songs. Matopo is a crime scene, where the bones of people from all over Matabeleland are found, so attending the event is clearly endorsing the killing of our people,” he forlonly added.

Mugabe’s birthday celebrations this year will be capped by a live musical gala featuring different artistes.

The nonagenarian’s birthday celebrations have courted strong opinions and last year his bash attracted widespread condemnation when it was held in Masvingo at the height of a ravaging famine which left livestock and impoverished communities needing emergency relief supplies.

A picture of a woman scrounging for crumbs from the high table where Mugabe and Zanu PF bigwigs were seated, captured long after the party had ended, caught the attention of the world after it went viral on social media.

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HARARE - The country’s dying economy resulted in the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) missing its 2016 revenue target by four percent.

The national tax collector only managed to raise $3,4 billion against projections of $3,6 billion, on the back of the country’s ever deteriorating economic conditions.

Zimra chairperson Willia Bonyongwe said yesterday that the slowdown in collections needed to be seen in the light of the official 1,2 percent GDP growth in 2016 compared to 2,7 percent in 2015, as well as the fact that Zimra’s collection projections had not been adjusted accordingly.

“The failure to surpass revenue targets in 2016 is largely due to the prevailing harsh economic conditions but, like indicated previously, in unwillingness to meet tax obligations by economic agents.

“Gross collections for the fourth quarter amounted to $893,89 million, which was 95,59 percent of the targeted $935,17 million. Net collections after deducting refunds of $50,15 million from the gross collections were $843,74 million.

“However, there was a 12,1 percent decline in net collections in the fourth quarter (of 2016) compared to the same period in 2015 and the most affected tax heads being Customs Duty, Excise Duty, Mining Royalties and Pay As You Earn,” she said.

Net collections for the year had also amounted to $3,248 billion, which was only 91,05 percent of the target.

“They were affected by an upsurge in refunds in the third and fourth quarters, and the authority is investigating what caused that surge,” Bonyongwe said, adding that net collections had gone down 7,22 percent compared to the same period in 2015.

The World Bank is among many authoritative sources which confirmed late last year that Zimbabwe’s economy was dying.

The Bretton Woods institution also promptly downgraded the country from its list of improved economies to the unflattering tier of struggling countries, as Zimbabwe’s political and economic turmoil continues to escalate.

Other fragile sub-Saharan states which were placed in the same “falling behind” group included Burundi, the Comoros, Guinea, Lesotho and Swaziland.

That vote of no confidence in the country came at a time that Zimbabwe’s worsening economic situation was witnessing President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu PF fighting hard to contain rising civil unrest, ordinary citizens confronted authorities.

Economic experts have also told the Daily News that contrary to the government’s propaganda, Zimbabwe’s economy is “definitely dying”, as manifested by ongoing liquidity challenges, company closures and job losses.

The experts also laid the blame for this undesirable state of affairs squarely at the door of Mugabe and his warring Zanu PF — while also lamenting the fact that the nonagenarian appeared “completely clueless” about finding solutions to the problems.

Economists also say Zimbabwe cannot afford a further contraction of the economy in 2017 as the country is already grappling with high unemployment, estimated at up to 95 percent — which has forced many, including university graduates, to resort to street vending for a living.

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HARARE - The State yesterday changed charges several times against Kariba pastor Phillip Mugadza who “predicted” President Robert Mugabe’s death, before remanding him in custody for one more night.

His lawyer, Gift Mtisi, said his client had initially been charged with undermining the authority of the president, then “criminal nuisance” and finally

“insulting people of a certain race or religion.”

Mugadza announced last week that the 92-year-old head of State would die on October 17 this year.

When he appeared before Harare magistrate Vongai Guwuriro, his lawyers Mtisi, Obey Shava and Jeremiah Bamu, argued that he must be immediately released without any conditions because he had been over detained.

He has been held since Monday.

Guwuriro dismissed the application, before the lawyers launched another request, on the basis that the State was now preferring new charges that he had not been previously warned against.

“He signed a statement for a charge completely different to the one he is facing in this court today. We discovered the new charge here in court.

“I do not know whether it’s a Sharia Law, as the accused is being forced to fight while his hands are tied at the back,” Mtisi said.

The State went on to produce two different statements which had been signed by Mugadza relating to the new charges he is now facing.

Shava said the police lied to him that his lawyers were aware of the new charges and that there was no harm if he signed the statements.

“He had no opportunity to be explained by his lawyer the implications of the new statements he was signing. Therefore, the new charges should not be allowed to stand,” Shava said.

Mugadza was remanded in custody to today when Guwuriro is expected to hand down her ruling.

Charges against Mugadza arose after he gave an interview on January 12.

The State accused Mugadza of causing an offence and insulting the Christian religion and the African tradition by predicting someone’s death, arguing it is taboo to do so.

“It was on the 26th December 2016 when I was in prayer and God said to me this coming year the president is dying and he told me that he is dying on

October 17, like I said earlier on that I am not happy for someone to die, but this is something that is going to happen.

“People may ask me what if he does not die, I do not know how much he believes in prayer but he has to do something about this prophecy,” Mugadza is alleged to have said.

“I just want to tell you something concerning the year 2017, it is a very special year because of the number Seven and at the same time also 2017 collides with 37 years by which Zanu PF has been ruling this beautiful nation of Zimbabwe, but something is going to be happening also, which is very critical for us to know, it is not to say that I am glad to announce this, but I am just saying it because that’s what God told me,” he said before making reference to Mugabe’s “death”.

He went further and said Mugabe would not die if he listens to him, making reference to the Biblical Hezekiah.

He said Mugabe must go public and state that he does not want to die in order to save himself from the impending death.

“He has to go public about it but he is old anyway. I think it’s ok for him to go home. He has been ruining this beautiful nation. Zanu PF has been evil and I am not saying because I am against him. I am bitter yes, angry, but I have asked God to forgive me. What I am saying now has nothing to do with my bitterness,” he allegedly said.

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HARARE - Gun-toting thugs, suspected to be Zanu PF hoodlums, left for dead on Tuesday night an opposition candidate and his agent for Saturday’s keenly-followed Bikita West by-election — as political tension rises in the volatile Masvingo constituency.

Analysts and civil rights groups which spoke to the Daily News yesterday said the merciless attack on National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) candidate Madock Chivasa, and his election agent Thomas Mudzamiri, raised real fears that this marked the beginning of a bloody campaign by the ruling party ahead of the looming 2018 national elections.

The severe mauling of Chivasa and Mudzamiri happened after the seemingly deranged Zanu PF yobs descended on Tongonya Shopping Centre, just as the two men were making their way out of a local supermarket on Tuesday night, where Chivasa had gone to buy some food.

Narrating his ordeal to the Daily News yesterday from his hospital bed, Chivasa said the highly-charged mob, some of whom were in a Ford Everest bakkie — which allegedly belongs to a well-known Zanu PF official from Mashonaland East — which had been trailing him and his campaign team all day, questioned him why he was vying for the Bikita West seat against Zanu PF.

“They said opposing Zanu PF was like opposing President (Robert) Mugabe. And as far as we are concerned, these people are from Marondera, they are outsiders. Among them were two serving soldiers,” he said.

Chivasa said he was hit with a gun on the head before he was viciously and mercilessly kicked with booted feet all over the body, while Mudzamiri was also repeatedly punched by their assailants.

He said the goons had also proceeded to fire several shots in the air, to scare away members of the public who had unsuccessfully tried to intervene and rescue the two men.

Madock Chivasa,left, the opposition National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) parliamentary candidate in the Bikita West by-election and his chief election agent Thomas Mudzamiri nursing injuries after their gruesome attack at Tongonya Shopping Centre by an alleged Zanu PF crowd.

Although Chivasa had made a report at the local Bikita Police Station, he had thus far not heard any progress about the case — with no arrests reported.

Contacted for comment by the Daily News yesterday, Zanu PF provincial secretary for the commissariat, Jeppy Jaboon,  said he was in the dark about the attack.

“I don’t have that information. I would have to investigate that,” he said.

Chivasa is one of six candidates who are contesting the Bikita West parliamentary seat, which fell vacant after Munyaradzi Kereke was incarcerated for 14 years for the rape of a minor last year.

The savage attack on Chivasa comes as former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who now leads the opposition Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), is due to hold a rally in the constituency today, to drum up support for her party’s candidate, Kudakwashe Gopo.

ZPF spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire told the Daily News yesterday that despite the violence, his party was pulling all the stops to ensure that Mujuru’s rally went ahead successfully.

“This is not the first time that Zanu PF has used violence to derail preparations for our rallies, they did that in Marondera when we held our provincial rally last year but our local leadership confronted the mischief makers and knocked sense into their violent heads.

“We are a non-violent party which pursues a determined and clear agenda that enables our supporters to get the necessary protection so that they can freely participate in governance processes in their areas.

“No amount of Zanu PF interference will distract us. When we decided to participate in the by-election we anticipated such thuggery and we are testing our strategies against unorthodox Zanu PF electoral practices which is the major reason why we are in this by-election,” Mawarire said.

Analysts also say Saturday’s by-election is a dry run for the eagerly-anticipated 2018 polls, adding that this will go a long way in gauging the chances of the opposition and its mooted grand coalition which is expected to be in place by the end of this year.

It is also in this context that observers say the Bikita West mini-poll will provide a stern litmus test for Mugabe’s former long-serving deputy.

Analysts and rights groups also warned yesterday that Zanu PF’s continuing use of violence could lead to bloody elections in 2018.

Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) was among those that unreservedly condemned the assault on Chivasa and his election agent.

“ZimRights is worried by the continued electoral malpractices in the Bikita by-election, as well as all recent by-elections, and the implication of the acts of violence as a precursor to the forthcoming 2018 elections.

“The calculated act of political violence by an organised hit squad wearing the ruling party Zanu PF’s regalia is a slap in the face of the constitutional requirement for free, fair and credible elections,” it said.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) said it was concerned that this culture of violence had been allowed to continue while no corrective measures were being taken to ensure free and fair polls that allowed voters to make their choices freely, without fear.

“In the case of Masvingo Province, senior army officers and Zanu PF politicians are on record threatening violence against opposition supporters and it has become quite apparent that Zanu PF is out to win elections at all costs and this includes unleashing violence.

“Events in Bikita West raise fears of another bloody election in 2018 and we fear a repeat of the 2008 elections during which Zanu PF violence resulted in the death of more than 200 opposition activists around the country.

“Intimidation and violence by Zanu PF supporters has brought the credibility of elections in Zimbabwe into disrepute as is the case in Bikita West where there have also been reports of vote buying by the Zanu PF candidate Beauty Chabaya.

“Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition implores the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to investigate all cases of violence and intimidation ahead of the Bikita West by-election set for January 21, 2017,” CiZC said.

New York-based watchdog Human Rights Watch also condemned the savage attacks on Chivasa and his election agent.

“We ask the police to thoroughly investigate the abuses and arrest those responsible and make sure that they face justice.

“Zimbabwe remains trapped in the vicious cycle of political violence partly because of impunity which gets entrenched when perpetrators of violence are not held accountable.

“The violence against Chivasa and many others in Bikita West, accompanied by inaction on the part of the police, is a clear indicator that the 2018 national elections could be just as violent, if not worse.

Zanu PF’s machinery and infrastructure of violence remains intact, and the police remain highly partisan and extremely politicised, rendering them useless when it comes to human rights protection and upholding the rule of law,” its senior researcher for southern Africa, Dewa Mavhinga, told the Daily News.

Tension has been high in the volatile Bikita West constituency which historically, is a hotbed of political violence, since sickly Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Shuvai Mahofa threatened to unleash violence in the area against the opposition.

She told ruling party supporters who gathered for the campaign rally at Gwindingwi Primary School earlier this month to vote “wisely” or else suffer the consequences.

“Haa, munozviziva, muno hamusi mekutamba namo (You all know it. This is not a constituency to play silly games). Kune vamwe vakatsakatika muno umu gore riya, munoriziva. Handei tinovhota zvakanaka. (There are some who disappeared in this constituency as you know. Let us go and vote wisely),” she bellowed ominously.

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HARARE - Zimbabae's best sporting talent of 2016 will be celebrated at a grand occasion tomorrow with rower Micheen Thornycroft, boxer Charles Manyuchi and Magret Bangajena headlining a cast of athletes who surpassed expectations.

The trio will be the front runners for the Annual National Sports Awards top gong after they were nominated in their respective categories.

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The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) announced the nominees for the annual sports awards yesterday.

The awards had initially been slated for December 14 before a range of hurdles that include funds saw the body postpone the ceremony by a month.

In a year where the country’s athletes continued perform at a higher level than their preparation provided, Manyuchi managed to retain his World Boxing Council welterweight title when he defeated Dmitry Mikhaylenko in Russia.

Thornycroft reached the singles sculls A/B semi-finals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games while Bangajena, who normally competes in the wheelchair marathons, helped the Zimbabwe rowing team qualify for the Paralympic Games in Rio.

Last year, bodybuilder Helen Costa Sinclair won the Sportsperson of the Year award after a stellar 2015 but this year she will not be defending her title after she took a sabbatical from the sport.

In the Team of the Year category, the Zimbabwe Under-21 ladies hockey side will battle for honours against the Mighty Warriors and the team which represented the country at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.

Trish Davies has been nominated for the Coach of the Year award after leading the ladies Under-21 hockey side to qualify for the World Cup in Chile.

Zimbabwe rowing coach Rachel Davies has also been nominated for the gong together with Under-21 netball team coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki.

Ansa Nominees

Junior Sports Woman of the Year: Danielle Marie Bekker, Rebekah Oberholzer, Ciara Jessica Soper

Junior Sports Man of the Year: Chengetai Mapaya, Wayne Nkomo, Beaven Sibanda

Junior Sports Woman of the Year with a Disability: Moment Bhebhe, Grace Nyamadzawo, Libetra Shoko

Junior Sports Man of the Year with a Disability: Liberty Mazino, Tafadzwa Munyoro, Shepherd Patrick

Sports Woman of the Year: Camilla Ruth Kruger, Rutendo Nyahora, Micheen Thornycrof

Sports Man of the Year: Brian Chiringa, Charles Manyuchi, Scot Vincent

Sports Woman of the Year with a Disability: Margaret Bangajena, Thandiwe Ndlovu, Ratidzo Tom

Sports Man of the Year with a Disability: Elford Moyo, Michael Mudyanadzo, Munyaradzi Musariri

Team of the Year: Hockey Under-21, Mighty Warriors, Team Zim(AUSC) Under 17            

Coach of the Year: Rachel J Davies, Trish Davies, Ropafadzo Mutsauki

Technical Official of the Year: Agnes Chiroodza,Debi Jeans, Lucky Mlilo

Women and Sports Award: Grace Chirumanzu, Kirsty Coventry, Micheen Thornycroft

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HARARE - Organisers of the Old Mutual Super Rugby Weekend have released the programme for the event which will be held at the National Sports Stadium on January 28.

For the second year running, Kyros Sports will be brining Super Rugby action to Zimbabwe with South African sides the Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions, Toyota Cheetahs and DHL Stormers set to tour here.

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Last February, the Toyota Cheetahs and the Vodacom Bulls held week-long training camps in Zimbabwe before playing a warm-up match against each other at the National Sports Stadium.

This year, action will kick off at 10am witch the Harare Sports Club Under-21 side taking on their rivals from Old Hararians.

Shortly after at 11am, the Prince Edward Tigers will take on Kyle College Vikings in the second curtain raiser of the day.

The main action will commence at 1pm when the Vodacom Bulls take on the Emirates Lions.

The Toyota Cheetahs match against the DHL Stormers will kick off at 3:15pm.

The four South African teams are using the event to prepare for their 2017 Vodacom Super Rugby season which gets underway on February 23.

Meanwhile, the Stormers have stepped up their training campaign at the High Performance Centre in Bellville, with 50 players.

Hooker Scarra Ntubeni (Achilles), wing Leolin Zas (leg) and flank Steph de Wit (ankle) are the only three players in the 50-man wider training group that are currently sidelined with significant injuries.

Stormers coach Robbie Fleck said that with so many young players in the group vying to make an impression and put themselves in the reckoning for the 2017 Vodacom Super Rugby campaign, there is healthy competition at the High Performance Centre.

“We have got some incredibly talented young players who are hungry to make an impression, which pushes the senior players as well,” Fleck told the Stormers website.

“After a great camp in Hermanus, we want to build some positive momentum as we look ahead to our pre-season games against the Toyota Cheetahs in Harare, SWD in George and Emirates Lions at DHL Newlands.”

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BULAWAYO - Highlanders goalkeepers coach Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu says the Bulawayo giants will take no prisoners in their search for glory in the 2017 season.

Bosso finished last season empty handed after ending the season in third place behind champions CAPS United and FC Platinum.

Under Dutch coach Erol Akbay, the Bulawayo giants played an exciting brand of football and challenged for the title when most people expected them to struggle. 

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Bosso began their preparations for the new season this week with Zulu taking charge of the training sessions as Akbay is still in the Netherlands on holiday. The Dutch coach is only expected to be back in the country on February 3.

Assistant coach Amini Soma Phiri is in Harare attending a Caf A License coaching course in the meantime.

“This year, we mean serious business and we will leave no stone unturned to achieve what we want,” Zulu said.

“When you have got about 75 percent of your players coming for early pre-season training, it is encouraging. We have trained well so far in the two days that we have practised.

“There are a number of young players that we are still looking at before we finalise our squad. We are happy with the quality of players that came for trials and we are still assessing them.”

A number of the Highlanders senior players were not present at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday as they had been excused.

The bulk of the players present yesterday were from the side’s development squad which plays in the Southern Region Division One league.

Some other players still trying their luck at the club were also part of the players who took part in the training session.

It is believed captain Felix Chindungwe and veteran goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni are likely to be the only senior players who will be released by the club.

Meanwhile, FC Platinum left Joshua Mqabuko International Airport yesterday afternoon on their way to South Africa for their pre-season training.

Pure Platinum Play have roped in former Tsholotsho head coach Lizwe Sweswe into their technical department as assistant coach to Norman Mapeza.

Sweswe was part of the squad which travelled to Mzansi yesterday.

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HARARE - Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa believes his side will not be intimidated by the physicality Senegal will bring when the two teams clash at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tonight.

The match kicks off at 9pm at the Stade de Franceville in Gabon this evening.

Zimbabwe enters the match high on confidence following the thrilling 2-2 draw against Algeria in the Group B opener at the same venue last Sunday.

The Desert Foxes took an early lead through their star forward Riyad Mahrez but Zimbabwe rallied back through goals from Kuda Mahachi and Nyasha Mushekwi.

Pasuwa’s side was just nine minutes away from a famous victory before Mahrez equalised to salvage a draw for the Desert Foxes.

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Senegal opened their tournament with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Tunisia on Sunday after goals from star man Sadio Mane and defender Kara Mbodji.

However, the Lions of Teranga were on the back foot for long periods during that game with goalkeeper Abdoulaye Diallo pulling off some world class saves to deny the Carthage Eagles.

“We as Zimbabwe, we have prepared well for the game against Senegal. It’s a big team we are going to play and us as Zimbabwe, we have done our homework; we will pick up from where we left off against Algeria in our last game,” Pasuwa told reporters during his press conference yesterday.

“Considering the fact that Zimbabwe in our last two tournaments we lost our first matches and now having a draw in the first match here it’s a plus sign on our side. It has given motivation to the boys to go and play better against Senegal than they did in the Algeria game.”

The Lions of Teranga showed they are a mean side in that win over Tunisia and they are likely to try and use their brawn tomorrow against the Warriors.

“When playing against these teams like Senegal, you need to be very brave on the ball and very aggressive,” Pasuwa said.

“We are not going to let them go easily. We are going to play the same type (physical) of football as they do.  We will continue playing the passing game as usual, some of our boys are small and if we pump long balls forward, it will be a disadvantage on our side. We need to keep possession in order for us to get into their attacking third.”

The Warriors coach has faith in his squad that they collect maximum points against Aliou Cisse’s side. 

“If as a coach I tell my players that I’m not confident ahead of the match against Senegal then we are already defeated before the match,” Pasuwa said.

“I’ve told my boys that we are going to be on top against Senegal and that’s the level of confidence in our camp. We are still the favourites in this group. We wanted the result bad against Algeria because of the problems we had back home. It has given us an extra morale booster.

“As a coach you plan according to how Algeria plays and when you play Senegal, you plan according to how Senegal plays.

“The way we played against Algeria is not going to be the same way we will play against Senegal.  We will bring another new dimension in the game against Senegal.”

Warriors vice-captain Cuthbert Malajila, who missed a glorious chance to secure victory against Algeria, said the players were geared up for the challenge against Senegal and will take inspiration from their performance against Algeria.   

“As players we are feeling good. We know we are playing Senegal and as Zimbabwe, we have prepared enough and we are ready to go; we can’t wait any longer for the game,” the Bidvest Wits forward said.

“I think considering our last game, we have done well, we have confidence in ourselves and I think this is a plus for the team. We are looking forward to the game.

“Back home the entire nation is behind us and they believe we are the golden generation of players. They know what we are capable of doing and they know what we can do on the field.

“Like what the coach said, the draw against Algeria was a plus for us and the people are expecting us to go and do well against Senegal.”

The Warriors will be without star forward Knowledge Musona for tonight’s game after he injured his hamstring on Sunday against Algeria.

The KV Oostende striker is likely to be fit for next Monday’s clash with Tunisia in Libreville.

Midfielder Marvelous Nakamba makes a return to the side after serving a one-match suspension during Sunday’s match.

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 BANJUL - Gambia's leader Yahya Jammeh said he was stepping down on Saturday under pressure from West African armies which entered the country this week following his refusal to concede an election defeat to President Adama Barrow.

Jammeh's announcement in an overnight broadcast on state television appears to bring to an end a political impasse and brings to a close a reign that began in 1994 when he seized power in a coup.

In practise, he had little choice but to step down after some 7,000 soldiers from Nigeria and Senegal entered Gambia on Thursday backed by tanks and warplanes. They were poised to move into the capital as Jammeh's army provided no resistance.

Jammeh's authoritarian government established a reputation for torturing and killing perceived opponents to stifle dissent and his departure will likely be welcomed by democracy advocates and viewed as a triumph for African diplomacy.

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"I have decided today in good conscience to relinquish the mantle of leadership of this great nation," Jammeh, dressed in a white robe and looking tired, said.

"All those who have supported me or were against me in this period, I implore them to put the supreme interest of our nation the Gambia above all partisan interest and endeavour to work together as one nation," he added.

Jammeh made no mention of whether he would go into exile but said he was leaving power in the national interest and was grateful there was no bloodshed during the political stalemate.

His announcement was delayed by negotiations with the presidents of Guinea and Mauritania over where he would live and whether he could be offered amnesty for alleged crimes committed during his years in power, said sources close to talks. They said the outcome of the talks remained uncertain.

Shops in central Banjul were shut and the streets quiet on Saturday, with a dozen people gathered outside State House.

"How can we believe anything until we see he has left," Chino Hussein, 21, a security guard, said.

Jammeh's defeat in December sparked celebrations on the streets of Banjul but, after initially conceding defeat, he backtracked and said he would challenge the result in court.

In a last bid to cling to power this week, he declared a state of emergency, dissolved the cabinet and the National Assembly extended his term for three months. More than half the government resigned and 45,000 people fled to Senegal.

Barrow, 51, is a soft-spoken man who worked as a property developer and led an opposition coalition few thought would win.

He was sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Senegal on Thursday and immediately called for international support.

"The rule of fear has been banished from Gambia for good," Barrow told a crowd at a Dakar hotel on Friday, once it became clear a deal had been struck for Jammeh to relinquish power.

"To all of you forced by political circumstances to flee our country, you now have the liberty to return home," he said. Barrow was also expected to return to the country.

The crisis was a test for regional bloc ECOWAS, not least because Jammeh had held office longer than any other current president in the grouping of states. The African Union and U.N. Security Council supported the military intervention.

Guinea's President Alpha Conde and Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz went to Banjul on Friday.

"The accord sees the departure of Jammeh from Gambia for an African country with guarantees for his family, those close to him and himself. He can come back to the country as he pleases," Aziz was quoted as saying by the Mauritanian state news agency.

Gambia's Atlantic beaches make it a holiday destination for Europeans. Tourism is a mainstay in the country of 1.8 million and the economy is otherwise reliant on peanut production and remittances from overseas.

The economy is expected to grow 4.5 percent in 2017, bouncing from a projected contraction of 4.0 percent last year, according to World Bank figures. - Reuters

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HARARE - President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu PF — whose hard-pressed government is struggling to pay civil servants — has acquired 320 vehicles, as the party escalates preparations for the 2018 election campaign.

This comes as at least 45 samples of the vehicles were presented to Mugabe at the party’s Harare headquarters last December.

Of the 45 Ford Ranger trucks, Mugabe handed over 13 to war veterans through their minister, Tshinga Dube.

This brings the total number of vehicles procured so far to 365.

Zanu PF’s secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo, yesterday confirmed the acquisition of the 320 vehicles at the party’s first national executive meeting of 2017.

He said now that the vehicles were there, Zanu PF youths — who received an undisclosed number of vehicles from the fleet — must “begin working”.

“ . . . as youth, your mandate is to campaign for the party, so we are actually looking for delivery from you,” Chombo said.

“From us, we know you want resources, you want cars to use.  (Zanu PF youth league secretary Kudzanai) Chipanga had complained over that matter.  His concern was the same as those of many people in our system, truly, there were not enough cars,” he said.

“We embarked on a programme to buy cars. Our youth league will get, so will the women’s league and . . . our provinces,” he added.

Chombo said the procurement process should be complete by Monday.

“ . . . it’s a process that is almost complete. We are just now left with clearance at customs but by tomorrow or Monday, you should have your resources,” he said.

He said the Zanu PF youth league should come up with a budget for the next 18 months leading to the elections.

“I am here to also understand the issues of concern for our youth. I also want to know the budget the youth are proposing that will start from February 1 to June, 2018.

“We don’t want a budget for 12 months but for 18 months because we have elections in 2018,” Chombo said.

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HARARE - The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has ordered the human rights commission and police to submit reports on the gruesome violence that erupted in Bikita West ahead of a by-election in the constituency today.

Zec’s chairperson Rita Makarau said the reports will guide the electoral body in taking action over the matter.

On Tuesday night, National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)’s candidate Madock Chivasa and his elections agent Thomas Mudzamiri were brutally attacked by alleged Zanu PF yobs at Tongonya Shopping Centre and had to be hospitalised.

Makarau told the Daily News that Zec was not turning a blind eye on the incident.

“We got a report of what happened and our constituency election officer held a multi-party liaison meeting yesterday (Thursday) which was attended by the victims and other candidates,” she said.

“It’s not true that we have turned a blind eye. We have also written to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to give us a report on the situation, since they are also on the ground. And we have also written to the Zimbabwe Republic Police for a report,” she added.

NCA candidate Madock Chivasa (left) and his election agent nurse wounds after a brutal attack by alleged Zanu PF yobs prior to the Bikita West by-election. 

“We are waiting for these reports, which we are expecting any minute from now. These reports will enable us to determine whether we should go ahead with the election tomorrow (today). We will be guided by these reports on how to proceed. In the case that we did not get the reports, in time then we will depend on our election officers,” Makarau said.

Observers reported that guns were fired during the violent attack on Chivasa, and Mudzamiri.

The pair are said to have sustained injuries during the attack.

This comes as peace advocacy and election observer organisations have rung alarm bells over the violence disturbing the pre-election processes in Bikita West, with reports of gunshots days before the by-election tomorrow.

The Civil rights groups called for investigations to be instituted and prosecutions of perpetrators to take place before the violence sets a bad precedent for the 2018 general election.

The Bikita West seat fell vacant after the jailing of Munyaradzi Kereke who was legislator for the area.

Yesterday, western embassies in Harare condemned the violence saying it marred the lead-up to the by-election risks disenfranchising voters.

“The heads of mission of the European Union and Switzerland express their deep concern at reports of intimidation and violence against political candidates in the run up to the Bikita West by election,” a joint statement by the European Union (EU) Delegation, the heads of  mission of EU member States in Harare and the head of mission of Switzerland said.

“The heads of mission note the obligation of the authorities to protect the democratic rights of all citizens.

“It is the responsibility of the government of Zimbabwe to ensure that justice is served,” they said.

“The heads of mission of the EU and Switzerland urge all parties to respect democratic principles and contribute to a peaceful election.”

Villagers are set to vote today in the country’s closest by-election yet, with observers warning that the tight race could lead to violence after the polls.

United Kingdom (UK) ambassador to Zimbabwe, Catriona Laing, tweeted her concern.

“Concerning reports of violence or intimidation in Bikita West ahead of by-election. Monitoring closely @euinzim @usembassyharare,” she said.

“The UK is deeply concerned.  UK election observers will be on the ground from Friday (yesterday) @UKinZimbabwe.”

EU head of delegation Philippe Van Damme also shared his thoughts on Twitter.

“Violence should be condemned loud and clear by all participants in this by-election and by their respective party leaders,” he said.

Chivasa, NCA’s spokesperson, is part of six candidates that have successfully filed their papers at the Nomination Court that sat at the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court that include Zanu PF Women’s League provincial executive member Beauty Chabaya, Kudakwashe Gopo of the Joice Mujuru-led ZPF, Terence Makumbo of Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe (PDZ), independent candidate Innocent Muzvimbiri and former BikitaWest legislator Heya Shoko, who will also stand as an independent candidate.

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HARARE - Higher and Tertiary Education deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa — accused of misappropriating $430 000 meant for Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) — got a reprieve yesterday after he was removed from remand.

He was subsequently granted leave to appeal to the Constitutional Court (Con-Court) after arguing that due process was not complied with in the handling of his matter.

Gandawa was jointly charged with Zimdef finance director Nicholas Mapute on charges of fraud and criminal abuse of office.

Mapute will remain on remand pending finalisation of the matter.

In his application for referral of the case to the Con-Court, Gandawa challenged the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc)’s power to arrest and detain.

Gandawa claimed that the Zacc infringed on his constitutional rights by failing to warn and caution him of the charges he faced.

He further argued that the Prosecutor-General (PG) acted unconstitutionally by recommending the commissioner general of police to arrest him, adding that a warrant of search and seizure issued by Zacc was unlawful.

He argued that Zacc does not, in terms of the Constitution, have the power to arrest and detain suspects.

He also argues that the PG does not, in terms of the Constitution, have the power to order the police to arrest an individual. He successfully stopped his appearance in court, describing it as an illegality.

Harare magistrate Vongai Guwuriro ruled that Zacc’s conduct breached Gandawa’s constitutional rights.

“It is not in dispute that accused person attended an interview at Zacc in the company of his lawyer and spent three hours there before the legal practitioner left.

“He was later advised that he was under arrest and denied the right to consult a legal practitioner of choice,” Muchuchuti said.

“ . . . his rights as envisaged in Section 50 of the Constitution were violated. This now leaves the Con-Court to determine Zacc’s powers to arrest.

“The apex court would also need to consider whether the prosecutor-general has power to order (police) commissioner-general to instigate an arrest.”

Guwuriro also nullified a warrant of search and seizure that was obtained by Zacc to gain access to Gandawa’s property.

According to the State, between December 2015 and April last year, Gandawa corruptly concealed his personal interest in various transactions when he engaged his company Fuzzy Technologies — where he is co-director with his daughter Clarence — to supply the ministry 170 computers worth $107 525.

It was further alleged that there was an additional 75 computers worth $42 250 and materials for Zimbabwe International Trade Fair valued $185 525.

HARARE - Agitated war veterans have reiterated their call for President Robert Mugabe to leave office now, adding derisively yesterday that they would not “waste” their time quarrelling with Zanu PF youths who have said that they are prepared to take up arms to defend the nonagenarian.

Speaking to the Daily News, the spokesperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), Douglas Mahiya, was emphatic that Mugabe — who turns a mature 93 next month — could not continue to lead the country.

He also took a swipe at Zanu PF youth leader Kudzanai Chipanga who said earlier this week that party youths were ready to go to war against former freedom fighters and other supporters of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in defence of Mugabe — saying Chipanga had “no idea” about wars and their deadly consequences.

This comes as Zanu PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo was also insisting yesterday at a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Harare that Mugabe would be the party’s presidential candidate in next year’s eagerly-anticipated national elections, as decided at the party’s disputed 2014 congress.

“The youths do not know what taking up arms is all about. They only hear about it. Nobody in their right mind wants a war, especially those who were once involved in one. What the youths are saying is childish.

“What we are simply saying is that a 93-year-old may, naturally, not be fully capable of discharging their duties in the office of the president,” the forthright Mahiya said.

However, Chombo was adamant that Mugabe could only be challenged internally at the party’s 2019 elective congress.

“Some of you, including the press elect not to read,” Chombo said, adding that the Zanu PF congress was the only party event that was held to elect the person who would represent the former liberation movement in future elections.

“We are saying this so that newspapers do not create confusion where there is none. In 2014, we elected our president.

“We said then that all those who want to be president should raise their hands. Everyone rushed to lift the president’s, saying ‘we want Mugabe, he is the one we want to be president of the party’.

“This was a mandate for five years. So, anyone who wants to come in now can only do so at the 2019 congress. Logically and mathematically, it’s all very clear and straightforward . . . there is no shortcut. So what is bothering our reporters?” he said — bizarrely appearing to blame Zanu PF’s worsening tribal, factional and succession wars on the media.

And as Chombo was railing against the Fourth Estate, the ruling party’s two main factions, the Generation 40 (G40) group and Team Lacoste, were openly exchanging blows over Mugabe’s bitterly-contested succession.

“The presidency is not a straightjacket. We also understand that when our parents went to war, they were fighting for one man, one vote.

“So, any attempt by anyone to impose a leader on us in Zanu PF will be resisted fiercely by the youths who are even prepared to take up arms in defence of that principle. We are not going to be intimidated by anyone,” Chipanga thundered ominously earlier this week.

On his part, Mahiya said former freedom fighters did not want war with the youths, but were simply giving them guidance on Zimbabwe’s history, the basis of the country’s 1970s revolution and how Zanu PF’s succession should be managed.

“We cannot force them to accept our advice if they refuse to understand. In any case, we don’t want to fight anybody, although we are so experienced about wars,” Mahiya said, adding that the youths would not get any support from anyone to wage their threatened war, unless they enlisted “the services of mercenaries”.

The majority of war veterans and other supporters of Mnangagwa, such as vocal Zanu PF member Energy Mutodi, have been vociferously calling on Mugabe to stand down, in addition to calling for the holding of an extraordinary congress to choose a new leader for the ruling party.

“The reasons for the liberation war were clear. It was a war to end racial discrimination. Our liberators wanted to achieve equality among all the people of this country. It was not a war to change the face of the oppressor from white to black.

“As we speak, life in Rhodesia was much better than life in independent Zimbabwe as Rhodesia offered enough jobs for all.

“There was no nepotism and discrimination on tribal grounds like what we see today. The economy is now on its knees due to economic mismanagement, corruption and poor policies.

“Millions of youths are unemployed and see no reason why they should continue supporting a status quo that is insensitive to their plight,” Mutodi thundered yesterday, following Chipanga’s threats.

He said it was heart-rending to note that some of the youths who were born after Zimbabwe’s independence had never been employed and had become parents under Mugabe’s leadership, whose 2013 two million job promise “remains a pie in the sky”.

“As a party, Zanu PF has failed to attract foreign investment and the passing of laws that scare away investors has made the youths hopeless, hence the need for leadership change,” he added.

Mutodi also said Chipanga was “trying too hard to curry favours” with Mugabe through “poisonous” bootlicking.

“He is an active member of the G40 and has benefitted immensely from the corrupt deals that they are facilitating for each other. He therefore doesn’t care about the millions of youths who are wallowing in poverty,” Mutodi claimed.

“No one must aspire to stay in power forever. Everyone who wants to lead must be given an opportunity to stand in an election and not be expelled from the party. It is not a crime for one to aspire to lead,” he said further.

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HARARE - With weight-related diseases such as heart failure, hypertension, stroke and even some cancers becoming prevalent, many people have suddenly become health-conscious and are now changing their lifestyles.

Some have resorted to healthy-living lifestyles by watching their diets, carrying out exercises with some even joining their local gym.

It is now a usual early morning occurrence to see groups of fitness enthusiasts taking strolls, jogs or brisk walks

Of late, one of the most popular fitness disciplines Zumba has become a favourite of many with its reported effective weight loss results.

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Among the country’s top instructors of the discipline is Zororo Nhira better known in fitness circles as Zoro — a thorough-bred fitness enthusiast.

"It started off by accident as I was merely into choreography especially for weddings. I did several weddings and had several participants coming back to me telling me how much they had lost weight in such a short period,” Nhira told the Daily News on Sunday.

“I then decided to venture into fitness training and enrolled for Zumba qualification with a Cape Town institution and became a Zumba-certified instructor.”

He says Zumba is an easy and enjoyable way of losing weight as it involves well-structured dances and aerobic elements accompanied by different music from many genres initially involving, pop, soca, samba but now as it evolves further it now incorporates elements such as hip-hop, house music and  even our own sungura music.

These dance moves are calculated to work on certain parts of the body such as the thighs, calves among other parts of the body.

“As people dance, they would be enjoying themselves far too much to notice any discomfort and in my case I do this by using very popular songs at the time like Jah Prayzah’s Mudhara Vachauya which is very popular in my dance classes which I conduct at the National Ballet,” he says.

“It is important to relate to clients paying particular attention to the music selection as Zumba can have the young, the old, everyone as participants.”

Nhira says he now commands a large class of fitness enthusiasts as many people hear of the effectiveness of Zumba in weight loss.

“I have so many classes such that I’ve had to also conduct private lessons with other clients. I’ve also helped grooms and brides lose weight drastically just before their weddings and Zumba has worked wonders for them but of course it is a complicated process where I listen to the needs of each member of my classes, look at their health history etc before putting up a dance regime suitable for them,” he says.

The popular fitness instructor says he has also worked with top corporates whose workers he worked with on fitness programmes, as well as different cancer associations with whom he carried out cancer awareness programmes.

“Zumba is a very interesting way of losing weight and living healthy and these days with the increase in so many health-related diseases and deaths, people need to become health-conscious and live healthy lifestyles,” Nhira urges.

On his achievements in the fitness industry, Nhira says his career has enabled him to travel all over the world — be it for certification or fitness workshops.

“I’m proud to have contributed in many charity causes such as the cancer awareness campaigns and I hope stakeholders take notice of these awareness campaigns and take positive action,” he says.

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HARARE - Gleefully inspecting the several flag pins that dominate her Zimbabwe blazer, young Danielle Bekker struggles to pinpoint if there is any continent she has not traversed.

At 13, she has been to more countries and played on some of the world’s best golf courses than she can care to remember.

Her father, Ryan, is amazed by her potential.

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She practices only three times a week but still delivers a performance belying her small frame, Ryan says, adding: “She is a natural.”

But Danielle is not too bothered by it all, it seems for now and naturally so, she has no ultimate goal for the ball and club sport.

“It’s fun, seeing new countries, I was in Last Vegas last year and it was so much fun, I enjoyed it,” she says.

The Chapman Golf Club fledgling star has been a dominant force on the junior golf scene since her golf clubs became her best friend a few years ago.

She underlined her growing status last year with a high riding performance of the local women’s golf circuit, winning the first three major provincial tournaments on the Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union in 2016.

That impressive start to the year earned her selection as the country’s sole representative at last year’s Junior Open Championship held at Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club on the west coast of Scotland in July.

Before that tournament, she had a go at the annual European Junior Championships staged at Gullane in East Lothian in Scotland.

She had earlier been part of a young Zimbabwe side which finished a commendable fourth out of 16 nations at the 2016 edition of the prestigious All-Africa Challenge Trophy held in Tunisia.

Bekker is scheduled to take part in the annual Kids Golf World Championship, which got underway yesterday at the Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort in Malaysia.

The year also saw her head to the United States where she featured in two high profile tournaments – the World Stars of Junior Golf in Las Vegas and the US Teen World Championships from July 27-31 at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.

Bekker was part of the Zimbabwe team that claimed their maiden All Africa Junior Girls Championship title in Zambia.

The team romped to a dominant 109-shot victory at Lusaka Golf Club in Zambia.

The female junior golfer completed her year on a high note with a commendable second-place finish at the Kids Golf World Championship in Malaysia.

It was therefore no surprise when she edged other equally talented junior sporting personalities in rower Ciara Soper and BMX rising sensation Rebekah Oberholzer to the Junior Sportswoman of the Year gong.

She went on to clinch the overall Junior Sportsperson of the Year.                                         

“I am so excited to receive this award,” she said. “The first one was good, the second one I was just so excited,” she said.

“I have a few more years (in the juniors’ category) so let’s just see how it goes.”

Bekker had a week’s break in December before getting back in the saddle with two tournaments in South Africa earlier this month and is set for more tournaments as the year progresses.

She might need to pack another blazer to accommodate her collection of lapel pins which first gained popularity when Americans donned them to show support for presidential candidates.

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HARARE - The Warriors might be a perennial bore and pain to some local fans but they remain firmly tucked in the hearts of most football loving supporters.

On a day English Premier League giants Manchester United and Liverpool clashed in one of the world’s eagerly anticipated matches characterised by a fierce rivalry which dates back decades to the days of Matt Busby and Bill Shankly – Zimbabwe was taking on Algeria at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Both matches were taking place at the same time; most sports bars, betting houses, entertainment hideouts and homes chose to switch to the match pitting the Warriors and The Desert Foxes instead of tuning in to Old Trafford.

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At the heart of Harare’s Central Business District, lies one of the busiest betting houses with state of the art self-service terminals and the walls decorated with numerous flat screen televisions.

There were also other matches taking place at the same time across Europe which were being shown on the television screens.

But most of the punters had their eyes glued on the screen showing the Zimbabwe vs Algeria match.

It was difficult to get a clear view of the action as people jostled for a better vantage point.

Even when Liverpool took the lead in the 27th minute through a penalty from the boot of James Milner, it was barely noticed in the packed betting house.

It was the same reaction with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 84th minute equaliser for the Red Devils.

The patrons were spellbound by the end to end action in Franceville as the Warriors and the Desert Foxes traded blows.

In the end, Zimbabwe and Algeria played out an entertaining 2-2 draw after goals from Kuda Mahachi and Nyasha Mushekwi while Riyad Mahrez netted a brace for the North Africans.

It was only after the final whistle in Franceville that most people began to inquire the result between Manchester United and Liverpool.

“We love this team, we call them Warriors in moments of glory and ‘worry us’ when they play like kindergarten kids just like Cuthbert Malajila and Tatenda Mkuruva did – conniving to throw away the match in such an embarrassing fashion,” Rutendo ‘Border’ Kativhu of Mufakose told the Daily News on Sunday.

“For Malajila the easiest decision he would have made was to pass the ball to a teammate on his right to slot into an empty net while Mahrez’s second goal was a harmless looking shot – we should have won that match.”

Mary Shupikai Mujati of Greendale said local is lekker.

“It is no lie that we fondly follow the Premier League and other leagues such as La Liga and Bundesliga; that’s just as far as club football is concerned and when our national team is doing duty on the continent or at world stage we just have to be proud of our boys no matter how much agony we have gone through in supporting them,” Mujati said.

A staunch Arsenal fan Daisy Taedzerwa, who is based in the United Kingdom, said she had the easiest of choices to make on the day because her team had displaced Swansea 0-4 at the Liberty Stadium 24 hours earlier.

“Well, I’m no fan of either Man U nor Liverpool and my team had made light work of Swansea the previous day but even if the Gunners were in action at the same time as the Warriors, I would have watched my country in action as they say ‘East, West home is best,” Taedzerwa said.

Despite their unwavering support for the Kalisto Pasuwa’s side, the Warriors fans were left deflated on Thursday night following a 2-0 loss to Senegal in their second match at the Afcon tournament.

The Warriors now need to beat Tunisia tomorrow night in order to qualify for the quarter-finals.

It is a sure bet that a lot of Zimbabweans will be tuning into the match to see if the team can make history and reach the last eight stage of the tournament for the first time. 

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HARARE - For fighters to call each other out or make promises is nothing new in boxing.

But Charles Manyuchi has taken the art to announce that his recent crowning moment as Zimbabwe’s best sporting talent of 2016 will not make him remove the paddle from the metal.

The Mutuko-born pugilist was crowned the Sportsperson of the Year during Friday night’s Annual National Sports Awards (Ansa).

“This will obviously motivate me to continue working hard but it doesn’t mean I will start telling myself I have made it,” Manyuchi said of his award.

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He had earlier scooped the Sportsman of the Year for the third year running and the approval was palpable as dignitaries rose to give ‘‘the champ’’ a standing ovation.

Never short of drama, Manyuchi seemingly backed himself to be the main event after he arrived at the grand occasion with the World Boxing Council (WBC) belts.

They fitted the scrip as photojournalists jostled to capture the images.

“If you are going into war, you have to go prepared,” he said.

Although he stretched his record to 20 wins from 23 outings, the beginning of 2016 was somewhat punctuated by uncertainty.

The pugilist endured months without a promoter after Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotion (OQBP) declined to renew his contract over irreconcilable differences.

The WBC welterweight champion’s flirtation with OQBP had abruptly ended with the Zambian boxing stable unequivocally stating that they were no longer interested in his services.

That divorce left Manyuchi racing against time to find a new stable to host his mandatory title defence which had been set for February.

However, things turned for the better following lengthy talks instigated by Zimbabwe’s Sports minister Makhosini Hlongwane to rescue the pugilist’s career.

To his credit, Manyuchi also shouldered the responsibility of mending a broken relationship with (OQBP).

Reunited, the stable and boxer went   on triumph in the bright lights of Russia.

More than 11 000 kilometres away from home, Manyuchi fought for the WBC silver title left vacant by Briton Amir Khan and caught welterweighter Dmitry Mikhaylenko cold in a 12-rounder.

The 29-year-old Russian nicknamed “The Mechanic” was yet to taste defeat in an impressive career that had seen him floor his opponents nine times in 21 undefeated professional fights.

But not on that night at the DIVS, Ekaterinburg where Manyuchi came out on top.

“When people see me here all suited up, they might think this is who I am, but I am working hard everyday to get better than I am. I haven’t reached my peak yet,” Manyuchi said.

Manyuchi won $350 for being crowned the Sportsman of the Year, in a monetary incentive that may not reflect the effort, time and sacrifice invested by the winning athletes.

While observers had a lot to input on that price, Manyuchi distanced himself from making any rush conclusions.

Instead, he insisted that he was chasing excellence.

The Ansas celebrate and reward top sports icons in Zimbabwe who would have performed exceptionally well at national, regional, continental and world championships.

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HARARE - After enduring a long wait to know their fate having won their respective Division One Leagues, Premiership-bound clubs from the second tier can now get down to serious business and prepare for top-flight football.

Domestic football was in limbo since last year after the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) clashed over the number of teams to be relegated and promoted at the end of the 2016 season.

Initially, two teams were supposed to be relegated from the top-flight league while the four winners from Division One took part in a play-off to determine the two teams to be promoted.

However, all hell broke loose following a Zifa AGM in October were councillors voted to relegate four teams and promote four.

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The matter was finally put to bed after the PSL agreed to relegate two teams and promote four teams on Friday.

Bantu Rovers, who won the Southern Region Division league, general manager Wilbert Sibanda said they never stopped training despite the confusion surrounding promotion.

“Obviously it feels great to be finally cleared to play in the Premiership but we had already started preparations for the 2017 season regardless of where we were going to play - PSL or Division One,” Sibanda told the Daily News on Sunday.

“It is a massive development for the club and hopefully this time it will go our way. When we play we play to win but we don’t want to put pressure on our players. The first year is all about finding our feet and looking to survive.”

Yadah Gunners won the Eastern Region league and their coach Kuda Masaraure said they will not be going into the market in their maiden Premiership season in order to give youngsters who delivered the promotion a chance to shine.

“It’s an exciting feeling and we can’t wait to be in the Premiership but we haven’t started training yet just to give the players adequate rest,” Masaraure said.

“We will be getting into the big boys club with the squad that won us promotion. You may recall that...Walter Magaya spoke about redeeming people’s careers this year and in the same realm we just feel we might block that path for the youngsters if we are to go on the market to buy players so it will be time for them to shine.”

Central Region champions and Premiership returnees Shabanie Mine want to stay in the topflight and avoid going down again.

“Shabanie is a very big brand and the two seasons we have spent in Division 1 have ensured that we come back revitalised, reinvented and refocused so that we do not repeat past mistakes,” Shabanie Mine treasurer Munyaradzi Nyashanu said.

“We will leave no stone unturned in our quest to maximise the brand potential and make sure that we stay in the top flight league.”

The other team which will be making a comeback in the Premiership next year will be army side Black Rhinos, who won the Northern Region league.

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HARARE - The High Court has given Dynamos the green light to hold their highly contentious eighth Annual General Meeting (AGM) today after dismissing an interdict sought by some of the club’s former players.

Justice Priscilla Chigumba dismissed the application launched by Ernest Kamba and his group which also included Moses Chunga, David George, Cremio Mapfumo, Makwinji Soma Phiri, Erick Aisam, Misheck Chidzambwa, Stanley Chirambadare, Grassiano Kapfunde and Sam Mukomondo.

The group is currently embroiled in a bitter ownership wrangle with board chairperson Bernard Marriot and were seeking to stop the AGM from going ahead since they had not been invited.

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They were claiming they have a right to attend the meeting since they were also shareholders and members of the electoral college according to the DeMbare constitution.

Initially, today’s AGM was not supposed to go ahead after the urgent court application by Kamba was set to be heard in chambers tomorrow at 3pm.

However, while appearing before the court for a case management meeting yesterday morning in order to prepare for tomorrow’s chamber hearing, both parties agreed they were ready to proceed with the case.

After making their submissions, Justice Chigumba ruled that the case was not an urgent matter since Kamba and his colleagues had failed to assert their rights before the previous seven AMGs that were held in the past.

If they were really concerned with the affairs of the club, they should have approached the courts before the previous meetings.

The application was also dismissed due to the grounds that the appellants failed to prove that they were indeed Dynamos shareholders by attaching the share certificates together with their application.

Kamba’s group was represented by Rumbidzai Venge, Phillip Nyakuedzwa and Tendayi Shomwe from Mambosasa Legal Practitioners.

Dynamos were represented by advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara, who had been instructed by their lawyer Brian Mutaruka.

In his court application, Kamba was seeking postponement of the AGM after Marriot had categorically stated that the former players were not allowed to attend.

The venue of the meeting had also raised concern since there were fears the former players would be assaulted if they attended.

“In the interest of the club and company, through a social media group that we run with other former players, we agreed that we should bury the hatchet and engage applicant’s current executive so that we can work together for the benefit of both club and company,” Kamba said.

“To that end the applicants who are all locally-based and other former players listed below who are based in various parts of the country and the world agreed that we should participate at the AGM for the purposes of uniting the greater Dynamos family members.

“As a way of reaching out to applicant’s current administration I was tasked . . . to make a press statement expressing our willingness to attend the AGM and requesting some information and proxy forms in order to fully prepare for the meeting and allow foreign-based shareholders to participate at the meeting and cast their votes, if need be.

“On January 12, 2017, in response to my press article, first respondent through its chairman . . . Marriot had an article . . . in which he rubbished my proposal to work together and even threatened to assault us should we attempt to attend the AGM which meeting is suppose to take place at a property owned by Kenni Mubaiwa . . .

“...Marriot categorically stated that we will be prosecuted. His claims that he is a gangster only serve to buttress our fears of attending the AGM at a private premises where we can either be assaulted or barred from attending . . .”

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