HARARE - Embattled former Vice President Joice Mujuru received more heavy blows yesterday after dozens of party heavyweights — including her former close confidante Sylvester Nguni — deserted her en masse, claiming that she was no different to President Robert Mugabe.

Among those who dumped her were retired brigadier-general Agrippa Mutambara and the leadership of the party’s youth league, although they all did not indicate their next move.

“I am disappointed that the sacred democratic values that I hold dear are once again being violated by the dismissals (of the party’s elders) and the promised further purges in ZPF,” Mutambara — who was left for dead by rampaging Zanu PF apparatchiks last year, as he tried to defend fellow ZPF comrades who were under siege — said.

ZPF spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire later confirmed to the Daily News that Nguni had also quit the troubled party in a huff.

Announcing his resignation at a press conference in Harare yesterday, ZPF interim youth deputy chairperson, Prosper Gavanga, said more than 20 other individuals had also announced their resignation.

“There was a lack of wisdom and lots of lies in how . . . Mujuru illegally removed people that invited her to lead ZPF, a party formed to take Zimbabwe out of its current quagmire and beyond.

“ . . . Mujuru lacks principle and wisdom. The same script that was used to remove her from Zanu PF . . . and many others who stood by her, not as an admission of guilt, but out of principle . . . is the same script she has adopted and improved even further,” Gavanga said.

He added that Mujuru as an interim leader of the party, did not have powers to expel any member of the party.

“How can the interim president of a party, whose leadership has not been ratified by members at a convention, walk out of her home’s bedroom or bathroom hands unwashed, with no due process or effort to meet her fellow comrades and resolve the matter, and make unsubstantiated claims at a press conference.

“She claims to be a democrat, yet acts like a first grade tyrant. Indeed, it has become apparent that whoever said she was simplistic and not ready to govern was correct.

“If she fails to manage her family and party, what qualifies her to govern a country and an economy of 14 million people?” Gavanga queried further.

The party’s interim youth chairperson, Luckson Kandemiri, said he had in fact resigned from ZPF in January, although Mujuru had stopped him from leaving and later purported to have expelled him.

Gavanga said the supposedly expelled people had a right to be heard through disciplinary processes before they could be fired.

In a stunning development on Wednesday, Mujuru announced that she had expelled some of the party’s founding members that included Rugare Gumbo, Didymus Mutasa, Margaret Dongo, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and Claudius Makova.

However, the affected stalwarts, in turn, also announced later that they had summarily expelled her from the party — leaving ZPF in total limbo.

“She accuses Gumbo, Dongo, Mutasa and four others of ‘coup d’état and sophisticated infiltration without offering the slightest evidence or explanation, the exact same way Mugabe did it in Zanu PF.

“There is so much coincidence in her actions and Mugabe’s, leaving one to wonder whether could this be a student mimicking the teacher?

“She is so insecure to the extent of fabricating cases, accusing party members of mingling and stalling coalition talks when only last week she confessed that the coalition discussions were between her and (opposition leader Morgan) Tsvangirai.

“How then does she bring in a third and fourth person? Mugabe never took responsibility and passed blame for any failures to others, and it seems she learnt well,” the disaffected ZPF members also said in a statement.

“And as suspended members did not know about their charges or suspension till after the announcement in the media, they had no time to appeal and defend themselves.

“The president of the party does not chair, sit or announce the party’s disciplinary committee’s resolutions. This makes her decision and announcement null and void if not illegal,” they added.

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HARARE - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is apparently so concerned about the ugly fallout between Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) interim leader Joice Mujuru and the party’s founding fathers, that he phoned one of these stalwarts on Wednesday — Didymus Mutasa — to express his disquiet about the damaging ructions.

But despite his disappointment with the turmoil engulfing ZPF, the Daily News understands that the former prime minister in the government of national unity has also given Mujuru some oxygen of sorts by re-affirming his commitment to working with her in the mooted grand opposition alliance, which is expected to be in place by the end of this year.

Mutasa confirmed yesterday that a concerned Tsvangirai had indeed enquired from him about the farcical ZPF events of Wednesday, in which Mujuru fired her top lieutenants, including Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo — who responded in kind by summarily sacking the former vice president from the fledgling party.

“Tsvangirai phoned me about what is happening and I told him that he should ask Mujuru,” Mutasa said.

Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, also confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that his boss was very worried about the events unfolding within ZPF, but said there was “no turning back” on the opposition’s planned coalition.

“We cannot comment on what is happening at a neighbour’s house even if that neighbour is a friend, suffice to say that the president sees the developments as unfortunate.

“It is also unfortunate that it is the opposition that is attracting the negative publicity when the real culprit (Zanu PF) is watching from the sidelines.

“But the decision to form a coalition has been made by the national assembly and we will stand by that,” Tamborinyoka said.

In an unexpected bombshell that shook both the opposition movement and ordinary Zimbabweans alike, Mujuru on Wednesday morning announced that she had expelled the founding elders of the party Gumbo and Mutasa, together with five other party heavyweights — on account of them being alleged Zanu PF agents and working to topple her from her interim position.

“Having done extensive consultation within the rank and file of the party and also in my capacity as the president with the executive authority to ensure its wellbeing, I hereby announce the expulsion of the following members from Zimbabwe People First with immediate effect: Rugare Gumbo, Didymus Mutasa, Margaret Dongo, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Luckson Kandemiri, Munacho Mutezo and Claudious Makova,” she said.

But no sooner had she completed her briefing than the situation turned into a complete farce, when Mutasa and Gumbo announced at their own press conference that they had similarly expelled Mujuru from ZPF.

Gumbo said Mujuru had “revealed to all and sundry” that she was incapable of leading an opposition party, and was therefore not fit to hold such an office.

“She has declared war on us and the die has been cast. We don’t think that she is the right person to lead us. We no longer recognise her as the leader of People First,” Gumbo said at the packed media event which was also attended by the other supposedly expelled members.

Weighing in, Mutasa said even though the elders were still to settle for her successor, one thing they were sure about was that they were “tired” of her style of leadership.

“We are not surprised by her irrational and emotional decision purporting to expel us. In fact, at the time she held her press conference, we were waiting for her at the party offices as she had told us that we should wait for her since she was at the Trauma Centre.

“She has no right to expel us. Mujuru was in fact appointed by us the founders of the party to lead the party as the interim president,” Mutasa thundered in remarks that don’t bode well for the still-to-properly-take-off party.

“An intelligent Mujuru would not have expelled VaGumbo and Mutasa. She has not got even a modicum of intelligence,” Mutasa added mockingly.

But a defiant Mujuru said yesterday that the expulsion of the founding elders and five other officials was good riddance, as they were allegedly “damaged goods”.

Her spokesperson Gift Nyandoro told the Daily News that they now felt that they no longer had damaged goods within their ranks and would thus be able to negotiate better with other political parties as they endeavoured to form the mooted grand coalition against Zanu PF.

“Nothing has changed over the talks. ZPF remains focussed on the talks . . . Mujuru is the face of the party and she is the one who was given the mandate to engage all other progressive opposition leaders to ensure that we confront Zanu PF as a united front,” he said.

But as Nyandoro spoke, dozens of other party stalwarts were deserting the burning new kid on the political block yesterday, putting its future in doubt.

Amid the chaos, Mujuru has been working behind the scenes with Tsvangirai and other smaller opposition parties towards the formation of the planned grand coalition.

In addition, Zanu PF apparatchiks have lately been working overtime to discredit Mujuru, in what observers have described as a desperate bid to scupper Tsvangirai’s ongoing coalition talks with her.

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

Since Mujuru joined hands with Tsvangirai and marched with him in the streets of Gweru in August last year — in a rare public display of unity among the opposition — there have been growing calls by fed up citizens for the formation of a grand opposition alliance.

Earlier this week, Tsvangirai said Mujuru had proved to be a significant opposition player — and that the two would work together with others to dethrone Mugabe and Zanu PF from power next year.

Mujuru was expelled from Zanu PF together with Gumbo and Mutasa in the run-up to the ruling party’s sham “elective congress” in December 2014, on untested allegations of plotting to assassinate and topple Mugabe from power.

HARARE - The Supreme Court has struck off the roll Dynamos’ appeal against an arbitral award granted in favour of its former captain Guthrie Zhokinyi, who is demanding his salary and benefits amounting to $14 000.

The matter was struck off the roll after Dynamos’ lawyer Tawanda Zhuwarara sought to amend the relief.

He intended to have another line added to the relief stating the Glamour Boys’ desire to have the High Court ruling granted in favour of Zhokinyi set aside.

However, Zhokinyi’s lawyer Regina Mabwe said because of that, there was no proper appeal before the court.

Zhuwarara conceded to the point and agreed to have the matter struck off the roll.

The Supreme Court bench led by Elizabeth Gwaunza ruled that the relief sought must have been clearly stated from the onset as that is in terms of the Rules of the court.

“The matter is struck off the roll and there shall be no order as to costs,” Gwaunza ruled.

The appeal was made after the High Court upheld the judgment delivered by an arbitrator, ordering Dynamos to pay Zhokinyi $14 250.

High Court judge Amie Tsanga, in September 2015, ruled that DeMbare must pay Zhokinyi his outstanding signing-on fees and other entitlements, as was directed by the arbitrator, only identified as K Segula.

“The arbitration award made by arbitrator K Segula on February 17, 2015 be and is, hereby, registered as an order of this court.

“Respondent be ordered to pay interest at the prescribed rate from the date of award to date of final payment. Respondent is ordered to pay costs of suit,” Tsanga’s judgment reads.

The judge said Dynamos should have properly terminated Zhokinyi’s contract in terms of clause 8 of the agreement.

Zhokinyi was given a life ban from all football activities within the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) jurisdiction following his alleged involvement in the Asiagate match-fixing scandal.

In their appeal, Dynamos argued that since Zhokinyi had been banned from all football activities by Zifa, they could not continue paying his salary.

Zhokinyi told the court that he signed a fixed-term contract of employment with the Glamour Boys in 2012, which Tsanga said must not have been terminated.

“The arbitrator’s findings were correct . . . a contract of employment is concluded by an employer and employee and can only be terminated by one or other of them. Neither of the parties in this case terminated the contract of employment.

“The respondent (Zhokinyi) is therefore entitled to his outstanding salaries and benefits. I cannot fault the arbitrator’s findings,” Tsanga ruled.

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HARARE - Ex-Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa is not a bitter man after he was sacked by Zifa but is praying that he will be paid his outstanding dues amounting to over $100 000.

Zifa pointed to the Warriors’ dismal performance at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Gabon last month as the reason behind Pasuwa’s sacking.

The Warriors were booted out of the tournament at the group stages following defeats to Senegal and Tunisia while picking up a single point in the draw against Algeria.

Pasuwa’s fate was effectively sealed last week when the Zifa High Performance Committee (HPC) met in the capital and recommended the coach’s sacking.

However, Pasuwa’s manager Gibson Mahachi yesterday told the Daily News that his client had welcomed the decision but urged the association to play their part by settling what they owe him.

“There is nothing wrong with the position they have taken. It’s actually the right thing to do anyway,” Mahachi said.

“We don’t have any hard feelings as it is actually normal in football. It’s actually above board. We only hope the association will be able to own up and clear what they owe to the coach.

“I’m sure they know how much they owe him and we hope they will be able to meet his dues.”

Pasuwa has not been paid his salary since May 2016 despite Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo promising to cater for coach’s welfare.

Apart from not receiving his salary for the past nine months, Pasuwa is also yet to get his $15 000 signing-on fee which was due to him when he agreed terms with Zifa last year.

Before signing that contract, Pasuwa had been working with a game-by-game basis deal for more than a year.

The former Warriors coach is also entitled to a $20 000 bonus for guiding the Warriors to qualify for the Afcon tournament.

Queried if they would take the legal route in the event that Zifa fails to settle the debt, Mahachi said: “I’m confident they would be gentlemen enough. I wouldn’t want to talk of something that is not there yet.”

Zifa are now set to start the process of hiring a new Warriors coach with a number of candidates having been already linked to the vacant post.

Former Warriors goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar is willing to occupy the hot seat while Dutchman Pieter de Jongh has also been floated around as a possible replacement.

Former Warriors coaches Moses Chunga, Sunday Chidzambwa and Rahman Gumbo have also been linked with the post.

The trio are however, members of the HPC and Zifa vice president Omega Sibanda claimed they will not be considered for the post.

There would be a great deal of conflict of interest if any of the three Chunga, Chidzambwa or Gumbo would be appointed the Warriors coach.

They were part of the process that sealed Pasuwa’s fate and for them to end up filling the vacancy would present Zifa with a huge good governance problem.   

Meanwhile, the Warriors have dropped on the latest Fifa/Coca-Cola world football rankings released yesterday.

The Warriors, who were ranked 103rd last month, are now ranked 105th in the world while remain 32nd best in Africa.

Zimbabwe’s poor performance at the Afcon finals in Gabon seems to have impacted on their latest ranking.

Newly-crowned African champions Cameroon have moved up to 33rd, a massive 29-place jump, while Egypt, who lost in the final, remained number one on the continent and 25th in the world.

Argentina remain at number one ahead of Brazil and world champions Germany on the list.

The top 10 remains almost unchanged, with Chile, Belgium, France, Colombia, Portugal, Uruguay and Spain also earning a spot there.

France (now sixth) and Colombia (seventh) have swapped places since the last rankings were released.

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HARARE - CAPS United captain Moses Muchenje is fully aware of the threat posed by Lesotho side Lioli FC in Saturday’s African Champions League preliminary round first leg clash.

Makepekepe travel to Maseru to take on Tse Nale at the Setsoto Stadium this weekend with the second leg set for the National Sports Stadium in Harare a week later. 

Many United fans are expecting their side to steamroll past the Lesotho champions in this encounter but Muchenje has a different view.

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“These games are very tricky. I just urge my teammates for maximum concentration. I know Lioli are a good team, they knocked out Bidvest Wits out of the same competition a few years back,” Muchenje said.

“I’m however positive that we are going to get a positive result.”

The Lesotho Premier League is now on its halfway stage in the 2016/17 season while Makepekepe go into this encounter without any competitive match practice since the local league is still on off season.

United had to gear up for this encounter against Lioli by playing friendly matches against foreign clubs.

Makepekepe first took on Mozambique champions Ferroviaro de Beria at home before going on a short tour of Zambia where they played against Zanaco and Red Arrows.  

“In terms of fitness, I think it will be an advantage on their side but on our part we worked hard in enough during pre-season,” the Makepekepe skipper said.

“In our preparations, we worked hard in order to get a result on Saturday. We also went to Zambia to intensify our preparations and I think it really helped.

“On Saturday, we are going to implement all the things that we learned during our preparations in the pre-season.  

“We are just hoping for a good result. A win or a draw will be better for us but we are just going there to play our normal game.

“We need to win the game because we have a good and great squad so we need to maximise on that.” 

Makepekepe coach Lloyd Chitembwe said his side will be up to the challenge of competing on two fronts – in Africa and on the domestic scene.

“In terms of preparations, we have done that bit. The Players know the challenge at hand. One thing that I can see is their motivation to play at the highest level of the game,” Chitembwe said.

“I think that it is good enough to have such a spirit in the team. In as far as the game is concerned it is important for us to defend well and attack effectively. That is the kind of approach we are going to take.”

Makepekepe lost defender Stephen Makatuka, who signed for South African First Division side AmaZulu last month.

Chitembwe was pleased they managed to retain most of his players ahead of this season.

“The good thing is we still have the team intact and one individual has left. His contribution was immense but I think the most important thing is we retained most of the players,” he said.

“They are ready to do duty for the team again and I’m happy to see the improvement of in the team from last year to this year.”

The Makepekepe coach also praised his side’s trip to Zambia as it helped the team to bond ahead of the new season.

“Obviously the positive is that it afforded us with enough time to spend as a team. It was also quite beneficial to go to Zambia and I also thought the trip served its purpose” Chitembwe said.

“We wanted to bond as a team and I think we achieved exactly that.”

Meanwhile, Makepekepe yesterday unveiled their official kit which will be used in the 2017 season.

The kit supplied by local manufacturer Roar, will make its debut on Saturday in the match against Lioli FC in Maseru.

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MASERU - CAPS United defender Hardlife Zvirekwi hopes he does not suffer from burnout as the season progress since he has rarely had a proper off-season.

Burnout is defined by sport psychologists as a physical or emotional exhaustion which reduces athletic accomplishment due to continuous training and playing intense competitions without rest.

After helping Makepekepe clinch the 2016 season in November, Zvirekwi quickly focused his energies to the national team as he was part of the Warriors squad at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals.

In Gabon last month, Zvirekwi played in all three of Zimbabwe’s group matches lasting the entire 90 minutes.

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Upon his return from the Afcon tournament, the fullback had no time to rest as he had to join his Makepekepe teammates as they prepared for today’s African Champions League preliminary round clash away to Lesotho’s Lioli FC in Maseru.

“Obviously, I have been going through this same experience since 2013. After the 2013 season finished I went to the Chan tournament at the start of 2014 and I continued with the season,” Zvirekwi told the Daily News.

“It was the same with the 2015 and the 2016 seasons as well. After last season I also did not rest as i went to Afcon this year.

“I think I’m used to it by now; hopefully I’m praying that I will not burnout but I’m ready to give all my best for the team.”

The Warriors players came in for some heavy criticism following Zimbabwe’s failure to progress from the group stages of the Afcon tournament.

Critics and pundits were disappointed by the technical ability of the players but Zvirekwi is not losing too much sleep over the negative reviews the Warriors received.

“As players, all we had to do was to pick the positives from the criticism we received. Obviously that will propel and push us to want to more and rectify on our shortcomings,” he said.

“I’ve picked the positives and I’m trying to improve myself as a player and achieve my goals for 2017. I didn’t take the negatives and focused only on the positives. I focused on the constructive criticism.”            

Turning to today’s match, Zvirekwi said they will not underrate the Lesotho champions.

“Being champions it means they (Lioli) have got a great pool of players and we should give them due respect,” Zvirekwi said.

“All we should do is to go out there to show character and try to get a positive result from this first leg. A positive result we would want is to try and get all three points.”

Makepekepe are scheduled to fly out of Harare this morning and will arrive in Maseru just after 4pm.

The Green Machine will head straight to the Setsoto Stadium for a light training session at 5pm to get a feel of the match venue.

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HARARE - Delta Beverages have started negotiations with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) regarding the sponsorship renewal ahead of the 2017 season.

This follows the expiry of the sponsorship at the end of last season and yesterday following uncertainty over the renewal of a new deal PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele yesterday confirmed the development.

“The Premier Soccer League and Delta Beverages are currently negotiating the renewal of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League partnership,” Ndebele said.

“The two parties are in the process of discussing specific contractual obligations, requirements and expectations. Further details will be released in due course.”

A new deal between Delta Beverages and PSL looked unlikely after the sponsors revealed at the 2016 Soccer Stars of the Year awards that they were not happy following the boardroom squabbles that rocked PSL and Zifa over the over the relegation and promotion of teams.

Pulling no punches at the Soccer Stars of the Year banquet last year, Delta Beverages marketing director Maxen Karombo expressed disgust at what was happening where relations between the country’s football mother body Zifa and the Premier Soccer league were frosty.

PSL clubs and Zifa were at loggerheads following last year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) which voted to have four teams relegated instead of two.  The Premiership’s 16 clubs even approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) to make a ruling on the matter.

The matter was however resolved last month after PSL clubs withdrawn its case against Zifa from Cas as they opted to adopt the association’s resolution to promote four teams from Division One and relegate two teams which appear to have paved way for negotiations.

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BULAWAYO – The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has lifted the suspensions of several individuals who include former Warriors coach Ian Gorowa and ex-Zifa bord member Edzai Kasinauyo.

The duo were banned by the association after they were alleged to have tried to fix Zimbabwe’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Swaziland last year in March.

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Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa made the announcement at a press briefing in Bulawayo yesterday after a visit of the city where he had a meeting with councillors and also toured sporting facilities to check their readiness ahead of the Cosafa Women’s Championships later this year.

Ex-Highlanders chief executive Ndumiso Gumede, Bulawayo City chairperson Jerry Sibanda, former Warriors assistant coach Nation Dube and Bulawayo City coach Philani Ncube were also pardoned from the suspensions.

However, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and Highlanders chairman Peter Dube will have to wait a bit longer before he can know his fate after Chiyangwa revealed that a committee led by Harare lawyer Itai Ndudzo will review his case before making a final decision.

Meanwhile, Zifa is also looking for a substantive chief executive officer, a technical director, Warriors and Mighty Warriors coaches.

Joseph Mamutse has been the acting-CEO since the sacking of Jonathan Mashingaidze last year while former Warriors coach Kallisto Pasuwa’s contract will not be renewed after the team dismal performance at the Afcon tournament in Gabon last month.

Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi was also relieved of his duties following his side’s poor performance at the African Women’s Cup of Nation in Cameroon last year.

The two coaches’ sacking was recommended by the Zifa High Performance Committee which met in the capital last week.

The association is also looking for a new technical director after Taurai Mangwiro quit his post to take up the coaching post at Premiership side Triangle.

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MASERU – Zimbabwe’s representatives in the African Champions League CAPS United are hoping to keep a clean sheet and possibly sneak an away goal when they begin their campaign against Lesotho champions Lioli Football Club. 

The match kicks-off at 4:00pm.

The two teams meet this afternoon at Setsoto Stadium in the first round first leg with the second leg scheduled for the National Sports Stadium in Harare next weekend.

And speaking ahead of the game soon after the team’s arrival here yesterday, Makepekepe striker Dominic Chungwa said they will be looking to shut out the home side before finishing the game at home.

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“It will be important if we can get an away goal before we can finish them off in the second leg in Harare. It’s always an advantage getting an away goal especially in these Africa games,” Chungwa told the Daily News.

“We are just looking forward to go and get a good result.”

In the absence of Leonard Tsipa, who was the PSL Golden Boot winner last season with 11 goals when Makepekepe clinched the title, Chungwa is expected to play the leading role upfront in the Green Machine’s quest for goals.

Tsipa was de-registered for the tournament after he went on a club hunting mission at a time the club was finalising their squad for the African Safari.

Chungwa said he does not feel any pressure and is ready to deliver if he is given the nod to start.

“I don’t think there is any pressure and I am ready if the technical staff chose me to start,” Chungwa said.

“Obviously as a striker we are expected to score goals so I will just need to go out there and play my part.”

CAPS United will making their fourth appearance in the modern edition of the tournament after playing in 1997, 2005 and 2006 but has not reached the group stages.

However, Chungwa have rallied his team-mates to go down in the club’s history books by becoming the first crop to achieve that feat.

“We want to go down in the history books as the CAPS United team who qualified for the mini league. I think we are capable of achieving that but what is important right now is for us to focus with Lioli then we will think of other teams later,” said Chungwa. 

United were not able to train at the match venue ahead of today's match due to the heavy rains pounding Maseru.

The Green Machine arrived in the Lesotho capital just after 4 pm and were scheduled to get a feel of the match venue at 5pm.

However, it was not possible because of the torrential downpour pounding Maseru yesterday.

According to the weather forecast, it is also likely to raining this afternoon.

Today’s match will be the Green Machine’s first competitive game since they clinched the Zimbabwe championship in November 2016.

With the Zimbabwe top flight league on off season, United have had to prepare for this important encounter using international warm-up matches.

The Green Machine beat Mozambique champions Ferroviario da Beira 2-0 at the National Sports Stadium last month before travelling to Lusaka, Zambia to intensify their preparations.

In Lusaka, Lloyd Chitembwe’s side lost 2-0 to Red Arrows before ending their tour with a 2-1 victory over Zambian champions Zanaco.

On the other hand, Lioli have already passed the midway stage of the Lesotho 2016-17 season with Tse Nale currently sit in second place on the log just a single point behind leaders Bantu after 16 round of matches.

Last weekend, Lioli warmed-up to their match against CAPS with a 3-0 victory over Likhopo in the first leg of the LNIG Top 8 quarter-final.

Should CAPS United get past Lioli, they will secure a final qualifying round clash against five-time African champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Meanwhile, Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Tonderai Ndiraya is confident of a positive result when his charges face Mauritius side Pamplemousses Sporting Club in the first leg of the preliminary round of their African Confederation Cup tomorrow.

Speaking to the Daily News at OR Tambo Airport before his team’s connection to Port Louis yesterday, Ndiraya expressed confidence in his charges.

“We are ready for the match.” he said. “In terms of fitness we are not yet there but we played some important friendly matches which put us in good shape.”

The Chibuku Super Cup winners’ preparedness ahead of the African Safari was put to test after touring Zambia last week in which they played three international friendly matches.

Of the three games Ngezi lost one while drawing twice although their last match against Zambian champions Zanaco was abandoned at half time due to heavy rains.

“It gave us real African football test. We played three top teams in Zambia and it was a good preparation and should put us in good stead for this game,” added Ndiraya.

In the event that the platinum miners negotiate their way past Pamplemousses SC, they will meet Angolan side CD Libolo in the final qualifying round.

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HARARE - The Sports ministry on Friday hosted a send-off event for the wheelchair and hand cycling team that is scheduled to leave for the Outeniqua championships in George Town, South Africa.

Team Zimbabwe have had their travel arrangements shelved from today to tomorrow but will have top athlete Moleen Majoni who is powered by the Ruwa Local Board (RLB) leaving for South Africa this afternoon accompanied by a representative from RLB.

Speaking at the ministry’s board room, the send-off venue the acting permanent secretary in the Sports ministry Netsai Masiyanise said the government is committed to the well-being of sportspeople with disabilities.

The event was also attended by the minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Miriam Chikukwa, secretary for Sport and Recreation Godfrey Chipare, head of delegation and senator representing people living with disabilities Annah Shiri among others.

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“...The participation by the team at this year’s event presents Zimbabwe as an assertive force to reckon with and positions the country as a wheelchair athletics powerhouse in the world. It is an accomplishment worth cherishing as it underlines our competitiveness in sport in general and athletics in particular,” Masiyanise said.

“Last year you scooped 11 medals at the same event and you put a sterling performance which we all celebrated...It is government’s considered view that events of this magnitude will yield much good to the Zimbabwean populace if they are brought closer to the people.

“...The National Sport and Recreation Policy puts emphasis on the promotion of sports for people living with disabilities which should take place in communities, schools, colleges and universities. It is pleasing to note that you have always proved beyond any reasonable doubt that disability does not mean inability by the performance that you have exhibited in the competitions you have taken part in and this should be applauded.”

HARARE – To those who know him best, Charles Manyuchi always had the ability and ambition he needed to make his journey from a back street boy from Mutoko to one of the best welterweight punchers in the world.

But, even for someone as gifted as the champion pugilist, those attributes on their own might not have been enough.

Ahead of his World Boxing Council (WBC) silver welterweight title defence on March 25 against Uzbekistan’s Qudratillo Abduqaxorov in Singapore, the 27-year-old says his career would not be complete without two people he has rarely thanked.

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The first is Ali “Otto” Phiri, a former lightweight local boxer, and one of his oldest friends.

Writing on his Facebook page, Manyuchi reflected on how he arrived in Zambia five years ago with nothing to declare but his talent.

He did not own a pair of gloves and the shoes he wore were borrowed.

THE START: Manyuchi on the day he first travelled to Zambian to join up with Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions.

“The travelling bag I had was not mine, the shoes I was wearing where not mine, the gloves I was carrying I had been given by Ali Phiri,” Manyuchi said.

“That is the day I decided to try my luck in Zambia. That was five years ago. I boarded a bus and I have never looked back.”

His remarks immediately struck a chord with Phiri.

“We have always been friends with Charles,” Phiri told the Daily News on Sunday.

“And when he came to tell me about the deal in Zambia and that he was not sure whether to take it or not I advised ‘you have nothing to lose’.”

Manyuchi also gave a sneak preview into the life he lived growing up.

“I can’t hold my tears,” he wrote.

“There was a time my mum used to hide under the bed… because she didn’t have money to pay rent. The only way was to hide and we tell the landlord that mum is not around (we would do this) until we pay the landlord. I love my mum,” Manyuchi added.

Manyuchi’s father Ottis who is also his local trainer, said his son had experienced both sides of the world but still remained humble.

“I remember when he started off he was fighting only for $100. But I was telling my son it doesn’t matter let’s just keep fighting and he has been fighting ever since. We were later approached by Oriental Quarries and they having been assisting us ever since,” Ottis said.

Manyuchi’s victories saw him receive a windfall from President Robert Mugabe, a development which left his manager believing it was the beginning of greater things to come.

MAMA I'VE MADE IT: Manyuchi, left sitting, was hosted by President Mugabe, centre, at State House in 2015. 

In Zambia, Manyuchi’s popularity competes with that of the Chipolopolo squad that won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations trophy under the captaincy of Christopher Katongo.

His Zambian promoters hold Manyuchi in high regard, saying that he is one of the finest things ever to happen to their stable.

“In Zambia he is more famous more than what you see here, he is now a star,” Manyuchi’s manager Christopher Malunga said during a recent visit to Zimbabwe.

Today Manyuchi stands out — a dynamic force, experienced in victory and ready to claim his 21st win when he faces 23-year-old Uzbek Abduqaxorov (9-0-0) in the global financial centre with the WBC world silver welterweight title on the line.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe ladies cricket team will be hoping for a miracle to dispatch leaders India by a wider margin in their last match of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers after going down by eight wickets against hosts Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday.

Needing nothing short of a victory while also hoping Ireland would stumble against minnows Thailand, all the expectations went up in smoke after the locals’ measly total of 149 upon being put to bat saw them losing the match by eight wickets with 79 balls remaining while Ireland beat Thailand by 46 runs in the other match.

Sri Lanka made 153/2 in 36.5 overs and are on course to the Super 6 stage as they currently occupy second position with four points having won two and losing one.

Ireland are in third place owing to an inferior net run rate while Zimbabwe and Thailand concludes Group C standing in their respective fourth and fifth place.

The locals entertain table toppers India at Colombo tomorrow, their last match of the campaign and team captain Sharne Mayers is looking forward to her charges making the most of their rest today today to prepare for the Indians.

“I think we could have put more on the board especially in the middle overs. Our bowlers did very well and fought all the way to the end,” Mayers told the Daily News on Sunday of the defeat to Sri Lanka.

“There’s a lot of mixed feelings (mood in the camp) but one thing we are going to do is make the most of our rest day and continue to play our hearts out against India.”

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HARARE - Former CAPS United chairperson Andy Hodges has given an indication that he might not be returning to local football in the green colours of Makepekepe.

Malaysia-based Hodges, who was named as Makepekepe co-chairperson in December, was expected home in January to resume his duties but delayed his return as he was winding up his business and also having his son complete his education, announced in an interview on local radio station that he was returning home next month.

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In the interview Hodges said he felt honoured to be appointed to the CAPS United board in absentia but felt his skills maybe best utilised at a national level putting to fore speculation that he is one of those earmarked for the vacant post of chief executive officer at the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa).

Hodges said although he is open to the CAPS offer, a role at a national level will assist in developing football in the country at all levels including at the Green Machine.

“There are minor negotiations that are still to be held with CAPS United when I return home. I am a football man and my heart would want to see the standard of Zimbabwean football get higher. CAPS  United and Zifa are different entities but I am looking at football as the winner,” Hodges said.

“If football is strong at the national level, then all the clubs at all levels in Zimbabwe would benefit.  What we need in Zimbabwean football at the moment is finding each other and stop the fighting. We need to support the Zifa president with each one of us whether you are a supporter or media or administrator playing a part towards the growth of our football.”

Hodges admitted the dilemma of choosing between his home and first love CAPS United and the football mother body although Zifa has not approached him yet.

“I am green through and through CAPS United is obviously my team, it’s my heart, and my soul, I am really honoured that the president (Farai Jere) reached out to me.  They have a great president, board coach and supporters.  If I am to come in, I will be coming in to complement the team that already has great depth in the board,” Hodges added.

“But if I am to look somewhere and say where I could I put more input...but look at national level role. I look at Zifa. At the end of the day I am looking at a situation where football should be the winner...But let me also hasten to say that there has been no formal communication between me and Zifa or anybody there. It’s more of a wish and if it’s not Zifa I can’t join any other club.”

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HARARE - A Mauritius-based company that was contracted to build the Airport Road has dragged the City of Harare to court demanding 40,5665 hectares of land as compensation and payment for the job to construct the controversial project, and in terms of the agreement between the two parties.

In its High Court application, Kenneth Sharpe’s Augur Investments OU (Augu) cited the City of Harare and Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere as respondents, and this is the second issue in which the parties have clashed in as many weeks.

According to the applicant, the trio entered into a  partnership in June 2008 for the upgrading of the road from the Harare International Airport to the intersection of Enterprise, and Robert Mugabe roads.

And when the agreements were hammered out, Augur was initially represented by Oleksandr Sheremet, Tendai Mahachi for the Harare City Council and Local Government’s Lazarus Chimba —and later Sharpe when the parties signed an addendum in October 2008.

“The second defendant (Local Government ministry) signed the addendum as it was agreed by the parties thereto that he would assist the first defendant (Augur) by supplying State land to the first defendant to enable it to pay the plaintiff in terms of the agreement,” said.

“It was a material term of the contract that the plaintiff would be paid 90 percent for the work done in the form of land sourced by the first defendant from the second defendant,” the court heard.

According to its declarations, Augur says it had carried out all the necessary work in terms of the agreement and the total value of those projects were $3 042 489, 81.

“This translates to 40,5665 hectares of land in stand 654 Pomona Township which is identified . . . to the addendum as Borrowdale State land and has a value of $7,50 per square metre,” the company said.

Sharpe’s company says it had even presented invoices to the City of Harare’s director of works Phillip Pfukwa, who then directed the town clerk to effect payment in October 2014.

“Despite demand, defendant refuses to transfer 40,5665 hectares of suitable land to the plaintiff notwithstanding that the first defendant acknowledged that the plaintiff completed works with a monetary value equivalent to 40, 5665 hectares and further approved the payment which has not been effected to date,” the papers say.

“The payment is in the form of transferring land equivalent to the monetary value of the work done, being 40, 5665 hectares,” it said.

However, Bernard Manyenyeni’s council has not yet responded to the application, although it has entered an appearance to defend the matter.

Meanwhile, the dispute around a Pomona piece of land — forming part of the tripartite arrangement and compensation package for Sharpe’s company — is set to continue, as Kasukuwere’s ministry has signalled an intention to appeal a High Court order for a return of the 250-hectare property to the infrastructural investment firm.

This was after Justice Clement Phiri had ordered Chinese company XGMA and the Urban Development Corporation, among several respondents, to stop the unlawful parcelling of stands under 654 of Pomona Township, and that the applicant must be given “peaceful and undisturbed possession of the land”.

According to the recent ruling, Augur had amply demonstrated its ownership of the prime holding before the spoilation fracas, which also saw the respondents bring ordered to bear the costs of the lawsuit.

While Kasukuwere and his Local Government officials are holding out that the deal was corruptly concluded about seven or eight years ago, and Sharpe’s firm had been informed of the government’s intention to repossess its land after failing to complete the airport road, company director Mike van Blerk said:

“As per the court papers, it is clear that the factual and contractual position is that both the City of Harare and . . . Local Government owes Augur money in the form of land which . . . together with the Chinese had been carving up, and selling illegally and without prior knowledge or consent of Augur.

“The position . . . is that Augur is owed money for work done, certified and signed off by the City of Harare and the same land in dispute was paid to Augur for the compensation . . .

“The contract went through many layers of approval including . . . council, Cabinet and Parliament (to give it) national project status,” he said, adding “the suggestion — some nine years later — that there were irregularities is absurd”.

“For the record, it was checked by the anti corruption Commission and . . . was all cleared.

“The city of Harare has not paid what it owes . . . and has failed to make satisfactory arrangements . . . and because of the three-year prescription period it became necessary for Augur to approach the courts,” Van Blerk said.

In the meantime, Sharpe has declined to comment on the issues, saying the matters were sub judice.

MASERU - CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe was satisfied with his side's performance in the goalless draw against Lioli FC in the first leg of the African Champions League qualifier here yesterday.

The Zimbabwe champions created a number of half chances especially in the first half but could not find the back of the net.

CAPS now need to win the second leg in Harare at the National Sports Stadium next Sunday to reach the final qualifying round of the competition to play against TP Mazembe of DRC.

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“I think the boys played well today. This is what we had planned to cancel out this first leg, we are now left with the second leg in Harare,” Chitembwe.

“The result; 0-0 is good and I’m happy with how the boys performed today.”

Chitembwe's plans were interrupted just a few minutes before kick-off when midfielder Joel Ngodzo, who was in the starting line-up, was barred from playing yesterday due to irregularities with his documents.

TUSSLE: CAPS United forward Abbas Amidu, left, fights for the ball against Lioli FC defender Mafa Moremohlo during yesterday's match at the Setsoto Stadium.

There were mistakes on the date of birth of Ngodzo and Kudzanai Nyamupfukudza's licenses resulting in the match commissioner stopping them to take part in the game.

Nyamupfukudza was supposed to start on the bench.

Cabby Kamhapa was summoned from the bench to replace Ngodzo in the starting XI leaving United with only five substitutes.

“Sometimes it affects the rhythm of the team when you have to change the starting line up but today I’m glad with the depth we have,” Chitembwe said.

Despite the changes to personnel on the field at the last minute, United started the match brightly with Devon Chafa and Kamhapa controlling the tempo in midfield.

New signing Ronald Chitiyo was also making some inroads in the Lioli final third but Makepekepe did not trouble the home side's goalkeeper Liteboho Mokhehle enough.

United' first real chance of the match came in the 17th minute when Phineas Bamusi linked up with Abbas Amidu to release Dominic Chungwa on the right side.

Chungwa's shot was saved for a corner by the Lioli keeper.

Moments later, the Zimbabwe champions almost conceded when Dennis Dauda gave away possession but Tumelo Makhopo failed to get to the end of a through ball from Motlalepula Mofolo.

The match was now open and in the 26th minute, Bamusi was teed up by Amidu on the edge of the box but his shot was well saved by Mokhehle.

Makepekepe’s best chance to take the lead arrived 10 minutes before the break when Amidu found himself unmarked at the back post following a cross sent in by Bamusi.

With the Lioli defence scrambling to pivot, Amidu controlled the ball first before firing a shot Kopano Tseka.

Instead of going for power, Amidu should have tried to go for curler as he had enough room at the far post.

By that time United, were all over the home side as they enjoyed most of the possession.

However, Chitembwe’s side could have gone behind just before the break when defender Justice Jangano lost the ball to Makhopo in a dangerous area.

The Lioli midfielder was one-on-one against Makepekepe goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda.

Makhopo fired in a low shot to Sibanda’s left side and the goalkeeper did well to push it for a corner.

After the break, Makepekepe almost scored from the rest restart when Amidu was released on the right side.

The midfielder’s first attempt was saved by Mokhehle and from the rebound Amidu struck the upright from a tight angle.

From there on the second period became a drab affair with Makepekepe sitting back and looking content with the draw.

The Zimbabwe champions are confident of finishing of the encounter in the second leg next Sunday at the National Sports Stadium.

TEAMS

Lioli FC: Liteboho Mokhehle, Mafa Moremohlo, Tsoanelo Koetle, Kopano Tseka, Motlalepula Mofolo, Shestane Ramoseka, Bokang Sello, Tumelo Makhopo, Tsepo Lekhooana (Junior Maba 77min), Bushy Moletsane (Modirwa Obakeng (90), Tsepo Seturumane

CAPS United: Edmore Sibanda, Hardlife Zvirekwi,  Ronald Pfumbidzayi, Dennis Dauda, Justice Jangano, Devon Chafa, Cabby Kamhapa, Ronald Chitiyo (Tafadzwa Rusike 85min), Abbas Amidu, Phenius Bamusi (Simba Nhivi 63m), Dominic Chungwa

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HARARE - In a court development that left the defence team fuming on Friday, a Harare magistrate deferred the trial of incarcerated activist clergyman Patrick Phillip Mugadza — who earlier this year made a controversial “prophesy” that President Robert Mugabe would die this year.

Mugadza has been wasting away in remand prison since January 19 when he was charged and then denied bail following his arrest for his “prophesy”. He will continue to languish in prison for at least the next two weeks after the court said it was too busy to deal with his matter.

In denying him bail, the court also noted that Mugadza had other pending cases, and as such, was likely to engage in similar law breaches if he was freed

Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube postponed the start of his trial to February 20, condemning the outspoken Remnant Church pastor to yet more jail time.

Mugadza’s lawyer, Obey Shava — of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights — was not amused by the postponement, as he felt his client was being “over-detained due to no fault of his own”.

The well-known “Mugabe must go” churchman was first remanded in custody to February 3, before the matter was postponed to February 10 and now to February 20.

“I am really concerned that the matter is being postponed all the time. Hopefully, on the 20th the matter will be prioritised as per the State’s undertaking.

“In the event that they don’t prioritise it, I will make an application that he be removed from remand because the trial has not commenced due to no fault of his own,” Shava said.

Mugadza first hit the headlines in December 2015 when he mounted a one-man protest against Mugabe in Victoria Falls during Zanu-PF’s national conference at the resort, where he held a placard that read: “Mr President, the people are suffering. Proverbs 21:13”.

In April last year, he also chained himself to a pole while holding a cross in a hand and a bible in another, in a daring protest action in Harare.

This time, the Remnant Church pastor is being charged with “criminal insult”, as well as undermining the authority of the president over his controversial prophecy which has caused palpable anger within sections of Zanu PF — which is riven with its seemingly unstoppable tribal, factional and succession wars.

The outspoken Mugadza faces six months imprisonment, or a fine of $200 if he is convicted under Section 33 of the Criminal Law.

In his staggering “prophecy”, Mugadza had claimed he had received a revelation that Mugabe would die in October this year.

However, he had also said that the nonagenarian could escape death by praying fervently, fasting and publicly announcing that he did not wish to die.

“I am not saying I am going to be killing him on October 17, so there is no way anybody can say to me what you have done is wrong. I am not going to be killing anybody, I am only saying what God told me, that he is going to die,” he said then.

This week, another activist cleric, Evan Mawarire, heaved a huge sigh of relief after he was granted bail by the High Court which quashed an earlier decision by a Harare magistrate to deny him bail.

The founder of the #ThisFlag movement had been arrested on February 1 at the Harare International Airport upon his surprise return from the United States of America where he had been living in self-imposed exile.

Mawarire is facing allegations of trying to subvert a constitutionally-elected government, which could see him serve up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

HARARE - Embattled former Vice President and Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) interim leader Joice Mujuru is contemplating forming a new party after the fledgling political outfit’s founding fathers claimed they owned the troubled party and all its image rights.

ZPF insiders who spoke to the Daily News on Friday said the latest ruckus within the party over its ownership had left Mujuru in an invidious position of either trying to fight the party’s elders for the outfit’s carcass or forming a new party altogether — of which both routes came with significant challenges.

“Mai Mujuru is caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place, and she could very well stand damned either way at the end of the day.

“To use impolite French, she has to decide very quickly, given that 2018 is upon us, whether she can afford to take on what I can describe as the skunks (the party’s elders), who are desperate and are determined to fight her on this, or start a new, unknown party at this late stage,” one of the insiders said.

“Ultimately, my own view is that the only genuinely viable route still open to her is to cut a quick deal with Save (MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai) and take what remains of her followers to him,” the well-placed source added.

At the same time, ZPF’s founding fathers, Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo, insisted yesterday that they “owned” the party, and would fight to the bitter end to protect its image rights.

This latest development piles the pressure on Mujuru who is still smarting from her stunning fall-out with the two party stalwarts and dozens of other high-ranking officials, which has caused the implosion of the one-year-old outfit.

The Daily News is also reliably told that when Mujuru held her national executive council meeting on Thursday, which was attended by provincial co-ordinators, excluding the Midlands province, discussions on a possible change of the party’s name were top of the agenda.

“We are aware that they are insisting on calling themselves People First, so the possibility of changing the name was discussed and we may call ourselves Zimbabwe People’s Party (ZPP) because we have always been a people’s party,” a source who attended the Thursday meeting said.

However, Mujuru is insisting — for now at least officially — that she will continue using the name as all her current structures operate under that name.

“We remain People First. We have the people. Even a blind man can see that Mujuru is the real deal, and the decision to expel the group was well informed and it is not a step back but rather we have moved 100 miles forward.

“That alone clearly shows that we are a serious party,” Mujuru’s spokesperson, Gift Nyandoro, told the Daily News yesterday.

But Gumbo confirmed that the elders would “retain all the party’s image rights”,  including the use of the name ZPF, saying the onus was on Mujuru to form her own party, following her “expulsion” from the movement.

“Joice left ZPF. She now has her own party which she runs from her bedroom. People did not resign from ZPF, but from her faction,” the forthright Gumbo said sarcastically.

Since Mujuru announced that she had fired the elders and other senior party officials, she has been holding meetings at her Harare residence, while Gumbo and Mutasa have been operating from ZPF’s offices.

In an unexpected bombshell that shook both the opposition movement and ordinary Zimbabweans alike, Mujuru on Wednesday morning announced she had expelled Gumbo and Mutasa, together with five other party heavyweights — on account of them being alleged Zanu PF agents and working to topple her from her interim position.

“Having done extensive consultation within the rank and file of the party and also in my capacity as the president with the executive authority to ensure its wellbeing, I hereby announce the expulsion of the following members from Zimbabwe People First with immediate effect: (Rugare) Gumbo, (Didymus) Mutasa, Margaret Dongo, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Luckson Kandemiri, Munacho Mutezo and Claudious Makova,” she said.

But no sooner had she completed her briefing than the situation turned into a complete farce, when Mutasa and Gumbo announced at their own press conference that they had similarly expelled Mujuru from ZPF.

Gumbo said Mujuru had “revealed to all and sundry” that she was incapable of leading an opposition party, and was therefore not fit to hold such an office.

“She has declared war on us and the die has been cast. We don’t think that she is the right person to lead us. We no longer recognise her as the leader of People First,” Gumbo said at the packed media event which was also attended by the other supposedly expelled members.

Weighing in, Mutasa said even though the elders were still to settle for her successor, one thing they were sure about was that they were “tired” of her style of leadership.

“We are not surprised by her irrational and emotional decision purporting to expel us. In fact, at the time she held her press conference, we were waiting for her at the party offices as she had told us that we should wait for her since she was at the Trauma Centre.

“She has no right to expel us. Mujuru was in fact appointed by us the founders of the party to lead the party as the interim president,” Mutasa thundered.
But Nyandoro told the Daily News yesterday that despite the seeming implosion of ZPF, there was “a sense of renewal and a break from the past” within Mujuru’s camp.
“We feel free. We are going to have rallies around the country to announce the state of the party. Now people feel liberated and we no longer have to explain to people about the role that some people played when they were in Zanu PF.
“We were accused of harbouring criminals and thieves and Amai (Mujuru) took this step in the interests of Zimbabweans. It was the best move and she has no regrets about it,” Nyandoro said.
He also announced that from now onwards, ZPF would no longer take part in by-elections, stressing that the party had no candidate in the forthcoming Mwenezi East mini-poll.
Amid the chaos, Mujuru has been working behind the scenes with Tsvangirai and other smaller opposition parties towards the formation of the planned grand opposition coalition.
Although Tsvangirai was said to be disappointed with the turmoil engulfing ZPF, the former prime minister in the government of national unity has also given Mujuru some oxygen of sorts by re-affirming his commitment to working with her in the mooted grand alliance, which is expected to be in place by the end of this year.
Earlier this week, Tsvangirai said Mujuru had proved to be a significant opposition player — and that the two would work together with others to dethrone Mugabe and Zanu PF from power next year.

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

Mujuru was expelled from Zanu PF, together with Gumbo and Mutasa, in the run-up to the ruling party’s sham “elective congress” in December 2014, on untested allegations of plotting to assassinate and topple Mugabe from power.

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CHIPINGE - Zimbabwe and Mozambique are both suffering rising casualties and cattle rustling during skirmishes along their border in an area plagued by conflict over scarce resources, officials and villagers say.

The neighbouring countries accuse each other of triggering clashes taking place along the central stretch of their 1 000km frontier, highlighting persisting tension over an unresolved dispute that has seen Renamo — which is also the official opposition in Mozambique — launching a low-level guerrilla campaign against the ruling Frelimo government, that has spilled into Zimbabwe.

The low intensity war in Mozambique, which has killed hundreds of people, is taking its toll on Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands and the south eastern plateau, despite President Robert Mugabe’s vow to stop the hostilities with Afonso Dhlakama’s Renamo armed bandits — who have resorted to cattle rustling from Manicaland villagers to feed its fighters and raise funds after the Mozambique army pushed it out of cities.

And as cattle die of starvation due to drought, opportunists are also mounting night-time raids to replace lost stock from the neighbouring country.

Angry locals have also begun raiding Mozambican cattle pens, inviting revenge incursions.

The fighting along the border has also left dozens of houses and various food stores burned and looted, plus dozens of herds of cattle stolen.

Mugabe has said he wants to stop cattle rustling along the border, at a time Mozambique refugees have been allowed to blend into border communities, instead of refugee camps.

Addressing his Zanu PF supporters in Dande, a northern border community at the end of last year, Mugabe said he had received reports of trans-border cattle theft.

“Let us forge good relations with those beyond the border in Tete. I hear that you take each other’s cattle.

“Leave people’s cattle alone. Are there no cattle here? I thought they were the ones who should have been after our cattle. What is happening? Let’s stop that practice,” Mugabe said.

David Mandimutsira, a cattle trader, said fighters had stolen a 50-strong herd from him and another herd from his brother.

He said the military had failed to stop the raids, with soldiers running into the bush the moment they came under fire.

South of Dande along the border in Chipinge, furious locals are crossing the border to steal cattle, confirmed an opposition Member of Parliament.

“There are some known individuals who are going into Mozambique to steal cattle,” Musikavanhu MDC MP Prosper Mutseyami said.

When about 50 cattle were stolen from Zimbabwean small farmers and driven across the border in Chipinge in December, Mugabe’s deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa reacted by sending in the army.

Acting president then, Mnangagwa told Parliament that some of the cattle had been recovered.

“Some people have been invited to identify their cattle,” he said.

Mnangagwa said provincial security leaders of both countries were constantly meeting to discuss the escalation of cross border incidents and rising tension.

According to a December 10 police intelligence brief from Chisumbanje Police Station, the cattle were stolen by “15 suspected Mozambican soldiers armed with AK 47 rifles”.

When police visited the Zamuchiya area where the cattle were seized, they saw “five suspected Mozambican soldiers and some civilians with machetes and knobkerries”.

And there have been rising killings. Infact, it was the abduction of a man from his village, who was later killed in Mozambique, which prompted Mnangagwa to deploy the army along the border.
Shockingly, his identity was never established. But investigations by the Daily News on Sunday revealed he was many of Mozambican refugees moving in and settling along the border.
Recently, two suspect Mozambican soldiers and 25 men armed with bows and arrows crossed the border into Nyanga, rounding up four refugees and their cattle from Nyamutenha village, ward 11, where they had settled, locals said.
They were reportedly taken to Nyabutu camp. Their fate remains unknown.
Some of the Mozambicans are committing atrocities, then fleeing their homes to settle here as refugees, while others are driven out of their homes.
But in both cases, they do not sit back but organise cross-border revenge attacks, investigations revealed.
“We are in no way screening these immigrants... (we are just) allowing them to settle among ordinary villagers, risking their safety,” a Mapungwana village head who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
“Our government is messing up its refugee processing protocol and it may cost the nation its peace.”
Chipinge South Zanu PF MP Enock Porusingazi agrees that the refugees need to be placed in appropriate facilities for their safety and the preservation of peace.
“Once a person flees from war or terror, he is classified a refugee and should be quarantined in a camp for safety and protection,” Porusingazi said.

But until Zimbabwe reins in cattle rustling and implements appropriate refugee handling procedures, it remains on the brink of being sucked into the conflict.

But to keep itself from its strategic neighbour’s internal conflict, Zimbabwe will need to carefully monitor activities along the long border and not just the political impasse between Frelimo and Renamo.

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HARARE - Despite the fact that Zanu PF is seemingly at its weakest — as factional and succession wars rage on — the MDC is fearful that the ruling party will be vicious come 2018 elections.

Speaking to the Daily News on Sunday yesterday MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said the ruling party is just like a mafia organisation that will unite and use the advantage of incumbency to unleash violence against opposition parties’ supporters.

“Naturally, we will need both solid financial and material resources to confront and ultimately collapse this deeply-entrenched dictatorship. This regime is at its weakest because its coffers are virtually dry.

“However, the regime is also at its most dangerous state because they have literally thrown all caution to the wind as they desperately seek to retain State power, by whatever means necessary,” said Gutu.

Already, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has launched a nationwide outreach campaign as he rallies his troops but the opposition party that is seeking alliances with other opposition outfits ahead of the 2018 polls, is worried by the link between Zanu PF and the State.

“The State and the party have been conflated in such a manner that the Zanu PF regime actually relies more on the State machinery rather than on its own party structures in order to retain political power.

“We are devising strategies to collapse the hegemony of Zanu PF in State organs without shedding any blood.

“The MDC is a social democratic political party that doesn’t believe in the violent and unconstitutional overthrow of any government.”

Gutu’s sentiments came as opposition parties and civil society organisations said Zanu PF won the recently held Bikita West by-election by intimidating villagers.

“We know that we are dealing with a wild and dangerous beast in the form of the Zanu PF regime. For starters, Zanu PF is not a conventional political party. It’s a fully-fledged Mafia organisation that abuses State machinery to remain in power.

“Our focus as the opposition should be, therefore, to systematically dismantle the Zanu PF Mafia using peaceful and democratic means.

“This is not a stroll in the park because the regime is at its most dangerous and lethal phase.

“Internally, the regime is deeply fractured and factionalised but we should never, ever under - estimate the capacity of the Zanu PF regime to conveniently coalesce for the purpose of confronting a common enemy and thereafter, continue to internally squabble.”

Although the opposition is also at its weakest Gutu said Zimbabweans must not lose hope because Zanu PF will be history after 2018.

“Zimbabwe is in transition and Robert Mugabe is certainly on his way out of power; make no mistake about that. This is the time for us to be focused, united and strategic. Internal squabbling can only make us weaker; not stronger. We have now entered the homestretch to a New Zimbabwe.

“The people of Zimbabwe should give us a chance as we grapple with the evil Frankenstein monster that is the Zanu PF regime.”

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HARARE - Expelled Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) member Margaret Dongo says it is now time for the country’s youths to take over the country’s political space with guidance from war veterans and other elders who participated in the war of liberation.

The politician, who together with six other founding members of the party was shown the red card last week by the interim president Joice Mujuru following serious differences and divisions, said the old should now pave way for the new.

“I think the former youths that fought for independence with the aim of economically, politically and socially empowering the people should take transitional leadership now and mentor the current youths to appreciate the practicality of the people’s empowerment intended by the liberation war so that the current youths can take over and pass on to the next generation of youths too,” the firebrand politician said.

Some of the founding members that were expelled together with Dongo are Rugare Gumbo, Didymus Mutasa, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Luckson Kandemiri and Claudius Makova, while others like Sylvester Nguni and Ray Kaukonde voluntarily resigned.

With ZPF in a mess and without a clear leadership, Dongo said this is an opportunity for the country to rediscover itself and develop correct and progressive leadership that has the people at heart.

Dongo, who is a war veteran and a former Zanu PF MP, said a transitional leadership must be in a position to attend to the economic, political and social situation in the country and protecting the values of the liberation struggle.

Presently, opposition parties are divided and at their weakest point having failed to take advantage of Zanu PF problems.

Analysts say the convulsions in ZPF are a major setback to the hoped for coalition.

“Zimbabwe was liberated by the youths and the youths should have continued with the economic, social and political development programmes but unfortunately they were sidelined by old people who had no future in mind and resulted in the nation moving backwards economically, politically and socially.

“Teach the current youths who should take over the positives of the courageous, collective, and inclusive approach of the fight for liberation and alert them to the mistakes made by the former youth so that negative history does not repeat itself,” she said.

She added that the country’s elders were needed as their experience was useful in the transitional process for the country to progress.

“Former youths who fought for the freedom of this country should take over leadership now on a transitional basis to ensure the true values of the struggle on economic, social and political freedom…are known and implemented.

“This group of former youths includes trained fighters, collaborators such as mujibas, chimbwidos (war collaborators) as well as refugees and other activists of that generation such as musicians. This transitional leadership and activism should be done now for the benefit of future generations of this country,” she said.

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