HARARE - Fifa president Gianni Infantino and dozens of FA presidents across Africa will visit the country next week to attend Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) president Philip Chiyangwa’s birthday celebrations and his recent appointment as the Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) president.

But the celebrations have already invited an angry response from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Issa Hayatou who sees Chiyangwa as leading a revolution to topple him from power during next month’s Caf elections.

Hayatou has since written a letter to Chiyangwa, threatening him against hosting his bash but the flamboyant businessman, is defying the Caf boss saying nobody can stop him from hosting his friends in Zimbabwe and that the celebrations will go ahead.

Confirming Infantino’s visit yesterday, Chiyangwa told the Daily News that the Fifa boss will come with his team to join in the celebrations which also coincide with his first anniversary as the country’s football boss.

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“Infantino has confirmed his visit and efforts to get his travelling documents including visa application are already underway,” Chiyangwa said, adding that “the event will also be graced by between 40–50 FA presidents from the continent.

Some of the Fifa officials making Infantino’s entourage include director of associations members Veron Mosengo Omba and Larts Nils Mattias. 

Chiyangwa, who assumed Zifa presidency a year ago, became the first Zimbabwean when he ascended to the post of Cosafa president unopposed at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in South Africa last tear December.

The Harare businessman took over from Seychelles’ Suketu Patel, who decided not to stand after completing two terms in office.

However, Haytou, alarmed by the impending celebrations in Harare, views the gathering as an attempt to plot his downfall ahead of next month’s Caf elections.

Hayatou, 71, is also the senior vice-president of Fifa and the Cameroonian was re-elected unopposed during the last Caf presidential elections in 2013. He had previously stated this term would be his last until a change of regulations altered his stance.

In 2015, Caf voted to change the statutes which previously stopped officials serving past the age of 70.

Hayatou, who has presided over African football since 1988, is seeking an outrageous eighth term at the helm of the continental football body, and has written to the Zifa boss advising him to first seek his clearance.

“The Caf leadership has been informed that a meeting is convened by yourself in your capacity as Cosafa chairman, in Harare, Zimbabwe, on February 24th 2017, right after the Fifa Executive Summit planned in Johannesburg on February 21st to 23rd 2017,” reads a letter from Hayatou.

“Such a meeting would not include only presidents of member associations of Cosafa, but also presidents of many member associations outside the zonal union of Cosafa.

“The Caf leadership would like to remind you that you do not have any authority to convene such a meeting, without Caf knowledge nor without its required approval.

“While it would be acceptable to convene a meeting of the leaders of your zonal union, convening a meeting with representatives of many member associations outside Cosafa zone is deemed to represent an attempt to destabilise Caf.”

Interestingly, Cosafa has thrown its weight behind Madagascar Football Association president Ahmad Ahmad’s candidature for the Caf presidency in next month’s elections in Ethiopia.

The decision for Ahmad’s audacious bid to dethrone Hayatou was arrived at last weekend’s Cosafa meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa where Chiyangwa expressed satisfaction with the resolutions made.

With the Cosafa support, Ahmad is assured of the backing of the 14 member states under the umbrella body.

Citing Article 2.3 of the Caf statutes, Hayatou  stated that  “any person or organisation involved in football in Africa has to respect at all times and unreservedly the principles of ethics and fair play enacted by Caf, the principles of integrity and sportsmanship as well as the Statutes, regulations, decisions and directives of Caf and Fifa,” Hayatou added.

“Furthermore, please be kindly reminded that Articles 14.2 of Caf Statutes clearly highlight obligations of zonal unions, including articles 14.2.c and 14.2.d: “…each zonal union shall have the obligation to fully comply with the Statutes, regulations, directives, and decisions of Caf and Fifa, work in close collaboration with Caf in all spheres, in order to attain the objectives of the Confederation.

“We draw your attention therefore to the obligation of all zonal unions to respect the authority of Caf, and not to conduct in any activities that undermine the common objectives of Caf, for the benefit of African football development.

“We are keen therefore to receive further details on this planned meeting in Harare, and we do hope that Caf statutes and directives will be fully complied with at all times. The Caf executive committee reserves its rights to sanction any infringement to the Caf statutes.”

The 39th Caf General Assembly, where the election of new Caf president will be the main agenda, will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from March 16-17, 2017, with more than 380 delegates expected to attend.

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EDITOR — The Finance minister must not act as if he is an agent of some aircraft manufacturers. AirZim needs not buy new air craft. It can lease them. All it needs, however, are the following:

— Working capital, say $100 million to fund some severance packages, pay expenses for the first six months, repair 3 of its old planes and lease not more than 3 others: two 50 to 100 seat turbo-props and one long haul Boeing 777, or 787 or Airbus 340, or 350. The important point is lease, not buy.

— Ask creditors to the airline to take a “hair cut” of US$100 in exchange of,

— Converting half the remaining debt (equal to $120m) into equity, and re-scheduling the other half into a long-term loan into a new loan.

— Good management thereafter and minimal interference from politicians.

I believe AfDB and DBSA would support the scenario above. Talk of needed $770m is reckless and suggests the minister is out of his depth.

Muka Dodo

HARARE - The office of the Sheriff of the High Court must be investigated for poor supervision which has resulted in messengers of court serving papers to defendants at wrong addresses.

A lot of people in Zimbabwe were not particularly surprised last week when the Con-Court threw out Promise Mkwananzi’s case after ruling that he had flouted proper procedure by lodging his application to the wrong address.

It turns out that court papers were delivered at New Government Complex instead of President Robert Mugabe’s offices at Munhumutapa Building.

And Mkwananzi’s lawyer, Kudzayi Kadzere, is justified in being apoplectic with fury as reported elsewhere in this edition.

Apparently, there had been warning signs even before the latest Con-Court fracas. Last year, High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi, sitting at the Bulawayo High Court, described the conduct by officials from the Sheriff of the High Court as “deplorable” and called for urgent action to reform the institution.

He had seen trouble coming.

To the uninitiated, once you file your case, you have to “serve” the court papers. It is not enough to call the person on the phone and tell him about the case. 

The court will need proof that he knows about the case. “Serving” is delivering court papers to the defendant that tell him who is taking him to court, what the case is about, court dates and when he needs to answer.

You serve a copy of the summons you got when you filed the case. The summons says who is taking the defendant to court, what the case is about, when the defendant needs to answer, and to whom he needs to answer. If you want to use the sheriff, usually for security reasons, you pay him. Now the person entrusted with this duty in this case, failed and submitted fake returns of service and false service to the courts even after being paid.

As noted by Justice Mathonsi, there must be concerted effort to nip the rot in the bud. Courts transact very serious business whose outcome affects the lives of members of the public as exemplified by #Tajamuka/Sesijikile leader Mkwananzi’s challenge

that President Robert Mugabe was violating Zimbabwe’s Constitution by violently breaking street protests.

Such bungling must, where proved, be severely punished in order to discourage those among the assistants of the sheriff who are lazy to deliver court papers thinking they can serve process by Bluetooth while sitting in their offices only to hoodwink the court by submitting fake returns.

The police powers of those “special deputies,” and what criteria government is using in selecting them — must be included in the investigation, at the behest of the High Court standards, which must be alarmed by concerns being raised about the deputies.

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HARARE - Vendors' leader, Sten Zvorwadza, and 13 alleged accomplices yesterday gave notice of intention to have their public disorder case referred to the Constitutional Court (Con-Court).

The group — charged with disorderly conduct in a public place following a July 16, 2016 demonstration against alleged municipal police corruption — appeared before Harare magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta.

They were represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights’ Jeremiah Bamu.

The application for referral is on the basis that “all their actions in this matter are constitutionally protected within sections 58, 59, 60 and 61 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of assembly, association and conscience”.

Bamu will make an oral presentation of the application on February 20.

Prosecutor, Desire Chidanire, alleged that on July 16 last year, Zvorwadza — chairperson of the National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (Navuz) — was in the company of a group of vendors when they decided to demonstrate against alleged corruption by municipal police.

The vendors were bitter that municipal cops looted their wares and shared it among themselves, and, in some instances, would demand bribes to release the goods.

It was alleged that Zvorwadza and his members gathered at Town House in Harare, holding placards that read: “Stop harassing women and children”, “Stop confiscation of our goods” and “Zvemadhisinyongoro hatichada”.

The court heard that they were dispersed by police, however, when they realised that the cops had left the scene, they reportedly regrouped and returned to Town House led by Zvorwadza.

They reportedly demanded to see the town clerk or mayor and approached security personnel that were stationed at the entrance.

The court heard that the vendors reportedly attempted to force their way into Town House but were restrained.

This did not stop them from singing and blocking the way for people who wanted to enter the building and conduct their business.

Police officers returned to the scene and advised the group to leave but the vendors reportedly held their hands together tightly and police had a hard time arresting them.

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HARARE - Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) has proposed a 100 percent increase in Aviation Infrastructure Development Fund (Aidef) – an airport tax - to enable it to repay a loan for the upgrading of the Harare International Airport.

Caaz chief executive officer David Chawota told the parliamentary portfolio committee on Transport yesterday that the move would help resource the agency.

“We need a review of Aidef from $5 to $10 for domestic departures and $15 to $30 for international departures,” Chawota said, admitting that Zimbabwe had one of the highest airport taxes in the region.

Caaz’s three major revenue sources are passenger service fees, landing and parking fees as well as navigation fees which contribute about 85 percent of its total revenue.

Chawota said the agency’s target is to increase operational revenue by 17 percent from $35 million in 2016 to $40,7 million in 2017.

“The Aidef funds are the ones currently repaying the Victoria Falls Airport loan….For the second batch of the loan, we have approached government to ask for what was agreed upon before (which is $10 for domestic departures $30 for international departures),” Chawota said, adding “what we need is $180 million but we have been advised we can get $153 million for the (upgrading of) Harare International Airport.”

Chairperson of the committee, Chegutu West Zanu PF MP Dexter Nduna, expressed concern on what the hike would do to the country’s tourism sector, to which Chawota replied:  “The comparison we have done so far is indicative that we are on the higher-end in the region.

“We are currently reviewing the total cost for Zimbabwe as a destination…that is one of our strategies for 2017.”

The Aidef as well as the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) are payments due to Caaz that are ordinarily collected by airlines on its behalf for future remittance.

Caaz has, however, assumed the role of collecting the PSC and Aidef charges directly from Air Zimbabwe passengers, a scenario that was causing a great deal of discomfort to passengers.

This situation has been made worse by the fact that Masvingo Airport and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport have no swipe machines, with passengers required to pay cash, parliamentarians heard yesterday.

However, Chawota assured legislators that Caaz was moving to become ICT compliant.

He also said passengers would soon revert to making the PSC and Aidef payments to Air Zimbabwe saying the two were ironing out their differences.

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HARARE - Suspended prosecutor-general, Johannes Tomana, who is facing criminal abuse of office charges, has applied for stay of prosecution pending the hearing of his Constitutional Court (Con-Court) application to be tried by an external judge.

Tomana made the application yesterday through his lawyer, Thabani Mpofu, before High Court judge Tawanda Chitapi when his trial was due to start.

He wants his case to be heard by a retired judge or any judge not sitting in the higher court.

The State is expected to respond to the application today.

According to court papers, Tomana is accused of illegally withdrawing charges of possession of weaponry for insurgency and money laundering for terrorism against Silas Pfupa and Solomon Makumbe — who were caught allegedly attempting to bomb President Robert Mugabe’s Alpha Omega Dairies.

A further charge emanates from the time when Bright Matonga was still Zupco’s chief executive.

The court heard that in 2004, Matonga was charged with culpable homicide arising from a traffic accident which resulted in the death of Chipo Chikowore.

When Tomana became the attorney-general, he reportedly devised a plan to illegally assist Matonga, after the former deputy Information minister was summoned for trial before the Chitungwiza Magistrates’ Courts.

He reportedly ordered his subordinates to drop the criminal charge against Matonga, without having sight of the docket and knowledge of circumstances surrounding the case.

According to court papers, Tomana directed his subordinates to decline prosecution, resulting in Matonga escaping the culpable homicide charges.

Tomana is also accused of protecting Matonga, after he was charged with contravening the Prevention of Corruption Act.

He reportedly ordered his subordinates to drop charges against Matonga in 2008 after plea, which resulted in the discontinuation of the trial.

“This was despite the fact that most of the witnesses were still to testify in the matter and they were readily available to attend court and testify,” the court papers read.

Charges against Matonga were eventually withdrawn after plea, resulting in him being found not guilty.

Tomana is accused of acting in a manner contrary and inconsistent to his duties as a public officer, by showing favour to Matonga.

He is further accused of protecting Charles Nherera, another former Zupco board member, who was also facing charges of contravening the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Nherera was sentenced to three years in prison and Tomana testified in his trial.

He later applied for bail pending appeal, which was dismissed after the State opposed the application on the grounds that there were no prospects of success.

The Supreme Court also dismissed his application for review.

When Tomana became the attorney-general, he reportedly directed the State to change its stance and admit that Nherera was innocent and that the conviction had been passed erroneously.

According to State papers, Tomana also facilitated the release of Beauty Basile, an acting medical superintendent who was based at Bindura General Hospital in 2009.

Basile had been arraigned before the court accused of criminally abusing her duties and also faced 219 counts of corruption.

Tomana reportedly ordered his subordinates to withdraw charges against her, after she made several visits to his office.

On the last count, Tomana is accused of assisting the release of Patrick Mavros, an illegal gold dealer, who was found in possession of 9008, 1 grammes of the precious mineral.

He was accused of contravening the Gold Trade Act, by operating without a licence.

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HARARE - #Tajamuka leader Promise Mkwananzi’s attorney has slammed the Sheriff of the High Court for bungling the case in which the Constitutional Court (Con-Court) dismissed the activist’s challenge that President Robert Mugabe was violating the Constitution by violently quashing protests.

The Con-Court bench — led by Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba — threw out the case last Wednesday after ruling that Mkwananzi had flouted proper procedure by lodging his application to the wrong address.

Instead of delivering his court papers at Mugabe’s offices at Munhumutapa Building — the citadel of government power — Mkwananzi served the papers at the New Government Complex.

But yesterday, Mkwananzi’s lawyer, Kudzayi Kadzere — who consented to the decision — told the Daily News yesterday that the sheriff, Mcdoff Madhega, had submitted fake returns of service and false service to the courts.-*

The sheriff, his deputy or assistant deputy, execute all sentences, decrees, judgments, writs, summonses, rules, orders, warrants, commands and other process of the courts, and is obliged to make a return to the court, together with the manner of the execution.

“He was supposed to serve the president at his Munhumutapa office in terms of Rule 9 of the Constitutional Court rules but instead of doing so, filed a return of service showing that service was effected at New Government Complex.

“The sheriff is an officer of court and ought to take his duties seriously!” Kadzere fumed.

“For him to bungle such an important case, which has never been heard before in our jurisdiction, is unfortunate,” he said.

“Even more disturbing is that our client paid the requisite fees for the sheriff’s services considering the risk involved in us having to serve the application ourselves on the president.”

Efforts to reach Madhega at the High Court yesterday were futile.

But Attorney-General Prince Machaya, who was the government lawyer during the court hearing, in asking the Con-Court to dismiss the case, cited the bungled return of service and also noted the application to the president was supposed to be served within two days after filing it in the Con-Court, which Kadzere said the sheriff again failed to do.

“He was also supposed to have served the application within two days of it having been filed as per Rule 27 but he fumbled around for seven straight days.

“For these reasons, the otherwise meritable application was dismissed,” the 2015 northern region human rights lawyer of the year, said.

Central to the case was Mkwananzi’s accusation that Mugabe was overstepping his authority, and that the police force and army had gone under the president’s partisan control, which he argued was ultra vires the Constitution.

He cited Mugabe’s remarks at a war veterans meeting that followed one of #Tajamuka/Sesijikile’s protests last year, where the veteran leader said his ruling Zanu PF disciplined renegades during the 70s liberation war against white minority rule by burying them “underground like rats, in bunkers” — threatening to unleash the same treatment on the protest group leaders.

Mkwananzi described Mugabe’s threats as “unconstitutional and un-president like verbal onslaught.”

Mkwananzi wanted the Con-Court to declare Mugabe’s actions unconstitutional.

Kadzere has said they are going to re-apply within 30 days in terms of the Constitution, adding that “we are not giving up”.

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HARARE - A rural teachers union yesterday said it is going ahead to stage a strike next week Monday over their unpaid 2016 bonuses.

This comes as State health institutions’ doctors have also threatened to down tools tomorrow, unless the hard-pressed President Robert Mugabe’s government improves their remuneration and working conditions.

In a statement, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) said “on February 20, 2017 we begin our job action demanding the release of bonus dates”.

“The employer has remained silent on details of when and how our outstanding 2016 bonus will be paid,” it said.

The protest, announced in a letter to the director of the Civil Service Commission by Artuz secretary general Robson Chere, is on the back of pleas by government that the workers must be patient and avoid industrial action.

Artuz said a strike authorisation had been approved by its national president Obert Masaraure.

“We have since notified our employer of our intention to express our disgust with the irresponsible behaviour of the employer,” the Artuz statement said.

“In line with Section 65 of the new Constitution, we have a right to engage in job action. That right cannot be withdrawn by an act or any statutory instrument, thus our strike is justifiable and legitimate.

“We urge all teachers to brace up for the 20th of February strike. The job action will send a clear message to the heartless employer who is also government that teachers’ issues and the welfare of all the poor must be prioritised or this country can become ungovernable.”

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya and Public Service minister Prisca Mupfumira have told civil servants that the stone-broke government could only offer them three options in lieu of bonus in cash: the distribution of serviced stands where government pays 50 percent of the bonus in the form of land and the other half paid in staggered cash payments.

Government is also offering payment of bonuses in the form of a dividend where, instead of paying the workers directly, the cash will be invested in money-market instruments which will presumably yield a return down the line, an offer flatly rejected by government workers.

Mupfumira had said the three options promised in relation to bonuses were due to be discussed in their February 20 meeting.

Government has said it was disappointed by the strike decision of the workers.

Chinamasa has said government’s total expenditure demands currently stand at $942,5 million, and in respect of employment cost arrears, government owes $352,1 million, $69,9 million being arrears for the  December 2016 wage bill.                     

Last year was the first time government delayed paying bonuses.

Government has said that under its contract with the unions, the bonuses are not obligatory.

“Artuz also stands in solidarity with doctors who commence their strike on February 15,” the statement said, referring to doctors who are due to down tools over worsening employment conditions tomorrow.

“We will not be moved by the empty threats that we have been receiving from both the Civil Service Commission and desperate State agents. Todakudyawo (we also want to eat).”

Meanwhile, non-critical patients were being advised at Zimbabwe’s two largest State hospitals — Parirenyatwa and Harare Central — to return next week because doctors were unavailable, witnesses claimed.

Devoid of balance of payment support from the International Monetary Fund or foreign credit from customary Western donors, Harare administers a hand-to-mouth national spending plan, appropriating over 90 percent of its budget revenue on wages, which it is struggling to pay.

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HARARE - Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo yesterday said the documents that Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) used to press embezzlement charges against him in relation to the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef)’s money were stolen from his ministry’s offices.

He told Parliament’s Higher Education portfolio committee yesterday that most of Zimdef documents were stolen from their offices following a break-in last year.

Moyo said the same documents are the ones that were used to claim that he stole $400 000-plus from Zimdef — a Fund administered by his ministry.

“All the documents were taken and we discovered that they are in the hands of those people,” an emotionally-charged Moyo told the committee, adding that “use of stolen documents is improper”.

He also savaged Zacc, accusing the anti-graft body of continuing to pursue his case using unlawful channels.

“On December 9, (2016), Zacc wrote a letter to the speaker of Parliament while the matter is still before the courts. We are surprised that they do things behind the scenes in violation of the law, interestingly the letter was copied to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa,...minister Ignatius Chombo and chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda and I was not copied.

“They go to court and behind the scenes they are doing something. This is what we call bad administration.”

Moyo added that the Zimdef issue is affecting the operation of their ministry.

“We have been derailed with things which have nothing to do with the law. We are not able to focus 100 percent.”

Moyo’s sentiments came as his application in which he is challenging the Zacc’s arresting powers was postponed indefinitely last week.

Deputy chief justice Luke Malaba leading the Constitutional Court bench deferred the case after ruling that Moyo’s application was not properly filed in terms of the Rules of the court.

Zacc, however, argued that Moyo’s detention was lawful as it was within the parameters of the organisation’s investigating powers, adding that Munyaradzi Chacha has arresting powers as a police officer.

Meanwhile, MDC Harare province youth secretary-general, Denford Ngadziore, who attempted a citizen arrest on Moyo was yesterday acquitted of the charges.

Ngadziore, 32, was represented by Obey Shava when he appeared before Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube charged with contravening section 25(5) of the Public Order and Security Act which prohibits convening a public gathering without notifying the regulatory authority.

Ncube noted that the State had failed to establish a prima facie case against Ngadziore before discharging him at the close of the State case.

“All the State witnesses confirmed that they had not witnessed anything pertaining to the alleged offence rather their evidence was based on hearsay.

“I did not even bother myself cross examining the third and first witnesses because their evidence was clearly irrelevant,” Shava said.

Prosecutor Anesu Matorofa alleged that on October 17 last year around 11am, Ngadziore went to the department of Industrial Training and Trade Testing Harare regional offices at Shell House and convened an unsanctioned gathering.

In Ngadziore’s address, the court heard, he demanded the immediate arrest of Moyo for allegedly misappropriating Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) funds.

Ngadziore was later arrested on November 2 by officers from the CID Law and Order division.

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HARARE - Daily News writer, Farayi Machamire, chats to former ambassador and Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) member, Retired Brigadier-General Agrippa Mutambara, in the wake of the implosion of the Joice Mujuru-led opposition party.

Q: This past week you joined dozens of ZPF party heavyweights who dumped Joice Mujuru. Why did you feel compelled to make this decision?

A: Democracy is not best served by ostracising those with opposing views but embracing them.

It was the unilateral dismissal of Mujuru from Zanu PF and the purging that followed that convinced me that Zanu PF had breached the basic tenets of democracy and had turned itself into an autocratic and repressive regime.

For that reason, I announced my resignation from Zanu PF to join ZPF.

I am disappointed that the sacred democratic values that I hold dear are once again being violated by the dismissals and promised purging taking place in ZPF.

ZPF, led by Mujuru, has got its feet firmly lodged in sand, quicksand, the more it struggles, the more it sinks into it.

Q: What type of a person is Mujuru?

A: As a decent human being, I have respect for Mujuru. But as a leader I find her indecisive and clueless.

The party is directionless and cruising on autopilot. I had to break from the ZPF led by her.

If there are matters that arise that need a leader to take a position, she doesn’t take a position.

And again, she also now wants to promote the culture of Zanu PF where those vanoera Nzou (those who share the same totem as her) are being brought closer.

The most disappointing thing is that she was expelled from Zanu PF for having opposing views, now she is doing the same to those with opposing views.

Q: Is this the beginning of the end for ZPF?

A: As far as we are concerned, ZPF is still there.

What we want is a new leader.

All those rallying behind Joice Mujuru, I know they think they are the legitimate people, but they will soon realise they don’t have the support they think they have.

Q: You were left for dead by rampaging Zanu PF apparatchiks last year as you tried to defend fellow ZPF comrades who were under siege?

Don’t you feel now that all that was in vain?

A: I sacrificed a lot, I have been so involved…getting injured and so forth. I am still facing court cases where I am footing my own bills.

But I tell you, she will be shocked to realise that she doesn’t enjoy the support that she thinks she has.

People tend to lie to her and yet she doesn’t enjoy that support.

It is really sad that she can’t handle disgruntlement, people are looking for leadership but she is indecisive, she can’t make a decision.

Q: What do you think all this does to the agenda to remove President Robert Mugabe and the mooted grand coalition?

A: It makes it a little bit difficult but I think it is preparing us for a better way forward. Because we were stuck in quicksand, as you try to wriggle your way out, you sink more.

I believe the way we were going; we were not going to achieve anything. You know the meetings of the ZPF supreme decision making body can last for eight hours and nothing is resolved.

Instead of discussing real issues, people discuss gossip and gossip and nothing is achieved and the leader has no control. Whoever thinks of shouting shouts and so forth? I could no longer be a part of that.

Q: With everything happening, do you see yourself going back to Zanu PF? 

A: To What? Zanu PF? Me? Never. Never. Not Zanu PF.

Q: What is your next move from here?

A: We are going to try reform ZPF and make it work for the people.

What happened (squabbles that led to desertions), it was not representative of the party, it was unilateral.

So it defeats the purpose that we are People First when we take unilateral decisions.

We are back again to Zanu PF dictatorial tendencies.

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HARARE - The Supreme Court has slapped down a High Court order which sought to bar the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) from conducting public interviews to choose the country’s next chief justice, ruling that the executive’s plans to amend the law did not in itself nullify the Constitution.

This comes as Parliament is set to begin the process of amending the Constitution to allow President Robert Mugabe to have the sole power to appoint senior judiciary officials.

Current Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku leaves the bench at the end of this month after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Yesterday, Supreme Court judges Ben Hlatshwayo, Bharat Patel and retired judge Vernanda Ziyambi gave Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa’s representative Ephraim Mukucha a torrid time, after asking him to justify the logic of suspending an existing law on the basis of an intended amendment.

“You talk of good governance, is it good governance to suspend the existing laws? Why suspend a law that is legal on the basis of an intention to amend the Constitution which will be made on an unknown date?” Hlatshwayo queried.

He also said that there was no guarantee the amendment was going to be allowed by the people.

“You are not a prophet, (Mr) Mukucha. Do you know how the amendment is going to be finalised? It might be rejected or amended and reiterate the same provisions being challenged,” Hlatshwayo said.

The judges then unanimously agreed to allow the appeal with no costs, thereby setting aside High Court judge Charles Hungwe’s ruling.

In December, Hungwe issued an interdict preventing the JSC from proceeding with the public interviews — although the process still went ahead after the JSC immediately filed an appeal.

Three candidates — Constitutional Court judge Paddington Garwe, JSC secretary Rita Makarau and deputy chief justice Luke Malaba — were subsequently interviewed for the post, with a fourth candidate, High Court Judge President George Chiweshe pulling out of the race at the last minute.

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) law student Romeo Zibani had launched an application five days before the scheduled interviews, seeking to stop the public interviews, resulting in Hungwe delivering his order on December 11, stopping the interviews.

“It occurs to me that where a lawful process leads to an absurd result, in the sense that colleagues select each other for entitlement to public office, as argued by applicant, it cannot be sanctioned on the ground that it is provided for in the law. Such an approach is irrational,” Hungwe ruled then.

But the JSC immediately noted its appeal — led by Addington Chinake of Kantor & Immerman — at the Supreme Court, which suspended Hungwe’s judgment.

At about the same time, Mnangagwa —who is also in charge of the Justice ministry — had through an affidavit that was presented in court stated that he had begun a process to amend Section 180 of the Constitution, to change the process of appointing high level judicial officials.

The battle to appoint Chidyausiku’s successor has since taken a decidedly factional tone, as the ruling Zanu PF’s brawling bigwigs fight to install a candidate acceptable to their respective camps.

The two major Zanu PF factions — Generation 40 (G40) which is rabidly opposed to Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe and Team Lacoste (the VP’s allies) — see the new chief justice as a key cog in the wheel in the succession battle, should this reach the courts.

Meanwhile, Parliament is forging ahead with plans for its public consultations across the country, with the seven-member portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs expected to vote on whether to send the proposed Amendment to the full chamber — where it will be deliberated during an extraordinary session.

With the hearings scheduled to start on Friday in Harare via a Senate Chamber session, this will be the first of 11 public hearings conducted by the portfolio committee.

As it is, Zanu PF bigwigs are expected to fast-track the legislation in the hope that both houses will approve it soon, with the National Assembly expected to take up the bill during the first week of March, after Chidyausiku steps down.

A new Constitution produced by an inter-party parliamentary committee agreed by Zanu PF and MDC negotiators before a referendum in 2013 curbed presidential powers by requiring the JSC to conduct  public interviews for the vacant post of chief justice, reflecting Mugabe’s whittled down authority under the new Constitution.

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HARARE - Zanu PF’s politburo will have its first meeting of 2017 in Harare tomorrow, amid fears that the gathering could become very heated as the party’s tribal, factional and succession wars continue to worsen.

An insider who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said top of the agenda would be the “high level of indiscipline and deep-rooted factional fights” ravaging the party — which had recently seen provincial structures rebelliously reinstating suspended officials without the politburo’s approval.

For example, the party’s Masvingo structure finds itself deep in the throes of factional anarchy following the regional leadership’s recent decision to bring back suspended former provincial leader Ezra Chadzamira to replace Amasa Nenjana who has been the acting chairperson.

Similarly, the party’s Midlands provincial executive stubbornly elected to elevate deputy regional chairperson Daniel Mackenzie-Ncube to replace Jorum Gumbo, who had been seconded to the province by the politburo to replace the suspended Kizito Chivamba.

The province also brought Chivamba back into the fold as Mackenzie-Ncube’s deputy, in a divisive move that has led to confusion and more ructions within the troubled party over procedure.

Zanu PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere — while clearly unwilling to speak to the Daily News about the party’s travails — nevertheless confirmed that the two provinces’ actions were irregular.

But the well-placed source who spoke to the newspaper earlier said the proper procedure, in the case of the Midlands, was that Gumbo — who was seconded to the province to investigate the chaos that followed Chivamba’s suspension on allegations of promoting factionalism and undermining powerful First Lady Grace Mugabe — was supposed to have tabled a report of his findings first to the politburo.

“The province clearly jumped the gun. In as much as it is constitutional for provinces to co-opt their membership into positions, the case of these provinces is different given that the national disciplinary committee suspended Chivamba and Chadzamira, and they were only reinstated as ordinary card-carrying members.

“This means that any attempt to bring them back now is tantamount to making a mockery of the national disciplinary process.

“The case of Chivamba is even more interesting given that it was actually the politburo which tasked Gumbo to look into the matter.

“This means that he (Gumbo) was supposed to give feedback to the politburo first before a decision on who takes over is made. What they have done shows their utter contempt for the politburo and its decisions,” the source said.

However, Masvingo provincial minister Shuvai Mahofa — who is also a politburo member — insisted that their decision had been above board.

“You have done the right thing to ask me as a politburo member.

“When Chivamba, Chadzamira and (Joel Biggie) Matiza’s cases were discussed in the politburo, they were found innocent of all the charges that were preferred against them and it was recommended that they should go back to their provinces where a decision of whether or not to accept them back would be made.

“So, Masvingo and Midlands made theirs. Anything else is rubbish,” the forthright Mahofa said emphatically.

On the other hand, Cornelius Mupereri, the Midlands provincial spokesperson, said Gumbo had presented a report to the party’s provincial assembly and central committee, which was later presented at the Zanu PF annual conference in Masvingo last year.

Mupereri also said while the province had expected to hear from the politburo afterwards, when they got no communication back, they then went ahead and co-opted members to fill all gaps as provided for in the Zanu PF constitution.

“We did all we were supposed to do according to the party constitution . . . we had vacancies we felt we needed to fill to regularise the provincial structure, and we maintain that it was all in order,” he said.

Some of the other thorny issues which are expected to be brought up for discussion tomorrow include the alleged “indiscipline” of some party members who are allegedly backing Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe.

Many of the VP’s vocal allies have been openly calling for Mugabe to resign, to make way for the Midlands godfather both at party level and in government.

“Those against ED (Mnangagwa) will certainly bring to Mugabe’s attention to the issue of the infamous coffee mug and the Christmas party that he hosted for rebels, which has seen provincial chairpersons demanding action against the VP,” another senior party official said.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe host Afghanistan in five One Day Internationals (ODIs) beginning tomorrow at Harare Sports Club hoping to avenge for past defeats at the hands of the Associate country.

The locals have been embarrassed by the Afghanistan both at home and on neutral venues over the years.

Only a series win will help boost the team’s waning fortunes that have seen them being the whipping boys of not only Test-playing nations but Associate sides as well.

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Zimbabwe’s freefall and literal submission to Afghanistan started at home in October 2015 when they succumbed to a 2-3 ODI series defeat with the visitors becoming the first Associate side to beat a Full Member nation in a multi-game ODI series.

Afghanistan also wrapped up the Twenty20 series 2-0 while the visit had started on a positive note for them with their Afghanistan XI winning both one day warm-up matches in Bulawayo.

They followed that up with identical series’ wins over Zimbabwe at Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates winning the ODI series 3-2 and the T20 version 2-0.

As if that was not enough, Afghanistan sent Zimbabwe packing out of the ICC World T20 in India as they made it to the Super 10 stage at the expense of the locals.

A lot is at stake during this series. While the players will be battling it out on the field of play, there will also legal battle taking place on the sidelines.

Afghanistan head coach Phil Simmons will also revisit his labour case against Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), who he is suing for $320 000 for unfair dismissal 12 years after he was sacked.

Simmons met with his lawyer Jonathan Samkange yesterday in order to plan their next step.

But it is the action of the field of play Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer is more concerned about.

“Preparations have been good, been tough to get as much done as we want with all the rain around, but guys have played a few domestic games which was great and we have made good use of our facilities when they have been available,” Cremer told the Daily News yesterday.

“It’s about both really (revenge and game time) we know we have not played our best cricket against them in the past so we are ready for the fight and a series win.”

The team also received a boost with the return of Australia based all-rounder Solomon Mire.

“The return of Mire is great for us, we know what he is capable of and we need a seaming all-rounder,” Cremer said.

“The team has a few new young guys but all very hungry to do well. I think we have great mix of youth and experience and I’m excited about the squad that we have.”

Squad: Graeme Cremer (capt), Peter Joseph Moor (wk), Ryan Burl, Tarisai Musakanda, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Wellington Masakadza, Donald Tiripano, Tendai Chatara, Christopher Mpofu, Nathan Waller, Craig Ervine, Solomon Mire.

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HARARE - NAtional Paralympic head of delegation Anna Shiri said she still expects the team to be on top of their game when they participate at the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge in George Town, South Africa this weekend.

The Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge is the only exclusive wheelchair challenge for sportsmen and women in Africa and Zimbabwe are sending 15 athletes to the games together with six officials.

The athletes and other officials left for South Africa yesterday morning for the cycling challenge scheduled for Saturday in George Town, a city located between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

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Shiri, who is also a proportional representation senator in the upper chamber, is expected to leave tomorrow.

“Sportspeople with disabilities are faced with numerous problems and for instance you can see that they are travelling by road for such an important meet and by the time they get to George Town they will be exhausted and impacting negatively on their performance,” Shiri told the Daily News yesterday.

“We are very hopeful though that they will be able to return home with some medals, we have able and very competent athletes.

“They have all been training hard for this competition. One other thing we need to do is to start building a team of youths who can take over the baton and represent the country when this special group of dedicated athletes calls time on their careers.

“I’m supposed to join the rest of the team in South Africa soon because I’m yet to get the adequate financial resources to travel to and from the competition.”

Last Friday, the Sports ministry held a send-off ceremony for the athletes and officials in Harare with the acting permanent secretary Netsai Masiyanise challenging the team to bring home more medals.

“...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,” Masiyanise said.

“It is an accomplishment worth cherishing as it underlines our competitiveness in sport in general and athletics in particular.

“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.”

Team Zimbabwe: Edmund Makutya, Elford Moyo, Samson Muroyiwa, Caston Mutwira, Alexander Mkandla, Previous Wiri, Knowledge Munogwei, Margaret Bangajena, Magadaline Madzivire, Thandiwe Ndlovu, Ratidzo Tomu, Libangani Langa, Munyaradzi Katiyo, Irene Phiri.

Officials: Anna Shiri (Senator), Gift Mabhaudhi (Disability Desk), Abigail Chipatiso (Medic), Vitalis Jeremiah (Communications), Musekiwa Khumbula (Patron), Christopher Jaji (Team Manager)

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HARARE - Ngezi Platinum Stars’ African Confederation Cup return leg against Pamplemousses, which was initially set for Baobab Stadium, has been moved to the National Sports Stadium after Caf insisted that Mhondoro-Ngezi cannot host international matches due to lack of hotels in the area.

The match, however, remains this Saturday but will now kick off at 1:00pm to enable CAPS United’s opponents in the African Champions League Lioli FC to train at the venue ahead of their return leg the following day.

Ngezi Platinum drew 1-1 with Pamplemousses in the first leg in Mauritius on Sunday and will be hoping to finish off their opponents at home to book a ticket to the next round of the competition.

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Liberty Chakoroma scored for the platinum miners while Jean Fabrini equalised for the home side.

Madamburo coach Tonderai Ndiraya said while they were disappointed with the change in match venue, they will not allow it to disturb their goal of beating Pamplemousses.

“Yeah, it is a setback for us playing home away from home,” Ndiraya told the Daily News yesterday.

“It’s something that is beyond our control and we just have to work with what is there. We only need to focus on the task at hand.

“Our management is running around to ensure that we can go and camp in Harare so that we get used to the Stadium.

“We should not let this affect our focus. We need to remain focused and do the duty.”

Ndiraya said he is hopeful they will progress to the next round.

“You never know in football but I think we have an advantage,” he said.

“There are areas that we need to improve on, like our defending.

“We allowed a soft goal in Mauritius and if we can improve on that I hope we will do well.”

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

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HARARE - There was general consensus across the continent yesterday that Issa Hayatou has overstayed his welcome as Confederation of African Football (Caf) president.

Hayatou, who is seeking an eighth term in next month’s elections, has been the Caf president since 1988.

However, it seems Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa and his colleagues from Cosafa have touched a hornet’s nest after they openly declared support for Madagascar Football Association president Ahmad Ahmad in the forthcoming elections.

In apparent retaliation, Hayatou warned the Southern Region countries that they risk “destabilising” Caf after Chiyangwa went on to organise a meeting for a number of association heads in Harare next week.

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Fifa president Gianin Infantino and a number of Fifa directors are also scheduled to attend the meeting.

According to the Zifa president, the meeting is a celebration to mark his belated birthday and his victory to the post of Cosafa president.

Football fans across the continent took to social media yesterday to throw their support behind Chiyangwa and called for Hayatou to be kicked to the curb. 

“He (Hayatou) feels threatened like his 84-year-old president who wants to remain in power after 34 years. I’m Cameroonian; we performed well because of the young spirit so Hayatou you are no longer welcome even us from Cameroon are tired of you,” Dudu Danejo wrote on Facebook. Another Facebook user Soko Mukanya said: “This is a very good form of destabilisation. Let’s go for it ‘Captain Fiasco’, Hayatou is taking the African continent for granted! Infantino is on your side.”

Frank Anoh also wrote: “It’s stupid for Hayatou to seek eighth term of how many years? He is corrupt like all the (Sepp) Blatter Fifa officials. What democracy carries unlimited term?”   

On Twitter, the theme for Hayatou to go was also very topical with Iregbenu Paul of Nigeria writing: “ . . . Hayatou should go please. That position is not his birthright. We have had enough of him.”Mushrukwa weighed in: “Sad dictatorship should come to an end in African football. It’s time we put new blood.”

Onward News wrote: “It’s long overdue. He’s over stayed. But they (Cosafa) should all prepare to pack their bags if he wins again.”

Frank Sande Dumbura said: “He has reached his sell-by date ages ago. Difficult to see what else he wants to do for African football besides taking it down.”

In 2015, Caf voted to change the statutes which previously stopped officials serving past the age of 70.

Hayatou, now 71, will be in charge of the Caf for the next four years if he wins next month’s elections.

Kondjashili Nakatana said: “Hayatou can barely walk yet he wants to run African football for another four years. Vote him out please. #Caf.”

Mark Kayenga Bully wrote: “Dictator, Hayatou has overstayed his welcome. Caf like Fifa needs serious reforms; corruption and regionalism are rampant. It’s for change he should know that Caf is not his farm and if his trying to follow his country’s president long stay then he is misinformed.”

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HARARE - Zimbabwe faces a red locust invasion which further threatens maize and wheat yields, as the country battles to control fall army worm that has ravaged crops.

The red locusts — a large grasshopper species — are aggressive and destructive crop-eating pests that move in swarms, feeding on vegetation in its path.

International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa (IRLO-CSA) director, Moses Okhoba, told an emergency regional meeting on trans-boundary crop pests and animal diseases in Harare yesterday that southern African states, including Zimbabwe, faced yet another failed agricultural season, due to the pests.

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“We (Zambia) have...lost 1 600 hectares to the locust...and we’re currently on the ground trying to contain it,” he said.

“...if they are allowed to continue developing...all the countries in the southern region are in grave danger,” Okhoba said, adding that “as you know, when fully grown, the red locust can move up to 200km per hour, depending on the wind direction”.

“...a swarm of red locusts can be made up of 40 million insects, each one breeding on its own weight of about two grammes a day.”

“Therefore, a swarm will be eating about 80 million metric tonnes a day until you are able to control it,” Okhoba said.

The situation could be made dire by the fact that many southern African States do not have the equipment or capacity to contain the red locust.

“The capacity of the region to control this locust is very limited. 

“I can count the equipment available (in the whole region),” he said.

“So, we need to look at how best we can deal with this pest. The locust we are dealing with in Zambia can affect the north and south of Zambia with equal measure . . . the situation is bad for food security.”

His alert comes amid mounting fears Zimbabwe’s maize yield could be completely wiped out by invasive pests.

Last Thursday, the Zimbabwe government said it was struggling to limit crop damage from the dangerous fall armyworm.

Agriculture minister Joseph Made told Senate government was taking measures to determine the extent of damage from caused by the crop-eating fall armyworm. 

Food and Agricultural Organisation sub-regional coordinator for southern Africa David Phiri said apart from the fall armyworm, the region also faces a number of other crop pest threats.

“The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta,...has caused serious losses, and disrupted tomato trade between some countries in the region,” he said.

“...in the livestock sector, the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 which has been reported in many areas of the world, mostly in the Northern hemisphere, so far, has broken out in Uganda, killing thousands of migratory wild birds and has spread to domestic poultry with high mortality reported,” Phiri said.

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HARARE - The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) is relying on letters to communicate with train operators, risking derailment and collisions, board chairman Larry Mavhima has told Parliament.

Giving oral evidence before the parliamentary portfolio committee on Transport on Monday, Mavhima said the ailing parastatal desperately needs $400 million to turn around its waning fortunes.

NRZ is currently saddled with a $176 million debt. 

“Our infrastructure is now old,” Mavhima said.

“Our centralised train control system which we had to monitor the movement of our trains has since collapsed.

“With this system, we could monitor the speed of our trains and if they were in the right track?

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“If not, those in the control centre would inform the operators to reduce speed and so forth. But this whole system collapsed. That’s the truth. 

“What we have now is a system that we originated, we can see where the train is, but we can’t communicate with the operator,” Mavhima said.

“We can’t determine what speed that train is moving at. Our workers are actually given letters, which say ‘go this way and when you reach that 20km peg slow down, from 40km an hour move now at 10km an hour because ahead rail is not straight and you could derail’. Some we give them this information but some forget and only recall when it’s too late.”

Railroad signals may be of the searchlight, colour light, position light, or colour position light types, each displaying a variety of aspects which inform the locomotive engineer of track conditions so that he or she may keep their train under control and able to stop short of any obstruction or dangerous condition.

Mavhima said the spectre of derailments had become high by the heavy rains which had washed away track ballast — crushed stone which form the track-bed upon which railroad ties are laid.

This had left the railway line no longer straight, needing the train operator to negotiate the line at a very slow speed, Mavhima said.

The NRZ board chairman bemoaned that State-owned firm had not had any meaningful injection of capital over the last 25 years, resulting in poor service delivery and failure to compete effectively.

NRZ currently owes its workers $99 million.

The parastatal’s fleet of 166 locomotives is down to 60 and whose age is between 33 and 50 years against a useful life of 25 years.

Out of a fleet of 283 passenger coaches for different classes, only 106 are in use and these are in a very poor state.

“We are looking for a waiver of diesel import for locomotives to make our services as attractive as possible. Need for sovereign guarantee of up to $400m, in the event that a straight loan is secured.  

“Everything is premised on the recapitalisation of NRZ and we cannot emphasize the need to shareholders (government) to take a proactive position in this endeavour,” Mavhima said.

Chairman of the Transport committee, Zanu PF Chegutu West legislator Dexter Nduna, said the parastatal needed to be innovative to raise revenue.

“ . . . you need to answer on what you got from 700 000 metric tonnes on grain importation. We need to know how much of that grain you transported.

“Of the 30 million raw chrome, how much of it is going to be transported by you?

“How much nickel are you transporting and how much are you generating?”

Mavhima said the board would return with the figures.

Last year, the volume of goods moved by NRZ tumbled to 2,8 million tonnes from 3,5 million in 2014.

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HARARE - Four family members who died in a well on a mission to drain water using a submersible pump, needlessly lost their lives, a residents group has said.

Cleopas Jokomera and his three sons, Cleopas Jr, Macliff and Tom died in Budiriro 4 from inhaling carbon monoxide as they were using a submersible pump inside the 15-metre deep well.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (Chra) said the loss of lives under horrifying circumstances was unnecessary.

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“The Budiriro incident is one of the many cases of needless loss of life arising out of the failure by the Harare City Council (HCC) to offer effective service delivery such as clean, safe and potable water,” Chra said in a statement yesterday.

“As a result of the failure by the council to provide safe water in residential areas, residents have resorted to digging wells and many cases of residents, especially children, dying in these wells have been recorded.

“On top of this, some of these wells are unprotected or are dug near toilets and this has exposed residents to diseases such as cholera and typhoid.”

This comes as two children are reported to have lost their lives with total suspected typhoid cases of 604, and the outbreak spreading beyond Mbare — the disease’s epicentre — to adjacent suburbs such as Budiriro and Glen View, where many have been sickened by contaminated water and food.

The Budiriro family members died in rapid succession while trying to rescue each other, according to police spokesperson Charity Charamba.

Once at the bottom of the new and dry concrete well, one after the other, they fell into a coma because of a lack of oxygen.

Panicked residents rushed to phone emergency services. A joint operation by the Sub-Aqua Unit and the Fire Brigade retrieved the bodies from the well. Humans can lapse into a coma and die within 40 seconds if they are in an environment with low oxygen levels.

There was confusion in terms of communications, chaos, and possible misinterpretation of the available information until command and control was established.

The deaths have been stressful for the deceased’s mother, resulting in her building up emotional pressure and anxiety.

Chra said the deaths highlighted the need to have an extra level of safety when digging wells and the HCC’s failure to provide safe drinking water. The residents group said the local authority must be held accountable for the deaths.

Council spokesperson Michael Chideme said they were still waiting for findings of the police probe.

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HARARE - Teachers have said the new curriculum cannot be practically implemented, with schools around the country struggling to introduce it, six weeks into the first term.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) said there is need to revise the controversial curriculum.

“As Zimta, we have requested a meeting with government so that they can get feedback from the teachers on what is possible and what is not possible in the implementation of the new curriculum,” Zimta CEO Sifiso Ndlovu said.

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Progressive Teachers Union (PTUZ) said the curriculum change must involve widespread consultation of all stakeholders, re-skilling of teachers, piloting the project and validating the process.

“The current thrust of the new curriculum is far from what the 1999 Nziramasanga Commission sought to achieve.

“We have been reduced to clerks. There is no time for lesson delivery. Classes are too big considering the prescribed teacher-per-pupil-ratio of the new curriculum and the assessment of the practical components is not feasible.

“ICT not practical in rural schools and even some urban schools, mismatch of teachers and subjects which will result in forced transfers and timetables are completely overcrowded.”

According to PTUZ, the new curriculum excludes and shuts the door for repeaters.

Government policy of teacher recruitment freeze is also working against the successful implementation of the new curriculum, the union said.

“Schools with hot sitting can’t function, teaching cycles are affecting sequence of school syllabus from five to six-day cycles. Physical Education (PE) as a compulsory subject has no resource, text books, no precedent, no equipment, no facilities and no reference texts.”

“The PTUZ believes consultation, dialogue and transparency are critical if this is to succeed.

“President Robert Mugabe must be reminded that his wonderful legacy on education is seriously under threat. There is no harm in going back to the drawing board. The earlier we do so the better,” PTUZ said.

Teachers say there is no literature on the new curriculum, so they are using old curriculum text books.

Education minister Lazarus Dokora in January this year introduced a new curriculum in the primary and secondary education system introducing the writing of dissertations by Form Four students and mandating them to go for industrial attachment.

It also did away with subjects such as geography, while bringing in mass displays.

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