HARARE - A losing Zanu PF candidate for ward four in Epworth was dragged to court yesterday after he allegedly mobilised a group of youths to disrupt a meeting convened by a local councillor.

Kudakwashe Damson, from Overspill, appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing charges of disrupting a public gathering by engaging in disorderly or riotous conduct intending to prevent the business which the meeting had been called for.

The 32-year-old contested against Murambidzi Tafireyi — who is also the Local Board chairman — for the right to represent Zanu PF in the Epworth by-elections held last year, but lost.

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Prosecutor Sabastian Mutizirwa alleged that on February 12 this year, Tafireyi convened a meeting at KumaTank in Stopover, Epworth.

The court heard that Tafireyi wanted to show party members the approved layout plan for residential stands that had been processed for their benefit.

It was alleged that Tafireyi also invited Zalerah Makari, Epworth’s MP, to the meeting.

During the meeting, Damson — acting in common purpose with other Zanu PF youths who are still at large — allegedly hatched a plan to disrupt the meeting.

He reportedly used a Mercedes Benz lorry to ferry accomplices to the venue.

And as Makari was addressing the gathering, Damson and crew began shouting at the legislator, accusing her of being corrupt.

They reportedly shouted that Tafireyi was a thief and went on to praise Damson for allocating larger residential stands to the community.

Damson and his accomplices reportedly sang “Povo yaramba zvemadhisinyongoro” and “Hatipihwe order nemasaskamu” and allegedly prevented smooth flow of business.

It was further alleged that Damson began distributing copies of a petition against distribution of 200-square metre stands and also incited the gathering to reject the regularisation exercise.

The court heard that Tafireyi had to immediately call-off the meeting after realising that Damson and his accomplices’ behaviour would generate into violence.

Tafireyi reported the case to the police the following day, leading to Damson’s arrest.

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HARARE - A French company — Razel BEC — has been granted a $300 million contract to rehabilitate the Kariba plunge pool and flood gates in order to stop the dam’s wall from collapsing.

The project — funded by the European Union, World Bank, African Development Bank, the Swedish government and the Zimbabwe River Authority (ZRA) — is set to begin in May, with three years to complete the plunge pool and eight to refurbish the floodgates.

Refurbishment of the plunge pool, where water from the flood gates falls into, will stop the dam wall from breaking, a development that threatens the lives of about three million people who live downstream of the Zambezi River.

ZRA chief executive Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the work will address the safety deficiencies of the plunge pool.

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“This will allow the dam to spill using all the six gates instead of the current . . . three.

“This alone will ensure that the dam is operated in a safe manner that will allow for the maximum amount for power generation to be to be stored as well as guaranteeing the safety of the millions of people inhabiting the downstream,” he said.

About 300 000 tons of rock will be excavated from the plunge pool to increase the surface area.

The idea of refurbishing the Kariba Dam wall and plunge pool was mooted in 2009 when Zimbabwe and Zambia council of ministers approved the mobilisation of funds for the project.

EU head of delegation to Zambia Alessandro Mariani said the Kariba Dam rehabilitation project was part of the Zambia-EU partnership in the energy sector aimed at improving access to clean, reliable and affordable energy.

“The technical preparations for the rehabilitation of the plunge pool, which is part of the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project, began in 2013 and with the signature of the works contract  we have reached an important milestone having successfully completed the tendering process which saw a strong competition amongst a selected number of highly qualified companies at the international level,” Mariani said.

“Reshaping the plunge pool will lead to an increase in efficiency and an improved capacity to dissipate the energy generated by the so called spilling events.

“The contractor, Razel BEC, who will be supervised by a ZRA project management team, is due to be on site in the coming weeks and months.”

The dam which was commissioned in 1960 provides both Zambia and Zimbabwe with water for electricity generation.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) has admitted that the country’s roads are now a “national embarrassment”, but argued they could not do much as a huge chunk of their revenue was being gobbled by heavy taxes.

The Administration refused to shoulder the blame for the country’s derelict roads, contending that local authorities were not prioritising repairs.

“In 2016, we collected $173 million and we disbursed $122 million and that includes commitment on the Plumtree to Mutare road,” its chief executive, Nancy Masiyiwa-Chamisa, told Parliament’s Transport committee on Monday.

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“Tied to the balance are obligations of repayment of the DBSA (Development Bank of Southern Africa) loan which is taking quite a huge chunk, we also have cost of revenue collection for our agencies, we also have administration costs,” she added.

“Since 2009, the tax that has been accessed from Zinara and Infralink adds up to about $113 million and if you look at our revenue of $195 million, that is a very significant figure . . . as of now we are sitting on a garnish of

$24 million for Zinara and $23 for Infralink, adding up to $47 million…we have been given a temporary relief by Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa,” Masiyiwa-Chamisa said.

“Should we pay the $47 million, it is almost an equivalent to annual allocation to road authorities,” she said.

Zinara board chairperson Albert Mugabe also said:  “What drives us as Zinara is a safe and trafficable network, if we look at our capital city, it is an embarrassment to ourselves that as the leaders involved in maintenance, the road maintenance has fallen in such a state of disrepair . . . but we also have to use what we have so that we get what we want.”

The Zinara bosses said the road infrastructure was in a state of disrepair because municipalities were not prioritising repairs.

The road agency noted that “more than $8 million was collected” from parking fees in Harare, yet the city’s roads remained in a bad state.

“In Harare, there are 7 000 parking bays being charged at $1 an hour,” Mugabe told the committee .

“If we make a modest assumption that each parking bay is occupied for five hours a day, that means Harare is collecting $35 000 a day. Multiply that by a week of five days and further multiply that by 12 months, Harare is collecting no less than $8 million from parking.

“It is our humble submission that parking should accrue to Zinara, we are amenable that parking collected in Harare must be used on Harare roads to effect that.

“This $8 million be deposited into the Harare City Council account for the city’s roads but that Zinara be allowed to audit the financial and technical use of that money.

“We find ourselves in this situation where the city’s roads are an absolute disaster because there is currently a lack of qualitative job being done.”

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HARARE - St. Giles Special School teacher Trust Mutekwa, better known as Teacher Muzavazi, has produced a mbira book as part of his attempts to popularise and preserve the cultural musical instrument.

The book titled Nyunga Mbira Handbook will be launched on March 11 at the Alliance Francaise.

“The handbook is on how to play the 15-key nyunga nyunga mbira that is being taught in schools and colleges,” Mutekwa told the Daily News.

He added that the book is a platform for him to share the experience he has attained over the years.

“It would be unfair for me not to share what I have learnt as far as mbira-playing is concerned. I have dwelt on four modes and how dozens of patterns and songs sprout from them.

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“I have also provided historical backgrounds of some of the traditional songs in the handbook. The students need to know where we took Nhemamsasa and Sarura Wako among others,” he said.

Mutekwa, who studied mbira at Morgenster Teachers College in 1998, believes he is a suitable author of a book on mbira.

“Apart from working with different musicians, teachers and researchers, I introduced and taught mbira in many schools around the country, including Tafara Primary School, David Livingstone, Borrowdale Primary School, Chipawo, Girls College, Dominican Convent and Gateway before settling at St. Giles Special School in Harare,” he said.

The experienced mbira teacher is proud of his achievements at St. Giles Special School.

“We have done a great deal of arts initiatives sprouting from this very mbira. We have performed at virtually every big festival in town and participated in competitions, concerts and commemorations.

“I work with students of diverse backgrounds. My everyday students are blind. I also work with students from around the world. Some of them learn over WhatsApp calls,” said Mutekwa.

HARARE - Afro-fusion artiste Sam Dondo performed new tracks off his forthcoming 11-track album at  City Sports Bar’s jam session gig on Monday night.

Dondo performed the title track Game Changer and another potential banger called Handinete Kushandira Mhuri off his second album titled Game Changer set to be launched in Harare on March 15.

The upcoming musician told the Daily News that he featured Cynthia Mare on the title track.

“The album was recorded at Viyali Studios and was mastered by Oskid. I chose Oskid because he knows the sound entertainment lovers want,” said Dondo.

Dondo launched his debut album Dyara Minamato last year in a blaze of glory. His album launch at Alexandra Sports Club on April 15 featured A-class local artistes who included Winky D, Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso, Suluman Chimbetu and Jah Prayzah.

The 31-year-old artiste featured Jah Prayzah and Chimbetu on the tracks Zviuya and Kanganwa Nhamo respectively.

At the City Sports Bar Monday Jam Session, Dondo shared the stage with Progress Chipfumo, Allan Chimbetu, Samazaza, Derick Majaivana, Howard Pinjisi, Talking Guitars, Too Open, Sipite, Juntal and Sarah Dee.

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HARARE - London-based musician and producer Charlie Kay, 27, has collaborated with Enock “Nox” Guni on a single titled Ndokuda Wakadaro.

The love single, which was released yesterday to coincide with Valentine’s Day, is a follow-up to his 2016 debut Vimbai which was the top hit for several months on the Zim Top Ten on the DStv channel, Zambezi Magic, for several months last year.

“I am happy with the collaboration I did with Nox and am sure this song will take my career to a new level. I am determined to build on the success generated by my first single Vimbai,” said Charlie Kay who relocated to the United Kingdom a decade ago.

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To popularise his music, Charlie Kay, who studied music production at the prestigious University of Westminster in London, has entered a distribution and marketing deal with a digital music service provider called Africori.

“Africori has access to a network of more than 650 digital retailers, mobile outlets and subscription services worldwide. Am very confident that the song will widely distributed,” he told the Daily News.

Ndokuda Wakadaro is accompanied by a chic video directed by the award winning Tatenda Jamera who has worked with top artistes such as Nicki Minaj, Tiwa Savage, Olly Murs and Alexandra Burke.

Charlie Kay relocated to the United Kingdom together with his family at the age of 17. He then studied music engineering and production at University of Westminster alongside the likes of Deauxpe, Al Shux, Josh Friend, ADP and Mike Skinner.

The multi-talented London-based Zimbabwean artiste, who is also a club DJ, owns a music label called Inkredible Muzik.

MUTARE - Blindness has not inhibited Johannes Lovemore Landini (42) from being one of Mutare’s finest weavers and craftsmen.

Landini has earned a great reputation for weaving quality products like chest of drawers, chairs, coffee tables and lounge suites using reeds.

Many have found it difficult to accept the fact that the gritty Landini only learnt weaving at the age of 30 when he completely became blind. He was a painter by profession then.

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“I was devastated because 30 years is a very difficult age to adapt. All my dreams blacked out. I had lost my independence in adulthood and was depending on others,” he said as he wove out a drawer of four-tier chest of drawers at his home in the high density suburb of Sakubva in Mutare.

Landini painfully recollects how his world was turned upside down.

“I was a painter in a construction company for a decade and I believed I was in perfect health. It started with a nagging headache. My eyes caught up the pain as the headache got progressively worse,” said Landini.

His once colourful world was quickly degenerated into a grey blur.

“I was referred to Parirenyatwa where I was told that I could only try an expensive operation in South Africa but still with a rare chance of healing as it could even worsen the condition. So I just continued with painkillers until I went completely blind,” the told the Daily News on Sunday.

Although he had to grope in the suddenly dark world he refused to throw his self-esteem down the gutter.

“I never entertained the possibility of being a beggar. I had been raised on a philosophy that says one has to earn a living no matter what,” he said.

When he completely lost his sight in 2002, his family approached the social welfare ministry which assisted him to secure a place for him at Jairos Jiri Centre where he did a two-year course in basket-weaving.

“The Independent African Church (Muchakata) assisted me with food and other necessities and while fees were being paid by the social welfare department,” Landini said.

Going to Jairos Jiri helped him to quickly adjust to life without sight.

“When I lost my sight it was very difficult but when I met others in college I got the support and encouragement that gave me the will to fight on and accept my condition. I also became a very good weaver thanks to the course I did there,” he said proudly.

Now Landini can weave around anything with a frame. In fact, he is so highly rated that some weavers with sight now come to learn from him.

“I feel that there is only one weaver who is superior to me in the whole city and that is Lovemore Dick. There are many weavers with sight who come to consult me when they get stuck here and there,” he said.

Sadly, Landini is fending for himself under very trying circumstances. He does not have an ideal working space and is heavily weighed down by bad debtors. The hard-working weaver is also routinely discriminated against by people who associate the blind with begging.

“I get weaving materials from Chibuwe which 160 kilometres from Mutare. I am often barred from getting into some buses because they assume that because I am blind I can’t pay the bus fare.

“They block me from entering the bus even when I tell them that I will pay my fare. Some understand but others do not want me in their buses,” Landini said, his voice shaking with frustration.

Landini, who travels to Chibuwe alone, also complained of being ripped off by some bus crews that agree to transport his weaving material.

“Some transporters wrongly assume that there is a lot of money in the crafts industry. They inflate fares when I transport back my weaving materials,” he said.

A determined fighter, Landini does not want any favours.

“What l really want from government or the city council is a working space where people can see me and which can also allow me to make and store up my crafts and materials,” Landini said.

Rebuild Sakubva director, Lucia Nkomo, who is trying her best to let the world know of the master blind craftsman, said government has a duty to help people like him support themselves.

“He is not looking for charity but an enabling environment. We hope he can at least get that from either the city council or government. We hope that this could help facilitate market access for people like him,” Nkomo said.

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HARARE - Do you know anyone who isn't at times stressed out these days?

The pace of modern life makes stress management a necessary skill for everyone. Many people juggle multiple responsibilities, work, home life, caregiving and relationships.

Learning to identify problems and implement solutions is the key to successful stress reduction.

Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger whether it’s real or imagined the body’s defenses kick into high gear in a rapid.

The stress response is the body’s way of protecting you. When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can save your life giving you extra strength to defend yourself, for example, or spurring you to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident.

The stress response also helps you rise to meet challenges. Stress is what keeps you on your toes during a presentation at work, sharpens your concentration when you’re attempting the game winning free throw, or drives you to study for an exam when you'd rather be watching TV.

But beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life.

Because of the widespread damage stress can cause, it's important to know your own limit. But just how much stress is "too much" differs from person to person. We're all different.

Some people are able to roll with the punches, while others seem to crumble in the face of far smaller obstacles or frustrations. Some people even seem to thrive on the excitement and challenge of a high-stress lifestyle.

The first step in successful stress relief is deciding to make stress management an ongoing goal, and to monitor your stress level.

Once you start monitoring your stress level, the next step is identifying your stress triggers. When or under what situations do you experience the most stress?

Some causes of stress are easy to identify, such as job pressures, relationship problems or financial difficulties. But daily hassles and demands, such as commuting, arranging child care or being overcommitted at work, also can contribute to your stress level.

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Stress Management: 8 tips for reducing stress

· Identify the sources of stress in your life.
· Learn healthier ways to cope with stress.
· Get moving.
· Connect to others.
· Practice the 4 A's.
· Make time for fun and relaxation.
· Maintain balance with a healthy lifestyle.

Your ability to tolerate stress depends on many factors, including the quality of your relationships, your general outlook on life, your emotional intelligence, and genetics.

Stress can effect on;

Your support network – A strong network of supportive friends and family members can be an enormous buffer against life’s stressors. On the flip side, the more lonely and isolated you are, the greater your vulnerability to stress.

Your sense of control – It may be easier to take stress in your stride if you have confidence in yourself and your ability to influence events and persevere through challenges. If you feel like things are out of your control, you’re likely to have less tolerance for stress.

Your attitude and outlook – Optimistic people are often more stress-hardy. They tend to embrace challenges, have a strong sense of humor, and accept that change is a part of life.

Your ability to deal with your emotions – You’re extremely vulnerable to stress if you don’t know how to calm and soothe yourself when you’re feeling sad, angry, or overwhelmed by a situation. The ability to bring your emotions into balance helps you bounce back from adversity and is a skill that can be learned at any age.

Your knowledge and preparation – The more you know about a stressful situation, including how long it will last and what to expect, the easier it is to cope. For example, if you go into surgery with a realistic picture of what to expect post-op, a painful recovery will be less traumatic than if you were expecting to bounce back immediately.

How to Manage Stress

· The first step in managing stress is to understand where these feeling are coming from.
· Keep a stress diary to identify the causes of short-term or frequent stress in your life. As you write down events, think about why this situation stresses you out.
· Next, list these stressors in order of their impact. Which affect your health and well-being most? And which affect your work and productivity?
· Then, consider using some of the approaches below to manage your stress. You'll likely be able to use a mix of strategies from each area.

Action-Oriented Approaches

· With action-oriented approaches, you take action to change the stressful situations.

Managing Your Time

· Your workload can cause stress, if you don't manage your time well. This can be a key source of stress for very many people.
· Take our time management quiz to identify where you can improve, and make sure that you use time management tools such as To-Do Lists , Action Programs , and  Urgent/Important Principle  to manage your priorities.
· Then use Job Analysis  to think about what's most important in your role, so that you can prioritize your work more effectively. This helps you reduce stress, because you get the greatest return from your efforts, and you minimize the time you spend on low-value activities.
· Also, avoid multitasking , only check email  at certain times, and don't use electronic devices for a while before going to bed, so that you use this time to "switch off" fully.

Other People

· People can be a significant source of stress. Our guide to Managing Conflicting Priorities  helps you juggle multiple requests, while our articles on Assertiveness ,Managing Your Boundaries , Dealing With Unreasonable Requests , and Saying "Yes" to the Person, but "No" to the Task  will help you ensure that your needs are respected.

If you think that someone close to you is having stress, you can make a difference by showing your love and support and helping that person get properly evaluated and treated by mental health professionals.

(Dr Farzana Naeem is a clinical psychologist based at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. She is contactable on freefari@yahoo.com).

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HARARE - For most tobacco users, tobacco cravings or urges to smoke can be powerful. But you're not at the mercy of these cravings.

When an urge to use tobacco strikes, remember that although it may be intense, it will probably pass within five to 10 minutes whether or not you smoke a cigarette or take a dip of chewing tobacco. Each time you resist a tobacco craving, you're one step closer to stopping tobacco use for good.

Most smokers today know that smoking is bad for their health and harmful to people around them. They know they should quit but they also know it's going to be hard. Fortunately, there's lots of help available.

Smoking tobacco is both a physical addiction and a psychological habit. The nicotine from cigarettes provides a temporary—and addictive—high. Eliminating that regular fix of nicotine will cause your body to experience physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

Because of nicotine’s “feel good” effect on the brain, you may also have become accustomed to smoking as a way of coping with stress, depression, anxiety, or even boredom.

At the same time, the act of smoking is ingrained as a daily ritual. It may be an automatic response for you to smoke a cigarette with your morning coffee, while taking a break from work or school, or during your commute home at the end of a long day.

Perhaps friends, family members, and colleagues smoke, and it has become part of the way you relate with them.

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To successfully quit smoking, you’ll need to address both the addiction and the habits and routines that go along with it. But it can be done.

With the right support and combination of strategies, any smoker can quit—even if you've tried and failed multiple times before.

We all know the health risks of smoking, but that doesn’t make it any easier to kick the habit. Whether you’re a teen smoker or a lifetime pack-a-day smoker, quitting can be really tough.

Your body will continue to withdraw from nicotine for a few days but that doesn’t mean you have to be miserable. The physical withdrawal is very slight – there is no pain – and it passes quickly.

What’s more, it’s what smokers suffer all their smoking lives. Non-smokers do not suffer it. You are a non-smoker and so you’ll soon be free of it forever.

Avoiding smoking triggers will help reduce the urge to smoke, but you can't avoid cravings entirely.

But cigarette cravings don't last long, so if you're tempted to light up, remember that the craving will pass and try to wait it out. It also helps to be prepared in advance. Having a plan to cope with cravings will help keep you from giving in.

Distract yourself. Do the dishes, turn on the TV, take a shower, or call a friend. The activity doesn't matter as long as it gets your mind off of smoking.

Remind yourself why you quit. Focus on your reasons for quitting, including the health benefits, improved appearance, money you're saving, and enhanced self-esteem.

Get out of a tempting situation. Where you are or what you're doing may be triggering the craving. If so, a change of scenery can make all the difference.

Reward yourself. Reinforce your victories. Whenever you triumph over a craving, give yourself a reward to keep yourself motivated.

Do not keep cigarettes on you or anywhere else in case of an emergency. If you do, it means you’re doubting your decision.

Non-smokers do not need cigarettes. You are already a non-smoker the moment you put out your final cigarette. In fact one of the many joys of being free is not having to worry about having cigarettes and a light on you, of ending that slavery.

Do not use any substitutes. They all make it more difficult to stop because they perpetuate the illusion that you’re making a sacrifice. Substitutes that contain nicotine, i.e. so-called Nicotine Replacement Therapy – patches, gums, nasal sprays and inhalators – are particularly unhelpful as they simply keep the addiction to nicotine alive. It’s like advising a heroin addict who’s smoking the drug off foil, to start injecting it instead.

Delay

If you feel like you're going to give in to your tobacco craving, tell yourself that you must first wait 10 more minutes — and then do something to distract yourself for that period of time. Try going to a public, smoke-free zone. These simple tricks may be enough to derail your tobacco craving.

Chew on it

Give your mouth something to do to fight a tobacco craving. Chew on sugarless gum or hard candy, or munch on raw carrots, celery, nuts or sunflower seeds.

So you're ready to kick the habit. That's great! Making that commitment is half the battle. It’s not going to be easy. But choosing the best way to quit is a good first step to ensure you stick with it.

(Dr Farzana Naeem is a clinical psychologist based at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. She is contactable on freefari@yahoo.com, Contact number 0772397362).

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HARARE - When Rute Mbangwa, 32, first ventured into music over a decade and half ago, jazz was largely associated with mature people but the teenage musician could not resist its laid back tunes.

Aged 16, Rute joined a group called Another Tribe which also included her cousin Rockford “Roki” Josphats, Ngoni Kambarami and Sebede. The teen group won the Afro Jazz category of a talent search competition called Spotlight in 2001. After the victory, fellow Another Tribe members gravitated towards urban grooves but Rute’s love for jazz deepened.

“To some extent, the genre chose me because when I started I had not received any formal tutorship with regards to Jazz but I just found myself composing that style of music; it just came naturally.

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“I have stuck to it because it works well in getting my sober messages across reaching out to the elderly and the youths,” Rute told the Daily News on Sunday.

She credits veteran Afro-Jazz star Tanga wekwaSando for nurturing her music talent.

“One of the Spotlight judges was Tanga wekwaSando who spotted me, groomed and worked with me until I came of age and established my own band called Jazz Sensation in 2004,” said the talented Rute.

With the seven-member Jazz Sensation, Rute released two albums If Only My Heart Had A Voice (2004) and Rute Goes Kumaginde (2008) as well as three singles Harare (2012), Kurikutonhora (2014) and Jesu (2016).

“My music is jazz fusion- a blend of Zimbabwean traditional sounds and some western music dominated by jazz elements,” said Rute who attained a national certificate at the Zimbabwe College of Music where she now works as a vocals teacher.

Though her passion for jazz has afforded her the chance to perform at top festivals in South Africa, Germany, Norway and Algeria where she shared the stage with top names like South Africans Jimmy Dhludhlu and Judith Sephuma as well as Nigerian star Kunle Ayo, Rute has been disheartened by the state of the music sector in Zimbabwe.

“We do not have proper production houses and distribution systems. Most of the things are backyard so to say. In addition, we lack corporate and government support.

“At a personal level I would say the local music sector is not treating me well. However, we just find ways to manoeuvre and build the sector in our small ways until it matches other music industries elsewhere,” she said, adding that her ingrained love for music keeps her going.

“Most of my life is music. I am a qualified music educator, music consultant and an adjudicator. I run my own catering company, so all that put together is what keeps me going.

“If I could change anything about my music career then it would have to be my immediate environment as it relates to music appreciation. I want people to understand the role of music in their life; it's different functions and how it can immensely help the economy when the industry is established and run right,” said Rute.

The affable singer, whose distinctive velvety voice has made a favourite in local jazz circles, regards music as a calling.

“It’s not a matter of just singing, looking beautiful on stage. It’s the need to do my part in making the world a better place through the content of my music

“The other reason I have held on is that I believe the musician's purpose is not just to make people dance and jump up and down but to also get people to soberly sit down and reflect on other fundamental areas of life. In other words, I want to spark debate on certain issues that will contribute to positive changes in as far as domestic violence, child marriages, environmental issues are concerned,” she said.

Rute is keen to see female musicians giving their male counterparts a run for their money.

“I am glad we have notable female performers coming up. I am inspired by a lot of musicians around the globe and appreciate all Zimbabwean female artistes. We need to get to a point where we perform at par with our male counterparts.

“I believe the female musicians are all good in their own way, though I encourage both male and female artistes to continually edify themselves in order to stay relevant and abreast with the rest of the global village.

“There is no harm in studying to enhance your area of expertise; talent alone is not enough,” she told the Daily News on Sunday.

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HARARE - Ever since he took over as the leader of Orchestra Dendera Kings after the death of his father in 2005, Suluman Chimbetu has generally come across as a dyed-in-the-wool supporter for the ruling Zanu PF party.

The 34-year old artiste has had a long association with Zanu PF thanks largely to the fact that his late father-music legend Simon Chimbetu-took part in the war of liberation against Ian Smith’s racist regime.

Due to his close ties with the ruling elite, Suluman was appointed brand ambassador of the first family’s Alpha Omega Dairy. He is also a regular performer at the ruling party’s events.

That is why Suluman’s latest album “Jamboree” has come like a bolt from the blue for many.

Unlike his previous albums “Ndomusiya Nani”, “Reverse Deal”, “Non-Stop”, “Syllabus” and “Gunship,” which largely stayed clear of politics, Suluman’s latest offering has several songs which take aim at the deteriorating political and economic situation in the country.

On the album, rather uncharacteristically, the 34-year-old music star doesn’t shy away from painting a graphic picture of the poverty and pain being experienced by the poor and the powerless.

One such song is “Tiringwe” in which Sulu calls for God’s intervention and guidance to rescue people from the harsh economic conditions prevailing in the country, adding that people are working tirelessly in a bid to make ends meet.

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But it is the track “Moses” which has sent tongues wagging. In the song Sulu sings about a person with a dangerous talisman (gona riri kutaramutsa vana vevamwe) causing untold suffering to the people of Zimbabwe. He pleads for a Moses to take people away from Pharoah’s cruelty and bondage.

Some of the lyrics on Moses go: “Moses rova gungwa netsvimbo hona Pharoah atipinza huranda.

Hatidi huranda/hurombe, kutanda botso tisina kurova mai.”

One doesn’t need to be a rocket scientist to identify the Pharoah whose policies has wreaked havoc in the lives of Zimbabweans.

Another politically potent track on the album is “Mhasuro” which hits out at those who perpetrate violence. It calls on those with power and influence to stop inflicting pain and violence on innocent civilians in a bid to win allegiance.

Part of the song goes: “Ndina mukoma enemhasuru anotemba hondo— padiki padiki anetsana nevamwe...Mhasuru dzinoda pfungwa (I have a strong and muscular brother who is always needlessly fighting other people because he is all brawn and no brain).

In the same song he also advises security agents never to underestimate the power of the people.

“Varipo vatete vane mangoromera/vakatsonga-tsonga asi vachicheka karate, ivavo hamusi kuvaziva. Zvikanzi monya/porisi/musoja hazvirevi hondo, asi zvinodawo pfungwa,” goes part of the song.

Given the factionalism currently ripping apart the ruling Zanu PF party, Sulu’s song “It’s not necessary” is very apt. No day passes without the so-called G-40 (reportedly fronted by Higher education minister Jonathan Moyo and Local government minister Saviour Kasukuwere and Team Lacoste, supposedly led by Vice President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, exchanging insults in all forms of media.

“It’s not necessary kutukana tukana pamberi pevana... pasocial media... kubatana pahuro pane vaenzi it’s not necessary... but together as one... peace for ever...we are all Africans,” sings Sulu in ““It’s not necessary.”

Suluman’s song, “Error,” suggests that most of the challenges facing the country are self-inflicted and can be resolved if they are addressed in the right way.

“Kuvhura bara kuvhara nemakarimwa, mavhunga ari imomo achakuvhiringa... uchachema nani...” goes part of the song.

He goes on to imply that head (Government) is now bigger than the body (people.) The song aptly captures the reality on the ground where the leaders are getting richer while ordinary people are getting poorer.

He sings: “Musoro wakura kudarika body and...ipapo paita error....”

It is not surprising that radio stations are not playing most of the politically candid tracks on Jamboree. Predictably, the most played song on the album “Alice Mbewe,” s song Sulu performed when a woman bearing the same name lost a child while merrymaking during a concert by the dendera artiste at Dugane Farm last year.

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HARARE - Sungura musician Peter “Young Igwe” Moyo has been deserted by long-serving manager Suko Dube and sound engineer Robert Gomba due to financial problems reportedly affecting the band’s operations.

Dube, who also doubled up as Young Igwe’s sound engineer, confirmed his departure from Utakataka Express but unwilling to shed more light on why he quit.

“Yes, I left. I just decided to take a rest,” was all the veteran manager, who worked with Young Igwe’s late father — Tongai Moyo-as manager and sound engineer, could say.

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But Gomba, who was drafted into the band as sound engineer after Dube’s departure, was less charitable. He blamed Utakataka Express’ financial woes on Young Igwe.

“I worked for two weeks as a sound engineer but the group failed to pay me. The financial situation was so bad that quitting was the only reasonable option left to me.

“The band is making money but the problem is Peter’s archaic approach to business,” said Gomba, who is brother to Orchestra Mberikwazvo drummer Obert.

But a furious Young Igwe accused Gomba of gross misrepresentation.

“Gomba is lying. He only came in as an assistant engineer because I have my own sound engineer.

“He is lying; he is just after tarnishing my name, I do not owe anyone. If he continues spreading falsehoods about the band, I will definitely sue him,” said the Utakataka Express boss.

Young Igwe added that Dube quit Utakataka Express to concentrate on his business interests.

“Dube bid farewell to the group. I knew well in advance that he was going to quit at some point that is why I asked him to co-manage Utakataka Express with Shiga Shiga.

“There is no bad blood between Dube and me. That’s the plain truth,” he said.

Late last year, Dube raised the red flag over Utakataka Express’ finances.

“It is hard to maintain Utakataka Express in its current state. The economy is tough for every individual and company.

“Utakataka Express is no exception,” Dube told the Daily News then soon after the group had lost guitarist Willard “Willo” Loti.

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HARARE - Mazda BT-50 is built tough to take on any task, and do it in style. It delivers grunt and refined comfort with every drive.

Fill it with gear, pull a load or take it off road. As a workhorse or a weekend warrior, it’s always up to the challenge.

The vehicle’s “Kodo design” became an instant hit in Zimbabwe in 2012 with its SUV-like styling and features taking the leisure market by storm.

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Now a mild but carefully focused facelift has pushed the BT-50 even further away from its workhorse roots with a new front treatment, redesigned side steps and tail-light clusters, and 17 inch alloys. There’s also an automatic transmission option for the 2,2 litre doublecab for the first time.

The cabin has been updated with a raft of new features, including Bluetooth connectivity, a multifunction steering wheel and, as you move up the model ladder, a rear-view camera, an auto-dimming mirror and power adjustment for the driver’s seat.

Under the skin, the new BT-50 shares its underpinnings with the Ford Ranger. However, where the Ranger got a thorough mid-life refresh including revised fuel system, turbocharger, and suspension, the Mazda did not, sticking with its pre-update specification.

Mazda also includes a 7,8 inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation, including Hema off-road maps but the head-unit installed looks more like something from the aftermarket and the screen easily washes out in summer sunshine making it hard to use.

The BT-50’s system isn’t the same as that used in Mazda’s passenger car range which tends to rank highly for ease of use.

Interior space is hardly a problem though, with broad dimensions for both front and rear seats and enough room across the rear bench to pile in three adults in a seat that is neither too hard nor too upright and hides a pair of handy storage bins beneath it.

The added tough-guy appeal of the Boss Sports accessory kit deserves a mention too, with the alloy bull bar, rear sports bar, alloy wheels, driving lights and hard cargo lid coming as part of a dress-up package. That’s a decent fist-full of change, though still competitive alongside individual aftermarket accessories and covered by Mazda’s warranty.

Somewhat crucially for a vehicle that could see long hours spent behind the wheel the BT-50 is surprisingly decent in terms of refinement. Particularly at idle and cruising speeds, when there’s little shake-through from the engine to the cabin.

There’s still a few occasions where the engine can get raucous — loaded up with a decent payload and punted about at part throttle seems to generate the worst of it — but then the five-cylinder engine is more polite than most of its four-cylinder competitors, even putting its own four-cylinder versions (available in 4x2 variants) to shame.

With load carrying in mind, and a payload of 1 095kg, ride in the BT-50 XTR is expectedly firm when unladen. Add some ballast to the tray, be it in the form of tools, landscape materials, or dirt bikes and the BT-50 rides out bumps and dips free bucking and shuddering.

Mazda BT-50’s 2,2 litre turbodiesel four is rated, as before, for 110kW at 3700rpm and 375Nm, driving the rear wheels via a six-speed manual ‘box and locking rear differential.

The 2,2 SLE adds to that 17 inch rims, leather seats, his-and-hers auto aircon, auto headlights and wipers, an auto-dimming mirror, a power-adjusted driver’s seat with electric lumbar support adjustment, rear parking sensors with a reversing camera and a six-speed automatic transmission.

The flagship 3,2-litre turbodiesel SLE 4x4 has 147kW at 3000rpm and 470Nm on tap and, in addition to all-wheel drive, comes with either manual or auto transmission, load adaptive control, trailer sway mitigation, roll-over mitigation, hill hold and hill descent control.

Until next week, drive safely!

* For feedback get in touch on +263772214432 or kachemberej@dailynews.co.zw

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HARARE - The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) is set to review its commercial banking operations to concentrate more on development projects, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa has said.

The Treasury chief last week said IDBZ has so far received several consultancy jobs from government to plug an anticipated revenue loss.

“Going forward, the IDBZ will be more involved in development projects, and less in commercial banking . . . Yes, this is where most of their revenue is coming from so they have since received various projects to help generate revenue.

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“They have the Tokwe-Mukorsi project, they are lead adviser on the Beitbridge-Chirundu highway project, and the Beitbridge Border Post project. All these projects are being undertaken in this year’s first half and we expect delivery,” Chinamasa said.

Last year, IDBZ received $20,3 million from government for completion of outstanding works at the Tokwe-Mukorsi Dam. The money was in addition $75 million Treasury Bills (TBs) availed by the government to clear outstanding arrears.

From the proceeds of the TBs raised earlier in 2016, the IDBZ then disbursed $18,4 million the dam’s contractor’s local bank account in full payment of all the arrears and approved payment certificates.

Meanwhile, the bank last year raised about $22 million from infrastructure bonds floated to the investing public to fund various projects under preparation.

The bonds — aimed at providing capital for the upgrading of Zimbabwe’s power generation plants and housing facilities —come after the bank issued its maiden $5 million housing bond in 2015 through private placement and an additional $15 million bond during this second half of 2016.

IDBZ also received the thumbs up from treasury to issue bonds worth over $100 million in the next five years.

IDBZ’s $5 million bond issued in 2015 was fully subscribed, and has a five-year tenor carrying a fixed coupon of 9,5 percent per annum.

Proceeds of this bond are financing development of two housing projects; New Marimba Park in Harare and Clipsham Views in Masvingo, were servicing is in progress.

The projects collectively deliver 1 042 serviced residential stands and the instrument has had one coupon payment settled in June with the bank presently developing 338 high to medium density residential stands under its New Marimba housing project.

The project is part of IDBZ’s contribution towards closing the country’s over 1,5 million housing backlog. IDBZ recently came up with a draft housing policy to its guide sector interventions aimed at easing housing shortage in the next two years.

The draft policy outlines plans to acquire land for housing development and funding mechanisms for the delivery of affordable units.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe has banned the manufacture and importation of incandescent light bulbs in an effort to save electricity and reduce power outages.

The country needs about 2 200MW of power, but is only able to generate about half of its power requirements from domestic sources.

According Statutory Instrument 21 of 2017 published last week, any person found with the bulbs after April 28 this year shall be found guilty of an offence and liable to a fine or face a six month jail term.

“No person shall import, manufacture, distribute or sell lighting products which do not meet the minimum energy performance standards (MEPs) as defined in the regulations,” the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) said.

“Lighting products which do not meet the MEPs will be seized pending an investigation and may be disposed of,” the energy regulator added.

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MEPs is a specification of performance requirements for electrical devices such stoves, geysers, dishwashers, washing machines and pool pumps

The banned products are incandescent light bulbs with the exception of special incandescent lighting products such as medical and laboratory equipment, T10 AND T12 halo phosphate florescent lamps and magnet ballasts as well as florescent lamps with a colour rendering index less than 80.

While many people preferred the warmer glow given by the incandescent bulbs, 95 percent of the energy that goes into them gets turned into heat rather than light.

As a result, the lights which have been the standard lighting method in the world for more than a century after taking over from tallow candles are now branded environmentally-unfriendly.

But their replacements — LED and fluorescent bulbs — while far more energy-efficient have proved unpopular because they give off a cold, unnatural light compared to their predecessors.

Zera said replacing five million incandescent light bulbs with modern lighting alternatives will save the country, at any given time, over 300MW of electricity.

Energy savers are 80 percent efficient and last 10 times longer than ordinary filament bulbs as they have 10 000 burning hours.

They also provide the same brightness with six times less wattage and last five more years when being used by consumers

In 2011, the country’s power utility, Zesa, secured $12 million and rolled out a free bulb exchange programme that saw thousands of households receiving CFL bulbs in exchange for the filament bulbs.

However, after the exercise Zimbabweans continued using the conventional bulbs as they are cheaper than the Zera recommended varieties.

Many developed nations have banned the use of energy inefficient filament bulbs and Zimbabwe embarked on the programme in order to reduce power consumption as the country relies on power imports because it cannot produce adequate supplies of its own.

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HARARE - Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa has remained tight-lipped on the country’s plans to repay its $1,8 billion arrears to multilateral lenders.

This was after the debt-ridden nation failed to meet the June 30, 2016 deadline to repay its debts to preferred creditors — the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the

African Development Bank (AfDB).

Chinamasa, however, remains hopeful that Zimbabwe would be able to secure money soon and settle its international obligations.

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“This is definitely in progress since we first announced it, however, I have said we will not been announcing progress through the press … just know it is work in progress. We had a bad situation last year where information we put out there ended up being used against us. So for now, just know that it is all work in progress,” he said.

This comes as Zimbabwe, which recently paid off its IMF $124 million arrears through its special drawing rights with the Bretton Woods institution, proposed an arrears repayment plan at the IMF/WB annual meetings in Lima, Peru in 2015.

A consensus was reached with creditors on a repayment strategy which entailed the clearance of the country’s $1,8 billion arrears by May 30, 2016.

The date was later on pushed to June 30, but the Treasury chief still failed to meet the deadline.

Presently, multilateral financial institutions are barred by law from extending loans to Zimbabwe because of its outstanding debts and clearance of the arrears is anticipated to pave way for lines of new capital.

The World Bank recently said it was ready to work with Zimbabwe once it settles its arrears.

“The Zimbabwe Turnaround Eligibility Assessment Note that was leaked to some outlets is an unofficial draft document that has not been approved by the Bank,” said the multilateral lender in a statement.

“The World Bank will only resume direct lending to Zimbabwe when the issue of arrears is resolved. This approach is standard to all international financial institutions. Upon arrears clearance, Zimbabwe would be eligible as a borrowing member of the Bank to a broad range of financing instruments.”

This comes amid reports that Lazard, which had initially committed to assist Zimbabwe clear its arrears, is no longer providing a bailout package but will provide financial advice following strong resistance in Washington DC.

Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Annabel Goldie said Zimbabwe needs more reforms before it can fully engage with the United Kingdom.

“On the general front, in relation to Zimbabwe’s indebtedness to the World Bank, the UK is party to that organisation and we have made it clear that the indebtedness must be cleared,” said Goldie.

“We have made it clear that there has to be progress on the very type of reforms to which I alluded to earlier.

“We are endeavouring to support the people of Zimbabwe, who are vulnerable and in a fragile condition.”

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HARARE - From the chaotic land reform programme of 2000 right to the bedlam caused by the Indigenisation law and now the schools new curriculum confusion — the Zanu PF government has proved beyond measure to be past-masters of doing the unthinkable.

Under President Robert Mugabe’s rule, disorder has been the order of the day as half-thought policies are shovelled down our throats with no proper consideration of their consequences.

Indeed, Mugabe has shown that he is a chaotic leader whose sole persuasion is power retention, never mind the disaster spawned by his populist and self-serving policies.

While land reform was long overdue and essentially sought to correct historical imbalances on land occupation — it was, however, implemented in a hurried and chaotic manner which has no doubt led to a sharp decline in agricultural productivity as well as wanton destruction of property by land invaders.

Today, the country — at one time the bread-basket of southern Africa — has become a basket case with its citizens perennially faced with hunger.

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Failing to learn from the land reform disaster, Mugabe rail-roaded yet another populist policy in 2008 — the Indigenisation Act — which required that investors cede 51 percent of their stake to locals and the results were an unprecedented investor flight and the subsequent death of local industry and company closures as foreign-owned companies looked elsewhere safe to put their money.

It should be noted that the two policies, controversial as they are, are essential if we are to redistribute wealth and try to empower locals who have been historically disempowered even on the land of their forefathers, but it is always the manner these noble policies are pursued by Zanu PF that confirms violence and chaos are the hallmark of Mugabe’s rule.

Now coming to the hot potato surrounding the new curriculum in schools, government does not seem to have done its homework properly and is now proving its propensity to cause unnecessary pandemonium in the country.

While the new curriculum is progressive as it responds to a constantly changing world, consultation was limited and some of its requirements are untenable because most Zimbabweans are poor. Worse still, in rural areas, parents cannot afford to bankroll all their children’s needs.

The Education ministry must have consulted comprehensively — far and wide — and implemented the new curriculum gradually, otherwise the commendable efforts contained in the Nziramasanga Commission report of 1999 will all be in vain.

HARARE - A lion that was supposed to have been sedated caused chaos in the resort town of Kariba last week, after it unexpectedly woke up and charged at curious onlookers who had gathered to watch wildlife experts treating its wounds.

More than 500 residents of Nyamhunga Township, who had gathered to witness the rare public treatment of the big cat, were left traumatised and terror-stricken when the beast charged at them despite seemingly having been sedated effectively moments earlier.

Relieved local residents who spoke to the Daily News yesterday thanked their creator for the ensuing “miracle” which saw no-one getting injured during the subsequent commotion.

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But in a statement, the Kariba Animal Welfare Fund Trust (KAWFT) criticised residents for having treated the lion’s sedation and treatment like it was entertainment.

“This was very poor behaviour by most of the more than 500 Nyamhunga residents that descended into an unpredictable and potentially-explosive situation with the wounded lion,” it said.

This was after the curious residents had descended around the area where the lion was, within minutes of its sedation, with some of them climbing onto vehicles to get a better view of the spectacle.

“The drug had not yet taken full effect and the sheer look of horror and stress on his face when he heard the loud noises and saw hundreds and hundreds of people descending towards him and us were heartbreaking and nerve-wrecking to say the least.

“This put every single person in enormous danger, along with the possible situation of having to shoot the very animal we were all trying to save.

“The residents paid no attention to Parks who were trying desperately to keep them away from danger and to keep those of us safe that were working on a semi-sedated and highly-dangerous wounded lion,” KAWFT said further in its statement.

It added that authorities would in future seek assistance from ZRP Support Unit and other law enforcement agents for help in controlling crowds.

KAWFT was formed in July 2010, by a group of Kariba residents, for the purpose of treating and helping wildlife, and enabling a swift response to any animal welfare emergency in the area.

Prior to this, and whenever there was an emergency, Kariba residents would raise funds to pay for a veterinary officer to come from Harare to dart and treat wounded animals.

Meanwhile, a school teacher, along with three teenagers, will on April 3 walk for 1 000km to raise funds for wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe.

Kathy Trevenen O’Hara will be joined, in some parts of the walk, by 16-year-old Eric Harrison, 15-year-old Dylan Hartell and 13-year-old Tinashe Maguta.

“It is obvious to anyone paying enough attention that wildlife conservation and anti-poaching is in continuous serious need of support,” O’Hara said in her appeal for support.

“I will be walking through Juliasdale to Mutare, through the beautiful Chimanimani, down to Chipinge, onto Chiredzi, and finally to Gonarezhou National Park, arriving there on April 30,” she said.

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HARARE - In a sensational claim that is set to rip the troubled Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) further apart, former State Security minister and one of the founders of the fledgling party, Didymus Mutasa, has accused former Vice President Joice Mujuru of working with the country’s dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).

Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, while responding to claims by the Mujuru camp that he and the other ZPF elder, Rugare Gumbo, were working with intelligence operatives to derail her, Mutasa — who superintended over the CIO for a long time while still in government — counter-claimed that it was in fact the former VP who was allegedly collaborating with spooks.

He also said that contrary to the belief by many members of the public, Mujuru was still being “guarded and protected” by intelligence operatives, more than two years after she was hounded out of the ruling Zanu PF and subsequently fired from the government by President Robert Mugabe.

However, and according to the law, Mujuru is entitled to all the benefits accorded to sitting vice presidents — including pensions and holiday allowances, although there is no specific mention of security.

“I have not talked to any official in Zanu PF other than the president. How could we be infiltrated as we stand? We are surprised that that accusation (about working with Zanu PF and the CIO) comes from her because she is the one who is working with the CIO,” Mutasa told the Daily News in the exclusive interview.

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“She is surrounded by the CIO, from her driver to her back people. The people who support her are people that I know very well. I even know them by name, so it is surprising to me that she would make such accusations.

“That accusation against Gumbo and myself . . . is what she is doing, and she thinks that is what we are also doing. If I was (working with the CIO) you would be the first to know,” the miffed Mutasa added.

But ZPF spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire scoffed at his claims, accusing Mutasa and other fired officials of working against progressive ideas.

“I used to think he is old, but I think he has gone beyond what old signifies. He was part of us and being the former CIO minister, it should have been his duty to fish out these elements for the good of the party.

“That he didn’t, and those CIO elements are still in the party as he claims, shows two things. Either that Mutasa is deliberately lying in a futile attempt to alienate supporters from the party, or that those elements were planted by him and were doing work for him,” Mawarire fumed.

“At first they didn’t want us to hold the 10 provincial rallies we did last year, and they didn’t want the party to elect a substantive leadership at the convention. They also didn’t want the party to enter into a coalition with other democratic forces.

“In fact, they didn’t want anything good for the party and worked so hard just to make sure they remained in control of every activity and everybody in the party.

“Their idea of a party was a cultist organisation where Didymus Mutasa was the deity and Rugare Gumbo his prophet,” Mawarire added.

According to the Constitution, with regards to the remuneration and perks of the executive, “A person who has ceased to be president or vice president is entitled to receive a pension equivalent to the salary of a sitting president or vice president, as the case may be, and such allowances and other benefits as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament”.

The pensions and allowances are paid from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Mutasa and other ZPF party bigwigs have been feuding with Mujuru since their stunning public fall-out last week, which left the one-year-old movement on the brink.

This was after Mujuru that 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,” Mujuru  said, justifying her decision to axe the bigwigs.

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 also similarly and summarily expelled Mujuru from ZPF.

Mutasa and Gumbo have since taken control of the party’s affairs after they claimed that they were the owners of the fledgling opposition party and its image rights.

Apart from her bickering with Mutasa and the other senior officials, Mujuru was also dealt a body blow when she suffered mass desertions, including receiving resignations from some of her longtime aides such as Sylvester Nguni, Ray Kaukonde and retired brigadier-general Aggripa Mutambara.

Mutasa also moved to blame Mujuru yesterday for allegedly causing mayhem in ZPF, further narrating how they, during their time together in Zanu PF, had apparently plotted how to catapult her to power.

“We started talking about this thing (for Joice to lead) when we were still in Zanu PF.  Simon Khaya Moyo, Webster Shamu, Gumbo and myself used to go to her office (for this),” Mutasa told the Daily News.

“Sometimes we would go to the meetings together, sometimes we would go separately. But she knew that this could come about and as far as we were concerned we didn’t see the reason why she took such a long time to make up her mind and become our leader,” he added.

Mutasa said the three of them (him, Mujuru and Gumbo) had initially agreed that they would have equal power “but someone whispered in her ears the wrong words”, leading to the current ruckus.

“The question about whether we can go back and talk to her can best be answered by Mai Mujuru. It’s three people; two on one side and the other one on her side alone.

“We had agreed in principle that we would work together as equals, and that if there were any disagreements between us, we would stop and go and think, and then resume discussions the following time. But we had never had such an issue or position,” Mutasa said ruefully.

Despite the cracks in ZPF, Mujuru, who has been working behind the scenes with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and other smaller parties towards the formation of the planned grand opposition coalition, remains confident of participating in the 2018 national polls.

And although Tsvangirai was said to be disappointed with the turmoil engulfing ZPF, the former prime minister in the government of national unity has said that Mujuru has 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 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.

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MUTARE - MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday said projected good harvests will undermine President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF’s capacity to abuse poor rural voters by politicising food aid.

Speaking to journalists after meeting church leaders, civic leaders and businesspeople here, the indefatigable opposition leader said while there was fear of intimidation, the ability of rural farmers to be self-sustaining would afford them a degree of independence to choose political leaders of their choice.

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“There is fear among the people, especially the abuse of traditional leaders by Zanu PF whether it is food distribution, discriminatory food distribution and the role of traditional leaders in targeting MDC supporters . . .

“We also were witness to the fact that this year is different because there is a very substantial crop that is healthy, so potential for food subsidies is minimal and people are happy that the rains have provided them with an opportunity for self-sustenance.

“If people have been exploited when there is a drought situation, surely if there is no drought situation there will not be opportunity to exploit the poor in the rural areas. But even where there is drought, government must be able to provide aid to everyone without bias or discrimination,” Tsvangirai said.

With violence being targeted, especially at traditional leaders who have expressed interest in working with his party, the MDC leader took a stance of barring media coverage of the consultations to protect the identity of the participants.

He said intimidation remains a big area of concern across the country, describing it as a “very big aspect” going into the 2018 elections.

In this light, Tsvangirai said, people expressed concern at the neutrality of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and involvement of the security establishment in tilting the vote in favour of Zanu PF.

“Fundamentally, people are concerned about past practices and that we need a free fair and credible electoral process.

“There were others who were expressing concern about the endorsement that sometimes comes from Sadc, AU when the situation is not free and fair so the question of monitoring the election becomes very critical. We are, however, assured that the United Nations is involved through the support of the purchase of biometric equipment, I’m sure they are going to spend over $200 million,” the MDC leader said.

He also said people were generally worried about “governance issues that have led to the collapse of the socio-economic situation in the country”.

“We are encouraging people to register, go and vote and defend your vote,” Tsvangirai said.

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