HARARE - Our football has over the last few years witnessed some highs and lows and the biggest casualties of this all has been the fans.

Whether you like or disagree with the way he conducts his business, there is no denying that the coming in of Philip Chiyangwa surely has brought golden smiles on the faces of football-loving millions of Zimbabweans.

Qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) that was held this year in Gabon was surely the pinnacle of our football in a good 11 years.

We always live life for the future not history.

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Right now, every soccer fan in the country is looking forward to seeing the Warriors in Cameroon come 2019.

Kalisto Pasuwa had his dance with the Warriors and qualified for Afcon 2017 — even though the team did not perform to the expectations of many — at least he alongside Sunday Chidzambwa and Charles Mhlauri remain the only coaches to have taken the country to an Afcon tourney and will be judged accordingly.

Now it is Norman Mapeza’s turn to make his mark as coach.

As the Warriors troop in camp tomorrow to begin preparations to fight for their ticket to Cameroon — the surprise exclusion of captain Willard Katsande, Cuthbert Malajila, Nyasha Mushekwi and Matthew Rusike has dominated the news.

The quartet was accused of plotting the Warriors boycott of the send-off ceremony that was set to be graced by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa shortly before the team left for Gabon.

Chiyangwa is on record saying that the ring leaders of the boycott would be reprimanded.

Rusike, on Friday, posted a near abstruse message on Twitter saying, “Every decision along the way was a group decision and EVERYONE had a voice. But the ones who communicated the message got their heads chopped...

“Good Luck to the current crop called for national team. Norman is a great coach that can take us far with his experience.. Once a warrior Always a Warrior.”

We all know what he meant by that!

However, Warriors interim team manager Wellington Mpandare shockingly chose to embarrass himself as he tried to justify the quartet’s exclusion from Mapeza’s squad.

Mpandare is a poor ‘‘janitor’’ honestly — he actually exposed himself cruelly — he should know what to and what not to say, because football fans are not dimwits.

Why these good players were left out is an open secret, but for the sake of sanity we shall accept that probably they were dropped for “football reasons”.

Mushekwi is in red-hot form right now in the Chinese-second tier with an impressive eight goals in nine matches — yet Mpandare claimed he doesn’t know what Mushekwi is doing in China — horse manure!

Which football person under the sun doesn’t know the kind of revolution the Chinese football has brought about? Probably Mpandare alone!!

Hulk, Ramirez, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Axel Witsel, Oscar, Graziano Pelle, Obafemi Martins, Demba Ba and Carlos Tevez are some of the global stars playing their football in China at the moment.

Who knows, probably they will be joined by Wayne Rooney and Yaya Toure soon. 

In case Mpandare hasn’t noticed — Tendai Ndoro and Evans Rusike (good players on their day) — the players who might lead the line for the Warriors against Liberia have scored a paltry two goals each since the start of the year.

Just in case Mpandare didn’t notice, Malajila helped Bidvest Wits to their maiden title while Rusike is playing some of his best football in Tunisia at Club Africain — in a league far much stronger and better than the Absa Premiership by the way.

Yet Mpandare — with his clear selective application of knowledge — gave feeble excuses that the striker had a “poor” performance at Afcon.

Those who follow the Absa Premiership religiously will agree that Katsande is probably the best defensive midfielder in the Absa Premiership and the best we have in the position again.

The world over coaches are custodians of their decisions because they will ultimately be judged by their results.

At Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane was been chastised for leaving out Colombian ace James Rodriguez in his starting XI — with all that quality — it was his decision ultimately.

Die hard Manchester United fans will probably come out in the open and declare that Marouane Fellaini is the least among their favourite players but still Jose Mourinho stuck with him.

Fans, world over, have their own expectations and unfortunately, they don’t always tally with every coach’s decisions.

Mapeza, as a just any other coach has his own philosophy and looks for certain qualities in his players.

Probably we might just have to swallow the bitter pill and say he did the same.

Even if he had decided to recall the likes of Peter Ndlovu, Joel Luphahla or Benjani Mwaruwari out of retirement or any other player for that matter — that again would have been entirely his decision and we would have had to accept it just like we have accepted the inclusion of Simon Shoko ahead of Katsande.

Mapeza chose players that fit into his style of play and if had he been there when the squad was announced, he probably might have given the nation a better explanation on why he left out Mushekwi, Rusike, Malajila and Katsande.

On form and quality, all four of them will easily walk into any Warriors squad.

Whatever the result that Zimbabwe will post against Liberia — the jury will be all out on Mapeza and his philosophy not Mpandare and his foolish explanations!!

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HARARE - Just three months ago Sydney Linyama was on the verge of quitting football after being shown the exit door by Harare giants Dynamos.

With his reputation in tatters after he had been labelled a “bad boy”, the Glamour Boys decided against renewing his contract.

With DeMbare coaches and officials telling anyone who cared to listen that Linyama was so ill-disciplined it became difficult for the 26-year-old to find a new club.

For at least a fortnight, Linyama stayed at home thinking to totally give up on the game.

However, one day after a strong discussion with his wife Georgina Chitembo, Linyama finally rediscovered his passion for the game again and decided to find a new club.

Georgina is a footballer as well with Women’s Super League side Correctional Queens formerly Flame Lily.

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However, it was not going to be an easy task to find a new team since his reputation was already soiled.

“My wife encouraged me a lot during those trying times, she stood by me in every aspect and I want to thank her for the love she showed me,” Linyama tells the Daily News on Sunday.

“That’s when I went to try my luck at CAPS United but I was told that they had already registered their squad due to the Champions League deadline.

“I then went to Triangle but again nothing materialised. They told me that they would call but up to now I’m yet to receive a call from them. It was a very frustrating period.”

Linyama admits that there were times he had off field problems which forced him to go AWOL at times but he is not pleased with the way he was chucked out at DeMbare.

“I was really hurt when I learnt that I was no longer needed at Dynamos. What hurts me a lot is that I only came to know of the club’s decision through the press,” Linyama recalls.

“No one at the club really cared to inform me beforehand about the decision until I read in the newspapers that I had been off-loaded.”

Linyama added: “I was labelled a bad person without people getting the side of my story. Of course there were times when I could not attend training sessions but it was not by design. A lot happened in my life some of which I could not share with you right now.

“Maybe when the right time comes, I would be able to let you know but what I can say for now is to thank God because everything seems to have worked out fine in the end.”

After rejection by CAPS and Triangle, Linyama then called Rhinos coach Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa and begged him for a trial.

The legendary former Warriors midfielder agreed to look at the defender after only he had given him a strong word regarding discipline.

“I only trained with Rhinos for one day and the next day they agreed to give me a contract,” Linyama says.

This was the second chance the defender was looking for and he was not going to let it slip away having gone through the pain of rejection.

“It’s an opportunity I have grabbed by both hands. I sat down and told myself that this is my only way to redeem myself.

“I told myself that I needed to focus more on my career and what happened at Dynamos was the biggest lesson in my life.”

Since the start of the season, Linyama has been a permanent feature at the heart of the Chauya Chipembere defence where he has formed a solid partnership with captain Bruce Homora.

The army side currently sit in second place on the log with 20 points just two behind leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars.

Mutizwa was surprised by the way Linyama has behaved since joining the army side.

“You cannot doubt his (Linyama) qualities and we are very happy he is part of us. Ever since he joined us he has been outstanding,” Mutizwa says.

“We discussed with him our expectations when he came and up until now we have never had any disciplinary problems with him. I’m actually surprised that people were saying he is a bad boy.”

And as fate would have it, Linyama and teammate Jameson Mukombwe were named in the 25-man squad released by Warriors interim coach Norman Mapeza last week for next month’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Liberia at home.

“For me to be called to the national team is an honour, no doubt about that, I never saw it coming,” Linyama says.

“I’m very happy, this is the first time that I have been called to the national team and I want to make the best out of it. It’s not every time that you get such opportunities like this.”

Linyama credited his newly-found attitude towards the sport as the major reason behind his transformation.

“I feel like I’m more understanding now than ever. I think my career is now on the right track and my attitude has also changed. I think if I can keep on focusing going forward I might go and play outside the country.”

Georgina is glad she persevered and kept urging her husband to revive his career after the turmoil he went through since his departure from Dynamos.

“I’m really happy for him, it was difficult for all of us,” Chitembo says.

“I even pushed him to the extent that we would do our morning training together.

“I’m glad Rhinos gave him a second chance and they told assured me that my husband has joined a military team and they will make sure he repents.”

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HARARE - She takes no prisoners and is unapologetic about her determination to conquer the male-dominated deejaying world.

So determined is Larissa “DJ Lyaness” Makahamadze to make her mark in this male domain that she quit a stable job as an administrator to pursue her deejaying passion.

“It is my personality. I consider myself a leader. I am very confident and assertive and I have always wanted to challenge men as a leader.

“I have always wanted to break the notion that men are better than women. I did not only want to see change but like Mahatma Gandhi said, be the change that you want to see,” Lyaness told the Daily News on Sunday.

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Her determination to undo the domination of men extends beyond the arts as demonstrated by the fact that she is a key member of the Sally Women’s Institute, a non-governmental organisation that empowers young women with leadership skills and advocates for equal participation of women in decision making in all sectors.

But it is her brave and captivating journey into the world of deejaying that has taken her a step further towards achieving her dreams.

“It all started when I wanted to do a rap song and somebody suggested on my creative blog that I must do dancehall. I followed a friend of mine who is a dancehall DJ on several of his shows to enable myself to get a feel of the genre.

“One day I got bored from listening and started learning how to play music using the simplest DJ software.

“When I was selecting on my own, some people at the event suggested that I must enter a female DJ clash. So after two months of deejaying, I won the 2015 Female DJ Clash,” DJ Lyaness said.

Thanks to her success at the DJ clash, she landed a one-year contract with a local radio station less than a month after the contest.

Initially, her slot ran for 30 minutes but was later increased to three hours after it received positive feedback.

“I have been a club DJ for the past two years and I have also shared the stage with top artistes at some events. I have shared the stage with the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi, Jah Prayzah, Suluman Chimbetu, Killer T and Winky D,” she said.

DJ Lyaness, who has regular slots at Gaby’s Restaurant, Travel Plaza and The Volt, however, concedes that her deejaying stint has had its fair share of challenges.

“It’s challenging because some male DJs don’t see you as a friend but as a competitor, so they try to sabotage your acts. There is a lot of jealous and envy in the industry, because I secure a lot of shows and have been on radio,” she told the Daily News on Sunday.

DJ Lyaness, who along with the equally good DJ Naida are giving men a run for their money, derives inspiration from South Africa’s Nigeria-born DJ Waxxy.

“He is a top DJ who has raised the bar very high and has won several awards,” she said.

Like most artists, DJ Lyaness, who is also a fashion designer and is a holder of diplomas in accounting and administration, initially struggled to get her parents to endorse her career choice.

“I used to sing in church and my mother became aware of certain rap songs through me. Now they appreciate, because I have excelled within a short time. I have been on radio, I have done a lot of shows with some of the country’s big artistes and this has obviously impressed them,” she said.

Though she is better known as a DJ, she is equally determined to make it as a musician.

“I have two dancehall singles-Bad Mind and We Run It — which are attracting airplay. I plan to release an album within the next two years,” she said, adding that the fact that her hand is in many cookie jars won’t undercut her career growth.

“Apart from being a DJ and musician, I am also a fashion designer. I produce African ethnic wear for both men and women. My design for the youths is called Badness and for the classy mature wear it is called Rissa Elle.

Despite the fact that she is pursuing three careers at one go, DJ Lyaness has no manager.

“I am not yet under any management, unless I find a person who can be able to manage all my careers. I have met a number of people who wanted to manage me but most of the men who expressed interest to manage me, actually wanted to start romantic relationships with me or I ended up getting bigger events than they are able to source for me. My brand is much safer in my hands,” she said.

The last born in a family of three, could not part without giving advice to aspiring female artistes.

“They have to work very hard, stay focused, have a strong support system, never to give up, develop a thick skin and also recognise God in everything that they do,” said DJ Lyaness.

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HARARE - With all 18 Castle Lager Premiership teams in action this afternoon, Mandava Stadium will be the centre of attention where FC Platinum hosts Highlanders.

Although they have been in the top flight since 2011, FC Platinum have already developed a strong rivalry with Bosso with the matches between the two sides always turning out to be explosive encounters.

The platinum miners come into today’s match in third place on the log trailing leaders Ngezi Platinum Miners by just three points.

Norman Mapeza’s side are fully aware they desperately need to win today in order to keep pace with Ngezi Platinum.

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The home side are on form coming into the match after two straight wins over Chicken Inn and Yadah FC.

In midweek, FC Platinum were inactive after their match was postponed since they were scheduled to face CAPS United, who had African Champions League commitments.

However, the platinum miners will be confident of collecting maximum points against a Highlanders side that has shown some inconsistency this season already.

Bosso have already dropped seven points in their last four matches after a draws with lowly side’s Chapungu and Harare City before last Thursday’s defeat to Chicken Inn.

The Bulawayo giants only win in recent weeks was against struggling neighbours Bantu Rovers.

Dutch coach Erol Akbay has chopped and changed his side in the hope to get the best out of his underperforming stars.

After the defeat to Chicken Inn, the Dutchman was disappointed with his side’s failure to put away the many chances they have created.

“Good play without scores is not good enough. We had a lot of chances that we created but we didn’t score,” Akbay said.

“It’s our second loss and we still have many games to play. We are not really worried.”

The Dutchman would be hoping for better finishing from his misfiring forwards of Prince Dube, Roderick Mutuma and Ralph Matema.

Log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars will be banking on their superb home form to put some gap between them and the chasing pack when they host Bulawayo City at Baobab Stadium.

Tonderai Ndiraya’s side have notched up four consecutive wins after victories over Shabanie Mine, Harare City, ZPC Kariba and Tsholotsho.

Madamburo have gone for 11 league games since August last year without a defeat at home and against Amakhosi they will be favourites to collect maximum points.

Bulawayo City will be confident of getting something out of the game since they arrive in Ngezi after two straight wins over Tsholotsho and Hwange.

Defending champions CAPS United hope to get their league campaign back on track when they travel to the Lowveld to face Triangle at Gibbo Stadium.

United have to play catch-up in the league due to their African Champions League commitments.

In the league, Lloyd Chitembwe’s side have only played six matches with their last encounter ending in defeat when they lost to ZPC Kariba a little over a week ago.

Makepekepe will be confident of getting maximum points at Gibbo since Triangle have not been at their best at home.

Their only win there this season came against How Mine last week as the venue seems to have lost its fear factor for visiting teams.

At the National Sports Stadium, Dynamos will be looking forward to make it two wins in a row when they host ZPC Kariba.

The Glamour Boys beat Harare City 1-0 on Thursday night with coach Lloyd Chitembwe saying after that the victory would be a turning point after an indifferent start to the season.

After two games without a victory, ZPC Kariba will be out to capitalise on an inconsistent DeMbare side that has been ponderous at times this season.

Today

Ngezi Platinum v Bulawayo City (Baobab), Chapungu v Tsholotsho (Ascot), Dynamos v ZPC Kariba (NSS), Bantu Rovers v Harare City (Luveve, 1pm), Chicken Inn v Shabanie Mine (Luveve, 3pm), FC Platinum v Highlanders (Mandava), Triangle v CAPS United (Gibbo), Black Rhinos v Yadah (Morris Depot), Hwange v How Mine (Colliery).

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HARARE - Last week, President Robert Mugabe's government announced plans to introduce a fuel levy – news that was received with shock and sadness by the long-suffering masses.

While the motive – to bankroll a Road Accident Fund (Raf) – is noble, in light of the road carnage that has been witnessed in past months, surely its time the authorities realise Zimbabweans are already overtaxed.

Yes, accident victims need insurance cover.

Scores of people have died and many injured in road accidents, and in most cases, the victims cannot afford to pay basic medical bills.

In that sense, Raf is absolutely necessary.

If properly implemented and managed, it will go a long way in helping accident victims.

But bankrolling the fund by slapping hard-pressed Zimbabweans with yet another tax – the proposed fuel levy – is certainly insensitive to the plight of the struggling populace.

As long-suffering citizens remain burdened by a raft of taxes and are being taxed to death, the 93 year-old leader must try and look at other alternative sources of funding, especially that there are seven taxes on this key commodity.

In March this year, government gazetted new taxes for commuter transport operators, hairdressers, driving schools and cross-border traders.

The informal traders will pay at least $10 per month.

Apart from that, government had earlier on introduced a five percent health levy on airtime targeted at funding the depressed health sector.

In addition to these taxes, the struggling citizens also pay the Aids Levy while their salaries are significantly taxed under pay-as-you-earn (Paye) of at least 20 percent.

Motorists are also taxed through toll gate fees, vehicle licences and authorities are planning to introduce urban tolling.

Had it not been the public outcry which led to a reversal, the authorities had early this year imposed a 15 percent value added tax on meat and potatoes.

This long list of taxes – or levies – goes to show how government is not going out of its way to boost its revenue through productive ways, but is simply squeezing the ordinary citizen, who is toiling every day to put food on the table.

Surely, government cannot continue sustaining its expenditure by imposing endless taxes on hapless citizens.

It is unsustainable.

All these desperate measures to boost dwindling national revenue can only work for so long.

The solution lies in boosting exports, creating new jobs, setting the economy on a sustainable growth path and embracing other cash-saving measures such as cutting back on Mugabe's unnecessary travels.

Taxes are sustainable in functional and ticking economies where the industry is productive and new jobs are created.

Currently, Zimbabwe’s economy is largely driven by the informal sector.

Industries and companies have collapsed. Formal employment is depressed.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics agency (ZimStat)’s 2015 report, 94,5 percent of the 6,3 million people defined as employed in the country work in the informal economy.

Comparable data for 2011 – published by ZimStat – indicate that in the three years to 2014, informal sector employment grew by a staggering 29 percent, from 4,6 million to 5,9 million jobs.

These statistics – which are signs of an unhealthy and dying economy – prove that majority of the nation are surviving through hustling.

Considering this, government must devise other ways of raising funds – and not squeezing the already burdened citizens through multiple taxes.

As such, authorities need to act, and immediately, on the dying economy.

HARARE - A pastor at the heart of a protest movement against President Robert Mugabe has demanded that the United Nations (UN) intervenes in Zimbabwe to avert another “stolen election.”

Evan Mawarire — whose #ThisFlag movement led the biggest anti-government rallies in a decade in 2016 — said Mugabe’s election-stealing antics have been documented throughout Zimbabwe and beyond.

“I am 40 years old, I had never been a politician. The one thing I know, I have watched election after election, the ones that have been rigged, the ones that have been lost controversially,” Mawarire told the ninth annual meeting of the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway last week.

“I have watched those things happen and I have always yearned can the regional powers come to our rescue, can the continent come to our rescue, can the United Nations come to our rescue, but sometimes there is so much going on in the world there is no one to listen to your trouble. Zimbabwe is entering a season of change,” he said.

He called on the UN to implement relevant council resolutions over the Zimbabwe crisis.

Mugabe, 93, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, was endorsed by his ruling Zanu PF party last December to run in next year’s presidential election, his last allowed under a Constitution passed in 2013.

“It’s part of what shames us as Zimbabweans,” Mawarire said.

“Someone said this to me ‘Robert Mugabe was Mandela before Mandela was Mandela’. But somehow something went wrong.

“Today he is 93-years-old and has declared that next year he will be running for president and it’s a blot on him as a leader that he has failed to groom a successor…failed to take responsibility…failed to run Zimbabwe better than he received it…it troubles many Zimbabweans because we are trying to dream a new future,” he said.

“But we can’t because this past keeps holding on to us. And that’s what this young generation…represents with our courage that says we are not afraid of you anymore, we are more afraid of our children 20 years from now asking us why did we not do anything.”

Mawarire, who faces a 20-year sentence for charges that include attempting to subvert the government and inciting public violence, said: “The State continues to say they are not ready to prosecute, so continue to push my case forward.

“I have to report to the police regularly. I am followed by (State) security agents …my passport has been seized and I only have access to it when I apply to the High Court stating exactly where I am going.

“I want to take this moment to thank my parents, baba and amai Mawarire because they allowed me to use the title deeds to the only home my family has as surety for my return to Zimbabwe after I am done here.”

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HARARE - The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has called on the Health ministry to halt with immediate effect the mandatory food fortification programme due to liquidity challenges, warning the move will “result in serious maize, flour and bread shortages.”

Zimbabwe’s food fortification — the process of adding minute levels of vitamins and minerals to foods during processing — is set to commence on July 1, this year.

The association argues grain importers are facing challenges in importing the required fortification equipment and fortificants because of foreign currency shortages faced by the country.

But government is adamant, with Health minister David Parirenyatwa insisting the programme will go ahead as planned.

Zimbabwe — which in November last year introduced a unique surrogate currency called bond notes — has experienced mounting foreign currency shortages, particularly the United States dollar,  that have crippled importers.

Last year, the country launched the National Food Fortification Strategy — aimed at boosting the nation’s nutrition strategy — to address the micronutrient deficiency burden in the country as revealed by the 2012 Zimbabwe Micronutrient survey.

According to the survey, 19 percent of children between 6 – 59 months are vitamin A deficient while 72 percent have iron deficiency and 31 percent are anaemic.

GMAZ said “after conducting nationwide consultations”, they seek an “indefinite postponement of the initiative.”

“Our decision is informed by....the prevalent nostro currency liquidity challenges are severely affecting the timeous remittances of imported wheat and maize,” the association’s chairman Tafadzwa Musarara said in a May 11 letter to Parirenyatwa, adding that “consequently, we have been unable to meet import payments for the acquisition of fortification equipment and fortificants.”

He argued: “Government and development partners have not done massive and extensive consumer awareness campaign to sensitise the public about these additives.”

Musarara said the “timing of the commencement of the mandatory programme must be postponed until such a time...all requisite variables are in place.”

However, Parirenyatwa argued the programme is crucial in improving the population’s nutrition.

“As far as we are concerned, the fortification is good for our people and our children. We want it implemented. We are not going to give them (GMAZ) more time”, Parirenyatwa told the Daily News in a telephone interview from Geneva, Switzerland.

Launching the fortification strategy last year, Parirenyatwa said the National Micronutrient Survey of 2012 indicated that many Zimbabweans, particularly women and children, are micronutrient deficient, and do not have the proper nutrition they need to stay healthy and active.

Food fortification is one of many ways to prevent and control micronutrient deficiency diseases such as goitre, anaemia, impaired vision and mental retardation.

The food vehicles targeted for fortification are sugar, cooking oil, maize meal, and wheat flour.

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HARARE - Chisipite Senior School on Saturday created 1 000 reusable, washable sanitary pads, designed to keep indigent girls in school.

With facilitation by Tamba Washables and in close coordination with Kubatana, so-called “Padathon” produced 1 000 attractive and reusable cloth pads and is in the process of scaling the programme to reach more poor girls.

The Padathon was launched after the school noted a significant social challenge for school girls who did not have access to sanitary pads due to cost or availability.

Education has been identified as one of the key drivers to poverty reduction, especially for women, so missing multiple days each month is a significant detriment to their future.

“Being a girl in Zimbabwe is tough and culturally, talking about your period and trying to get help when you don’t have access to such things is not easy.

“Now, because they are a square piece of cloth, when you wash them and on the line, they just look like any piece of cloth and so they won’t feel embarrassed,” Jamie McLaren, event coordinator and Chisipite teacher said.

“The goal is to make 200 bags, with five pads in each and three liners in each, so 200 girls in Epworth and Kwekwe will be receiving these pads and we are trying to put one pair of underwear and bra in one pack as well for their freedom of comfort.

“Liz Nyamuda, founder of Tamba Washables, has been making washable reusable pads for a while now and she and the organisation Kubatana came to us and taught our fashion and fabrics girls how to make them, so since its World Menstrual Day on May 28, (we thought) what can we do for all the thousands of girls who do not have access to sanitary pads and basically we set up the Padathon challenge.”

Chisipite Fashion Club member and Upper Sixth student Fungai Muzorozo said she was thrilled to be helping girls who can’t afford to buy pads every month.

“. . . it will be less strenuous on them really and they can focus on education,” she said.

Co-founder of Kubatana, Brenda Burrell, who was also taking part in the Padathon, said: “I am doing this because I recognise the cost to a girl’s education if they have to spend a couple of days, depending on how heavily they menstruate — it can be more than a couple of days, away from school every month while others are at school and I think this is a great project to address that,” Burrell said.

Chisipite headmistress Lorraine Hill said it was good that the girls were not just talking but doing something about it.

Life coach Dorothy Chanakira and her daughter Nothando donated bras and panties, while local celebrities also took part in the challenge.

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HARARE - Government grants are the permanent solution to curbing massive dropouts at tertiary institutions over tuition, not ministerial directives which can be disregarded, a students’ body has said.

This comes as higher learning institutions — even primary and secondary schools — are turning away scores of students over tuition arrears.

And in trying to curb the crisis, government has ordered the institutions not to bar the desperate students, but structure payment plans.

The Higher and Tertiary Education ministry has directed learning institutions to allow students to sit for their examinations, but withhold the results until fees are fully paid.

“Statutory Instrument (SI) 81 of 1999 which governs payment of fees by students in polytechnics and teachers’ colleges clearly states that fees should be paid before opening of schools or within seven days after opening,” Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (Zinasu) spokesperson Zivai Mhetu said.

“That SI is currently being used to bar students from lectures at Madziva Teachers’ College and other institutions. As long as the SI is phrased in this manner, many tertiary institutions will disregard the call from the ministry to accept payment plans because there is no provision for payment plans in the legal framework that governs payment of fees.”

Mhetu added that there is a possibility that the move to allow payment plans could be a populist gimmick meant to attract support for Zanu PF in next year’s elections.

“We are heading towards elections. The move towards payment plans could be an election gimmick that will be abandoned soon after elections,” he said.

“But we don’t want people to play with our minds in the hopes of attaining votes. If the government is serious about payment plans it should make a provision for them in the legal instruments that govern payment of fees.

“With regards to universities that are not governed by SI 81, the government should issue out a memo ordering them to accept payment plans.

“In the long run, the government should introduce grants because they are a better solution to the problem of inability to pay fees than payment plans.”

But the authorities recently said they are unable to reintroduce student grants due to financial constraints.

Speaking in the House of Assembly last week, Higher Education deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa said: “At the moment government has fiscal constraints and we can, therefore, not reinstate the grants to the education sector.

“...we are looking at ways to come up with loans but we cannot disburse grants at the moment.

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has already advertised for financiers that can give such loans at low premiums so that students can be able to pay for their tuition and accommodation fees,” he said.

Gandawa said students may start getting the loans in September this year.

“The RBZ and Finance ministry are working on the modalities so that we can have discussions with financiers so that the students can be assisted in that regard at tertiary institutions and colleges. 

“This is still under consideration.”

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HARARE - This week is another big one politically for President Robert Mugabe and his warring ruling Zanu PF — with the nonagenarian scheduled to address a mega rally in Marondera, amid the former liberation movement’s worsening infighting.

Zanu PF insiders told the Daily News yesterday that the rally, which is being organised by the party’s youth league, would be a show of force by Mugabe — to remind his ambitious lieutenants and their brawling factions that “he is very much still in charge”.

Mugabe — who spent all of last week in Mexico, attending an obscure conference on climate change — returned home at the weekend at a time that there are growing fissures within Zanu PF, as the bigwigs fighting to succeed him escalate their mindless bloodletting.

In the week that Mugabe was in Mexico, his supporters clubbed each other during violent clashes in Bulawayo, while intra-party tensions went a notch up after former intelligence operative, Pearson Mbalekwa, was barred from representing Zanu PF in the impending Chiwundura by-election.

As if this was not enough, the influential women’s league which is headed by his powerful wife Grace, is also facing fresh problems in Bulawayo, where 10 of its regional officials have been suspended.

Youth league secretary, Kudzanai Chipanga, reiterated yesterday that the Marondera rally was one of many they were organising to galvanise support for Mugabe.

“The rallies are meant for the youths to reaffirm our support for President Robert Mugabe as our candidate, not only for next year’s elections, but also as our life president.

“The party is united fully behind President Robert Mugabe and there has never been any debate about whether he should be the candidate or not.

“His candidature is unanimously endorsed by all in Zanu PF,” Chipanga told the Daily News.

“It is our constitutional mandate as Zanu PF youths to mobilise support for party programmes. In president ... Mugabe we have a name that makes our job easier because many youths in the country look up to him as a role model.

“The rally will also see the launch of our voter registration campaign as we encourage youths to participate in social, economic and political programmes,” he added.

However, analysts said it would be interesting to see how Mugabe would use the rally platform to deal with Zanu PF’s worsening tribal, factional and succession wars.

This is more so, as observers have also consistently said Mugabe’s failure to resolve Zanu PF’s thorny succession riddle is fuelling the ruling party’s deadly infighting.

The 93 year-old has studiously refused to name a successor, insisting that the party’s congress has that mandate: to choose a person of their own choice.

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HARARE - President Robert Mugabe’s under pressure government is facing a fresh crisis after teachers warned yesterday that they would stage a crippling strike if authorities go ahead with their plans to close more than 40 schools in Matabeleland South.

Their mass action threats come as fed up nurses have also given the government notice that they will soon start toyi-toying to press for improved working conditions and the dismissal of the Health Services Board (HSB) secretariat, which they accuse of failing to act on their long-standing grievances.

Various teachers’ representatives told the Daily News yesterday that they had already put in motion the process of mobilising their members, civic groups and community leaders to confront the government over the school closure debacle.

This comes after the government announced last week that it was planning to shut down 40 schools in Matabeleland South — on account of low pupil and student enrolments.

A fuming Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary general, Raymond Majongwe, did not mince his words yesterday, telling the Daily News that they would go on strike if the government went ahead with their plans.

“The response from various groups is overwhelming because we are all agreed that we must speak with one voice to pressure authorities.

“Several CSOs (civil society organisations) and activists are willing to join the communities that are being punished by government for being located away from schools.

“The policy is that an examination centre can be established where six people have registered for examinations, yet here we are talking about 100 or more pupils who will be disadvantaged by the plans at some schools.

“So, after consultations, we greed that we will take whatever action will be necessary, including demonstrating,” Majongwe said.

The chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), Sifiso Ndlovu also said his organisation would not countenance any schools being closed by “a rigid ministry that lacks dynamism”.

“We will continue to engage government on this and put pressure on them, encouraging the authorities to abandon the plans as we also want to tell the permanent secretary to stop all this nonsense of wanting to run the ministry as if it were her private company.

“This ministry is not organised, it is rigid and lacks dynamism. Imagine a ministry in which the average age of virtually its entire education officers from district to province is 55 years.

“Obviously, their thinking is not in tandem with that of the younger generation because of the rigidity which may not bring transformation in a manner that the young minds can,” Ndlovu thundered.

The plan to close down the schools has also not gone down well with local residents and civil society groups, who both accuse the government of being insensitive to the plight of the poor, and the people of Matabeleland in particular, who have long felt marginalised by the State.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition spokesperson, Dumisani Nkomo, is also on record saying the move will be challenged vigorously.

“This move smacks of further alienation, discrimination and marginalisation of an already exploited region.

“We reiterate our position that we are vehemently opposed to the closing of schools to the already historical disadvantaged regions of Matabeleland.

“We will not stand by idly as the rights of children are violated. We call upon our members to resist this insane move.

“It is frivolous and vexatious for the government to claim that these schools are not viable when the government is presiding over more than 50 loss-making parastatals and yet these loss-making entities are still dear to government,” Nkomo said.

He also said the government’s decision was a flagrant violation of section 75 of the Constitution, which ensured the right to education, as well as section 81 which upheld children’s rights.

The Community Development Trust (CDT) also described the decision to close the schools as “totally unacceptable as it violates the children’s right to education”.

“This is based on a flawed, outdated and ill-conceived policy of one teacher to 40 students, which is a ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy that does not consider differences in settlement patterns and population sizes of various communities of Zimbabwe and in Matabeleland.

“In this policy directive, the ministry ... did not consider the best interests of the children but its own administrative interests, which is wrong,” CDT director Nkululeko Tshuma said.

Human rights lawyer, Dewa Mavhinga, also told the Daily News yesterday that teachers would be “totally justified” to go on strike, as the closure of schools was a very important matter.

“The threat to close over 40 schools in Matabeleland is a matter of national importance that justifies strike action by teachers, and which parents, civil society, and progressive political movements should join to condemn this blatant attack on the right to education.

“The government should not purport to address low enrolment by creating problems. Any necessary interventions must also involve the communities themselves,” Mavhinga told the Daily News.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC also said it was time for “all progressive forces to join hands and resist the government’s ruinous policies such as the threat to close schools”.

“The decision to close 40 schools in Matabeleland is absolutely nauseating. The Zanu PF regime has now gone bonkers.

“Of course, the MDC, as a labour backed political party, is very much in support of the decision by teachers to embark on a nationwide strike to protest the unconstitutional and vindictive government decision to close 40 schools in Matabeleland South.

“The people of Matabeleland have continued to suffer badly since the Gukurahundi genocide ... Minister Lazarus Dokora and his team at the ministry of Education must surely be smoking some hazardous substance.

“Otherwise, how on earth could they arrive at this shocking decision to close 40 schools in this historically marginalised region?" MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said.

Meanwhile, nurses gave notice last week to strike, over poor working conditions which they blame on the HSB “clueless” board.

“We feel the HSB does not understand us and how we operate. We have been raising our grievances since 2010 and up to nowthey have not yet addressed those issues.

“The purpose of the HSB is to address the conditions of service for health workers, but this is not happening,” Zimbabwe Nurses Association secretary-general, Enock Dongo, told the Daily News on Friday.

“Even when you have been working as a nurse for 10 years, and when you should be considered to be a senior, you get the lowest salary of about $285. It’s all because your grade doesn’t change. You remain grade D1, instead of maybe D3.

“Someone can also have three or four diplomas on top of a nursing degree and still be in that low grade. We have specialities in midwifery, intensive care and physiotherapy, but all that is not being recognised.

“We want the HSB secretariat to be removed ... and we will not stop demonstrating until they are removed. They are non-medical people and they don’t even know how we operate as health workers,” Dongo said.

“When we discuss our issues with the board, they appear to understand, but the problem comes with implementation … that’s where the problem is. We cannot have the lives and professions of over 35 000 people suffer because of a few people, and we are saying we are fed up,” he added.

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PRETORIA - South Africa's embattled president Jacob Zuma has been planning to set up home in Dubai, according to emails published in South African media.

The reports suggest deepening ties between President Zuma and the controversial Gupta business family.

But the president's spokesman has dismissed them as an utter fabrication.

Pressure on Mr Zuma has been mounting in recent months because of corruption scandals, cabinet sackings and his handling of the economy.

Senior members of Mr Zuma's governing ANC tabled a motion of no confidence against him on Sunday at a closed-door meeting of the party's national executive committee.

But the chairman of the meeting blocked the move because it was not on the official agenda, state-owned broadcaster SABC said.

It is the second time in six months that party rebels have mounted such a challenge and they are thought likely to try again.

Emails between President Zuma's son Duduzane and figures from a company owned by the controversial Gupta family - who reportedly wield considerable influence over Mr Zuma - include a letter to the Abu Dhabi royal family, our correspondent says.

"I am happy to inform you that my family has decided to make the UAE a second home," the president is quoted as saying. "It will be a great honour for me and my family to gain your patronage during our proposed residency in the UAE."

This opens up questions as to whether this is part of an exit strategy, with Mr Zuma's party appearing to be turning against him, our correspondent adds.

Meanwhile Zuma loyalists will continue their efforts to block any no-confidence motion on technical grounds.

A motion submitted by opposition parties is being pushed through parliament and is now being examined by the constitutional court.

The president's successor is expected to be selected at a major conference of the ANC's top brass in December.

Until then the party looks set to limp from crisis to crisis, our correspondent says.

Mr Zuma's allies say he will remain in office until his term ends in 2019, but evidence of his unpopularity seems to be growing. He was forced to abandon a May Day rally this year after he was booed by workers demanding his resignation.

His ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa are vying to succeed him.

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HARARE - Zimbabwean music star Jah Prayzah will hold two gigs in Canada at the beginning of July meant to celebrate the giant North American country’s 150th anniversary.

The Jerusarema singer will kick off the tour of Canada in Toronto on Canada Day, July 1, after which he will perform in Edmonton the following day.

The tour dubbed “Africa Celebrates Canada,” Jah Prayzah’s second to that country, is being organised by Sli Artist Management led by former Slice International member Tinos “Slicey T” Viriri in conjunction with organisations such as Music Africa.

Toronto-based Tinashe “MC Bonde” Kadete, the spokesperson for the concert organisers, told the Daily News that Jah Prayzah was the natural choice for concert being held a day after Canada Day.

“Jah Prayzah appeals not only to Zimbabweans or Africans alone... he has created a big fan base out here in Canada and the USA of all races. Everyone dances to a Jah Prayzah song,” said MC Bonde, who presents The African Groove Show on G98.7FM Toronto.

In addition to Jah Prayzah, Slicey T’s Sli Artist Management has over the past few years organised concerts in Canada for a number of Zimbabwean artistes who include music superstar Oliver “Tuku”Mtukudzi, HKD Boss Freeman, Tocky Vibes, Trevor Dongo, Winky D and Nox.

Jah Prayzah’s second tour of the North American country is one of several involving Zimbabwean artistes in Canada that have been organised by Slicey T’s Sli Artist Management. These include

For Uzumba-born Jah Prayzah, the forthcoming tour of Canada is yet another proof of his increasing profile beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. This past weekend, the Watora Mari hit-maker made a maiden appearance at Swaziland’s MTN Bushfire Festival which ended yesterday.

At the three-day internationally acclaimed music and arts festival, which will kicked off on May 26, Jah Prayzah performed alongside some top African artistes who included South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela, rapper-turned-gospel artiste Faada Freddy (Senegal/ France), JoJo Abot (Ghana) and Femi Koya (Nigeria).

Jah Prayzah’s debut at the MTN Bushfire Festival came after he shared the stage with continental hip hop star Cassper Nyovest in two gigs held in Durban and Cape Town in South Africa at the beginning of this month.

The MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) Listener's Choice Award winner also performed as one of the headline acts at the Bassline Africa Day concert in Johannesburg alongside the likes of Thandiswa Mazwai and Ray Phiri.

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BULAWAYO - Bulawayo's first black mayor in post-independent Zimbabwe and former deputy president of the Senate Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu died in the early hours of yesterday.

He was 86.

A veteran member of PF-Zapu who was the liberation movement’s representative at the Lancaster House talks that ushered in independence in 1980, he has been described as a “revered politician” and a “humble man.”

His province was due to meet today to write to the Politburo requesting national hero status to be accorded on the late veteran liberation fighter.

Ndlovu passed on  early yesterday morning at his daughter’s house in Suburbs.

Family spokesperson and  Ndlovu’s daughter, Sifiso Agbetorwoka, told the Daily News that her father had been unwell since 2008 when he was diagnosed with cancer.

“He passed away this morning at around 2am at my house in Suburbs, where we have been looking after him for the past two weeks,” Agbetorwoka said.

“My father was suffering from prostate cancer which he was diagnosed in 2008. In 2012 it spread to the bones but he was living with it while managing to carry out normal activities.

“About two years ago, he couldn’t walk and he resorted to using a wheelchair but had radiotherapy done in Harare and he was back on his feet.”

She said her father later underwent chemotherapy and it made him feel better.

“He started complaining of being unwell at around April this year as his spinal cord was compressed but this time, much of the treatment could not help him much.”

She described him as a loving person who cared deeply about his family.

“He didn’t matter regardless of background. He was totally different and as his daughter, I wish I could be like him.”

She said burial arrangements were yet to be finalised as they were waiting for other relatives to arrive.

Zanu PF Central Committee member Richard Ndlovu described the late Ndlovu as a veteran nationalist who gave his all for the freedom of the country.

“Ndlovu has a long rich political history, he went through the white minority cruelty but he remained steadfast. He held several positions in the party and he never looked back.

“The leadership will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) in Gwanda to decide his hero status but no one can doubt his contribution and his position. He is a real national hero,” he said.

Ndlovu held several influential positions in government, the ruling Zanu PF party and former PF Zapu.  He was PF Zapu’s last national chairman before the signing of the Unity Accord.

Earlier in 1985, he had become a Member of Parliament for Insiza North constituency after his term as Bulawayo mayor ended. He remained MP until 2000 when he lost the seat.

He was deputy speaker of Parliament. And when the upper house was reintroduced in 2005, he became the deputy president of the Senate.

He was first elected senator for Insiza in 2005 and retained his seat under the proportional representation system in 2013, representing Zanu PF in Matabeleland South.

He was a Central Committee member at the time of his death.

When the post of Vice President came up after the death of Vice President Joseph Msika, he let John Nkomo take his place as the most senior former Zapu official.

Ndlovu leaves behind two daughters and nine grandchildren. Mourners are gathered at his Luveve 4 home.

HARARE - National Social Security Authority (Nssa) will relinquish its controlling stake in Telecel Zimbabwe (TZ) to Zarnet after three years, following a recent agreement inked to this effect, it has emerged.

The State-run pension fund’s general manager Elizabeth Chitiga on Friday said Nssa and Zarnet had agreed on the deal’s terms following negotiations to restructure the financing deal that saw Zarnet acquire 100 percent equity in Telecel International — which owns 60 percent of TZ — through a transfer of rights and buy-back agreement.

“The agreements have been signed to that effect… As the chairman has previously stated negotiations were going on and I am sure he also spoke about it in his last quarterly update,” Chitiga said on the side-lines of a media cocktail.

The recent development follows an earlier announcement by Nssa chairperson, Robin Vela, stating that the parties were in advanced negotiations.

“The two parties are in advanced negotiations in relation to restructuring the transaction; wherein from a Nssa perspective it will culminate in an acceptable equity return and enhanced security arrangements, whilst the Zarnet perspective translates to a feasible and favourable financing structure.

“The effect of the new dispensation is that Zarnet will exercise the buy-back over a three-year period on terms enshrined in a new agreement involving a number of related-parties to Zarnet,” Vela said, in his fourth quarter 2016 update.

Zarnet’s acquisition of the TZ stake was achieved through a mezzanine structure valued at $30 million, provided by Nssa, after government came up with a $10 million deposit in the $40 million deal.

Marred in controversy, the transaction gives government controlling stake in the country’s third largest mobile network operator to the little known government Internet provider, Zarnet.

Reports last year indicated that Nssa was not “entirely happy” about the prospect of losing out on an equity holding in TZ — or just playing the role of a financier and — where it sees huge opportunities for rich pickings, and acquiring an asset that can add value to its policy holders.

Information Communication Technology minister, Supa Mandiwanzira, recently said as majority shareholder, government was now moving to fully acquire the network and “sanitise it” with a possible private listing on the horizon.

“Efforts to sanitise the ‘shareholder wars’ and eventually make the business private through listing or selling, et cetera continue.  Advisors will advise us which route to take,” he said.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe has a busy election calendar going into general elections mid next year.

Thousands of Zimbabweans will seek elective office next year, running for municipal, legislative, and presidential posts.

Few opposition parties have access to the financial resources needed to campaign, produce and air commercials. Even long-standing incumbents in legislative and municipal posts are often unknown to a majority of their constituents.

Elsewhere in this edition, we report MDC president Welshman Ncube calling for a united opposition front in voter mobilisation programmes ahead of the 2018 watershed elections.

Ncube is right, the opposition need to work together and unite to get rid of Zanu PF once and for all. Like he rightly pointed out, if there is one thing learnt from the last election, it is that there is no one person or party that will be able to remove President Robert Mugabe on their own.

In order to reach large and geographically dispersed populations, the voter mobilisation campaign often places enormous emphasis on resources to bankroll mass communications and advertising.

A lot of money is needed to highlight the importance of these races, the issues at stake and the attributes of the candidates. The typical election tends to be waged on a smaller scale and at a more personal level.

The challenge that confronts all opposition parties in elections is to target potential supporters and get them to the polls, while living within the constraints of a tight campaign budget.

The run-up to the election has seen a hotchpotch of campaigns, the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC has been conducting the #berekamwana voter mobilisation campaign while Ncube’s party is currently involved in the #nyoresazvifaye or #valangebhetshu campaigns — using personal contact with voters to mobilise hundreds of youths to vote.

A personal approach to mobilising voters is generally more effective than an impersonal approach. That is, the more personal the interaction between campaign and potential voter, the more it raises a person’s chances of voting. Door-to-door canvassing by friends and neighbours is the gold-standard mobilisation tactic.

Making scarce campaign dollars go as far as possible requires those who manage these campaigns to think hard about the trade-offs. As election day approaches and campaigns move into top gear, the opposition parties’ aims become quite similar and their purposes very narrow.

Ahead of the election, they are all homing in on one simple task — to get their people to the polls. Each campaign struggles with the same basic question: How should remaining resources be allocated in order to turn out the largest number of targeted voters?

That is why Ncube’s call is important. Talk to economies of scale.

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HARARE - The case in which activist pastor Patrick Mugadza is charged for predicting that President Robert Mugabe would die in October this year has been referred to Zimbabwe’s highest court.

Mugadza, a preacher in the tourist resort town of Kariba, told journalists in January that he had received a prophecy from God that Mugabe would die on October 17 this year.

A magistrate court hearing complaints filed against Mugadza referred the case to the Constitutional Court (Con-Court), the presiding magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta said.

Mugadza was arrested on January 16 by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers and charged with causing offence to persons of a particular race and religion in contravention of Section 42 (2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 alternatively criminal nuisance as defined in Section 46 (2) (v) of the Third Schedule to the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

Prosecutors claimed that Mugadza allegedly insulted the Christian religion and the African tradition by uttering words which are a taboo.

He  had challenged his arrest and prosecution arguing the Criminal Code used to charge him was unconstitutional.

In the application, which was granted yesterday by Sabarauta, Mugadza wants the Con-Court to determine whether or not Section 42 (2) as read with Section 42(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) is constitutionally invalid in that it violates the rights to dignity, equal protection and benefit of the law, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression as contained in Sections 51, 56 (1) and (3), 60(1)(a) and (b) and 61 (1)(a) of the Constitution.

Mugadza argues that Sections 42 and 46 of the Criminal Law Code are in violation of Sections 51, 56 (1) and (3), 60(1)(a) and (b) and 61 (1)(a) of the Constitution and are contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

The clergyman further argues that while the Constitution protects all manner of expression, these two provisions criminalise distinct forms of expression hence it is clear that Section 42 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act is a limitation on free expression.

The provisions, the Remnant Pentecostal Church leader argues, are not necessary in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, regional or town planning or the general public interest and are excessive in their limitation of the right and do not ensure enjoyment of any rights or freedoms by others.

Zimbabwean police often arrest political activists for insulting or undermining Mugabe’s office, but most of the cases have been dismissed by the courts.

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HARARE - Jailed Johanne Masowe Echishanu Budiriro sect leader Ishmael Chokurongerwa has lost his Nyabira farm in Zvimba in a long-running land dispute.

Chokurongerwa was slapped with a five-year prison sentence in 2015 after his congregants severely assaulted police officers and journalists in 2014 at his Budiriro shrine.

Nine families, who were residing at his subdivided farm, including his family members and workers, were evicted from the farm last week by the sheriff.

The families also claimed that their property was burnt by people aligned to Gwinyayi Mutingwende, who was laying claim to the property.

Chokurongerwa’s family claims he has an offer letter granted by the Lands ministry.

Farm worker Davidlodge Katsande, Chokurongerwa’s brother, cited as the first respondent in the land dispute, said they were never served with summons to appear in court.

A default judgment was handed against them by the High Court.

“Warrant of ejection and court order enforced 48 hour notice of eviction given to the first, second and third respondent and to all those claiming occupation through them,” read the warrant of ejectment by sheriff R Chimombe.

“First, second, third respondents and all those claiming occupation through them are hereby given 48 hours to vacate the said subdivision eight of Lily Farm.”

Katsande also said their farm was plot six, not plot eight as stated in the warrant.

  “When we got this offer letter, an official from the Lands ministry is the one who showed us our plot, we did not impose ourselves but we were told that there was a war vet who stays in the farm house although his was plot eight,” Katsande told the Daily News.

“However, Mutingwende did not want us there because the plot also had boreholes and equipment. Since 2013, we have been trying to get officials from the ministry to come and show us our demarcations and settle the dispute and even gave them fuel but they never came to solve the dispute. We were working with one called Mukaro and also a Tigere but they never came. We even approached the chief lands inspector Muza but nothing was solved.

“We don’t know what we did wrong. Every time we try and settle somewhere to pray, we get chased away. We are not even in politics.”

According to the May 6, 2013 offer letter signed by then Lands minister Hebert Murerwa: “The minister ... has the pleasure in informing you that your application for land under Model A2 Scheme has been successful.

“You are offered subdivision 6 of Lily in Zvimba District of Mashonaland West province for agricultural purposes. The farm is approximately 106,25 hectares in extent.”

Mutingwende’s offer letter was issued in February 2007, when he was offered subdivision eight of Lily farm.

His letter was signed off by the then minister of State for National Security, Lands and Land Reform in the President’s Office, Didymus Mutasa.

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HARARE - Government must set up special courts to deal with political violence ahead of the 2018 election, the Tendai Biti-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said. 

This comes amid rising concern over inter and intra-party violence.

It is also on the back of an attack of PDP’s youth secretary for defence and security Tarisai Musurudzwa by suspected Zanu PF supporters.

He was attacked while coming from a belated Africa Day celebration rally in Mabvuku.

“Zanu PF always relies on violence; such levels of intolerance have no place in a modern society....there must be a mechanism to deal with violence, including decentralised electoral courts of violence,” PDP said.

“The signs are clear that Zanu PF will once again use violent tactics in the next election,” it said.

President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence from Britain in 1980, has become a pariah in the West.

The 93-year-old is blamed for ruining a once-prosperous country through human rights abuses and violent, rigged elections.

“In terms of Section 67 Constitution, all citizens have the right, to form and join political parties, to campaign freely and peacefully for their political parties, to gather peacefully to influence, challenge or support political causes. Zanu PF is therefore in violation of this provision; the law must descend on the perpetrators,” PDP argued.

Addressing his supporters at the Mabvuku rally, Biti said only a transformational democratic development State can assist in dealing with the current problems faced by Zimbabweans.

The former Finance minister said this model provides a framework which will ensure growth and development is even and inclusive, adding that the government needs to implement the law of devolution, which is provided for in terms of the Constitution.

The law of devolution stipulates that there should be a provincial council for each of the country’s provinces, consisting of governors and mayors among other officials and will be responsible for the social and economic development of the province.

Recently, civil society organisations raised concern over the escalating political violence after skirmishes erupted among Zanu PF members in Bulawayo.

In two separate statements, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) criticised the ruling party members over the violence.

“Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) condemns all forms of violence and calls on political parties to reign in their supporters and ensure peaceful proceedings of party meetings,” the organisation said.

The organisation further demanded all political parties to observe peace as the country hurtles towards next year’s elections.

“…ZPP impresses on all political parties to avoid statements that could incite violence. Political leaders influence opinions and actions of many citizens. Reckless utterances and verbal threats may lead to unpredicted actions with dire effects on the populace.

“ZPP is worried that unless political parties reign in their supporters and the language they use in such incidents ...will mar the environment of the 2018 elections,” ZPP said.

On the other hand, ZimRights expressed concern over the levels of inter-party and intra-party violence around the country.

“ZimRights urges political parties to nip such violent tendencies in the bud as the country faces an election campaign season ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections. Violence at all times is condemnable and should not be tolerated whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head.

“Zimbabwe’s political environment has been regularly marred by violence which makes it crucial for any signs of the resurgence of violence to be taken seriously,” ZimRights said.

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HARARE - High Court judge Justice David Mangota has dismissed with costs an application by the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (Viset) seeking  to be allowed to continue selling food on the streets of Harare.

The application was after Harare City Council (HCC) and a ministerial taskforce banned the sale of cooked and uncooked foods in the CBD following a typhoid outbreak that claimed two lives in Mbare early this year.

In the application, Viset cited HCC, Local Government ministry and the Zimbabwe Republic Police as respondents.

The vendor group argued that municipal police and members of the ZRP were vandalising vendors’ property and using brute force in removing traders from the streets, which in turn affected their livelihoods.

HCC, represented by acting town clerk Josephine Ncube, argued in their opposing affidavit that Viset should have presented its membership permit to show that it represents registered vendors.

She also said while the temporary eviction was for street food vendors, Viset should have provided a register showing its members.

“One does not become a vendor by virtue of belonging to some vendors association but by registration with the first respondent (HCC) in terms of section 5(3) of the Harare (Vendors) By-law SI159/2014…What was confiscated and destroyed was perishable food which was being sold by street vendors.

“This was done in terms of Section 11 of the Harare (Vendors) By-law as read with section 101 of the Public Health Act,” Ncube said.

ZRP commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri, who was cited as one of the respondents, argued that the application for stay was baseless as the vendors were not registered and could not be protected from eviction.

Chihuri also said the rights being claimed by Viset were not absolute and had to be exercised with restraint.

“Section 86(2)(b) stipulates that fundamental rights including those cited by the applicants are subject to limitations which include public health, a factor so important to the extent of overriding issues being raised by the applicants.

“Applicants have thus failed to weigh the loss of life and the potential increase in such deaths and they cannot claim such rights while endangering the lives of people. In fact, applicants were educated both through the notice and public campaigns to go to designated vending sites as a measure to contain the spread of typhoid but they remained adamant,” Chihuri said in his opposing affidavit.

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