HARARE - As American Senator Hiram Warren Johnson so aptly observed way back in 1918, the first casualty of war is truth.

Indeed, as Zanu PF's ugly tribal, factional and succession wars get hotter by the day, well-known purveyors of lies in the ruling party and their running dogs — among them Cabinet ministers and discredited former State media editors — are going into overdrive with their frenetic tweeting, spinning and lying.

Among the recent innocent victims of these anarchists are prominent local businessmen John Mushayavanhu and Douglas Munatsi.

According to the deluded social media rantings of these real Command Liars, the two businessmen supposedly played a midwifery role in some fictitious recent takeover of the Daily News, by the ruling party faction linked to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Before then, one of these compromised charlatans also claimed falsely that the Daily News was now supposedly "fighting in Lacoste corner" (sic).

It boggles the mind.

For the readers of the Daily News who may not know this, it was the same malicious cast which lied to First Lady Grace Mugabe two years ago that former Vice President Joice Mujuru had allegedly bought a 10 percent shareholding in the Daily News.

To the First Lady's credit, she eventually saw through the embarrassing fibs for what they were, and promptly dropped the poisonous lies.

Some of these sorry souls were also leading members of the Axis of Evil which worked so hard to get the Daily News shut down — unjustly so — in September 2003.

Sadly, history has recorded that some of the worst atrocities of the past 37 years occurred around the time that the Daily News was out of circulation — including the vengeful murders of opposition supporters which followed the disputed 2008 elections.

Let us be very clear: there is method to all this madness — and this is to stop the Daily News from continuing to tell the Zimbabwean story like it is, without fear or favour.

The continuing onslaught against the Daily News is also intended to silence us, so that the hyenas who are at the heart of Zim's ongoing political and economic nightmare, including Zanu PF's mindless bloodletting, can continue with their wicked ways without fear of being exposed by the people's paper.

We have news for these lowlifes. This won’t happen, and the Daily News will NEVER yield to their dubious, toxic agendas.

HARARE - The African Medallion Group (AMG)’s special coins to commemorate the African Union (AU)’s 54th anniversary have risen by 1 400 percent in value — barely two weeks after they were launched.

This also comes as the Frank Buyanga-led outfit has launched at least two batches of these unique medallions — as represented by the first 10 in early April and another 100 last month — and the South African-based company has inked a deal with Visa International to facilitate easy payment for the product, and others by foreign buyers.

In terms of bids placed with AMG since late May, the company has seen or witnessed the nominal value of its tokens rise from $5 each to about $70 as at June 3.

“We are pretty humbled, if not astounded, by this performance, especially with regards to the Africa Day medallions. As stated in our founding documents, our mission is to provide investors with something that will not only deliver earnings, but do that in the shortest possible time,” Sherry Leeya, an executive with the company, said.

“As it is, it seems that we are on course to fulfilling that mandate and objective of giving people access to a highly valuable investment instrument as well as tried, and tested metal or commodity,” she said.

And the development also comes as debate over the use of these souvenir coins as a future currency grows in Zimbabwe.

In his preamble to the AU medallion launch, Buyanga said they “believe demand would rise... and any further purchases will be done in consultation with the (original) 100-piece holders through a closed loop trading system”.

“This gives all initial subscribers potential to secure greater returns in future. The guaranteed buy back amount is fixed at $5 (per) each medallion. However, future value will be determined in trade amount,” the Hamilton Property Holdings boss and project promoter said.

Having released an initial 10 medallions in South Africa and which were quickly bought by Durban businessman Sandile Shezi, AMG believes its yellow metal-backed products would be key for beneficiation and wealth preservation for continental investors.

The rare tokens not only come with a certification seal and Buyanga’s signature, but currently reflect a buying price of $70 within 10 days of launch.

A gold investor himself, the flamboyant businessman and his company say their initiative was meant to avail to people — from all walks of life — an opportunity to invest in this profitable precious mineral.

In line with his vision of an Africa benefitting more from its natural resources, Buyanga has recently called on the continental leadership to rethink the strategies of raw material exports — other than finished goods — and its impact on jobs.

Along with many other pro-African development proponents, the Pan African Business Forum executive said it was puzzling that “despite its riches, Africa remained poor” and this paradox particularly manifested itself in the agricultural sector — where 60 percent of the world’s arable land was on the continent, yet it imported nearly 90 percent of processed foods.

The problem, Buyanga said, emanated from lopsided trade agreements with the West or foreign companies as well as illicit financial flows.

Thus, the beneficiation of gold, full realisation or use of resources such as land, energy and even ocean economies would also spur the continent’s massive industrialisation.

And as Africa embarks on this new journey, it must ensure that women and youths are at the centre of these initiatives.

Recently, Buyanga also said it was regretful that many were still clamouring for government and donor support when a shift in national focus could help eliminate this dependency syndrome, and high poverty levels.

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HARARE - Like a deck of cards, President Robert Mugabe’s countless insult cases have over the years collapsed one after the other, with the latest being that of former Zanu PF youth leader William Mutumanje — popularly known as Acie Lumumba.

Over the past years, a number of people have been hauled before the courts charged under Section 33 of the Criminal Law for insulting 93-year-old Mugabe.

But there has been a striking resemblance of failure by the State to prove the cases, as the insult law has proved to be constitutionally defective and impedes on the people’s right to freedom of expression.

When Lumumba’s case was brought before the Constitutional Court, the State stated that it was withdrawing the criminal case against the former Zanu PF youth leader on the basis that there is a set precedence in another case involving MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora.

Like many, Mwonzora had attacked Mugabe, calling him a “goblin” during a rally in Nyanga. But the case was left without legs to stand on after the court asked the State to give a thorough description of a goblin and how that was linked to the nonagenarian leader.

The State failed to explain what a goblin is, hence the court’s further interrogation into whether the prosecutor believed Mugabe was a goblin.

That was the end of the story as the answer was in the negative, with the court making it clear that these were just political statements.

Mwonzora had approached the Constitutional Court, challenging the constitutionality of the charges, arguing that the State was infringing upon his right to freedom of expression.

Although this set the tone for the determination of the cases that were to follow including the Lumumba case, the police have not stopped from dragging people to court for mere bar talks and jests.

For Lumumba, he had been hauled before the courts following statements he made during the official launch of his political outfit Viva Zimbabwe at a local hotel in Harare on June 30 last year.

During his address Lumumba, referring to Mugabe, reportedly said; “You have not been insulted, you are only insulted by protesters.

“…Mugabe f**k you, I am drawing the red line, our kids are in trouble so, it’s a red line…and my name is Lumumba, Lumumba, Lumumba.”

This landed him in trouble.

Many like Lumumba have found themselves condemned in prisons for passing a comment that either reprimands or challenges, or if the police feel like it, insults the president.

Although the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, that right falls away the moment one has Mugabe in their statements.

According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), a civic rights group which represents ordinary people in legal matters, by 2016, it had represented over 150 persons since 2010, who were dragged to court charged with insulting Mugabe.

Still those are the lucky ones who would have access to the lawyers, for some are just arrested by the police and then released after some time behind bars.

Lawyers have previously castigated the Mugabe insult law, which they argued defied the rule of law.

In October 2010, Zebediah Mpofu, a Harare resident, found himself victimised under the same section.

Mpofu, a general hand at a private security firm had stated that “President Mugabe had ruined the country and that he was going to be dead by December 2010 then MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai would take over as president of Zimbabwe.”

The prosecutors charged that by uttering such statements Mpofu had undermined the authority or insulted Mugabe.

However, Mpofu’s agony ended in October 2011 after a magistrate removed him from remand and ordered the State to proceed by way of summons.

In 2011, the now Chief Justice Luke Malaba ruled that the State’s facts which led to the arrest of a Bulawayo girl on allegations of sending Mugabe’s “nude” picture on the social network, WhatsApp, were confused.

Malaba was commenting on the case of Shantel Rusike, who was charged under the same section after sending a WhatsApp picture depicting a nude Mugabe.

Underneath the picture was written; “Robert Mugabe turning 87 years on 21 February 2011. Happy birthday (Matibili Operation).”

An informant advised security agents who intercepted the picture, leading to Rusike’s arrest. The girl then filed a Constitutional Court application, seeking to have the charges quashed.

In 2012, a Beitbridge magistrate Auxillia Chiumburu freed a South Africa-based Zimbabwean vendor Benias Gwenhamo Madhakasi, who had been languishing in remand prison after he was arrested in April, 2012 at Beitbridge Border Post and charged with contravening Section 33.

He was found in possession of skeletal nude pictures portraying Mugabe’s images in his mobile phone handset and one of the pictures had an inscription which read; “Happy 87th birthday (Operation Matibiri) Robert Mugabe turning 87 years on February 21 2011.”

However, the case crumbled on July 24, 2012 after Chiumburu removed Madhakasi from remand and ruled that the State’s antics were equivalent to a fishing expedition.

In May 2013, Bindura magistrate Tendayi Chifamba acquitted former Energy and Power Development minister Elton Mangoma who had been on trial on charges of undermining the authority of or insulting the president.

In January 2014, then Attorney General Johannes Tomana conceded that facts forming criminal charges against Bulawayo-based artist Owen Maseko, who was accused of insulting Mugabe, did not constitute an offence.

Maseko was accused of publishing “offensive” Gukurahundi paintings prompting the Constitutional Court to summon Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, to justify the constitutionality of the offence.

Mnangagwa, through the Attorney General’s office told the court that the law was justifiable in a democratic society.

Mugabe’s friends-turned-foes like war veterans leaders Douglas Mahiya, Victor Matemadanda, Francis Nhando, Headman Moyo and Hoyini Samuel Bhila, were once accused of undermining the president in cases that also fell by the wayside.

Only last week, Pentecostal Church leader Phillip Mugadza, who is accused of “predicting” Mugabe’s death had his case referred to the Constitutional Court for determination.

He is however, 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.

In his application for referral, Mugadza argued 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.

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HARARE - Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo and police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri have denied deploying riot police to the Harare Magistrates’ Court, where they allegedly brutally assaulted a 63-year-old Chitungwiza woman during a protest last year.

In their response to a High Court application in which they are being sued by Lillian Chinyerere for $13 500 for pain and trauma, the duo argued that the pictures which are being used as evidence of the assault might have been doctored.

High Court judge David Mangota on Wednesday presided over a pre-trial conference (PTC) to determine the issues for trial.

Chinyerere’s lawyer, David Hofisi, told the Daily News after the PTC that they will ask for a set down date for trial of the matter later.

“The matter will be referred to trial; the police have to file the summary of evidence by Friday and we will file the amended PTC minutes,” he said.

In response, the police are denying the allegations.

“... of all the police officers who were deployed at Rotten Row magistrates’ court, no one was further deployed to man the entrance. In short, no armed police officers were deployed at court on the day in question. Furthermore, there was no official report of any assault having occurred at Rotten Row magistrates’ court entrance till to date,” the affidavit reads.

“There are high chances that the photograph was doctored to suit the complainant’s requirements. The complainant failed to make a formal report at any police station in Harare province which clearly shows that the allegations are an afterthought by the complainant with the aim at tarnishing the image of the of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Had it been true the complainant was assaulted on the day in question at Harare Magistrates’ Court, there must be some other people captured in the photograph since there were a lot of people at the court. It is unbelievable that there are no other people...”

Chinyerere claims she was brutally assaulted by riot police officers while sitting near the court entrance at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on August 26, 2016.

Riot officers allegedly kicked her repeatedly with booted feet and struck her several times with truncheons.

According to summons filed at the High Court, Chinyerere, who has high blood pressure and is diabetic, suffered the ignominy of a brutal assault on her aging body in full view of the public and also suffered physical harm as well as harm to her dignity as she was humiliated in full view of the public.

Hofisi said Chinyerere suffered injuries on her back and shoulder and has been unable to proceed with her job as a tailor due to the injuries sustained and has been relying on well-wishers for her sustenance.

As a result of the assault, she suffered damages amounting to $13 500 broken down as $5 000 for pain and suffering, $5 000 for contumelia, $2 000 as special damages for loss of income and $1 000 as special damages for past and future medical expenses.

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HARARE - TheMDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai is drafting a new policy document that it says will put the country on the recovery path once they form the next government.

MDC vice president Nelson Chamisa told the Daily News yesterday that under the new policy document that is dubbed Smart — the country’s main opposition party details its programme of action once it is elected into government.

“This weekend the MDC leadership and stakeholders completed the drafting of the alternative policy blueprint in a new Zimbabwe.

“We met over the weekend to sculpture and fashion new smart policies and government work programme (GWP) to be rolled out once MDC forms and becomes the next government in 2018 or earlier,” said Chamisa.

With the country mired by economic and social crisis highlighted by serious cash shortages and poor standards of living, Chamisa who is charged with supervision of policy and research in MDC said it is now forgone that President Robert Mugabe and his government will lose the keenly awaited 2018 polls.

“The party seeks to come up with smart new, updated, simplified and user friendly policy proposals replacing the current Agenda for Real Transformation (ART) policy document and JUICE which are now outdated.

“The MDC has an exciting raft of smart policy proposals and measures designed to deal with the daily challenges and problems Zimbabweans are facing. The policy project is an unassailable and credible alternative to the current national decay and collapse.

“The alternative policy narratives have been developed in areas of governance, the economy, infrastructure, devolution, dealing with corruption, health, education, social interventions and citizen rights and protection including foreign policy,” said Chamisa.

Critics say over the years the country has produced brilliant blueprints that are, however, not being implemented.

Presently, Zanu PF is working on its economic blueprint code-named ZimAsset which has, despite its high sounding objectives, proved to be a hard sell as it failed to attract investment and unlock the country’s potential.

“The document is now being circulated internally and among stakeholders for further input and inclusive consultation by organs of the party in all the provinces and districts.

“The document will then finally be approved and adopted by the national council in due course. We call upon all interested citizens and stakeholders to contribute their idea, views and aspirations as we continue to enrich our policy blueprint to deal with the debilitating crisis and deadening poverty our country is currently sweating under,” said Chamisa.

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HARARE - As political parties gear up for the 2018 general election, women’s participation in the campaigns and the actual vote will change the political dynamics and future leadership of the country.

The country might for the first time meet the 2015 Sadc Gender Protocol target of at least 50 percent representation of women in all areas of political decision and also uphold the Constitution which promotes women’s participation in governance.

Several organisations and political parties have launched rigorous campaigns to make women visible in 2018 election.

International organisation Hivos recently hosted women from various political parties under a “Women for Leadership programme” to discuss women’s participation in the coming elections.

However, the sentiment was that women were shying away from politics because of the violent nature of Zimbabwe’s politics.

Political parties have on the other hand committed themselves to ensuring that women get equal opportunities as their male counterparts in the election.

MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said his party was working to have gender parity so that there would be 50-50 representation of men and women in municipalities and in Parliament.

“The MDC believes in creating an environment in which women and the youth will take up positions of authority and influence in both the party and the elective organs of the State such as in municipalities and in Parliament.

“As a political party, we are actively encouraging and empowering women within our structures to contest for positions as both municipal and parliamentary candidates,” Gutu told the Daily News.

People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said his party would ring-fence certain constituencies to ensure that women fully participate in the election.

“We have a 50 -50 policy on women participation. We believe that women are more than men and we should have that reflected in the institutions. We will ring fence some constituencies and wards for women. And we will select 50 percent women in our Cabinet and 50 percent of the permanent secretaries will be women.”

Zimbabwe’s Constitution specifically aims to promote gender balance in Section 17 and 1(a). “The State must promote the full participation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality with men; (b) the State must take all measures, including legislative measures, needed to ensure that (i) both genders are equally represented in all institutions and agencies of government at every level; and (ii)women constitute at least half the membership of all Commissions and other elective and appointed governmental bodies established by or under this Constitution or any Act of Parliament,” it reads.

Zimbabwe experienced a positive development in the 2013 elections where women’s representation in Parliament doubled from about 17 percent following the 2008 general elections, to 35 percent in the 2013 elections.

However, the number of women who actually won, fell from 34 to 26.

Women comprised 124 of the 350 Members of Parliament, including 86 women in the National Assembly – 60 in the reserved seats and 26 elected directly to the 210 constituency seats.

However, President Robert Mugabe’s Cabinet in 2013 was a great disappointment as women’s representation stood at 11,5 percent down from 16 percent in the 2008 Cabinet.

Mugabe appointed only three women ministers out of the 26 MPs, Olivia Muchena as the Higher and Tertiary Education minister; Oppah Muchinguri as Women Affairs minister, and Sithembiso Nyoni as Small and Medium Enterprises minister.

Out of the 24 deputy ministers only four were women.

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HARARE - Zimbabwean civil society organisations (CSOs) are planning to stage a protest over the Diaspora vote, as they up pressure on President Robert Mugabe’s government to allow foreign-based citizens to vote in next year’s elections.

The demonstration will be held in neighbouring South Africa (SA), where millions of Zimbabweans migrated to as political and economic refugees.

According to the Zimbabwean Constitution promulgated in 2013, Diasporans are allowed to exercise their right to vote, but government is yet to align the law.

Tajamuka spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi yesterday confirmed to the Daily News that his group, together with other like-minded CSO, were planning to march in SA on June 27 in their quest to have Diasporans allowed to vote in Zimbabwe’s 2018 poll.

“We are demanding that the government allows those in the Diaspora to exercise their right to vote, if that fails, those that are in the Diaspora must come to register and vote in Zimbabwe.

“We are pushing for both campaigns,” he said, adding “I can confirm that it is our project and other civil society organisations”.

He referred further questions to a point person in SA, who was however, not reachable at the time of going to print.

According to the programme, the march is set to begin from Union Building Circle in Pretoria and end at the Zimbabwean embassy.

The campaign is going under the hashtag #DiasporaVoteMyRight.

This comes at a time when the Zimbabwean government has been facing mounting pressure from several civil society groups and individuals to accord citizens living in foreign lands an opportunity to vote in the 2018 general elections.

Recently, war veterans added their voice in the call for the government to include the Diaspora vote in next year’s elections.

There are millions of Zimbabweans living outside the country for political and economic reasons.

Political analysts have in the past urged the government to align the country’s laws to the Constitution to allow the foreign-based citizens their right to vote in any election.

However, government has been dragging its feet on the process, amid claims that the Diaspora vote is important in bringing about change in the country.

Zanu PF has been on record claiming that it will not reform itself out of power, in move that will likely see it not making any significant progress in terms of aligning the country’s laws to the Constitution.

This is despite that several countries across the world afford their nationals abroad an opportunity to participate in elections. As for Zimbabwe, this chance is only given to civil servants in diplomatic missions.

Last year, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) said it would require in excess of $281 million to prepare for the 2018 elections if the Diaspora vote was to be included.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network has also been calling for the Diaspora vote agenda which includes options such as litigation, with those disadvantaged by the existing policies petitioning the country’s courts seeking an order compelling government to allow them to vote.

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HARARE - A fresh political storm has erupted over the awarding of the closely-scrutinised tender for the country’s biometric voter registration (BVR) kits to a Chinese company by the under pressure Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).

Outraged members of the opposition told the Daily News yesterday that the “controversial” award of the BVR tender was allegedly a ploy by the ruling Zanu PF to “manipulate” the results of the eagerly-awaited 2018 national polls.

This comes as opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC has also said it has gathered “overwhelming information” that Zec wants to disenfranchise voters in their urban strongholds, by increasing voter registration points in rural areas.

Zec announced on Thursday last week that a Chinese company, Laxton Group, had been awarded the hotly-contested tender to supply Zimbabwe with BVR kits — prompting the MDC to react angrily to the development, claiming that this was designed to benefit Zanu PF in the watershed 2018 polls.

“This (the awarding of the BVR tender to Laxton) is contrary to the recommendation of the political parties that observed the BVR validation process.

“The reasons for the Zec behaviour are manifold. First, it was a clear directive from the so-called State Procurement Board which was appointed by the Zanu PF government.

“Secondly, it is simply the perpetuation of the friendship of Zanu PF and the Communist Party of China. However, the main reason for this unmeritorious award is to discourage our people from registering to vote.

“Zanu PF and Zec do not want Zimbabweans to register in their numbers as this will clearly signal the end of Zanu PF.

“Our plea therefore to Zimbabweans is to ignore this act of discouragement and register to vote en mass,” MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said.

“We must convert this disadvantage into an advantage.  The obstacles that the enemy is putting in the path of the people’s victory should motivate us into working harder. We need to unite more than ever before and protect our vote.

“We are also working hard to ensure that the process of voter registration is not manipulated further. No amount of forgery, fraud or subterfuge can defeat an idea whose hour has come. This is the time to unite,” he added.

However, Zanu PF laughed off MDC’s claims of rigging.

“Why should we rig elections, we have the people. We have the followers, people like our policies and programmes that resonate with them,” said Zanu PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo.

Zimbabwe’s quest to acquire BVR kits earlier this year caused a huge political storm, with opposition parties viewing the government’s involvement in the purchase of the equipment as problematic.

This was after the government suddenly decided to sideline the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from procuring the BVR kits, with unanswered questions being raised about how and where President Robert Mugabe’s stone-broke administration was able to secure funding for this, to the staggering tune of $17 million.

The opposition alleged even then that the government had hijacked the process to rig next year’s eagerly-anticipated national elections.

Tsvangirai and other opposition parties, coalescing under the banner of the (National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) have been pushing for much-needed electoral reforms ahead of the make-or-break polls — demanding that Zec chairperson Rita Makarau ceases to hold two crucial, but seemingly conflicting roles.

Makarau chairs Zec on a part-time basis while she holds a full-time position of secretary to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) — the appointing body for judiciary officials which also assigns and sets their conditions of service.

Makarau confirmed to State media at the weekend, without naming Laxton Group, that they had awarded the BVR tender to an undisclosed company.

“Our team is negotiating the terms of contract of supply with a team from the selected supplier. Once the terms are agreed upon we will then advise on the dates of delivery and date of commencement of the registration exercise,” she said.

Laxton Group was apparently awarded the tender after it proposed a $3,9 million budget to supply the BVR kits, while another bidder — Demalog Identification Systems of Germany — had charged $5,5 million.

Laxton Group is also said to have a footprint in Africa, supplying BVR kits to countries that include Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Last month the MDC claimed that Zec had allocated more BVR points in rural areas than urban areas — raising fears that this was a plan to frustrate urban voters into not registering.

Traditionally, the MDC has fared better in urban areas than in rural areas, while Zanu PF has relied on the rural vote which both the opposition and rights group say is secured through coercion and intimidation.

“Zec wants to manipulate the voters’ registration by starving areas that are perceived to be opposition strongholds, such as urban centres.

“A voters’ registration process should be transparent and inclusive, yet that is not what is happening.

“The Zec subcommittee involving political parties has not yet received the full report because this is all being done secretly,” MDC secretary for elections, Murisi Zwizwai said then.

“We are aware that there is an invisible hand of Zanu PF in all this and we are going to fight to ensure that Harare province, which has the highest numbers in terms of population has the highest number of voter registration centres,” Zwizwai added.

The MDC said from the information it had gathered, Bulawayo would have 392 centres, Matabeleland South 623 and Midlands 1 348 registration centres in phase one of the registration exercise.

In phase two, Matabeleland North would tentatively have 764 registration centres, Masvingo 1 238 and Manicaland, which would be dealt with in phase three, would have 1 003 centres.

For phase three, Mashonaland East would have 1 200, while Mashonaland Central would have 822.

In the final phase, Mashonaland West would have 1 303 centres, compared to a mere 700 for Harare.

And yet according to the 2012 national census, Harare province — which includes Chitungwiza and Ruwa — had the highest provincial population of 2 123 132, while Mashonaland West had a population of 1 501 656 people.

Tsvangirai also recently warned that Mugabe and his warring ruling Zanu PF — fearful of losing the 2018 poll — were allegedly working feverishly to steal next year’s elections.

His concerns emerged as the MDC president was concluding his tour of Mashonaland East, where he interacted with traditional leaders — who opened up to him on how they were allegedly being roped in by Zanu PF to become part of the apparatus to ensure victory for the ruling party in 2018.

Traditional chief after traditional chief had apparently told Tsvangirai during his tour of the restive Mashonaland East province, which is traditionally a Zanu PF stronghold, that they were being forced to not only join the ruling party, but to also lead its cells and wards — and to actively work to help rig next year’s polls.

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ZVISHAVANE - Shabanie Mine and FC Platinum are doing everything to keep their small town together ahead of today’s potentially explosive Zvishavane derby at Maglas Stadium.

With all due respect to the Harare derby between Dynamos and CAPS United which is one of the flagship fixtures in the Castle Lager Premiership, today’s match is way bigger for Zvishavane.

Here, football is a religion with the bulk of the population adherents of Shabanie which was formed in 1914.

FC Platinum was only formed in 1995 and since then there is no love lost between the two sets of supporters.

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The rivalry escalated when the platinum miners were promoted into the top flight in 2011.

Since then, when the two teams clash, it is a spectacle with the two sets of fans painting the town green and claret.

After a brief spell in Division One, Shabanie are back in the Premiership and today they hope to continue with their streak of getting good results against the big hitters in the league.

The Chinda Boys have already beaten Highlanders and drawn with both CAPS United and Dynamos

With expectations high on both ends, peace is at stake as an electric atmosphere has been pervading the mining town for days now and both teams are appealing for calm.

“We are a family; we live in the same community. This is just football. It is important that we manage our emotions so that it unites us further,” Shabanie Mine coach Takesure Chiragwi said at a joint press conference.

“We don’t want violence. We wouldn’t want people to be afraid to come to our games.”

FC Platinum assistant coach Lizwe Sweswe also appealed for calm.

“Football is a family sport. It’s good for the Zvishavane people and we want all our teams’ fans to also bring their families… the rivalry should just be for 90 minutes,” Sweswe said.

Adding that both teams could reap huge financial rewards from the derby if the rivalry does not degenerate into violence.

“If there is violence in our games people will not come. Many teams the world over live off the money fans pay to watch their games. It should be a derby that benefits football in this town.”

FC Platinum have a better head-to-head record over their neighbours who last won against them in 2013.

“In football there are no small boys. We are approaching this game as any other. Shabanie are a very good side and we have been preparing with the full intensity that the match deserves,” Sweswe said.

Chiragwi said: “There is no coach who can prepare to lose… The most important objective of our training is to play well and collect maximum points.”

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HARARE - Ex-Zimbabwe cricket coach Alan Butcher triggered renewed hope of seeing former captain Tatenda Taibu back into the national colours again one more time.

Whether the drive was sincere or made in jest it certainly had many Taibu fans filled with lots of anticipation that the “Little Master” was about to make a comeback.

Taibu quit the game at a young age when in 2012 he decided to walk away to concentrate on his work in the church when he was only 29.

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It was Taibu himself, now the Zimbabwe Cricket convenor of selectors who took to social media to share with his legion of followers’ part of his discussion with Butcher after the two reunited in England last week.

Taibu is currently in Liverpool, England, with a 16-man squad of aspiring cricketers under his newly formed Zimbabwe Rising Stars Academy.

“Catching up on many a battles we fought together with @abutch58 and him trying hard to convince me to play again. To that I just smiled...,” Taibu tweeted.

“And so you should,” came Butcher’s immediate response.

After that shot exchange between the two, Taibu’s followers began to reminisce how he used to play the game as they hoped that it might trigger him to come out of retirement. 

“The reverse sweep, running between the wickets & the keeping...my favourite cricketer after Andy Flower, such talent,” @ttheblaqboi wrote.

“One more time please,” @weeyan29 weighed in while @KTsekwende said the whole nation awaits Taibu’s return, “Tiba he’s (Butcher) not the only one trying to convince you....the nation wills it too.”

Others reminded Taibu that he is a man of faith and should not waste the God-given talent that made him Zimbabwe’s first black test captain.

“Of course you can, why are you keeping that talent away God will punish you mate let’s use our God given talent,” @faraihilton wrote.

But speaking to the Daily News on Sunday from the UK, Taibu put to rest any chances of him donning the national team jersey again.

“Butch and I go back a long way and we just talk on and off about anything and no, it’s not something to be considered at all,” he said.

Butcher also admitted that he had failed to convince Taibu to make the comeback but was pleased that at least things are moving smoothly on the administration side.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen (Taibu coming out of retirement),” Butcher said.

“It was great to meet up with Tatenda (Taibu) and Stuart Matsikenyeri again and to hear of the good work they are doing with this group of players and to hear from Taibu of the progress being made at international level, particularly with regard to administration and governance.

“The squad were good natured, polite, well-behaved but also competitive and wholehearted on the field. The country can be proud of them.”Tatenda Taibu rules out sensational comeback

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HARARE - Shingirai Katsvere grew up hearing tales of his two grandfathers – Edward and Lloyd – who distinguished themselves as legendary footballers while wearing the famous blue and white Dynamos shirt.

Coming from such a famous football family, the young Katsvere always dreamed to be a top player in his own rights one day.

Even his parents had earmarked him to continue to carry the family name even when he was still at Adbernie Primary School.

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With such a famous surname, it was easy for the young footballer to walk straight into the school team with the coaches thinking that the apple would not fall far away from the tree.

“I remember when I was still in primary school, I tried to play football. I tried both goalkeeping and as an infield player. My parents were very supportive and they encouraged me a lot. They would buy me boots and other stuff but somehow I didn’t enjoy it as much.”

Katsvere’s ultimate goal was to represent the Warriors and probably earn a living as a professional footballer outside the country.

But as fate would have it, his future was totally changed when one day he accompanied his friend to a rugby practice session in 2008.

There is something about rugby that got Katsvere glued and in no time he was enrolled at the Mbare Academy where he quickly established himself as a utility back.

“It was a huge adjustment,” Katsvere said. “It’s kind of like a mix of soccer and football how the game is set up.

“On the physicality level, it is right up there if not more physical than football. The contact is more consistent and I liked it a lot. I like the physical part of the game.”

Since joining Mabare Academy, a brainchild of Victor Pekani and Milton Laken, Katsvere’s parents burden of paying schools disappeared as some of the elite schools were always knocking on their door ready to offer the budding rugby player a scholarship due to his immense talent.

At first, Katsvere joined Prince Edward School before going onto finish his education at Churchill Boys High – two of the most prestigious rugby schools in the country where some of the game’s greats have all learned their craft.

The 20-year old credits his move to Prince Edward where he worked with highly rated coach Shaun De Souza.

“I think that was my stepping stone. That’s where I really learnt how to pass the ball,” he said.

“I feel I was exposed to real rugby at Prince Edward with coach De Souza playing a huge part in my career development. He was more technical. I improved the way I play. He got to show me a lot of things I didn’t know.”

Katsvere’s exploits at Prince Edward especially during the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival would see him being included in the team that went to represent the country at the Zone V Youth Games in Botswana which was the beginning of good things for him.

In 2015 Katsvere made it into the Zimbabwe Under-18 Craven Week team but to his admission he failed to live up to expectations.

But he was to be afforded another chance to redeem himself the same year this time in the Zimbabwe Under-20 team.

“I was part of the Zimbabwe team that played the Junior World Cup qualifiers. It was one of the best experiences ever in my career,” he said.

“I was one of the young players, we couldn’t win but the experience was invaluable.”

The following year saw Katsvere being called to represent the country once again in the Junior World Trophy.

However, for Katsvere, the tournament almost ended his career as he suffered a serious injury on his shoulder.

It needed Junior Sables assistant and Churchill coach Bob Mahari to convince him to continue.

“It was a bad injury and I felt I would not come back and I thought of quitting,” Katsvere said.

“But thank God, there is a man called Mahari. He pushed me a lot not to quit. I really don’t know what he saw in me. I went on to do my rehab and come back stronger.

“I even worked my way back and went on to represent the country before I joined Old Georgians where I am currently playing.”

His goal now is earning a contract to play outside the country.

“Quite frankly, I want to play professional league one day probably in Super Rugby,” he said.

“I have faith I can get there but I need to work hard. I have a lot of work to do to ensure I reach that level.”

Old Georgians coach Grant Mitchell feels Katsvere has a bright future only if he keeps his head on the ground.

“He is an extremely talented youngster who compliments his talent with hardwork,” Mitchell said.

“He is going to be exciting to watch in the future. For someone of his age, he has good leadership qualities and has great ability to deal with pressure. He has a great energy and a very likeable character too. I think he has quite a bright future.”  

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HARARE - Dynamos legend Memory Mucherahohwa says regionalism was very present during his days with the Zimbabwe national team.

The former Dynamos skipper, now based in the United Kingdom, made the claims in his recently released autobiography; Soul of Seven Million Dreams: The Story of Memory Mucherahohwa.

“This is not something that most people would want to admit, but yes, bullying and regionalism exists in the national team,” Mucherahohwa writes.

“I am not sure if coaches and selectors were instructed to strike a balance between selecting Northern Region (Harare) and Southern Region (Bulawayo) based players, but I know that players were heavily divided along regional lines.

“It was not tribalism as some people may want to put it. At training sessions, it was not unusual to find Northern region-based players passing the ball among themselves ignoring their southern region counterparts. This was also the same case with the southern region-based players.

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“The sharing of rooms also went on regional lines. You could feel pity for players from the Midlands. Because of their lack of numbers, they mostly looked lost. They did not know which group to side with.”

Mucherahohwa, who is one of the most decorated players on the domestic scene, claims that he was faced with this problem from the very first time he stepped into the Warriors set-up.

“For me, the initiation to the regionalism came on my debut Warriors trip in 1989. I was 20-years-old then when the now late Ghanaian coach Ben Koufie called me up for the 1990 World Cup qualifier which was to be played in Algeria on January 6, 1989,” he writes.

“An uncharacteristically huge number of players were invited for camp at the outskirts of the capital Chikurubi because the technical team also wanted to select another team to also represent Zimbabwe at the 1989 Fifa Futsal World Cup held in Netherlands around the same time.

“I made it into the A team to Algeria and some of the players who made that team included Japhet Mparutsa, Ephraim Chawanda, Henry Mckop, Peter Fanuel, Angirayi Chapo, Moses Chunga, John Phiri, Edward Muchongwe, Alexander Maseko, Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda, Joel Shambo, Rahman Gumbo, Stanley Ndunduma, and Willard Khumalo. Though I wanted to be in the team that was going to Europe, I was equally happy.”

However, what was supposed to be a happy memory after earning his debut for the national team quickly turned into one of his darkest encounters as regionalism took centre stage.

“More surprises awaited me in Algeria as I was selected in the first team on my debut match appearance in the...Warriors colours. However, events prior to the match had unsettled me,” write.

“It is my belief that events that led to my being in the first team ahead of the late great...Khumalo did not go down well with some of the players from the southern region especially vice-captain...Chawanda.

“Khumalo shared the same room with Chawanda and throughout the trip they were always in each other’s company. That is why I hinted early on that it was regionalism and not tribalism that was the problem in the team as people were from different tribes but just rooted for their region mates or hometown boys.”

Just a few hours before kick-off tempers would boil over inside the Warriors camp as the northern region versus southern region camps clashed.

It so happened that a few minutes before the team left the hotel for the match venue, Chawanda was tasked to collect bibs from the players by the coach Koufie,” he writes.  

“Unfortunately, we had been told that we will be going back home soon after the match, so I had already packed my bags. ‘I will give you the bib after the match. I can’t unpack my bags now,’ I told him. Unfortunately, Chawanda mistook my response for rudeness.

“‘You should give me that bib now,’ he said, charging. Chawanda, who was now fuming in anger tried to punch me. I blocked the intended blow. Things happened so fast that Moses Chunga, who was the team captain, just looked on at us in surprise.

“We did not think that such an argument would lead to the team’s vice-captain assaulting a junior player. A rookie on his debut for that matter! I was scared and just unpacked my bags and gave him the bib.

“I could not understand his sudden surge in temper. The experience shook me and being only 20, I was scared.”

Mucherahohwa went on to start ahead of Khumalo and the Warriors lost the match 3-0 Djamel Menard (brace) and Raban Madjer scoring for the Desert Foxes.

However, with tensions high after the defeat, more trouble was in store on the Warriors journey back home.

“The incident however threatened an all-out war amongst the players on the plane on our way back to our home country Zimbabwe,” Mucherahohwa writes.

“It was clear that the fight was along regional lines. Soon after we had boarded the Harare bound plane in Athens, Greece, a misunderstanding arose between CAPS United’s Joel Shambo and Khumalo.

“The late Highlanders defender Mercedes Sibanda joined in on Khumalo’s side. It is at this point that Northern region based player Stanley Ndunduma joined in the brouhaha on Shambo’s side.

“Chawanda joined in support of his Southern region counterparts Sibanda and Khumalo. This is when all hell broke loose as Eddie Muchongwe challenged Chawanda telling him that he was aware that he had attempted to punch me just before the game we had lost in Algeria.

“‘As for you Chawanda keep quiet. We know that you punched Memory just before the game. I challenge you now to come into the passage for a fight and I will silence you with a sound hiding,’ Muchongwe charged at Chawanda.

“There were about four Dynamos players; myself, Peter Fanuel, Muchongwe and Angirayi Chapo and they all confronted Chawanda who backed off.

“There was chaos on the plane and since we were travelling at night, the lights were supposed to be off so that passengers could sleep. However, the captain had to switch them on and tried to talk sense into them but nobody listened. It ended up being Chapo versus Sibanda and they promised to fight soon after landing.

“The captain threatened them with arrest and that is when they calmed down. However, beer has its own way of uniting people. The players were drinking whiskey and by the time that the plane landed at Harare International Airport, Chapo and Sibanda were the best of buddies yet again. The incident showed how players were quick to fight in each other’s corners along regional lines.”

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HARARE - Zimbabwe's long distance runner Hatiwande Nyamande finished in second place during yesterday’s gruelling Comrades Marathon with a time of 5:38.48.

Nyamande finished behind South Africa’s Bongmusa Mthembu, who came home in a time of 5:35:34, to claim his second Comrades title.

Gift Kelehe of South Africa finished third in the 86.7km race from Durban to Pietermaritzburg with a time of 5:41.48.

Charles Tjiane took early control in the “up” run charging through the halfway point at Drummond in 2:47:29, nearly two minutes clear of a large chasing group.

Though he managed to extend his advantage in the early stages of the second half, however, Tjiane was caught by the pack, which had been whittled down to six men with 22km to go.

Gradually shaking off his opposition, as they dropped off the pace one by one, Mthembu took the lead approaching the infamous Polly Shortts climb with less than 10km remaining.

Mthembu, who won the Comrades “down” run in 2014 and bagged silver at the 100km World Championships last year, became the first South African man in 27 years to win the prestigious annual race more than once.

Meanwhile, in the women’s section, American runner Camille Herron overcame a stutter at the end to bag her maiden Comrades title.

Herron, who had missed out on two previous attempts at the race due to illness and injury, dominated the women’s event.

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BULAWAYO - Canicious Nyamutsa won the seventh and final edition of the Old Mutual Nkulumane Fun Run with a time of 29.15.86 in Bulawayo yesterday.

This was the last staging of the event after the sponsors Old Mutual announced that they were introducing the 21km half marathon next season in place of the 10km race.

The 25-year-old Nyamutsa, who was behind the leading pack for the better part of the race until the last three kilometres, believes hard work and endurance were behind his success.

“It’s through hard work that I managed to win today. I have always trained hard and pushed myself and it’s so encouraging that I am winning,” he said.

“My main target now is to represent my country at the Olympics and age is still on my side. In the race today, I struggled a lot in the down-hill however I gained momentum in the up-hill where my strength is.

“The pace setters were too fast for me in the first five kilometres and I really struggled to keep up the pace.”

Jacob Mugomeri came second in 29.35.59 while Misheck Sithole third in 29.51.82 minutes.

In the women’s category, rising star Bertha Chikanga won the 10km race in 35.15.86 while Rudo Mhondero came second in 35:80:36 and Patience Garauzive finished third in 36:05:86.

“It was an easy race for me, I had prepared well and managed to win. I will continue working hard to win more races and try to represent Zimbabwe in other championship,” the 20-year-old Chikanga said.

The winners of the male and female category in the main race pocketed $500 each while second and third got $400 and $300 respectively.

Veterans’ winner Trust Chidomaya also pocketed $500 after coming fifth in the main race.

Dumo Mkhwananzi and Raviro Magomo won the junior men and junior women’s 10km races while Elford Moyo and Margaret Bangajena won in the wheelchair competition.

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ZVISHAVANE - Shabanie Mine coach Takesure Chiragwi felt a draw was a fair result after sharing points with bitter rivals FC Platinum in a Castle Lager Premiership tie yesterday.

Former Harare City winger Talent Chawapuwa lit the fiercely-contested derby when he gave FC Platinum the lead just three minutes into the game.

But Wellington Taderera levelled matters on 14 minutes to ensure the two teams share spoils.

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With each side gaining a point it means Shabanie Mine remained in ninth place on the log table with 14 points after 12 matches while the platinum miners dropped to seventh place with 20 points having played two games less.

“It was a 50-50 game and a draw was a fair result. We conceded early after our defence lapsed in concentration but I was impressed with the attitude of my boys after the goal,” Chiragwi said after the match.

“We also went on to create many chances particularly in the first half.”

FC Platinum assistant gaffer Lizwe Sweswe felt their less-fancied opponents deserved the point.

“It was a fair result considering that Shabanie played well and we also played well… playing away from home, I also think a point is satisfactory,” Sweswe said.

With emotions high before the match, the result managed to appease the small mining town whose football allegiance is split down the middle between the two clubs.

Shabanie Mine, who are reeling under serious financial challenges, gave a good account of themselves as they frustrated their more fancied opponents throughout the afternoon with veteran defender William Mapfumo putting in a five-star performance.

Although the platinum miners settled first with a goal in their second raid at Shabanie Mine goal, the hosts were unfazed and closed down the visitors frustrating them out of their usually fluid passing game as they harassed and challenged.

With the Chinda Boys winning almost all the duels in midfield the equaliser was always coming.

Taderera did justice to a period of brilliant play as he was put through by Dylan Chivandire to slot home in a swift attacking play by the Chinda Boys.

With the score tied, neither team got any clear chances to go ahead with the second period particularly being nervy as both teams were more cautious.

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HARARE - Chapungu became only the second team to prevent Ngezi Platinum Stars from collecting maximum points at Baobab Stadium in the Castle Lager Premiership this season.

The only other time the platinum miners had failed to collect maximum points was when they were held to a 2-2 draw by defending champions CAPS United last month.  

Chapungu were full value for the point they picked up on the road after going toe-to-toe with the log leaders.

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With a bit of luck, the Air Force of Zimbabwe side could have emerged with a win as they caused some anxious moments for Ngezi goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya.

Yesterday’s result also meant that Ngezi’s five-game winning run had come to an end but they remain top though.

The platinum miners now have 26 points from 12 matches and enjoy a three-point lead over second placed Black Rhinos, who have a game in hand.

Ngezi coach Tonderai Ndiraya was disappointed with his side’s ponderous display as they were shut out by a disciplined Chapungu defence.

“I thought we were in control of the game especially in the first half as we created opportunities but we were not patient enough in front of goal,” Ndiraya said.

“We ended up just hitting the ball and rushing our efforts, we could not score. In the second half, we dropped our performance and we were a bit casual as we were second to the ball at most times.

“We were also lacking ideas on how to penetrate their defence. They came with a plan and we were not using our width to unlock them. We ended up just pumping balls into the box where they had more numbers.”

Chapungu coach Tendai Chikuni was happy that his side had kept another clean sheet this time against a Ngezi side that had scored seven goals in their last two matches.

“This is the sixth game for us without conceding a goal. I think in every game we have been playing recently, we are getting something and I’m happy with the point today,” Chikuni said.

“We knew we were playing against the log leaders; if you look at Ngezi, they have everything but we came here with a game plan.

“We saw how they played against Bulawayo City and we are the second team to come out with a point here; I have to give credit to the boys.

“If you look at it, we knew that in terms of ball possession they were going to be better than us that why we were defending in numbers and pressing them in the middle of the park.”

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HARARE - Warriors triker Knowledge Musona is now in the country and is expected to be among the squad when the team resumes training this afternoon for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia.

Musona arrived in the country on Saturday night after helping his side KV Oostende secure Europa League qualification for next season after beating Genk in a play-off last week.

Injured Mamelodi Sundowns winger Khama Billiat is expected to be in the country today.

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Billiat has missed Sundowns’ last two matches all in the African Champions League after suffering a knee injury.

Warriors coach Norman Mapeza is hoping the forward will have recovered in time for Sunday’s match at the National Sports Stadium.

SuperSport United defender Onismor Bhasera is expected to be in Harare tomorrow after having travelled to Lubumbashi for his side’s African Confederation Cup clash with TP Mazembe.  

The Warriors had broken camp last Friday to allow local players to represent their clubs at the weekend’s Castle Lager Premiership matches.

Mapeza is also faced with injury concerns of CAPS United pair — goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda and defender Dennis Dauda.

The two could only watch from the sidelines as the Green Machine suffered a humiliating 2-4 defeat at the hands of Libyan side Al-Ahli Tripoli on Friday in the African Champions League.

Last week, Mapeza reacted to the injuries by including Polokwane City goalkeeper George Chigova and inform Dynamos defender Lincoln Zvasiya into the provisional squad.

Most of the foreign-based players called for this particular tie arrived last week and took part in the training sessions alongside their counterparts in the local league at Yadah Hotel where they are camped.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Edmore Sibanda (CAPS United), Ariel Sibanda (Highlanders), Petros Mhari (FC Platinum), George Chigova (Polokwane City)

Defenders: Dennis Dauda (CAPS United), Partson Jaure (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Qadr Amini (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Onismos Bhasera (Supersport United), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Jameson Mukombwe, Sydney Linyama (Black Rhinos), Eric Chipeta (Ajax Cape Town), Lincoln Zvasiya (Dynamos)

Midfielders: Thabani Kamusoko (Young Africans), Devon Chafa, Ronald Chitiyo (CAPS United), Simon Shoko (FC Platinum), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Golden Arrows), Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns), Marvelous Nakamba (Vitesse Arnhem), Danny Phiri (Golden Arrows), Liberty Chakoroma (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Ovidy Karuru (Amazulu)

Strikers: Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates), Evans Rusike (Maritzburg United), Knowledge Musona (KV Oostende), Prince Dube (Highlanders).

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BULAWAYO - Two first half goals from Prince Dube and Roderick “The Prince” Mutuma ensured Highlanders retuned to winning ways after a 2-0 victory over Triangle in a Castle Lager Premiership match yesterday.

The Bulawayo giants had lost painfully in the last minute to city rivals Chicken Inn last month the last time they were at Barbourfields Stadium.

Their last league encounter against FC Platinum in Zvishavane was abandoned due to crowd trouble in added time with the scores 1-1.

With the win, the Bulawayo giants moved into sixth place on the log with 20 points from 10 matches to trail leaders Ngezi Platinum by six points.

Bosso coach Erol Akbay was pleased with the way his side had responded following the disappointments in recent weeks.

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“I’m very happy today because I got three points which are important at this stage. If I was to draw or lose again I was going to fall on the log standings,” the Dutchman said.

On the other hand, Triangle coach Taurai Mangwiro was disappointed with the way referee Happy Mabhena handled the match.

Mangwiro was particularly incensed by the decision by Mabhena to wave play on when a Bosso midfielder King Nadolo appeared to have handled inside the box in the second half.

“You might have seen a big decision (penalty decision) in the second half, had we been given that decision perhaps things could have gone our way but somehow because the referee is trying to control the game he doesn’t want the fans to be riotous,” Mangwiro said.

“The referee is failing to make the right decision because he wants to control a riotous crowd and it’s very unfortunate for the teams that are going to travel here for as long as we have this kind of atmosphere. Where is our football heading.”

Due to the recent incidents of crowd trouble at Highlanders matches, there was an unprecedented large number of police officers providing security at the match.

And according to Mangwiro, the decision to inundate the venue with law enforcement agents turned the ground into a warzone and it unsettled his players.

“Highlanders used the opportunities that came their way and punished us but I have some reservations in as far as the atmosphere is concerned,” he said.

“The heavy presence of police, I don’t think football needs all this, I know it’s for the safety of fans but when the players see that scenario, what is it, are we here for sport or war.”

Turning to the game, the hosts opened the scoring in the ninth minute through the impressive Dube.

The Warriors forward received a pass from skipper Rahman Kutsanzira outside the box before outpacing his markers to beat Triangle goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu.

Bosso continued to play some beautiful football as they dominated the Sugar Sugar Boys but were let down by poor finishing in front of goal.

One such disappointing moment was in the 28th minute when Roderick Mutuma was released by Simon Munawa following a good build up.

Mutuma was one-on-one against Mudimu but shot straight at the visitors’ goalkeeper when he had the entire net to aim for.

The Bosso forward finally got it right on the stroke of half time when he headed home a cross from Bukhosi Ncube.

While the second half produced some entertaining football, no goals came either way despite numerous attempts at goals.

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HARARE - Plaza Pharmacies, which has been operating in the country for the past 20 years, has been placed under judicial management.

This comes as at least a dozen firms from various sectors of the economy applied for either liquidation or judicial management in January this year due to worsening economic conditions.

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The company’s judicial manager Modern Mutumwa of The Saint Consultancy said the first meeting of creditors and members will be held at the Master of High Court on June 14, 2017.

“Plaza Pharmacies was placed under judicial management towards the end of January this year,” he told the businessdaily yesterday.

Mutumwa said there were high chances that the company could be revived as it was now on a strong financial position.

“There were few management issues that led to judicial management but I am happy to say that the company is now doing quite well,” he added.

Meanwhile, Liftquip Limited (Liftquip) has filed for liquidation at a time when the economic crisis is deepening characterised by a debilitating liquidity crunch as evidenced by an acute cash shortage, low capacity utilisation and obsolete equipment.

At least 260 companies from the food, engineering and clothing sectors closed shop last year, with a total of 8 843 workers being retrenched in 2015 and 2016 as the economy continues to contract.

Liftquip liquidator Bernamy Chiganze yesterday said the first meeting of members and creditors will also be held at the Master of High Court on June 14.

“We kindly request all creditors to attend this meeting and lodge their claims. A duly appointed representative of your organisation should appear in person before the Master of High Court in order to prove your claim,” Chiganze added.

Liftquip’s application for liquidation comes at a time when more than 260 applications have been made to retrench workers, with more than a quarter of the applications made by State entities.

The commercial sector has the highest number of retrenchment applications with 77, while parastatals have 70 requests to lay off workers.

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HARARE - Safari operator African Bush Camps is set to open a new campsite in Mana Pools National Park.

The new development is in line with an offer letter from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and a proposed lease.

The new semi-permanent 24-bed tented exclusive camp at Nkupe Campsite inside the game reserve is part of ongoing efforts by ZimParks to ensure that the country’s national parks are operating in a financially viable and environmentally sustainable manner.

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African Bush Camps, which has engaged Black Crystal Consulting to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment, said the project contributes to specific global sustainable development goals — clean energy and responsible non-consumptive tourism and to the infrastructure and utilities cluster of ZimAsset.

Last month, African Bush Camp opened another campsite, Somalisa Expeditions, in Hwange National Park.

The camp is fitted with six Serengeti-style tents, each furnished and with panoramic views of the plains of Hwange. The en-suite bathrooms have been upgraded and include flush toilets and running showers. The camp also has an “elephant pool”.

Somalisa Expeditions’ main area includes a lounge and dining area on a raised deck that overlooks a small pool.

In 2016, the company said it was expanding into Zambia after taking over the site of Thorntree River Lodge on the banks of the Zambezi in Livingstone, a short distance from the Victoria Falls.

African Bush Camps chief executive Beks Ndlovu said Thorntree River Lodge was being redeveloped to fit with African Bush Camps’ style.

“We are not rebuilding from scratch but rather redeveloping the facility. Thorntree is currently in the style of stone chalets, so we are keeping those structures but tenting the roof structures so that it fits in with the style of African Bush Camps,” he said.

He said the lodge would have eight twin rooms and two family units, each with four beds. Each unit will have its own indoor and outdoor bathrooms and a private plunge pool.

Ndlovu added that the main lodge would consist of a lounge with an open dining area, a gym and a spa overlooking the Zambezi River.

“The communal deck is set on the edge of the stunning riverside and is home to a sunken boma area and an infinity pool.”

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