HARARE - Zimbabwean musician Brian Nhira (24), who was praised last year by American music star Pharrell Williams after an electric performance on the American prime-time show, The Voice, will hold a free concert at News Café Borrowdale on Saturday afternoon.

Nhira, who also won plaudits American country music singer Blake Shelton for his exploits on The Voice, is a son of a church minister.

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“My dad is a travelling minister. Our family has travelled together for 16 years of my life…My parents make their living travelling in ministry (church) and I have been to Africa on 10 mission trips,” the rising musician revealed during his stint on The Voice last year, adding that Zimbabwe would always remain dear.

“Zimbabwe is so near and dear to my heart, my parents are from there (Zimbabwe). I go back every year to Zimbabwe, I spend a lot of my summers in Zimbabwe, singing and speaking there, and so, man, I am honored to represent this great nation.”

The promising artiste, whose music is inclined towards gospel, has released several singles which include Back Where You Belong (2015), Still Believe (2015) and his latest Would You Still Love Me? Which he released this year.

Nhira said he wrote ‘Would You Still Love Me' while getting ready to board an airplane heading to a friend's wedding: "Sitting in the airport terminal, I noticed an elderly couple. The wife was in a wheel chair and it was evident that she couldn't speak or move on her own. As drool dripped from her mouth, her husband wiped it away.

"In that moment, I was confronted with the reality that I was getting ready to witness the wedding of my good friend and his bride who are both young and full of life. They would soon commit to loving each other for the rest of their lives without a clue as to the circumstances the future would bring.

"As I continued to observe the elderly couple, in that airport terminal, I began to think of how at one point in their lives they stood at the altar, both full of life, but somewhere along the line... something happened. It is that experience that birthed the song,” he wrote on his website.

The Zimbabwean musician’s debut album is titled ‘Hope’s Stand’ and is available on ITunes.

At his News Café Borrowdale homecoming show, Nhira will share the stage with several local musicians who include Heavy Machine singer Bryan K, Tamy, Zim Hip Hop star Simba Tagz, Tinashe Makura, Prayersoul and ShashI.

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HARARE - Zimbabwean fans of Jamaican music star Alkaline appear destined to wait longer for the controversial artiste to hold a maiden concert in the country.

The Jamaican star was originally scheduled to perform at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on August 26 but organisers of the concert — 2 Kings Entertainment — cast doubt on the gig yesterday.

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“We have encountered a lot of logistical problems in our bid to bring the Jamaican star to Harare and because of that we are already working on an alternative plan,” 2 Kings Entertainment spokesperson, Dee Nosh, told the Daily News.

He added that they had already contacted “an even bigger and legendary Jamaican star.”

“I can’t reveal specific details now because we have to notify the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe first but believe me on August 26 we will have a top Jamaican star at the HICC,” said the 2 Kings Entertainment spokesperson.

Though Dee Nosh was unwilling to identify the Jamaican star who could replace Alkaline, a well-placed source told the Daily News that 2 Kings Entertainment had settled on the King of Dancehall himself, Beenie Man.

“Beenie Man has been in Zimbabwe before and is reportedly keen to return to Zimbabwe. He is an attractive option because he has a big following in this country,” the source said.

The first and only time Beenie Man performed in Zimbabwe was in 2010 when he was brought to Zimbabwe by Delta Beverages to headline the Lion Lager Beer Festival which was held at Old Hararians Sports Club.

Then he shared the stage with several local artistes who included Suluman Chimbetu, Winky D, Stunner and Madiz.

If either Alkaline or Beenie Man make it to Zimbabwe, it will be yet confirmation of how Zimbabwe has become a popular destination for international reggae/dancehall artistes.

A string of top-notch Jamaican entertainers who include Chris Martin, Konshens, Capleton, Fantam Moja, Mr Vegas, Charlie Black, Busy Signal, Kalado, Elephant Man, Luciano, Sizzla, Mavado and Popcaan have performed in Zimbabwe in recent years.

Another Jamaican star Antony B will perform in Harare on June 23 at the Glamis Arena in an event that will also feature Winky D and Jah Prayzah among other local musicians.

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HARARE - Advertising and Multimedia firm, VPCG is now Zimbabwe’s first fully data-driven agency which offers a vast selection of social media global tools and access to massive database of case studies and digital services.

The Agency now offers all round digital solutions following the signing of an affiliation agreement with world renowned digital agency, Wunderman Global.

This development means VPCG becomes the first Communication Agency in Zimbabwe that has evolved and latched onto the global phenomenon of Digital Media.

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The company’s chief executive Reg Makuchete said he was thrilled to offer the Zimbabwean market a service which will see brands maximise their digital capacity to reach their customers while enjoying access to data and analytics that will enable companies to carry out initiatives to enhance profitability.

“We are an agency that is highly adaptive and embrace the future. As we evolve towards solidifying our digital drive we seek to add value to our clients by offering data analytics that base marketing communications on consumer behaviour and environmental trends derived from data gathered on and off line,” he said.

Makuchete said their clients will be equipped with the best communication medium to exploit.

“It’s no longer about just creating a pretty advert, but about ensuring our clients are responding to the needs of their customers using the most accessible medium at the most convenient times and at competitive pricing.

“Our target is to ensure that the VPCG client enjoys full mileage on brand equity and attains long term loyalty from their customers,” he added.

VPCG, which began operations in April 2007, has tapped into the biggest concern of its clients and is making efforts to be at the forefront of offering best customers experience. 

“Today’s customer is an avid digital consumer with some digital device being the first and last touch points of communication when customers wake up or go to sleep. We believe that tapping into the digital mind frame of consumers is the future for any business that is looking to survive tomorrow,” Makuchete said

VPCG is a fully certified member of the Advertising Media Association and Zimbabwe Association of Accredited Practitioners in Advertising.  The group offers professional creative through to fully-fledged advertising campaigns, digital solutions, public relations services, corporate financial reporting, web designs and motion graphics.

It has scooped several advertising awards including the much coveted Marketing Association of Zimbabwe Superbrand Award in 2016.

Wunderman global operates in more than 68 countries across the world and is part of WPP, the world’s biggest agency network. Wunderman Global has received numerous accolades in various world markets for delivering first class digitally sophisticated methodologies on campaigns that yielded massive rewards for clients.

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HARARE - Low-cost airline Fly Africa Zimbabwe (Fly Africa) has resumed operations after an 18-month hiatus after the company was acquired by a local firm, Mugwagwa Resources. Our deputy business editor, Ndakaziva Majaka spoke to Fly Africa executive chairperson, Cassidy Mugwagwa, about the airline’s operations. Below are excerpts of the interview.

Q: Fly Africa has not been operating for quite some time now and passengers are wondering if everything is in place and you have enough equipment to resume operations. How many planes do you have?

A: We have got access to seven aeroplanes.

Q: Are they on a lease or you have bought them?

A: We are currently purchasing. We are in negotiations to purchase new aircraft starting with two that we are purchasing.

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Q: Are you at liberty to disclose the source from which you are purchasing the aeroplanes?

A: The first two that we are buying are second hand. They are presently undergoing pre-delivery maintenance at Lufthansa in Germany. They are two Boeing 737 700 aircrafts.

Q: Fly Africa’s former shareholders submitted the airline’s Airline operator Certificate (AOC), does the carrier have adequate regulatory and compliance papers?

A: There is not a single certificate or flight licence that we do not have… We were granted our AOC two weeks ago… Before that we were given our government’s thumbs up to fly, via what they call an Air Service Permit from the Transport ministry and then from there the Civil Aviation Authority granted us our new AOC.

Q: Which routes are you targeting?

A: We are renewing what was there. When we start to fly we are going to be doing domestic flights in what is called the Zimbabwe Triangle, which is Harare – Victoria Falls – Bulawayo and back the same way daily for a month or so, while our technical people get back into the business of things. A month later, we will then start with the regional flights to Johannesburg and then looking onwards to Gaborone and Lusaka.

Q: The aviation environment has changed since the last time the carrier was flying, how do you plan on tackling increased competition?

A: Fly Africa does not have competition, unless I am mistaken. What is happening is that we are not there to compete. I understand Air Zimbabwe’s challenges. I understand Fastjet’s challenges and I also understand Rainbow’s challenges. The government to government agreement between South Africa and Zimbabwe now allows for a 100 frequencies each side of the border. We have renewed the frequencies that were there before and we are going to be taking to the skies and doing what was there before. We will then expand as we go.

Q: Do you understand what went wrong when Fly Africa went into hiatus 18 months ago?

A: I do not know. I have never met the previous shareholders and whoever was here. I answered what is called by the court a default call option. The company was on its knees, workers exposed and it was advertised that someone should take it up. So, I myself through my company we took up the challenge and we end up were we are now. I took over the business from an arm’s length and my lawyers undertook the deal on my behalf.

Q:  Following your takeover, is the airline compliant with the country’s indigenisation laws?

A: Fly Africa is 100 percent owned by Zimbabweans. The whole thing world-wide, we even own the name Fly Africa. The group in South Africa went into liquidation and we let them go into liquidation, we were only interested in the local entity because it is only the local entity that was licensed to fly. The rest were just set up dummy companies in anticipation of growth.

Q:  Are you at liberty to disclose the new shareholding structure?

A: My name is Cassidy Mugwagwa, my family and I own Mugwagwa Holdings — a private business that now owns Fly Africa. The vehicle that was used to take over Fly Africa business is called Low Cost Enterprises. It is just a holding concern, just where all the shares are housed. Low Cost Enterprises is my business and that is the business used to house over these businesses. This includes Nu Aero, trading as Fly Africa Zimbabwe Limited and there is also a company called Air Connect, I took over. It is this company that owned the name Fly Africa, and that was my stimulus to buy the owner over.

Q: How much has been invested in the airline so far?

A: We are about $6,6 million in.

Q: For the past few years some airlines have threatened to take to the skies but are yet to do so, what makes Fly Africa different from these?

A: The thing is the planes are being branded and balanced in South Africa. We are just holding back because there is some money that is yet to get to one of the suppliers. Unlike other players, our plane was actually delivered to Harare in April. Everyone was here and we even had a demonstration flight. We have also refurbished the airport and our properties. We are here to stay. We already have an office in Borrowdale and Avondale is going up as well, Meikles in town, Machipisa, Roadport and Westgate as well. What you need to understand about Fly Africa is that they did not fail as a business; they just had a shareholder dispute.

Q: What did you do about the company’s existing employees?

A: We have offered them their old contracts back. Of course some had moved on and what not, but those who were happy with their contracts took up the offer.

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HARARE - Two Zimbabwean entrepreneurs, Shaleen Manhire Nullens and Knight Ganje, are among the top 30 successful African entrepreneurs under the age of 30, according to the latest Forbes Africa 2017.

The list features 300 young innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders — 30 in each of the 10 categories —who are challenging conventions and making an impact in today’s world.

Nullens, who founded a wedding planning firm, Conquered Events, and entertainment online television channel, Conquered TV, told the businessdaily that she was honoured to be part of the Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list.

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“I might be the founder of these promising companies but without  my team giving their best and A-class results we wouldn’t be doing so well, so really a big thank you to my staff they are all achievers too,” she said.

The 29-year-old businesswoman who is based in South Africa recently invested in fuel tankers under her new company, Under Africa Petroleum with operations in Mozambique.

The Zimbabwe National  Chamber of Commerce 2012 businesswoman of the year nominee said she ventured into business a few years ago when she founded L’eau Choisie — a still water brand.

“I asked a friend to create a logo for free and negotiated to make payments bit by bit with suppliers. We didn’t have any machinery, we did everything manually. We didn’t even have a machine to fill the water bottles — we had to measure with our eyes. I then moved door-to-door at big shops and asked them to taste and stock my water,” Nullens said.

Meanwhile, Ganje — another Zimbabwean who is flying the country’s flag high, ventured into business more than a decade ago when he was still in his teens.

The Botswana-based entrepreneur dropped out of school to pursue his dream of running a media empire and had to look for a mentor to shape his vision.

“This was important. Without this I was just an ambitious 19-year-old with an idea and passion. In the business world it does not mean much and I think that’s why people with good ideas fail,” the 29-year-old Ganje said.

“I didn’t get any money to start this business. The idea for this business came when I was living in a tuck shop in Botswana. I went to Shoprite and I told them I run this company H&G Advertising and we could do amazing work and save them money and they gave me the work.”

Shoprite paid Ganje with a cash cheque because H&G Advertising was not a registered company yet and didn’t even have a bank account.

Today, H&G Advertising, the Botswana-based ad agency, counts Unilever, Emirates, Coca-Cola and Samsung among its clients.

The company, which operates in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, has 80 permanent employees and 600 temporary staff and turns over $38 million a year.

“I learned that you don’t need money to start a company. You don’t need a registered company to approach people and sell your ideas. If you can register a company, do it and start selling yourself,” advises Ganje.

He didn’t stop there.

Ganje is now a serial entrepreneur that counts H&G OutDoor, H&G Activations, Zonke Ignition and H&G Express among his businesses.

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HARARE - Suspended Chitungwiza councillors will soon appear before a tribunal appointed by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere to determine their fate on corruption allegations.

In an interview with the Daily News, Kasukuwere said those found guilty will have to face the music.

In April this year, Kasukuwere suspended the entire Chitungwiza council and replaced it with a commission led by retired Civil Protection Unit director Madzudzo Pawadyira.

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“Once a prima facie case has been proven, some of the councillors will have to answer to the tribunal and if pending my satisfaction others are exempt, their suspension will be lifted and will return to work. The tribunal will determine the fate of the councillors on whether they will be prosecuted or not,” Kasukuwere said.

He added that corruption in local authorities would not be tolerated and everyone found on the wrong side of the law will be answerable.

“We will arrest the corrupt. The arrest of councillors of Harare City Council is a result of our steadfast non-tolerance of corruption. We will not entertain the corrupt because they disturb service delivery at local authorities through their activities,” he said

The minister said with regard to the investigation team sent to Chiredzi, he was now in possession of the investigation report and would be making recommendations on the way forward.

Since his appointment in 2015, Kasukuwere has suspended several MDC-run councils and accusing the office bearers of corruption.

He first suspended Gweru mayor Hamutendi Kombayi and 10 other councillors. After a High Court judgment ordering Kombayi’s reinstatement. Kasukuwere defied the order and Kombayi is yet to resume office.

Bulawayo deputy mayor Gift Banda and four other councillors were also suspended by Kasukuwere in 2016 over alleged land corruption.

In January this year, Zvishavane town council chairperson Esau Dube was suspended by Kasukuwere for allegedly meddling in the smooth running of the local authority.

Four HCC councillors were last week arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Courts on charges of criminal abuse of public office involving a $32 million tender scam.

MDC shadow Local Government minister Eddie Cross has accused Kasukuwere of spending most of his time rescinding council decisions and suspending elected officials instead of addressing pertinent issues.

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HARARE - Air Vice Marshal Sheba Shumbayaonda has been dragged to court for booting out learners at Living Rock High School.

Kennedy Gonzo, the School Development Committee chairperson, filed an affidavit on behalf of the school, which is adjacent to Air Commodore Shumbayaonda’s premises located at  Plot number 5 Machere Farm in Mvurwi.

Gonzo told the court that the school has been operating at Plot number 6 since January last year and has an enrolment of 95 students. The school had converted buildings on the premises into offices and classrooms.

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In August last year, after schools closed for holidays, the institution locked its chairs, tables and boards in one of the rooms for safekeeping.

“Respondent (Shumbayaonda) unlawfully entered into the applicant (Living Rock High School)’s premises and welded the offices or rooms’ doors and put burglar bars, screen gates on all the doors and fenced the area with steel rods, interfering with the land boundaries and alleged that the building or rooms belonged to him.

“The respondent unprocedurally and unlawfully dispossessed and denied applicant access to its buildings and school property without applicant’s consent,” the court heard.

The school reported the matter to the police but was not given any meaningful assistance. Shumbayaonda allegedly refused to comply with the demands to vacate the premises. The police subsequently advised the school to approach the courts.

The school is now seeking an order to be allowed back to the premises.

“The respondent had no court order entitling him to take possession of the applicant’s property of buildings. He took the law into his own hands,” Gonzo said in court papers.

The school stands to suffer irreparable harm through Shumbayaonda’s actions, considering that the students do not have furniture to use at the moment, he told the court.

“The respondent had no legal right to resort to self-help and take possession of the building and school properties.

“If the respondent has a dispute with the land owners, he should approach the court and have his day in court rather than disturbing the children’s education by practically locking them out of education, which is key to their brighter future,” Gonzo said.

The school has been allowed to collect its remaining assets from the buildings in question in the presence of the police.

“The issue of access to the buildings in dispute shall be determined by the relevant authorities at the instance of the aggrieved party within a period of two months from the granting of this order,” reads part of the deed of settlement.

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HARARE - Guardians of pupils at Gateway Primary School — an elite school in Harare — are up in arms with the Parents Association Committee (PAC) chairperson, Justice Marwisa, demanding his resignation over a litany of allegations, including incompetence and corruption.

In a 64-page document to the school authorities detailing allegations of their ill-treatment at the hands of their association, angry parents accused Marwisa of working in cahoots with the school administration — including the acting head Kevin Ricquebourg — to unilaterally make important decisions without consulting them.

The parents accuse Marwisa of terminating the contract of a school tuck shop tenant Marinda Feneysey without their prior knowledge. 

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The parents also accuse the authorities of financial mismanagement especially in the area of infrastructural development projects saying “the PAC is indeed very inactive in this area”.

“We demand your immediate resignation from office because we cannot have a chairman who wilfully violates the association’s constitution through which his authority is derived,” the petitioners — calling themselves the Free-Speech body and led by Takaidza Raymond Madekunye — said.

“The moment a chairman attacks  a group of parents who are exercising their rights which they enjoy both in terms of the national constitutions and that of the association, he becomes part of the problem not the solution hence your actions have triggered a vote of no confidence against you.”

Contacted for comment, the Gateway School Trust chief executive officer Abe Gatsi dismissed the allegations as baseless.

Gatsi, however, admitted that the issue was a cause for “great concern as this is creating anxiety among Gateway School parents and other key stakeholders, thereby risking the smooth running of the school.

“It is our observation that in the case of the tuck shop, the correct channels were not followed as this would have led to the matter being resolved internally and as a result, the matter has spread externally to those not mandated to comment with any authority on the issues at hand,” Gatsi said.

He added that if the parents have issues with the association chairperson, they should wait for an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or call for an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM).

“It is at any of these meetings that they can dissolve the current leadership and elect a new one but I must mention that we are not pleased as a school by the parents’ blatant violations of our communication channels which do not include the issue of petitions.

“Moreover, I thought if they have failed to discuss the problems if there are any, they should have approached the trust through me so that we act as the adjudicator in the matter but no one bothered to involve us, yet we believe in harmonious co-existence with one purpose of delivering quality education and building characters while in the process we exalt God since we are a Christian institution.

“Only last month, the PAC called for a parents’ meeting where those issues should have been raised but surprisingly none of them was present.”

But the parents insist that the termination of Feneysey’s tuck shop lease was triggered by her personal differences with Marwisa.

“For a Christian institution to be so devious in its dealings bordering on malevolence is absolutely unbelievable.

“These manoeuvres justify why  the initial decision to remove her from the tuck shop did not make any sense to a lot of parents . . . , your actions show that this matter is more personal than professional . . . there is an aftertaste of vindictiveness.”

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HARARE - A Harare woman accused of hiring a hit man to murder her lover’s wife leapt with joy on Tuesday after her case was thrown out.

Judith Makwara was answering to charges of conspiracy to commit murder before Harare regional magistrate Temba Kuwanda.

Makwara is a congregant at Lead International Ministry and is suspected of having an extramarital affair with the church’s chief executive officer Lovejoy Tirivepi — Charity Muzorewa’s husband.

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Kuwanda acquitted Makwara at the close of the State case after noting that a conviction could not be sustained based on the charge preferred by the prosecution team.

He noted that it was not in dispute that Makwara had incited people to commit the murder but because none of them had agreed to participate in the crime, she could not be convicted for conspiracy to murder.

“You are being acquitted because the charge which was preferred by the State is not sustainable. You should observe sanity and never do that again, that is a no-go area,” Kuwanda ruled.

“It could have been a different story if the State charged you with incitement to commit murder because that is what you did. I think you have learnt your lesson.”

The State’s star witness, Clover Musariri, a karateka, denied agreeing to participate in the mission saying they were not trained to kill in karate.

“When I met the accused person, she told me that she wanted Charity beaten to death and her driver Tinashe would not be killed but thoroughly beaten because he was spreading rumours about her affairs,” Musariri said.

“She offered $2 000 and said she wanted to call (pastor) Lovejoy in America to request for the money. The accused person told him that she had finally found a person who could beat Charity to death hence needed to make payment.

“Lovejoy responded that he was having challenges to access the money and that was when Makwara said she could give me $1 000 and settle the balance after the assassination. I left her car at that moment and told her that I was not going to take up the task because we were not taught to kill in karate.”  

Prosecutor Chipo Matambo alleged that on April 14 around 12pm, Muzorewa received a phone call from Musariri who informed her that he had been assigned by Makwara to kill her.

It was alleged that Musariri then requested to meet with Muzorewa but she refused fearing for her life and filed a police report the following day relying on the phone call she had received.

Muzorewa stated that she became aware that Makwara was having an adulterous affair with her husband and believed that to be the motive behind the murder plot.

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HARARE - Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s nephew Tongai yesterday got away with a four-month wholly suspended prison term on condition that he settles his  $5 120 maintenance arrears.

Tongai Mnangagwa, 39, was dragged to court by his ex-wife Shuvai Murumbi — a public relations executive — for failing to pay $5 120 maintenance for their two children.

Mnangagwa pleaded guilty to contravening Section 23 of the Maintenance Act when he appeared before Harare magistrate Annia Ndiraya.

He was ordered to pay $1 500 immediately and settle the balance by July 7 this year.

Prosecutor Devoted Nyagano had asked the court to impose a stiffer penalty after Mnangagwa had mentioned that he runs an engineering firm.

“The accused person has demonstrated that  he is a person of means and the State is of the view that he wilfully defaulted paying for his children’s upkeep for such a long period,” Nyagano said.

“He must be induced to pay the arrears and the court must order that accused person pays $2 500 forthwith and settles the rest on a date provided by the court.”

Prosecutor Devoted Nyagano said on June 9, 2014, Mnangagwa was ordered by the Harare Magistrates’ Courts to pay $250 per month to Murumbi in child support.

The court heard that Mnangagwa made part payments and failed to settle the maintenance in full from June 2014 to May 2017, resulting in arrears of $5 120.

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HARARE - The Central Mechanical Engineering Department (CMED)-owned Easy Go has dragged Public Service minister Prisca Mupfumira to the High Court for failing to pay $132 000 for motor vehicles hired from the State transport firm.

Easy Go, which is represented by lawyers from TK Hove and Partners, cites Mupfumira as the respondent in her official capacity.

According to court summons filed on May 18, the Public Service ministry hired the motor vehicles between 2014 and 2015.

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“Sometime in 2014 and 2015, plaintiff (Easy Go) and defendant (Public Service ministry) entered into an agreement in terms of which plaintiff hired out vehicles to the defendant.

“Plaintiff fulfilled its obligations in terms of the agreement by providing the car hire services to the defendant,” the CMED subsidiary told the court.

Easy Go claimed in its court papers that the Public Service ministry failed to meet its side of the agreement, prompting the firm to approach the High Court to seek remedy.

“Defendant breached the agreement by paying only part of the amount, leaving a balance in the sum of $132 297,07,” Easy Go claimed in court papers.

It further told the court that the amount is still outstanding and the Public Service ministry is liable to pay the money.

“Sometime in March 2016, plaintiff through its lawyers of record wrote a letter of demand to the defendant which was never complied with.

“Defendant has refused, failed and or neglected to pay the whole amount despite demand. Defendant has no right at law to refuse to pay the whole amount,” reads the court summons.

The firm is now demanding the outstanding amount together with interest at the prescribed rate and collection commission fees.

The Public Service ministry has not yet fully responded to the application but has since entered an appearance to defend.

The matter is still to be set down for hearing before the High Court.

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HARARE - Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa was on-point when he ordered Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo and his Tourism counterpart Walter Mzembi to urgently meet and address concerns raised over numerous police roadblocks.

Mnangagwa on Tuesday said he was aware that the issue of roadblocks has been raised by a number of tourists.

In underlining government commitment to the free movement of tourists and the need to ensure their safety, he urged the two ministries to sit down to determine how the need for the safety and movement of tourists can be guaranteed.

This was after at least 10 000 tourists had complained about the numerous police roadblocks in Zimbabwe and the rough treatment they received at the hands of the uniformed forces.

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While the role of the police in maintaining peace and security is appreciated, the presence of so many police officers on the road projects an image of high risk and insecurity, components which do not auger well for Zimbabwe’s brand.

Over the past few years, there have been complaints over the ever-increasing number of roadblocks and the extortionist tendency of some officers manning the checkpoints, but nothing has changed. In fact, the roadblocks have risen in number in the past few months.

What makes this situation very irking is that the numerous complaints are coming from a diverse section of the public among them motorists, passengers, tourists, tourism players and business organisations.

Legislators and some government officials have also added their voices, making the roadblock issue a national concern.

As such, government must come up with a strategy that strikes a balance between policing and the need to increase tourist arrivals, because, as it stands, the two are working at variance.

Zimbabwe needs all the tourists it can get to improve its battered economy and tattered brand, and government cannot afford to be this indifferent on a matter that keeps on being raised.

Not only are these police officers a menace to tourists but are also a threat to local motorists and one would be forgiven for thinking government’s silence on illegal spot fines and copious roadblocks proves this is a fund-raising initiative.

The time is now ripe for government and other concerned stakeholders to put an end to this madness that is threatening the ease of doing business in the country.

The success of the tourism sector is largely a function of related ministries such as Home Affairs, and Transport and Infrastructural Development. It is, therefore, important that these ministries play their part in a way that enhances business.

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BULAWAYO - Police yesterday summoned opposition Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe (PDZ) secretary general Mthokozisi Ncube to answer to three charges including insulting President Robert Mugabe.

Ncube was also charged for holding an illegal meeting and inciting violence outside Iminyela Hall in Mpopoma high density suburb during a parliamentary hearing on electoral reforms in February.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)’s Lizwe Jamela, who is representing Ncube, confirmed the development.

“Ncube faces three counts, which include convening a public meeting without notifying the authorities, participating in a gathering with the intention to commit public violence and also insulting or undermining the authority of the president,” Jamela said, adding that “it was not yet clear for now what the police claim he said.”

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Ncube, who recently joined the little-known Barbra Nyagomo-led PDZ, was forced to write a statement in response to the charges in the presence of his lawyer.

In the statement, Ncube, who also leads the radical Bulawayo Youth Arise (Buya), vehemently denied the charges.

“I do not admit to the allegations levelled against me. I am a human rights activist of an organisation that actively advocates for a better life and future for youths in Bulawayo. And the organisation is not of political nature,” reads the statement.

While he admitted to have attended the parliamentary portfolio committee meeting on the day in question, Ncube denied ever convening a public meeting in contravention of a Public Order and Security Act (Posa).

“At all material times, I did not commit or formulate any intention to incite or promote any acts of violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry and neither did I insult or undermine the authority of ... Mugabe.

“I believe that my actions in the day in question were within the framework of exercising my fundamental freedoms as protected by the Constitution,” Ncube said.

Reacting to the incident, PDZ’s spokesperson Morgan Nare said this was part of Zanu PF’s intimidation agenda ahead of the 2018 elections.

“The people who arrested him are the ones who have a case to answer by trying to stand in the way of freedom of speech and democracy.”

Nare further described the move by the police as a clear abuse of State coffers to “protect their misrule by such wanton acts against citizens and political opposition parties.”

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HARARE - Zanu PF bigwigs’ political careers are hanging by a thread after the ruling party declared that it will subject them to primary elections ahead of next year’s key elections.

In previous elections, Zanu PF chefs in the politburo and central committee were shielded from contest on account of their seniority.

But with President Robert Mugabe desperate to win the youth vote, Zanu PF has broken with tradition to open bigwigs to contest by youths.

Harare provincial youth league chairperson Edson Takataka told the Daily News yesterday that youths in the capital were enthusiastic about the development and were raring to go.

“It’s now a matter of public record in the party that the only person who will not be contested is the president and like you heard from our national youth league secretary (Kudzanai Chipanga), we welcome this opportunity and there is a lot of enthusiasm amongst the youths especially here in Harare,” Takataka said, adding that “we are now waiting for the party to officially announce that those interested can start canvassing for votes.”

Manicaland youth chairperson Mubuso Chinguno  said he  would want to see more youths becoming MPs and councillors “seeing that currently the only youth we have as an MP is Chipanga”.

“When the time comes, that is after the commissariat department has furnished us with requirements for one to be MP or councillor, we will go out there and encourage our colleagues to seek positions so they can become parliamentary portfolio committee chairpersons, council chairpersons and so on,” Chinguno said.

“That way, we can be able to have representation at the decision-making level of government and local authorities so that our issues as youths are well articulated by people who understand them.”

Party insiders said in Mashonaland Central for example, it is already dog-eat-dog, with bigwigs even challenging each other.

Rushinga legislator Wonder Mashange is allegedly on the ropes as Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora moves to reclaim his former constituency before he was consumed by factional fights which linked him to former vice president Joice Mujuru’s camp.

“Remember he is a non-constituency MP and he does not want his political life to be dependent on the president’s benevolence, hence he has since started to work with the communities, visiting them after every month since the beginning of this year,” a regional source said.

Both Mashange and Dokora were not taking calls when efforts to get their comments were made.

Among the aspiring MPs who have become more visible in constituencies than the incumbents are Charles Chikaura (Bindura South), Tongai Kasukuwere (Bindura North) as well as one Chasasa (Mbire) and the other one only identified as Size who is gunning for the Muzarabani North constituency.

The four constituencies are represented by Remigious Matangira, Kenneth Musanhi, Douglas Karoro and Alfred Mafunga, respectively.

In Mashonaland East, Jeremiah Chiwetu is reportedly under pressure from Marondera Rural District Council chairperson Patrick Chidhakwa who is alleged to be eyeing his constituency.

“The man has been on the ground since last year and this year he is sponsoring  local football teams  as he prepares his parliamentary bid although at the moment he is hiding behind the fact that he is council chairperson, but the truth is that Chiwetu is having sleepless nights,”  Patrick Chirandu, a resident in the constituency said.

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HARARE - The Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has called for the arrest of three Cabinet ministers for allegedly undermining President Robert Mugabe’s authority.

ZNLWVA spokesperson Douglas Mahiya told a news conference yesterday that Higher Education, Local Government as well as Youth ministers Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Patrick Zhuwao respectively should be incarcerated for suggesting that Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi is the ideal candidate to succeed Mugabe.

Mahiya argued that the trio had committed the same crime he committed together with ZNLWVA secretary general Victor Matemadanda when they declared in a communiqué that Mugabe must hand the reins to his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa.

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“Now that Jonathan Moyo, Zhuwao and Kasukuwere have declared their preferred candidate loudly and clearly and that candidate is not the president as called for by the party constitution, what happened to us must happen to them including incarceration and state prosecution and dockets must be opened for undermining the authority of the state president unlike the alleged communiqué which referred to the president,” Mahiya said.

“Zhuwao and Kasukuwere should also be found guilty by the politburo for being accomplices to Jonathan Moyo as happened to our chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa when he associated with the generality of war veterans wallowing in poverty.”

While Mahiya and Matemadanda were charged last year for their damning communiqué, Mutsvangwa lost his position in the Zanu PF politburo as well as his cabinet post after he was expelled for backing Mnangagwa’s presidential bid.

Mahiya said they would interpret failure by Mugabe to take action on Moyo and his colleague as favouring the G40 in the battle to succeed him.

“At Sapes, G40 Jonathan Moyo and his cohorts openly and loudly proclaimed their preference as successor to the president of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

“The rank and file of the party and the whole nation is watching the ruling revolutionary Zanu PF on what course of action it shall take against these expressed successionists, otherwise there are two scales of justice, it would appear, and that the G40 can continue to get away with murder in Main Street,” Mahiya, who was accompanied by Matemadanda, said.

The ex-combatants said they will soon launch an official complaint to the Zanu PF leadership.

“It was not easy to build a revolutionary tradition of Zanla and Zipra armies and the surrounding attribute was fair treatment of all comrades who had voluntarily joined the national liberation movement, so at this juncture, it is timely to remind the president and the revolutionary icon of the principles of justice and fair treatment of all comrades regardless of tribe, gender, religion, colour, creed and otherwise,” he said.

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HARARE - Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Tendai Biti has said government must enact a law that restricts President Robert Mugabe from excessive foreign travel.

Mugabe’s voyages to international conferences such as the ongoing UN ocean summit have courted the ire of critics in cash-strapped Zimbabwe.

Last year, Mugabe embarked on at least 20 trips abroad, blowing $36 million in the first 10 months, according to government figures.

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Writing on micro-blogging site Twitter, Biti said the economy was tanking while a seemingly indifferent Mugabe nonchalantly spends his time abroad, with struggling Zimbabweans picking up the tab.

In 2017 alone, including his current trip to the US, Mugabe has already visited 10 countries.

Just two weeks ago, he attended a UN conference on disaster risk reduction in Mexico.

“Self-evident, that there must be a law restricting public executive travel. He (Mugabe) behaves like a five-year-old,” Biti wrote on his Twitter page.

Biti, who was the Finance minister during the stability-inducing inclusive government era from 2009 to 2013, has said Mugabe’s handlers used to demand $3 million from Treasury each time he leaves the country.

Biti also told VOA that part of the problem was the entourage around Mugabe which makes a killing when they travel with him because their per diems increase.

“So, they deliberately create these trips, they deliberately make him a permanent resident of the skies in order to loot Zimbabwe,” Biti said.

“So, it is the bureaucracy around him which is also culpable, but you know, in other countries, the issue of per diems that are given to a head of State, must be returned when he comes, but one of the criminal things in Zimbabwe is that he (Mugabe) takes $4 million — he doesn’t bring it,” he said, adding he used to slash the expenditure on foreign trips to around $1 million.

The trips come at a time government is struggling to pay civil servants their monthly salaries, including last year’s 13th cheque.

Analysts have criticised Mugabe for attending the ongoing UN Ocean Conference, which seeks to promote partnerships such as between governments and businesses to address issues such as marine pollution, ocean acidification, and marine research.

“Given the subject matter of this conference & we’re landlocked, it’s like the husband also going to a kitchen party,” political analyst Alex Magaisa wrote on his Twitter account.

Another analyst Maxwell Saungweme told the Daily News: “That trip is meaningless and nonsensical. It’s not a priority for our country.”

Analyst Shakespeare Hamauswa, however, said Mugabe could take advantage of the visit to meet other influential leaders in a way that could benefit the country.

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HARARE - In more depressing news for  Harare residents , the city council has warned that it will continue to cut water supplies even after it completes the refurbishment of its biggest water treatment plant — Morton Jaffray (MJ) — which is expected to increase supplies to both industry and domestic users.

This comes as the refurbishment of MJ has been extended by a further nine months due to a funding crisis.

Briefing journalists during the tour of MJ this week, Harare City Council (HCC) director of water Hosea Chisango said the rationing regime would continue until pipe replacements have been done — several months after the refurbishment of the water treatment plant.

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“By year-end, we anticipate to produce 620 megalitres for Harare.

“We expect it to cover at least 85 percent of the population but we will still have water rationing while other areas will go back to daily supply.

“Going forward, we first want to replace the pipes and reduce losses, then later explore new sources of water.

“We need to replace pipes that are already on the ground if we are to bring Kunzvi Dam into Harare’s plans because without that, we will simply lose the water. Our losses are 65 percent, which includes physical losses and non-functional meters,” Chisango told journalists.

“From the 5 500 kilometres (km) of pipe network, if we can deal with between 2 500km and 3 000km, then we would have a system that has integrity.

“What we want is to reduce the losses to 20 percent. After we have done replacement, we will require a leak detection system in our network,” he added.

Harare Water supplies potable water to Harare and the surrounding local authorities of Chitungwiza, Epworth, Ruwa and Norton town councils with a combined estimated total population of about 4,5 million people.

The Harare water supply infrastructure was originally designed to supply 350 000 people.

The infrastructure was upgraded progressively with the last phase commissioned in 1994 to supply 1,5 million people.

There has not been any upgrading of the infrastructure since the last phase of MJ.

Chisango said the bottleneck remained work that still needed to be done on Warren Control Pump Station. Harare extracts raw water from four impoundments on the Manyame River.

These are Harava and Seke dams which supply Prince Edward (Seke) Treatment Works, and Chivero and Manyame dams which supply MJ (Manyame) Treatment Works.

HCC expects a fully-refurbished MJ to reduce physical water losses by 72 million litres per day, increase the city’s supply coverage to 72 000 households, reduce non-revenue water by 25 percent and increase revenue by about $21,6 million a year.

The city fathers have been battling a serious water crisis for years now due to old infrastructure, which has seen the council failing to meet residents’ full demands.

HCC requires a total of 800 megalitres a day to meet its demand, but the city is currently only able to pump 450 megalitres, prompting authorities to introduce water rations in many areas.

As one of its measures to have a grip on the water crisis, HCC is mulling a full-scale roll-out of water inflow limiters, to compel residents to conserve the scarce resource.

Apart from refurbishing MJ and Prince Edward water works, HCC also requires $178 million to fund its water pipe replacement and network rehabilitation exercise, to avoid losses due to burst pipes and illegal connections.

Harare city has a distribution network of 5 500 kilometres of pipe network, which is linked to 15 booster pump stations, 28 reservoir sites and 200 000 customer connection points.

The city is fighting its worst water crisis in history, as thousands of households have spent almost 18 years without water due to broken and antiquated equipment and infrastructure.

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HARARE - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai faces a serious political dilemma as the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections loom — in terms of how to approach, and whether to talk up or down the watershed polls.

Analysts who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said the current dispute over the acquisition and deployment of biometric voter registration (BVR) kits ahead of next year’s polls exemplified the difficulties confronting the MDC “because of mutually conflicting” factors.

One of the analysts warned that with time running out, the MDC now needed to decide whether it should keep fighting with authorities over the BVR kits or send messages of hope to the electorate if the party entertained hopes of winning next year’s make-or-break elections.

This comes as the MDC has expressed its outrage over the recent decision by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to award the BVR kits tender to a Chinese firm — which it suspects may be used by the ruling Zanu PF to manipulate the crucial polls.

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“Tsvangirai is in a serious quandary because his supporters expect him to thoroughly vet everything that President (Robert) Mugabe’s government does, while on the other hand his criticism of the BVR tender process is likely to discourage his supporters from registering for the polls as they view the MDC complaint as a sign of hopelessness,” a Harare-based political analyst said.

Constitutional law expert and former adviser to Tsvangirai during the inclusive government, Alex Magaisa, also warned that opposition parties had to be strategic in their approach to 2018 if they were not to drive away potential votes through “unwise” public comments.

“The Chinese were always the favourites to win it (BVR kits’ tender) ahead of a Western company. The opposition cannot be surprised by this outcome. They should have seen it coming.

“Although it is disappointing to the opposition, the leaders have to be more strategic and avoid conceding more ground to Zanu PF. The election is as much a mental game as is it physical.

“Voters can only go to the polls if they have some hope. People can only get up to register to vote if there’s hope. It is hope that motivates people to drop important things to go and queue up to register and to vote.

“If there is no hope, they won’t be bothered. Why waste time queuing up to register and to vote when there is no hope of winning?” Magaisa warned in his blog.

“This is why the opposition leaders must invest more in hope and drop their energy-sapping public statements. The more they moan that Zanu PF has rigged the BVR selection process, the less motivated potential voters become. What’s the point of going to register to vote if the process is already rigged?” Magaisa added.

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.

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.

“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,” MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said as his party questioned the choice of Laxton.

But Magaisa said the MDC and smaller opposition parties needed to justify why they were not happy with the choice of the Chinese firm — warning that Zanu PF was not bothered by claims that the selection process was rigged in favour of the Chinese company.

“There has to be more to demonstrate that the Laxton Group is unfit for the job . . . The issue should be about competence. The idea of dismissing the Laxton Group simply because it is Chinese is lazy.

“One presumes that the opposition parties had experts observing the process. If so, where is that technical report?” Magaisa asked.

“What the MDC and other actors have done so far is to show people the potential land-mines and to fight relentlessly to circumvent those land-mines is quite commendable.

“However, the fight must be accompanied by an equally powerful disclaimer that this is not at all to say people must not vote if the outcome is the least favourable.

“Perhaps the message that must be emphasized is that the war for a free and fair election will be waged but the opposition must also be prepared to face and defeat their opponent in an unfair election, against all odds.

“Politics is the art of the possible . . . if the conditions are not right, the next best option is to win the election by beating apathy and preparing to defend the vote.

“It happened in 2008 for instance and it can happen again. So a message of hope, of the certainty of victory against all odds and the importance of every single vote for that victory to happen must be emphasised while efforts to force a favourable environment continue on another level,” political analyst Maureen Kademaunga told the Daily News.

Another political analyst, Dewa Mavhinga, urged the opposition to continue pushing for much-needed electoral reforms ahead of the elections.

“The opposition should not narrowly criticise the awarding of the BVR tender but must press for comprehensive electoral reforms to level the playing field and facilitate free and fair elections.

“There must be clear electoral reform benchmarks to be met, including having an independent and credible Zec that is depoliticised and demilitarised,” Mavhinga said.

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 Mugabe’s stone-broke administration was able to secure funding for this, to the staggering tune of $17 million.

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PRETORIA - Mamelodi Sundowns have responded angrily to claims by Zifa they are refusing to release Khama Billiat.

Billiat was accompanied to Harare on Wednesday by Zimbabwean legend Peter Ndlovu, who now works as team manager at Sundowns.

After arriving in Zimbabwe, the Warriors medical team conducted their own assessments and concluded that Billiat was not fit to play.

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However, there had been scandalous claims by Warriors team manager Wellington Mpandare that Ndlovu is responsible for blocking Billiat from reporting for the 2019 African Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia on Sunday.

Billiat last played competitive football on May 17, lasting just over an hour in an Absa Premiership clash against Maritzburg United, subsequently ruling him out of the Brazilians’ last three games, two of which came in the African Champions League.

“Firstly, I have to make it known that this Wellington [Mpandare] character is just getting too excited. Is he new in the job?” says Thulani Thuswa, the Sundowns spokesman.

“In the past, we have always worked well with Zifa and have respect for both their president (Philip Chiyangwa) and coach (Norman Mapeza). We have always enjoyed good relations with Zifa because we have always had Zimbabwean players at the club and that shouldn’t be spoilt by this Wellington guy,” says a livid Thuswa.

Through all this fracas, Chiyangwa had threatened to report Sundowns to Fifa, with world football’s governing body compelling clubs to release players for Fifa calendar matches.

“The truth is that we sent them (Zifa) the doctor’s report and told them that if they want another opinion on Khama’s injury then they can always send him to an independent doctor here in Johannesburg,” Thuswa says.

“That way they would have been able to verify our doctor’s report which they might have issues with. We have a qualified team doctor and it is not for fun that Khama hasn’t played in the last three games for the club.

The Sundowns spokesman adds that there have been no problems with their injured Liberian star Anthony Laffor and his national team.

Laffor, who usually captains Liberia, will miss the match against his club team-mate Billiat.

The Brazilians play Esperance away on June 21 in a crucial Caf Champions League match and will have another two Group C matches to play against Ethiopians Saint George on July 1 and AS Vita on July 7. – Kick Off

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HARARE - The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has noted with concern, distasteful sentiments expressed by Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club officials towards our senior national team manager, Wellington Mpandare.

Mpandare conducted his duties in a professional manner in the process of requesting for the release of Khama Billiat to report for assessment by the national team’s medical team, therefore, we feel that denigrating comments made were unwarranted.

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And as Zifa we are fully confident of our team manager’s ability to execute his duties in a manner that ensures that relations between Zifa and Mamelodi Sundowns remain cordial.

As an association, we believe our team manager acted within the dictates of Fifa regulations in seeking the release of Khama Billiat for national duty and assessment by our medical team to determine the extent of his ankle injury.

Zifa has great respect for the Mamelodi Sundowns president, Patrice Motsepe, his executive and club management, but we believe the vitriolic attacks on Mpandare were unnecessary, and they only engender disunity and unwanted hatred within the football family.

Zifa also takes this opportunity to remind Mamelodi Sundowns that all official correspondence between them and the association is generated from the office, hence, they should not regard allegations from the media fraternity as Zifa’s official position in any matter.

Any displeasure from the Sundowns camp over the conduct of Zifa officials is accepted but it should be delivered through the proper channels.

It is our ultimate goal to promote the spirit of unity and friendship that Fifa seeks to inculcate in the relationship between clubs and football associations, as well as with all stakeholders.

Our relationship with Mamelodi Sundowns is mutually beneficial for both parties and it has been there for a long time, it is our keen desire to see it continue to flourish, for the benefit of both Zimbabwean and South African football. – Zifa.org

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