HARARE - MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday cancelled a crucial standing committee meeting meant to discuss the bloody spate of intra-party violence in Bulawayo that saw deputy president Thokozani Khupe assaulted by party youths.

Khupe and some party leaders from the main opposition’s stronghold Matabeleland provinces are said to be not happy with the way the party has fast-tracked the coalition alliance as they feel there were outstanding issues to be considered concerning their region.

Instead, Tsvangirai attended the National People’s Party (NPP) convention in Harare on a day he also suspended five officials over the violence which has overshadowed the successful launch of the MDC alliance.

Tsvangirai was picked to represent Zimbabwe’s opposition alliance in the presidential election expected in the third quarter of next year, his fourth time as a presidential candidate.

His nomination was announced by leaders of the MDC Alliance at a Zimbabwe Grounds rally on Saturday — an event boycotted by Khupe.

The alliance and the internal resistance to it were high on the agenda of the standing committee meeting which should have been held yesterday.

MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu confirmed the postponement.

“The national standing committee meeting will be held on a date to be advised,” Gutu said.

“There are other pressing commitments that have arisen along the way. As you know, coalition negotiations are not a sprint but a marathon.

“A lot of discussions are still taking place before the final shape of the coalition deal is sealed. So far, so good.

“Just hold your horses; everything is going to be alright. We are seasoned politicians and we know exactly what we are doing and where we are going.”

Tsvangirai was said to be attending the inaugural convention of Joice Mujuru’s NPP party.

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HARARE - Miss World Zimbabwe 2017 Chiedza Lorraine Mhosva will not be driving a swankie car but has every reason to celebrate after she was presented with a brand new Kia Picanto and a cash prize of $20 000 at a colourful prize-giving ceremony held in Harare yesterday.

Just like the previous queen, Miss Zimbabwe Trust organisers stuck to their modest car prize — claiming that buying the beauty queens big wheels would not make economic sense for them as they would struggle to consistently service them.

“Mhosva is still young and unemployed as a result, we find it worthy to give her a car that she can afford to service.

“To us as Miss Zimbabwe Trust, it does not make sense to give her a car that is too expensive to maintain. We are glad that we have given her a brand new car,” said Miss Zimbabwe Trust chairperson Marry Chiwenga.

Apart from receiving the Kia Picanto, courtesy of Lachelle Travel and Tours, Mhosva, who was crowned national queen on June 22, was granted a year-long work-related attachment by the pageant’s new sponsor, South Africa-based diversified firm, Bigtime Strategic Group.

Bigtime Strategic Group gave all the monetary prizes and was represented by its founder and chairperson, Justice Maphosa and his wife.

First princess Everlyn Njelele pocketed $10 000 while Kundai Somerai, who was crowned second princess, received $5 000. Tariro Angelica Zvizhinji, who won the People’s Choice Award took home $5 000 while the other 12 finalists got $1 000 each.

Mhosva promised to live up to the responsibilities that come with the crown.

“I am greatly honoured to have been chosen as your Miss World Zimbabwe for 2017. I will carry the crown with all the values that you have been bestowed in me.

“I hereby promise to hold the rules and regulations of the Trust and will not bring shame to your name . . . ,” she said upon receiving the car.

Mhosva, who is studying Professional Acting for Camera with City Varsity Cape Town, pledged to donate half of the cash prize she received towards her charity project of assisting the Doma people.

“I was taught that giving is mostly part of the roles of being a queen, so here today, please allow me to present to the Trust my pledge of $10 000 towards my project.

“I understand that so much has to be done to change the lives of the people I promised to serve. You have changed my life, so I wish to change other people’s lives as well,” she said.

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HARARE - Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo yesterday stunned journalists when he revealed that influential First Lady Grace Mugabe has pressured government to build a state-of-the-art university to be named after her husband at a cost of $1 billion.

The Robert Gabriel Mugabe University would be established at the First Lady’s Manzou Farm in Mazowe.

“We have been pushed positively; the real inspiration and mover pulling together the various pieces that need to be in place has been the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe because this is the initiative of the Robert Mugabe Foundation (RMF).

“The university will be established under the auspices of the foundation which is the responsible authority of the university,” Moyo told journalists yesterday.

Mugabe and Grace are the founding trustees of the RMF.

Moyo said the construction phase is going to start in the next six months when groups being set up to oversee its incubation under the supervision of the University of Zimbabwe submit their working plans.

Government would initially release $1 billion for the construction project.

“The State is giving a grant to the RMF for the establishment of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe University. The money is coming from the Treasury.

“Cabinet has already approved a grant of $800 million towards the construction of the university while the other $200 million will go towards the establishment of a fund for research and innovation,” Moyo said.

He defended the decision to source the funds from Treasury saying although this was not a State university, the practice was normal.

“This is how it is done the world over,” he said.

The university will specialise in science and technology.

“We actually don’t know how much in the final analysis it is going to cost but it is going to be very expensive. We know from experiences of similar universities in China, Malaysia, Brazil, India and South Korea that this is a very expensive university and yet one that is very necessary.

“We therefore feel that the initiative deserves support and in the first instance from the State,” Moyo said.

According to the 2017 budget estimates of expenditure in the Blue Book, there is no budgetary provision for the university.

Moyo said the Robert Gabriel Mugabe University will be a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) institution designed to facilitate the discovery of scientific, technological and engineering solutions to improve the quality of life in Zimbabwe.

The university will concentrate on Stem areas exclusively at graduate level.

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HARARE - MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday suspended five members over the violence which occurred at the party’s Bulawayo provincial offices on Sunday which left his deputy Thokozani Khupe and other high-ranking officials nursing wounds.

Among those hit with suspensions is disgraced deputy treasurer-general Chalton Hwende who celebrated the attacks on Khupe and senior officials who included chairman Lovermore Moyo and national organising secretary Abednigo Bhebhe.

MDC national deputy secretary for information Thabitha Khumalo and three members of the youth assembly were not spared either.

“The president has suspended the party’s deputy treasurer-general Mr Charlton Hwende and deputy secretary for information and publicity, honourable Thabitha Khumalo, pending full investigations, for suspected crimes of omission and commission before and during the disturbances,” Tamborinyoka said in a statement.

While Khumalo was unreachable for comment, Hwende was suspended for posting offensive remarks on micro blogging site, Twitter where he justified the barbaric attacks.

“Organising a caucus meeting which is against the spirit of the MDC constitution is very irresponsible you end up attracting unnecessary problems. The youths are angry and impatient, anyone who will stand in the way of change will have no one to blame. We are tired. We want change,” he tweeted.

Hwende made a u-turn after he came under fire for his tweet and posted an apology on his facebook page.

“I have now realised that my post yesterday has been interpreted to mean that I condone the violence that happened at our offices yesterday.

“This is not correct. I condemn the violence that happened. I have now reflected on the post and acknowledge that it was wrong and I would like to apologise to Hon Thokozani Khupe,” Hwende said.

Apart from suspending the five senior officials, Tsvangirai has dispatched a team of investigators to Bulawayo as he bids to heal the rift caused by the violence.

“President Tsvangirai has already dispatched a probe team to Bulawayo and a full comprehensive investigation will determine any further action to be taken.

“Violence is not part of the culture of the party and president Tsvangirai, a victim of violence himself countless times since the party was formed, has moved in to take decisive action over the matter,” said Tamborinyoka.

Addressing a press conference in Harare on Monday, Tsvangirai delivered a strong warning to his party members over the violence which analysts warned could further strain relations with his colleagues in the Matabeleland region.

Tsvangirai was accused by both Khupe and Bhebhe of having bussed the thugs from the party’s headquarters.

On Monday, he denied this during his press conference.

“The MDC is a social democratic party whose values include equality, solidarity and the respect of human rights. As such, I unreservedly condemn the violence that happened yesterday, the 6th of August 2017, in Bulawayo where a group of thugs violently disrupted a meeting at our Bulawayo offices.

“As the president of the party, I condemn in the strongest terms this callous act of violence committed by these people.

“I understand there are a few culprits who were apprehended by the police and as the leader of the party, I regard this incident as a criminal act and these thugs must face the full wrath of the law. I have since activated our own internal investigations and appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against the perpetrators or anyone behind them,” Tsvangirai said.

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HARARE - Emotions have been running high ever since First Lady Grace Mugabe threw the cat among the pigeons by challenging her ageing husband to anoint a successor.

Grace took the unprecedented step of nudging her reluctant husband to name his heir-apparent when she addressed members of the Zanu PF women’s league national assembly at the party’s headquarters in Harare last month.

She reasoned that it was the trend in other countries for their leaders to handpick their successors, saying that act alone could also enable Zanu PF’s warring supporters to close ranks.

Her sentiments have, however, fuelled the infighting in Zanu PF, with the two factions in Mugabe’s party — Team Lacoste and Generation 40 (G40) — latching onto her calls to advance their agendas.

Businessman-cum politician Energy Mutodi, who has previously caused a storm in Zanu PF by challenging the party to convene an extraordinary congress to choose Mugabe’s successor, warned yesterday that the military could stage a coup if the incumbent mishandles the succession issue.

Mutodi is linked to Team Lacoste, which is backing Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to take over from Mugabe.

He said while G40 acolytes may suggest that the president has no business in consulting the army, it was impossible to contemplate that Zanu PF could exist without the uniformed forces playing a huge role in its power-retention.

“It can only be naive for anyone to believe that the president has been in power for 37 years without the army giving him crucial support . . . The role the army has played in nurturing . . . Mugabe’s rule can therefore not be over-emphasised. Any successor without the backing of the army will therefore be rejected, irrespective whether they have liberation war credentials or not,” he said.

Mutodi said while a military takeover may be far-fetched in Zimbabwe, it was important for Mugabe to be careful in naming his successor, adding that any suspicion of unfairness or discrimination on account of tribalism or factionalism may backfire.

“There are key stakeholders that need to be consulted, among them, the military and the whole security establishment called the Joint Operations Command that is chaired by vice president Mnangagwa,” said Mutodi.

His unsolicited comments come in the wake of an aggressive push by the rival G40 faction to have Mugabe name a successor.

G40 seem to be torn between Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi and the first lady to succeed the incumbent.

A few days after the first lady had pleaded with her husband to name his successor, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko used the occasion of an inter-district meeting in Bulawayo to throw his weight behind Grace’s call.

He was quoted saying: “The first lady is right. The president should be part of the solution to problems going on in the country with regards to who will succeed him. He should do it well and quietly through the structures. He knows how to do it. He is mature and will do it well.”

Members of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) were the first to go public with their call for Mugabe to anoint his successor, with Welfare Services for War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube making the same call last month.

There are growing concerns that the infighting in Zanu PF over Mugabe’s succession could plunge the country into bloodletting violence, which could worsen its socio-economic prospects.

International human rights watchdog, the Human Rights Watch, issued a chilling statement yesterday, warning that the eagerly-anticipated elections could be bloody.

“Zimbabwe also faces serious threats to its ability to hold credible elections, including the involvement of security forces in political affairs and the ruling Zanu PF party’s endorsement of 93-year-old . . . Mugabe as its presidential candidate amid rumours about his health,” the statement reads in part.

“The involvement of security forces in Zimbabwe’s political and electoral affairs could, as in the past, severely undermine the credibility of the elections and raise the risk of political violence within political parties and across the country.”

Piers Pigou, a senior consultant at the International Crisis Group, said the push to have Mugabe name a successor represented a big shift by the G40 and the first lady.

“This development reflects a distinct shift and sense of urgency in the political calculations of (Mrs Grace) Mugabe and her inner circle regarding her husband’s ability to play a functional political role and their desire to hold off . . . Mnangagwa’s march on State House.”

Pigou said any attempt to let Grace succeed Mugabe would be deeply detrimental to Zimbabwe.

“Such a move, if seriously considered, would be very damaging to Zanu PF’s longer term prospects and contrary to its revolutionary principles,” he warned.

He said nothing was clear at the moment in the ever-shifting Zanu PF succession dynamics.

“The rule book is a moveable feast. Mugabe would have removed Mnangagwa if he felt it was both necessary and most importantly, secure in doing so.

“Neither position is clear, although his protection of those hurling provocations at VP Mnangagwa strongly suggests his failure to move against the VP is because of concerns that doing so would ultimately weaken his own position. He may well have checkmated himself in this process,” said Pigou.

Mugabe has been adamant that he would allow the people to choose his successor in line with the Zanu PF constitution.

Article 5 Section 26 (2) of the ruling party’s constitution states that: “An extraordinary session of congress may be convened in the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of the national president requiring the party to nominate a successor, at the instance of the secretary for administration.”

For Mugabe to choose a successor, he has to amend the Zanu PF constitution. First, he has to write to the central committee, which is the party’s supreme organ between congresses, to study the proposals.

In the wake of calls from the Zanu PF women’s league to elevate a woman to be one of the party’s two vice presidents, Mugabe suggested that they consider amending the constitution to increase the number of his deputies to three.

Yesterday, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo told the Daily News there were no proposals as yet to amend the party’s charter.

“I have no idea at all that there will be an extraordinary congress. What I know is that the constitution is very clear and I cannot change what is in the constitution so we will go by what the constitution says, and if there are any developments we will let you know,” said Khaya Moyo.

War veterans warned Mugabe yesterday that he was not a super human and were ready to work against his re-election bid ahead of the 2018 polls.

ZNLWVA chairperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the liberation war fighters would be going around their structures informing their members not to vote for G40 associates.

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HARARE - MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai electrified the crowd at the National People’s Party (NPP)’s inaugural convention held in the capital yesterday, where he belaboured his commitment towards working with former vice president Joice Mujuru in order to unseat President Robert Mugabe.

The 65-year-old politician, who had been invited to the convention to give a solidarity message, received a standing ovation when he promised NPP supporters that a coalition with Mujuru would be formed no matter what if the country’s deeply-divided opposition parties are to end Mugabe’s 37-year rule.

Tsvangirai, who is now shaving his head bald after losing his hair to colon cancer, kept his audience captivated by harping on his favourite talking-points that he has used around the country in recent days.

He emphasised that there were no differences, politically, or in terms of policy between Mujuru’s party, and the MDC.

“Democracy is a very difficult proposition in Africa but this path you have taken to seek the mandate and legitimacy from the people is the right one. On this day, you have overcome the doubts of many,” he said.

“I was listening to the proposals you make and I see that there is no conflict with our ideals and values, so where is the problem? We can’t be divided on the basis of personalities,” Tsvangirai said to uproarious applause.

He added amid the cheer: “If we are agreed on the direction that we need to take, why don’t we put our differences aside and be united? We launched the MDC alliance last week and we said we believe in the big tent and that 2018 is the only opportunity that we have as the opposition movement to defeat Mugabe.”

Tsvangirai addressing the crowd. Pics: Annie Mpalume

He spoke amid indications that Mujuru, who was fired from Zanu PF and government in 2014 on allegations of plotting a bloodless palace coup against Mugabe, could lead another coalition comprising opposition parties that are offshoots of the ruling Zanu PF party, ahead of polls in 2018.

Mujuru’s party was among opposition movements that were left out of the pact signed between Tsvangirai and seven other fringe political parties that included the People’s Democratic Party led by Tendai Biti and the smaller MDC formation led by Welshman Ncube.

Both Ncube and Biti are former secretaries-general of a united MDC under the leadership of Tsvangirai.

Mujuru, who had a tiff with Tsvangirai over the leadership of the coalition, was conspicuous by her absence at the MDC Alliance weekend rally, which nominated the former trade unionist to lead the group.

At the NPP’s convention yesterday, it was quite clear that Mujuru’s supporters have no qualms with their leaders forging an alliance.

Delivering his solidarity speech after Mujuru before a diverse crowd that packed the Harare Sports Centre, Tsvangirai did not further stoke his ongoing feud with Mujuru over the leadership of the alliance.



Part of the crowd at the NPP convention.

The crowd, drawn from the country’s 10 provinces, painted the venue blue, as supporters danced to the party jingles, while controversial musician Hosea Chipanga was at hand to entertain the gathering.

The veteran opposition leader, who delivered a stump speech sharpened for his audience, said: “NPP is not our enemy and let me say atungamira haatori nzira, (Being the first to take a certain route won’t block others from following the same path).”

There have been growing calls for Mujuru and Tsvangirai to join hands and form a formidable opposition that could give Zanu PF a run for its money come next year.

However, the issue of positions, particularly the thorny question of who should lead the proposed grand alliance, is threatening to scuttle the deal.

Analysts opine that parties coalescing around either Tsvangirai or Mujuru stand the best chance to defeat Mugabe.

Mujuru, who was first to speak, promised her supporters that if elected president, she would, among other things, overhaul the controversial Indigenisation Act as well as bring sanity to the land reform programme.

She also promised to end endemic corruption as well as pursue a policy of national healing to bring closure to outstanding cases of human rights abuses.

By comparison to Tsvangirai, Mujuru’s speech was tame.

Mujuru said: “That there is need for a grand coalition is no longer a question, we need to give citizens what they want. You want an opposition that is united. You want to air your views on what leader you want.”

She suggested that the parties should either hold primary elections to vote on an agreeable representative or agree by way of consensus.

Mujuru addressing the crowd.

“We have overstretched your patience, but remember we are from different parties and you need to give us more time so that we can reach out to each other . . . I can assure you that this time we will cross to the Promised Land.

“Let us register to vote and inspect the voters’ roll. We are going to agree because we don’t want to be remembered as the cadres on the way to freedom,” said Mujuru.

Also present at the NPP convention was Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa who also received a resounding welcome from a section of the crowds who were chanting his name.

Meanwhile, Mujuru was confirmed as the NPP president while John Shumba Mvundura and Samuel Sipepa Nkomo will be her two deputies.

Former Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire was confirmed the national chairperson with Gift Nyandoro being confirmed as the party secretary-general.

War veterans Bernard Manyadza, aka Parker Chipoyera, is the NPP organising secretary while Marian Chombo was confirmed as the leader of the women’s wing.

Chombo will be deputised by Gladys Hadebe while Angel Masiye was elected secretary-general, Nomalanga Khumalo (organising secretary) and Laizer Shindi as treasurer.

Lloyd Masiya was elected national youth chairperson and he will be deputised by Trevor Ngulube.

Simon Machiri was elected leader of the freedom fighters’ wing.

The convention was graced by the diplomatic community with officials from Tanzanian, Swedish and Canadian embassies in attendance.

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JOHANNESBURG - An aeroplane en route to Harare, Zimbabwe, had to be towed back to its parking bay at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday, in order for a suspected car thief on a watch list to be arrested.

Police alerted the international airport aviation safety staff about the wanted car thief, on board an afternoon flight to Zimbabwe's capital city, through the Airport Management Centre.

The man was placed on the watch list in 2014 after he allegedly rented a vehicle, but never returned it.

The suspect, Nicholas Marova Zvikovikomborero, was arrested on the plane.

In a statement sent on Thursday, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said that the "revised intervention", which comes just under a month since the appointment of Major-General Helena Dimakatso Ndaba as SAPS commander, was proving to be effective and showing Ndaba's team's determination.

The "intervention" includes a number of security-intensive strategies, such as the installation of CCTV cameras in strategic areas and an increase in visible policing.

The measures were aimed at ensuring the safety and security of the airport, which is a national key point, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula announced in July.

The beefing up of security comes after a wave of serious crimes hit the airport, including robberies, heists and hijackings. Since then, some criminal activities had been foiled and had led to successes on the part of the authorities.

"These successes are the result of the intensified co-operation between [SAPS], Ekurhuleni Metro, airport management of OR Tambo International Airport, and other law enforcement agencies and government departments, which forms an integral part of this plan," read the statement.

Naidoo told News24 that the suspect would appear in court soon.

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NGEZI - Ngezi Platinum Stars maintained lead at the top of the Castle Lager Premiership log with an easy 4-1 over troubled Yadah FC, who did not travel with coach Jairos Tapera to the Baobab Stadium yesterday.

Tapera has reportedly been suspended by the Walter Magaya-owned side and was at Rufaro Stadium watching Harare City’s match against Shabanie.  

Midfielder Walter Mukanga scored a brace while Tichaona Mabvura and Keith Murera got the other goals for Madamburo, who are now on 43 points.

Wellington Kamudyariwa scored the consolation for Yadah from the penalty spot.

Second-placed Chicken Inn maintained pressure on log leaders Ngezi when they beat Triangle 2-0 at Luveve Stadium.

Goals from captain Moses Jackson in the first half and a penalty by Innocent Mucheneka in the second half was all the Gamecocks needed to secure maximum points.

Chicken Inn goalkeepers coach Julius Ndlovu said: “Thumbs up to the boys. They played according to the game plan. We planned well during the week. It’s good we are collecting maximum points at home while edging closer to the championship.

On the title race, Ndlovu said: “We have to win our own games, never mind how other teams play.”

Triangle coach Taurai Mangwiro was disappointed with the loss and believes they failed to defend well.

“It was failure to defend from set pieces and they were there to punish us. The first time, it was failure to defend a corner kick and at a time when we thought we were regrouping, we gave away a penalty,” he said.

In an early kick-off at Luveve Stadium, Bantu Rovers finally tasted victory when they defeated fading former log leaders Black Rhinos 1-0.

Veteran defender Tapiwa Kumbuyani scored for the home side with a free kick just after the break to give Methembe Ndlovu’s side their first win since May.

For Rhinos, it was their fourth defeat on the trot and it left coach Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa disappointed.

“In the first half, Bantu played very well and we came back in the second half. Yes, we missed some chances that were supposed to be goals,” he said.

“We are still disappointed. This is our fourth game losing. We hope to go back and correct the mistakes and also look forward to our next game.”

Bantu Rovers team manager Agent Sawu was not convinced with how they played despite the positive result.

“It’s a positive result for us, especially in the second round of the season. We have been playing well but we were not getting the results,” Sawu said.

“Today, we got the desired result but we were not happy with the performance of the team. The weather conditions contributed to the change in our usual play.”

Yesterday’s results: Ngezi Platinum Stars 4-1 Yadah FC, Bantu Rovers 1-0 Black Rhinos, Chicken Inn 2-0 Triangle, Harare City 2-0 Shabanie Mine, FC Platinum 3-1 Bulawayo City

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HARARE - Outgoing Highlanders coach Erol Akbay says he is open to joining another local club when his contract comes to an end later this year.

The Dutchman is in the last five months of his two-year contract which gives him the right to negotiate with another club even though he is still employed by Bosso.

If a player or coach enters the last six months of an existing contract, he/she will virtually be a free agent and can negotiate with another club without violating any football statutes.

“Yes, of course, if you are not going to renew your contract, it means you are open to everything, including local Premiership teams. I’m prepared to negotiate with whoever is willing to take me on board,” Akbay told the Daily News.

“I can’t really say there is any team of choice for now but it’s about the total package, what is the club offering? What is certain though is that I will not be at Highlanders next season.”

Akbay, who led the Bulawayo giants to a third place finish in his first year in local football last season, decided against renewing his contract with Bosso due to the precarious financial situation at the club.

“I will stop being coach of Highlanders at the end of this year. I don’t know what I will do but I will stop coaching this club at the end of the year,” the Dutchman said last week.

“There are a lot of reasons but the biggest is the financial situation for me. That’s why it is not possible anymore to work for Highlanders.”

Bosso’s financial problems started at the beginning of the year when their principal sponsor, BancABC, significantly reduced its funding to the club.

In April, Akbay missed a number of training sessions after going on strike following the non-payment of his signing-on fees.

The coach finally returned to training but since then it was evident that the relationship between coach and club had been affected.

Since the coach announced that he would be walking away at the end of the year, the Bosso hierarchy on Monday held a meeting with Akbay.

The club was clearly not pleased that the Dutchman had announced his intention to leave the club and censured him for “failing to follow protocol” according to Bosso acting-chairperson Morden Ngwenya.     

With friction between Akbay and the Bosso leadership, it is going to be interesting to see how it is going to affect the team on the pitch.

The Bulawayo giants appear to have taken a dip in form in recent weeks which has seen them sort of fade away in the Castle Lager Premiership title race.

Bosso are currently in sixth place on the log with 32 points and trail leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars by eight points.

At the weekend, Highlanders were held to a goalless draw by an improving Harare City side at Barbourfields Stadium.

This afternoon Highlanders travel to Nyamhunga Stadium to face an inconsistent ZPC Kariba side.

ZPC coach Sunday Chidzambwa threatened to quit his post at the weekend after watching his side’s awful performance in the 1-0 loss to CAPS United.

Today: ZPC Kariba v Highlanders (Nyamhunga), Tsholotsho v CAPS United (Luveve)

HARARE - The recent violence that erupted at a musical concert featuring international reggae star Busy Signal in Bulawayo over the weekend should be strongly condemned.

Fans ran amok after Winky D walked off the stage in protest over poor sound and in the resultant mayhem, beer and other beverages were looted by hooligans who also went on a rampage destroyed cars and other property.

While the frustration of the fans over the poor sound is understood, it is the level of anger, the looting and damaging of innocent people’s cars that should not be tolerated at all and we hope the police will bring the culprits to book.

In situations like that, everyone from the paying fans to the promoters lose.

It is sad that businesspeople who had brought large quantities of beverages that included beer and soft drinks had their merchandise looted, hence are counting their losses.

Violence at music concerts usually results in the loss or damage of musical instruments as fans usually target the stage where they throw missiles while the musicians are also not spared as they are attacked.

Zimbabweans in general are a peace-loving people, hence the shock by most stakeholders at the intensity of the violence.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has already sent a distress call as it urges locals to be peaceful and not tarnish the image of the country over such a trivial incident of poor sound.

Such musical concerts by visiting international bands usually attract thousands of fun-loving people who would be out to relax and have a good time with some bringing their families.

In the unforeseen likelihood of violence, there could be a stampede as a result of the chaos, thus presenting danger to the fun-loving public.

The fans are also the biggest losers as an abandoned musical concert means they lose their hard-earned cash while some would have travelled distances to watch their idols.

Busy Signal’s call to abandon bottles at music concerts makes sense as these have proved to be dangerous weapons whenever chaos erupts.

Music promoters who sell beer and other soft drinks should also think about people’s safety and avoid bottles at concerts. They can always sell beer or soft drinks in cans.

The music promoters should also make sure that they prepare for these concerts well in advance and this means hiring the best public address systems and sound engineers.

And a proper sound check should be done in advance without fail for every to avoid a situation where the performer wants to test the sound in a packed auditorium.

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HARARE - Female National Assembly members have accused Speaker Jacob Mudenda of “overlooking” them during heated debate on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 1) Bill which, if signed by President Robert Mugabe, would restore powers to him to appoint the chief justice and judges.

Already the National Assembly has passed the controversial Bill.

In an open letter, MDC women legislators Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, Nomathemba Ndlovu, Jasmine Toffa and Jessie Majome said Mudenda consistently overlooked women at the expense of Zanu PF and MDC male legislators during debate on the Bill in the National Assembly.

Mudenda could not be reached for comment yesterday and did not respond to questions sent to him.              

“We, the undersigned Members of Parliament, wish to express to you our utter disappointment with the manner in which you exercised your discretion as chair in preventing women members from speaking during the debate on Constitution Amendment No. 1 Bill on Tuesday July 25, 2015. We noted that you ruled that you would not entertain any points of order in refusing to recognise first . . . Misihairabwi-Mushonga, then . . . Majome but you proceeded to recognise (MDC vice president) Nelson Chamisa, who is a man.

“You maintained that position even when you were approached by the two honourable members at your chair, insisting that you knew in advance what they intended to say which amounts to prejudice,”  the MPs wrote in their joint letter to Mudenda.

“You proceeded to refuse to recognise . . . Toffa and . . . Ndlovu but proceeded to repeatedly recognise Chamisa, Temba Mliswa (Independent MP) and (MDC MP) Innocent Gonese, who are all men.

“Even the Hansard of July 25, 2017 (Vol. 43 No. 78) invisibilised and anonymised women MPs as it totally left out honourable members Misihairabwi-Mushonga, Ndlovu and Majome’s sustained point of order interjections, only honourable Toffa is recorded as having raised a point of order,” they further complained.

They added that they were not happy “at being discriminated against on the basis of our gender, being equally members of Parliament who must also enjoy the right to hold office as guaranteed by Section 67 of the Constitution as read with Section 56”.

“Women also have views that are valuable to it and should not be dismissed as predictable. As women MPs, we find it unfair to be deprived of audience in Parliament yet are often subjected to public criticism for allegedly not speaking in Parliament,” the quartet added.

The draft Bill has been sent to Mugabe for his assent and signature.

Once assented to and signed by Mugabe, the Bill will have to be published in the Government Gazette as an Act of Parliament.  Only then will it become law.

In the new law, Mugabe would be given powers to appoint the chief justice, deputy chief justice and judge president of the High Court of his choice whenever there are vacancies for such posts.

The amended section in the new Constitution had taken away those powers by opening up the selection process to the public by empowering the Judicial Service Commission to hold public interviews where it would then draw up a shortlist to be presented to Mugabe for appointment, based on merit.

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HARARE - The late retired chief justice Godfrey Chidyausiku’s son Tadzimirwa has made an out-of-court settlement with a woman who accused him of fondling her bum, leading to the withdrawal of his criminal case at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts yesterday.

Tadzimirwa Bernard Chidyausiku, 28, was represented by advocate Webster Chinamora when he appeared before Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba facing  indecent assault charges.

The complainant, Amina Mahomed, 25, confirmed contents of a withdrawal affidavit she tendered to the court  before the matter was struck off the roll.

“We have reached an out-of-court settlement with the accused person. I have made the  statement freely and voluntarily without any undue influence and I fully appreciate the effect of withdrawal of the matter,” read Mahomed’s affidavit.

Chidyausiku had filed counter assault charges against Mahomed’s husband but also withdrew them yesterday.

“ . . . through engagement of my legal practitioners and the accused person, we have managed to reach an amicable resolution to this matter which we believe is in the interests of justice,” Chidyausiku said.

Prosecutor Patience Chimusaru said on July 24 this year around 01:00 am, Mahomed was at Shisanyama having fun with her husband.

It was alleged  that when Mahomed intended to visit the toilet, she met Chidyausiku at the bar’s entrance and he advanced towards her.

Chidyausiku reportedly told the woman he wanted to put a second ring on her finger. Mahomed responded that she was a married woman hoping to brush him off. The court heard that Chidyausiku then fondled Mahomed’s bum without her consent, telling the woman that she was beautiful. Mahomed started walking back to her husband but Chidyausiku still pursued her, insisting on putting a second ring on her finger. This did not go down well with Mahomed’s husband and a fight broke out between the two men.

Mahomed later reported the indecent assault case to the police, leading to Chidyausiku’s arrest.

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HARARE - A former British soldier who was busted at his Glen Lorne home with an assortment of machinery used to make cocaine capsules and drugs is demanding to know the whistle blower before his trial commences.

James  Francis Joscelyne, 39, appeared before Harare magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta yesterday charged with dealing in dangerous drugs.

He was a British Army soldier attached to the Queen’s regiment before he retired and moved to Zimbabwe in 2002.

Joscelyn  was represented by advocate Sylvester Hashiti who made an application for the State to disclose the informant before he moves to trial.

“If a case is to proceed to trial where there is a whistle blower, the accused person has the right to know.

“We need to know so that the accused person knows how to plead and also prepare his defence,” Hashiti said.

Prosecutor Oscar Madhume said he would have responded to the plea by August 16 when the matter is expected back in court.

According  to court papers, Joscelyne admitted during an interview that he was processing tablets containing ecstasy powder and cocaine and selling a capsule for $3 through an organised syndicate in Harare.

It was alleged that on July 20, detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics  division were tipped that Joscelyne was producing dangerous drugs at his  home and they raided his home after presenting a warrant to Joscelyne.

Detectives discovered in Joscelyne’s bedroom two sachets of a substance suspected  to be cocaine with a street value of $640 and 43 ecstasy tablets valued at $129.

A bowl containing ecstasy powder and empty plastic packaging were recovered in the kitchen.

It  was further alleged that two drug processing machines; a single-punch pill-maker and a dagga compressing machine, 25kg of micro crystalline cellulose used in pharmaceutical tablet-making, 300 empty capsules and food colorants were also found in the house.

The recovered drugs were taken for forensic examinations and the results are yet to be obtained.

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HARARE - The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says the National Inclusion Strategy, will among other things, push to have people living with disabilities (PWDs) access banking halls and withdraw their money from Automated Tellers Machines (ATMs) without difficulties.

This comes as the central bank noted that not all banks had the infrastructure that specifically catered for people with disabilities such as those confined to wheelchairs.

RBZ deputy director, Bank Supervision Division, Norah Mukura, said there were various barriers that were stopping PWDs from accessing financial services, including infrastructure and other systems.

“There are barriers that are there or constraints that stop them from accessing financial services as people with disabilities.

“They can be physical infrastructure, for example, at ATM machines, there is no facility for people in wheelchairs to properly access their funds, and the documents do not cater for those who can read Braille.

“And then we come to the issue of education; education is important and because there is limited access to education facilities by people living disabilities. So this has also affected them.

“So even the level of unemployment is low and this has limited their ability to access financial services and even to open a bank account,” Mukura told a networking meeting of PWDs.

She said the level of financial inclusion was still far from the ideal position envisaged by the RBZ, so the National Inclusion Strategy will look at banks having equipment designed for use by people in wheelchairs or staff trained to help these individuals.

Financial inclusion refers to the access by marginalised individuals to financial services, including those offered by banks, stock exchange, insurance and others, which can help people improve their livelihoods.

They are over 817 000 PWDs according to the national census conducted in 2012 constituting about six percent of the country’s population, with over 70 percent of these living in the rural areas.

“That is a sizable number and we need to do ensure that whatever we are doing as policy makers, there is something that is targeted at this group of people,” Mukura said.

According to a 2014 survey by the RBZ, the banking sector recorded a level of exclusion of 70 percent, insurance had a 70 percent level of exclusion, savings and investment sector had 53 percent while capital markets had a 99 percent level of exclusion.

The mobile money sector and borrowing sector had levels of exclusion around 50 percent.

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HARARE - A Zvishavane headman has shamed Zanu PF legislators in his area for abandoning their constituencies after winning elections.

Speaking at the launch of a school feeding initiative by government and aid agencies, headman Blessed Matenda said the legislators vanish immediately after elections.

Present at the gathering was Zvishavane legislator John Holder, who the forthright headman alleged was only present because a Cabinet minister, Lazarus Dokora, had attended the function.

“We thank you honourable ...Dokora for being here because had you not come to our remote part of Zvishavane, Holder would not have attended. However, take note that he was late, but all the same he came,” said Matenda.

Holder did not respond to the accusations.

“What you need to know is that Members of Parliament only want votes and when they are done with us, they never return.

“The school where you have launched the vegetable gardens and feeding programme is 90 years old but some people who we vote for know nothing about it,” the forthright Matenda rubbed it in.

Members of the community who spoke to the Daily News claimed they do not even know their legislator for Zvishavane-Runde constituency, Fred Gandiwa Moyo.

An elderly man, Josphat Manda, said he was now fed up of legislators who abuse rural folk to enrich themselves in Parliament.

He said the last time Moyo was in the constituency was when he was soliciting for votes from the constituency.

“Though Zvishavane is a dry area with barely enough water, its sporadic presence is better than Gandiwa. If he stands in front of me, I do not even know him, yet I voted for him,” Manda said.

Moyo said the allegations by the headman were all lies as he is always in his constituency.

He told the Daily News that every weekend he is in the village checking on progress in projects and what other needs his constituents have.

“This is just campaign politics. The problem is that the young man (Matenda) is at loggerheads with another headman whose wife is conducting a thriving poultry project in the area.

“He has been accusing me of not supporting his initiatives, but what can I do if one is not innovative? At the end of the day I cannot satisfy everyone,” Moyo said.

Another villager, Trust Chikura, said he no longer trusted legislators as they appeared not to care about the people who vote for them.

He added that had it not been for aid agencies and non-governmental organisations working in the area, development would be non-existent.

“When you see these legislators in our area, they come, buy us cheap alcohol and promise heaven on earth then leave when they are in power.

“Our legislator does not even know that we need water. He has never done any development projects since we voted for him. Maybe if we do things differently next year, some change will occur,” Chikura said.

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HARARE - Opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)’s president Tendai Biti will next week deliver the second edition of the State of the Economy Address (SEA) in Harare at a venue to be announced in due course.

The PDP said in a statement, Biti — a former Finance minister — is expected to proffer a raft of solutions to the economic quagmire on varying issues including land invasions, illicit financial flows, dwindling revenues, poverty and unemployment.

While the fiscal impulse and a recovery in agriculture following favourable rainfall after last year’s drought will support moderate growth in 2017, the IMF has warned that financing constraints and declining confidence are likely to result in stagnant economic activity in the medium term.

Political polarisation is also undermining the prospects for fiscal consolidation and reform, imperilling financial sector and external stability.

“The president will also deal with the political crisis including the contradicting messages from the State which is at war with itself owing to the State-party conflation,” PDP said.

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HARARE - In a rare challenge to Zimbabwe’s powerful generals, the country’s largest trade union Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has said the military should stop interfering in politics.

The trade union said in its Defence Forces Day message that it had noted with consternation the recent utterance and public spat between the Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo and the commanders of the army and air force.

“Our defence forces must never be involved in party politics. If they want to join politics, they must remove their uniforms,” Sylvester Mutindindi, ZCTU acting secretary general said.

The ZCTU said it was also worried by reports of massive corruption in the police force, particularly from those in the traffic section.

“There has also been an outcry about the number of roadblocks that are being mounted by the police to extort money from members of the public. Such actions destroy the entire image of the police,” Mutindindi said.

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HARARE - Zimbabwean farmers sold 184,5 million kg of the nation’s top export earner tobacco by day 99 of the selling season, which is 7,3 percent lower compared to 199,1 million kg received in  prior year, official data showed.

Statistics from industry regulator Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) showed that farmers had sold tobacco worth $547,5 million — which is 6,6 percent lower than the same period last season — at the country’s auctions and to official tobacco buyers since the selling season started on March 15.

Zimbabwe’s tobacco earns more than platinum and gold.

TIMB figures also showed that contract floors contributed 83 percent of seasonal total tobacco sales against 17 percent for the auction floors in the same period.     

Bales rejected have been gradually decreasing from 12,4 percent on Day 1 to 5,90 percent on day 99.

Average price per kg stood at $2,97 which is 0,8 percent lower compared to the prior year.

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HARARE - Disgruntled war veterans have escalated their fight with the First Family — this time by poking fun at influential Grace Mugabe — whom they are portraying as a failed mother through T-shirts carrying disparaging messages.

The T-shirts are emblazoned with Grace’s face and have gone viral on social media.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) secretary-general Victor Matemadanda has been pictured wearing one such T-shirt.

“Control your children first. Grace a failed mum; her sons unruly rogues failing only with two boys, can’t mother 14 million,” reads the message on the T-shirt that Matemadanda proudly wore.

This followed recent statements by Grace agonising over her sons’ — Robert Junior and Chatunga Bellarmine — wayward behaviour which saw them being ejected from a plush residence in South Africa in June.

The impressionable youths have now become the bane of jokes, with a post of Matemadanda’s T-shirt on Facebook amassing thousands of  “likes.”

Matemadanda yesterday told the Daily News that he had received the controversial apparel from well-wishers he declined to reveal.

“We are not afraid of being arrested. If we are arrested we will stay in prison until that time when they feel we should be freed,” Matemadanda told the Daily News.

At a press conference earlier on Wednesday, Matemadanda had also laid into Grace saying she does not deserve to be called the First Lady because of her conduct.

“We heard the first lady is doing this, no, this is the second first lady. Our first lady is Sally. Our first lady helped us during the war,” said Matemadanda referring to the late President Robert Mugabe’s Ghanaian-born wife who died of renal failure in 1992.

In 1996, Mugabe married Grace Marufu, his former secretary, with whom he already had two children.

Their third child was born in 1997.

“What worries us is that when Sally felt sick, she didn’t go outside the country but some are getting treatment outside the country,” Matemadanda told a news conference on Wednesday.

“Sally was a unifier not ava vekuuruka uruka ava (not this one who appears wild) dancing at rallies with (Zanu PF political commissar Saviour) Kasukuwere.

“Every time you will see her in Singapore, her children are misbehaving in South Africa, so do you think Charamba is more stubborn than her children?

“So why did she do that to Charamba? We don’t like that,” said Matemadanda, referring to a rally held in Chinhoyi two weeks ago in which Grace attacked presidential spokesperson, George Charamba at the youth interface rally.

A large section of the war veterans — including Matemadanda have publicly expressed their desire to see Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe — a move which is being fiercely opposed by the G40 faction which has the backing of Grace.

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HARARE - The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) will not allow three jailed MDC officials to vote in next year’s elections because they would have spent 12 consecutive months outside their constituencies by the time the polls are held.

In an opposing affidavit to the bid by Yvonne Musarurwa, Tungamirai Madzokere and Last Maengahama, who are serving prison terms of 20 years each after they were convicted last year for murdering a policeman, Zec said the trio would not be eligible to participate in the plebiscite.

The trio is seeking an order compelling Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zec and its chairperson Justice Rita Makarau to register them on the national voters’ roll and facilitate their voting on election day.

“No provision, in the 2nd and 3rd respondents’ analysis of the law, is made for the registration of inmates as voters and or their casting of ballots on polling day.

“In terms of section 23 (3) of the Electoral Act, a person ceases to be a resident in a particular constituency if for a continuous period of twelve months he/she has ceased to reside in that constituency,” Makarau said.

The trio was incarcerated on December 12, 2016, and would have spent over 12 months behind bars by the time of next year’s elections.

Makarau further said the only other lawfully-recognised method of casting one’s vote during an election, other than physically presenting oneself at a polling station on polling day is postal voting.

However, the eligibility of this vote is limited to persons on duty in the service of government outside the country, members of a disciplined force and electoral officers on polling day.

It does not cover the applicants, Makarau said.

“Having placed before the honourable court what I and the 3rd respondent believe to be the most pertinent facts and law in the determination of this matter, I hasten to state that the issue that has been brought before the court by the applicants may be one that requires a legislative solution and not a judicial one.

“I, however, leave the determination of that to the honourable court constant with my averment at the outset that the 2nd and 3rd respondents will abide by the decision of this honourable court,’ said Makarau.

Justice ministry permanent secretary Virginia Mabhiza said in her affidavit the MDC officials were trying to have all the prisoners allowed to vote.

“I am advised by my legal practitioners, which advise I take, that one can only be compelled to do what he is permitted by law to do and that as long as the impugned Act does not violate the Constitution, the only remedy available for the applicants is to go to Parliament and ask Parliament to change the law,’ she said.

The three prisoners, who are represented by Jeremiah Bamu of  the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) consider themselves as political prisoners and argue that they were asserting their constitutional rights particularly the right to vote in elections and referendums as enshrined in Section 67 (3) (a) of the Constitution.

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