HARARE - Sables coach Cyprian Mandenge has castigated former Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) director of rugby Liam Middleton.

Following Zimbabwe’s dismal performance in the Rugby Afrique Gold Cup where they finished in fifth place out of six teams, Middleton put his hand up as a possible replacement for Mandenge.

At the moment, there is a lot of confusion in local rugby following the suspension of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union board led by Nyararai Sibanda by the Sports and Recreation Commission.

Whether Mandenge will keep his position with the incoming interim board remains to be seen.

“Liam should be the last person to talk about serving Zimbabwe. He is only here because he has failed elsewhere,” Mandenge told the Daily News on Sunday.

“I took this job knowing the challenges; it was going to be difficult because there was no support. It’s funny how people talk about the results as if they don’t know what was happening.

“My mandate was very clear for this year- build a team and stay in the Gold Cup and this was key.

“The first time he (Middleton) came to be director was because he had lost his job in the UK. The second instance he had failed in Canada and people must take note that he failed with all the resources at his disposal.”

Middleton had a successful stint as with the Zimbabwe Sevens side taking the Cheetahs to the World Championships where they did exceptionally well winning four and losing just two of their six games.

In 2013, he was sacked by Bristol Rugby Club in the United Kingdom following a mutual understanding. He had joined Bristol in 2009 as academy manager.

Middleton returned home and was appointed ZRU director of rugby where he failed to inspire the Sables to the 2015 World Cup; Brendan Dawson was the head coach.

In 2014, Middleton was appointed Canada Sevens rugby coach but was fired in July 2016 after failing to qualify for the Olympics as well as having two difficult seasons on the Sevens World Series circuit.

Mandenge said unlike Middleton, he has great respect for Dawson.

“I have lots of respect for him (Dawson) for he is one man that I know to be very passionate about Zimbabwe rugby,” Mandege said.

“The last World Cup Qualifiers he was failed by someone who took over his job when he was supposed to be director of rugby.

“The same person who was supposed to put structures to make sure that we qualify this time around.

“Now he wants to come when all the hard work has been done and looks like the answer to our problems.”

In an earlier interview with our sister publication the Daily News, Middleton said he was available to help get the Sables out of their current predicament.

“Under the right conditions (player welfare) and time available from my employers, I would be open to an approach (from ZRU),” Middleton said.

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HARARE - Although all the attention in the Castle Lager Premiership is centred on the title race, an interesting battle is shaping up further down the log table.

With four teams going down this season, at least eight clubs are not yet safe from the drop which makes the relegation battle a puzzling affair.

Below, the Daily News on Sunday takes a look at the teams that could find themselves playing in Division One next year.

Tsholotsho — 9 points

It is going to be a tall order for Darlington Dodo to pull Tsholotsho out of the mess they find themselves in.
Dodo’s team is bottom of the log and some 12 points away from safety which makes them one of the leading contenders to face the chop.

Last season in their debut campaign in the top flight, Tsholotsho survived relegation by a whisker largely due to the fact that the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) reached a compromise to relegate only two teams instead of the proposed four.

Tsholotsho finished the season in 14th place on the log with 29 points just one place off the last relegation spot.

Mutare City Rovers, who were in 15th place, were also on 29 points but Tsholotsho had a healthier goal difference.

Pulling off another Houdini act seems like a big ask for Tsholotsho this time around since they are yet to get a win after 21 matches thus far.

Having failed to win a single match in their previous attempts, accumulating the necessary points to move away from the bottom of the log and out of the relegation zone is highly unlikely for Tsholotsho.

Dodo’s side still has to play against the title-chasing sides Chicken Inn, Ngezi Platinum, Dynamos and FC Platinum in their remaining 13 matches.

Bantu Rovers — 12 points

The Bantu Rovers business model is based on developing young players and selling them for profit.

The Bulawayo-based side is responsible for moulding the careers of stars like Marvellous Nakamba, Kuda Mahachi and Teenage Hadebe.

After winning promotion from the Southern Region Division One League, Methembe Ndlovu remained faithful to his philosophy and retained the bulk of the youngsters who won promotion.

The only meaningful addition to the squad was veteran full back Tapiwa Kumbuyani, who has played for Chapungu, Monomotapa, CAPS United and How Mine.

However, results have not been forthcoming on the field with Tshintsha Guluva winning three matches so far to find themselves just one place of the bottom of the log.

Bantu’s main problem is their porous defence which has conceded a sizeable 40 goals in 21 matches.

Even bottom side Tsholotsho has a better defence than Bantu having conceded 31 goals.

With such a porous defence, it’s going to be difficult for Ndlovu’s side to retain their Premiership status.

The loss of captain and striker Bukhosi Sibanda to South African First Division side Ubuntu Cape Town FC has also made the situation worse.

Sibanda was the league’s top goal scorer before he left for South Africa with 10 goals, however, that is more than half of all the goals Rovers have scored which is 19.

Hwange — 20 points

For the past three seasons, Hwange have been flirting with relegation.

The coal-miners’ luck might be running out this time around as they find themselves in 15th place on the log with 20 points from the same number of matches.

In a bid to try and escape the drop, Chipangano roped in former Gunners and Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi.

Mawiwi wasted no time and brought in midfielders Nathan Ziwini, Elvis Meleka and defender Crybert Muvuti.

What is going to be key for Hwange to survive the chop is how they are going to fare in their remaining home matches.

Chipangano still have to play Bantu, FC Platinum, Black Rhinos, Yadah, Highlanders and Harare City at home before the season ends.

If they win all their remaining home matches that would translate into 18 points which would take Hwange to 38 points.

Yadah — 21 points

The newly-promoted side started the season like a house on fire going for five games without a defeat.

At one point, Yadah were top of the log as they played some entertaining football leaving many to think that they might fight for the title in their maiden season in the top flight.

However, something has gone terribly wrong at the club, starting with the fall-out between club owner Walter Magaya and coach Jairos Tapera.

After their first defeat to Dynamos, Magaya was so incensed by the fact Tapera defied his team selection.

The coach was subsequently suspended for the following match in which Yadah were humiliated 7-2 by Bantu Rovers.
It seems Magaya has not learned from his mistakes and last week again barred Tapera from taking charge of the team for the trip to Baobab Stadium to face Ngezi Platinum.

Yadah received another thumping as they went down 4-1 to the log leaders.

This constant interference from Magaya will do more harm than good to the club and will greatly undermine Yadah’s survival chances.

Shabanie Mine — 22 points

The asbestos miners started the season with a draw against defending champions CAPS United before travelling to Bulawayo and stunning Highlanders 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium.

There was a lot of optimism in the Chinda Boys camp but the team was rocked by the resignation of coach Wilson Mtekede, who was appointed the Zifa technical director.

Shabanie ended up engaging Takesure Chiragwi as coach and since then the results have been a mixed bag.

The Chinda Boys find themselves just two points off the relegation zone and if they are not careful, they will quickly return to the Central Region Division One League.

At the moment, Shabanie are on a four-game winless run having lost to Harare City, Bulawayo City, Highlanders and a draw with CAPS United.

Unless Chiragwi finds a winning formula soon, then Shabanie will definitely be going down at the end of the season.

CAPS United —18 points

The reigning champions find themselves in unfamiliar territory in 16th place on the log with 18 points.

However, due to their participation in the African Champions League, Makepekepe currently have six games in hand compared to the rest of the teams.

If they win those outstanding matches, the Green Machine could climb up to sixth place on the log.

But after losing Abbas Amidu and Ronald Chitiyo, who were the side’s most creative players, finding the back of the net has been a struggle for Makepekepe.

CAPS have only one win in their last five matches as their 2016 form seems to have deserted them.

Last Thursday, United failed to hold on to a 1-0 lead allowing bottom side Tsholotsho to equalise from the spot five minutes from time.

Now if they are not able to grind results against struggling sides like Tsholotsho, Makepekepe will find it hard to collect points in those outstanding matches.

If that is the case, United would be involved in a relegation scrap fight at the end of the season.

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HARARE - Masvingo provincial affairs minister, Shuvai Mahofa, has died.

She collapsed at her house in Masvingo early this morning before being taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

She was 75.

Psychomotor minister, Josiah Hungwe, confirmed Mahofa’s death.

“It’s very sad. I am currently going to officiate at the Heroes Day celebrations where she was supposed to be officiating,” Hungwe told Daily News.

More details to follow.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke says indications from the last Harare International Carnival show that both women and men are equally interested in half-clad Samba girls.

The Harare International Carnival is organised by ZTA as part of efforts to attract tourists to Zimbabwe’s capital city.

According to Kaseke, research during the 2015 edition of the carnival showed that, contrary to popular opinion, many women enjoyed watching the Brazilian girls in their revealing stage attire during the carnival street party.

“We actually discovered that women lost 17 children during the previous edition of the Harare International Carnival as they were busy following the Samba girls. The women were equally enjoying watching the Brazilian girls whose stage attire left tongues wagging,” Kaseke said.

The ZTA boss has promised even more fireworks this year.

“We have added Cubans to the line-up. Cubans are expected to give the Brazilians a good run for their money,” Kaseke said.

Several foreign artistes who include rhumba maestro Werrason from DRC, Dr Malinga, Heavy K, Babes Wodumo and Zodwa from South African will perform at the carnival.

Kaseke is optimistic that Zimbabwean women will be fascinated by Zodwa who stole the show at Durban July in South Africa with a thigh-baring outfit.

“We also hope that women will fall in love with Zodwa,” Kaseke said.

The carnival — expected to feature 25 countries — will be rocked by several

local artistes who include Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Soul Jah Love, Suluman Chimbetu and gospel artistes such as Charles and Olivia Charamba.

The Harare International Carnival’s new sponsor —  Big Time Strategic Group of South Africa — is paying for the foreign artistes in addition to availing a state-of-the-art stage and a public address system.

According to Kaseke, the sponsor is also contributing to the sprucing up of the carnival route.

“People will march along Robert Mugabe Road and they will gather at Civic Centre Grounds or Freedom Square where the biggest dome stage in Africa will be erected courtesy of the event sponsor Bigtime Strategic Group. Different artistes will perform at this stage,” he said.

In addition to the street party, there will also be the Carnival Bira to be held in Domboshawa on August 25, the Carnival Bush Party, the Carnival Zimdancehall Fiesta as well as Carnival Samba Night.

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HARARE - First Mutual  Life Holdings Limited (FMHL) last week announced plans to pursue a rights offer to raise $17,25 million, the businessdaily can report.

The implementation of the rights offer will depend on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed FMLH shareholders who are expected to approve the transaction at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to be held in the capital at the end of this month.

The funds will be earmarked towards acquisition of NicozDiamond’s 80,92 percent shares.

The transaction will be 90 percent underwritten by the National Social Security Authority (Nssa), the majority and controlling shareholder of both FMHL and NicozDiamond; while 10 percent will be underwritten by LHG Malta Holdings.

NSSA and LHG have committed to follow their respective rights and will therefore underwrite the portion outside their combined portions.

In a circular to shareholders published last week FMHL said: “FMHL proposes to raise $17,25 million by way of a renounceable rights offer of 210 371 395 new FMHL shares with a nominal  value of $0,001 at  a ratio 44 new FMHL ordinary shares with a nominal value of $0,001 per share for every 100 FMHL ordinary shares with a nominal value of $0,001 per share held as of the FMHL rights offer record date at a price of 8,20 cents per FMHL ordinary share.”

The proposed NicozDiamond acquisition, will result in the merging of NicozDiamond and Tristainsurance Company, who are both short-term insurers into a single short-term insurance entity.

The insurance firm will also seek shareholders’ approval at the EGM to merge the two short-term insurance companies.

According to the circular to shareholders, FMHL added: “Subsequent to the acquisition of NicozDiamond, the board proposes to merge NicozDiamond and Tristar operations into a single short-term insurance entity.

The mechanism of the proposed merger will depend on FMHL’s ultimate shareholding in NicozDiamond and the process is expected to take up to 24 months to complete.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed agro-industrial concern, Border Timbers, is set to make its debut on the Central Securities Depository (CSD) next week.

The CSD system maintains securities in electronic format in investors’ accounts, allowing their transfer from one party to the other through an automated book entry.

Border Timbers — which is under judicial management — will have its trades cleared and settled through the CSD.

“Shareholders, capital market players and the investing public are hereby advised that Border Timbers Limited securities will be cleared and settled on the Central Securities Depository (CSD), in an electronic form,” Border Timbers judicial manager Peter Bailey said.

The firm’s trading on the CSD will see Border Timbers being integrated into the country’s sole depository platform which operates under a custodian model as opposed to the retail model where investors have a direct interface with brokers.

Border Timbers — which widened its net losses after tax in the first half of 2016 — is now operating profitably and working on a new scheme of arrangement with creditors, according to its judicial manager.

Under the CSD’s custodian model, Border Timbers investors will have a choice of either going directly through a custodian for the purchase of shares, through a broker.

According to Bailey, the firm’s new scheme is only being delayed by a major foreign creditor who is still consulting on the planned programme.

Once approved, the new scheme will include provisions of an eight-year payment period in particular for staff and other statutory bodies while those in contractual agreements will have separate plans.

Border Timbers’ liabilities comprise mainly of deferred tax of $30 million arising primarily from the biological assets, while borrowings were in excess of $20 million.

The company’s $6 million debt to FBC Bank, NMBZ and Ecobank was in November 2015 absorbed by the Zimbabwe Asset Management Corporation, a special purpose vehicle created by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in August 2014 to absorb non-performing loans in the banking sector.

Net cash generated from operating activities marginally increased to $3,9 million from the previous year, but due to the effects of forest fires in the company’s timber forests in the Eastern Highlands, the group posted a loss.

Overall, demand for the firm’s products remains strong in the region and beyond with new markets being explored in West and Central Africa.

The company requires at least $10 million in fresh capital.

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HARARE - The “Rainbow Nation”, as South Africa is affectionately known, recently left their northern neighbours in Zimbabwe green with envy when that country’s highest court ruled their legislators could cast secret ballots in a confidence vote against President Jacob Zuma, whose second term at the helm ends in December.

On August 8, the South African Parliament took its debate on Zuma’s drama-filled presidency a step further when it conducted a secret ballot which, however, failed to dislodge the African National Congress (ANC) leader from the presidency.

It was a tense confidence vote that had been championed by opposition parties, mainly the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance. And the outcome was a close call where 177 were in favour of Zuma’s impeachment, while 198 were against.

Although the opposition parties’ intended outcome failed, there were huge successes elsewhere in the process that could provide some useful lessons for Zimbabwe, whose Parliament recently shot down calls for a secret ballot over a bill that was really of very little significance in the broader scheme of things in the country’s politics.

Now if Zanu PF could resist a secret ballot on the Constitutional Amendment Bill (Number One) will it stomach such on a critical thing like a confidence vote on its leader? This is where South Africans deserve credit.

Their conduct emphatically demonstrated the strength, resilience and independence of State institutions and some level of existence of constitutionalism in their country.

The slight margin by which Zuma survived, which also points to some from his own party having voted for his ouster, also speaks a lot to the political independence of some members of the party, whose judgment on national political issues is not sycophantically brainwashed by cultic worship of political leaders.

Such is a foundation of internal democracy for the ANC, which if allowed to freely evolve, can shift the party to a level where counterpart regional liberation parties can never dream of getting to. In the aftermath of the confidence vote, the ANC leadership has critical decisions to make.

They can fall for the temptation of witch-hunting those of their membership who were for the anti-Zuma vote and seek to establish a political orthodoxy that is based on cultism, blind loyalty and coerced followership as we have seen in political parties such as Zanu PF.

On the other hand, the ANC leadership can maturely treat the dissonance by some of its members in the confidence vote as a learning curve and focus on addressing the very issues causing such dissonance.

Should the ANC leadership do that, then the party will graduate to new levels of political consolidation and growth and become a dominant political party that survives more by internal reflection than internal and external subjugation of opposing voices.

For Zimbabwe, the lessons are as clear as the distinction between day and night.

Firstly, the benefits of strong institutions provide “checks-and-balances” in a republic’s political matters, which devolve power to the people through their representatives in Parliament.

Secondly, both the ruling Zanu PF and opposition parties in Zimbabwe must reflect on aspects of internal democracy.

As much as party members exhibit loyalty to their leaders in the public space, when given the secrecy of expression, they may behave otherwise.

Such expression is not determent to the party, if harnessed to build self-critique platforms that channel such critique towards political party strengthening, growth and evolution.

Thirdly, Zimbabwean politicians, especially parliamentarians, need to learn about the value of processes beyond outcomes.

The South African “no-confidence-vote” was more a demonstration of existence of democratic processes than it was merely about dislodging Zuma.

In Zimbabwe, many parliamentarians are in the august House for the sake of pushing a particular electoral outcome, come the next election, rather than fully participate in processes that build momentum towards establishing a representative democracy.

Zimbabwe’s democracy will not be achieved by replacing one political leader with another, or one political party with another, but rather by solidifying and consolidating democratic processes that will hold whoever comes into power, whether from one’s party or another, to strict account.

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HARARE - The twists and turns around President Robert Mugabe’s succession have come at a huge cost to the country’s economy because of its disruptive effects on government business. It’s a subject that has also strained relations in his Zanu PF party, ahead of crucial elections next year.

In this Question and Answer, our news editor, Gift Phiri chats to Piers Pigou, a senior consultant at the International Crisis Group about the convoluted Zanu PF line of succession. Find below excerpts of the interview.

Q: The First Lady Grace Mugabe dropped a bombshell at a Zanu PF women’s league national assembly meeting in Harare recently, calling on her husband — for the first time in as many years — to anoint a successor. What do you read into her moves?

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

Q: After the First Lady raised concern, as the secretary for women’s affairs, that Zanu PF should revert to its resolutions that one of the vice president’s positions be reserved for women, Mugabe responded by seemingly suggesting tweaking with the constitution to create a third VP slot. Do you get a sense that Mugabe is moving to appoint his wife as one of his deputies?

A: If accurate, and looked at in isolation, it reflects a direct challenge by Mugabe to Mnangagwa. As usual, the language is suggestive rather than definitive, and in theory keeps the president’s options open.

If this option is pursued and Zanu PF amends its constitution, it is of course theoretically possible VP (Phelekezela) Mphoko could be pushed, but this would require putting a Zapu woman in to cover Unity Accord commitments.

In this febrile political environment, a move to promote Grace to VP is certainly possible, but would be construed by many as a deliberately divisive move given the nature of her political posturing.

It would be a highly risky move for Zanu PF, but as we have seen it, Zanu PF is a party that is not adverse to brinkmanship.

Q: By suggesting three VPs, isn’t the president saying in a way he is not willing to dispose of his long time ally Mnangagwa but is willing to accommodate his wife in the apex of government?

A: This is classic Mugabe. Keeping his options open and avoiding laying out definitive preferences. In the past, he had simply created new positions to accommodate interests, even if it directly violates the rules.

This was evident when he stacked his Cabinet in the Global Political Agreement. The rulebook 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.

Q: At the Chinhoyi youth interface rally, Grace told the crowd that the two vice-presidents and herself serve at the pleasure of Mugabe. What do you read into this?

A: Grace is not a member of the presidium and appears to be trying to, at the very least, elevate herself in the Zanu PF hierarchy.

It is curious she makes no mention of the other key Zanu PF structure, namely the youth league.

Clearly, she is leveraging off her proximity to the president to promote herself as being at the very apex of the party and by extension political power in Zimbabwe.

Q: Grace dressed down presidential spokesperson George Charamba at the Chinhoyi rally, accusing him of capturing the State-controlled Herald newspaper, fighting with ministers, ignoring her charity projects in Mazowe and portraying Team Lacoste in positive light in the listed State newspaper. Isn’t this some conflation of State and party?

A: Zanu PF has successfully enmeshed party and State interests for over 36 years in power. The first lady refers to serving the president.

In her capacity as chair of the women’s league, her responsibilities are in relation to his role as First Secretary, in other words his functions as the head of the party, not the government.

But we repeatedly see this critical distinction is not made. Grace technically has no jurisdiction over the presidential spokesperson, but evidently feels that she does.

Q: Others in the youth league and women’s league have suggested that Mugabe’s wife must succeed him, perhaps to protect the first family’s personal interests and security, a move vehemently opposed by war veterans and the opposition. What’s your view into this suggested dynastic rule of sorts?

A: A move in this direction would be deeply detrimental to Zimbabwe further diminishing is cachet in the region, continent and beyond. Such a move, if seriously considered, would be very damaging to Zanu PF’s longer term prospects and contrary to its revolutionary principles.

Q: Others suggest this is all choreographed to get alleged Generation 40 (G40) candidate Sydney Sekeramayi to succeed Mugabe. Is this feasible, or it’s all part of manoeuvring by Grace to get the top prize?

A: There is some speculation that Sekeramayi’s elevation is part of a longer term plan to facilitate Grace’s political ambition.

This seems an unlikely scenario. Indeed, her leverage will diminish considerably once her husband has left the political scene. It is difficult to see how any political force within Zanu PF will see her as a significant asset once Mugabe is gone.

Much depends on whether the political forces around her feel that a leadership role for the First Lady will translate into a strengthened position for themselves or whether they would see her as a liability.

The question must be asked, what does she bring to the table?

Q: With many expressing exasperation with Mugabe’s feared declining health while Zimbabwe is falling deeper into economic crisis, he is digging in, claiming he is fine. Given his apparent advanced age and increasing frailty, doesn’t this raise the spectre of the president’s natural wastage while in office and the attendant risk of backward slippage towards political disorder and economic collapse?

A: It is highly unusual for someone to retain this high office at such an advanced age. It is clear Mugabe no longer has the strength to provide the kind of leadership required given Zimbabwe’s acute challenges; his frequent dozing off at public events, his struggling gait, slow and mumbling delivery are all signs that do not inspire confidence and strongly suggest his stubborn retention of office reflects an inability to face reality and let go.

Q: Were Mugabe to be incapacitated, resign, removed from office or die, the new Constitution states that until 2023, the vice-president who last acted as president assumes office as president for the next 90 days until the party nominates a replacement for consideration by Parliament. Doesn’t this raise the potential for chaos given that this may see someone from outside the party presidium leapfrogging into State House?

A: It remains unclear exactly how Zanu PF will make its selection as the modalities of the special congress that is tasked with making this decision are not explicitly set out in the party’s constitution.

A selection outside of the presidium is a possibility but will be contingent on dynamics both within and outside party’s structure. It remains to be seen whether Zanu PF will be able to demonstrate a credible internal democratic process.

Q: The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has waged an ambitious campaign against corruption since assuming power three years ago, in which dozens of senior officials have been arraigned but none jailed, including the powerful High and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo, whom the first lady exonerated in Chinhoyi claiming he is a victim of factional fights. In your view, is there sufficient political will in Zanu PF to tackle graft? How can corruption be stemmed?

A: The simple answer is no. Zanu PF has an appalling history of addressing corruption and the Zacc and its institutional predecessors have been part of the problem given their selective engagement with a cancer that had become endemic in Zimbabwe. As we have seen, a culture of impunity continues.

A: At the very highest levels of Zanu PF, there is no longer even the pretence of party unity, with rival factions in a zero-sum game. So, what does the future hold for Zanu PF?

A: Zanu PF will survive its current internal divisions. Notwithstanding the theatre of public discord playing out between some senior leaders of the party, fickleness will be the order of the day as the bulk of party functionaries align themselves with the dominant forces once it becomes clearer as to who these elements actually are.

HARARE - Renowned Zimbabwean academic, writer and former envoy George Kahari has been offered an Honorary Professorship of Education by the Appointments Board of the International Biographical Centre (IBC) of Cambridge, England.

In a notification letter to Kahari, IBC director-general Nicholas Law said: “Only a very select few are to be honoured in this way . . . The selection process is clear: a recipient must show the very highest level of achievement within the field of education and must be seen as an authority within this field of expertise.”

This comes hard on the heels of Kahari’s nomination in June as International Educator of the Year 2017, an award the Cambridge-based institute said was made available only to a few illustrious individuals whose achievements and leadership stand out in the international community.

Following this, Kahari was named Global Laureate of Education for his “continuing achievements . . . dedication and work in education” adding that they routinely “seek out the world’s greatest men and women . . . whose accomplishments transcend the ordinary”.

The International Biographical Centre is one of the leading biographical reference book publishers in the world with more than 20 Who’s Who titles in 132 separate editions.

Kahari, who has previously served as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Germany, Italy and Czechoslovakia, was in 2012 nominated into the list of top 100 educators by the IBC in recognition of his “contribution in their field to engender influence on a local, national or international basis”.

Kahari, who for many years was the Dean of the faculty of Arts at the University of Zimbabwe, has taught in the Department of African Languages and Literature at the same institution.

Born on July 20, 1930, Kahari has several publications under his name the latest being A Standard Dictionary of Shona Names and The Odyssey of Shona Narratives (2015).

Recently, Kahari has been a visiting professor of Modern African Literature at a couple of American universities.

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HARARE - Opposition parties have slammed government’s plans to construct a $1 billion state-of-the-art university named after President Robert Mugabe.

The parties argued that the learning facility — to be owned by the Robert Mugabe Foundation (RMF) — is a waste and misuse of taxpayer’s money at the First Family’s benefit.

“The MDC is deeply appalled by the Zanu PF regime’s decision to fund the Robert Mugabe University. Whilst the MDC keenly advocates for the development and establishment of educational institutions, we are convinced that government funds should always be used in a transparent and responsible manner that benefits the majority of the people instead of funding personal business ventures of private individuals,” the Morgan Tsvangirai-led party’s spokesperson, Obert Gutu, said.

“We have more than a dozen State universities in Zimbabwe, all of which are severely under-funded,” he said, questioning “what is the logic of establishing a new State-funded Robert Mugabe University instead of capacitating the existing State universities?”

Gutu said “someone, somewhere, is just trying to curry favour with Mugabe by massaging his personal ego. This is Zanu PF patronage politics gone crazy”.

Last week, Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo revealed that influential First Lady Grace Mugabe had pressured government to build the university.

“We have been pushed positively; the real inspiration and mover pulling together the various pieces that need to be in place has been the...Grace Mugabe because this is the initiative of the RMF. The university will be established under the auspices of the foundation, which is the responsible authority of the university,” Moyo told the media.

Mugabe and Grace are the founding trustees of the RMF. However, People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume accused Moyo of trying to seek favours from the first family.

“It is rank madness. This is a way by...Moyo to counter Command Agriculture by introducing command learning and institutions. It is meant to be a way of getting money from the fiscus and he is trying to curry favour with the first family.                       

He said the system has created “a society where all sorts of madness are justified as long as it is done in the name of the Mugabes”.

The Welshman Ncube-led MDC spokesperson, Kurauone Chihwayi, alleged that the project was a way of trying to loot State resources.

“This is strategic looting by the Mugabe family. They are exerting so much pressure on the national purse by diverting resources towards the construction of Robert Mugabe’s backyard university. Children are walking 10km to primary school in farming areas, kidney and cancer patients are battling for survival as Generation 40 (G40) ministers scramble to lick the Zimbabwean president.”

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

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

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

Moyo said the Robert 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.

Meanwhile, there are suggestions to rename the Harare International Airport after Robert Mugabe.

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HARARE - Suspended Mashonaland Holdings chief executive Manfred Mahari, who is being accused of defaulting on maintenance payments of $31 000 for his three children, has applied for exception to the charges arguing they are vague.

Mahari appeared before Harare magistrate Josephine Sande last week, with the case postponed to August 16 to allow prosecutor Devoted Nyagano to respond to his application.

He is being charged with contravening the Maintenance Act by failure to pay maintenance.

Mahari is denying the offence, arguing that the State’s charges were defective since they referred to Harare Civil Court order yet there is a standing High Court order in respect of the maintenance case.

He said pleading to the charges in any way would be an embarrassment, if that anomaly exists.

According to State papers, on April 12, 2012, Mahari was ordered by the Harare Civil Court to pay maintenance for his three children.

He agreed with his estranged wife Moyra in their divorce decree that he would pay all school fees.

The court heard that they also agreed that Mahari would provide uniforms, footwear, sportswear, text books and pay for the children’s extra lessons.

According to the court settlement, the business executive was to meet the children’s daily needs and foot 100 percent of their medical aid bills.

However, it is alleged that Mahari failed to comply and is now in arrears of $31 577.

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HARARE - Health minister David Parirenyatwa has backed government’s plans to amend the law to allow doctors to advertise, arguing the move will make the people alive to specialist services available in the country.

This comes as scores of desperate Zimbabweans have been flocking overseas, particularly India, to get specialist medical attention.

As a part of the code of medical ethics, doctors are not allowed to advertise because it would invite attention to their professional position, skill,  qualification, achievements, attainments, specialties, appointments,  associations, affiliations or honours and/or of such character and would ordinarily result in his self-aggrandisement.

“Our policy as it stands now doesn’t allow advertising per say, but as it stands now they can display and put signage that this is a medical practice, that this is a hospital, this is a practice,” Parirenyatwa said in an interview.

“But because we are now getting people who are now specialising, and we want the population to know. We are now looking at how we can do that and still make it professional and ethical,” he said.

Parirenyatwa, however, said there were concerns and considerations on how and where the adverts would be flighted.

“Do we put it in the paper that we have somebody who can be able to do laser therapy for eyes? Do we put it in the paper or do we allow that particular practitioner to talk about it in the radio? We are looking at all these things and how do we make the population know we have all these skills among our medical practitioners,” he said.

Parirenyatwa has since told members of the National Assembly that government was considering amending the policy which prohibits doctors from advertising.

The issue arose after Chegutu East Zanu PF MP Webster Shamhu asked in the National Assembly what government’s policy was regarding advertising by doctors

It comes on the back of doctors proposing to government sweeping amendments to the Health Professions Act to pave way for a new policy which allows health practitioners to advertise.

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HARARE - Residents must push for the realisation of their right to water, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has said.

This comes as residents frequently go for days without the precious commodity in most cities and towns countrywide.

Speaking at a water summit organised by Act Alliance last week, ZLHR’s counsel, Belinda Chinowawa, said the right to water was being hindered by government’s misplaced priorities.

She said instead of harmonising laws that provide for the right to water, government was busy looking for power through Constitutional amendments.

“The slow pace in harmonising laws impacts negatively on the right to water. We have the water and policies but no clear law that provides for this right. Instead, now the Constitution is being amended to provide the ruling political party with more power while ignoring real issues that affect people daily, such as their right to water,” Chinowawa said.

“There is no legislative framework to give the right to water because the Water Act has not been aligned to the Constitution.”

Harare West legislator Jessie Majome said she has no faith in the judicial system, arguing it is too compromised.

She said as legislators, they have been waiting for the harmonisation of laws since the Constitution was enacted in 2013.

“Unless the courts have vested interests in a matter, issues such as these that provide the right to water will not be implemented. The Constitution is the Supreme law of the land and any other laws should be read in conformity with it but that is not happening,” Majome said.

Chra chairperson Simbarashe Moyo said despite Section 75 guaranteeing residents the right to water, nothing has happened because thousands still do not enjoy the precious commodity.

“The State should do everything possible and within available resources to provide water to the citizens. Even with the much-talked about Chinese loans, water provision is still a pipe dream in Harare. Residents in areas such as Mabvuku, Tafara and Glen Lorne have gone for more than 10 years without water and now in the high density suburbs residents are now surviving courtesy of donor agencies who have assisted through the drilling of boreholes,” Moyo said.

Masvingo mayor Hubert Fidze said while water was a right and needed to be provided for, it was not for free.

Fidze said there were many processes involved before water reaches residents.

“Water is not a free right because there are chemicals that are needed to purify it from its raw state then the distribution to residents. All this require to be paid for. But if citizens want it for free then there is a problem,” he said.

Harare deputy mayor Enock Mupamawonde said water fails to become a right because of the costs incurred in production, treatment and distribution.

“When you go to the point of production at any water treatment plant you will begin to appreciate why it cannot be free. People have to understand that as Harare we inherited a rotten system at Morton Jaffray water treatment works which we are now fixing at a high cost,” Mupamawonde said.

Despite the heavy rains the country received, many towns and cities such as Masvingo, Bulawayo and some parts of Harare are still experiencing water rationing.

Water ministry permanent secretary Prince Mupazviriho is on record saying that government had signed a deal for the construction of Kunzvi Dam to ease the water problems in Greater Harare, which has a combined population of more than four million.

He said Kunzvi Dam would also be constructed together with Musami Dam at an estimated cost of $600 million.

Mupazviriho said the actual cost of the construction of the dams would only be determined once comprehensive feasibility studies had been done and agreed upon by both parties.

“Provisionally we pegged the costs of both Kunzvi and Musami dams at around $600 million, however, that is a very crude figure. The financing model will be determined once there is a bill of quantities which include the construction of the pipeline to Donnybrook where the treatment works and plant will be. Kunzvi and Musami dams have a combined capacity of plus or minus 200 million mega litres,” he said.

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HARARE - The World Food Programme (WFP) has stopped giving food aid to support the schools feeding programme, as Zimbabwe is no longer in a state of crisis.

In an interview with the Daily News, WFP country director Eddie Rowe said their involvement was because of the El Nino-induced drought, which saw the aid agency feeding more than 78 000 school children.

During the 2015/16 agricultural season, the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee estimated that 4,1 million Zimbabweans were food insecure between January and March 2017.

Areas most stricken by the drought were Matabeleland and Masvingo provinces, where dam levels were as low as 11 percent.

“We will not be providing...food to schools this year. Last year, we did it because of the gravity of the food shortages and the impact it had on school learners, who, as a result of hunger, had dropped out of school.  Our school feeding intervention last year was part of the El Nino drought response,” Rowe said.

“It was not a standalone school feeding exercise. Our aim now will be to support government both technically and logistically to establish its own home grown school feeding programme. During the lean season, we know that there will be cereals that will be distributed as part of this exercise. Currently, we have been catering for the relish at schools,” he said.

He said while this year’s food insecurity numbers have dropped to 1,1 million, WFP would still provide other aid to nearly 70 percent of that population.

“It is not a strange thing that even with a good harvest we have about 12 or 14 percent of food insecure people, who either did not cultivate, do not have land or have livelihoods that are directly tied to agriculture. We will be focusing in the most food insecure regions and we expect that by the peak hunger time in January we will be reaching about 600 000 people,” he said.

While a lot of food aid was distributed during the drought season, many non-governmental organisations accused government of politicising the humanitarian assistance.

A report released by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission last year revealed that Zanu PF members were the worst perpetrators of politicising food aid.

The report showed that elderly members of the community with family that was actively involved in opposition politics were being denied food aid.

Zimbabwe Peace Project released a report in April 2016 which also indicated that traditional leaders and councillors excluded members of opposition political parties from receiving food aid.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network estimated that there were 1,6 million people that require immediate food assistance in 2015/2016 season.

Netherlands Ambassador to Zimbabwe Gera Sneller also warned government against politicising food aid arguing that everyone in need should be assisted regardless of which political party they belong to.

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HARARE - War veterans — who have previously acted as the anchor pieces in Zanu PF’s mass mobilisation activities — are divided over the Heroes Day commemorations scheduled for today.

In the past, Zanu PF’s critics have gone to town, accusing the ruling party of sidelining those with divergent views from the Heroes and Defence Forces Day commemorations.

The chorus of disapproval is, however, getting louder, with a section of the war veterans led by Christopher Mutsvangwa lending its weight behind the dissenting voices.

The ex-liberation war fighters expressed divergent views yesterday over commemorations, with Mutsvangwa’s Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) saying they cannot embarrass themselves by associating with an event that has been reduced to a private Zanu PF function.

ZNLWVA national political commissar, Francis Nhando, said even though Mugabe had “hijacked” the day, he and others who participated in the bush war know and still remember the genuine heroes.

“The revolution was hijacked during the war when the likes of Herbert Chitepo and Josiah Tongogara died. The whole leadership, which had Zimbabwe at heart, is no longer there. Most of the real war veterans are being sidelined by Mugabe and his Generation 40 (G40),” he said.

“People are saying we must come to the celebrations, but Zanu PF is divided. We have the support of over 80 percent (of the party’s supporters) while Mugabe and G40 have only less than 20 percent.”

G40 is one of the two factions in Zanu PF fiercely opposed to the prospect of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa taking over from Mugabe.

There is no love lost between G40 and ZNLWVA, which is rooting for Mnangagwa to ascend to the high-pressure job.

But another faction of the war veterans led by Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandiitawepi Chimene is rallying the ex-combatants to pour out in their numbers to commemorate those who gave up their lives for Zimbabwe to be free.

Chimene’s deputy, George Mlala, said people must bury their differences and come out in their numbers to celebrate Heroes Day.

“We don’t want to forget about this day. People must sit down and discuss the issue of the liberation. If we have different opinions, we must put them aside and celebrate together,” he said.

“Our gallant fighters died before this issue of quarrels and factionalism. We must respect the day. All war veterans and people of Zimbabwe must celebrate this day,” he added.

Mutsvangwa’s ZNLWVA is increasingly drifting away from the ruling party and gravitating towards the opposition.

Last week, Mutsvangwa’s ZNLWVA stated publicly that they will support the MDC if it revives its attempts to impeach Mugabe.

Zanu PF’s rivals insisted this week that the event has been reduced to a get-together for Zanu PF members, who have long abandoned the ideals of the country’s liberation.

Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC said most of the country’s ex-liberation fighters were living in squalor and surviving on crumbs, while a few are having it all.

Party’s spokesperson, Obert Gutu, said while Heroes Day is a special day on the country’s calendar, Zimbabwe has allowed fake revolutionaries and liberation war deserters to define the country’s vision and trajectory as a nation.

“This is very sad and depressing”, he said, adding that Zimbabweans must “respect and salute the genuine heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate sacrifice to free us”.

“We should appreciate that heroism is a virtue and not a borrowed robe that one is bestowed with by the powers-that-be. As a people, we have trashed and bastardised the notion of heroism by celebrating mediocrity and chicanery.

“Criminals, murderers and rapists have been described as heroes and heroines at the expense of genuine liberators and war veterans. The struggle has been hijacked by latter day revolutionaries and political impostors. Genuine heroes and heroines must surely be turning in their graves,” Gutu said.

Former vice president Joice Mujuru’s spokesperson, Gift Nyandoro, said there was nothing to celebrate.

“It’s unfortunate that Zimbabwe has nothing to celebrate about the heroic things did by the sons and daughters to dislodge the colonial regime,” he said.

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HARARE - Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa was airlifted to South Africa for emergence treatment yesterday after the 75-year-old politician fell ill suddenly while attending President Robert Mugabe’s sixth youth interface rally held at Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda, the Daily News can report.

The politician – who has the distinction of having survived the gallows on two occasions during the brutal liberation struggle – was first flown to a private hospital in Gweru owned by Premier Services Medical Investments to stabilise his condition, before being moved to Thornhill Airbase, for security reasons.

He had to be flown to South Africa yesterday aboard a private jet operated by Star-Up of Peru, whose flight code was given as ZS-SRU.

Mnangagwa was flown to Lanseria International Airport – a privately-owned airport situated north of Randburg and Sandton to the north west of Johannesburg – which has the historical significance of being an airstrip where the iconic Nelson Mandela (now late) was flown to upon being released from prison in 1990 after serving for 27 years.

From Lanseria, he was said to have been taken to a Johannesburg private hospital where he is currently receiving specialist treatment 24/7, as close family members felt the Zanu PF second secretary needed access to medical facilities which are much more advanced than those found on the northern side of the Limpopo River.

Widely regarded as Mugabe’s most likely successor, Mnangagwa had complained of stomach cramps while seated in the VVIP tent as the Zanu PF leader, who has ruled his country since independence in 1980, was addressing thousands of ruling party supporters in the Matabeleland South capital on Saturday.

He later started vomiting, amid suspicions of food poisoning in the wake of the dog-eat-dog infighting which has erupted in Zanu PF over Mugabe’s successions.

Although Mnangagwa initially received first aid treatment from Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa — the vomiting continued – and the army had to dispatch a helicopter to ferry him to Claybank Hospital in Windsor Park, Gweru.

According to eyewitnesses who were at the rally at Pelandaba Stadium built in the mid-1970s by the then Gwanda Rural District Council, Mnangagwa had excused himself twice to visit the bathroom before he was eventfully taken to hospital.

“When he (Mnangagwa) arrived at Pelandaba Stadium, he sat for less than 10 minutes in the VVIP tent. In a hurry, he went to the restrooms where he spent 20 or so minutes. He came back and briefly followed the proceedings before he rushed to the bathroom for the second time where he again spent close to 20 minutes,” narrated an eyewitness.

“At that stage, he did not return to the tent. In fact, his aides came back and reported to State security minister Kembo Mohadi, and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko that all did not appear to be well with the VP.

“Mphoko then instructed Parirenyatwa to attend to the VP saying he had heard he was not feeling well. After attending to him briefly, Mnangagwa was taken to an ambulance and Parirenyatwa went with him to Gweru,” added the eyewitness.

After receiving emergence treatment at Claybank Hospital in Gweru, Mnangagwa was taken to a military-run clinic at Thornhill Air Base – one of the two main air bases for the Air Force of Zimbabwe.

While at Thornhill, security chefs – for long regarded as allies of the feared politician – were not comfortable with him spending the night there as they needed to first eliminate suspicions that Mnangagwa’s rivals wanted to finish him off. As a result, Mnangagwa spent the night on Saturday under heavy guard.

Psychomotor minister Josiah Hungwe, a close ally of Mnangagwa, narrated to the Daily News how the Vice President started complaining of stomach pains at Pelandaba Stadium.

“I was the first one to complain of stomach pains and I told him that I was having a problem. He later complained of stomach aches as well and at that point I just know that he left but I don’t know what happened after that,” said Hungwe.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo, was not taking questions from the media yesterday, saying whatever was happening to the Vice President was a “family matter”.

When Mnangagwa was flown to South Africa yesterday, he was accompanied by his wife, Auxillia, his son Emmerson (Junior) and Mary Chiwenga – wife of Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, Constantino Chiwenga.

Mnangagwa had started his day normally on Saturday.

He was among top government officials who attended the official opening of Jahunda Community Information Centre by Mugabe.

As the dignitaries arrived at the event, Mphoko and Mnangagwa did not shake hands.

And as the event progressed, the Daily News witnessed two youths clad in Zanu PF regalia heading for the VVIP stand where Mnangagwa was seated next to Mugabe, with Information Communication Technology minister Supa Mandiwanzira and Mphoko seated on the other side.

The two Zanu PF youths who were carrying bottled water, first saved Mnangagwa and Mandiwanzira before progressing to Mugabe and Mphoko.

At that point, Mnangagwa looked strong and fit.

After the launch of the information centre, Mandiwanzira asked senior government officials including the two VPs to leave the venue first so as to ensure that they would be at Pelandaba Stadium in time to receive Mugabe.

At the youth interface rally, Mnangagwa appeared strong as he chanted his popular pasi nemhandu (down with our enemy) slogan.

However, about 40 minutes into Mugabe’s speech, all hell the broke loose.

Mnangagwa’s allies were yesterday pointing accusing fingers at their rivals, the Generation 40 faction that is resistant to his presidential bid.

In the past, there have been six break-ins at Mnangagwa’s offices with his allies saying those were plots to eliminate him.

In 2015, some burglars also tried to break into his offices, while on another occasion a leather sofa in the office was tampered with — and surprisingly, it is not clear on all these accounts what the motive was.

In addition, State media reported two years ago that Mnangagwa had been involved in a car accident with a bus in Harare, in a case that his supporters claimed was an attempt on his life.

And when his party offices at the Zanu PF headquarters was broken into in December 2014, Mugabe was quoted saying he was aware “of people who really want to harm us, physical harm also”.

Zimbabwe’s health facilities are currently struggling with antiquated equipment due to years of underfunding, while demoralised personnel manning them often complain of low salaries and poor working conditions.

The situation is even worse for public hospitals, which cater for the majority of the country’s poor population.

The well-heeled only access local hospitals for minor illnesses, while their destination is either South Africa or India for serious health matters, with those who can afford it spending the top dollar to access treatment in Europe and the Far East.

MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai is currently receiving treatment for colon cancer in South Africa, while Mugabe has on three occasions this year been to Singapore for “routine medical check-ups”.

Mugabe and his administration face heavy criticism from their rivals for presiding over the collapse of the country’s infrastructure, which they inherited from the Ian Smith regime in a very competitive state.

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HARARE - Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Shuvai Mahofa collapsed and died early yesterday morning, splitting opinion in the deeply-divided Zanu PF party almost immediately after the provincial leadership initiated steps to have her buried at the national shrine.

Known in Masvingo as “the iron lady” because of her abrasive style, Mahofa collapsed at her house in Rhodene — a low density suburb on the northern side of the city centre — and was pronounced dead before she could be attended to at Makurira Hospital — in the same city.

Mahofa ,76, had been unwell for some time, although she had always insisted to be in good health.

In December 2015, she survived suspected food poisoning at a Zanu PF conference held in the resort town of Victoria Falls, and spent close to six months in hospital.

She never regained her health from then on.

A close friend of Mahofa and a fellow Zanu PF politburo member, Josiah Hungwe, confirmed her death yesterday.

“It’s very sad. I am currently going to officiate at the Heroes Day celebrations (in Masvingo) where she was supposed to be officiating. We are going to sit down and map the way forward,” Hungwe told Daily News.

In his Heroes Day message yesterday, President Robert Mugabe, revealed how as recent as a fortnight ago he had inquired into her health at a Zanu PF politburo meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Harare and was told she was fine.

“In the last politburo meeting, as I always do, I asked how she was feeling and she said ‘I am okay’. So the news is astonishing. As astonishing as it is; depressing and sorrowful, I say let us not think that as we move along we are totally healthy. See doctors as often as possible,” Mugabe said.

A hugely divisive figure in her home province, Mahofa was hated and liked in the same measure.

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She was a darling of the Team Lacoste faction, which is campaigning for Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed the incumbent.

Naturally, she had no sympathisers among members of the Generation 40 (G40) faction who could be shedding crocodile tears following her sudden death.

Mahofa was popularly known for her passion in dancing so much such that she collapsed while on the dance floor at one of Zanu PF’s gatherings.

Despite her advanced age and the fact that she was not really good at it, Mahofa never slowed down on dancing.

She was also part of a growing breed of Zanu PF politicians who owe their ascendance to influential positions to praise-singing for Mugabe.

Having presided over a fractious province, Mahofa’s death has divided opinion in Zanu PF over whether she deserves a place at the National Heroes Acre.

Her death comes less than two months after the death of renowned freedom fighter and musician, Dick Chingaira, popularly known as Cde Chinx, who was denied national hero status.

She is survived by four children and 27 grandchildren.

Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators Association (Ziliwaco) chairperson, Pupurai Togarepi, yesterday described Mahofa as a mentor who deserves a place in the sun at the national shrine.

“She was the patron of Ziliwaco — a war collaborator herself. She was a firm political and principled leader. She was a powerful proponent of unity among revolutionaries. I am what I am because of Chikoforo. A natural leader,” gushed Togarepi.

“While that decision is the preserve of the highest decision-making body, for us she is a heroine of the highest order. She has all the credentials as a freedom fighter, a consistent and persistent advocate of the founding principles of our revolution. We know our party leadership respected her as well,” he added.

While her friends in Zanu PF will remember her as the hoarse-voiced woman who had to bring the office of the minister of State for Masvingo Province from the 4th floor to ground floor since she had trouble walking, her foes had no kind words for her.

The former Member of Parliament for Gutu South for more than two decades was described by the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC secretary for recruitment, Job Sikhala, as a thug who used to terrorise people in the constituency.

“In 2002, before the presidential election, she led a group of storm troopers to my village homestead and accused my mother of hiding firearms that were alleged to belong to me. My mother went through a nightmare on accusations that shocked her to her death,” Sikhala claimed.

Early this year Mahofa, who was nicknamed “Chikoforo”, threatened to unleash violence against anti-Zanu PF supporters during the Bikita West by-elections.

The election was at the end won by Zanu PF’s Beauty Chabaya.

The veteran Masvingo politician, who played an instrumental role in the expulsion of former vice president Joice Mujuru and her team, was widely revered as the Zanu PF political godmother in the volatile province.

At the time of her death, Mahofa was involved in nasty battles with the G40 faction opposing Mnangagwa’s ascendancy.

Mahofa engineered Mnangagwa ally, Ezra Chadzamira to win the race for Masvingo provincial election race against a G40-linked Mutero Masanganise.

Chadzamira was later endorsed by Mugabe despite a spirited fight from G40 to have the results nullified.

The late Mahofa was in recent months the target of First Lady Grace Mugabe’s wrath.

Grace sledged Mahofa for failing to acknowledge her while chanting a Zanu PF slogan and failing to display party regalia during a recent women’s league national assembly meeting.

This did not go down well with Grace, who went for Mahofa hammer and tongs, claiming there were women who were working with rival party bigwigs to stampede Mugabe out of power.

She also cited an unnamed South Africa-based woman she claimed was splashing money among women’s league members, urging them to dump Mugabe.

It has been a bad week for the Team Lacoste faction as Mahofa’s death comes at a time when the faction’s alleged leader, Mnangagwa is battling for his life at a private hospital in South Africa after he was allegedly poisoned by political rivals.

The Team Lacoste faction has been on the back foot since Grace suggested that Mugabe should name his successor and also publicly undressed Mnangagwa.

Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said it was surely not looking good for the Team Lacoste faction to lose one of its most vocal kingpins at a time when the dye on Mugabe’s succession has been cast.

“What is happening is meant to show Lacoste camp that they might have the army but not the intelligence and police. Hitting on their head was a way to show them power lies in G40. But this may not be true when Lacoste starts fighting back. It’s likely to be nasty and dirty. This poisoning of the crocodile is just a minor setback, a single battle in an impending full-scale war. When they hit back things will be nasty,” Saungweme said.

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HARARE – President Robert Mugabe has condemned the army and police for the ugly scuffle they had in Harare’s central business district (CBD) recently, saying the incident was “regrettable”.

About a fortnight ago, the CBD became a battle ground, as scores of soldiers bashed police officers after they had reportedly punctured their colleague’s vehicle with spikes.

The skirmishes caused chaos in town, prompting the Zimbabwe Republic Police and army to hastily call a press conference a few days later.

Speaking at the Heroes Day commemorations at the National Heroes Acre yesterday, 93-year-old Mugabe said: “That incident that occurred in the streets to the policemen is regrettable.

“I have discussed with the commanders and have asked that they talk about it and try to prevent its recurrence,” he said, adding that “if soldiers and the police go for each other how will they prevent people who are in the streets from doing the same? Our nation is growing peacefully and let that happen”.

Mugabe said the uniformed forces needed to unite to maintain peace throughout, ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections.

“As we draw closer to the elections, we want the exercise to be done in peace. We need peace within our party, we need peace with other parties and we need national peace. Peace and calm in our land creates an environment in which we can do our tasks and our jobs freely. We need that peace,” he said.

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In a joint statement by the army and police issued recently, the units said those found on the wrong side of the law would be punished.

“We want to categorically condemn that incident and assure the nation that a joint team has been set up to conduct comprehensive investigations into the matter and appropriate action will be taken against the perpetrators. We also want to reaffirm that, as security forces, we are fully united despite this incident,” police spokesperson Charity Charamba said.

Political and security analysts said the incident, if uncontrolled, could flare up into a fully-fledged war.

Security expert, Josphat Munetsi said for members of the army to just attack and assault every police officer on sight can never be a spontaneous occurrence but a careful execution of an order.

“This is because if the soldiers were to take the law into their hands without a ‘lawful order’ from their superiors, they subject themselves to very serious sanctions,” he said.

Munetsi said their respective roles as part of the coercive State apparatus can only be conflated if they are mired in the political bickering of the day.

“With that in mind, fighting could be a settling of the scores between the army superiors and the police occasioned by the politics of the day. Other than that, any fissures could have been settled outside the public domain.

“This is why it is always mandatory that both the police and army remain independent from the politics,” he said.

Analyst Maxwell Saugweme said the clashes were linked to the infighting in Zanu PF where rival camps are trying to position their proxies to succeed President Robert Mugabe.

“These two groups are armed and their tension may escalate into outright war that will leave the ordinary citizen to bear the brunt of this. We are on the edge as a nation and we should be very worried,” he said.

“I think there have been many clashes such as this before, especially in places such as Gweru where military cadets are trained. This particular one stinks and raises more dust given the capture of police and military by rival Zanu PF factions,” he said.

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HARARE – First Lady Grace Mugabe, who was expected in the country on Saturday, is alleged to have beaten up a young woman who was co-habiting with one of her flashy two sons Chatunga and Robert Junior in an uptown hotel in South Africa, according to media reports.

Grace has admitted having trouble reining in her two troublesome children who live a fast life despite coming from one of the poorest African countries.

According to the South African Sunday Times, Gabriella Engels‚ 20‚ claimed she was assaulted by Mugabe’s wife at a Sandton‚ Johannesburg‚ hotel around 9pm on Sunday night after she went to visit the Zimbabwean president’s two sons.

“We were chilling in a hotel room‚ and they were in the room next door‚“ Engels said.

“She came in and started hitting us. The front of my forehead is busted open. I’m a model and I make my money based on my looks,” she said.

She further said Grace proceeded to beat her and two of her friends with an extension cord‚ while the two sons ran away and Grace’s bodyguards looked on.

She said she suffered gashes to her forehead and scalp.

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“What is a girl compared to a woman beating you and 10+ bodyguards standing back‚ leaving her to do this sh*t,” she tweeted about the incident.

Engels said she went to the nearest police station on Sunday night‚ but was shown away by the police officer on duty‚ who told her to first seek medical attention.

Gabriella’s mother‚ Debbie‚ said they were going to the police station to open an assault case yesterday (Monday).

“When she got home (on Sunday) I was already sleeping. She was in so much shock‚ she couldn’t tell me what happened,” Debbie said.

“I rushed her to the hospital to get stitches and when she eventually calmed down‚ she told me she was assaulted by Mugabe’s wife,” she said.

In a series of tweets, on micro-blogging platform Twitter, the lady who was attacked by Grace claimed that she did not co-habit with Mugabe’s sons and declared war on the controversial first lady saying, “She’ll be hearing from my lawyer definitely”.

War veterans recently pooh-poohed Grace’s chances of ever leading this country saying she cannot dream of being the country’s vice president or president when she cannot take care of her two sons who are accustomed to a life of glitz and glamour.

“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 written on T-shirts that war veterans are dishing out.

Grace’s sons Robert Junior and Chatunga Bellarmine were recently ejected from an upmarket private residence in South Africa last month because of wayward behaviour.

In June, Grace was forced to make an emergency trip to Johannesburg to make new accommodation arrangements for Robert Junior and Chatunga after they were told to leave their plush residence due to numerous complains about their behaviour.

This time around, according to Mugabe, the first lady did not accompany him to Gwanda for the youth interface rally because she had gone to seek treatment for her leg.

Robert Junior and Chatunga Bellarmine are resident in Johannesburg where they are studying following the first family’s decision to relocate Junior, who had been based in the United Arab Emirates. — Staff Writer/Timeslive

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HARARE – Government has launched a fully-fledged investigation to smoke out those behind the suspected poisoning of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is recovering at a private hospital in neighbouring South Africa, the Daily News can report.

Mnangagwa was allegedly poisoned in Gwanda, while attending a rally presided over by his boss, President Robert Mugabe, who is on a whirlwind tour of the country’s 10 political provinces on what his party has dubbed “youth interface meetings”.

He had to be rushed to a nearby hospital in Matabeleland South to stabilise his condition, before he was airlifted to Gweru.

In Gweru, he initially sought treatment at Claybank Hospital in Windsor, and later spent the night under heavy guard at a military clinic at Thornhill Airbase.

Amid security concerns by Mnangagwa’s allies, and also anxiety that the politician was being targeted for assassination, the incident has worsened tensions in the ruling Zanu PF party — for long split along two factions, namely Team Lacoste and Generation 40 (G40).

The military, seen as sympathetic to Mnangagwa’s prospects of succeeding Mugabe, has, along with his family, virtually taken charge of the vice president’s battle for survival, with the other arms of government that should have been at the forefront of it, playing second fiddle.

For example, on his way to seek specialist treatment in South Africa, the vice president had to be accompanied by a military doctor, Paul Chimedza — a former deputy minister for Health.

The entourage also included Marry Chiwenga, wife to Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander, Constantino Chiwenga — who is keeping the ZDF chief upraised of developments — and a top security operative, Charles Mpanduki.

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From the family side, Mnangagwa’s son Emmerson Dambudzo Junior and the vice president’s wife, Auxillia, accompanied him.

From the time he was airlifted from Gwanda, to being committed into an Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) health institution and to being airlifted to South Africa from Manyame Airbase on Sunday, the army has basically taken charge of the proceedings, with the full blessings of his family.

So deep has been the army’s involvement in the arrangements that the civilian side of government struggled for information because of the secretive nature of all military operations.

It was only yesterday that government was able to put together some information for the public’s consumption ahead of Mugabe’s address at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.

Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa, who gave first aid assistance to Mnangagwa while in Gwanda on Saturday, told the media yesterday that the vice president was now out of danger.

“This is really to give an update to the nation about the state of . . . Mnangagwa. What I would like to say is that he is much improved. In fact, I just spoke with him — he is jovial and he is well but he requested that we send him to his doctors in South Africa where he is now,” said Parirenyatwa, who issued the statement along with Media, Information and Broadcasting Services minister Christopher Mushohwe.

“You are all aware that he had severe vomiting and diarrhoea in Gwanda and we took him to appropriate institutions within the country where he was properly stabilised and appropriate investigations were then commenced and still in progress to establish the source. The situation is much better; he is well stabilised. Preliminarily blood tests were okay but I cannot confirm anything further than that because this is personal. The appropriate medical investigations will be done as well in terms of blood, stool, urine and so forth,” he added.

In his salutation while addressing Zanu PF supporters at the National Heroes Acre a few hours later yesterday, Mugabe said his deputy was recovering in a hospital in South Africa.

Mnangagwa’s younger brother, Peter, told the Daily News in an interview that the politician was fine.

“He is alright, I don’t know much only the doctors can confirm whether he is out of danger or not,” said Mnangagwa.

Widely regarded as Mugabe’s most likely successor, Mnangagwa was, according to witnesses, vomiting and suffering from stomach cramps while the Zanu PF leader was addressing thousands of party supporters in Gwanda on Saturday.

He had been among top government officials who attended the official opening of Jahunda Community Information Centre by Mugabe in the afternoon before he joined other dignitaries for the Zanu PF youth interface rally held at Pelandaba Stadium.

As they arrived at the event, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and Mnangagwa did not shake hands.

As the event progressed, the Daily News witnessed two youths clad in Zanu PF regalia heading for the VVIP stand where Mnangagwa was seated next to Mugabe, with Supa Mandiwanzira — the Information Communication Technology minister and Mphoko on the other side.

The two youths who were carrying bottled water, first served Mnangagwa and Mandiwanzira before proceeding to Mugabe and Mphoko.

During the proceedings, Mnangagwa looked strong and fit.

After the launch of the information centre, Mandiwanzira asked senior government officials including the two vice presidents to leave the venue first so as to ensure that they would be at Pelandaba Stadium in time to receive the president.

At the rally, Mnangagwa still appeared strong as he chanted his popular “Pasi nemhandu (Down with the enemy)” slogan.

About 40 minutes into Mugabe’s speech, Mnangagwa reportedly started vomiting before he was whisked away to the back stage.

Before that, Mnangagwa had been briefly attended to by the ambulance crew who reportedly recommended that he be taken to hospital.

He was then taken to a police provincial headquarters where he was airlifted to a private hospital in Gweru.

Mnangagwa’s allies are pointing accusing fingers at their rivals, the G40 faction.

In the past, there have been six break-ins at his offices with his allies saying those were plots to eliminate him.

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