HARARE - Highlanders coach Erol Akbay says he is still committed to the Bulawayo giants despite revealing that he will not be renewing his contract at the end of the current Castle Lager Premiership season.
Since the Dutchman announced his decision earlier this month, Bosso have gone on a free fall drawing one and losing two of the three matches they have played.
The poor run has seen the Bulawayo giants lose ground in the title chase as they have dropped down to seventh place on the log with 32 points and now trail leaders Chicken Inn by 16 points.
Speaking after the weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab Stadium, Akbay said he will do everything to get it right.
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“I’m still loyal to the club and I have talked many times with the players who still want to play for me,” Akbay said.
“Of course the pressure is always there if you are not winning but I will do my best all the time.
“The only problem is that we are playing good football and our strikers are not scoring goals. You could see that the Ngezi strikers could hold the ball but our strikers could not do it.”
The Dutchman conceded that they are now out of the title race as it would be difficult to close the gap on the leading pack.
“We have to win all the matches that we are left with and that’s all I now care about; I’m not concerned with what position we finish,” Akbay said.
“I’m only concerned with us winning all our matches and finishing as high as we can possibly get.”
The Bosso coach admitted that the club has been crippled after they sold a number of key players in recent transfer windows.
Last year, the Bulawayo giants sold midfielder Bruce Kangwa to Tanzanian top flight club Azam while forward Knox Mutizwa went to South Africa Absa Premiership side Bidvest Wits before he was loaned out to Golden Arrows.
Last month, Bosso also lost Prince Dube to SuperSport United while Roderick Mutuma returned to Harare to join Yadah FC.
“We have lost a number of good players but the problem is that there is no money to replace them and that’s why we have to do with the players that we have and some are from Division One,” Akbay said.
“The other clubs have good players and we cannot compete with them. Just like today we were playing some good football but once it got to our strikers there was nothing.”
HARARE - Departing CAPS United full-back RONALD Pfumbidzai finally left the country yesterday to join his new South Africa Absa Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtic.
The defender, who has been playing in midfield in recent matches for CAPS United, signed for Siwelele after impressing coach Veselin Jelusic during a trial period in July.
Makepekepe and Celtic completed the negotiations for the player last week paving way for the player to make the switch to South Africa.
“I feel so happy because I’m going to face a new challenge at Celtic after a wonderful time with CAPS United,” Pfumbidzai told the Daily News before his departure at the Harare International Airport yesterday.
“This is an exciting time and I hope that I’m going to do well at my new club.”
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The 22-year-old is backing himself to do well in Bloemfontein after emerging as one of the key players at United following his return from Denmark with Hobro IK in 2015.
“The season in South Africa has just started and I’m sure not many of their players have reached the peak in terms of form and fitness,” Pfumbidzai said.
“Here in Zimbabwe I have been playing football since the start of the year because of the Champions League so I’m in the best possible shape.
“I have also been playing well for CAPS lately and I’m sure that if I work hard I can continue with the same form at my new club.”
At Makepekepe, Pfumbidzai had become a set-piece specialist due to his ability to deliver pin-point crosses with his cultured left foot.
“If I get the chance to play at Celtic, I will definitely cherish the chance to take set-pieces because I know what I can offer the team,” he said.
“This is something I have been doing ever since I started playing football and there is no reason for me to shy away from set-piece responsibilities at my new club.”
Pfumbidzai’s agent Mike Ngobeni confirmed his client had inked a three-year deal with Phunya Sele Sele.
“It’s a done deal,” Ngobeni told Kick Off. “He has signed a three-year deal.”
Celtic have recently added a number of players to their roster, including Roggert Nyundu, Jacky Motshegwa, Ndumiso Mabena and Lucky Baloyi.
HARARE - This season’s Castle Lager Premiership title battle is entering a critical phase and promises to be a thrilling fight to the death.
All the favourite teams — Chicken Inn, Ngezi Platinum Stars, Dynamos and FC Platinum picked up maximum points over the weekend.
Chicken Inn maintained their top spot following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over battling Hwange to move to 48 points on the log table.
The Gamecocks’ win was their third on the trot and again they had to rely on the fine form of their skipper Moses Jackson, who scored the winner.
Jackson was also on target when Rahman Gumbo’s men dispatched Black Rhinos 0-1 two weeks ago as they further show their intent of wrestling the championship back to Bulawayo.
But, while the technical input of Gumbo is a huge factor in the Gamecocks’ push, the former Highlanders coach will, however, be desperate to see his strikers doing more in front of goal.
It should be worrisome for Gumbo considering that the number of chances the 2015 champions are creating do not merit the number of goals they are scoring.
While there is still room for a lot more twists and turns in the remaining matches, one of the biggest strengths the Gamecocks have this season is the incredible depth in almost every department.
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Second-placed Ngezi Platinum Stars made a quick response to bounce back to winning ways with an impressive 3-0 victory over fading giants Highlanders.
It was quite an encouraging win for the platinum miners who were coming from a morale-sapping defeat at the hands of CAPS United.
There is little doubt that Tonderai Ndiraya’s men are among the favourites for the league title if they do not capitulate in the remaining 11 matches of the season.
Ngezi remain two points behind Chicken Inn with 44 points having all played 23 matches.
It will be interesting to see how Ngezi fare against other title rivals as they still have to play Chicken Inn, Dynamos and FC Platinum in a phase that could be crucial to their title charge.
The platinum miners are blessed to have such players like Terrence Dzvukamanja, Tichaona Mabvura, Donald Teguru and Keith Marera who all have been consistent so far this season.
Ndiraya was impressed with his charges after their win against Bosso.
“Highlanders are a very good side, a big team for that matter. So we have done well against a big team in the country,” he said.
“I understand that there was a debate lately that we were doing well against small teams and failing against big teams so I think it was good to prove ourselves.
“We are a small fish in the pond for you to be surrounded by Dynamos, CAPS United and Chicken Inn.
“I think we have done well. Our team targets are top four and we will keep focus and ensure we achieve that.
“There is a lot to play for and yes we will keep eyes on the title.”
Dynamos maintained their march towards an unprecedented 22nd league title following a routine 2-0 victory over Yadah FC with inform pair of Ocean Mushure and Christian Ntouba scoring.
It was Dynamos’ fifth straight win to ensure they remain third on the log with 45 points, three behind Chicken Inn.
But, crucially, for the Glamour Boys they have two matches in hand which could see them go top of the log if they pick up maximum points in both the matches.
Judging by their current form DeMbare are no doubt in formidable shape to challenge for the title.
Lloyd Mutasa’s men have surpassed expectations but team president Kenny Mubaiwa appears to be applying some mind games saying their sole focus is on rebuilding not winning the league.
“Our target remains that of rebuilding and we are not even thinking of winning the title this season,” Mubaiwa told the Daily News.
“We have said let’s use this season to build a strong team that can compete in the years to come and we cannot focus on winning the title at the same time rebuilding. If it happens that we win the title it will only be a bonus to us.
“The coaches are not under any pressure whatsoever to win the title. And I think so far they have done quite a good job. If people can call you title contenders in their rebuilding phase it means you are doing well.
“We will see how it goes at the end of the season.”
FC Platinum also kept pressure on the top three after dispatching Black Rhinos 1-0 at home to ensure they remain three points behind log leaders Chicken Inn.
The platinum miners are unlikely to be ruled out of the title race based on their experience and the quality players they have at their disposal.
Saturday: Yadah v Bantu Rovers (NSS), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (White City, 1pm), How Mine v Chicken Inn (White City, 3pm), Harare City v Tsholotsho (Rufaro, 1pm, SS), Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Rufaro, 3pm, SS)
Sunday: CAPS United v Dynamos (National Sports, SS), Highlanders v Chapungu (White City), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Ngezi Platinum (Maglas).
BULAWAYO - Gospel musician Tatenda Tanyanyiwa on Saturday evening launched her debut book titled Tate’s Healing Journey chronicling how she was healed from a life-threatening ailment at Holiday Inn.
Clad in a red dress, the gospel artiste who released an eight-track gospel album in 2011 and is also the human resources manager at Holiday Inn gave out a scintillating performance of her new song Mandiponesa, Mandiporesa.
The red carpet book launch was well attended as friends and family came out in their numbers to support the songbird.
In an interview with the Daily News Tanyanyiwa said she was impressed with the success of the book launch.
“I feel so awesome, I’m so blessed that all these people came through for me,” she said.
Tanyanyiwa said she wrote the book to impact the lives of those who are going through what she went through.
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“What inspired me to write the book is because I don’t want anyone else to go through what I went through and to walk alone. I need someone to know that there is a God that heals and there is a God that hears prayers.
“Those who believe in God for healing should be persistent and not look at the symptoms but look at God, live His Word, speak His Word and He will answer,” she said.
She described her journey through sickness as one filled with pain and extreme fear.
“I fell sick in July 2016 suffering from deep vein thrombosis, I was in hospital for three weeks and I was encountering so many side effects from the medication such as excessive bleeding and bruises all over my body.
“There was an oppressive spirit of fear that came upon me and each time I would speak the Word of God, the fear would go, so I had to stay in the presence of God for all the symptoms and for the signs and everything that was happening to me to disappear.
“I trusted God and His Word. The doctor gave me a sign off report in February this year to say deep vein thrombosis is gone, and I had no varicose veins.”
Deep vein thrombosis is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein inside one’s body part and causes life-threatening complications.
Medicines used to treat deep vein thrombosis have serious side effects like sudden bleeding.
HARARE - Jamaican reggae dancehall superstar Beenie Man has been roped in to lend his star power to Philip Chiyangwa’s Apa Hauna Cash brand — his first association with a Zimbabwean fashion brand.
The Native Investments Africa Group (Niag) founder introduced the 44-year-old singer and dancehall DJ, whose real name is Anthony Moses Davis, as the brand ambassador during his visit to Zimbabwe this weekend.
This comes as the property tycoon has embarked on an extensive campaign for the collection which includes round neck and golf T-shirts, shirts, college jackets, hoodies, sneakers, caps and kids wear.
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Besides the casual clothes designed for comfort and ease, the range also includes cooler boxes, pens, bracelets, power banks, sweaters, mugs, and plates.
The Kingston native, who has won a Grammy award for Best Reggae Album for his 2000 release Art and Life, was chauffeured around Harare in Chiyangwa’s Rolls Royce, and said it was the first time that he was endorsing a Zimbabwean fashion brand.
Wearing a black Apa Hauna Cash T-shirt and jeans, Beenie Man said he was very excited to partner with Chiyangwa for this.
“Yah man, listen man. You talking about you got money, you ain’t got money. It’s too much talk, chat too much, huh. If you ain’t got s**t, don’t say s**t. I’m finished, there you go,” Beenie Man said just after arriving at the Harare International Airport as he departed after his performance at Harare’s Alex Sports Club over the weekend.
Chiyangwa told the Daily News his team was equally excited to have the superstar on board, and feels that his association will definitely help build a strong connection between the brand and his fans across the country.
The swaggering property tycoon said Beenie Man commands a huge fan following across all age groups in Zimbabwe and abroad and his presence will drastically increase the aspirational value of Apa Hauna Cash.
Celebrity endorsement is one of the advertising world’s most popular tools. Having a widely admired musician, athlete or actor or actress attached to your product can work wonders in gaining the attention and trust of consumers.
And Beenie Man putting his name to the Apa Hauna Cash fashion label could be an important celebrity backing and game changer for the clothing line.
HARARE - Government, through the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (Baz) should license all prospective local independent television stations, including satellite television service provider Kwese TV (Kwese).
Kwese which is owned by Zimbabwe-born Strive Masiyiwa last week put up adverts in the public media announcing its arrival on the local showbiz market only for Baz to dismiss the development arguing that the station was not licensed locally.
Since independence, Zimbabwe has had only one television station, ZBC-TV and Baz has refused to license any independent television stations, save for pay per view digital television DStv.
Baz last week gave a stern warning to those who had warmed up to the idea of the new television station arguing that the station was not licensed locally.
Interestingly, Cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasuwere through Twitter sprang up to the defence of Kwese while blasting ZBC.
The Daily News caught up with commentators who believe it is time that Baz relaxes its laws so as to license independent television stations.
Member of Parliament Jessie Majome thinks government is afraid of opening the broadcasting system to independent players because it is a dictatorial regime that thrives on attempting to control every facet of life including thought.
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“It’s terrified of free-thinking as it knows that it doesn’t enjoy popular support — it can’t brook criticism and knows it is too weak to withstand free speech and opinions about it. So it would rather shut it out and dole out its propaganda instead as an accompaniment to its military control,” said Majome.
Playwright Daves Guzha said: “They are stuck in a 20th century construct. That leadership is failing to embrace 21st century thinking.
“At independence Zimbabwe was one of the few countries to have television — way ahead of South Africa. Now we are so behind. Maybe they are confusing the fact that alphabetically we are the last country and they think everything must be like that.”
Media practitioner Nigel Nyamutumbu said the Kwese saga virtually vindicates those working in the media civil society sector that their advocacy for wholesome reforms of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) is not a political agenda but a legitimate pursuit of citizen rights enshrined in the Constitution.
“Our current legislative framework provides a recipe for the State to not only control but also capture all broadcasting services.
“Citizens should be spoiled for choice and the entry of diverse players who will not only create new opportunities in the sector but also significantly reduce the cost of accessing information should be welcomed by any democratic government.
“Sadly, our government seems to be obsessed with power to the extent of muscling away potential local investors that can grow the media sector and indeed the economy,” said Nyamutumbu.
Political activist Tabani Moyo said the government of Zimbabwe is fast mutating into an industry competitor rather than being the market moderator, which is every government's role in democratic nations. “Government of Zimbabwe is protecting DStv monopoly because it has shares in the company. It wants to protect its business interests and furthering its political agenda ahead of elections. The major beneficiary of a broadcasting monopoly is the ruling party.
“We are definitely concerned with the emergence of oligopolies, were few people have cross media ownership from broadcasting, print and telecommunications.
“In all these situations, the proprietors are being linked to the ruling elite. It undermines freedom of expression, diversity and plural views and ideas,” said Moyo.
MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said all totalitarian regimes, the Zanu PF regime included, are paranoid and extremely fearful of the people.
“Remember, we are now entering the election season and Zanu PF is on record stating that they will not reform themselves out of power.
“The regime considers Kwese TV as a threat that might actually assist the opposition in reaching out to the broad masses of the people.
“This beleaguered regime would like to maintain a vice like grip on the electronic media. They know that the electronic media has a wider outreach compared to the print media.
“Since when has the Zanu PF regime ever genuinely loved the people of Zimbabwe? For strange and bizarre reasons, this regime is actually thrilled when the majority of the people are suffering,” said Gutu.
Political analyst Vivid Gwede said the case of Kwese is a sad throwback to when the government also attempted to block the licensing of Econet, a mobile telephone company owned by Masiyiwa.
“The government is afraid of local independent entrepreneurs for three reasons. Firstly, it doesn’t want to open the space for competition against its monopolistic state capitalism for financial reasons.
“Secondly, the government has always been wary about the growth of an independent black entrepreneurial class, for purely expedient and political reasons. It does not want its political power to be diluted by independent economic power.
“The ruling class itself wants to be the business owner at the same time, although many are failed entrepreneurs. It would rather allow business opportunities to its surrogates, or even foreigners, who tow their political line.
“Thirdly, the government is not comfortable with emergence of independent broadcasters to maintain a Soviet-like grip on propaganda channels and information dictatorship,” said Gwede.
Playwright Raisedon Baya said: “I think there are several reasons to government’s reluctance to grant Kwese a TV licence; the critical reason being control. Government is probably afraid they may fail to control it like they failed to control Econet in the long run.”
Producer Mthabisi Phili believes government is afraid to issue any licence because it wants to keep the media in check. “They can’t take that risk of losing control of the TV services or media houses. They can’t take the risk of allowing or giving licences to a TV station which is local because they only want to dominant the air space through ZBC. Access to information to millions of people can only be controlled if they are in charge of the TV stations.
“Government is also afraid that a local rival to ZBC will be able to access their mainly rural population which is the Zanu PF power base. This rural population depends on ZBC; hence government cannot imagine losing its grip on this important voting bloc.”
Misa-Zimbabwe chairperson Kumbirai Mafunda said the government has had an unhealthy obsession to keep control of the airwaves and not liberalise the airwaves so as to foist partisan information on people.
“The need for liberalisation of the airwaves cannot be over emphasised . There is need to ensure a more pluralistic media environment seeing that Section 62 of the Constitution guarantees access to information. It is prudent that Zimbabwean authorities should issue licences to other players and prioritise community radio stations to create a truly pluralistic environment in Zimbabwe,” said Mafunda.
Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono said the Zimbabwean government is invested in the MultiChoice DStv Zimbabwe Franchise.
“So I am not surprised that they are blocking Kwese which they see as a threat to their satellite television monopoly.
“It is embarrassing that (President Robert) Mugabe’s government which champions indigenisation and black empowerment is blocking Kwese, a television platform which is owned by a Zimbabwean and run by Zimbabweans and instead protecting MultiChoice which is owned by the Naspers whose companies were set up and protected by successive apartheid governments.
“It exposes the bankruptcy of Mugabe’s black empowerment noises as nothing but hot air. It also shows how vindictive this government can be, denying thousands of Zimbabweans jobs in pursuit of parochial interests,” said Chino’no.
HARARE - Spirits and winemaker African Distillers Limited (Afdis) has declared a $750 807 dividend for the year ended June 2017 buoyed by increased volumes and production.
Afdis chairperson, Pearson Gowero, said the firm — whose revenue surged by $2,8 million to $25 million in the year under review — had also recorded an operating income increase from $1,4 million to $4 million.
“The board has recommended a final dividend of 0,45 cents per share, resulting in a total dividend of 0,65 cents per share for the year. The total dividend for the year will amount to $750 807,74,” the Afdis boss said in a statement accompanying financial results for the period.
Gowero pointed out that the firm’s improved performance was a result of an 18 percent volume increase complemented by a reduction in overheads as the company launched new product lines for the low-end market.
In the year under review, Afdis incurred a net exchange loss of $360 000 due to a significant rand exposure of $2,2 million, with Gowero saying the full impact of this was, however, reduced by interest income of $140 000 earned from investment of surplus cash.
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“The prior year profit after tax was adversely affected by reorganisation costs and an investment write-off totalling $1 million. If the distortion relating to this is removed, the earnings per share and profit after tax would have increased by 31 percent in the period under review,” he said.
The balance sheet remains strong with a current ratio of 2,54 compared to 2,28 in prior year and significant cash resources of $7,5 million.
Cash generated from trading amounted to $4,8 million, a 64 percent increase on prior year.
The Afdis boss said demand during the period under review was firm, but the company could not fully satisfy the market due to intermittent product shortages as a result of severe foreign currency constraints.
Going forward, Afdis expects disposable incomes to improve.
“The good agricultural season is expected to improve disposable income and guarantee the country of sufficient food supplies. This will result in a net saving on the food import bill. It is, however, likely that foreign currency shortages will continue and this will limit business growth,” said Gowero.
Management will continue to focus on efficient conversion of cash resources into raw materials as well as exploring revenue growth opportunities and implementing further cost control measures. This would ensure continued viability and profitability.
HARARE - The total value of transactions processed through the National Payment System (NPS) decreased 33,3 percent to $1,2 billion in the week to August 18, from $1,6 billion in the previous week, as Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) payments slumped.
Central bank data for the week under review indicates that RTGS payments were down 35 percent to $794,6 million, tumbling from $1,2 billion in the prior week, as depositors made more use of mobile money payment systems.
“The RTGS system payment stream accounted for 65,74 percent of the total value of transactions processed through the NPS. Contributions of other payment streams were as follows: Mobile, 18,1 percent; point of sale (POS), 15,6 percent; automated teller machines (ATMs), 0,47 percent; and cheques, 0,06 percent,” the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe said in its report for the week under review.
NPS transaction volumes amounted to 18,7 million during the week under review, up from 16 million transactions registered in the previous week.
In terms of volumes, mobile money payments dominated the NPS transactions, accounting for 68,04 percent.
This was a 38 percent increase on prior week, contributing 12,7 million payments from 9,2 million the previous week.
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However, in terms of value, mobile money payments accounted for $218 770 of the $1,2 billion processed through the NPS.
As RTGS accounted for a paltry 0,38 percent of the total NPS volumes, the channel recorded a 46 percent volume decline from the prior week’s 130 363 payments to 70 339, making up 0,38 percent of the total volumes.
Contributing 5,7 million transactions to the NPS, POS payments made up 30,8 percent of the NPS volumes, down from 6,4 million in the prior comparable week.
Cheque payment contribution to NPS volumes declined 51 percent to 3 754 from 7 619, constituting 0,02 percent of the processed volumes.
ATM volumes through the NPS were also down four percent to 140 734 from 147 269.
Value-wise, ATMs accounted for $5,7 million of what passed through the NPS.
This comes as the country’s electronic transactions surged 36 percent to $7,5 billion in the first six months of the year as locals migrate to cash-lite payments on the back of an acute cash shortage.
With close to 80 percent of the transactions now electronic, only 20 percent of Zimbabwe’s transactions are now conducted using cash.
Since the country’s cash shortages began last year, cash-obsessed locals have been forced to migrate to alternative payment methods with the RBZ aggressively lobbying for a migration to cash-lite transactions.
However, the country’s financial institutions are still struggling to process the increasing demand from electronic payments.
The central bank is also moving to review electronic transaction fees downwards, in a move aimed at promoting cash-lite payments.
HARARE - Zimbabwe recorded a trade deficit of $1,248 billion for the seven months to July 2017, as imports made up mainly of consumption goods, continued to outstrip exports.
According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, the country imported goods worth $3,118 billion for the period under review, against exports of $1,870 billion.
The trade deficit was, however, 6,5 percent lower than the $1,336 billion recorded in the same period last year.
Top imports for the period were petrol, food and beverages, oil cake, electrical energy and medicines.
Economic analysts said the drop in imports was due to shrinking aggregate demand and recent restrictions on imports.
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A strong dollar relative to trading partner currencies also lowered the greenback import cost on a constant quantity basis.
The persisting, though narrowing, trade deficit also presents continued pressure on market liquidity.
According to the figures, South Africa remained the country’s top trading partner in the period under review.
The neighbouring country accounted for $954 million of Zimbabwe’s exports in the eight-month period under review.
Zimbabwe imported goods worth $1,204 billion from South Africa during the period, leaving a trade imbalance of $320 million.
Economists say the country’s trade deficit may continue in the absence of quick mechanisms to stimulate industrial activity and enhance production.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya said the imports ban by government last year resulted in the revival of around 350 firms in the manufacturing sector.
“Some firms in the food processing and packaging sub-sectors are now operating at above 70 percent of capacity. Prioritisation of foreign exchange allocations by the bank to these firms continues to greatly assist the localisation process and enhancing local production and exports,” he said in the mid-term monetary policy statement.
The central bank chief noted that it was against this backdrop that the RBZ’s supply-side funding initiatives to enhance production, productivity and exports were put in place at the beginning of the year.
The funding initiatives include the export finance facility, business linkages fund, tourism support facility, cross-border facility, gold support facility, women empowerment fund, youth empowerment fund, fund for people with disabilities and the horticulture support facility.
HARARE - Our beloved police continue to hog the limelight.
Sadly, due to wrong reasons, mostly.
This time, it had to take President Robert Mugabe to call the law enforcers to order.
And it is not the first time the 93-year-old leader has had to intervene in reigning in errant police behaviour.
Speaking at the burial of late Vice President Simon Muzenda’s widow, Moudy, and liberation struggle hero George Rutanhire’s burial at the National Heroes Acre in Harare over the weekend, Mugabe slammed the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) over its countless roadblocks, which have bred the culture of bribe-taking by some members of the force.
Mugabe also savaged police officers for owning and secretly operating commuter omnibuses, some of which he said were responsible for the carnage reported on the country’s roads.
“The police force, be a police force of the people and not waiting for people on the roads to demand bribes,” Mugabe said to the applause and cheer of the gathered crowd.
“We do not want to hear that. So stop that evil,” he said.
He even went further to suggest “dignified” ways the hard-pressed force could pursue to raise funds.
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“If you want farms we can give you land to cultivate...if you want to have clean businesses, why not?” he said, adding that “If you are a policeman, you can combine, you can run a bus fleet instead of having commuter omnibuses, some of which are killing people”.
“So if a police officer’s commuter omnibus kills people, what then is the meaning of your job as a police officer?” asked Mugabe.
“We will give you a chance to come up with your own bus company. You buy two or three buses, combine.
“It can be run not just by yourselves, you look for drivers and others who can run these businesses, even your children.
“That’s more dignified. Not demanding bribes from people,” Mugabe said, as he acknowledged that the police conduct had “troubled many people”.
That was surely a strong statement by the president.
It comes at a time the masses — particularly motorists and commuters — feel the cops have become a menace on the roads and in society.
While police play a critical role in ensuring security of the innocent citizens, the ZRP has of late been dogged by many accusations of misconduct.
From the abuse of spikes, controversial spot fines to violation of human rights by beating up protestors and wrongfully impounding motorists vehicles.
People now view the ubiquitous roadblocks as mere fundraising exercises rather than security check points as they purport.
To prove that, in June, the Daily News exclusively reported that the ZRP had collected $14 million from its unpopular roadblocks since the beginning of the year.
Curiously, despite the heavy presence of traffic police on almost all the roads, particularly major highways, road carnage is on the rise.
Many lives have been lost due to accidents, which could be avoided by enforcement of road rules by the so many traffic cops on our roads.
Apart from numerous complaints of harassment by the motoring public, police roadblocks have also been blamed for driving away international tourists.
We cannot belabour the point on the damage caused by the police’s conduct.
Just last week, five cops were dragged to court after bashing a man and gouging his eye in the process.
This is one of many cases of alleged abuse by the police.
While the police have done a tremendous job in weeding out criminals from the society, its conduct leaves a lot to be desired.
HARARE - Harare City Council (HCC) recently moved to slash salaries of its senior managers in a move which it said was in line with its policy of channelling most of its revenue towards service delivery rather than on consumption and salaries.
Whether this would be implemented remains to be seen.
Five years ago, Cabinet issued a directive that local authorities should spend 70 percent of their revenues on improving service delivery and 30 percent on salaries.
This was never implemented and instead, ratepayers were stunned by staggering salaries that some of the directors at the HCC were earning.
However, it must be said that slashing salaries of bosses is encouraging as the HCC is finally realising that it cannot continue on a path that is unsustainable — living outside its means and ignoring gaping holes in its service delivery plan — both which are at the heart of their problems with the ratepayers.
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It must be noted that the HCC, just like any other company operating in Zimbabwe, has been adversely impacted by the economic meltdown which continues to claim the scalps of many employees and employers.
The HCC is struggling to improve service mainly because it is owed millions of dollars by defaulting consumers who include struggling companies.
Individual consumers in the impoverished Harare suburbs are saddled with huge debts and they are either widows or victims of company closures.
This is a difficult situation that is confronting the HCC and many other local authorities but life has to go on and people must pay their bills to help build better cities.
It is important that the HCC must come up with a revenue collection plan and debt recovery strategies that do not frustrate its efforts of raising money for improving service delivery but while also respecting the rights of its debtors.
At times we are our own worst enemies.
There is no need to let debts pile because there is no proper service delivery or there are intermittent water cuts.
A strong consumer is one who pays up the bills and aggressively demands world-class service delivery commensurate with the rates they are paying.
That’s why it is never a justification for a ratepayer or industrial consumer to boycott paying bills on account of lack of service delivery.
And similarly, it is never proper to divert ratepayers’ money to what it is never intended.
HCC and the ratepayers need to find each other and make Harare shine again.
HARARE - War veterans yesterday accused President Robert Mugabe of “re-writing” history after the 93-year-old stunned Zanu PF supporters on Saturday when he suggested that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa had bad relations with his late predecessor, Simon Muzenda.
Mugabe told mourners at the National Heroes Acre, where he was officiating at the burial of Muzenda’s widow, Moudy, that Mnangagwa had driven his late deputy out of Midlands back to his home province of Masvingo.
“Muzenda came to me saying the guys from Midlands are chasing us and I asked who in particular? And he said Emmerson and his team,” Mugabe told mourners.
Mnangagwa is the most senior Zanu PF leader in the Midlands province and also enjoys massive support in Zanu PF structures in Masvingo province in his alleged quest to become Zimbabwe’s next president.
Mugabe’s remarks were, however, strongly rebuffed by Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda, a self-confessed Mnangagwa supporter.
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“He is a master in division. Why would he talk about it only just now if it happened at all? VaMuzenda bade us farewell, he never said he was hounded out of the province. The old man wants to divide the Karanga people.
“I’m sorry to talk tribal for the first time in my life. We will not allow one person to divide us, to divide Zimbabwe. He has benefited from the diverse vote for many years and wants to create tribal trouble when he’s reached his final station,” charged Matemadanda who also hails from the Midlands province.
“Zimbabwe is not and will never at any time become a country for one tribe it is for us all.
“Everyone will remember that the same Mugabe once addressed people saying, he was not happy that Muzenda had decided to go to his home province in his last days. Why would he want to put everything bad on Mnangagwa?
“Mr President, ED (Mnangagwa’s initials) is a comrade I know better than you. He fought in the war as a trained soldier. He has served you, not me, bravely, consistently and persistently. Why should he be treated worse than the two disasters in your Cabinet,” added Matemadanda.
“Attention will never be swayed from the current mess that the economy is in; high levels of corruption and interference in the administration of justice by pronouncing verdicts that should come from courts at political rallies. The people of Masvingo, Midlands and indeed all other provinces of Zimbabwe will never stoop so low as to be divided easily,” said Matemadanda.
Muzenda moved to the Midlands town of Umvuma in 1955 and started his own carpentry business.
He also stayed active in political activism there before moving to Gweru where his activism earned him the position of Zanu deputy organising secretary at the party’s inaugural elective congress in May 1964.
He only relocated to Masvingo in the late 1990s and viciously fought with fellow nationalist Edson Zvobgo for the control of the province until his death on September 20, 2003.
Mugabe’s speech appears to have inflamed tempers among ruling party members in the volatile province ahead of his youth interface rally to be held in Gweru on Friday.
“That was great disrespect for ED. Remember that unlike what the president said, Muzenda was protected by ED.
“Remember (the late opposition party leader Patrick) Kombayi was shot and seriously wounded by State security agents because he wanted to wrest the Gweru parliamentary seat from Muzenda. So how can the same man who protected him also be the one that drove him out of the province?” one Zanu PF central committee member told the Daily News yesterday.
HARARE - Car washing in Karoi’s business district will now attract a fine or imprisonment not exceeding six months following a raft of new by-laws enacted by the town council.
Karoi municipality is now charging $20 as a release fee for clamped vehicles anywhere in the council-controlled area.
The municipality has also warned car owners that they will now have to part with $30 for vehicles towed away and $20 a day for storage.
The Karoi Town Council hopes the new by-laws, approved by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere and gazetted on Friday, will assist the council deal with traffic offences.
“It is hereby notified that the minister of Local Government Public Works and National Housing has, in terms of section 229 of the Urban Councils Act, approved the following by-laws made by the Karoi Town Council,” the town council said in by-laws cited as Karoi Clamping and Tow-away by-laws in the government gazette.
The offences will include parking a motor vehicle outside parking place, not in traffic lane, parking motor vehicle on undefined parking place, causing obstruction to traffic, park over parking line of parking place, wash any vehicle on road or parking place, parking vehicle upon a road or parking place for purpose of sale, repair, garaging or cleaning.
HARARE - Gospel musician and businessman, Elias Musakwa yesterday told the court how a neighbour who is accusing him of making death threats once trespassed onto his property and disconnected a sound system during a wedding ceremony.
Musakwa was appearing before Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko on charges of contravening section 186 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for threats of future violence.
He was represented by Purity Chikangaise and Victuals Mapepa.
Musakwa claimed that he had sour relations with the neighbour, and accused him of fabricating the current charges.
“The accused person will state that the complainant has a vendetta against him. For about five times, the complainant and his father would disrupt his functions that would have been cleared by the police,” said Chikangaise.
“At one time, the complainant stormed a wedding that was being held at accused person’s residence and switched off the PA system, disrupting proceedings.”
However, the complainant, Kennedy Mudukuti, refuted the claims saying police stopped the said wedding after he had lodged a report, complaining about the noise.
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“When he threatened to shoot me, I was standing by my gate and the accused person saw me as he drove from his residence. He reduced speed and said ‘I will kill you and your father, I will gun you down if you continue engaging police to disrupt my functions’,” Mudukuti said.
“His wife arrived at the scene and he took the opportunity to threaten me again in her presence, this time advancing towards me. I started recording him and his wife restrained the accused person before he drove away.
“He later called to apologise but at that moment we were already at the police station and he came and acknowledged what he had done, but continued being arrogant saying the functions would not stop.”
Prosecutor Nyikadzino Machingura alleged that sometime in September last year, Mudukuti filed a complaint against Musakwa at Ruwa Police Station.
He alleged that Musakwa was polluting their neighbourhood with noise as he played loud music at his house during “functions.”
The court heard that police officers from Ruwa proceeded to Musakwa’s residence and cautioned him against being a criminal nuisance.
This did not go down well with Musakwa, who allegedly planned to confront the complainant later about the issue.
It was alleged that on October 19, last year, the Wanga Murena hit maker saw Mudukuti by his gate.
The court heard that Musakwa threatened to shoot him if he continued to take their dispute to the police.
The threats reportedly caused Mudukuti discomfort and he notified the police about the issue.
HARARE - A 19-year-old woman, reportedly raped by lieutenant-colonel Rangarirai Kembo, was turned away by police officers when she first attempted to report the case, a Harare court heard yesterday.
This was revealed during the continuation of Kembo’s rape trial yesterday. The victim’s aunt (identification withheld) later assisted her to report the case.
Kembo appeared before Harare regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa, represented by Emmanuel Samundombe.
“She said the accused person had ordered her not to leave the house. When she went to report the matter to the police on a Sunday, police told her that they were not working and declined to hear her claims. I returned with her there the following day and she even directed us to the office where she had initially tried to report the matter,” the aunt testified.
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However, Samundombe said it was not consistent with rape victims to continue staying at the residence of a perpetrator like what the complainant had done.
He dismissed the aunt as an “incredible witness” because her testimony had elements that differed to the victim’s who gave her evidence in camera.
Kembo claimed in his defence that he was not at his house at the material time and claimed his enemies had influenced the woman to fabricate charges against him
“The accused person was not even at his place of residence when this offence occurred. He will further state that by the nature of his job he has created enemies who influenced the complainant to lie that he had committed this offence,” Samundombe said.
Prosecutor Timothy Makoni alleged that on July 29, around 9pm, the woman was asleep in her bedroom. Kembo then called her.
The court heard that she went into the dining room where Kembo was seated and he told her to warm his food.
She reportedly served Kembo some food and went back to sleep. But within a few minutes, the woman was summoned back to collect the plates.
She returned to sleep but was called again by Kembo, who asked her to watch television with him but she refused. The woman went back to sleep but was awakened by Kembo, who was standing in her bedroom, the court heard.
The court heard that Kembo advanced towards the woman and began fondling her breasts. The complainant began crying and tried to fight Kembo but was overpowered and raped.
After the incident, Kembo allegedly ordered the woman not to tell anyone about the incident.
She later filed a police report and Kembo was subsequently arrested. The complainant was referred for medical examinations and an affidavit compiled will be produced in court.
HARARE - Government is mulling a reduction in water tariffs to encourage power generation at a $5,7 million mini-hydro power plant bankrolled by financial services group, Old Mutual Zimbabwe in Chipinge District, southeast of Zimbabwe.
Energy minister Samuel Undenge said he was in talks with his Environment, Water and Climate counterpart to reduce water tariffs for the 1,6MW plant that has capacity to meet a third of Chipinge’s 5MW power demand.
Undenge said hydro power projects must not be charged commercial rates as the water does not get wasted, adding it will also reduce the cost of doing business.
“We want to create a conducive environment for private investors and to reduce the cost of doing business. To this end, let me point out that my ministry has started engaging the ministry of Environment and Water so that rates charged for use of water are reduced,” Undenge said at the commissioning of the mini-hydro power plant in Chipinge last week.
Old Mutual group chief executive Jonas Mushosho said the project, which commenced in November 2014, showed Old Mutual’s interest in building the country’s infrastructure.
Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, who attended the commissioning of the plant, said he was willing to offer incentives to investors in strategic sectors such as energy, including tax holidays, national project status, exemption from payment of withholding tax and cost effective tariffs.
Undenge said: “For irrigation the (water tariff) rate is a commercial one because for irrigation you take the water from the river, irrigate the land, the water does not go back to the river, but with this project, no water is wasted. The water is just diverted by a pipe, it goes through the turbines, generates electricity and it goes back to the river. There is no water lost, that’s why we are arguing that the rates should be lower than the commercial rates.
“I’m sure we are going to succeed; minister Chinamasa who is the guest of honour will help me to put forward that argument.”
Government is keen to boost the participation of private investors in the renewable energy sector even offering incentives including tax holidays and non-payment of duty for equipment.
HARARE - President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF are increasingly getting confident that they can catch the haggling opposition cold by holding an early election.
This comes as the opposition is yet to finalise its grand coalition as MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai and the National People’s Party (NPP) leader Joice Mujuru — who are touted as possible leaders of the mooted alliance — continue to move back and forth due to unending differences.
It became apparent at the weekend that Mugabe and Zanu PF have made considerable progress in putting the building blocks for early 2018 elections, in which the main highlight is likely to be the contest between the 93-year-old and Tsvangirai.
“...there is no doubt that the elections are going to take place in the first half of next year. Time is, therefore, of essence if we are going to put in place mechanisms that will help us win the election,” the ruling party’s secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo told officials at a one-day workshop on voter education and voter registration held at their headquarters last weekend.
“And for us as Zanu PF, there is no other option, but to win this election by a margin that leaves no doubt that we are the dominant political party in this country.”
Legal and parliamentary experts have said nothing would stop Mugabe from proclaiming an early election if he needed.
They cited section 144 of the Constitution which says a general election can result from dissolution of Parliament, which Mugabe can exploit should he suppose an early election be politically expedient.
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MDC spokesperson, Obert Gutu, said they have always suspected that the Zanu PF regime would like to call a snap election.
“They think they are taking the opposition by surprise but then, they’re fooling themselves.
“The MDC Alliance is now on board and we are on a roll. In fact, more opposition political parties will very soon be coming on board. Zanu PF is finished; they are like a dead man walking,” Gutu told the Daily News.
“We are also acutely aware of the fact that this vapid and rabid regime is arm-twisting the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) so that they help the regime to rig the election.
“We have gathered intelligence to the effect that the Zanu PF regime might actually want to abandon the BVR (biometric voter registration) process,” he added.
Piers Pigou, senior consultant at the International Crisis Group, said Chombo has no authority to determine election dates.
“Perhaps the opposition should be seeking clarity from the president and government regarding its intentions in this regard,” Pigou told the Daily News.
“This doesn’t mean Zanu PF isn’t entitled to prepare for elections in this period. The opposition had long been aware there may be efforts to push for an early election. This is critical in light of the diminishing capacities of the ruling party’s candidate, Mugabe.
“But much has to be done before then to ensure there is a real chance for these polls to secure sufficient internal and external legitimacy.
“The plethora of unresolved issues relating to the voters’ roll is just one of many issues that does not auger well. This is especially so if the posturing of senior Zanu PF officials such as Chombo reflects a firm position within the party.”
“A careful analysis of where the opposition can work to regain seats and retain those they have is critical.
“It seems likely that Zanu PF will continue its efforts to reclaim more urban or metropolitan seats. Many more constituencies in places like Harare will be subject to serious contestation by the ruling party,” he added.
Pigou said the unresolved issues around the voters’ roll will compromise the legitimacy of the results unless properly addressed.
“These are issues that opposition formations have already articulated very clearly under the banner of Nera or Zinera,” Pigou said.
“I haven’t seen much said about these issues from these formations such as independent candidates who have spring-boarded their political ambitions of the energy of the hashtag protest movements.”
The Zanu PF youth league has since set the party’s campaign machine rolling with the ongoing youth interface rallies attracting bumper crowds for Mugabe, who wants to extend his rule at the helm of government beyond the current 37 years.
In the meantime, there is no consensus on the mooted grand coalition despite talks and signing of pacts by Tsvangirai and seven fringe parties to form an alliance, the MDC Alliance.
Mujuru and other opposition leaders have distanced themselves from the MDC Alliance and are holding out for more in the final coalition whose leader is currently the bone of contention.
Analysts and a large cross-section of Zimbabweans have consistently said a united opposition, contesting as a single bloc in next year’s elections, has a chance of ending Mugabe and Zanu PF’s political dominance.
HARARE - MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai is worried that the continuing bickering within the opposition movement over the consummation of the eagerly-awaited grand coalition could lead to voter apathy in next year’s crucial elections.
The former prime minister in the stability-inducing unity government — who has been at the forefront of efforts to evolve a consensus among opposition parties — said the failure by opposition leaders to come together to form the mooted coalition will likely cause disillusionment among the voters.
“The most fundamental issue is that the fragmentation of the opposition is unnecessary and unhealthy competition.
“And we have to get this thing organised if we are to be of any relevance. Zvichatipa (It will give us) two advantages, to motivate the electorate to go and register and to go and vote, yah.
“But ikaramba iri (if it remains) more of the same, then people will go into apathy. And the worst thing that is going to affect the next election is apathy.
“If we can break that apathy among the people, the better for everyone,” Tsvangirai told the Daily News in an interview.
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He said the current fight over who should lead the coalition is “needless”.
Tsvangirai, on August 5 received a huge boost when he was joined by seven other political parties in forming an MDC Alliance in a development which lifted the mood of ordinary Zimbabweans who are looking for an alternative to President Robert Mugabe and his warring Zanu PF in 2018.
Mugabe, 93, is seeking an eighth and final term after winning the 2013 race against Tsvangirai, 65, whose is punting to lead the coalition.
Tsvangirai said the opposition should rise in unison and agree to a person who would be best suited to defend the Constitution, lead the armed forces and protect the democratic ethos of the country.
“Change is good for everyone. Everyone must register, everyone must vote, this is the only chance in this coming election to change the direction of the country.
“This is a post-Mugabe era and the post-liberation generation and we must move on now,” said Tsvangirai.
Analysts have said the lack of a cohesive coalition will strengthen the hand of the ruling party and plays directly into the hands of Mugabe.
Cape Town-based NKC analyst Gary van Staden said the main point on the agreement between opposition parties was that the viability of any coalition would depend on the ability of the various components to work out key issues — leadership in particular.
Van Staden said it appears that these issues are going to hamper the formation of a viable coalition no matter what the protagonists are claiming now.
Tsvangirai is tipped to lead the grand coalition but other opposition parties are backing former vice president Joice Mujuru to fuel divisions within the opposition ranks.
Already, Tsvangirai is facing a hard time in Matabeleland provinces where influential MDC politicians who include his deputy Thokozani Khupe, have expressed their disquiet over the way he has handled the coalition talks.
Apart from having to deal with the disgruntlement within the MDC Matabeleland structures, Tsvangirai is also battling to heal the rift caused by violence which broke out at the party’s Bulawayo
offices on August 6 which left Khupe injured.
The suspension of organising secretary Abednigo Bhebhe, who was said to be one of the victims of the intra-party violence, has further stoked tensions in the already volatile Bulawayo province.
HARARE - The country’s largest opposition party, the MDC, could be headed for another split owing to widening differences in its top echelons over an alliance pact sealed by Morgan Tsvangirai on August 5.
Thokozani Khupe — Tsvangirai’s longest serving deputy — has teamed up with several other MDC heavyweights to take Tsvangirai head-on for inking the pact without the full blessings of the movement’s leadership.
Lovemore Moyo, the MDC’s national chairperson, and Abednico Bhebhe, the party’s organising secretary are among the bigwigs that are rallying behind Khupe.
Last week, Tsvangirai suspended Bhebhe, pending full investigations into the violence that broke out in Bulawayo recently. This was viewed as an attempt by Tsvangirai to weaken the growing opposition against his leadership by putting a wedge between Bhebhe and Khupe.
Undeterred by the divide and rule tactic, Khupe, Moyo and Bhebhe, have dared Tsvangirai by dispatching a letter to him, outlining their grievances.
In the letter, they have demanded that a planned MDC Alliance rally set for this weekend in the second city be postponed indefinitely until they have been appraised about the form of the coalition and the distribution of seats, particularly in the Matabeleland region.
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“We further suggest that the launch of the Alliance agreement in Bulawayo scheduled for the 2nd of September 2017 be suspended pending, and to allow consultations with the leadership and the structures,” reads part of the letter.
“The launch can be subsequently be made after dialogue, consultations and concurrence of the leadership on the signed agreement”, the letter continues.
Tsvangirai was selected to lead the MDC Alliance on August 5.
The pact includes the People’s Democratic Party, led by Tendai Biti; the MDC led by Welshman Ncube; Transform Zimbabwe, headed by Jacob Ngarivhume; Zanu Ndonga headed by Denford Masiyarira and the Multi-Racial Christian Democrats led by Mathias Guchutu.
Both Biti and Ncube are former secretaries-general of a united MDC.
The MDC initially split in 2005 when Ncube walked out of the party, accusing Tsvangirai of being a dictator.
In 2014, the party split again, this time with Biti packing his bags as he also accused Tsvangirai of having dictatorial tendencies.
Fears are that the party could split once again, with leaders in the southern part of the country breaking ranks with Tsvangirai over his alleged unilateralism.
For long, Khupe has been unhappy with being sidelined by Tsvangirai after the MDC leader handpicked Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri to deputise him, along with Khupe.
With Tsvangirai going into bed with seven other leaders in the MDC Alliance, a bloated coalition with three vice presidents or deputy presidents could be in the offing as Tsvangirai tries to accommodate all the influential figures who are part of the pact.
In the event that the alliance proceeds to form the next government after the 2018 polls, Khupe, Moyo and Bhebhe could be pushed further down the pecking order to accommodate MDC Alliance principals.
In their letter to Tsvangirai, the trio argued that the MDC leader should urgently have dialogue with them as well as the party’s membership in the spirit of devolution of power as enshrined in the Constitution.
“We accordingly implore you to provide the structures with the copies of the alliance agreement coupled with the detailed explanation of the contents of the alliance agreement,” reads part of the letter.
So stark are the differences in the MDC that they are snubbing party functions and urging the structures in the southern region to snub the weekend rally citing safety concerns.
This follows the violence that broke out in Bulawayo recently where Khupe and other senior MDC officials were assaulted by party thugs who disrupted their meeting, allegedly at the instructions of Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai has since dismissed the allegations.
The suspension of Bhebhe is said to have further driven a wedge between Tsvangirai and Khupe because the MDC’s organising secretary is being seen as a victim and not the villain, as is now being alleged by the MDC leader.
“Indeed, if we could be attacked in Bulawayo our safety is not guaranteed in Harare. Further, we believe our concerns on the contents as well as the method that was used in the distribution of the seats are pertinent and should accordingly be addressed,” reads part of their letter to Tsvangirai.
MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu admitted that the party is going through difficult times but claimed that the sticking points would be amicably resolved and that the rally would go ahead as planned.
“As party leaders, we are meeting and discussing our different opinions and believe you me, at the end of the day, we are all going to agree on the need for a formidable coalition to face Zanu PF in next year’s elections. These are just teething challenges. You shouldn’t read too much into this episode. It’s just a passing phase,” said Gutu.
HARARE - Rival Zanu PF factions shall momentarily shift their focus to primary elections due to be held either in the final quarter of this year or early next year, as they battle for control of the National Assembly, the Daily News can report.
The legislature, split into two – the upper chamber and the lower chamber — is one of the three organs of the State crucial in opening doors for whoever might succeed President Robert Mugabe in the event that he exits the grand political stage for whatever reason.
Although Mugabe, 93, has indicated his desire to stay on for as long as his party wants him to, this has not stopped party underlings to plan beyond him, hence the emergence of rival factions that are positioning their preferred proxies to succeed him.
With Mugabe having kick-started his re-election campaign, disguised as provincial youth interface meetings, the factions within his party – Generation 40 (G40) and Team Lacoste – are losing sleep over the impending primary polls, used to select candidates to represent Zanu PF in national polls.
At his party’s 2014 congress, Mugabe secured the ticket to represent Zanu PF as its presidential candidate, making him the only official in his party given the green light to proceed to do-or-die polls in 2018.
Even though dates for next year’s general elections are yet to be set, Zanu PF factions have since signalled their parliamentary hopefuls to engage in subtle campaigns in anticipation of a call for early primary polls.
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Both factions are aiming to control the National Assembly, comprising 210 seats for Members of Parliament and 93 seats for Senators.
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.
To that extent, the National Assembly has become the new frontier in Zanu PF’s succession wars as it could have the final say on who might take over from Mugabe, in the event that he exits politics.
Zanu PF prohibits its members from engaging in premature campaigns, but notwithstanding, members have hardly been bothered because they always get away with it.
The party’s national spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, told the Daily News recently that they had not yet sanctioned the campaigns, warning that the party would act on those who defy its orders.
“I am not aware of any pronouncement by the party officially sanctioning such campaigns. Those doing so are violating party principles,” said Khaya Moyo.
The Zanu PF national spokesperson could not say when Zanu PF would hold its primary elections, preferring to say: “I will let you know when the time comes.”
Mugabe has been addressing huge crowds in different provinces, calling on Zanu PF cadres to get ready for elections, thereby latently opening up another frontier for a deadly factional fight for control of party structures.
On Friday, Mugabe will be addressing his seventh Zanu PF youth interface rally in Gweru – the provincial capital of the Midlands.
There is belief within the party that its hierarchy could call the election of representatives for the constituencies across the country earlier, even before the end of the year, to give selected candidates time to prepare for the general elections.
This has created a battle over their “winnable” seats between G40 and Team Lacoste, locked in an intriguing battle over who should succeed Mugabe when he exits the political scene.
Team Lacoste backs Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who recently survived an alleged food poisoning attack, to succeed Mugabe while G40 appears to be torn between Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi and the Zanu PF leader’s wife, Grace.
Party officials from various provinces told the Daily News in off-the-record briefings yesterday that bare knuckle fights are underway anyhow with the president’s increasingly frailty not helping the situation.
Both factions have lined up at least one candidate to battle the rival group, with seating MPs at risk of losing their seats.
Team Lacoste is more dominant in Masvingo province where sitting legislators who are linked to G40, among them Jappy Jaboon (Bikita South), Denford Masiya (Chiredzi East), Paul Chimedza (Gutu South), Tongai Muzenda (Gutu Central) and Kennedy Matimba (Bikita East), face an uphill task.
Provincial chairperson, Ezra Chadzamira, himself a Team Lacoste-linked legislator, professed ignorance of the campaigns but said his executive would not hesitate to act should culprits be made known.
Team Lacoste is also dominant in the Midlands province where an onslaught has reportedly been launched against perceived G40 lawmakers, among them Makhosini Hlongwane and Tapiwa Matangaidze. Hlongwane represents Mberengwa East while Matangaidze stands for Shurugwi North constituency.
The battle is much more complex in Manicaland, Harare and Bulawayo provinces where G40 has considerable support.
MPs such as Harare South legislator Shadreck Mashayamombe, Psychology Maziwisa and Jason Pasade (Mt Pleasant) have to worry more about opposition MDC candidates than those within their ranks, although the situation is different for seating legislators such as Terrance Mukupe (Harare East MP) and Tendai Savanhu, who have real battles to fight.
Mukupe is linked to Team Lacoste and has of late had noxious brawls with G40 protagonists, most notably party national political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere who recently told a provincial gathering that he would do everything he could to block the outspoken youthful legislator from winning the 2018 primaries.
G40 has the clear edge in Mashonaland East and Central provinces, but the battle is on for constituencies such as Mazowe Central currently represented by abrasive Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister, Martin Dinha.
Dinha stepped on Kasukuwere’s toes when he volunteered to be Team Lacoste’s public face in the anti-Kasukuwere demonstrations which have dominated the political space since March this year.
Mugabe’s increasingly powerful wife, Grace, recently absolved Kasukuwere of any wrongdoing, giving him the chance to come back at his political foes with vengeance.
In Mashonaland East, the biggest casualty could be former provincial affairs minister and provincial chairperson Joel Biggie Matiza whom Mugabe fired in 2015 for siding with Mnangagwa.
Reports also suggest that some senior party members a now lobbying for the establishment of the national elections council to take over the administration of internal polls in terms of provisions of the party constrictions.
The council would take over from the commissariat department which has been provisionally running the elections since 2015 following the disbandment of the national elections directorate.
The council would give a factional balance given that it would be chaired by Mnangagwa and co-vice president, Phelekezela Mphoko on an alternating basis.
Mphoko is heavily linked to G40.
Those behind these moves seem to believe that once in control of Parliament they could even depose Mugabe through a no confidence vote as happened in South Africa early this month.
South African President, Jacob Zuma, narrowly survived a motion of no confidence against him in Parliament, the most serious attempt yet to unseat him, after months of growing anger over allegations of corruption and a sinking economy.
It was the sixth such vote of his increasingly beleaguered presidency, but the first involving a secret ballot, with a broad coalition of opposition parties and renegade Members of Parliament from the ruling African National Congress falling just short of the simple majority needed to force Zuma and his Cabinet to resign immediately.
One hundred and ninety-eight MPs voted against, compared with 177 in favour. There were nine abstentions.