HARARE - Castle Lager Premiership title hopefuls Ngezi Platinum Stars have made it no secret that they are looking forward to a CAPS United win in the Harare derby this weekend.

Ngezi, who are in second place on the log with 46 points, are one of the four teams vying for the title together with log leaders Chicken Inn, FC Platinum and Dynamos.

And with DeMbare taking on rivals Makepekepe in a potentially explosive derby at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday, Ngezi are hoping for a Green Machine victory.

If the Glamour Boys lose against Makepekepe, it will be a major blow to their title challenge as they are currently the in-form team with five wins on the trot.

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“The best result for us this weekend is beating Shabanie Mine but obviously as a team fighting for the title we will also be looking at what the other teams in the race are doing,” Ngezi Platinum Stars media officer Culvin Mavunga told the Daily News yesterday.

“Obviously, we want CAPS to win the derby because we are fighting for the title with Dynamos but even if that happens and we fail to beat Shabanie then it will not be beneficial to us.

“Chicken Inn must also drop points against How Mine. That’s a crucial game for us as we will be looking closely at what is happening there.

“How Mine are now stable after the problems they had in previous weeks so they are also a good side that will give Chicken Inn a tough game.”

Turning to their game against the struggling Chinda Boys at Mandava Stadium on Sunday, Mavunga said they will be keen to maintain their winning form.

The Mhondoro-Ngezi-based side’s title push was severely dented following a crushing 3-0 defeat to CAPS United two weeks ago.

Tonderai Ndiriya’s side however, bounced back to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 victory over Highlanders last weekend at Baobab Stadium.

“As a club, we believe that when you don’t have a lot of players that are on injury and are playing well it gives us confidence to keep our winning mentality,” Mavunga said.

“Consistency will be key for us if we are to win the league and we need to show the same form we showed against Highlanders when we play Shabanie this weekend.”

The platinum miners will be banking on the likes of winger Tichaona Mabvura and forward Terrence Dzvukamanja, who were all outstanding in the win over Bosso.

Mabvura scored a brace to take his tally to six goals this season while on the assists front, he now has 12.

Dzvukamanja scored one to take his tally to nine goals for the season while he is on six assists.

Ngezi are also the highest scoring team in the league with 42 goals from 23 matches thus far.

“This shows we have a good calibre of players and as a team we are the best on the offensive side,” Mavunga said.

“Mabvura is one of the most underrated players in the league but this season he has shown everyone what he can do.”

Saturday: Yadah v Bantu Rovers (Morris), 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).

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LAGOS - Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has led his first cabinet meeting today in five months after receiving medical treatment in the UK for an undisclosed illness.

The 74-year-old returned to Nigeria from London last week, but has been working from home following complaints of a rodent infestation in the presidential office.

He skipped last week's ministerial meeting which was cancelled without explanation.

Mr Buhari chaired the meeting in "full energy", presidential spokesman Garba Shehu told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme.

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HARARE - It is getting evident that the leadership of Zanu PF has created, for use at times opportune to them, desperate youths who are always willing to do their bidding because essentially they have nothing to do.

Over the years, Zanu PF’s skewed policy framework has continued to churn out from schools and tertiary institutions, hungry and desperate young men and women whose zeal and ambition would have been deliberately and systematically destroyed by system.

Now and gain, they are bussed to specific ruling party functions at times without even an idea of why they are there in the first place.

A case in point is yesterday’s march in Harare, purportedly held in solidarity with First Lady Grace Mugabe.

At this juncture, it may not be important to go back into available details on what had taken place when the first lady visited her sons in South Africa.

But perhaps it is necessary to point out that the first lady was accused of bashing a 20-year-old South African model she found in the company of her two sons Robert Junior and Chatunga Bellarmine — then resident at an upmarket Sandton hotel.

Eventually being granted diplomatic immunity by South African authorities, it then puzzles the mind how right-thinking Zimbabweans would want to associate themselves with such a despicable act.

When people have so much time to idle around the city, it is reflective of the deplorable state of the national economy for which the leadership of the ruling party is largely to blame.

It is their poor policies that got us where we are today, together with these unfortunate youths.

Yes, Grace may have acted in the heat of the moment but that does not sanitise the act at all. Fair and fine, the first lady herself and even her husband President Robert Mugabe never mentioned the South African fracas when they appeared in public after the incident.

Now, to have party youths being bussed in to march in solidarity with the first lady invites all sorts of questions. For what reason, really? To tell whoever cares to listen that she was right in the first place?

By seeking diplomatic immunity, there must have been some degree of acceptance of guilt by the first lady. Demonstrating in support of a case someone accepts has been committed makes clowns of the participants.

Mugabe and his wife did not attend the solidarity march as they have done with previous demonstrations.

Previously, Zanu PF youths have been part of the notorious bases the ruling party set up in the run-up to the June 27, 2008 presidential run-off. During that period, they could even mount roadblocks along the country’s highways, forcing people to chant pro-Mugabe slogans.

This feeling of self-importance on the youths has not deserted them and they take pleasure in being part of any gathering for crumbs.

They got bussed for the first lady’s “meet the people” rallies a couple of years ago and they have become central in youth interface rallies Mugabe’s pre-election runners have unfurled in all the country’s administrative provinces.

Government business sometimes grinds to a halt as top officials make a bee-line to rallies addressed by Mugabe and his wife. Mugabe is scheduled to visit the Midlands capital of Gweru.

While the rallies have drawn huge crowds in most of the venues, it appears the unsuspecting youths do not even understand the real essence of the rallies.

Youth leaders obviously benefit from looting part of the donations they get for the staging of the rallies as well as services like hiring of public address systems and T-shirt printing.

What is of major concern, however, remains the fact that after they have been used, the jobless youths will return home to face the usual problems consistent with their desperation.

The rallies do not help them get jobs, they do not improve their day-to-day lives, they do not bring food on their family tables except empty sloganeering. Being used leads them into losing their self-worth and dignity, attributes they should be asserting instead.

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HARARE - Allies of First Lady Grace Mugabe, in organising a solidarity march in Harare yesterday to show their support after she assaulted a South African model, Gabriella Engels, in Johannesburg two weeks ago, should be ashamed of themselves.

If we may ask; what were they marching in solidarity of because Grace’s South African episodes have brought nothing but shame to Zimbabwe?

Hundreds of Zanu PF supporters were bussed from all over the country for the solidarity march and reading from the various placards they carried, one could see this was a well-choreographed march.

But what these marchers do not realise is that it takes more than a street march for Grace to redeem her political career which is now tainted beyond repair.

Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene and war veteran George Mlala — from a splinter group of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association — were the supposed brains behind this march which exposed President Robert Mugabe and his government’s disregard of the rule of law by supporting Grace’s violent actions in South Africa.

But through this act, Zanu PF has shown its true colours with regards to the issue of the rule of law and human rights.

Zanu PF should desist from abusing its membership because in all fairness, most of those who were at the march did not really know why they were there.

Interestingly, the march came as police in Harare this week blocked a planned demonstration by opposition youths who wanted to storm the South African embassy in protest over the diplomatic immunity granted to Grace.

While denying others the chance to march and demonstrate, the police were yesterday, however, out in full force protecting Zanu PF marchers as they attempted to legitimise a lawlessness and shameless act by the first lady.

The solidarity march will send wrong signals to the whole world that “Zimbabweans” were in support of Grace’s actions.

Interestingly, Grace herself chose not to dignify the solidarity march by absenting herself.

The march is also alarmist in that the whole world will now think that Zimbabweans love what Grace did in South Africa.

It also sends a wrong message that there is lawlessness in Zimbabwe and that the Executive can trample on people’s rights at will without being checked.

While South Africa granted Grace diplomatic immunity allowing her safe exit, the solidarity march will be a slap in the face of their government.

Did Zanu PF ever ask itself what message they were sending to the South African government which went out of its way to grant the diplomatic immunity against its own people?

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HARARE - Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of Standard Bank Group of South Africa, posted a $12,8 million profit for the half year to June 30, 2017, up from $10,5 million recorded in the comparable period the previous year after improved net interest income and short-term investments acquired during the reporting period.

Stanbic chairperson Greg Sebborn also attributed the profit to the bank’s strengthened loan collection efforts.

“Notwithstanding the elevated turbulence in the macro-economic environment, the bank recorded a commendable performance closing the first half of the year with a profit of $12,8 million in comparison to the prior period profit of $10,5 million.

“Non-funded income also performed strongly as the bank continues to drive various electronic means of payment as the market continues to embrace the digital platforms,” said Sebborn.

As at June 30, 2017, Stanbic’s qualifying core capital stood at $119,5 million, up from $95,3 million during the same period last year, above the regulatory minimum of $25 million.

The $119,5 million qualifying core capital puts Stanbic in a healthy position ahead of the year 2020 regulatory minimum core capital requirement of $100 million.

Stanbic chief executive officer Joshua Tapambgwa said he was pleased that the financial institution had overcome the increasing vulnerabilities prevailing in the economy to record a profit.

Giving the run-down of the performance, Tapambgwa said net interest income grew by 11 percent to $25,5 million, from $23,1 million as additional short-term financial investments were acquired during the period under review.

The growth in net interest income was partially offset by the temporary fluctuations in facility utilisation such as the deterioration in the volume of cash transactions and outgoing customer foreign payments, a development which saw bank fees and commission income decline by four percent.

He said Stanbic Bank was focused on ensuring that the lives of its customers were made easier as they navigate an increasingly difficult operating environment as evidenced by the continued digital banking journey in a cash-starved environment, where Stanbic rolled out more POS devices into the market.

“Our digital banking product suite was enhanced through the addition of more billers on our Blue247 mobile banking platform compounded by the introduction of new products such as online banking for small to medium enterprise clients.

“As we strive to diligently serve our customers, low cost options of sending money to mobile wallets and agent banks were introduced,” he said.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has sensationally said they are not aware that there is a directive to stop South African socialite Zodwa Wabantu from attending the Harare International Carnival.

A letter from acting Tourism minister Patrick Zhuwao (see page 18) circulating on social media purportedly posted by actress Anne Nhira which was a reply to her complaint to bar Zodwa from coming to Harare has touched a storm.

ZTA’s spokesperson Sugar Chagonda professed ignorance of the letter saying they haven’t officially received it or any such instruction to stop Zodwa from coming to the carnival.

“Just like everyone else, we have seen the correspondence on social media, but nothing has as of now been officially communicated to us. As far as we are concerned, nothing has changed in terms of our programming and performing artists.

“And the said letter wasn’t written to ZTA but to Nhira, so we still await any official communication from our principals.

“We are always briefing our principals on the progress concerning the Harare International Carnival and at no point have they raised the issue,” said Chagonda.

The ZTA spokesperson said contrary to media reports, Zodwa is not taking part in the carnival street parades.

“Zodwa is here on a private initiative and invited by a private promoter. She is actually billed to visit Private Lounge in Harare and her being here coincided with the carnival. Like any other visiting tourist to the carnival, she is welcome,” said Chagonda.

A Private Lounge spokesperson Ruramai Patsanza said indeed Zodwa is coming to grace their club on Friday September 8.

“Yes, Zodwa is gracing Private Lounge next Friday and we are happy to receive her. She visited our sister club in Bulawayo and the venue was packed to the rafters. We are expecting a big party when she comes.

“It is interesting that Zodwa is coming while we are in the middle of the Harare International Carnival and as such, the hype has increased. It will be a full week of partying and we are as prepared to host her.

“Private Lounge is an adult entertainment club and we cater for a particular age group — adults.”

Meanwhile, Devine Assignments will host the Samba Night on Wednesday and this will feature the Cuban Girls and Samba dancers.

The showcase will take place in the car park opposite Private Lounge and Hollys Hotel, and will see two of Zimbabwe’s popular pole dancers — Bev and Zoey — show their dancing prowess.

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HARARE - Local actress Anne Nhira, popular for starring in the local soapie Studio263 as Vimbai Jari, is under fire for attempting to block South African dancer and socialite Zodwa Wabantu from participating at this year’s edition of Harare International Carnival.

The carnival is scheduled for September 2 to 10 in the capital and Zodwa was billed to showcase alongside Cuban Girls and Samba Queens.

Conservative Zimbabweans, including Nhira, were not comfortable with Zodwa’s participation in Harare because of her stance on underwear; hence they strenuously tried to push her out of the event.

Nhira complained through a letter she wrote to the ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry that Zodwa should not be allowed to take part in the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) organised event.

Government supposedly replied her — if a letter posted by Nhira on her Facebook is genuine — through acting Tourism minister Patrick Zhuwao.

In the letter Zhuwao said: “I acknowledge your complaint on the above subject matter (complaint of the appearance of Zodwa Wabantu at the Harare International Carnival).

“Government position is that artist concerned (Zodwa Wabantu) may not participate at the Harare International Carnival. In this regard, relevant authorities have been notified.”

Nhira posted on a wall: “I am ecstatic that the Zimbabwean government has responded quickly to my letter of objection about Zodwa Wabantu coming to Zimbabwe.

“ . . . The Zimbabwean government has made the decision and I am happy with their decision as stated in the letter . . . from acting minister . . . Patrick Zhuwao after receiving my letter of concern together with ministries of Women Affairs and Rural Development.”

Meanwhile, TshisaLIVE reports that Wabantu has lambasted the Zimbabwean artist who apparently got her banned from a gig in the country, saying the move has left the continent divided.

“To be honest, I don’t even understand where she is coming from. If I was a nobody, I wouldn’t have received the invite in the first place. So maybe it comes from a place of jealousy. Why would a person just randomly write such a letter?” Zodwa said.

She said she didn’t even know who Anne was until the complaint and believes it is dividing the African continent.

“I don’t even know who that woman is but I feel she is causing more damage than she is aware. I went through her Facebook page and because of the support that I have — people were attacking her. They were saying she is taking food from my mouth and that her actions might even cause xenophobic attacks. The carnival is meant to unite the continent and attract people to Zimbabwe for tourism, but she is working against that,” she said.

Zodwa also pointed out that she is the only South African targeted yet there are other South African acts that will be performing. She also said her revealing “style” can’t be much more of an issue than Brazilian dancers who are scheduled to perform.

After Nhira’s Facebook post, over 6 000 angry Zodwa “fans” tore into the actress.

Selby Dzengerere posted on facebook that: “I am not a fan of Zodwa, never will and I don’t even watch her acts, but I think this is not fair to her fans. If I don’t like a certain artist, I should not influence ZTA to ban them from performing in Zim. Instead, I should just stay away from the show, period.”

Oscar Kurete said on his post: “This is stupid, how can you as an artist be proud of this? She went to Zimbabwe to work just like we are here in South Africa working too.”

Tafadzwa Maglas said: “… and to think kuti ndaikufarira (liked you) all along what’s your problem dai uka deportwa (they should deport you) from South Africa. They have already started a petition to get you deported.”

“I do hereby cease to be your fan Anne Nhira. . . You are jealous and inconsiderate. Your selfish motives have proven to me that your primitive ideologies have no play in the modern days. Go back in time and live in the early 90s . . . ,” Tom Benz said.

Tafadzwah Tee Jr. said: “Iwe (you) Anne don’t try to imitate Dr Amai’s attitude. You are living in a foreign land, South Africa to be precise and the guys never deported you why are you pushing Zodwa out of Zimbabwe? Don’t we get women from all flocks performing half naked on carnival? Check our history. Don’t try f**k us up here we are living in SA and I have learnt to appreciate different cultures. Let Zodwa be Zodwa Wabantu. Iwewe wakapera  (you are finished) don’t try and get sucking on Zodwa. You have got better things to do tsvagai mabasa (look for work)”

Leah Wekwachikwata said: “But on a serious note, don’t you think you are being a hypocrite? You live in South Africa to make money; Zodwa was only going to visit Zimbabwe to make money. Mabasa akasiyana (people do different jobs). Ndimi vanhu vanokonzeresa  (people like you cause) xenophobia. Well done to you and Doctor Amai for stirring up the next xenophobia attack. I wish South Africans can petition your deportation. There are crucial issues to be concerned about when it comes to Zimbabwe but you chose Zodwa’s nakedness. Have you ever been to a carnival? South Africans are still angry about Dr Amai’s behaviour but here you are making the situation worse. Out of interest sake, who did you sleep with for you to get such a quick response?”

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HARARE - Ex-Zimbabwe cricket speed merchant Kyle Jarvis has kept the door open for a possible return to international cricket.

The 28-year-old pace bowler is in the final year of his contract with England County Cricket side Lancashire having joined the side in September 2013 on a Kolpak deal after retiring from international cricket in August the same year.

He had played eight Tests, 24 One Day Internationals and nine Twenty20 games for Zimbabwe prior to his early retirement aged only 24 years.

Talking to BBC Radio Lancashire, Jarvis could neither confirm nor deny news doing the round linking him with a possible return to the Zimbabwe national team.

“It’s flattering being connected with international cricket again but I’m a contracted Lancashire player until 2018. I’m not looking past that,” Jarvis said.

The in-form Jarvis has now taken six-wicket hauls in consecutive Lancashire games, including the current Championship match against Warwickshire at Old Trafford — to take his haul to 148 first-class wickets in his 39 matches for the Red Rose since his debut in September 2013.

“I knew I had this to give in my first year,” he said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t go that way. I learnt and I think I became a better bowler for it. These last couple of years have been brilliant.

“Unfortunately I’ve not played the amount of cricket I wanted this year due to a broken thumb and sitting out the T20s but that’s the way it goes.

“My first and main priority is that I want to win Division One. That’s what I’ve always set out to do here. Right now, that’s my focus.”

But back home Zimbabwe Cricket chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani who is spearheading the drive to get former players back to the country maintained that discussions are underway to have him back in the fold.

“Negotiations are still going on with regards to having Jarvis back to international cricket again and we will make an announcement once there’s something tangible,” Mukuhlani told the Daily News yesterday.

Last year, Mukuhlani expressed his desire to lure back home all the local stars plying their trade abroad including Jarvis, former captain Brendan Taylor and the Curran brothers Tom and Sam.

Tom Curran has, however, since made his international debut for England playing in the T20 series against South Africa at Taunton.

The coming on board of head coach Heath Streak, convener of selectors Tatenda Taibu and chief executive Faisal Hasnain is believed to be bait-enough to convince Jarvis for another dance with the national team.

Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer, who returned back to the national team two years after Jarvis’ exit ending his sabbatical, admitted that the pace bowler was happy in England.

“I have not spoken to Kyle lately, as far as I know he is happy in the UK, but it makes sense to try and get as many of our top players back to join the side,” said Cremer.

Should Jarvis play for Zimbabwe again, he would lose his Kolpak status and could only return to Lancashire as an overseas player.

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MUTARE - Fearful villagers from the diamond-rich Chiadzwa area are accusing the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) of gross human rights abuses, which its chief executive officer, Morris Mpofu, confirmed were being investigated by police.

President Robert Mugabe’s government was accused of gross human rights violations during the Chiadzwa diamond rush in 2008 when security forces were alleged of using force against villagers and artisanal miners.

This week, the villagers around the protected minefields, which have been taken over by the ZCDC, following government decision to consolidate the mines which were previously owned separately by local and foreign firms, accused ZCDC of using force against illegal miners.

The villagers allege that ZCDC security in some cases unleash dogs to maul arrested illegal miners.

“I received a report from the police on that issue and they are conducting investigations. My understanding from the report is that these were illegal panners who ran away and tried to swim across a slime dam and they drowned,” Mpofu told the Daily News.

He, however, denied that ZCDC security was perpetrating gross human rights violations, vowing to investigate the claims.

“I’m not aware of it...I’m getting it from you. If there is anything of that sort we are going to investigate it, but we have security that is well equipped and trained to ensure that it addresses all matters in a manner that is humane and following proper procedures.

“If there are elements within the security force that are doing that it’s not a corporate policy or strategy to do that,” he added.

Centre for Natural Resource Governance director, Farai Maguwu, blamed government for the alleged abuse of illegal diamond miners in Chiadzwa, saying it bred the culture of impunity.

“I think it’s simply a reflection of the culture of impunity which Zimbabwe has cultivated over the years, with people who commit gross human rights violations are never held to account.

“…in Zimbabwe it’s now become the norm that the security sector is above the law. They can kill, they can rape, they can beat and no one ever holds them accountable that’s why in Chiadzwa they feel it’s patriotic to beat people and dump them in Save River. If anything, they will be promoted for doing that,” Maguwu claimed.

“Given that ZCDC is a wholly-owned government entity we don’t expect their private security to do things that security companies employed by the Chinese were doing against Zimbabweans. They need to exercise tolerance.

“The issue is to understand why people are going to Chiadzwa. If you go and ask a child in primary school what job they would want no one will tell you they want to be a mukorokoza (artisanal miner).

People become makorokoza because they can’t find jobs. That should be understood. It’s a survival instinct that is pushing them. They don’t have any source of livelihood,” added Maguwu.

Extractive sector researcher and Centre for Research and Development director James Mupfumi said illegal diamond diggers need to be incorporated into formal mining operations and foster community ownership of the diamond fields, if the conflict is to be resolved.

“If you look into the portfolio committee report, there is this recommendation. A policy should be developed to integrate artisanal and small-scale diamond miners who are operating illegally in Marange,” he said.

“They have been cheated once. They know that ZCDC will not channel money to development. This is why the community is harbouring the illegal artisanal panners.

“…everyone in the value chain of diamond mining from the community, security and illegal miners have uncertainty over the benefits of diamond mining to the nation. These are syndicates operating because they don’t see any benefits from ZCDC operations.

“There is opacity and lack of transparency and no community ownership of the project. The community was ostracised since 2007 by the seven companies that were there,” added Mupfumi.

Meanwhile, opposition National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) is demanding the resignation of Mpofu following the drowning of four illegal diamond miners in a slime dam in Chiadzwa last week.

NCA Manicaland provincial spokesperson David Mukunda told the Daily News that his party has engaged Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene demanding the investigation of ZCDC security and Mpofu’s sacking.

“NCA Manicaland has written to...Chimene to take action against the guards who caused the death of those four illegal diamond panners, to punish the company and also fire the CEO with immediate effect,” Mukunda said.

The four illegal miners reportedly died after they were trapped in a muddy slime dam while trying to flee ZCDC security last Monday.

ZCDC has been battling an influx of illegal artisanal miners in the gem-rich area.

All four — Collen Mazikani, Matrick Mafela, Never Mafundu and Moshood Musoso — are Chief Marange’s subjects who lost their lives in an area controlled by Headman Chiadzwa, a subject of Chief Muusha, albeit in an area originally belonging to the Marange people.

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HARARE - Harare City Council (HCC) is awaiting government approval to launch power plants to convert waste into energy at Pomona landfill and Mbare bio-gas digesters.

HCC spokesperson Michael Chideme told the Daily News:  “Work at Pomona is at an advanced stage in terms of awarding the contract. The paperwork is now with government.

“In Mbare, we are over 85 percent complete. We are now waiting for equipment which should arrive in the next six weeks and after the generator and other ancillaries have arrived, we may be complete in another five weeks.”

HCC waste management manager Calvin Chigariro has told the publication that HCC and Zesa were in talks so that council can feed the generated power into the Zesa grid at the Mbare hostels. Chigariro said they want to have modular incineration plants which will burn all the waste and use the heat to fire the boilers which will be used for producing super-heated steam that will drive the electricity turbines. Council wants to duplicate the model at other vegetable markets such as in Highfield and Tafara.

HARARE - Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo has said he is under pressure to stand in Chegutu West in next year’s parliamentary elections.

The Intratrek Zimbabwe (Intratrek) boss said he has turned down overtures to run for the National Assembly seat, currently held by Dexter Nduna.

“I have received several phone calls from the people there asking me to represent them while others from Chitungwiza and my rural home have also made the same request but I think it will be wrong for me to mix business and politics,” the ex-Zimbabwe national soccer team sponsor said.

“The moment you do so, you are bound to fail and we have examples . . . and as such I am still young to get into politics. I am humbled by this gesture and I promise to support the Zanu PF candidate to victory.”

Chivayo is a wealthy and controversial football sponsor who has wagered or punted over $1 million for national teams and is said to be close to First Lady Grace Mugabe. The G40 faction, insiders said, want to supplant Nduna who is suspected of leaning towards Team Lacoste.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe has shown no political will to solve the mystery surrounding the abduction of a prominent journalist-turned activist in Harare demanding that President Robert Mugabe resigns, rights lawyers said yesterday as the world commemorated the United Nations International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

Itai Dzamara was in March 2015 forcibly taken by five unidentified men and bundled into an unmarked truck near his home in the capital Harare, according to his family.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said: “Several people have been abducted and subjected to enforced disappearances including pro-democracy campaigner …Dzamara, who remains missing more than two years after he was abducted on March 9, 2015,” ZLHR said, adding it remains worried that the culture of disappearances and impunity has not been addressed and persists to date.

All State and non-State actors who have been implicated in masterminding abduction of people and subjecting them to enforced disappearances must be held accountable.

Zimbabwe has signed, but not ratified, a global convention that protects individuals from enforced disappearance.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe's biggest coal miner, Hwange Colliery Company (HCC), has slashed prices in a bid to combat massive deforestation around the country.

Prices have been slashed by eight percent from $65 to $59 per tonne.

“If the country does not take steps now, we will be left with no forests considering that wood provides about 95 percent of all energy needs for farmers.

“To this end, Hwange Colliery is offering discounted prices of coal to all farmers in a bid to save the forests,” HCC managing director Thomas Makore told the Daily News yesterday.

He also said HCC had appointed coal merchants to distribute the product in all the 10 provinces in the country in smaller packages of 10, 20 and 50kgs for the convenience of small-scale farmers.

“The competition between energy and environmental needs in Zimbabwe has taken centre stage of late, with government promoting the use of coal in tobacco farming areas in a bid to reduce and ultimately stop deforestation.

“One of our themes as HCC now is ‘No to deforestation, clever farmers use Hwange coal and save forests’,” Makore said.

Makore also urged those in other forms of farming such as poultry, maize and crocodile to turn to coal for their energy requirements as firewood was depleting forests which are vital to human survival.

“As part of support services, we have partnered the National Railways of Zimbabwe to enable quick movement of coal to various farming areas.

“It is also offering support services to its farmers, including but not limited to knowledge on good tobacco curing techniques, coal storage and veld fire management.

“Coal is cheap, has a high energy content, safe to transport, store and use,” said Makore.

Zimbabwe loses at least 50 million trees annually to rampant felling, particularly in areas where armies of hundreds of thousands of people were resettled in forested areas in the past decade and started cutting trees, mainly for curing tobacco.

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HARARE - Prosecutors yesterday called to the stand a forensic nurse in the rape trial of lieutenant-colonel Rangarirai Kembo.

Kembo has been charged with first-degree rape and sexual abuse of his maid.

In their opening argument, Lt col Kembo’s defence lawyers said that there was no physical evidence to link him to the crime, claiming the maid fabricated the charge.

Yesterday, however, the prosecutors introduced witness Sharon Mabaya, a sexual assault nurse examiner who examined the victim after the reported attack.

She said she found evidence of clear signs of sexual violence on the 19-year-old victim.

“When I examined her, she had healed hymen tears and I did not notice bruises or redness.

“Generally, it takes at least three days for a person to have recovered hymeneal tears depending with a person’s immunity,” Mabaya told Harare regional magistrate Noel Mupeiwa.

“Sometimes you might not find bruises or redness on a victim’s genitalia.

“When I talked to the complainant, she was stable and did not show any emotional distress. As medical practitioners, we are not judgmental of our patients,” she said.

Kembo’s lawyer Emmanuel Samundombe said if the woman had been raped, she would not have managed to hold her emotions during the counselling session.

“If she had been raped on Saturday and you observed her on a Monday, is it not normal that you would have noted bruises or redness on the female genitalia.

“A witness who had testified in this court said the complainant bled during the act but that does not resonate with the report she gave you,” Samundombe said.

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HARARE - President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace stayed away from a solidarity march with the embattled first lady organised by a grouping of war veterans and Zanu PF supporters yesterday.

Hundreds of placard-wielding Zanu PF supporters marched through the streets of Harare to the ruling party’s national headquarters.

Mugabe and his wife were in no-show  even after one of the main organisers of the event, Shadreck Mashayamombe, who is the political commissar for Harare province, had earlier indicated to the Daily News that the first couple was expected at the meeting.

“We are expecting them, we don’t know what time they are arriving, but we are expecting them,” he told the Daily News shortly before the meeting.

The march came on the back of an international onslaught mounted against Grace after she assaulted a 20-year-old South African model, Gabriella Engels, whom she found in the company of her sons at a top Johannesburg hotel.

Although party supporters thronged the Zanu PF offices wielding placards denouncing Engels and extolling Grace, official proceedings completely ignored the issue.

It was not clear why the Mugabes snubbed the event. But Mugabe addressed an educational conference which took place at the Rainbow Towers Hotel, a stone’s throw from the party headquarters, driving past the vast crowd on his way home from the event.

Organisers of the event, Mandi Chimene and George Mlala — leaders of a splinter war veterans group — had to call in Zanu PF secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo, to stand in for the first family.

Chombo, who walked in when proceedings were already in full swing, said: “I saw the invitation from ... Mlala yesterday (Tuesday) evening and then ... Chimene called me later to advise me that she would give me a full briefing before the march started.

“That however, did not happen because I had to attend the education conference. She also called me a few minutes ago saying the meeting was about to start and they wanted me to take the message to the president.

“As the secretary of the party, I am just here to take the message as it is. I have heard all the issues raised here and I will pass them on to the president and the first lady,” said Chombo.

Chimene had earlier complained about war veterans who swear allegiance to the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association led by former Cabinet minister, Chris Mutsvangwa, who was expelled from the party along with his entire executive for criticising Mugabe and Grace.

Chimene also taunted Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa over claims by members of his camp that he was poisoned during a Zanu PF youth interface rally in Gwanda by his colleagues three weeks ago.

“You eat raw guavas and go on to claim you have been bewitched and that is why I am having a running tummy, be steady,” Chimene said.

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HARARE - Government's announcement that it is phasing out metal identity cards (IDs) has caused panic among civic society and the opposition movement as they fear  this could displace millions of voters ahead of next year’s eagerly-awaited elections.

This comes as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is at the cusp of opening the biometric voter registration (BVR) exercise for prospective voters for the crucial 2018 polls.

On Tuesday, Registrar-General (RG) Tobaiwa Mudede announced he will roll out a three-month national mobile registration exercise in which he would be issuing plastic IDs as replacements for the long standing metals cards.

Yesterday, civic society and the opposition parties suspected that the move could disenfranchise voters and aid Zanu PF in the make-or-break elections.

“The requirement for replacement of metal IDs should have been made known and the service made available to the electorate much earlier. Furthermore, information availed by the RG’s office as reported is vague as to what additional requirements one need in order to get the replacement of the IDs.

Civic group Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) yesterday challenged Mudede to give adequate information on the new development.

“Zesn calls for more comprehensive information specifying whether the replacements of the IDs will be made at a cost as well as other key information on the operational schedule for the exercise.

“Furthermore, Zesn requests the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to provide information to the public on its position regarding these developments about ‘aliens’ and the use of metal IDs given that they have a direct impact on the voter registration process, which the commission is about to embark on in a few weeks’ time,” said Zesn.

The country’s largest opposition party, the MDC, said Zec should ensure that all eligible voters were allowed to vote following announcement of the phasing out of metals IDs.

“It is a notorious fact that Tobaiwa Mudede has previously been linked with allegations of aiding and abetting the Zanu PF regime’s vote rigging shenanigans. Perhaps rightly so, Zimbabweans somehow believe that there could be a sinister motive behind the registrar-general’s planned move to roll out the national mobile registration exercise at this juncture.

“The MDC sincerely hopes that this three-month mobile registration exercise shall be equitably distributed throughout the country’s urban, rural, peri-urban and commercial farming areas. On numerous occasions, Zimbabweans, particularly those who live in urban areas, have complained about the long delays in queues for voter registration, which state of affairs has unfortunately contributed to voter apathy in these areas,” said MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu.

“The planned national mobile registration exercise should, thus, be designed in such a manner that no eligible person would fail to obtain the new machine-readable national ID.

“Millions of Zimbabweans, in both rural and urban areas, are still holding onto their metal national IDs and it is, therefore, incumbent upon the Office of the Registrar–General, to make sure that this exercise is efficiently and effectively rolled out countrywide,” he added.

In a statement yesterday Zec said they will only register a person who would have satisfied Mudede’s requirements and with proof of residence or an affidavit signed by a commissioner of oaths.

“In terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, aliens do not qualify for registration. One has to be a citizen who is 18 years and above to be registered as a voter. Zec is calling upon all those who are eligible for citizenship status before the registration exercise commences.

“Zec will not, during the biometric voter registration exercise, register any person whose citizenship is not confirmed by the national ID or other identity document lawfully issued by the registrar-general. Zec cannot grant or deny citizenship. Zec can only register adult citizens as confirmed by the registrar,” said the commission’s chief elections’ officer, Constance Chigwamba.

Mudede has said his office is phasing out the metal IDs because they are not compatible with the biometric voter registration (BVR) which Zec will use to register voters for next year’s elections.

However, political analysts are sceptical of Mudede and argue that his involvement in the previously hotly disputed polls makes him unsuitable to preside over matters that relate to elections.

“This new regulation on metal IDs brings back and puts Tobaiwa Mudede’s Registry Office at the centre of election processes through the issuance of plastic IDs when Mudede’s partisan support of Zanu PF is well-documented.

“With the banning of metal IDs it is now clear that the elections rigging machinery has set in motion the process of disenfranchising possibly millions of Zimbabweans while ensuring that supporters of one party have an easy process of acquiring plastic IDs.

“Mudede must never be anywhere near electoral processes if the credibility and integrity of the process is to be maintained,” said Human rights lawyer Dewa Mavhinga.

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HARARE - Intra-Zanu PF tension is scaling new heights ahead of President Robert Mugabe’s rally in Gweru tomorrow, as the ruling party’s warring factions leave no stone unturned in their bid to score major political points at the high-profile gathering, the Daily News can reveal.

This comes amid widespread acceptance in the strife-torn ruling party that the Midlands, together with Masvingo Province, is the bedrock of Team Lacoste, the faction that is backing Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in his mooted bid to succeed Mugabe.

Gweru is hosting the 93-year-old for his sixth instalment of the meticulously planned and keenly-followed youth interface rallies.

The Midlands gathering comes at a time relations are severely strained in Zanu PF following the alleged poisoning of Mnangagwa at the nonagenarian’s Gwanda rally earlier this month.

It also comes after Mugabe lashed at senior party officials in Masvingo and the Midlands last week, accusing them of sullying his name and that of Zanu PF by allegedly claiming that Zimbabwe’s long-time ruler was practising witchcraft on his lieutenants.

Sources in Zanu PF’s Midlands provincial executive admitted to the Daily News yesterday that tomorrow’s meeting had raised temperatures in the region, with the hosts accusing the rival Generation 40 (G40) faction of mobilising support to cause chaos and confusion at the rally which is likely to be massive.

They also claimed that the G40 had mobilised thousands of supporters from Harare and other parts of the country for this “nefarious purpose”.

“We also know that they (the G40) are going to have a road show in Kwekwe, which they perceive to be a Mnangagwa territory. They also believe the Al Shabaab group (a Zanu PF-linked vigilante outfit) will try to stop them, which will allow them to blame whatever outcome will emerge on Mnangagwa.

“The intelligence we have gathered is that apart from looking to causing clashes, the G40 wants to plant rowdy people near the main-stage in Gweru to embarrass the president and then also blame Midlands province for being disrespectful,” a regional executive member told the Daily News.

In the meantime, the G40 was said to be sending WhatsApp messages to Zanu PF supporters to descend on Gweru and witness “the burial” of the Team Lacoste faction.

“On Friday 01-09-2017 kune (there will be) burial yeLacoste ku Midlands paMkoba open space. Munhu wese anokokwa (everyone is invited) to witness the funeral service.

“Please come in your numbers,” one of the messages which were allegedly being circulated by the G40 on social media ahead of tomorrow’s rally said.

Munyaradzi Shoko, said to be a member of the Children of War Veterans Association (Cozwa) — and who has been fingered as one of the alleged kingpins in some recent terror campaigns against Zanu PF officials — also stood accused yesterday of rallying G40 supporters to attend the Gweru rally.

“Believe it or not team, Lacoste is dead and the group has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that it’s a group of political daydreamers . . . after failing to remove Robert Mugabe several times just like the MDC and Tsvangirai.

“They once formed Mavambo and failed, they formed NDP and failed, lastly their popular Blue Ocean document has failed dismally,” Shoko wrote on his Facebook wall.

In July, Zanu PF supporters turned on Cozwa after an angry Mugabe had finished his address in Lupane where he disowned rogue youths who were terrorising ordinary citizens using his wife’s name.

Mugabe was left seething with anger when he was briefed on how Cozwa had used the name of Grace to extort money from poor Zimbabweans.

What appeared to have particularly upset Mugabe was that the terror groups were moving in vehicles emblazoned with pictures of his smiling wife — and telling off police officers that they were carrying out their anarchy on behalf of the first family and Zanu PF.

Senior Zanu PF official Jeppy Jaboon, an alleged G40 kingpin who was recently relieved of his duties as Masvingo provincial political commissar, told the Daily News yesterday that they were mobilising members to attend tomorrow's rally.

“Masvingo is not an extension of Midlands. However, as a province we are going to Midlands to support our iconic leader Mugabe and the youth league,” Jaboon, who insists that he is still the province’s political commissar, said.

Zanu PF Midlands provincial spokesperson, Cornelius Mupereri, also told the Daily News yesterday they were not leaving anything to chance ahead of Mugabe’s rally, and that they had beefed up security for the gathering.

“Preparations for the rally are going on very well and let anyone who would wants to cause problems be warned that the law will take its course.

“As Midlands province, we are ready to receive the president and hear what he has to say. I repeat, if anyone tries to do otherwise, the law will take its course.

“We will make sure that such persons are punished. As Midlands, we have also told our people that no one will walk out . . . we are not looking forward to anyone veering off-course,” Mupereri said.

Tomorrow’s rally comes at a time there are worsening divisions in Zanu PF following the alleged poisoning of Mnangagwa in Gwanda, which prompted him to be airlifted to neighbouring South Africa for medical treatment.

The government has said that Mnangagwa — seen as the most likely party official to take over from Mugabe in the event that he leaves office — consumed “stale food”.

However, Mnangagwa’s family and allies insist that the vice president was allegedly poisoned by his rivals in the G40 camp.

And Mugabe last Saturday expressed his exasperation with increasing claims of witchcraft in Zanu PF, which he blamed on both Masvingo and Midlands provinces.

“There was unity, not what we are seeing today. This is not the Masvingo we knew. We hear they even identify witches and wizards.

“We now hear that even the president is one. This is coming from Masvingo and Midlands. Ah, why now when we came all the way? We don’t have wizards in Zanu PF, we only have people who lose party ideology.

“We were worried and are still worried by lack of ideological knowledge. You hear people, someone has fallen sick and they say aroiwa (that person has been bewitched),” Mugabe said during the burials of Moudy Muzenda and George Rutanhire at the National Heroes Acre last week.

University of Zimbabwe politics expert Eldred Masunungure said Mugabe was likely to opt for a middle-line approach in Gweru to avoid inflaming the already poisoned environment in the ruling party.

“He will not try to antagonise Mnangagwa’s allies . . . he is likely to tone down anti-Mnangagwa utterances,” Masunungure said.

Another political analyst Shakespear Hamauswa said Mugabe’s Gweru rally was not likely to change the current political dynamics in Zanu PF.

“The visit will not change the current dynamics . . . Midlands will remain the rallying point for Ngwena’s (Mnangagwa’s) presidential bid. That can only change if a successor is selected,” he said.

Zanu PF has for the past two decades been deeply divided over Mugabe’s succession.

Many observers, as well as Zanu PF insiders, have consistently said Mugabe’s failure to groom and name a successor is fuelling the ugly fights in the ruling party.

But Mugabe has so far refused to name his successor, arguing that the Zanu PF constitution does not allow him as it leaves that role to the party to decide who succeeds him, via a congress.

His other longtime aide and current Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi, has recently emerged as one of the serious contenders to succeed him.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani on Wednesday paid a courtesy call at the Stanbic Stragglers tournament that ends today at St George’s College and Hartman House schools in Harare.

The ZC supremo showered praises on the hosting schools, organisers and Stanbic Bank describing the junior age-group week-long non-competitive event as “well-run”.

“This is an important developmental tournament that actually looks at the right age group with kids being introduced to the sport at a very early age and its format allows them to freely participate without the pressures of a competitive setting,” Mukuhlani said.

“It was quite exciting to see kids from as far as Bindura, Shamva, Mabvuku and Chitungwiza enjoying themselves.

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“It is also key that we had some current and former national team players taking time because this gives the kids hope; it gives them encouragement and some of these players have come through such initiatives on their way to the top.

“And to the organisers it also gives them encouragement knowing that they are doing a good work. It is also vital that we have not only the players at such an important development cricket programme but even ZC officials and even the convenor of selectors because these are the sort of programmes we want.”

Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer was also present at the event together with former national team players Raymond Price and Douglas Marillier among other players.

Mukuhlani said ideally it would be important to make the programme run concurrently across the country resources permitting.

“I wish we could expand the programme such the same happening in Harare would be taking place in various parts of the country,” he said.

“We are quite grateful to the organisers, the host schools St George’s and Hartman House for providing the grounds and to Stanbic Bank for bankrolling the programme.

“I learnt that they were 500 kids taking part in this event, it’s obviously a cost constraint and we would like to try and help increase the number of kids participating by way of providing kit such as bats and balls and financial assistance where we can.”

Cremer, who yesterday signed autographs for the aspiring cricketers, said the presence of other national team players stands to encourage the youngsters to take the game seriously from a tender age.

“It gets better and better every year, still a lot of support from the corporates and in this case Stanbic Bank and nice to see over 500 kids taking part in cricket for five days,” Cremer said.

“A lot of us got together to sign autographs and photos and this inspires them a bit. As ZC chairman was there on Wednesday it’s good to see that he’s showing a lot of interests in tournaments like these and it can only get better.”

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HARARE - Zimbabwe Sevens rugby coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba is pleased with the way his team is shaping up ahead of the Africa Cup Sevens finals in Kampala, Uganda next month.

The Zambezi Cheetahs are scheduled to leave for Zambia this morning for the Lusaka Sevens tournament where they will step up their preparations for the Africa Cup.

Nyamutsamba will travel with two teams to Lusaka — the Zambezi Cheetahs and the Goshawks — in order to give all the players a chance to be part of the final team for the Africa Cup.

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“Our preparations have gone well. All the players that I had called up have joined camp and this tournament we are using it as a continuation of the selection process that started in March when we had the Kwese tournament,” Nyamutsamba told the Daily News yesterday.

“As much as we are going to Zambia to win the tournament, my first objective is to actually see as many players that I can since we are preparing for the Africa Cup.

“This still remains a trials tournament so the first objective is to see and try as many combinations as possible as we are still in preparation for the Africa Cup.

Nyamutsamba added: “This is going to be an advantage for me to take two teams to Zambia because it has allowed us to travel with 24 players.

“At the Kwese tournament we had 36 players and now we have cut down to 24 which gives me the opportunity to see more players in action.

“After the Zambia tournament we are going to cutting down our squad to 18 for the next tournament and after that we will cut it down to 12. Those will be the players that will go to represent us at the Africa Cup.”

Although their aim is to do well in Lusaka, Nyamutsamba said the bigger picture will always be the Africa Cup in Kampala.

If the Zambezi Cheetahs reach the final of with the Africa up then they will automatically qualify for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 finals to be held in San Francisco, United States.  

A good showing in Kampala will also see the side qualify for the Hong Kong Sevens tournament where they stand a chance to gain core status for the World Rugby Sevens Series 2018 season.

“Right now all I have been asking from the players is to put their hands up and avail themselves for selection,” Nyamutsamba said.

“No pressure yet but I know how it feels like for the players but the good thing that comes out of it is we have given everyone an opportunity to be seen and chosen.

“We have prepared well and we should have a good weekend in Zambia. I’m happy with the way we have prepared for this tournament.

“I’m happy that we have given ourselves a chance to prepare for the Africa Cup. It’s all about preparations and not about the day when you actually go to compete.

“If we continue like this I’m seeing us going to actually do well at the Africa Cup; if it continues like this.”

Zambezi Cheetahs: Biselele Tshamala, Mark Kidson, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Scottie Jones, Stephan Hunduza, Takudzwa Francisco, Shingi, Hlanguyo, Ngoni Chibuwe, Hilton Mudariki, Lenience Tambwera, Mkhululi Ndhela, Tarisai Mugari.

Goshawks: Russell Dodo, Emmanuel Zangari, Tendai Dzongodza, Kilvan Magunje, Osborne Muhambi, Innocent Nyatsanza, Tinashe Gwisai, Gideon Muyambo, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Walter Gode, Brian Dube, Prince Ncube  

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HARARE - Zimbabwe cricket national team captain Graeme Cremer has been inspired by Bangladesh’s sensational and maiden 20-run win over Australia in the opening Test in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Tigers’ spinner Shakib Al Hassan walked away with the man-of-the-match gong and $1 500 richer courtesy of his 10-wicket haul after taking a five-for in either innings as he architected the home side’s historic victory over the Baggy Greens.

Making use of the spin-friendly conditions, Bangladesh slow bowlers grabbed 19 of Australia’s 20 wickets while the remaining wicket was a run out.

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A genuine all-rounder Shakib also contributed immensely with the bat top-scoring with 84 runs in the first innings batting at number five.

Within the past year the ever-improving Tigers have won Tests against England, Sri Lanka and now Australia.

Bangladesh’s ability to prepare wickets that suits their strength is one admiration Cremer has for the Asian country and hopes Zimbabwe can pick up valuable lessons.

“Being at home they (Bangladesh) have made it a fortress playing according to their conditions and strengths especially their spin department which is their main weapon of attack,” Cremer told the Daily News.

“It was good to see the smiles on all the Bangladesh players, staff and fans after the match. I think going forward for us we are going to put extra effort in establishing what sort of wicket we play on.”

Zimbabwe are currently on a break and are looking forward to the domestic Twenty20 competition which kick starts the 2017-18 season on September 15 before the incoming home series against West Indies in October.

Heath Streak’s team will play two Test matches against West Indies, who have also turned a corner after recording a morale-boosting five-wicket victory over England in the second Test at Leeds this week to level the series 1-1.

And for the locals who are coming off a highly successful series away in Sri Lanka where they narrowly lost the once-off Test on the last day, Cremer believes the home support and good use of local conditions will be a big advantage over the Caribbean tourists.

“Will try to utilise the conditions to our advantage and the support of the fans at home has always been up there, comes second to none.”

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