HARARE - Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa is banking on forward Christian Ntouba in Sunday’s Harare derby against CAPS United, hence he has given him time off to be ready for the clash.

The Cameroonian, who has now scored eight goals for the Glamour Boys, missed yesterday’s training session as he was allowed to rest so that he can be fresh for this weekend’s clash at the National Sports Stadium.

“He’s got one or two issues that he is solving but he’s one guy who has played one or too many matches in between,” Mutasa told reporters after yesterday’s training session.

“When he arrived here he had not played two matches that are closer to each other and he’s someone who needs time-out as we build up to such a big game.”

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Ntouba, together with captain Ocean Mushure, have been the driving force behind DeMbare’s title charge this season.

The Glamour Boys are currently in third place on the Castle Lager Premiership log with 45 points, three behind leaders Chicken Inn.

Ntouba and Mushure’s goals have meant that DeMbare remained within touching distance of the leading pack.

The duo was on target in DeMbare’s last match when they beat struggling Yadah FC 2-0 at Rufaro Stadium last week.

“In terms of boosting their confidence I think it’s good that they go into the derby with such form; they have been doing so well and I hope they take it up there this weekend,” Mutasa said on Ntouba and Mushure.

The duo has also been linked with a move away to South Africa in recent weeks but Mutasa is not worried much since the transfer window in Mzansi closed yesterday.

“When you are at this stage of the season, you would like to finish the campaign with the players that you started the journey with but in football you are bound to have such scenarios,” he said.

“In such scenarios, it would be better to opt for continuity with the players than to go for the money.”

In their last meeting with Makepekepe at the National Sports Stadium last season, DeMbare had a 3-0 lead heading up to the 88th minute but crumbled like a deck of cards, allowing Untied to score three.

Mutasa believes his side has moved on from that episode and can now grind out results even when they are not playing well.

“After that match, we also had a similar situation against Triangle earlier this season when we were 2-0 up but they managed to come back to draw 2-2,” he said.

“Look at how we have responded up to this day; I think we are now resolute at the back and we are capable of winning matches even with a single goal; we have rectified our mistakes.”

The former DeMbare midfielder admitted that it will be a tough match on Sunday against a CAPS side that is undefeated in the last five matches.

“Dynamos versus CAPS United matches are always tough matches and it’s a derby match; everyone wants the bragging rights and we are not an exception,” he said.

“As a coach, you would want to try as much to win every match you play but in football it is not possible all the same. CAPS have played five games and haven’t tasted defeat; the same as us.

“So we are on the same wavelength in terms of performances up to this day, we hope the better team on the day will come out victorious.”

Turning to the title race, Mutasa said Sunday’s match will have a bearing on whether if they will be smiling at the end of the season.

“Obviously, these last matches have a significance of where we are going reach and the end of the season,” he said.

“We are trying as much as we can to collect points in our remaining matches so that we can.”

Tomorrow: Yadah v Bantu Rovers (NSS), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (Hartsfield, 1pm), How Mine v Chicken Inn (Hartsfield, 3pm), Harare City v Tsholotsho (Rufaro, 1pm, SS), Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Rufaro, 3pm, SS)

Sunday: CAPS United v Dynamos (NSS, SS), Highlanders v Chapungu (Hartsfield), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Ngezi Platinum (Maglas)

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HARARE - The eagerly anticipated Harare derby between CAPS United and Dynamos on Sunday is under threat after Makepekepe senior players yesterday boycotted training over non-payment of salaries, allowances and bonuses.

Makepekepe host the Glamour Boys at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday in the first instalment of the Harare derby which has raised high hopes for a blockbuster encounter due to the two teams’ recent form.

However, when the Daily News visited Makepekepe’s training ground yesterday morning at the National Sports Stadium, only a handful of players mostly rookies, reported for training as the majority of senior players chose to stay home in a clear sign of protest over their outstanding dues.

The CAPS United technical team led by head coach Lloyd Chitembwe was forced to hold the morning training session with a handful of fringe players before going to watch Northern Region Division One log leaders Herentals’ workout at the B Arena.

The Daily News understands United players are owed three month’s salary as well as winning bonuses.

Players, who spoke to this publication yesterday, said they are not happy with the manner in which the club is managing their welfare while threatening not to fulfil Sunday’s match if their concerns are not addressed.

“For a long time we have been soldiering on under difficult circumstances but the club seems not to care about our welfare,” said the player who refused to be named due to fear of victimisation.

“As players we have decided to take a stand ahead of the derby maybe then the club will take our concerns seriously.

“We might not even play Sunday’s game if our concerns are not addressed because it’s now three months without any money.”

According to the player, the problems started last week ahead of their trip to Gweru to face Chapungu at Ascot Stadium.

With morale low in the squad, Makepekepe could only draw 0-0 with the Air Force of Zimbabwe side to end a three-game winning streak.

The players are also bothered by the fact that the money problems at the club are continuing despite United selling four key players Abbas Amidu, Dennis Dauda, Ronald Chitiyo and Ronald Pfumbidzayi.

However, Makepekepe assistant coach Tostao Kwashi downplayed the industrial action by the senior players.

“There is nothing true that players went on strike. We have been training well for the past three, four days. It’s just rumours, you know people like to say a lot of things, they want to send different messages but there is nothing like that,” Kwashi said.

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HARARE - Firebrand MDC secretary for recruitment Job Sikhala — who signed the High Court’s roll of attorneys officially becoming a lawyer last week -—has said his political life will not affect his newly-acquired legal status.

Speaking to the Daily News this week after the oath-taking ceremony at the High Court for law graduates who passed the Bar this year, the voluble former St Mary’s legislator says he will balance the two.

“There are no difficulties in balancing my political life and my law practice. Rather it has made it easier.

“Law, politics and economics work hand-in-glove and it makes it more interesting. I did not study law or join politics in search of fortune. It is a calling.

“I can feel it both emotionally and in heart and spirit. I have got a mission to accomplish. God has a purpose in my life. That I feel it, and it is God’s mission I am there to accomplish. I will give both my best attention.”

Sikhala rose to fame at the formation of MDC in 1999 and served as the party’s first St Mary’s legislator before breaking away to form his own party MDC-99.

He later re-joined the MDC and was elected mobilisation secretary.

The former UZ student leader is currently employed by former Finance minister Tendai Biti’s law firm as a lawyer.

Born in 1972,  he became well known after claiming to have been tortured by the President Robert Mugabe regime in 2001.

He claims he was tortured for eight hours with the protagonists even attaching electrodes to his genitals and giving him electric shocks.

The MP also claims that he was beaten on the soles of his feet with planks of wood and was forced to drink toxins and urine.

Sikhala was charged with masterminding a treason attempt against the ruling Zanu PF party, but was acquitted.

He is married and also has a degree in history and economic history.

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BULAWAYO - Leader of the fringe opposition Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters (ZEFF), Innocent Ndibali — who was accused of violating immigration laws after he recently addressed journalists at the Bulawayo Media Centre -—has been freed.

The UK-based Ndibali, 38, who is a holder of a British passport, was set free following an application for discharge by his lawyer Jabulani Mhlanga of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights at the close of the State case.

Magistrate Sithembiso Ndlovu yesterday discharged Ndibali after the State failed to prove its case. This was after the State invited the Bulawayo Media Centre chairperson Pamenus Tuso, the immigration official and the police to testify in the matter.

Ndibali’s lawyer, Mhlanga, argued that there was no evidence to sustain the charge.

The lawyer said the arrest of his client was a violation of his constitutional rights as a Zimbabwean citizen.

It is the State’s case that on August 11 this year, Ndibali entered the country through the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo.

The court heard that on arrival at the airport, the accused person tendered his passport to immigration officers and he was issued with a 14-day holiday visa.

On August 18 at around 7pm, Ndibali held a press conference at a city hotel to market his party’s manifesto ahead of next year’s harmonised elections.

The State further noted that the accused person, by so doing, failed to comply with the conditions under which he was granted a visa to enter the country.

The court heard that Ndibali was supposed to solely be on holiday and not conduct any other business in the country.

Ndibali was later arrested soon after addressing journalists in the city and was detained overnight, only to be released the following day.

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HARARE - Government has forced struggling schools to fork out $1 million towards funding the Education Conference and Expo 2017 currently underway in Harare, the Daily News can report.

Headmasters attending the expo officially opened by President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday, told the Daily News that government had directed each school to pay $115 as conference affiliation fees.

Both Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora and the ministry’s permanent secretary Sylvia Utete-Masango’s aides who answered their phones yesterday said they were busy at the conference.

But several headmasters, who spoke on condition of anonymity, complained that government is being insensitive to the plight of  schools

“It was mandatory for each school to pay the money, of which $15 was meant to purchase these shirts we are wearing, but the sad thing is that the amount did not consider the differences in the size of our schools in terms of enrolment, hence you will find that while for  bigger schools the amount is small, but for a school that has an enrolment of 200 learners who pay $20 a term, taking away such an amount form its coffers will make it insolvent,” said a rural school head from a primary school in Mashonaland East Province.

The school heads, who were clad in blue shirts emblazoned with a government badge, complained that operations at their schools would be hugely affected.

They said government should be able to fund its own programmes, noting that “they cannot want to do projects they cannot fund in the hope that schools will pay”.

“At least, in this case, they should have considered the size of schools and payment be made accordingly. However, it still doesn’t make sense given that they now control development funds through the SSF.”

Dokora has given a directive to transfer School Development Committee (SDCs) funds into the government-held School Services Fund (SSF).

Another headmaster from Mashonaland West’s Magunje district said: “Most of the schools in rural areas charge an average fee of $15 per term and with parents struggling to pay, we end up finishing the term without chalk and books for teachers to plan their work and other stationery.”

There are 9 000 primary and secondary schools in the country which are self-reliant when it comes to their basic needs such as stationary and infrastructural development.

With each school paying $115, the total amount paid to government by all the 9 000 schools will come to $1 035 000.

Last year, government established an SSF to collect both tuition fees and development levies at all schools.

Before the directive, parents deposited tuition fees and development levies in separate accounts, with SDCs largely

determining how the latter are used.

This was after  a countrywide audit by the Primary and Secondary Education ministry revealed that more than $1,2 billion in levies circulates in State-run and mission schools, with a large chunk of it being allegedly abused by heads, bursars and SDC officials.

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HARARE - Although Zimbabwe experienced improved harvest due to Command Agriculture, estimates suggest that government budget deficit will increase by nearly $120m this year due to a maize subsidy.

At least 45 000 farmers have registered for maize and soya bean production under Command Agriculture programme as preparations for the 2017/2018 summer cropping season gather momentum.

So far this year, the GMB has received over 500 000 tonnes of maize from farmers who benefited under Command Agriculture and the Presidential Input Scheme. GMB is buying at $390/t which is considered high.

The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, a grouping of the 100 biggest private millers, has agreed to buy 800 000 tonnes of maize from the state for $194 million this season, or $242,50 a tonne.

Oil producers have agreed to buy soya bean produced locally at $500 per tonne as part of efforts to promote local production.

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HARARE - With less than 10 months to go before the 2018 general election, physically  challenged persons staged a demonstration in Harare on Wednesday sounding the alarm about the lack of universal accessibility at polling stations that make individuals with disabilities feel like an afterthought.

The Zimbabwe People and Parents for Children with Disabilities (ZPPCD) presented a petition to President Robert Mugabe, Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa and Social Welfare minister Priscah Mupfumira.

They said polling stations lack all of the accommodations necessary for people with limited mobility to use and wanted voting booths fitted with ramps and made accessible to people on wheelchairs.

“There must be special attention given to ensure all eligible people with disabilities are registered to vote,” ZPPCD secretary-general Nyasha Nhau said.

“The visually-impaired should be allowed to vote using Braille ballot papers, or in the absence of Braille choose who they trust to vote for them.

“We do not agree with the current arrangement where visually-impaired voters should be assisted in the presence of the presiding officers in the voting booth.” 

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HARARE - The door is still open for other political parties to join the opposition alliance, Jacob Ngarivhume (pictured), a spokesperson of an electoral coalition consummated earlier this month to take on President Robert Mugabe in the much-anticipated 2018 elections has said.

The alliance comprises the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC, Welshman Ncube’s MDC, Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) led by Agrippa Mutambara, a retired army chief, Zanu Ndonga and the Multi-Racial Christian Democrats.

Ngarivhume — who is also Transform Zimbabwe president —told the Daily News in an interview on Wednesday that the opposition alliance was prepared for the 2018 elections — in the wake of the opening of the mobile registration set to be rolled out by the Registrar-General’s Office next Monday.

“We are having our Bulawayo Alliance launch on Saturday at the White City Stadium at 10am. We are continuing to build the Alliance.

“Other partners who want to join the alliance can still come in and we should work together to remove Zanu PF. All alliance partners are committed to make this work. As TZ for instance, we have been reaching out to our constituency, updating our structures.

“Recently, we were in Mashonaland East updating them on the progress in as far as the Alliance in concerned.

“However, all those who will be coming in will have to fit into the framework already in place. That will also be announced as soon as we are done. Every Zimbabwean is welcome to come into the Alliance. In fact, we would want to reach out to say let us come together.”

Early last month, former allies in the MDC — Tsvangirai, Ncube and Biti — were back together with other opposition political parties to launch the Alliance at the historic Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield in Harare kick-starting a campaign to dislodge Zanu PF from power in next year’s general election.

The fragmented opposition family has been under immense pressure from long-suffering Zimbabweans who believe that the alliance gives them the only realistic chance of dethroning Mugabe.

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HARARE - Opposition parties have stepped up their campaign against Grace Mugabe by joining South African groups when they petitioned President Jacob Zuma’s government to withdraw diplomatic immunity granted to the first lady which allowed her to avoid prosecution for the alleged assault of a 20-year-old model in Johannesburg last month.

Coalescing under the banner of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) Youth Forum, the opposition parties presented the petition to South African Embassy on Wednesday.

Initially, they had wanted to march to the embassy but were barred by police who instead allowed thousands of Zanu PF supporters to toyi toyi to the party’s headquarters in solidarity with Grace over her alleged assault of Gabriella Engels.

“In our collective resolve as the citizens of Zimbabwe, (we) implore upon and demand from the government of the Republic of South Africa, the Department of International Relations (Dirco), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the ministry of Police, the South African Police Services (Saps) and all such other relevant institutions in the justice delivery system of the Republic of South Africa that in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 5, ... Engels receives the sufficient remedy for the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment she received from Grace.

“Observe that... Grace ... in terms of Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations did not qualify for diplomatic immunity thus, should face the due legal processes of her alleged assault case.

“The South African justice delivery system rescind the diplomatic immunity that was granted to Grace ...in terms of section 7(2) of the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act, 2001 (Act No. 37 of 2001),” the parties said in their petition.

There was uproar after Grace was granted diplomatic immunity, with civil society groups and opposition political parties pressuring the South African government to prosecute her.

South Africa’s vocal opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has since launched a Constitutional Court battle seeking the decision by the minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to grant Grace diplomatic immunity to be declared unconstitutional and invalid.

Grace was last month alleged to have severely assaulted Engels, a 20-year-old model she had found in the hotel with her sons, Robert Junior and Chatunga Bellarmine, in Sandton, South Africa.

Engels alleged Grace struck her several times with an extension cord which left her with multiple injuries, including gushes in the head and forehead which required sutures.

The South African incident was not the first time that Grace had been involved in fracas.

In 2009, Grace was investigated by Hong Kong police for an alleged assault on a British photographer during a shopping trip to the city.

She was accused of repeatedly punching Richard Jones — chief photographer of the Hong Kong photo agency Sinopix — who was on an assignment for the British Sunday Times.

In 2014, Grace confronted journalists at a Singaporean hospital as she bid to block them from photographing Mugabe as he entered Gleneagles facility for his medical check-up.

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HARARE - MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai flies into a storm when he heads to Bulawayo  tomorrow for the official launch of the MDC Alliance in the country’s second largest city amid widening divisions in the labour-backed party,  which have raised fears of another damaging split.

As the long-time President Robert Mugabe rival visits Bulawayo, Matabeleland  MDC leadership — including his longest serving deputy Thokozani Khupe —  has expressed doubts about attending today’s rally for fear of their safety following an orgy of violence that broke out at their provincial  offices early this month after they snubbed a similar rally in Harare on  August 5.

Khupe, national party chairperson Lovemore Moyo and organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe have taken Tsvangirai head-on for inking the pact without the full blessings of the movement’s leadership.

The  trio’s attendance of tomorrow’s rally is in doubt, with Bhebhe flatly  telling the Daily News yesterday that he won’t be attending.

“I am not going, I am at school just end there,” Bhebhe told the Daily News.

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 driving a wedge between Bhebhe and Khupe.

The trio of Khupe, Moyo and Bhebhe had this week written to Tsvangirai  asking him to postpone tomorrow’s Bulawayo rally, arguing that they  needed to address the contentious issues relating to the pact he signed with the seven other parties.

It was not clear yesterday whether Moyo and Khupe would attend the rally, which Tsvangirai refused to  postpone, as their mobile numbers were not reachable.

Early this week, the Bulawayo provincial leadership said it was concerned with its security but national party spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday told the Daily News that they had put tight measures to avoid violence.

“As a political party, the MDC abhors all forms of violence. Violence of  whatever nature will never, ever be tolerated in the MDC.

“All  party cadres are welcome to attend the MDC Alliance rally in Bulawayo on  Saturday (tomorrow). Adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure that no one will be harmed,” Gutu told the Daily News.

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 her.

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 he 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.

Tsvangirai was selected to lead the MDC Alliance at the Zimbabwe Grounds in  Highfield on August 5 at an event boycotted by Khupe, Moyo and Bhebhe.

The  MDC Alliance includes People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tendai  Biti; Welshman Ncube’s MDC; Transform Zimbabwe of 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.

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.

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.

Political analysts yesterday said the Bulawayo rally was crucial for Tsvangirai and warned that if he failed to tread carefully, the party could split.

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) politics expert Eldred Masunungure said Tsvangirai should use the rally to mend bridges.

“Tsvangirai  needs to go there and be carefully on what he says so that he will unite the party, if he fails to do that we are going to see another MDC  split.

“He needs to reconcile with Khupe for the good of the party,” said Masunungure.

Another political analyst, Maxwell Saungweme, said the Matabeleland provinces were crucial for Tsvangirai and he needed them.

“These are crucial provinces that will determine crucial political turning points for MDC. Bulawayo, depending on how Morgan handles it, the  meeting may expedite implosion of the party with Khupe and others breaking away.

“Our fate politically lies in two tired horses, Morgan for the opposition and Mugabe for the ruling party,” said  Saungweme referring to the current statuses of both the MDC and Zanu PF leaders.

However, Shakespear Hamauswa told the Daily News that Tsvangirai’s rally was not likely to change the mood in the party.

“For . . . Tsvangirai, it is a matter of showing power and influence of the pro-coalition group against the anti-coalition group.

“But the root causes of divisions will remain unchanged. Visiting Bulawayo might give an opportunity to bring various leaders together to discuss the  issues, but more concerted strategy is needed to resolve the impasse,”  Hamauswa said.

Relations are currently strained in the MDC  following the consummation of the Alliance which has divided the country’s biggest opposition party.

Khupe, who is the most  influential MDC official in Matabeleland and her colleagues had in the letter to Tsvangirai this week, demanded that tomorrow’s  rally be postponed indefinitely until they have been appraised of the form of the coalition and the distribution of seats, particularly in their region.

“We further suggest that the launch of the Alliance agreement in Bulawayo  scheduled for September 2, 2017 be suspended pending, and to allow consultations with the leadership and the structures.

“The launch can be subsequently be made after dialogue, consultations and  concurrence of the leadership on the signed agreement,” Khupe and her  team had said in a letter which was ignored by Tsvangirai who announced  that he was going ahead with tomorrow’s rally in their own backyard.

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HARARE - The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (Zoc) in collaboration with the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports are set to host a strength and conditioning workshop for local coaches in Mutare next weekend.

The strength training, conditioning and injury prevention workshop set to be facilitated by the American Council of Exercise (Ace) and experts sport science Philip Jeans and Kudzai Muzorewa will run for two days, September 8 and 9 with 30 coaches within the districts of Manicaland province participating.

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“Zoc has noted that most coaches at senior schools, clubs and even national level lack this proficiency, which is an important component of training and performance,” Zoc said in a statement.

“The intervention to train coaches will help improve athlete performance and skill in order to maximise their potential.

“This is the third such intervention, following similar workshops in Harare in December 2016 and Bulawayo in May 2017.”

On the weekend of September 16 and 17, Zoc will also hold class for the intake 11 of the Advanced Sport Management Course (AMSC).

Meanwhile, Zoc yesterday began a sports administration course which will end tomorrow at their Belvedere headquarters.

“The course is targeting volunteers and paid staff of national sports associations and federations affiliated to Zoc, as well as other bodies responsible for the development of sport in the country,” Zoc said.

“As part of its mission to promote the Olympic movement in Zimbabwe through its programmes, this course will deliver under the strategic focus area of human capital development.

“Zoc is committed to support and assist its stakeholders, specifically sport administrators to learn from best practice and acquire information in order to improve professionalism, good governance and management in national sport associations.

“As part of its mission to promote the Olympic movement in Zimbabwe through its programmes, this course will deliver the under the strategic focus area of Human Capital Development.

“Zoc is committed to support and assist its stakeholders, specifically sport administrators to learn from best practice and acquire information in order to improve professionalism, good governance and management in National Sport Associations.”

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HARARE - The Zambezi Cheetahs will begin their Lusaka Sevens campaign with a match against the Zambia Midlands Select side at 11am today at the Leopards Hill Polocrosse Club.

After that Gilbert Nyamutsamba’s team will take on Botswana at 12:20pm to round up their first day programme.

The Goshawks also travelled to Lusaka yesterday and they will take on the Democratic Republic of Congo at 11:20am in their first game before taking on Botswana B in the afternoon at 1:20pm.

Speaking with the Daily News before they left for Lusaka, Zambezi Cheetahs captain Hilton Mudariki said they want to improve on their performance from the Kwese TV tournament which they won earlier this year in Victoria Falls. 

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“We got in camp on Monday afternoon and a lot of guys have put their hands up for selection. I’m sure we will see a few new faces in the Zambezi Cheetahs squad,” the South Africa-based scrumhalf.

“I think the key for us it to start well in our first tournament of the year. We just want to make sure that get our structures right, take it game by game and just look to improve.

“We are looking to improve and take it game by game; take it a step further than what we did in Victoria Falls earlier this year.”

Some of the regular Cheetahs’ players like Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Lucky Sithole, Gardner Nechironga and Riaan O’Neil.   

This will give some of the new players in the team a chance to be part of the squad going forward.

Mudariki feels the toughest challenge for the Zambezi Cheetahs this weekend. 

“Obviously Zambia will be a major threat but we have to stick to what we know; just do what the coaches have taught us throughout the camp,” he said. “If we follow that that we will obviously come out with a result.”

The Zambezi cheetahs are using the Lusaka Sevens as part of their preparations for next month’s Africa Cup Sevens tournament to be held in Kampala, Uganda.

The Africa Cup Sevens acts as the qualifier for the Wold Cup Rugby Sevens 2018 qualifiers with the top two teams in Kampala securing passage to compete in San Francisco.

“We are going to Zambia with two teams which is good for us because we can see a big pool of players,” Mudariki said.

“The more competition we have for places in the team the better; we need to give the coach a headache when it comes to selecting a team for the Africa Cup in Kampala.

“We are asking people to just keep on supporting us because we are going onto something big in Kampala and hopefully qualify for the World Cup.”

TEAMS:

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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MUTARE - The inaugural edition of the Manicaland Classic bodybuilding contest gets underway tonight at Holiday Inn Mutare with five categories set to be showcased by athletes.

The contest has been lauded as a welcome addition to the fledging sport’s rather thin calendar of events.

Organised by Manicaland Body Building and Fitness Association (MBBFA), the new event which is open to athletes from across the country is expected to help facilitate sponsorship for the sport by local businesses.

MBBFA secretary-general Sibangani “Siba” Guzha, who runs Body Focus Gym, one of the event’s top sponsors, said business has been warming up to the sport in the run-up to the muscle and fitness show.

“The corporate world and even churches have embraced it. Holiday Inn, Tanganda, Celebration Church, Kanloan Financial Services, Blue Tech and Spar Mutare are some of the entities that are supporting this event,” Guzha said.

He said while they are pleased they are still hoping for more.

Guzha said hosting the event at a top hotel was also meant to appeal to company executives to attend as well as show how professional the sport was being run.

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“We really need this to be an exhibition of our professionalism. Our athletes can be used as advertising models by the corporate world and we want them to come in an environment that matches their class,” he said.

Guzha said he was inspired by the level of talent he was seeing in his gymnasium in pushing for the contest.

“We are trying to elevate our athletes to be appreciated and turn them into professionals. We can only do this by supporting it from the grassroots,” he said.

His gym groomed current Mr Iron Man Zimbabwe — Blessing Saunyama, who is also reigning Mr Manicaland.

Saunyama is expected to give the region strong belief in retaining the top gong.

Chamunorwa Marange, who is reigning Mr Zimbabwe Fitness, Mr Iron Man Fitness and Marume Classic Fitness, is expected to give other competitors a strong run for their money.

Brighton Mazikana, who was reigning Mr Manicaland in the previous five editions before handing over the reins to Saunyama and is among Zimbabwe’s top four body builders, is also expected to offer stiff competition tonight.

Sakubva Fitness Centre Gym instructor Charles Makukutu said the competition was a welcome additional platform for athletes to showcase their talent.

“It’s a positive development and the first of its kind. It’s good for our athletes and we all hope that it will help build potential sponsors’ confidence in us,” Makukutu said.

There will be five categories on show tonight — Junior Men Under-23, Men’s Fitness, Women’s Bikini, Power Lifting and Senior Men Open. Reigning Mr Zimbabwe Paul Goredema will be the guest poser on the night.

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HARARE - Triangle coach Taurai Mangwiro is eager for his side to pick up maximum points against troubled Black Rhinos in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.

The Sugar Sugar Boys come into this match on the back of a morale boosting 3-1 victory over Bulawayo City last weekend at home to move to ninth place on the log table with 31 points after 23 matches.

Circumstances are not much happier for Black Rhinos with the army side losing their last seven matches to Ngezi Platinum Stars (4-2), Chapungu (3-0), Dynamos (1-0), Bantu Rovers (1-0), Chicken Inn (1-0), CAPS United (2-1) and FC Platinum (1-0).

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Mangwiro and his side are desperate to add another defeat to that long list this afternoon.

“I think Black Rhinos are at their most dangerous now because they want to bounce back to winning ways as soon as possible,” Mangwiro told the Daily News.

“So we are not taking them lightly and we are looking forward to a tough game but all we want is maximum points.

“I think we have improved greatly because at one point, Black Rhinos were leading us by more than 10 points but today we are tied.

“And while we have improved I still feel there is a lot of work to be done especially on the road. We have not been doing well on the road and we have only picked maximum points away to Bulawayo City so it’s something that we need to work on.

“Again, if you analyse this Black Rhinos, they are not a bad side at all. In most of the games that they have lost lately, they lost to teams that are also doing well in the league and it does not qualify them to be a bad team.

“We are not going to be complacent and we are taking them seriously.”

Following a bright start to the current campaign, in which they topped the log table at some point, the army side somehow lost their mojo along the way.

Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa’s side could find themselves in a relegation dog fight as they sit eighth on the log table with 31 points.

Rhinos will be hoping the recent shuffling that saw Mutizwa’s assistants Gift Makoni, Jack Mutandagai and Maronga Nyangela being demoted from the technical bench will bring with it better fortunes.

In other matches set for today, Harare City will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats at the hands Bulawayo City and ZPC Kariba.

Last week’s away defeat to Kariba left Philani Ncube’s charges on 13th place on the log table with 25 points after 23 matches.

At the National Sports Stadium, Yadah FC will be out to get their revenge when they host Bantu Rovers. In the reverse fixture earlier this year Bantu Rovers thumped Yadah 6-0 at Luveve Stadium.

Chicken Inn will also be desperate to consolidate their lead at the top of the table when they host struggling How Mine at Hartsfield Rugby Stadium while Bulawayo City welcome ZPC Kariba at the same venue.

Fixtures:

Today: Yadah FC v Bantu Rovers (NSS), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium, 1pm), How Mine v Chicken Inn (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium, 3pm), Harare City v Tsholotsho (Rufaro, 1pm, SS), Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Rufaro, 3pm, SS)

Tomorrow: CAPS United v Dynamos (NSS, SS), Highlanders v Chapungu (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Ngezi Platinum (Maglas).

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HARARE - CAPS United senior players finally returned to training yesterday setting the stage for a potential blockbuster Harare derby against bitter rivals Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.

In a rather demoralising setback, the Green Machine players had on Thursday morning downed their tools over nonpayment of salaries and bonuses before the team’s hierarchy swiftly moved on to avert the crisis, which had threatened the derby, by paying players part of their dues.

Yesterday, Makepekepe looked a one happy family again as they went through their paces in preparation for the first instalment of the Harare derby, which has generated a lot of interest due to the two teams’ recent form.

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Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s game, CAPS United assistant coach Tostao Kwashi said they are expecting a tough game from their city neighbours but remains confident of registering a win.

“It’s a derby and you don’t need anyone to push you. Everybody knows what is at stake.

“This is probably the biggest game in Zimbabwean football,” Kwashi told the Daily News.

“It’s a big battle and we are hoping that come Sunday it’s going to be an exciting game. We expect a tough battle.

“Dynamos have been doing very well lately; they are flying high, they have won their last five matches and their confidence levels are high.

“So, yeah, they will not make it easy for us and we need to really work if we are to come out with maximum points.”

Kwashi said his side should not be overawed by the Glamour Boys’ current form ahead of tomorrow’s match.

“We are equally doing well and have also gone five matches unbeaten. Both teams are coming into the game with their tails up and they are highly-motivated to do well,” he said.

“As CAPS United we are ready for the battle and we are looking forward to pick maximum points.”

Having appeared to have lost the ground in their title defence, the Green Machine has slowly worked their way up and are unbeaten in their last six matches having picked four wins and three draws to sit 10th on the log table with 28 points.

Lloyd Chitembwe’s charges still have four matches in hand which could take their tally to 40 points if they manage to get maximum points.

Striker Dominic Chungwa, who was on target last season when CAPS United picked their first win against DeMbare in seven years, will not be available for selection after being suspended for picking three yellow cards.

Ronald Pfumbidzai, who had become a major threat from set pieces, moved to South Africa Absa Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtic at the start of last week.

Fixtures:

Today: Yadah FC v Bantu Rovers (NSS), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium, 1pm), How Mine v Chicken Inn (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium, 3pm), Harare City v Tsholotsho (Rufaro, 1pm, SS), Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Rufaro, 3pm, SS)

Tomorrow: CAPS United v Dynamos (NSS, SS), Highlanders v Chapungu (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Ngezi Platinum (Maglas).

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HARARE - Dynamos captain Ocean Mushure is confident the Glamour Boys will pick up their sixth win on the trot when they face CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.

DeMbare are being taunted as real title contenders following victories over Triangle (2-1), Black Rhinos (1-0), Hwange (2-0), How Mine (6-0) and Yadah FC (2-0) which has seen them move into third place on the log.

Lloyd Mutasa’s charges are third on the log table with 45 points, three behind log leaders Chicken Inn.

Crucially, for the Glamour Boys they have two matches in hand which could see them go top of the log if they pick maximum points in both matches.

“Whoever is being selected by the coaches to play is doing their part so that we are able to win. That is the reason behind our five-game winning run,” Mushure said.

“This also gives us confidence heading into the game because we know that anyone who is going to be selected will do well.

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“I’m sure we are going to win this game because the consistency that we are showing in recent weeks.

“We are going to put maximum effort to win this game and I’m sure this will make the encounter exciting so I urge our fans to come out in huge numbers.”

DeMbare will once again be banking on the form of Mushure and Christian Ntouba, who have been finding the back of the net regularly this season.

“With the help of my teammates I’m sure that I will be able to score if I get the chance on Sunday,” Mushure said.

Ntouba missed Thursday’s training session after he was given a day off by Mutasa but was back for yesterday’s workout.

“He’s got one or two issues that he is solving but he’s one guy who has played one or too many matches in between,” Mutasa said in explaining Ntouba’s absence from training on Thursday.

“When he arrived here he had not played two matches that are closer to each other and he’s someone who needs time-out as we build up to such a big game.”

Mutasa admitted that tomorrow’s match will be no stroll in the park even though they are currently on a five-game winning streak.

“Dynamos versus CAPS United matches are always tough matches and it’s a derby match; everyone wants the bragging rights and we are not an exception,” he said.

“As a coach, you would want to try as much to win every match you play but in football it is not possible all the same. CAPS have played five games and haven’t tasted defeat; the same as us.

“So we are on the same wavelength in terms of performances up to this day, we hope the better team on the day will come out victorious.”

Fixtures:

Today: Yadah FC v Bantu Rovers (NSS), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium, 1pm), How Mine v Chicken Inn (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium, 3pm), Harare City v Tsholotsho (Rufaro, 1pm, SS), Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Rufaro, 3pm, SS)

Tomorrow: CAPS United v Dynamos (NSS, SS), Highlanders v Chapungu (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Ngezi Platinum (Maglas).

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HARARE - With the Harare derby on tomorrow between CAPS United and Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium, the Daily News caught up with two fans to get their thoughts ahead of the match.

CAPS’ defence is weak

Dynamos are going to easily win tomorrow’s Harare derby at the National Sports Stadium because the CAPS United defence is weak and porous according to prominent DeMbare fan Taurai Matokoza.

The Makepekepe defence struggled a lot at the start of the season as they were also stretched by the demands of the African Champions League.

“CAPS are weak in defence and we all saw it in the Champions League where they were conceding a lot of goals,” Matokoza told the Daily News.

“Goals were raining into the CAPS net and now with (Ronald) Pfumbidzai gone it’s going to be worse on Sunday.

“We are going to score more than two goals on Sunday. If CAPS play well, we will beat them 2-0. Our Cameroonian striker Christian Ntouba is going to score together with our captain Ocean Mushure.

“Since we moved Mushure from defence to midfield, he has been scoring regularly even from set pieces.”

Last season, The Glamour Boys failed to beat Makepekepe in the league after the first fixture finished 1-0 in favour of United at Rufaro Stadium.

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The reverse fixture at the National Sports Stadium was a thrilling 3-3 draw following a remarkable CAPS comeback.

Matokoza is confident DeMbare will finally get it right this time around.   

“On Sunday we are expecting nothing short of a Dynamos victory because we a on a five-game unbeaten run,” he said.

“Although CAPS United are also on a five-game unbeaten run; they have two draws and a three wins. As for us its only five wins on the trot and this Sunday when we play CAPS make it six wins in a row.”

Matokoza added: “Everything is going to change this year, when we played CAPS last year, it came after we had changed coaches with Portuguese gaffer Paulo Jorge Silva taking charge of the derby for the first time and we lost to them for the first time in seven years.

“In the second game last year, Lloyd Mutasa had taken charge of the team and we managed to draw the game. The set up of the team had been made by Silva but this year, Mutasa has assembled his own squad which is playing very well.”

DeMbare also come into this game on a five-game winning run that has seen them emerge as serious title contenders as they sit in third place on the log three points behind leaders Chicken Inn.

Matokoza is confident that winning streak is going to continue tomorrow. 

“We will continue with our winning form on Sunday and it is going to last until next year January when we are on off-season,” he said.

“We are not only going to win against CAPS United but we will also beat all the teams that we are going to play.”

Chitembwe does not lose to Mutasa

CAPS United will win tomorrow’s Harare derby at the National Sports Stadium due to the fact that Lloyd Chitembwe has a good record against his namesake Lloyd Mutasa according to Makepekepe fan Zisupa.

Since the two former midfield players took up coaching, Chitembwe has enjoyed an upper hand whenever they have sat across opposite dugouts in the Castle Lager Premiership.

“One statistic which gives me confidence going into this match is the fact that our coach Chitembwe has never lost a match to Dynamos coach Mutasa,” Zisupa said.

“I’m sure Papa Lodza would love to keep that record intact and we are going to bury Dynamos on Sunday.”

Zisupa, who spends the entire 90 minutes at all CAPS matches singing and dancing with his colleagues, said Makepekepe desperately need the three points to climb up the log.

“Obviously as fans we are expecting a win but in football you do not get what you want all the times; it might end in a draw, a win for us and we might lose but as for this game, we need the win more than Dynamos,” he said.

“At the moment, we are not in a good position on the log and we need to win all the games in hand that we have to move up the ladder.

“We are currently playing well and our form is good but the derby is a different game altogether. Even if we had lost the last five games it was not going to be a stroll in the park for Dynamos; we would make life difficult for them.”

After their first league win over Dynamos in seven years last year, Zisupa is convinced that it is the Green Machine’s turn to dominate this fixture. 

“Since last year we have enjoyed some good results against Dynamos in the league and that run is not going to stop,” he said.

“CAPS will be winning matches against Dynamos for many more years to come like how they tormented us in the past.”

CAPS will be without suspended forward Dominic Chungwa while Ronald Pfumbidzai moved to South Africa club Bloemfontein Celtic earlier this week but Zisupa is not losing sleep over the duo’s unavailability. 

“In football we will always have replacements and this is a chance for other players, who have not been getting game time, to shine and be the hero of the derby,” he said.

“We have got Igwe our Nigerian striker Abasirim Chidiebere; he is going to rise and shine while filling the void left by Chungwa.

“We also have got many players that can fill the void left by Pfumbidzai in midfield. I’m sure Chidiebere is going to score and John Zhuwawo will get a brace then if Dynamos are lucky they will get a penalty and we will win 3-1.

“Dynamos fans were pleased so much when we beat their title rivals FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum last month.

“This time it’s the FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum fans, who are going to be singing, after we beat Dynamos. Nyika yese inenge ichifara (the entire country will be happy).”

Fixtures:

Today: Yadah FC v Bantu Rovers (NSS), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium, 1pm), How Mine v Chicken Inn (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium, 3pm), Harare City v Tsholotsho (Rufaro, 1pm, SS), Black Rhinos v Triangle United (Rufaro, 3pm, SS)

Tomorrow: CAPS United v Dynamos (NSS, SS), Highlanders v Chapungu (Hartsfield Rugby Stadium), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v Ngezi Platinum (Maglas).

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HARARE - War veterans’ leader, Victor Matemadanda, who is being charged with undermining the authority of President Robert Mugabe after he reportedly addressed a presser and attacked the first lady, has challenged his placement on remand.

He was represented by Beatrice Mtetwa when he appeared before Harare magistrate Josephine Sande yesterday.

Matemadanda is being charged for contravening sections (30) and 33(2) (a) (ii) for causing disaffection among defence forces and undermining the authority of, or, insulting the president.

The Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa supporter said his arrest and prosecution was unjustified because he was exercising his right to freedom of expression.

He said State agents were abusing the law to satisfy their political agendas in contrast to provision of the Constitution.

“The history of this matter shows the extent to which some laws are being used as a weapon of intimidating the citizens of Zimbabwe,” Matemadanda said in the application filed by Mtetwa.

“The seriousness of the intimidation is that it curtails the right of the citizens to fully enjoy their constitutionally enshrined rights and in this case the right to freedom of expression as protected in section 61 of the Constitution.

“…such laws do not have a place in our constitutional democracy. In making the press statement applicant was exercising his freedom of expression right…and has been held to embrace the right and freedom to hold, impart and disseminate ideas to others, even if such ideas are unpalatable to those who hear them.

“The right is also protected in the context of political commentary notwithstanding the tone of political debates.”

During Matemadanda’s initial appearance, Mtetwa argued that court processes were being stage-managed and aimed at frustrating her client on political grounds.

“Anyone in the accused person’s shoes would feel the decision has already been made in chambers,” Mtetwa said while addressing then presiding magistrate Elisha Singano.

This is the second time in just over a year that Matemadanda has had to fight for his freedom at the courts.

He, along with other executive members of the Zimbabwe National Liberation and War ¥Veterans Association were arrested in July last year, for allegedly penning a damning communiqué that denounced Mugabe for running down the southern African state, being divisive in politics and manipulative in general.

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HARARE - A former British soldier who was busted with an assortment of machinery used to make cocaine capsules and other dangerous drugs is demanding his immediate release, arguing the State unlawfully dragged him before the courts.

James Francis Joscelyne, who was raided at his upmarket Glen Lorne residence, was represented by advocate Sylvester Hashiti when he appeared before Harare regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya for commencement of his trial on charges of dealing in dangerous drugs.

The 39-year-old was a British Army soldier attached to the Queen’s regiment before he retired and moved to Zimbabwe in 2002.

During an application for exception to the charge, Hashiti said the State had unlawfully interfered with Joscelyne’s privacy during searches that were conducted leading to his arrest.

He said when police acquired a search warrant the charges were for possession of drugs only for his client to be brought to court on different allegations of dealing in drugs.

“…evidence obtained inconsistent with the law must be excluded in a trial and if we exclude that evidence there will be no charge, they are automatically quashed and indictment set aside,” Hashiti said.

“The manner in which this case was handled is contrary to the law and this court cannot associate itself to an illegality. The court ought to order the accused person’s release under such circumstances.”

However, prosecutor George Manokore argued that Hashiti had raised issues that ought to be contested during trial.

“The application made by the accused person is only meant to delay due administration of justice. What they are saying about the dates and charges that appeared on the warrant is neither here nor there,”Manokore argued.

“The defence should understand that when police perform a search the charges they indicate will be based on supplied information, but, however, this may change in accordance with their findings.”

According to court papers Joscelyne has since renounced his Zimbabwean citizenship and allegedly admitted during an interview that he was processing tablets containing ecstasy powder and cocaine selling a capsule for $3 through an organised syndicate in Harare.

It was alleged that on July 20 detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics were tipped that Joscelyne was dealing dangerous drugs at his home.

It was also alleged that detectives proceeded to the residence and introduced themselves before presenting a search warrant to Joscelyne.

During the search, detectives went into Joscelyne’s bedroom where they recovered two sachets of a susbstance suspected to be cocaine with a street value of $640 and 43 ecstasy tablets valued at $129.

The detectives further probed Joscelyne and he led them to his kitchen where a bowl containing ecstasy powder and empty plastic packaging were recovered.

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

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

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HARARE - MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai and his Alliance partners head to White City Stadium today for the Bulawayo Alliance launch amid indications that some top MDC officials plan to boycott the event taking place in their own backyard.

An electoral alliance was consummated on August 5 at Zimbabwe Grounds, Highfield in Harare involving Tsvangirai’s MDC, Welshman Ncube’s MDC, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tendai Biti, Jacob Ngarivhume’s Transform Zimbabwe (TZ), Agripppa Mutambara’s Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), Mathias Guchutu’s Multi-Racial Christian Democrats and Zanu Ndonga.

The Daily News Production Editor Eddie Zvinonzwa spoke to the TZ leader, who is the Alliance’s spokesperson, on the Alliance as well as its preparedness for the 2018 elections. Below are excerpts of the interview.

Q: You are heading to Zimbabwe’s second largest city on Saturday (today) for the Bulawayo Alliance launch. Who are you expecting to attend?

A: We are having our Bulawayo Alliance launch on Saturday (tomorrow) at the White City Stadium at 10am. All Alliance partners are expected to attend. However, we are continuing to build the Alliance.

Other partners who want to join the Alliance can still come in and we should work together to remove Zanu PF. All alliance partners are committed to make this work.

As TZ for instance, we have been reaching out to our constituency updating our structures. Recently, we were in Mashonaland East updating them on the progress in as far as the Alliance in concerned.

However, all those who will be coming in will have to fit into the framework already in place. That will also be announced as soon as we are done with negotiations. Every Zimbabwean is welcome into the Alliance.

In fact, we would want to reach out to all to say let us come together and work together to remove (President Robert) Mugabe and Zanu PF from power next year.

Q: The launch of the Alliance brought so much excitement to crisis-weary Zimbabweans as the 2018 polls approach. As an Alliance, do you think you are prepared? 

A: As an alliance, we are very confident of the Alliance we have built to be able to remove Mugabe from power in 2018 and we have put in place the mechanisms, we are putting the administrative structures and systems that we need to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe, most importantly, have got confidence in the Alliance itself and they can vote for the Alliance. We also are building a strategy to ensure that when we win power we are able to take over. Those are issues we are very much aware and conscious of. 

Q: As partners in the Alliance, how are you fielding candidates in the election

A: What we have done in terms of power-sharing is that we have resolved and agreed to have one Alliance partner contesting every contestable seat in a particular constituency.

For example, if Transform Zimbabwe is contesting in Bikita East, that means all Alliance partners are supporting TZ in that constituency for MP. That also means for councillors, we are coming up with one council candidate for every ward.

We have agreed on one Alliance partner contesting for senatorial positions and of course, we have also agreed to have one presidential candidate as an Alliance. We have allocated seats to each of the Alliance partners.

A formula was developed which will be fully announced once the negotiations are done which has allocated seats to different Alliance partners to contest and all the Alliance partners will be supporting that particular party in that area.

Q: In other words you have already agreed on the presidential candidate?

A: Yes, we have agreed to have Morgan Tsvangirai as the presidential candidate for the Alliance.

Q: And talking about the 2018 elections, do you have any input in observing elections?

A: Of course, as political parties in terms of observing elections we have polling agents of election agents and we are also working with other organisations that traditionally monitor elections.

We have partners who have traditionally monitored and observed elections so, we are also helping them by providing them with information which is necessary on hot-spot areas to watch out for.

We will also have partners who are independent from the system who will be helping in monitoring those elections and we will be engaging members of the regional blocs and the international community who will be monitoring those elections and we are also working with other partners to make sure the election is properly observed.

Q: If Zanu PF then pulls back election dates, do you have a position as an Alliance?

A: Firstly, I would want to say Zanu PF just cant call for an election without ensuring that the necessary systems to run that election are in place.

We all know there is an obligation from the State to make sure that people are registered to vote under the BVR system.

In other words we want to develop a whole new voters’ roll with people providing their biometric details and we don’t see that process being completed early enough to hold an election as early as February.

So, we don’t expect them to call for an election without putting in place the administrative requirements in place. If they try to do that, that won’t be accepted by the people of Zimbabwe and also they have a constitutional obligation to make sure the election is within a specific time frame and so we expect all these things to be in place

If they try to shortchange that process they will hit a brickwall, we will resist that.

Q: You indicated earlier in the year that you would assist your membership who had difficulties acquiring identity documents. How far have you gone with that?

A: We were waiting for the mobile registration to start and on Tuesday, (Tobaiwa) Mudede made that announcement so we are making sure that those who registered with us to get IDs we will help them.

He also brew a shocker when he said if you have a metal ID you may not be able to vote we are going to challenge that in the courts.

If they have an old ID and they are registered in the BVR then they should be allowed to vote.

I am equally not sure but my understanding is that if you have a plastic ID your details are captured in the registration server.

If you have the new ID maybe their names already appear on the database It’s their responsibility as government to put all the people with metal IDs on the database.

Q: And if Zanu PF forge ahead with their plan?

A: In fact, we are encouraging people to register. But we will go on ad challenge that position in court.

Q: There is something we may not afford to ignore, the state of the economy.

A: The economy has gone to the dogs. Zanu PF has continued to kill the economy They continue to misplace their priorities. They are leaving the core things. You need to create investor confidence to rebuild this economy and there is absolutely no effort at all.

If you look at the scale of violence, it is frightening. You have a first lady who goes to SA and beats up an innocent girl   and to make it a circus they bus innocent youths to support the first lady in beating up an innocent lady in SA at a hotel.

They try to arrest her and she seeks diplomatic immunity and unfortunately she gets it. Who would want to invest in such an economy where the first lady goes to a foreign country and beats up an innocent woman?

The only way out of this quagmire for Zimbabwe is to vote Zanu PF out and restart this thing all over again in 2018 — rebuilding our economy and attracting investors. We can only make this country a jewel again if we vote Zanu PF out in 2018.

Q: Recently, Mugabe appeared on national television with a delegation from a Chinese firm Guangzhou R&F, which has intentions of injecting $1 billion into the revival of Ziscosteel. Does this seem to make any sense to you given the fact that the reasons for the collapse have remained untouched?

A:  What destroyed Zisco and parastatals at large was because of massive looting

They used parastatals to syphon public money. The issue of governance has not been looked into.

Corruption that led to the syphoning of money is still there and remains a top item of things that are affecting this economy.

The new investment will equally be looted as has happened before. There is no proper management and there is Zanu PF patronage in these organisations.

The same people who destroyed it are still there. As long as these people are still there, nothing will change. It won’t take us a couple of months before Zisco gets back to where it was.

Q: I remember fairly well that as National Electoral Reforms Agenda (Nera), you were fighting for electoral reforms. Have you registered any progress on the said reforms?

A: In terms of the electoral reforms we were fighting for as Nera, one of the key reforms we have achieved  is of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR). Our understanding has always been that reform will not come cheap. Reform effectively will mean an end of the Zanu PF regime.

They will not give up power so easily,  BVR is on the way and it is one of the huge achievements we had as political parties under Nera.

We are also aware of the intentions of Zanu PF to scuttle the progress we have made and gains we have achieved. We are fully aware Zanu PF is trying to derail the gains we have registered as far as BVR is concerned. We are busy fighting to ensure BVR is properly implemented, which is what we are looking for.

Q: If Zanu PF were to renege on BVR, have you decided on the course of action to take as an Alliance in case that happens?

A: We will resist if Zanu PF were to go back on BVR. We will draw out all our weapons to resist that. We will demonstrate. We will oppose that.

But, of course, as an Alliance we will have to agree on our position. In other words, we are still ironing out on those issues on how we will respond to the various scenarios that are possible. When we have come up with a position we will make it known to the nation.

We are still in the process of agreeing on how we are moving and going to respond should things like that happen. But definitely we intend to resist any move by Zanu PF to move away from BVR because we know they are planning to do so and we will not accept that.

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