HARARE - When a double fracture injury on his shin in 2012 almost ended his career, FC Platinum star Rodwell Chinyengetere would never have imagined returning to the field and clinching the Soccer Star of the Year accolade.

But as fate would have it, he did and he is now basking in the glory of his exploits.

Chinyengetere was voted the Soccer Star of the Year while his teammate at FC Platinum defender Kelvin Moyo was the first runner-up while Dynamos’ Ocean Mushure was voted the third best player on the night.

“It’s a huge achievement for me. I feel very happy to be amongst the elite club in the land. It’s not an easy feat and I am really grateful to be recognised as the best player in the country. It means a lot to me,” Chinyengetere said.

“It was one of my best seasons in my career. We worked hard and went on to win the championship.

“It was a tough year for us but we encouraged each other and kept on pushing until the end and we were duly rewarded.

“Of course I am happy but it was not about me alone. We worked as a team and I wouldn’t have got this far without the help of my teammates.

“I wouldn’t have done anything on my own.” 

It was a fitting achievement for Chinyengetere whose footballing future once appeared bleak after suffering that horrific injury in a league match against the now-defunct Monomotapa five years ago.

The 29-year-old spent one-and-a-half years on the sidelines but faith and determination saw him making a surprise comeback on April 6, 2014. Chinyengetere quickly put that episode behind and never looked back.

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And since joining FC Platinum, he has been impressive for the platinum miners. This season the former Hwange star played a crucial role in the champions title charge chipping in with some important goals en-route to winning the title.

He finished the season as FC Platinum’s top goal scorer with nine goals and seven behind Golden Boot winner Dominic Chungwa of CAPS United.

“I always had faith that one day I would come back. I had faith and I never stopped believing. I also got moral support from my family and colleagues and it helped a lot but faith was the key thing which kept me going,” Chinyengetere said.

“I never thought of quitting football. I just knew one day I would come back onto the field. I was just pushing myself hard to overcome the injury.”

Chinyengetere feels signing for FC Platinum was a good career move and working with Norman Mapeza has seen him improve his game in many aspects.

“Joining FC Platinum was a huge step in my career. It’s an ambitious team and it also pushed me to work hard to achieve something that I will cherish for the rest of my career,” he said.

“At FC Platinum we have one of the best coaches in the land in Mapeza. He has made everything better and he made me who I am today. I am really grateful to him for showing confidence in me especially when I was just coming from the injury.”

Chinyengetere also had a word of advice to some of the players who have suffered career glitches like he did.

“One needs to stay focussed. Have that faith in any case in any problem you have, anything is possible. God is the one who leads the way,” he said.

Chinyengetere’s focus is now on helping FC Platinum do well in the Caf Champions League.

“I want to keep on working hard. We will be playing in Africa next season and it’s important to stay focussed. I think it will be good if we can reach the group stages of the Champions League,” he said.

“It’s not easy in Africa because we will be facing the best of the best but anything is possible, we just need to believe in ourselves.”

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HARARE - Zimbabwe's opposition political parties, especially the Morgan Tsvangirai-led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) — who have been in the trenches for the past several years trying to unseat former president Robert Mugabe and his party — must be panicking over the latest developments in the country.

Mugabe — their longtime adversary — was booted from power in a military intervention that put him under house arrest on November 15.

While military takeovers have never been supported the world over, the Zimbabwean version was from a different mould.

It had the support of long-suffering Zimbabweans who were keen to see Mugabe’s back, especially when he seemed to support his ambitious wife Grace’s march to the throne.

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What happened with the army takeover may have been the beginning of the internal transformation of Zanu PF. This reinvention, if it is amply supported by evident results on the ground, especially in the form of a significant improvement in people’s lives, may be difficult to beat.

At the end of the day, it is the people who matter in winning any election not misdirected eliticism that we have seen in the opposition fold in recent times.

Criticism of the new dispensation under President Emmerson Mnangagwa without reason may lead to the MDC losing the people. The new government’s latest approach to the country’s challenges has been applauded although it may require some bit of time. The reduction of unpopular police checkpoints — which had become too many — must have come as a relief to Zimbabweans.

Regeneration of the police force, especially those in the traffic section, may take ages as it had become synonymous with corruption.

Mnangagwa’s Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa — whose many attempts at reviving Zimbabwe’s economy hit snags with an uncompromising boss in Mugabe, has gone back to those very issues his former boss had thrown out like reduction of Cabinet, revisiting the unpopular indigenisation law, ghost workers and re-engagement efforts among other measures that will definitely find the support of the majority of Zimbabweans who are keen to see an improvement of the lives of the country’s citizens.

Industry’s revival is key and queues must disappear from the banks, and Mnangagwa and his team may after all get the people’s support.

These are the issues the opposition has been running with all these years. They therefore urgently need to go back to the drawing board and come up with workable alternatives.

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HARARE - With under seven months to go until the 2018 general election, the first bus tour to convert the growing number of unregistered voters in Kuwadzana East in Harare is underway led by the local MDC MP Nelson Chamisa. 

The whistle-stop tour is using open vans blaring Zimdancehall and digital music to attract the millennials as well as traditional music for the elderly. It has excited the electorate in Kuwadzana East to turn out in numbers to register under the ongoing biometric voter registration blitz.

It comes as electoral roll numbers have tumbled particularly among the young, and is seeking to shore-up voter drop-off rates that are ringing alarm bells.

“The modern politics demand modern-day tools and strategies to reach out to various sections of the population, the elderly we have traditional music such as Jah Prayzah, for the millenials we are playing Zimdancehall, digital music and ragga. We are doing something novel to get the constituency excited about voting,” Chamisa told the Daily News on Sunday.

Over the past week, Chamisa’s tour has interacted with as many potential voters as possible and urged them to register to take part in the upcoming 2018 general election.

The MDC MP said elections are the lifeblood of any democracy so it is a scandal that so many people cannot vote.

“If you are not registered to vote, your are part of the contributor to your misery. You can’t be jobless and not be on the voters’ roll, you can’t be in a bank queue and not registered to vote, you can’t be a citizen fed-up of one TV station and still not be registered to vote,” Chamisa said.

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HARARE - Washington Gezana, a professional driver, was the innocent victim of police brutality last March that saw him lose his eye.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily News on Sunday about the horror experience,  he said the scars will last forever. He has been fired from his job as a driver after his eye was gouged out.

Recalling events of March 23, he said he had no freedom, no autonomy, and no say in what was happening to him during the senseless attack by the rogue cops, who have since been jailed for 15 months each.

Just after hooking up with his wife after leaving OK Supermarket along Julius Nyerere Way, he was stopped by cops. The cops verbally abused his wife, and he protested.

The cops slammed him to the ground, and beat him up. It was a really bad encounter. He still bears scars on his face from the incident, and believes they will remain for life.

“If I had known, I would not have set foot in town that day,” he told the Daily News on Sunday ruefully.

“I am a troubled man now and what hurts me most is that I can no longer fend for my family because my career was heavily dependent on my eye sight.”

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Livingstone Zvimba, Tendai Masungambira, Sunday Nyaude, Khululekani Dale, Evans Mashonganyika — all members of the Police Reaction Group — each got 18 months in jail for the brutal assault.

Three months were suspended on condition of good behaviour leaving them to serve an effective 15 months — a development which did not satisfy Gezana considering his loss.

He reckons they should have got stiffer punishment.

Recalling events of the day, he told the Daily News on Sunday: “I had just finished buying electricity tokens from OK supermarket along Julius Nyerere Way and arranged to meet with my wife and proceed home together.

“I noticed a police Defender (vehicle) parked at an island along that road and as I advanced, I noticed police officers quarrelling with a man who was clad in overalls, accusing him of misrepresenting to be a cop.”

With his wife in tow, Gezana quietly tried to cross Julius Nyerere heading towards Charge Office Service Station intending to get transport to connect to Hatfield where they resided.

The police officers began shouting at Gezana’s wife calling her a “whore.” This did not go down well with the husband who tried to defend his wife’s honour.

He politely shot back at the cops, asking them why they had used abusive language against his wife.

“She was slapped by one of the cops and three came after me. Fortunately, my wife managed to run away but I was overpowered and fell to the ground while being assaulted.

“They kicked me in the stomach, hit me on the head using booted feet and other objects.

“One of them then struck me hard on the right eye and I blacked out for a few minutes before regaining consciousness,” he recalled.

Gezana was traumatised when he tried to open his eyes after regaining consciousness only to realise that the right one was hanging loose from its socket.

He panicked at the sight of blood and also realised that his left eye had blurred vision. He began calling for help.

“I felt feverish, the whole body, and it was as if I had been put in a freezer. When I regained consciousness, I realised that I was still being assaulted and they only left after one of them alerted them that I had been seriously injured.

“People gathered and began taking pictures and videos and one guy gave me a handkerchief which I used to cover my eye before Enerst Masvaire and Leonard Mahara came to my rescue.”

The good Samaritans removed their T-shirts and made a pillow for Gezana to stop the haemorrhaging. Mahara rushed to look for transport to take Gezana to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

At that moment, Gezana said he felt someone steal his wallet that had all his particulars. He was too weak to raise alarm against the robber.

He was rushed to Parirenyatwa and immediately referred to Sekuru Kaguvi Optical Centre for an emergency operation. He then lost his eye and consequently his job as a driver.

“The operation went well but my life was never the same again. I used to do school-runs for various people in Hatfield but my doctor endorsed that I could no longer drive a public vehicle.

“I am the bread winner in my family and used to take care of my mother and brother not withstanding my wife who is in nursing school and daughter who is supposed to start school now.

“I have had to endure migraine headaches, lose focus and even during the day I cannot face the light.

“My doctor has told me that my vision focus is at six out of ten and will never return to normalcy.”

His four-year-old daughter repeatedly asks him when he will put his eye back into its socket.

The toddler is yet to come to terms with the disability her father endured consequent of brutal police attacks .

Although nine months have passed and the perpetrators jailed, the physical and psychological pains sustained during the incident still haunt him to this day.

He describes March 23 as a “black Thursday”.

He is currently being assisted by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to sue for damages caused by the five’s conduct.

“I can no longer stand seeing any police officer in uniform. I get so infuriated I don’t wish anything good for them.

“They destroyed my life and I am a clear testimony that police in Zimbabwe have nothing to offer in nation building or public security,” a heartbroken Gezana said.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe is the fifth among 10 countries surveyed where women endure public harassment ranging from staring, insults and wolf-whistling to being followed, groped or even raped, a survey by the charity ActionAid UK has revealed.

The report comes at a time when the world is marking 16 Days of Activism Against Violence of Women and Children.

“In Zimbabwe 35,7 percent  of  the women and  girls reported to have experienced sexual harassment  in their life time. At least 44 percent of the  female respondents did nothing when harassed, 35,7 percent of women and girls interviewed expressed  that they did not feel safe at market places,”  the report said. But activists say the figures are still gross underestimates, as many victims remain reluctant to report crimes such as sexual violence for fear their families and communities will shun them.

The Safe Cities report also showed that 44 percent of women did nothing in response to violence while only 3,9 percent made police reports.

Actionaid said the fear of reporting and risks of reporting, due to stigma and a “blame culture”, resulted in lack of justice for victims of violence.

Betty Sithole, programme and advocacy manager, said there are no specific or relevant policies generated by the Gender Equality Office or Women’s Office to ensure the prevention, protection or redress of sexual violence in public spaces.

“Male attitudes towards women in what is a largely patriarchal society have worked against women’s rights and protection from violence in public spaces. This spills over into the lack of respect for a woman’s contribution to the household in terms of domestic chores,” Sithole said

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HARARE - Government cannot afford to employ teachers for Early Childhood Development (ECD), Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa has said.

“Government recognises the complementary role that parents play in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programmes. However, the takeover of management and financing of ECDs is clearly beyond government’s current capacity.

“It is proposed that, the pending requests to recruit an additional 5 907 teachers at ECD level be shelved and pave way for parents and communities to continue supporting the provision of ECD services.

Parents and communities participation in supporting the provision of ECD schooling services will save the fiscus an additional $36 million in employment costs per annum,” he said in his national budget on Thursday.

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HARARE - Government has decided on a plan of works to restore health centres and major hospitals, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa has said.

The government will also construct a number of rural health centres across the country.

“The capital expenditure provision of $26,7 million will focus on rehabilitating central, provincial and district hospitals as well as the construction of six rural health centres, namely Mbuya Maswa and Chiromo in Zaka, Chibila in Binga, Siyabuwa in Gokwe, Dongamuzi in Lupane and Munemo in Nyanga.

“Furthermore, a provision of $8,2 million is being appropriated for the procurement of medical equipment at district hospitals.

“National Pharmaceutical Company of Zimbabwe (NatPharm) will be allocated $1 million for the construction of medicine warehouses in Bulawayo, Masvingo and Mutare to increase its capacity for cost effective bulk procurement, storage and distribution,” Chinamasa said.

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Currently, 95 percent of the drug stocks come from donors, while government is contributing just five percent.

The drug crisis in Zimbabwe had seen major hospitals suspend elective operations last year, with recent revelations that the country had low stocks of anaesthetic drugs.

Also many hospitals in Zimbabwe are relying on outdated equipment and infrastructure.

In most hospitals medical equipment critical for diagnosis and treatment of various diseases are old, obsolete and non-functional.

The majority of the physical health infrastructure is in a state of very serious disrepair. Fixed plant and equipment such as laundry machines, kitchen equipment and boilers are also non-functional.

So dire is the situation that at major referral hospitals only a few people are able to get radiotherapy and X-rays.

The situation is even worse for district hospitals that don’t have equipment at all. Patients are either sent back home or referred to bigger hospitals that are then overwhelmed by demand.

In the wake of the devastating HIV/Aids scourge, most hospitals in the country are yet to acquire the all-important CD4-count machines, which help in determining the stage of infection.

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HARARE - After the budget presentation by Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa that amended the indigenisation law to reassure investors, re-engaged with global lenders and curbed profligate spending — all issues on the top of the opposition wish-list — analysts said the opposition strategists must be scratching their heads.

Chinamasa presented on Thursday Zimbabwe’s final budget for 2018, which highlights the first fiscal policy direction move of the new administration past Robert Mugabe’s presidency, suggesting stronger cooperation with the international community.

The national budget was presented under the banner: “Towards a New Economic Order” and acknowledges that a decline in domestic and foreign investor confidence has led to a disappointing economic performance over recent years.

The new policy shift highlighted in the final budget paper focuses therefore on economic recovery, supported by foreign direct investment under a market economy principle.

On the expenditure side, the focus was on ruthless cuts and austerity to try to reverse the ruinous deficits that the government has been running.

The big move was on the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act of 2009, which required all companies operating in Zimbabwe to be 51 percent or more owned by black Zimbabweans.

Chinamasa said that the indigenisation policy will henceforth apply only to diamond and platinum mining.

Apparently, taking a cue from his principal, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Chinamasa announced a raft of economic changes that also included retiring civil servants over 65 years as well as collapsing jobs of over 3 500 so-called youth officers.

The Finance minister said all civil servants older than 65 will have to take retirement, and a freeze on civil service recruitment will be kept in place.

Former MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s advisor during the inclusive government era, Alex Magaisa, said Chinamasa budget reflects the thinking in the opposition.

“Indeed, opposition strategists must be scratching their heads because the budget statement could well be a part of their manifesto as it carries a number of issues that would be at the top of the opposition wish-list,” Magaisa said.

“Reading through the budget, it’s as if the new Mnangagwa administration is a former opposition party that has taken office after the Mugabe administration.

“The budget statement chronicles the ills of the Mugabe administration that the opposition has always raised in the past and promises to deal with them.

“The challenge, of course, is in the implementation. If the new administration fails to live up to its undertakings, the opposition will still have good ground to stand on in their campaign.”

Stephen Chan, a professor of world politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London in the United Kingdom, said the budget is a good start and could in the long term attract investors and help ending unemployment which currently hovers around 90 percent.

“This is a good budget within its limits. Chinamasa had very little room in which to move but it remains to be seen whether the budget will attract investors,” he said.

“The investment has to come very fast or there will have to be another print run of bond notes — and that will in itself destabilise any sense of optimism among possible investors.

“There is no quick budgetary fix possible from either the government or the opposition. And Chinamasa has got to find a way to pay the $9 billion arrears owing the IMF before any, almost certainly very strict IMF ‘rescue package’ can be negotiated.”

Chan said that such a rescue package that the opposition has in the past promised to secure will demand public sector job cuts.

“Basically, Zimbabwe now faces the legacy of the later Mugabe years when people thought the economy was something to loot, while playing party politics and succession games,” he said.

In 2012, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai outlined his economic revival plans that included, trimming government expenditure, slashing the wage bill, privatising parastatals, slashing foreign travel, re-engaging western governments, repealing the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, eradicating corruption and sacking ghost workers something that Chinamasa did with finesse in his budget presentation

Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said ahead of next year watershed elections, the opposition has to come up with better economic blueprints that go further in addressing the country’s urgent needs.

“The opposition needs to re-brand itself now that Mugabe is gone. The ‘Mugabe must go’ mantra no longer has buyers. Now that the regime has embraced neo-liberal economics, the opposition can no longer ride on this. It is a good lesson for them.

“They have to start focusing on real issues, to remove a Zanu PF governance patronage system, not individuals. They have to go back to basics and sell pro-poor economic blue prints.

“They can also still ride and peg their campaigns on human rights issues, as the regime does not seem keen at addressing human rights abuses,” Saungweme said.

HARARE - Joice Mujuru’s  National People’s Party (NPP) has claimed that its party has been infiltrated at all levels by the ruling party in a bid to weaken it head of the key 2018 elections.

Mujuru, who was expelled from Zanu PF in 2014 after being accused of plotting to topple former president Robert  Mugabe, has seen her party hit by successive defections as scores of her followers retrace their steps to the ruling party.

NPP secretary-general Gift Nyandoro, who doubles as Mujuru’s spokesperson, claimed that 500 State agents that had infiltrated the opposition party were now publicly rejoining Zanu PF.

He spoke after 20 NPP youths last week crossed floors back to Zanu PF.

“NPP under the able and iconic revolutionary leadership of ... Mujuru dismisses the so-called ‘20 NPP youths defection inside Zanu PF Shake-Shake headquarters at Jongwe house’ as the highest level of ideological bankruptcy and a parading of a failed political infiltration of NPP  by the agents of a regime that is confronting the reality of ultimate decimation in 2018 harmonised elections,” Nyandoro fumed.

“Zimbabweans need to know that there is a world of difference between political defection and political drowning. There is no way a hyena can purport to defect from a herd of sheep and join a grouping of hyenas in the name of a defection. A hyena remains as such and it remains a hyena.”

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Zanu PF secretary for youths Pupurai Togarepi told the Daily News on Sunday that contrary to allegations by Mujuru’s party that NPP has been infiltrated, “the ruling party has no reason at all to focus on weakening an already weak opposition”.

“If you are in contest for love and you lose to somebody, you will say that the woman was ugly but that might not necessarily be the case. The youths who came from Mujuru’s party, some of them we know them and we will work with them,” Togarepi said. 

In a statement, the defecting youths said they strongly believed in and adhered to the founding values of the liberation struggle.

“These were discarded when Zanu PF was captured by the former first lady Grace Mugabe and her G40 cabal. It was in defence of the revolutionary legacy that we stood by Mai Mujuru, the former vice president of Zimbabwe when she was ill-treated by the former first lady.

“Now that Operation Restore Legacy has successfully brought back order in the country, we have, therefore, freely and willingly decided to rejoin the revolutionary party, Zanu PF, and work together with our freedom fighters and all willing citizens to rebuild our country. This is effective immediately.”

A Zanu PF politburo member who declined to be named said Mujuru was “wasting her time leading a very small organisation” that is no threat to the status quo.

Togarepi claimed Mujuru’s home is Zanu PF, and there is no way the ruling party “would work on destroying one of its own.”

“Mujuru should do the right thing and come back home, she should not waste time in opposition, we want her back. The youths who came are ours and we know them, ngavauye kumusha amai Mujuru, she is a revolutionary, she should come and work with other comrades,” Togarepi said.

Nyandoro said NPP’s primary cause is never political expediency and opportunism.

“The cause remains that of persistent and consistent pursuit of the dismantling of Mugabeism system of impunity.  Mugabeism consists of the repressive systems, institutions, cultures and values that defined and characterised Mugabe’ s corrupt, incompetent and autocratic rule.

“The tragedy of Mugabeism is that it is  a self-defeating strategy of leadership where Zanu PF parades its own agents whom it would have planted in progressive organisations like NPP as defections.

“Zimbabweans should never be made to believe that the new administration represents a new order, rather it remains the old order that uses tired and archaic methods of mobilisation. Its unfortunate that the self parading of own failed agents of infiltration is a drift back in the past of political hypocrisy.”

Nyandoro said Mujuru would stay put in NPP.

“She has no desire to go back to Egypt. As NPP goes through the intensive revolutionary cleansing of weeding out saboteurs of the people’s cause, victory becomes a reality and a certainty come 2018 harmonised elections,” Nyandoro said.

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HARARE - Controversial  Harare businessman, Wicknell Chivayo, is staring down the barrel of a gun as the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) and Parliament turn the heat on him in a bid to have his power deals cancelled.

This comes as Zesa Holdings chief executive, Josh Chifamba, confirmed to the Daily News On Sunday yesterday that a board meeting would be held this week to review the deals signed with Intratek Zimbabwe — a company owned by Chivayo.

On his part, Chivayo said unequivocally that he would not be returning the $5 million in dispute — blaming a lack of funds on the part of Zesa for delays in the commencement of works at his Gwanda site.

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“There is a contract and there is no need to return the money, but to complete the project. This is a multi-million dollar project and I have to do the job, and right now there are people on the ground.

“The $5 million is only for the pre-commencement works. The delay of the project is the issue of funding, but work on the ground will be complete in three weeks.

“I stand guided by obligations in the contract, not any speculation and wishful thinking from the media,” a defiant Chivayo told the Daily News On Sunday yesterday.

The burly businessman, who is often referred to by his associates as Sir Wicknell, was awarded a $200 million tender for the Gwanda Solar Project.

Wicknell Chivayo

He was also awarded a further $73 million for the refurbishment of the Harare Power Station, $163 million for the restoration of the Munyati Power Station, and $248 million for the Gairezi Power project by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) — a subsidiary of Zesa Holdings.

ZPC senior management stands accused of advancing $5 million to Chivayo for the Gwanda Solar project’s pre-commencement works, despite him not providing a performance guarantee as required by law.

The performance guarantee acts as financial security and is supposed to be presented by the contractor before commencement of works. It insulates the client if the contractor fails to fulfill obligations set out in the contract.

Chifamba told the Daily News On Sunday that the power utility’s board would meet this week to deliberate on Chivayo’s projects.

However, he refused to be drawn into whether Chivayo would be asked to return the $5 million he was given, insisting that the Zesa board would make its position known on the matter after its meeting.

On the other hand, Parliament has said that it is gathering facts on Chivayo’s project before making a determination.

“We would want to investigate if proper procedure was followed. So, we will not rush to allege. If any procedure, standards and corporate governance issues were violated, then we will take it from there,” the chairperson of the Energy portfolio committee, Daniel Shumba, said on Friday.

Chivayo last week came under the spotlight for the power deals as his rivals called on authorities to expedite their investigations on his company and establish how he won all the lucrative power tenders running into hundreds of millions of dollars.

The flashy businessman often sets tongues wagging with Facebook posts of his expensive apparel, something that he does not make apologies about.

Chivayo, who once served a jail term for fraud, has also in the past been pictured with former president Robert Mugabe in his offices, as well as with his then powerful wife Grace and son Robert Junior while on holiday in Dubai.

He has also been previously pictured with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, when he was still prime minister during the inclusive government era.

Chivayo was said by his critics to be sympathetic to the Generation 40 (G40) faction, whose leadership was decapitated politically last month when the military intervened to remove some of its kingpins from power, claiming that they were criminals.

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HARARE - Controversial and high-living Harare businessman, Wicknell Chivayo, was  arrested at the crack of dawn at his home yesterday — in connection with  his power deals which saw him being advanced $5 million before work  commenced at one of the contentious projects.

His lawyer Thabani Mpofu confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that  Chivayo had been taken in by security agents, although he was not sure  whether this had been done by the police or the military.

Wicknel Chivayo

“At the moment I am still frantically trying to establish what happened.  I thought by now I would have made headway, but nothing has come up  yet.

For more details get today's copy of the Daily News. Telling it like it is. Without fear. Without favour.

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HARARE - FC Platinum defender Kelvin Moyo has expressed his joy at being named this year’s first runner-up at the Soccer Stars Awards last week.

“As a player you always hope for the best. Unfortunately I didn’t win but I am sure the winner Rodwell (Chinyengetere) deserved it. We play in the same team and he did well for the team in helping us win the league title,” Moyo told the Daily News.

“But I don’t think it was about me or Roddy alone I think it was about the whole team. We played as a team and I give credit to all my teammates as well as my coach Norman Mapeza who gave me the opportunity to express myself freely.

“I also want to thank the club for affording me an opportunity to represent them. I think I did well throughout the season.

“Being the first runner-up I think it’s a good thing and it will push me to work even harder next season maybe to be in the first XI again or even win it.”

Moyo was with no doubt one of the most consistent players for FC Platinum in a punishing defence that only conceded 15 goals through-out the campaign.

Apart from being outstanding at the back Moyo also contributed with important assists that led the platinum miners to lift their maiden title.

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“And with FC Platinum now set to play in the Caf Champions League, Moyo knows this is his only chance to market himself outside the country.

“Now I want to focus on the champions league. You never know you can be scouted,” he said.

“These are the types of tournaments that enable you to market yourself to outside teams. Of course my goal is to play outside the country one day be it South Africa or in Europe and the competition affords me with an opportunity to market myself by representing my club well.”

FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza has since revealed his intentions to conclude their transfer business early as they seek to assemble a formidable side ahead of the 2018 African Champions League deadline this month.

The platinum miners will represent Zimbabwe in next year’s Champions League after winning their maiden Castle Lager Premiership title.

Mapeza wants to secure all his transfer targets ahead of the Caf player registration deadline which falls on December 31.

Defender Lawrence Mhlanga, who was subjected to a protracted wrangle between Pure Platinum Play and Chicken Inn, could finally be available to play for the Zvishavane-based side after spending the entire 2017 season in the terraces.

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HARARE - Dynamos skipper Ocean Mushure could not hide his disappointment after missing out on the biggest individual accolade in the land after he was voted second-runner up at the Soccer Stars of the Year Awards held in the capital on Friday night.

Mushure had an outstanding season with the Glamour Boys, skippering a relatively inexperienced side to second place finish in the Castle Lager Premier League.

Ocean Mushure

With his cultured left foot, Mushure, blossomed especially in the second half of the season when he was pushed to a more advanced position in midfield.

The 32-year-old  chipped in with a number of  crucial goals especially for the Glamour Boys as well as creating a number of assists for his teammates from dead-ball situations.

But despite all his exploits it was FC Platinum’s Rodwell Chinyengetere who was crowned the 2017 Soccer Star of the Year while his teammate Kevin Moyo was voted the first runner-up.

However, Mushure felt his exploits this season warranted more than just the second runner-up medal he won.

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“I am not really happy because I was expecting to be crowned the winner considering how I performed this season,” a dejected Mushure said.

“I thought I had an outstanding season for both the club and country. I have been scoring goals as well as providing assists but such is life. I don’t know what people looked at when they were voting. I have since made peace with it and I am looking forward to next season.”

Mushure’s wife Audrey, who accompanied her husband to the ceremony, was, however, quick to console her husband saying it should motivate him to work harder next season.

“We just have to accept the results. We were expecting more but in football you just need to accept as it is,” said Audrey.

“You win some, and lose some. What I can tell him is that his spirit must not be dampened by this. He must come back stronger next season.”

Meanwhile, Dynamos striker Christian Ntouba was also happy to have made it on the Soccer Stars calendar in his first season in the country.

Ntouba illuminated the local Premiership with his goal scoring prowess especially in the first half of the season.

The Cameroonian, who signed a two-year contract with the Harare giants at the start of the 2016 season, shone throughout the first half of the season but somehow went off the radar when rumours of a switch to South African Premiership side Ajax Cape Town made headlines.

He eventually finished the season with 12 goals five behind Golden Boot winner Dominic Chungwa of CAPS United who netted 17 goals.

The highly rated marksman has reportedly attracted interest from South Africa’s Absa Premiership sides.

“I am happy to be part of the best players in Zimbabwe. It feels good knowing that I contributed something but it could have been better if we had won the championship,” Ntouba said.

“But congratulations to the winners. I wish them well in the Champions League. I think the future of Zimbabwean football looks very bright. There are quite a number of good players in Zimbabwe with a lot of potential.”

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HARARE - As an avid follower of football I have been noting with interest the developments that are unfolding at the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa).

It appears the same old voices that cause problems whenever elections are looming at Zifa have come out of hibernation and spiritedly so.

But what worries me most is that the latest of the noisemakers is one Jonathan Mashingaidze, the former Zifa chief executive, who appears to have a lot of sour grapes after failing to have his contract extended beyond August 2016.

Jonathan Mashingaidze

Mashingaidze surprisingly now wants to tell the world that the same Zifa election he took a huge part in two years ago was flawed that it should invite Fifa sanctions.

He alleges that Chiyangwa came into office using unorthodox means but is it not the same Mashingaidze who was fighting in Chiyangwa’s corner to succeed Cuthbert Dube? It is also important to note what preceded Chiyangwa’s elevation to become Zifa president was the dissolution of the previous executive committee led by Dube.

It was actually the first time that the Zifa Congress passed the vote of no confidence in the executive committee.

And of importance is the fact that the same congress that passed the vote of no confidence to Dube remains in office to date, and surely if there were any flaws as alleged by Mashingaidze these men would never let Chiyangwa continue in this esteemed office.

Why would be the same people who bared their teeth at Dube and cut him loose not do the same to Chiyangwa if he is as bad as Mashingaidze claims?

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They have shown that they are very ruthless in dealing with problems. In any case Mashingaidze should be grateful to Chiyangwa for letting him walk free having committed several breaches during his time as the Zifa chief executive.

Mashingaidze was sullied by the findings of the Sports and Recreation Commission Inquiry which gave a damning report on the state of football during the Dube tenure where Mashingaidze was chief executive.

The findings on Mashingaidze in that report are appalling as Zifa was technically considered insolvent with the association’s finances in shambles. A summary of the findings further revealed that Mashingaidze had paid himself $735 000.

The administration of football during that time was completely dysfunctional and Mashingaidze’s penchant to settle personal grudges cost the association a fortune.

The Zifa house now resembles a ghost house after most of its property was attached by the Messenger of Court following several lost legal battles due to Mashingaidze’s poor administration.

The association is currently saddled with many legal suits involving former employees and coaches, who have all been granted writs by the courts to attach property. Zifa has a gigantic $7 million debt incurred during Mashingaidze’s time at the football association.

Mashingaidze should not take us for granted and we haven’t forgive you for several blunders you made during your tenure include misleading the nation on the true status of Zifa’s case with Brazilian coach Valinhos which saw Zimbabwe being expelled from competing at 2018 World Cup.

So please Mashingaidze stop painting yourself as a saint, instead shut-up and sit down!

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NORTON - Norton Residence Development Trust (NRDT) will today stage a protest against the Precious Mufahore-led Norton Town Council (NTC) dubbed “Operation Restore Legacy.”

It is just the latest in a series of protests to rock the town amid accusations and counter-accusations.

Today’s protest - under the banner of NRDT— was organised by the local Independent MP Temba Mliswa against the MDC-led council.

Temba Mliswa

“Please kindly read the below electronic flier on a peaceful march against the NTC which was organised by NRDT in line with Operation Restore Legacy,” Mliswa said in an sms sent to residents.

“It is paramount that every Nortonian take part in this demonstration as it targets malpractices by the NTC which are homogeneous across the town.

“The poor service delivery in Norton is being caused by gross levels of corruption and incompetence and as such we should demand the rule of law takes its course. As the Norton MP I am supporting this march as it has nothing to do with politics but service delivery.”

It comes after a July demonstration against Mliswa by the Residents Forum Norton (RFN) that was postponed to give the legislator time to mourn his deceased father.

Norton residents had scheduled a street protest against Mliswa arguing that his constant interference was affecting service delivery.

RFN chapter moved the demo to a later date on compassionate grounds.

Norton mayoress Mufahore has also asked a judge for a restraining order to block the voluble MP from interfering with council business.

In a December 5 letter to Mashonaland West Provincial State minister Webster Shamu, NRDT said it was inviting the minister to receive its petition today against “poor management” and alleged “land barons.”

The letter was copied to Mliswa and the Local Government permanent secretary.

Secretary to Council, Kizito Muhomba, in his response sent to Shamu and seen by the Daily News,  dismissed the issues raised saying the local MP was an ideological adversary.

Mufahore has also said they were flabbergasted by the crusade against their council, and alleged the MP was pursuing a tribal agenda because the Norton municipal council was overwhelmingly dominated by office bearers from Masvingo, an allegation strenuously denied by Mliswa.

RFN chapter chairperson Samson Nduna has also alleged that Mliswa — a fitness trainer — was harassing council employees and regularly threatened to assault them if he does not get his way.

While NRDT alleged there was victimisation of council bureaucrats, Council clarified that the former councillor and Audit Committee chairperson, one Mr Takawira, was not fired by council but actually recalled by the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

“It was not him alone but also former councillor Nerutanga was recalled. Council had nothing to do with their recalling. Their party, MDC-T can best give the reasons for the decision,” the letter to Shamu said.

Council also said the former senior internal auditor was dismissed from Council following due process.

“He breached the NTC Code of Conduct which applies to all employees of Council.

“We doubt very much that in his mind he would think a demonstration would assist his case,” Muhomba said in his letter to Shamu.

Responding to claims that a land developer, Konshen, of Johannesburg area’s development did not qualify for a compliance certificate but was issued one under unclear circumstances, council said he was actually issued with a compliance certificate in July 2002 upon satisfying development conditions.

“In December 2016 the same developer successfully applied for a subdivision permit on a remainder of the land and further a development was issued to him,” the letter said.

Responding to concerns that the developer has embarked on a new development behind the Catholic Clinic in Maridale where there is no road, water and sewer, Council said in September 2017, it noted development of structures within the area and it duly served him with an enforcement order to immediately stop the illegal occupation of the land.

“The developer responded on 31 October highlighting that he would ensure adherence to regulations,” Shamu was told.

Council gave a clean bill of health to Zimbabwe Amalgamated Housing Association Trust (Zaha) which bought land from Galloway Agricultural Enterprises.

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“Zaha is currently servicing the remainder of Galloway, which is referred to as Galloway Phase 2,” Muhomba said in the letter, rubbishing corruption allegations.

“Council has also issued Zaha with a parallel development permit dated 18 August 2015 to allow the developers to concurrently service the scheme whilst their beneficiaries are putting up their structure to facilitate the provision of housing accommodation within the town.”

On concerns over water supply, Council said it had engaged a consultant for the design of a water treatment plant and a water master plan for the town.

“The scope of the project includes the consultant coming up with the bid documents for the construction works. Because council does not have funds for the project, there will be a PPP (public-private partnership) arrangement.

“Council has been working with the (Local Government) ministry on the project. An expression of interest was done and two companies were shortlisted for the construction bidding. Bidding is expected to close on 8 January 2017,” council said in the letter to Shamu. 

On concerns about the absence of a home industry, council said this was false as there was “indeed one, commonly known as ‘durawall’ though it may not cater for the needs of all who require it.”  Responding to concerns about the absence of proper rank for kombis, council said it has entered into partnership through tender for traffic management and rank construction.

“The construction of the rank should have started some time back. The partner seems to be having challenges getting forex,” council told the minister.

It also strenuously denied claims that there were no 2018 Budget consultations.

“Council called for meetings with all stakeholders although others felt left out as they wanted meetings specifically for them alone and not joined with other of similar objectives and these could not provide requirements like constitution as per Council policy and indeed for their identification,” Muhomba said in the latter to Shamu.

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HARARE - Teachers have demanded from the new Primary and Education minister Paul Mavima reinstatement of vacation leave.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) secretary-general Robson Chere said Mavima’s predecessor Lazarus Dokora had unjustly scrapped vacation leave.

Lazarus Dokora

“The issue of vacation should be addressed as a matter of urgency,” he said. “Our position will remain clear guided by ILO standards workers and in this case teachers should be accorded the right to their leave. 

“We are not enemies with the government but proponents of progress, equality and professionalism and will remain so in the hope of achieving a win-win situation.”

In a statement, Progressive Teachers Union (Ptuz) said the new minister must restore hope in Zimbabwe’s quality public education, empower teachers, and respect their professional freedom.

“We are aware that … Mavima has injured the trust from teachers on two occasions as Dokora’s deputy. He reportedly called teachers drunkards and threatened to dismiss some.

“An investigation into a few cases of drunkenness and unprecedented increase of suicide cases among teachers would have helped the learned professor to appreciate the increase of stress among teachers and their students because of the commandist approach of Dokora and the evil of poverty.

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HARARE - Former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo — who is in self-imposed exile — has hit back at Media, Information and Broadcasting Services ministry permanent secretary George Charamba after the presidential spokesperson lifted the lid on the real brains behind a legacy institution for former president, Robert Mugabe.

Charamba told the Daily News in an exclusive interview last week that contrary to widespread belief that the idea of building a university for Mugabe was conceptualised by Moyo, it was actually President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the then vice president, who came up with the idea before it was stolen by G40.

George Charamba

But writing on his Twitter account, Moyo said the idea for the legacy institution was actually brought up by former minister of Finance Ignatius Chombo with the plans being drawn by Mugabe’s nephew Albert Mugabe.

“The claim that the RGM University is a Mnangagwa idea is bootlicking idiocy. It was first initiated by the Mugabe family itself led by Amai Dr Mugabe and assisted by Dr Chombo. First designs were done by Albert Mugabe,” said Moyo.

In the interview, Charamba said one of the reasons why relations between Mnangagwa and Grace deteriorated so much that they were hardly on talking terms, was because of the capture of the then first lady by the G40 faction.

Apart from stealing the legacy university concept, the G40 faction also allegedly took over the writing of Mugabe’s biography from historian Phyllis Johnson something that Moyo also denied.

“The fiction that the writing of ... Mugabe’s biography was given to me is news not only to me but also to many who are in the know, including one Vice Chancellor and one Pro Vice Chancellor. What’s certain is that Phyllis Johnson was not & is not qualified for the task,” Moyo said.

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The presidential spokesperson revealed how Grace and her allies gate-crashed into the writing of Mugabe’s biography.

He said following the death of former Information minister Nathan Shamuyarira in June 2014, a decision was made to resuscitate the writing of Mugabe’s biography under the management of historian, Johnson.

“Then one fateful day that project was rudely taken from her, and I use the word rudely advisably. You should have seen the poor woman, she just got a sharp plain instruction kuti dzosa (bring back), and who was going to do that it was again Jonathan,” said Charamba.

He said these incidents gave him the impression that Mugabe’s legacy had morphed from being the business of Zanu PF to that of a few individuals around his wife, Grace.

He said Mugabe had become a captive of the G40 faction now scattered across the world in the wake of his fall.

“So looking at these seemingly unrelated matters, I got a distinct impression that the then president’s legacy had ceased to be a matter for his party, Zanu PF but for preferred members working with the first family — it was a family affair,” he said.

“If you consider that vakuru  (Mugabe) had picked Shamuyarira (to write the biography), you notice it was not just a choice based on his attributes but it was a gesture of symbolically surrendering his life and legacy to the party he had served and led, after all his life and legacy was to a large measure the life and legacy of the party, which is why it could only be written by the spokesperson of the party in the form of Shamuyarira. This was a classical case where competence and loyalty coincided,” said Charamba.

He said instead of talk about a life well lived, there were in fact talking about how that life was being misappropriated for a future political project — changing from retrospective to being prospective.

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HARARE - Our senior staff writer Mugove Tafirenyika sits down for an interview with MDC national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe. Find below excerpts of the interview.

Q: There was talk of an inclusive government prior to the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa following former president Robert Mugabe’s departure. Chris Mutsvangwa, the president’s adviser, told the media that Mnangagwa had “engaged” the MDC about joining an “inclusive” team in this way, but Morgan Tsvangirai barred members of the party from joining the team. The MDC disputes this version. What happened?

A:  As the organising secretary of the party and as far as the party structures and the party presidency, there was no formal approach from either Zanu PF as a political party or Mnangagwa as the Zanu PF aspiring candidate for the 2018 elections.

He went on to become president but we did not see that hand of inviting us. If ever anything had happened, the rightful offices of our political structures was going to inform our machinery so there were never formal talks between the two parties.

The only role we played is probably that they hijacked our programme to impeach Mugabe.

We made four attempts at that with the latest being  the James Maridadi motion which they were resisting only to hijack it and present it as a Monica Mutsvangwa motion.

Q: But would you have joined them if they had approached you?

A: One thing that people don’t understand is that when Mugabe was ousted, he was running a government and that government is Zanu PF and pushes its policies. 

Now for any MDC member to be in a Zanu PF government pushing Zanu PF policies, he had to get proper clearance from the party so that our policies can also be accommodated and once that happens it would have started negotiations. So it was not about joining a Zanu PF government but about Zimbabwe.

Q: Where was talk of transitional authority coming from?

A: I know because of the euphoria that came with Mugabe’s ouster there is this kind of approach to issues that people took to say we are one, talking about a transitional government .

The idea was to sort out the mess as a collective. Arguments were still coming for and against and there is not one group that will say it won that argument.

Some were always skeptical of that arrangement basing on what happened previously when we had the inclusive government.

We went flat out to sort the economic mess while Zanu PF was busy consolidating power, so that is why it was important for us to talk first to highlight these issues.

Q: But what would have been the basis of a transitional authority and why were you talking about it in the MDC in the first place?

A: It would have made sense if Mugabe had been ousted by the people.

However, the transitional thing was overtaken by events especially when the army took over ZBC, a national broadcaster, which meant that citizens’ rights that go with the ZBC being stationed, were taken away.

For an army general to read main news at an awkward hour raised more questions. So the issue of the transition was parked for a moment.

It only came up again when it became clear that Mugabe was going.

However, at the same time the army was in control, Zanu PF was doing another parallel process.

Zanu PF structures suddenly had the power to sit and start processes to oust Mugabe but it is important to note that the process was also flawed where certain individuals like Mutsvangwa and others who went on to sit in a central committee to make supposedly binding decisions when it is in the public record that they were fired.

The army process and the Zanu PF processes were both illegal. Now we have a coalition government of the army and unscrupulous Zanu PF individuals.

To prove that this whole thing is now a military state, what is the army doing on the roads where an awkward situation has arisen with police officers stopping vehicles and handing over to the army.

The pattern that is emerging is disturbing. What kind of an operation is that? What threat is government facing that warrants the army to go out there and search vehicles?

There has to be a national threat for the army to do that. Now my question to Mnangagwa is, what kind of threat is it that Zimbabweans don’t know?

Whatever insecurity there is, it should be known to the people.

Q: Do you think the international community let the people down by allowing such an “awkward” development, to use your phrase?

A: To Sadc, AU and the international community, we want their comment. What do they call what is happening in Zimbabwe.

There is an element of illegality here.  I know people will try just like I will do, to run away from the word ‘coup’ but what do we call this?

We need a name for such a strange situation that is illegal. Is it an illegal process that produced legal results or an illegal process that produced short-lived results?

I say short-lived because all of sudden people who were euphoric yesterday are now beginning to ask questions.

And they have to be answered by none other than Mnangagwa and his government.

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Q: There is talk that the MDC was used by Mnangagwa and that you have gone to sleep. What would be your reaction?

A: Like I said, we are in a military State and in the wake of what is happening, we ought to be cautious lest we expose our people to danger and would not want to do anything that would be tantamount to intimidating our own people as we go into elections in the next seven months or so.

Meanwhile, the network of our structures is being fed with the right information and the response is fantastic. While we realise that we were duped by the Mnangagwa group, our consolation is that with Mugabe out of the equation, it’s part of our job done. 

We now need to deal with the institution that he presided over, Zanu PF. The only problem is that Zanu PF finances itself through the State and they use that to destabilise the opposition.

Q: How does Zanu PF do that?

A: In Hwange West, for example, while government registers everyone for fertilisers and brings enough of it for all, it is the local party leadership that is entrusted with distribution that then goes on to remove known MDC supporters from the list and distribute the fertiliser only to their people and steal the rest.

Zanu PF ward officials steal their provincial and national counterparts steal as well from the community.

So when the military says it is targeting criminals around the president, we thought they would also target criminals around the wards and districts if they are genuine.

We thought the army would say, look, we are not Zanu PF, we are a people’s army so we are going to now stand aside as referees but we are not seeing that.

What we are seeing is a situation where the supposed referee is also taking penalties in the game, which explains why we now see even those that read the ‘coup’ statement being appointed to government.

The message is clear that we are in a military State and those who say we have gone back to normalcy are living in a fools’ paradise.

There is a partnership between Zanu PF and the army. The army did not come out to save us but to save Zanu PF.

The army won’t go away anytime soon because it’s their project and they want to see it through.

Q: From the MDC perspective, what is the way forward?

A: The MDC is now a vehicle towards normalising the situation but it can’t do it alone. It has to be a people’s project.

People should understand that the country has been captured by the army and we need to come out of this capture soon. 

Our neighbours in Sadc ought to realise that an awkward situation has arisen in their region and they have to take a stand to assist Zimbabwe to extricate itself from the jaws of the army and restore the country to civilian rule.

The AU also should also make a stand.  They should allow the people to choose not to choose the MDC. They should allow them to choose the junta ahead of the MDC in a fair and credible election.

We want a free and fair election supervised by the AU, Sadc and the UN. It is a collective game because the country is in a mess.

Q: There is talk of acrimony in the party involving you Thokozani Khupe and others over the MDC Alliance. What is the situation like at the moment?

A: In any political set up things are never smooth.  Give me any party that you can say it has lived for more than 20 years and all has been well for them, that will be a lie.

Problems are things that we have to live with. What we must celebrate is our ability as parties to solve their problems amicably.

The so-called MDC problems were a creation of Zanu PF and CIO infiltrators who wanted to have the party destabilised to give them a chance to freely deal with their Mugabe.

Concerning the MDC Alliance, no one within the opposition ranks does not want a coalition. We all want it.

We all agree that when the president agreed to a coalition he did his mandate which is good. 

However, we cannot just say because the president has agreed then it’s all fine and behave like Zanu PF and their one centre of power principle.

We support the president for agreeing but when it comes to implementation; we must remember we are dealing with people with five senses. Who think we can’t afford to do that.

We have to look at the so-called alliance with a wide open eye because we want to work together.

I don’t believe that if Tendai Biti for example is genuine about his desire to fight Zanu PF, he should set conditions to say we want such seats first.

Are you available to the highest bidder? Does it mean if Zanu PF offers more than the MDC is prepared to give, then you will join them?

Supporting one candidate for the presidency cannot be on condition that you get seats. It’s not genuine. It can’t be for a prize because the biggest prize is removing Zanu PF.

My relationship with the president dates back to the ZCTU. I was part of the structures that made him secretary general of ZCTU and we cemented the relationship when we formed the MDC and since then it has been very cordial.

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HARARE - Rimuka Post Office in Kadoma is actually operating as an off-counter for the Kadoma Post Office contrary to claims that it has been shut down, the minister of Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security Supa Mandiwanzira has said. 

The minister was responding to a question by Kadoma Zanu PF MP Fani Phiri what plans were in place to re-open the Post Office “which closed down several years ago.”

Mandiwanzira said the Rimuka Post Office is currently operational and is offering a full range of postal services to the public.

“There was an incident however, when the clerk manning the post office counter was unavailable and his replacement delayed in rendering services resulting in the post office not offering services for three days and that was in August,” Mandiwanzira told the National Assembly last week. 

“When we heard about this, Mr Speaker Sir, we asked what disciplinary action had been taken because this is unacceptable to government because services must always be delivered and people must go to post offices and get services as is expected on a daily basis. 

“So, we have been told that the person concerned was charged for withholding information that is pertinent to the discharge of another member’s duties and also was charged for conducting oneself or behaving in a manner that brings or likely to bring the name of the company and in this case Zimpost, into disrepute or to tarnish the image of the company.”

The minister said the officer was also charged with gross disregard of standing procedures and rules resulting in potential financial loss or prejudice to the company and this matter was heard by a hearing committee in Kadoma on November 17, 2017. 

“The outcome was that the postal manager, a Mr Madi, was found guilty and the penalty was a final written warning valid for 12 months,” Mandiwanzira said.

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HARARE - A Zanu PF MP is pushing a new programme through Parliament intended at helping those with criminal records gain employment.

Fani Phiri, the Zanu PF MP for Kadoma Central, said government was making it tough for offenders to put their past behind them and the present policies left them vulnerable to discrimination by employers.

The belief that a criminal background equals risky work performance has been the prevailing ethos for employers and policymakers for decades—at least for the traditional workforce.

Phiri asked the minister of Labour and Social Welfare Petronella Kagonye what she was doing to promote employment to ex-convicts since prisons are providing correctional services.

She acknowledged that the present policies stigmatise and isolate those with criminal records but said government regards prison as a rehabilitation institute. 

“Naturally, all things being equal, the rehabilitated persons are expected to re-integrate into society and be active participants in all areas including equal opportunity in terms of employment services,” she told the National Assembly last Wednesday.

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“However, we take cognisant of the unfavourable conditions in the labour market, which not only affect the released person but the generality of all citizens. 

“They all have to compete for the limited jobs and obviously those without any prison record have a better chance of getting the only available jobs, while those from the prison battle to clear their image and stigma.

“We are also aware that every employer requires disclosure in terms of convictions.  It is against this background that we acknowledge the need for a policy that will support mechanisms to cater for those released from prison.”

She said currently, there is no such policy for both private and public sector. 

“Since unemployment is a national concern a holistic approach on employment creation and a fund is also recommended to avoid appearing to be rewarding those from prison,” she said.

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