HARARE - The Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) elected a new board headed by creative writer and journalist Monica Cheru-Mpambawashe at its Annual General Meeting held in Harare at the weekend.

Cheru-Mpambawashe, who was the vice chairperson of the previous board, is deputised by journalist and performing artiste Nqobile Malinga.

The rest of the board includes Lawrence Hoba (secretary general), Tinashe Muchuri (deputy secretary), Richard Gandari (resource mobiliser), Shumirai Nhanhanga (treasurer) and John Stewart (committee member).

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The new ZWA board replaces the one that was headed by veteran writer academic Musaemura Zimunya. It also included Cheru-Mpambawashe (board vice-chairperson), Eresinah Hwede (resource mobiliser), Memory Chirere (secretary general), Dakarai Mashava (deputy secretary general), Beatrice Sithole (treasurer) and Malinga (committee member).

Cheru-Mpambawashe told the Daily News that her board is delighted to be coming on board at a time of promising political change.

“As a board coming in at a time there are so many changes in the country, we also feel obliged to take the business unusual approach,” said the Zwa board chairperson.

She added that the new board was determined to take the writers’ umbrella organisation to a new level despite serious financial challenges.

“Funding has been a perennial challenge but we cannot continue to use this as an excuse. This means we will be running with low-budget high-impact activities.

“We are looking at placing the writer in the here and now. Of prime importance is strengthening digital presence and focusing on young and upcoming writers. We are also targeting synergies with other organisations within and without our borders,” Cheru-Mpambawashe said.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe-born Almonte “Alie Keyz” Mthombeni (27) is little known in his country of birth despite the fact that he has been a key factor in the award-winning South African hip hop star Cassper Nyovest’s rise to the top.

Alie Keyz, who has produced many of the Doc Shebeleza singer’s hits, was recently elevated to the position of music director; a role which put him at the centre stage of Cassper Nyovest’s historic ‘Fill Up’ events.

Cassper Nyovest

Cassper Nyovest has successfully filled up The Dome, The Orlando Stadium as well as the iconic FNB Stadium in Soweto.

In addition to Cassper Nyovest, Alie Keyz has also worked with many top South African artistes including the legendary Soul Brothers.

Alie Keyz, who was in Harare for a few days, believes he is now better-placed to assist fellow Zimbabwean artistes achieve international standards.

“I think I have achieved what I wanted to in showbiz. I have worked with big names in South Africa including Cassper Nyovest, Soul Brothers and Mzwakhe Mbuli among others and I feel it’s high time I impart my skills to fellow countrymen,” Alie Keyz told the Daily News.

As part of his mission of assisting local artistes, the Bulawayo-bred Alie Keyz is currently grooming hip hop artiste Ngonie Dondo-son of Impala Car Rental director Thompson Dondo.

“The guy has potential and I will link him up with South African hip hop artistes such as Nasty C as well as to make him collaborate with Jah Prayzah who is doing very well in Zimbabwe,” he said.

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Like many other Zimbabweans, the-27-year-old-artiste, who was born in Beit Bridge, left Bulawayo’s Bellevue area to embark on the great trek down south in search of a better life six years ago.

Before heading to South Africa with his own band, Alie Keyz had previously worked with songstress Sandra Ndebele and Jeys Marabini in Zimbabwe.

“Though I had my own band then, I also doubled up as a session artiste in South Africa and I got to work with the likes of Soul Brothers and Mzwake Mbuli first. Then five years ago I met Cassper Nyovest.

“He wasn’t the big star he has become now then. He identified me while I was playing with my own band. The way I was playing the instruments on stage impressed him. He then asked me to help his band,” he said.

That was the beginning of his relationship with the popular South African star who commands a huge following in Zimbabwe.

“I have produced a number of his singles including his third and latest album Thuto and I am happy the project went Gold on the day of release and within a few weeks it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa,” he said.

Alie Keyz, who has received several best producer nominations, regards Cassper Nyovest’s historic ‘Fill up’ events from the Dome, Orlando Stadium to FNB stadium as some of the major highlights of his career.

“That was very challenging. The pressure was too much for us,” he said.

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MUTARE - Financial challenges have stalled the completion of a chicken abattoir, the first of its kind in Manicaland, which was due for completion before the end of the year.

The abattoir costs $120 000.

Manicaland Poultry Association (MPA) chairperson Enock Mbendani said while they have part of the equipment, which would be the first for the entire province, the process was being frustrated by their inability to access bank loans.

“We have most of the equipment on site but we are falling a bit short on our finances to complete the works and get everything going.

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“When you hear banks saying they support everyone it’s a lie, they don’t support small players like ourselves,” Mbendani claimed.

“The abattoir will allow small scale and informal breeders to also gain access to the formal market and we are challenging these producers to come forward and work with us,” he said.

The abattoir has capacity to process 8 000 chickens a day but Mbendani they would start with 3 000 chickens a day.

“It can also be upgraded from that 8 000 a day to a much bigger figure if supplies for the chickens improve across the province.

“Poultry farmers have decided to unite and work on the abattoir in light of the challenges we have been facing in accessing the formal market which was now threatening the viability of most of our farms,” said Mbendani.

MPA, said Mbendani, was helping farmers to also source drugs and chicken feed as this was proving difficult for individual farmers to access these.

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MUTARE - Timber firms in Manicaland are hoping that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government will finally act on invasions on the timber plantations by illegal settlers who were an untouchable lot during the tenure of former president Robert Mugabe’s administration.

Thousands of illegal settlers have invaded swathes of plantation land in Manicalaland, leading to loss of more than 30 000 hectares of productive area.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) said government needed to weed out invaders to allow industrial recovery efforts.

CZI vice president Richard Chiwandire said the timber firms have continuously suffered invasions and disruptions without receiving any form of support from the authorities.

“Issue of illegal settlers on timber plantations needs to be addressed. These have been the greatest impediment in the recovery of this sector,” Chiwandire said.

Manicaland province is the biggest producer of tea, coffee, timber, beans and fruits.

Chiwandire said while the province was set to benefit from the granting of hospitality industry special economic zone status, the agricultural sector needed the “security of tenure on land, respect Bippa’s  and  have bankable 99-year leases regularised”.

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MUTARE – Mutare City Council (MCC) has compiled a dossier listing properties that were either sold or processed by the city during the tenure of Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandiitawepi Chimene in a move which could potentially see former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo being asked to explain some of the transactions.

Mandiitawepi Chimene

This MCC says this is being done to ascertain whether there have been acts of abuse of office and possible corruption involving the two former Zanu PF heavyweights.

However, some councillors allege that this is a vengeful exercise aimed at settling old “political” scores by certain officials within the MCC.

Chombo is currently on $5 000 bail where is facing a slew of charges emanating from the time he was Local Government minister while Chimene has gone into self-imposed exile following the fall of former president Robert Mugabe.

MCC chamber secretary Cephas Vuta told Eastern News that they had already compiled and submitted the list of properties they said belonged Chombo and Chimene.

“We compiled and submitted the list of properties belonging to former finance minister Chombo and provincial affairs minister Chimene,” told a full council meeting.

He said this was in line with the military’s operation which targeted “criminals” around Mugabe.

Among the properties that are under the spotlight is a residential home in Aloe Garden which councillors claimed was not procedurally awarded to Zanu PF Mutasa MP Irene Zindi, who allegedly received it as a golden handshake for serving as one of the city’s commissioner.

Councillors want the house repossessed.

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Apart from the house, MCC has extended its investigations to cover the highly-contested disposal of Meikles Park which was taken by government in a swap deal with land in Fern Valley which the municipality was given to expand the city.

Government sold Meikles Park to businessman-cum politician Esau Mupfumi who had earmarked the area for developing a mall.

National Social Security Authority (Nssa) has challenged the sale at the High Court arguing that it had purchased Meikles Park before government’s and MCC swap deal.

The MCC has labelled swap deal bad but town planner Richard Simbi told the councillors that the transcation between government and council was above board.

“Meikles Park deal was a very bad deal for council because there was arm twisting… we however can’t have a short cut…we will have to follow the legal route.

“There is however a court case pending at the High Court where Nssa is claiming that it had bought the land before the transaction. So let us let the law take its course,” Vuta said.

He said the transaction relating to Meikles Park was done on the basis of a directive from the ministry of local government.

MMC said Chombo was minister at the time.

Simbi, however, dug in telling councilors that “this is normal practice and it’s not the first time we have had such a deal with government.”

Chombo and Chimene were said to be part of the Generation 40 (G40) faction which viciously fought President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid to succeed Mugabe in favour of his wife, Grace.

When the military launched its operation in the wee hours of November 15 in an intervention which it said was targeting ‘criminals’ around Mugabe, several G40  aligned ministers – including Saviour Kasukuwere, Jonathan Moyo, Patrick Zhuwao and Chimene have all gone into self-imposed exile.

Chombo  was detained for several days before appearing in court to answer various charges including corruption.

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MUTARE - Biriiri High School has been hit by claims of Satanism which forced government to dispatch senior environmental officials and doctors to investigate the claims.

More than 20 students were taken ill but United Baptist Church (UBC) dismissed Satanism claims saying the affected girls suffered a virus which had hit the school.

UBC secretary general Innocent Dube said the condition that saw girls complaining of swelling, shivering and pain in the legs and in some cases mild psychosis was a “contagious viral condition” that had been also reported in other schools across the country.

“This disease is not unique to Biriiri High School alone since boarding schools and day schools around the country have also been faced with that untimely challenge,” Dube told the Eastern News.

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“At the end of second term a few students in our school succumbed to an ailment that involved shivering as well as mild psychosis.

The problem was also experienced during the last term of the year with 29 out of 900 students being affected.

“The disease is believed to be common to the girl child which is also the case with Biriiri students. The ailment is believed to be a contagious viral condition,” Dube said.

He said the while the church school had instituted prayers, fasts and church sessions dedicated to reining in the medical problem it has been engaging health professionals to handle the issue in line with government policy.

Dube said while all affected students have been referred to the hospital with “a number of them having been cured” in a gesture that “is in line with the ministry of Education’s expectation that if a student is ill, she shall be referred to a medical practitioner, they have also deployed medical experts to the school led by one Mugari, a doctor.

Parents were also allowed to take their children for further medical attention.

“Hostels of residents were disinfected to try and kill the pathogenic elements which also helped to some extent.

“Students still occupied their usual hostels of residence without limiting their daily interaction.

“Students were never denied their right to write exams due to this illness. All students on campus who were fit to write exams could still write, However for those who had gone home for medical attention were still allowed to undertake their exams,” Dube said.

He said the problem had been blown out of proportion when acting Chief Saurombe stormed the school with apostolic sect occultists and State media journalists in tour for a cleansing charade that had one psychotic student claim Satanism practices against school authorities.

“We do not subscribe to the cultic activities that were forcibly done in our station. The move was ignominious. United Baptist Church beliefs have no allegiance to the occult practices of the apostolic sect which forcibly stormed our station without any permission from us.

“They carried out their cleansing rituals in an unwelcomed fashion. Despite the tepid response they got in the station they called a few students to perform their cleansing rituals. The event was very disgraceful as it violated heavily with our basis of faith,” Dube said.

“We do not advocate the notion of undertaking unauthorised entry into our premise regardless of the ranks people may occupy. While we respect our visitors, it is not within their jurisdiction to forcefully get into the station to deal with issues in a manner that goes against our bases of faith,” he added.

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HARARE - Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa’s budget speech sets a good precedence in terms of policy thrust of reform and economic resuscitation with clear government austerities, international community engagement and clarity on the contentious Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, but the targets are unrealistic, Old Mutual has said.

Patrick Chinamasa

“We must draw caution on the aggressive revenue forecast of $5,7 billion in 2018 against tax revenue collections of $3,85 billion in 2017.

“This is somewhat aggressive given a gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast of 4,5 percent and donor fatigue in a number of sectors within the Zimbabwean economy,” the country’s largest insurance firm said.

This comes as Zimbabwe is unlikely to get significant multilateral funding in the short term given its international debt arrears and high country risk profile arising from the high level of domestic debt.

“There are international debt arrears that need to be cleared in addition to a number of socio-political and economic reforms that need to be embedded before noteworthy funding can be availed.

“We must bear in mind that 2018 is an election year with budgetary expectations that need to be met ahead of some of the highlighted infrastructure projects,” Old Mutual added.

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Although Chinamasa was optimistic on the country’s future economic prospects, the budget speech was not clear on how and where the revenue will be generated.

In terms of tax revenue, a forecast of $5 billion is projected for 2018, 30 percent ahead of the 2017 tax revenue collections.

“Industry growth is premised on ease of doing business reforms and export growth which we believe are not short term problems hence a more conservative tax revenue figure in the short term would have been

more amenable.

“Encouraging, however, is that while government hopes to fund $1 billion of the $1,7 capital expenditure budget, the balance of $0,7 billion is being sort from foreign investors under the auspices of a new Indigenisation Act, tax break incentives and new investor friendly policy thrust which may be a quick win,” Old Mutual said.

Chinamasa, however, said there was need for a paradigm shift for the country to achieve sustainable economic growth.

“Our quest for reversing economic decline and eradicating unemployment and poverty can only become reality if we walk the talk with regard to adoption of a paradigm shift in the way we do business and manage our economy, public enterprises and finances,” he said in his budget statement.

“As we focus on recovery of our economy, we must shed misbehaviours and acts of indiscipline which have characterised the past, while we address and reduce the high country risk perception among existing and prospective investors,” he added.

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HARARE – The Postal and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) yesterday made history by holding its first ever annual general meeting since 2001 when it was established.

Potraz chairperson Ozias Bvute said the regulator should be ready to embrace new trends in the telecommunications industry.

Ozias Bvute

“Moving forward, it appears likely that we will be seeing a transformation in the way the telecommunications industry will continue to grow and provide consumers with relevant, dependable services, thus network quality and diversification of services will be paramount in keeping competition fresh,” he said.

Bvute further noted that consumers are demanding more data, great content and a more satisfying user experience.

As such, he challenged operators   to change course and expand their offerings in order to evolve in the dynamic market.

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“As service providers consider how and when to upgrade their infrastructure and networks to meet this demand, this is where regulatory frameworks such as the Infrastructure sharing regulatory framework play a key role.

“The framework allows service providers to focus on innovation which, in the information age, is the only answer to new and sustainable revenue streams and for consumers, lower costs,” he added.

Potraz recorded $22,7 million revenues in the nine months to September 2017 against a projected revenue of $20 million.

The regulator, which held its first ever annual general meeting yesterday since it was established nearly two decades ago, also recorded $11,5 million revenues from the Universal Services Fund up from a budgeted $10,7 million.

“It has indeed been a challenging year, but delivering a clean set of results is what our shareholder wants and we should strive to maintain this year in year out,” Bvute said.

This is the first time that the authority has had a clean set of accounts and the appointment of Gift Machengete as the director general last year seems to be paying dividends.

Potraz was established to ensure the provision of the sufficient domestic and international telecommunication and postal services throughout Zimbabwe on such terms and conditions as the authority may see fit.

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HARARE – Industry minister Mike Bimha has said the application of standards leads to the production of internationally-accepted goods and services as well as remove barriers to trade.

Addressing guests at the 2017 National Annual Quality Awards (Naqa) hosted by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (Saz) on Tuesday evening, Bimha said the removal of trade barriers allowed organisations to access international markets and export their products and services.

Mike Bimha

“My ministry recognises that standardisation is an integral aspect of regional growth and globalisation, as it is an important tool for trade.

“The application of standards leads to the production of goods and delivery of services that meet internationally-accepted standards,” he said.

According to Bimha, standards offer market-driven solutions that capture current good practice and we encourage their use throughout our economy.

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“Standards are, therefore, an important tool for achieving sustainable economic development and growth.

“There is need for increased awareness and widespread application of standards by Zimbabwean companies in order to enhance the overall economy of the African continent in general and our region in particular," he said.

Saz director general Eve Gadzikwa said Naqa will go beyond thephysical shield or certificate but creates new opportunities for organisations.

“Once a company or an individual receives a Naqa, it is no surprise that the award will open many doors and will elevate your organisation to a global market,” Gadzikwa said.

The Naqa winners will have an opportunity to participate at the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) level that was approved in 2009 by the organisation’s committee of ministers of Trade and Industry.

The Sadc quality awards will be held next year in South Africa during the Sadc TBT cooperation structures meeting in March.

The Sadc quality awards ceremony is held every year to coincide with the general meetings of the Sadc coordinating structures, where heads of quality institutions of all of the Sadc member states come together to conduct their business in support of harmonising standards, measurements and technical regulations in order to continually work towards a region free from unnecessary trade barriers.

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HARARE - The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) said it is seeking to engage a consulting firm to carry out a feasibility study on the construction of a multi-million dollar complex in Zimbabwe’s capital city.

Afreximbank will build a permanent regional office for southern Africa in Harare with an integrated one-stop trade services shop.

It is the first of its so-called “trade centres” — mini business parks for African trade — that Afreximbank is planning to open across the continent.

The trade centre will include a range of facilities, such as an auditorium conference centre, a trade information centre, corporate rental office space for trade promoting bodies, export credit agencies and commercial banks, an innovation and incubation hub for small businesses, and shops and restaurants.

“The project, when completed, will transform Zimbabwe into an intra-African trade hub, a centre of knowledge and information about markets, and a centre where major deals can be struck,” says Afreximbank president Benedict Oramah.

He adds that the project will enable Afreximbank to expand its operations in southern Africa in size, scope and complexity.

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The latest development comes as the regional lender has pledged a $1,5 billion economic stabilisation package for the country earmarked for the resuscitation productive sectors to stimulate more exports.

“We discussed various areas where we have been intervening and will continue to intervene.

“We also informed the president that the $600 million we engaged a few weeks ago has now been finalised,” he said after meeting President

Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday. “We also discussed a number of areas that will involve additional investments from us, something that will be in the order of $1 billion to $1,5 billion that will include certain kinds of guarantees to encourage investors to come into Zimbabwe at this time.

“It will include a $150 million facility we are doing for banks to enable them to confirm letters of credit to ensure that we have good supply of essential items like fuel, fertilisers and so on,” Oramah added.

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HARARE – African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)’s announcement on Tuesday of a $1,5 billion economic stabilisation package for Zimbabwe can be a game changer for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new government.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Afreximbank said they are to support the stabilisation of the Zimbabwean economy by providing currency liquidity to avoid bank queues. The injected funds will also go towards the revival of the productive sector to stimulate more exports.

Apart from the bail-out being a game changer for his government, the funds’ injection can also propel Mnangagwa’s political bid for the presidency in next year’s elections.

The issue of the bank queues has been one of the most pressing economic and social issues which if immediately addressed will be a plus for Mnangagwa and his ruling Zanu PF government .

Afreximbank would also be supporting nostro accounts of the different banks to ensure that those dealing in US dollars have access every time they needed them to pay for goods.

The funds will also provide investment guarantees for investors, to entice them come to Zimbabwe.

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The good news also coming from Afreximbank is that the $600 million nostro stabilisation facility extended to Zimbabwe to meet its foreign currency requirements for productive foreign payments had been finalised.

While Zimbabweans have received the news with hopes of a quick economic turn over, we hope there will be no misuse of the stabilisation package as has happened in the past.

In the short term the economic stabilisation package will boost our ailing economy, but we also need to look at the long-term because Zimbabwe still needs to repay that money bank to Afreximbank.

There is need for serious accountability and transparency regarding the terms of the financial package and the country’s eventual liabilities because if we are not careful we could be mortgaging the future of the country to debt.

Also given the long-term implications of acquiring foreign financial support, such deals need to be subjected to rigorous democratic oversight by various supporting institutions.

The package can restore confidence in the economy and set a good foundation for attracting both domestic and foreign investment.

Afreximbank’s economic stabilisation package if used wisely can send positive signals to the rest of the world that Zimbabwe is now a harbour for business investment.

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HARARE - November 15 has earned a place in Zimbabwean political historiography for a number of reasons.

Having been there when it happened is an honour for most Zimbabweans as they will be able to tell it to future generations.

It was a day when Zimbabwe’s only leader then since independence, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, was put under house arrest following a military intervention to “restore legacy” in an operation known by the same name.

As the military made announcements on national television, the musical interludes were dominated by liberation war songs mainly from the late Dick “Cde Chinx” Chingaira.

the late Cde Chinx

This set me thinking about this illustrious hero who died at West End Hospital in Harare on June 16, 2017 and was buried at Glen Forest Cemetery after being declared a liberation war hero.

Many Zimbabweans thought Cde Chinx would be declared a national hero with Mugabe deciding otherwise.

Given Cde Chinx’s immense contribution to the struggle for liberation and also in the post-independence era, he is one of the many whose status should not have been debated at all.

However, this is already water under the bridge. Perhaps the new dispensation should go back and revisit Cde Chinx’s status and give him national hero status.

There are so many national heroes who had been buried in Mozambique but their remains were exhumed and reburied with befitting honour at the national shrine.

The likes of Leopold Takawira, Herbert Chitepo, Alfred Nikita Mangena and Josiah Magama Tongogara among others had their remains interred at the national shrine at after independence.

There would entirely be nothing wrong in bringing back the debate around Cde Chinx’s hero status and there is likely to be a convergence of ideas on this.

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Those who listened to the late hero’s songs that were played on the first day of the current dispensation would be forgiven for contesting the decision to deny the popular artist national hero status.

Cde Chinx joined the war for Zimbabwean liberation movement in 1975. In Mozambique, Chinx was deployed to Takawira Choir whose duty was to create music in order to boost guerrilla moral during training. When the leader of the choir Cde Mhere Yarira was transferred to Tanzania, Cde Chinx took over and renamed the group, which was named to honour the late Takawira, to Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army choir (Zanla Choir).

In 1980, Cde Chinx returned to Zimbabwe and joined Ilanga. I remember this period vividly as I witnessed the master of song being applauded by students at the University of Zimbabwe for the tracks Ngorimba, Zvikomborero and Nerudo, among others.

Cde Chinx later joined Mazana Movement and continued producing hits like Hokoyoyi and Vanhu vese vemuAfrica.

Roger Confirm, produced in 1989, was to become Cde Chinx’s signature tune.

This hit gained Cde Chinx the popularity and fame which he enjoyed until his death on June 16, 2017.

There are a number of people who are interred at the national shrine whose contribution does not surpass that of Cde Chinx.

When some of Cde Chinx’s earliest compositions like Maruza Vapambepfumi are played, they drive the listeners back to the days of the liberation struggle, recreating the discourse of plunder, denigration and segregation that was a distinctive feature of the racist Rhodesia regime.

For all this Cde Chinx needed to be honoured and it is surprising that Mugabe denied the popular artist national hero status. Probably the new government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa will consider this and revisit the discussion.

According Cde Chinx national hero status would go a long way in placating one of the restless souls of Zimbabwe’s liberation history.

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HARARE – Jonathan Mashingaidze appears to have stirred a Hornet’s nest in his battle against Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) with the soccer mother body pressing ahead with criminal charges against their former chief executive.

This comes as Mashingaidze who claimed he is owed $80 000 in outstanding salaries is actually facing a host of charges from Zifa bordering on alleged theft and fraud.

Zifa armed with a report from their auditors Tilly Barker a copy of which was sent to the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), the period during which Mashingaidze presided over the association, is the time which the football body could not account for $700 000.

This has prompted Zifa to probe their former chief executive further.

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Mashingaidze who this week was slapped with a life ban from all football activities,  is also accused of colluding with some creditors to siphon funds from Zifa and bleed the association to its knees.

During his time as chief executive Zifa just didn’t seem interested in clearing their debt which later ballooned to $7 million in just five years.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association Executive Committee has sued and indefinitely banned its former general secretary, (Jonathan) Mashingaidze, on charges of theft and fraudulently accruing a huge debt for Zifa during his tenure as the head of secretariat,” reads part of the statement by Zifa.

“Apart from the life ban, Mashingaidze has been summoned to answer to a charge of theft of association funds in excess of $700 000 which the plaintiff (Zifa) is claiming, with interest.

“Reference is made to the decision of the Zifa Executive Committee on December 12 2017 where it was resolved that in terms of Article 34(n) of the Zifa constitution, you are forthwith expelled and banned for life from participation in association football in Zimbabwe in any role, position, or capacity whatsoever, subject to the confirmation of your expulsion and life ban by the Zifa congress in terms of the Zifa constitution.”

“Reasons for Mashingaidze’s expulsion are as follows:

“Theft of Association funds in excess of $700 000 as established by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) Committee of Inquiry Report dated September 2015.

“Fraudulently creating a $7 million debt on behalf of the Association through unilaterally signing acknowledgements of debt where no services were rendered … as established by the SRC Report.”

The Cuthbert Dube-led Zifa board appointed Mashingaidze chief executive officer in 2010, but somehow, along the way Dube virtually ceded the executive committee’s responsibility to him with devastating consequences.

Dube and Mashingaidze stand accused as the main reason why Zifa is saddled with huge debts.

The administration of football during that time was completely dysfunctional and Mashingaidze’s penchant to settle personal grudges cost the association situated at 53 Livingstone Avenue in the Capital a fortune.

The Zifa house now resembles a ghost house after most of its property was attached by the Messengers 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.

Among many of his blunders, Mashingaidze also misled the nation on the true status of Zifa’s case with Brazilian coach Valinhos which saw Zimbabwe being expelled from competing at the 2018 World Cup.

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HARARE - Zim hip-hop star Stunner has renewed his feud with fellow rapper Mudiwa Hood who landed four gongs at the Zim Hip-Hop Awards 2017 held in Bulawayo last weekend Mudiwa walked away with the Best Hip-Hop Hustle, Video of the year, Best Gospel artiste and Best Dressed on the night Awards.

The four-award haul, however, did not impress Stunner who took home just a single gong — the Best Male Award.

Despite taking the most awards this year, the Ndaita Mbiri singer believes Mudiwa’s songs fall short of real hip-hop because they lack “rhymes and bars.”

Stunner added that he was relieved that all the awards Mudiwa won were fringe ones.

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“But check it out, you all shouldn't be mad. He (Mudiwa) got Best Video, Best Hustle, Best Dressed and Best Gospel. You don't need bars on any of those,” he wrote on Twitter.

The controversial artiste further claimed that standards in Zim hip-hop have deteriorated so much that artistes from other music genres can now also claim to be rappers.

“Yes we agree there; even Trevor Dongo can wake up saying I am hip-hop and we can't fight it,” Stunner tweeted.

In another sly dig at Mudiwa, Stunner tweeted that the main awards at Zim Hip-Hop Awards 2017 were won by deserving people.

“@IamTEHN Best Song, Noble Stylz Best Album, Few Kings Best Group so I guess that awards that matter are in safe hands,” he said.

Mudiwa was not the only one who got the short end of Stunner’s stick. He also attacked DJs for lacking originality.

“Zim DJs, did you know that you have the freedom to start your own playlist? You don't have to play what the other DJs is playing, amazing hanti?”

When the Daily News contacted him for a comment, Mudiwa said he has responded to Stunner and other haters in a song.

“I have released the track today titled Tati Tivatipe. It is a response to all haters. I am bigger than these artistes so I can’t address them individually anymore,” said Mudiwa.

The Ndaita Mari hit-maker said the diss song emphasises his credentials as the “only rapper whose face inobhadhariswa tax/Hatisi kutaura zvemakombi, we talking of Value added Tax.”

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HARARE – Transit Crew — Zimbabwe’s oldest reggae band — will perform at the Unplugged event on tomorrow at Wingate Park Golf Club.

The band’s manager,  Tavonga “Ras Teekay” Mafundikwa, has promised fireworks at the monthly event.

“Transit as you know is the country’s oldest reggae institution and as such we have mastered the art of playing this genre so well.

“It is no surprise really that the Unplugged organisers saw it fit to include us on the final bill of the festival in 2017,” said Ras Teekay.

In addition to Transit Crew, the final edition of Unplugged 2017 will also include Edith WeUtonga, Takura, Simba Tags, Tim Westwood amongst a host of other talented musos and deejays.

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Selmor, Pah Chihera date Somanje

Songstress Selmor Mtukudzi and Pah Chihera will share the stage with Josphat Somanje and Fred Farai Finto and his Angwa Combo tomorrow at a family show set for Tanza Centre in C

Young Igwe returns to Iridium

Sungura artiste Peter “Young Igwe” Moyo, who has a date with Club Joy Centre at Makoni in Chitungwiza, will perform at Iridium Club in Harare tonight.

Mbira Dzenharira will then perform at the entertainment Harare joint the following day.

On Sunday, Iridium will host Andy Muridzo, Gonyeti, Progress Chipfumo, Dr Tawanda, Baba Harare and Garry Tight among others in a concert dubbed “Fill Up Iridium Club End of Year Party”.

City Sports Bar hosts Pramastove

City Sports Bar will host comedian Pramastove tonight and he will be supported by several DJs who include DJ Love King, DJ Brizzy, DJ Stone and MC Andy Kays among others.

Marcy dates La-Rouge

La-Rouge-based in Westgate is hosting songstress Marcy Janyure tomorrow.

Kadoma Annual Arts Awards tomorrow

The annual Kadoma Arts Awards will be held this Saturday at Kadoma Park.

Taz to launch single

Afro-pop and jazz sensation, Mehluli Taz will launch a single titled Ndoenda online today.

The Ndoenda launch will be hosted by various social sites, radio stations and television stations.

The song focuses on the continued multifaceted struggles and abuse women face on a daily basis largely as a spin-off of family-based patriarchal dynamics.

Ndoenda tells the story of a woman whose in-laws subject her to verbal and emotional abuse.

Such abuse in many cases leads to resentment towards one’s spouse; depression and can ultimately break families up.

This song is in line with annual global commemorations of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Human Rights Day and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

Taz is an innovative and talented musician who started his music career at a tender age and is now aiming to export the educational and entertainment aspects of his music to the world at large and spearheading fight against domestic violence.

Chipawo holds xmas show

Chipawo will hold its annual Christmas Show at Theatre in the Park tonight.

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HARARE – William Masvinu, 43, who landed his third Mr Ugly contest crown last Sunday, has been dethroned after allegedly manhandling the sponsor of the competition for delaying to give him his $500 first prize.

Epworth-based Masvinu, who was also victorious in the same contest in 2012 and 2013, has now been replaced by Fanuel Musekiwa (61) who was the first runner-up at the pageant hosted by Isaac Mutangadura’s Ruwa-based Mtangaz Hideout last the weekend.

According to pageant organiser and founder David “Apama Styles” Machowa, Masvinu has been banned for life.

“For winning the pageant, Masvinu was supposed to be given a bull but he opted to be given $500 in cash instead. The fact that the sponsor (Isaac Mutangadura) had to sell the bull to get the cash for Masvinu caused the payment delay but the dethroned Mr Ugly was very impatient,” said Apama Styles.

He added that: “Instead of him (Masvinu) dealing with me concerning his winning prize, he went behind my back and manhandled the sponsor.

We therefore had no choice but to dethrone him for dragging the name of the pageant into the mud.”

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Apama Styles added that the decision to dethrone Masvinu was arrived at after taking into consideration the fact that he has “repeatedly exhibited” violent tendencies at the Mr Ugly pageant over the years.

“This is not the first time Masvinu has engaged in violent activities at Mr Ugly. He once threatened another former sponsor — Devine Assignments director Biggie Chinoperekwei — over the same issue and for this reason we have to part ways with him,” Mr Ugly founder said.

When the Daily News contacted Masvinu’s manager Michael Gundo, he insisted that Apama Styles converted to his own use the money meant for the dethroned Mr Ugly.

“Apama took time to give us our money. Imagine since December 3 up to now. He only paid us $100 instead of $500.

“It is not easy to parade before the whole world showcasing your ugliness and in the end getting nothing for it. “We understand Apama got $500 from the sponsor Mutangadura but instead of giving us our money Apama chose to pocket it. Masvinu is prepared to be stripped of the title as long as he gets his prize money,” Gundo said.

He claimed that they reported the matter at Ruwa Police station in a bid to force Apama to release the prize money.

But the claims by Masvinu’s manager were rubbished by Mutangadura.

“What they are saying is not true. In fact, they were supposed to deal with Apama not me. I never gave Apama any money so how could he misuse money that I never gave him in the first place?” the Mtangaz Hideout proprietor said.

The unfolding drama at Mr Ugly won’t come as a surprise to many. The 2015 Mr Ugly pageant almost degenerated into a brawl after Masvinu refused to concede defeat to Mison Sere. He argued that Sere's ugliness wasn't natural since it was based on missing teeth.

He threatened to beat up the pageant’s adjudicators-Sharlene Nyakurai, Abigirl Mataranyika and Denzel Masawi — after accusing them of bias.

“That was not fair. How could he (Sere) win when he was number four the previous year?

“What has changed all of a sudden for him to win this time around?

“You made him the winner simply because of missing teeth. But does that define ugliness? Do you want me to remove some of my teeth to reclaim my position,” an agitated Masvinu said then.

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HARARE – Zimbabwe’s largest seed producer, SeedCo, says it is targeting to increase maize production in the smallholder sector by 275 percent from the current 0,8 tonnes to 3,0 tonnes.

SeedCo Zimbabwe managing director Denias Zaranyika said increasing agricultural productivity remains a central concern for the company.

“This is because it is a major factor in determining the level of income of the farming sector; in achieving sustainable food and income security for all agricultural producers and consumers, particularly for resource-poor households,” he said at a media luncheon in Harare on Wednesday.

Agricultural productivity has become very important in the country in meeting food requirements of continually growing population and in generating foreign exchange to finance domestic programmes.

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“From a research and development point of view, our main focus area has always been that in order to improve livelihoods and income, adoption of hybrid seeds is a prerequisite. SeedCo’s future has always looked exciting and one thing we do better is research which gives us farmer insights as well as informing us about possible future farmer and consumer behaviour and eating habits,” Zaranyika said.

“Through research and breeding programmes, we have amply justified why everybody should work towards 100 percent hybrid maize adoption in Zimbabwe,” he added.

Zaranyika further indicated that SeedCo’s next stage challenge is to commercialise the smallholder sector, so that together with the Command Farming Programme targeted at A2 and large-scale commercial farmers, the country can become self-sufficient and produce extra maize for exports.

“Achieving this entails that everything that our farmers in the smallholder sector do — from planning to planting and harvesting to marketing — they must always bear in mind that they are in business and that they must get a profit from their labour,” he said.

SeedCo, which is committed to supporting economic growth and poverty reduction through agricultural development in Zimbabwe, said it remains upbeat about the country’s future prospects.

“The future of agriculture in Zimbabwe is very bright, mainly because the country is endowed with key comparative advantages that include conducive climatic and soil conditions.

“That coupled with a highly literate human resource base should take Zimbabwe to another level of agricultural productivity and food self-sufficiency,” Zaranyika said.

SeedCo develops and markets certified crop seeds, mainly hybrid maize seed, but also cotton seed, wheat, soya bean, barley, sorghum and ground nut seed.

Most of the company’s hybrid and non-hybrid cereals and oil crop seed varieties are proprietary, having been developed and bred at our research stations through market-oriented research and breeding programmes.

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HARARE - Evicted Zimbabwean white farmers that settled in Zambia have said they are willing to return home to help turn the country’s agricultural economy around under President Emerson Mnangagwa’s government.

It is mainly the evicted white Zimbabwean farmers’ innovations that have transformed small-scale growers in their newly-adopted neighbouring country into productive farmers, upping their production from half a ton per hectare to between four and five tonnes a hectare.

This year Zambia is having a maize surplus and, ironically, will be exporting tonnes of wheat to its neighbour, Zimbabwe, and the maize contract on Africa’s most liquid stock market will further incentivise maize production in the neighbouring country.

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Finance deputy minister Terence Mukupe yesterday met the white farmers in neighbouring Zambia and many of the farmers told him they were “homesick and wanted to take part in the new dispensation under Mnangagwa.”

“I met Zimbabwean farmers who lost their farms during the land redistribution exercise and are now based in Zambia and now doing very well there. What was quite intriguing was how they all said they were homesick and wanted to take part in the new dispensation under HE (His Excellency) Mnangagwa.

“They want to take up our president on his clarion call that all well-meaning Zimbabweans will be given an opportunity to participate in the rebuilding of our great nation.

“The same sentiments are being expressed by our fathers in Nigeria, USA, Australia and UK.

“We are truly one Zimbabwe and we all want what’s best for our nation,” Mukupe said.

A day before the meeting Mukupe had emphasised that he was meeting white Zimbabwean farmers in Zambia “with a very simple message… Your country needs you, let’s press the refresh button and move forward to rebuild our nation.”

Mnangagwa in his inaugural speech stressed that the land seizures would not be reversed, vowing instead to compensate evicted farmers and to put the vast tracts of idle land back into production.

“My government is committed to compensating those farmers from whom land was taken,” he said, adding that he will “ensure that all land is utilised optimally.”

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HARARE - The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has said it will soon be decentralising the High Court to other parts of the country in a bid to provide efficient service delivery to members of the public.

Speaking to journalists yesterday after the appointment of eight High Court judges, judge president George Chiweshe said they will soon set up other High Court offices in other parts of the country, to help clear case backlogs and improve service delivery.

“We now have a total of 38 judges in the High Court. We have been 30 up to today, with these eight, we are now 38. It’s a very welcome development for a number of reasons, firstly the workload in the High Court is very high, it’s getting higher every day. It’s the kind of places where you clear 10 cases, you receive 50, if you clear 50, you receive 100, so these new judges will assist us in containing that workload and ensure that we don’t carry a huge backlog.

“We have had two retirements of the High Court judges so these judges will also come in to replace those two. I expect that some of the senior judges will be moving to the Supreme Court, so these new judges will replace them.

“As you are aware, we are on a programme to decentralise our services to the provinces. We have opened in Masvingo, one or two of those judges will be posted to Masvingo. We will be opening Mutare sometime during the course of next year, two or so judges will be posted there.

“So, in the end they are not that many, considering what needs to be done to fulfil our mandate,” Chiweshe said.

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The eight judges who were sworn in by Chief Justice Luke Malaba yesterday at the Constitutional Court are Labour Court judge Justice Philda Muzofa, University of Zimbabwe lecturer Sylvia Chirawu, Pisirayi Kwenda, Neville Wamambo, Thompson Mabhikwa, Benjamin Chikowero, Jacob Manzunzu and Isaac Muzenda.

The eight were appointed after taking part in public interviews that were held in Harare recently.

Chiweshe said there was need to restructure the whole court system from the Magistrates’ Court to the High Court and the other superior courts in order for the system to be able to respond to the present challenges.

“Our people have become very litigious, everybody knows their rights and they all want to come to the High Court, so the workload is obviously on the increase every time.

“We want to obviously restructure because what we don’t want to have is a situation where the top is heavier than the bottom, we prefer a pyramid-kind of situation. But as it stands you find that there are more judges of the High Court than there are regional magistrates,” Chiweshe said.

Some of the appointed judges expressed confidence they will uphold the Constitution in the exercise of their duties.

Kwenda told journalists that he has been faithful to the justice delivery system for several years and rose through the ranks to the position of chief law officer.

“He later left for private practice in his bid to further his understanding of the law and has practice experience in almost all areas.

“I believe the jurisprudence of this country will gain a lot from my experience that I have amassed over the years.

“Having practiced for such a long time, I genuinely believe it was time to give back to the system that brought me up,” he said.

Chirawu also said he was happy to have been appointed a judge of the High Court after 23 years of practice as a lawyer.

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HARARE - Typhoid has continued to break out in Harare, the Health and Child Care ministry said in a notice, warning of further disease outbreaks unless sanitation is restored in the capital currently under appalling conditions. At least 646 cases of typhoid were confirmed by the ministry, and its epicentre is Mbare.

The first case of typhoid fever was confirmed on September 17, 2017 and the outbreak was detected in one of the oldest commercial suburbs of Mbare on October 1, 2017.

Typhoid is contracted by drinking or eating contaminated matter and symptoms include nausea, fever, and abdominal pain.

If  untreated, the disease can lead to complications in the gut and head which can kill up to one in five patients.

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The ongoing typhoid fever outbreak in Harare has been attributed to an acute shortage of potable water in the affected communities.

Matapi Flats in Mbare, where the outbreak originated, reportedly had no water supply two weeks prior to the onset of the outbreak.

“One hundred new suspected typhoid cases and no deaths were reported during the week ending November 19, 2017.

“The cases were reported from Harare City Health (100).

“The total number this year for typhoid is 646 suspected cases and no deaths.

“The outbreak started on October 1, 2017,” the Health and Child Care ministry said in a notice.

This comes as Harare City Council recently decommissioned two boreholes in Mbare and Kuwadzana 3 after they tested positive for E coli, a bacteria that causes typhoid.

In a bid to alleviate the water borne diseases, government has set out to drill at least 840 boreholes at a cost of $4,5 million across the country within the next three months.

The programme is aimed at improving sanitation and access to better water for Zimbabwean communities in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) stipulations.

Addressing journalists in Harare on Monday, Environment, Water and Climate minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said four boreholes will be drilled in each of Zimbabwe’s legislative constituencies, with Members of Parliament being asked to submit four top priority areas in their respective constituencies to the ministry for immediate action.

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