HARARE - President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to appoint a new deputy chief justice of his choice anytime soon, a top government official has said.

Chief Justice Malaba’s appointment created a vacancy in his former post of deputy chief justice, which is one of the three senior judicial posts the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 1 of 2017 affected.

While it has been unclear if Mnangagwa would attempt to apply the new procedure to a deputy chief justice vacancy that arose before the constitutional amendments became law, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs ministry permanent secretary Virginia Mabhiza told the Daily News yesterday the appointment will be done in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 1 of 2017.

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“The appointment is being done by the president in line with the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 1 of 2017, in terms of which he has the discretion to appoint a person of his choice in consultation with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

“All I can say is that the process has already started in that direction. I know something is being done and I think very soon a new deputy chief justice is going to be appointed,” Mabhiza said.

This means Mnangagwa will not appoint the new deputy chief justice in terms of constitutional procedure of a JSC advertisement, public interviews and all.  

This means the president, since a replacement of the deputy chief justice that was promoted,  will use his discretion to pick an incumbent of his choice, then consult the JSC.

Mabhiza could not give a timeframe within which the new deputy chief justice could be appointed, saying the president was in the best position to know.

Even though it is not yet clear on the person to be appointed the deputy chief justice, Elizabeth Gwaunza, who is the most senior Supreme Court judge is tipped to bag the post, together with Supreme Court judge Paddington Garwe and Judge President George Chiweshe.

Parliament passed the controversial Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 1 Bill in August last year, following a protracted battle that even spilled into the courts.

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HARARE - The changing of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption (Zacc) logo has ignited a row, amid allegations the alterations were done without approval from the executive of the anti-graft agency.

The decision to change the logo has created confusion in the agency, forcing the anti-graft body to revert back to the original symbol, which has a Zimbabwe flag, the Zimbabwe bird, the Great Zimbabwe monument and the Coat of Arms.

The new logo has the map of Zimbabwe and two chimney-looking features emitting smoke, grain and an excavator, and two features looking like palms cupping the map.

A senior official with the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The issue of the logo has become thorny, but I urge you to do your own independent investigation.”

According to other officials, after changing the logo, some senior officials at the organisation went on to print T-shirts and shirts at an exorbitant cost of between $18 and $20 each. It was not immediately clear exactly how many T-shirts were printed.

“These staff-sourced quotations from their company, approved it, received the goods from manufacturer and they are the ones who distributed the goods in violation of good corporate governance. This new logo is also now going to be changed again.

“There are however burning questions on who authorised the removal of the old logo, who approved the new logo, was there a commission resolution, among other issues?”

The Daily News, understands there has been a report over this that has been written to president Emmerson Mnangagwa and copied to the National Prosecuting Authority.

The report, believed to have been written by some disgruntled officers, claimed some senior staff members, who include the chief publicity officer Onesmus Nyaude, commissioner Farai Chinyani and Zacc spokesperson Phyllis Chikundura were involved in the process.

When the Daily News contacted Chikundura for a comment, she referred questions to Nyaude, as she was at the time away in Bulawayo. Nyaude however, referred the questions to Chinyani, who dismissed the allegations, claiming the change of logo had been authorised by Zacc.

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“The commission authorised the change of the logo and yes with a resolution due to its rebranding efforts. It also went a step further to officially launch the logo with a published booklet detailing the reasons. You can obtain a copy from our offices. The whole commission was there at the launch including stakeholders. It was highly publicised and televised.

“The commission has the right to change its logo as many times as it wishes if the current logo is not serving its needs. The T-shirts that were donated with the new logo have pretty much been distributed to our stakeholders and members of the public.

“We actually wish we had enough funds to keep a lot of materials in stock. When we changed our logo we continued to use our old materials until they were finished. I still wear our shirts from the previous logo. We don’t throw anything away,” she said.

She said the administration department does all procurement for the commission in terms of the Public Procurement Act.

“As you know, the Commission is wholly funded by public funds. I am a commissioner, I do not get involved in soliciting for quotations etc. I am involved in policy making. You can also verify this with the secretary to the Commission Silence Pondo,” Chinyani said.

She further said that the administration manager was the one who knew the cost of production of the T-shirts, hastening to state that most of the T-shirts and material was donated by Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz).

She said they gave Potraz their logo, which in turn procured the T-shirts as the commission did not have funds, further denying the involvement of a company linked to them in the production of the T-shirts.

“As I alluded to earlier, I am a commissioner, Nyaude and Chikundura are officers. We have different job descriptions. I don’t even own a company. You can verify this with the registrar of companies. More so, a company that makes T-shirts. These are obviously malicious false allegations,” she said.

“May I appeal to you and other members of the media to remain objective in your reporting. We have a huge task ahead of us, hoping we can take advantage of an environment where we can finally deliver our mandate.

“Please, don’t hesitate to hold us accountable and it’s our job as a commission to lead by example. Corruption fights back, but we will fight harder.
“I am a huge advocate for the arrest of those who commit the crime of conflict of interest by doing business with public organisations that they work for.  I would never do any business with Zacc. It’s illegal. I am actually not very popular at the commission because of my strictness in the use of Commission resources.”

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HARARE - Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono left parliamentarians eating out of the palm of his hand yesterday, when he narrated how Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will augment efforts aimed at reviving the country’s economy.

Appointed SEZ chairperson in June last year, Gono, however, decried the yawning disconnect between President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision to turn around the country’s economic fortunes and the lethargy on the part of those who are supposed to make it happen.

This came out in the National Assembly yesterday when the SEZ board chairperson appeared before the Foreign Affairs, Industry and Commerce parliamentary portfolio committee.

Government enacted the Special Economic Zones Act (Chapter 14:34) aimed at drumming up foreign direct investment (FDI) last year.

FDI is critical in stimulating value-added exports, creating employment and boosting economic growth.

The enactment of the SEZ Act was followed by the identification of three SEZs, including Sunway City, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

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But due to lack of funding, the absence of a chief executive officer (CEO) and secretariat, Gono revealed yesterday that the three SEZs pilot projects were not yet operational.

“It would appear there was an oversight regarding availing resources to the board as we have found ourselves driving a car on an empty fuel tank so to speak after we were given a tenth of what we had requested,” said Gono, who was flanked by some of his board members namely Ozias Hove (a senior principal director in the office of the President and Cabinet — OPC), Constance Zhanje (from the ministry of Industry and Commerce, Christopher Dube (town clerk for Bulawayo) and a Mr Gapara from the ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

“We also do not have a CEO and a secretariat; so without all these there is very little we can do,” he added.

Nonetheless, the SEZ board has since conducted interviews for the CEO and is now awaiting approval of the CEO from three candidates the board recommended to government at the beginning of October 2017.

While SEZ used to fall under the ministry of Economic Planning, the dawn of a new era appears to have caught government bureaucrats napping.

Gono told parliamentarians that the new reporting line was yet to be clarified.

“These are the necessary pains of a transition and we hope that soon all will be clear and we get advice on where we belong. We have written to all we think are responsible for us to have them confirm whether we are their child or not because the Act simply says we belong to a ministry without stating which one exactly,” Gono said.

The former RBZ governor hailed Mnangagwa’s thrust in drumming up FDI and his clarion call at Davos in Switzerland that Zimbabwe was open for business.

Regarding issues bogging down the SEZ board, he felt there was lethargy somewhere along the line, especially on the part of those who are supposed to implement the president’s vision.

A SEZ board member and principal director in the OPC, Hove, told the committee that Mnangagwa was fully briefed on the issues affecting SEZs saying;“The president is fully briefed about the situation on the ground, he is up to date about the challenges …”.

But Gono interjected, saying the president he knows was an action man and should have dealt with the issues holding back SEZ if they were brought to his attention.

“No, I want to contradict my colleague here and state that the president is not aware of this. If he were aware, I am sure he would have moved in to address that because he is so particular about this if you recall his inauguration speech,” said Gono, an astute banker.

The committee also heard that the SEZ board is operating using its own resources as well as the chairperson’s offices.

While parliamentarians appreciated Gono’s improvisation, they said such a situation was not healthy for the country as “we will never be able to win the SEZs because they are a personal project under the circumstances“.

Asked to explain allegations of conflict of interests in which Gono’s projects are also being considered for the SEZ licence, Gono said he had declared his interests long before his appointment.

Gono said he had approach the OPC “seeking support for the establishment of an agro-hub at my farm and an industrial park and they liked the idea. On the first day of my appointment, I declared my interest”.

“You may also know that I have been in business for 35 years of my 42 working years. Conflict of interests issues are provided for in the Act in terms of how to deal with it,” he explained.

Gono also explained in great detail what is involved when an area is declared a SEZ, including issues of fencing off the area in order to demarcate the zone from a customs area.

To this end, Gono explained that it was not possible to fence off the whole of Bulawayo or Victoria Falls but part of them.

“We then had to start anew to identify areas and we are even saying if in your respective constituencies, there are areas we can make SEZs then so be it because making Bulawayo one for example, it means we were going to insulate it and say you are no longer able to enter the city as and when you want because of the status which now makes it an offshore market”.

He said the board is now considering over 60 applications for licences to become SEZs while awaiting the provision of funds from Treasury.

Market experts said over the years, the country has been receiving low levels of FDI inflows averaging less than $400 million annually, against regional average levels of around $1,2 billion.

In Bulawayo, the target was to create an industrial economic zone covering the beef and leather industry, cotton and textile, steel and foundry as well as the rehabilitation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe.

In addition, a tourism hub was targeted for the corridor stretching from Victoria Falls-Gwayi–Binga–Kariba, while Victoria Falls is targeted as a financial hub and Sunway City as a technology hub.

Under the SEZs, foreign investors will be exempted for the first five years of operation and a corporate tax rate of 15 percent will be applicable thereafter.

Other incentives offered by the government under the SEZ Act, include a flat rate of 15 percent tax on specialised expatriate staff and duty-free imports for capital equipment to be used in the designated areas.

In addition, inputs which include raw materials and intermediate products imported for use by companies set up in the SEZs will be imported duty-free.

However, exemption will not apply where such raw materials are produced locally.

Crucially, the SEZ Act proposes to exempt businesses from strict labour laws and indigenisation regulations in order to court potential investors.

Don’t miss tomorrow’s edition for extracts of the parliamentary proceedings.

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HARARE - President Emmerson Mnangagwa is today expected to pay a courtesy call on the prophet — popularly known as Mudzidzi Wimbo (Wimbo) — who prophesied that he “needed assistance” for him to become Zimbabwe’s leader.

Following the October 2015 prophecy, the 75-year-old politician dramatically assumed power from deposed Robert Mugabe, who had led Zimbabwe for 37 years, after a military-shepherded “Operation Restore Legacy” in November last year.

Yesterday, Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Martin Dinha told the Daily News that Mnangagwa will be meeting Mudzidzi Wimbo — real name Aaron Mhukuta — who leads the Johanne Masowe weVadzidzi apostolic church.

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“He is coming here and we are preparing for the visit...and this again is yet another message to the so-called new alliance between (former vice president Joice) Mujuru and Grace (Mugabe) that they will not succeed,” he said, adding “we are now breathing fresh air in Mashonaland Province”.

“This visit puts a nail on the coffin for Generation 40 faction... Mashonaland Central is proud to host the province,” Dinha said.

Party insiders told this paper that Mnangagwa will be at Wimbo’s shrine and is expected to “receive blessings” from the enigmatic church leader, who is regarded in high esteem by those inclined to spiritualism in the ruling Zanu PF.

In the summer visit, Mnangagwa was told by the frail Wimbo — said to have predicted Mugabe’s ascendency to president in 1957, way before the country’s independence — to follow him around the shrine, even though the 95-year-old prophet had initially said that he was neither going to speak nor perform any duties, before he started to prophesy while in some kind of trance.

Then, Wimbo walked with so much difficulty that it required two men to support him as he hobbled around the shrine, with Mnangagwa following.

Speaking through an interpreter, Wimbo said: “Anoda kubatsirwa, angazvigona seiko ari oga. Handizive kuti ndoita zvipiko. Vari kunditeera nditeverei nekuno (Mnangagwa needs help as he can’t do anything on his own. I don’t know what I should do to help him).”

Fast forward to November last year, Mnangagwa was down and out, and only returned home from exile riding on the coattails of the military which rolled tanks into the streets and besieged homes of his rivals in the dismantled G40 faction, including Mugabe’s heavily fortified “Blue Roof” private mansion.

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HARARE - Businessman Agrippa Masiyakurima, popularly known as Bopela, refused to give testimony in court yesterday saying he could only do so once Information Communication Technology (ICT) minister Supa Mandiwanzira has been apprehended over indiscretions that he is alleging.

Masiyakurima was billed to testify in a case in which Charles Mtetwa, 34, and Tapiwa Garapo, 46, are being charged with criminal trespass and malicious damage to property.

However, he refused to give testimony unless Mandiwanzira is apprehended over alleged confessions by the minister’s employees that they were sent by him to destroy a crane at his business premises.

Masiyakurima sensationally claimed in court that the ICT minister was bitter after he refused to give him a $3, 7 million bribe and sent people to destroy his property.

Mtetwa and Garapo are employed at XCMG Newlands in Harare which Masiyakurima alleges belongs to Mandiwanzira.

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“I will not testify in this court unless Supa is the third accused person in the dock. The people who destroyed my property were sent by him because I had won a tender to build 100 base stations and he demanded 40 percent of the deal but we did not agree,” Masiyakurima said.

Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande interjected and advised Masiyakurima to consult with prosecutor Idah Maromo since he was a State witness before the matter was remanded to February 9.

“I have tried to engage prosecution but nothing materialised. I will not testify in court unless Supa is brought to court for this offence,” responded Masiyakurima.

According to State papers, the complainant is Tendai Masiyakurima, 28, who is employed at 5 Drew Road Chisipite Highlands in Harare.

Maromo alleged that on January 11 this year the duo went to Masiyakurima’s workplace and entered the premises without his consent.

The court heard that Mtetwa and Garapo damaged a crane machine, which was at the premises and when they were confronted about their conduct the duo claimed to have been sent by their superiors but did not proffer any documents to support their actions.

According to the State, the damaged crane is worth $450 000 and Mtetwa and Garapo had no right to conduct themselves in such manner.

The damages were valued at $45 000.

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HARARE - The Tourism and Hospitality Industry ministry will hold its first consultative workshop on the mooted National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) at the Harare International Conference Centre tomorrow.

The workshop is part of several the Tourism and Hospitality Industry ministry has lined up in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to gather views from stakeholders on the National Tourism Sector Strategy.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Priscah Mupfumira said National Tourism Sector Strategy will be a product of broad nationwide consultations.

“My ministry, in collaboration with its implementing arm — the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism — will hold countrywide stakeholder consultative workshops from February 8, to 23, 2018 as part of the National Tourism Sector Strategy development process.

“The workshops will be held in Harare on February 8, then move to Bulawayo on the 12th, thereafter Victoria Falls on the 15th of February.

“We will be in Masvingo on February 19, then Mutare on the 20th and on the 23rd of February we will move to Chinhoyi,” said Mupfumira, adding that the National Tourism Sector Strategy was necessary to boost local tourism alleviation”.

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HARARE - The State has reneged on an agreement it had made with former Foreign Affairs minister Walter Mzembi to have his passport temporarily released to him because the politician was now being investigated by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission over corruption charges.

Prosecutor Sabastian Mutizirwa advised the court that the State was withdrawing its consent for Mzembi to be granted access to his passport for a business trip to South Africa and return it on February 19.

Sikhala objected to the sudden turn of events and ruling on the matter has been reserved to February 16 before Harare magistrate Rumbidzayi Mugwagwa.

Mzembi is jointly charged with former Energy minister Samuel Undenge on criminal abuse of office charges.

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Mzembi and Undenge are currently on $400 bail coupled with conditions to report every Friday at Borrowdale and Highlands police stations, not to interfere with witnesses and to reside at their given addresses.

According to State papers, sometime in 2010, the ministry of Tourism and Hospitality in its bid to introduce Fan Parks for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa initiated a motion to acquire LED Public Viewing Area televisions for the public nationwide.

Allegations are that in its bid to get the screens the ministry applied and obtained funds from Treasury for the purchase of 40 screens amounting to $2 million.

The court heard that the money was deposited into Shanghai Linso Digital Technology Company’s China account as payment for the equipment.

It is alleged that the 40 television screens were delivered and received from China by the ministry of Tourism and entered into their Asset Registry.

“Accused (Mzembi) criminally abused his duty by intentionally and unlawfully disposing State assets namely 16 PVA television screens by means of donating, loaning or hiring them to various institutions and church organisations without approval from the ministry of Finance.

“The PVA screens are still being possessed by the various institutions and church organisations and are valued at $800 000. Government assets are not loaned to private parties. They are not donated, hired or transferred to other entities without authority from Treasury,” read part of Mzembi’s charge.

In Undenge’s case, it is alleged that on January 14, 2016, he gave a directive to Zimbabwe Power Company to engage Fruitful Communications without going to tender.

Prosecutor Linda Gadzikwa alleged that Fruitful Communications was supposed to disseminate information of all ZimAsset-based projects.

“As a result Fruitful Communications fraudulently invoiced $12 650 to ZPC which they were paid without doing any work,” read part of Undenge’s charge.

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HARARE - The surprise resignation of Rita Makarau from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is emerging to be part of an unravelling purge that will see more officials being pushed out of the elections management body ahead of this year’s elections, the Daily News can report.

Makarau bowed out of the Zec chair in December last year, days after a new administration had swept to power on the back of a soft military coup that ended Robert Mugabe’s 37-year long rule.

Since her resignation from Zec, Makarau has refused to disclose if her exit was voluntary.

She has since been replaced by Priscilla Chigumba, a judge of the High Court.

The Daily News can, however, exclusively reveal that events unfolding at Zec suggest that Makarau was forced to jump ship and that more heads could roll as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration cements its stranglehold on key State institutions.

Constance Chigwamba, Zec’s chief elections officer who could not be reached for comment yesterday, is the next in the line of fire after the commission’s board unanimously resolved recently to have her recalled.

A former permanent secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Chigwamba was seconded to Zec by Mugabe from the Public Service Commission (PSC) in 2015.
Since then, she continues to be paid by the PSC.

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To justify her removal from Zec, the architects behind her impending recall allege her loyalty is torn between her paymasters and the elections management body, which compromises its independence.

According to the Electoral Act, it is the prerogative of Zec to hire or fire and pay the commission’s chief elections officer in the interest of safeguarding its autonomy.

It is also being alleged that she has “authoritarian tendencies and is not being accessible to commissioners and Zec staff and therefore she has completely lost the trust and confidence of the commissioners which makes her position with the electoral management body tricky and untenable”.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Zec deputy chairperson Emmanuel Magade, declined to comment.

“I am sorry I wish I could be help, but I can’t,” he said.

Informed sources told the Daily News yesterday that a number of Zec officials with either policing or intelligence backgrounds also face an uncertain future with the new administration seemingly determined to find something that could stick against them.

As it is, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), which has been accused of conducting its investigations selectively, is probing allegations of fraud, corruption and flouting of tender processes for election material.

Zacc is suspecting underhand dealings at Zec in the purchase of tents, computers and stationery for election-related purposes dating back to the 2013 general elections.

The anti-graft body has since been furnished with documentation regarding senior Zec officials who allegedly flouted tender processes in exchange for kickbacks and bribes.

Election watchdogs are, however, skeptical about the developments at Zec coming as they do a few months before crucial elections to be held in four to seven months.

The Election Resource Centre (ERC) said Zec must have clear processes of holding its own secretariat accountable without the Executive exerting itself in terms of influencing recruitment and dismissal of key personnel.

ERC director Tawanda Chimhini said the Electoral Act must be revisited to reinforce Zec’s independence by removing provisions that subordinate it to the Executive through the minister of Justice.

“The election administration body must, as a matter of principle, be guided by standards consistent with transparency, accountability and independence among others,” said Chimhini.

“Heading towards the 2018 elections, it will be crucial that such high standards are maintained to promote public confidence in Zec and the processes that it administers,” he added.

Analyst Vivid Gwede said the developments at Zec open a vista for the need to thoroughly assess the transparency and independence of the commission’s operations.
Gwede said it was worrying that officers of Zec have repeatedly been seconded to the commission in a manner undermining its proper recruitment procedure which should be independent.

“This justifies the calls that have repeatedly been made by opposition parties and election stakeholders that the commission needs to be reformed. It is also disturbing that the commission’s secretariat is under investigation for fraud when they should be readying for crucial elections.

“One hopes that Zacc’s investigation is not politically-motivated and that the Zec secretariat is not guilty of fraud, lest we might be seeing the brewing of an electoral commission scandal just ahead of an election. This would be a nasty prospect facing the forthcoming 2018 polls,” Gwede said.

Upon her appointment, Chigumba pledged to treat all stakeholders in a fair manner, maintain an open-door policy and ensure the nation conducts free and fair polls.

Chigumba served as a resident magistrate and provincial magistrate before being seconded to work as a senior professional research assistant in the Office of the Chief Justice before she was sworn in as Judge of the High Court on December 20, 2011.

The purge at Zec comes hard on the heels of vicious dismissals in other arms of government.

Last month, the dreaded axe fell on 11 high-ranking Zimbabwe Republic Police officers in a sweeping purge that seemed to be targeted at those perceived to be close to former police chief, Augustine Chihuri.

The purge has also extended to the Central Intelligence Organisation where some senior officers were retired, sacked or reassigned.

Following Mugabe’s forced resignation, a wholesale purge of officials aligned to him has occurred in Zanu PF where members perceived to be anti-Mnangagwa continue to face the chop and being replaced with those loyal to the “system”.

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HARARE - There are 75 political parties registered to contest in the looming elections in Zimbabwe — up from 35 that existed prior to 2017.

The so-called big league has the MDC Alliance‚ made up of seven political parties whose leaders Morgan Tsvangirai‚ Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube were part of the original MDC that split in 2005.

They joined hands with relative minnows‚ Agrippa Mutambara of Zimbabwe People First and Jacob Ngarivhume’s Transform Zimbabwe and Zanu Ndonga‚ led by Denford Musiyarira.

They are what is called the “big tent”‚ and have engaged in talks to lure former Zanu PF stalwart Joice Mujuru with her National People’s Party (NPP) for a grand coalition to unseat Zanu PF.

This year’s elections are a high stakes game. The MDC Alliance feel they stand a chance because‚ according to them‚ Zanu PF is weaker without Robert Mugabe.

“As far as we are concerned‚ ED (current President Emmerson Mnangagwa) is a weaker candidate compared to Mugabe,” said MDC deputy president Nelson Chamisa.

There is fertile ground to win hearts and minds‚ the coalition believes. Jobs are scarce‚ the economy bad‚ there is hunger and dilapidated infrastructure.

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It could be a tough fight for Zanu PF as problems mount because acute foreign currency shortages have translated to a shortage of critical drugs such as anti-retrovirals‚ insulin‚ asthma and diabetes medication.

Zimbabwe needs an estimated $65 million weekly for drugs but Treasury can only disburse $3 million weekly.

A recent cholera outbreak that has killed at least four people could expose government’s lack of disaster preparedness and play into the hands of the opposition.

Hence‚ the MDC tent claims to have a magic bullet to the country’s problems. If it wins the election‚ American president Donald Trump will‚ they claim‚ come to the rescue.

Chamisa claims Trump promised them the $15 billion they would need to breathe life into the Zimbabwean economy

He added that the US dollar windfall would only be disbursed if the MDC Alliance won the election.

A Mugabe-free Zanu PF has since resorted to engaging with the same foreign interests that the MDC relied on heavily in the past.

This new approach‚ according to Foreign Affairs minister retired general Sibusiso Busi Moyo‚ was regarded as “economic diplomacy‚ transactional diplomacy”.

Despite making all the right sounds in a seemingly reformist approach‚ Tara O’Connor‚ director of Africa Risk Consulting London‚ believes that Zanu PF still has a long way to go before the West actually bought in.

At the same time‚ she felt that the MDC had lost considerable ground‚ largely because of its internal politics‚ but it was still the better of the two major political parties.

“I think the MDC is weak and divided and a shadow of its former self. It has suffered not just its own internal wrangling but a sustained battering by the state under Zanu PF control. So I don’t think it (MDC) has lost the West’s support‚“ she said.

In Shurugwi‚ 350km south of Harare‚ Tongai Shoko‚ a subsistence farmer‚ has bitter sweet memories of the election season.

In 2013‚ candidates from across political parties resorted to vote-buying using food aid at a time when an estimated four million Zimbabweans faced starvation.

“We would collect T-shirts from every party and food as well. However‚ this is Zanu PF territory and they work with chiefs to make sure they have our vote if you are not careful you can be beaten by Zanu PF youths. Nonetheless‚ we are faced with a drought and their food can keep us alive‚“ he said.

Zanu PF’s longstanding accusation is that the MDC is funded by the West‚ hence the constant reference to it as “an agent of regime change”.

The State-run Herald newspaper cited unnamed sources in 2017 alleging that the coalition had the support of Western backers who were not willing to fund the MDC alone.

Under the Political Parties Finance Act of 2001 any political party that secures at least five percent of the total votes cast is entitled to receive funding from Treasury.

Based on the 2013 election results‚ only Zanu PF‚ MDC (Tsvangirai) and MDC (Welshman Ncube) qualified.

Last year, the Tsvangirai-led MDC said it was owed US $2 million from the fund.

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EDITOR — The Election Resource Centre (ERC), Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT), Women Institute in Leadership Development (WILD), National Youth for Development Trust (NYDT) and Christian Alliance note the significant increase in voter registration figures over the last three weeks.

The overwhelming response to the voter registration mop up exercise, which has seen over 260 000 new registrants, is a reflection of citizen’s willingness to participate in the forthcoming elections.

The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) welcome efforts to enhance citizen participation and inclusivity by ensuring that marginalised groups such as former aliens who were previously disenfranchised have access to the voter registration exercise.

While extension of the mass voter registration exercise is commendable, and we believe that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) must address administrative, environmental and legislative issues surrounding the process.

Administrative concerns:

l The CSOs note limited changes regarding administration of the voter registration mop up exercise. While the mop up exercise was meant to increase access by citizens particularly former aliens, over 6 000 “aliens” have so far been turned away on the basis of failing to submit long birth certificates.

l Zec’s operational plan for the 2018 harmonised elections remains outstanding.

l Access to documentation such as birth certificates and national identity documents (IDs) necessary for voter registration remains limited to citizens.

l Absence of momentum on the biometric voter registration (BVR) exercise — Zec continues to employ conventional mobilisation strategies that do not appeal to sub groups of youth and people with disabilities.

Legislative issues:

l Electoral processes such as voter registration continue to be implemented in the absence of an Electoral Act that is fully aligned with the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

Environmental concerns:

l The CSOs note with concern continued failure by Zec, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to effectively address election-related violence and intimidation associated with the demand for voter registration slips’ serial numbers by traditional leaders and Zanu PF.

l The CSOs are extremely disturbed by recent reports of election-related violence.

The CSOs call upon election authorities to:

l Enhance access of BVR to all eligible citizens including former aliens, persons with disabilities, women and youth.

l Ensure that voter registration, inspection of the voters’ roll, election campaign and the actual voting are open to all citizens, and that they be allowed to assemble without fear of violence. Political parties must adhere to the Political Parties and Candidates Code of Conduct.

l Align electoral laws with the Constitution of Zimbabwe ahead of the forthcoming elections.

l Immediately investigate and bring to book political players involved in politically motivated attacks and continued demand for voter registration serial numbers.
Zec, ZRP, and the ZHRC must remain guided by Section 133 J and H of the Electoral Act and ensure that perpetrators of election-related violence and intimidation face the full wrath of the law.

l Facilitate a comprehensive voter registration process that conforms to international best practice and principles guiding voter registration.

Election Resource Centre.

HARARE - Beleaguered steel maker, the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Zisco), has postponed its crucial extraordinary general meeting (EGM), which was scheduled for tomorrow, due to a “delay in the establishment of the data room containing documents for inspection”.

The meeting was to discuss the company’s debt, which is estimated to be about $500 million, owed to both local and international creditors.

Government has since gazetted a debt assumption Bill for Zisco, once one of Africa’s largest integrated steel works with the capacity to produce more than one million tonnes of the commodity annually, to clear the way for its takeover of the company’s obligations.

The move will pave way for takeover of the company by a Chinese company R&F through its unit called Tian Li, which is expected to invest $1 billion into Zisco.

This week, Zisco company secretary Munashe Mabeza, sent out a notice to shareholders announcing that the meeting has been moved to next week Thursday.

“Shareholders are advised that the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) that was expected to be held in the company’s boardroom...on Thursday, February 8, 2018....will now be held on Thursday February 15, 2018 at the same venue and time,” Mabeza said.

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“The reason for the change of dates is that, due to circumstances beyond the company’s control, there was a delay in the establishment of the data room containing documents for inspection. The postponement will afford any shareholders who wish to visit the data room sufficient time to do so.”

Announcing the EGM a fortnight ago, directors of the Zisco board chaired by Nyasha Makuvise, said the company will seek minorities’ consent for the takeover of its debt by government, in return for the cancellation of their shares and any pre-emptive rights.

Zisco’s minorities hold about 11 percent shareholding in the steelmaker.

Should that resolution be voted for by shareholders, Zisco’s board will immediately cancel 22 011 261 ordinary shares held by minority shareholders in the company.

The shareholders will also be asked to ratify an agreement entered into for the sale of Zisco’s entire assets to Tian Li, with tagged assets, which include coke ovens, being sold to ZimCoke.

Government holds an 89 percent stake in Zisco, and the balance is held between Lancashire Steel, Stewart & Lloyds and Tanganyika Investments.

Zisco ceased operations in 2008 due to choking financial constraints and its opening has been a matter of false starts in the past six years.

The debt includes outstanding salaries to workers, as well as statutory obligations to the National Social Security Authority and the tax collector, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.

A significant part of the debt is owed to international creditors.

In 2011, an Indian investor, Essar Africa Holdings (EAHL) took over Zisco and rebranded it to NewZim Steel after signing a $750 million deal with government to take over and resume operations at the company.

Government hoped that the Indian firm would take over the company’s debts after it acquired iron ore mining unit Buchwa Iron Mining Company (Bimco) and rebranded it NewZim Minerals, which was earmarked to take over vast iron deposits at Ripple Creek in Kwekwe and Mwanezi Iron Ore claims in Chivhu, some iron claims in Hwedza and Gwanda, formerly held by Zisco.

Bimco held the rights to iron ore claims for feedstock into Zisco operations.

But, EAHL pulled out of the Redcliff-based steel producer in 2015 due to complications involving the steel-maker’s global debts, sealing the fate of the deal, which first stalled due to bickering over mineral concessions within the power-sharing government which ended with Zanu PF’s victory in the 2013 polls.

The deal later suffered from government pressure to have the Indian firm take-over all government debts.

Essar had pledged to restore Ziscosteel to its production capacity of 1,2 million tonnes of steel a year within 18 months of operations.

— The Financial Gazette

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HARARE - Zimbabwe has been ranked as one of the worst performing southern African states in terms of its openness to foreign investment after the country scored a lowly 18,7 points out of 100.

International think-tank BMI Research said other regional countries such as South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique and Namibia scored relatively higher at 60, 54,5, 50,7 and 41,3 points respectively. 

This comes as years of relative economic isolation and political uncertainty under former President Robert Mugabe have significantly limited the overall amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) which the country has received, despite the fact that Zimbabwe’s economy enjoyed modest growth in FDI levels between 2011 and 2015 due to negotiated deals with China and planned economic reforms.

Data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNctad) show that the country received an average of $400 million FDI in the past nine years when other regional countries got an average of $1,1 billion.

BMI said excessive government levies and hostile business policies have deterred much-needed investment, affecting the mining and agricultural sectors in particular.

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“Such policies have included the regular expropriation of land without compensation, and the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act. Although applied irregularly, this sets minimum ownership levels by black Zimbabweans at 51 percent of enterprises valued at more than $500 000 in most economic sectors,” the Fitch Group company said, adding that labour regulations also continue to restrict the employment of foreign nationals.

“The removal of Robert Mugabe as president in November 2017 does, however, create potential upsides for renewed foreign investor interest in the country and economic reforms,” the think-tank said.

The latest report comes after Zimbabwe was ranked 124th out of 137 on the World Economic Forum’s 2017-2018 Global Competitive Index (GCI).

Roberto Crotti of the Geneva-based WEF Competitiveness Research said Zimbabwe’s business environment has proved challenging to operate in for local as well as foreign businesses, due to the country’s monetary and fiscal standing which have affected overall macro-economic performance.

“For example, the budget deficit is now at 10 percent and the government debt is 75 percent, which are affecting substantially the conditions for businesses to operate in Zimbabwe right now,” he said.

The GCI ranking is determined by the performance of 12 pillars or drivers of competitiveness that collectively define a country’s rating.

The 12 pillars are: institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication, and innovation.

— The Financial Gazette

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HARARE - In A dual development set to transform Africa’s access to China as well as simplify the ability of Chinese nationals to transact in Africa, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe’s parent company, Standard Bank, has signed an agreement with UnionPay International to accept UnionPay cards in multiple African markets.

Standard Bank is also the first African bank to receive the licence to issue UnionPay cards in South Africa.  

“African entrepreneurs and importers of Chinese goods and services have, traditionally, had to travel to China carrying foreign currency in cash for conversion into renminbi,” George Lo, executive head: Pan Africa China Banking at Standard Bank said.

Going forward, Standard Bank cards or online transaction solutions will provide access to all UnionPay-enabled platforms in China, and Africans dealing with China will no longer need to travel with cash.

Lo said “they will soon be able to purchase goods directly from suppliers throughout China at the swipe of a card.”

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UnionPay is one of the world’s leading card payments systems and hosts the majority of transactions in China.

As such, Standard Bank’s agreement to accept UnionPay cards in multiple African markets by the end of 2018 broadens the geographic footprint — and potential customer reach — of UnionPay in Africa.

Larry Wang, vice president of UnionPay International was, “excited to be working with Standard Bank, Africa’s biggest bank, which provides UnionPay an unrivalled platform with unmatched reach across Africa.

“UnionPay strives to ensure convenient and safe payment services to a growing number global UnionPay cardholders visiting Africa, an increasingly important business and leisure destination. We also look forward to collaborating with Standard Bank in card issuance —  providing exciting new payment options for new African customers.”

In preparation for African expansion, UnionPay International recently appointed Luping Zhang as general manager of UnionPay International Africa. The appointment will strengthen UnionPay’s relationship with both Standard Bank and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) while dramatically increasing the use of UnionPay cards in both Africa and China. This will, “position UnionPay as the key transaction-enabler between Africa and China,” added Wang.

From an African perspective, the agreement with UnionPay International provides Africans with direct access to China, including China’s highly developed electronic and mobile transaction platforms. 

Payment apps are hugely popular in China. Nearly all of these are exclusively UnionPay-enabled. This means that Standard Bank’s UnionPay capability will allow Africans with Standard Bank accounts, cards or online payment products to access the full range of payment apps currently used to transact in China.

Even more importantly, says Lincoln Mali, group head: group cards and emerging payments at Standard Bank, “the combination of Standard Bank’s existing relationship with ICBC and now also UnionPay International is likely, in time, to obviate the need for Africans to travel to China at all.”

Standard Bank card holders will be able to access China’s ecommerce marketplace. This will allow African traders to locate and select goods remotely and then pay for them electronically via their Standard Bank cards. Going forward this will happen, “from desks, laptops and phones in Africa — without Standard Bank clients having to move physical cash, convert currency or travel to China,” adds Mali.

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HARARE - More than 6 000 entertainment-loving people thronged the 4 500-seater Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) to witness Zimdancehall star Winky D’s Gombwe album launch, raising concerns over safety risks.

Though the event organisers 2 Kings Entertainment were not comfortable to reveal the exact number of people who attended the launch, sources close to the development told the Daily News that more than 6 000 people were in attendance.

“I can safely say 6 000-plus people attended the event while hundreds were turned away at the gate as the joint was filled to more than capacity,” said the source.

When contacted for comment, the 2 Kings Entertainment publicist, Dee Nosh only confirmed the Friday event was the most attended gig in HICC.

“I am not able to reveal the exact number of people who attended the show but all I can say is that Winky D’s album launch was the most successful event to be held in HICC in terms of numbers,” he said.

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“However, the most profitable concert in HICC under 2 Kings Entertainment was the one featuring Jah Cure who attracted a crowd of slightly above 5 000.”

Meanwhile, if the challenge was to fill up HICC, Winky D did more than fill it up as people were packed like sardines just to see him perform, as HICC became too small.

On the eventful night, Winky D proved to be the “Gafa, the extra-terrestrial and the Gombwe” of Zimdancehall as he calls himself. The crowd got ecstatic when he walked on stage looking all mysterious.

The audience almost became a nightmare for security personnel who endured a difficult time trying to control the VIP crowd in front of the stage. Upstairs where those who had bought the cheaper tickets had been directed to, was a hustle to just make way through.

All one could see were people standing, squeezing and there was no space to even walk. Even the space at the staircase had been taken.

Some of the people ended up standing on seats trying to fit in the little space that was available, while others stepped on them as they tried to make their way in and out of the main auditorium.

Winky D looked like an ancestral spirit on the night, dressed in black attire with a black walking stick and a black weird looking hat.

The crowd sang “happy birthday” to the 35-year-old as soon as he got on stage before he dished out his album.

The album features Vabati VaJehova in a song titled Ngirozi that has already become one of the darling songs among music lovers.

Among other acts that supported Winky D were Buffalo Soldier who failed to connect with the crowd. However, Jah Signal was a favourite of the crowd as people responded to him better than other acts.

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HARARE -The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (Nacz) has launched the People’s Choice for the 17th National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) voting platform on Monday giving hope to musicians such as Winky D who has not been nominated on the latest edition of the annual awards.

Last year, the People’s Choice gong was bagged by Winky D who recently launched his latest studio album Gombwe at Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) in the capital.

The HICC event was one of the most attended events in the history of album launches in the country.

Nacz deputy director Nicholas Moyo said the voting will run until the awards night on February 17 at 2000hrs.

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“The People’s Choice Award is a special award given to an artist or arts organisation selected by the public. The public is afforded the opportunity to vote for an artist of their own choice at every Nama.

“To vote for one’s favourite artist for this year’s People’s Choice Award, one has to send the artist’s name to this WhatsApp number +263 772 168 045. The syntax is #ARTIST NAME. The Artist with the most votes will be declared a winner and awarded at the awards ceremony,” Moyo said.

“As the name suggests, the People’s Choice Award is given to an individual/institution that would have received the most votes from members of the public through voting on the platform given above. The public is at liberty to select an artist of their choice in any of the Nama categories of Music, Literary Arts, Dance, Visual
Arts, Film and Television, Theatre and Spoken Word.”

Meanwhile, the list of nominees was released last week and they have attracted a lot of excitement from the generality of arts followers.

“The 17th Nama shall be televised on ZTV and many arts lovers and followers can make a date for the live coverage on February 17, 2018. The ceremony shall also be streamed live on more than 30 Facebook pages already linked to the official Nama Nacz Facebook page,” he said.

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BULAWAYO - Against a background of the stark realities of life in Zimbabwe in 2017, Bulawayo-based Nhimbe Trust managed to address key priorities for improved freedom of artistic expression, improved socio-economic status of artists, positive attitudes of society towards artists and their work, and enhanced gender equity in the culture sector.

Nhimbe Trust chairperson Lupwishi Mbuyamba said last year was significant for the Trust as it operated with added depth and coherence, hence conceptual clarity was achieved across all programme activities reaffirming that culture is at the heart of positive transformative change, as both a driver and an enabler of sustainable development.

“Prominent on our calendar has been the establishment of the Bluez Café, and we are proud to be the leading partner of this exciting new initiative.

“As well as serving as a creative hub for the arts and culture community and audiences of Bulawayo, Bluez Café also provides an ecosystem at the intersection of culture and development to foster progressive interventions in the promotion of economic and social justice.

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“We thank the authorities involved for their cooperation in the creation of this unique platform,” remarked Mbuyamba as he gave a review of last year’s activities.

He said the profile of the organisation has expanded both locally and internationally, with executive director Josh Nyapimbi being elected to the steering committee of the African Cultural Policy Network (ACPN); appointed patron of the newly-formed Southern Filmmakers Society koBulawayo; invited to a meeting of experts contributing towards the development of the Rwandan creative sector national action plan for arts and culture in Kigali, Rwanda; invited as an observer to the 11th session of the intergovernmental committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, at Unesco Headquarters, Paris, France.

“The innovative partnership with Bulawayo City Council resulted in another milestone in our year — the establishment and staffing of the Bulawayo Cultural Affairs Office.

“We value and appreciate the support for our endeavours by government ministries, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo City Council and all our cultural partners.

“We acknowledge and thank our main partner Africalia (Belgium) for their renewed partnership for 2017-2021, building on a healthy and respectful partnership over several years, which has facilitated remarkable growth in Nhimbe’s activities in the creative sector of Zimbabwe,” said Mbuyamba.

The Nhimbe Trust chairperson said their main programming areas include “Public Policy Dialogue” which entails facilitation of platforms to amplify the voice of creative civil society in the establishment of national policies that recognise, enhance and foster the contribution made by the arts to national, social and economic development.

Then there is the “Creative Economy Outlook Zimbabwe (CEOZ)” which provides data, analysis and the necessary tools to promote and support the growth and development of creative industries in Zimbabwe to ensure an enabling cultural, political and legal environment for the ease of doing business; for improved investment, trade, employment and wealth creation.

“Arts Education” which nurtures talented high school students with rights-based professional training, mentoring and resources to produce plays and short films based on themes pertinent to their social and educational endeavours.

“Gender and Women’s Rights in the arts and culture sector” entails working towards equal rights for women through cross-cutting programming activities including contributing to policy formulation and review processes, thereby promoting women’s capacity to participate in decision-making processes that affect their social and economic interests.

“Nhimbe Trust established Bluez Café in Bulawayo as an inclusive enabling facility, at which performing artists and producers of culture may develop, promote and perform their works, and participate in furthering acceptance, tolerance, peace, and nation-building, by simply showing that ‘the arts’ is where the sanctity of the human spirit resides.”

Highlights for 2017

From January to May, the play Tellers — The Musical took centre stage in Nhimbe activities with rehearsals and staging, leading to a debut Harare performance on the fringe of Hifa on May 5-6 at Gallery Delta, where it was well-received by leading members of the cultural community.

The Women in Theatre and Television (WiTT) project forged ahead providing support for Narratives from the Dark tour to Masvingo and Norton, and Lady Tshawe’s poetry event Revelations of You in August.

In September the partnership with the Young Vic Theatre, London, unfolded with The Unified Women Project and WiTT ended their exciting year with the staging of Blood Tongue — The Musical in Bulawayo, Masvingo and Mpumalanga, South Africa, in December.

In September, the Bulawayo cultural affairs office (a partnership project between Nhimbe Trust and City of Bulawayo) was established, with the first consultative meeting being held at Bluez Café in November.

From March plans for the establishment of the Bluez Café unfolded with the engagement of Ian White and Penny Yon to help set up a multi-dimensional space for creatives in the Bulawayo city centre. Bluez Café opened on Africa Day, May 25, with dazzling performances by 40 artists and a substantial crowd of people from the arts community of Bulawayo and visitors from Harare.

The Children in Theatre and Television (CiTT) project trained 32 participants over the course of 24 lessons/rehearsals at Bluez Café from June to December, and in August CiTT students won several awards at the first edition of the Doug Hill High Schools Drama Festival, Masvingo, supported by Nhimbe Trust.

Nhimbe Trust provided support for the attendance of two African cultural experts to speak at the 2nd International Conference on African Cultures (ICAC), which was held on September 11-13, 2017 in Harare, marking the 60th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.

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HARARE - Zimbabwe long distance runner Munyaradzi Jari is readying himself for the Lagos Marathon in Nigeria where he hopes do well and boost his chances of qualifying for the World Championships next year.

The third Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is an IAAF Bronze Label Race that will be held on February 10 following its certification as Bronze Label Marathon with routes officially measured, and with a goal to achieve Gold Label within the next two editions.

Athletes who qualify and participate in this 2018 edition are automatically recognised and eligible for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia in April.

About 100 000 participants are expected to participate this year while the prize money has been upped to 3 million naira across all categories.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police Athletics Club athlete had a good build-up towards the Lagos race after claiming first position in the Nyaradzo Hac 32km Memorial Run at Old Georgians Sports Club in Harare a fortnight ago.

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“This will be my first time to race in Lagos after getting the invitation this year but I believe I have done the best that I could in terms of preparations although lately the rains have been making it a bit difficult to run on muddy surface,”  Jari told the Daily News yesterday.

“I’m scheduled to leave for Lagos this afternoon and my aim in this maiden race will be making it into the top 10 and God-willing top three and also qualify for the World Championships next year. Basically I have to finish my race under 2:18:30. This will be good for me because it will also open other doors for me to invites to compete in more events in future.”

The 27-year-old recorded a personal best of 2:14 minutes in last year’s Mosselbay Marathon in South Africa which is pretty much within the required cut-off time to qualify for the World Champs and it should not be much of a problem for him if he is to maintain this standard.

He finished in number one at this race and only the course and terrain will tell as he is entering Lagos, Nigeria for the first time.

“Finishing within that required time should be enough to take me to the World Champs but may be forced to do more races if there are other athletes who would have already qualified because only three people per country are legible to participate at the World Championships,” Jari said.

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HARARE - Foxes and Harare City Hornets have maintained their stranglehold on the Harare Basketball Association in the respective men and women leagues where they enjoy a single and five point leads.

Log leaders Foxes accounted for Raiders 74-57 at Richwood on Sunday while second-placed Harare City Hornets (men) kept on pressure with a 69-46 win over Rockets at City Sports Centre on Sunday.

Hornets will be banking on their game in hand as they seek to get back into pole position on the log.

In a show of character, Foxes outsmarted Raiders in a closely-contested encounter where Tatenda Maturure outscored everyone with a contribution of 22 points.

A powerful combination for the Foxes pair of Tatenda Tswatswa and Paul Kashishi outweighed Maturure’s efforts with the two players contributing 19 points each.

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Chris Nadolo, Nathan Warikandwa and Russell Matanhire weighed in with 11 points each for the log leaders.

In the women’s section, Harare City Hornets massacred Rookies 128-4 in week 15 action which took place at City Sports Centre on Saturday.

On the other hand, the promotional league is beginning to take shape with the Assassins looking set to join promotion to the elite league come 2018/19 season.

Assassins dismissed new boys Chitown Warriors 51-30 while Southside clobbered Rhinos 20-0.

HBA Weekend Results:

Women’s League: Hornets 128- 4 Rookies, Bucs 42- 57 Sparks, Raiders 58- 28 Hustlers, G Academy 42- 42 Mabvuku, Cousins 16- 26 Rookies, Lynx 39- 26 FML, JBC 41- 40 Sparks.

Men’s League: Varsity 50- 46 Cameo, JBC 69- 15 Yadah, Cheetahs 32- 50 Hustlers, Foxes 74- 57 Raiders, Hornets 69- 46 Rockets.

Promo League: Mabvuku 48-36, Galacticos 68- 54 Bulls, Assassins 51-30 Chitown, Chinhoyi 40- 46 Southside, Knights 30- 44 Bindura, Swagou 24- 41 Knights, FML 47- 56 Pistons, Southside 20- 0 Rhinos.

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HARARE - The Zimbabwe women cricket coach Adam Chifo said he will not mourn over the missed opportunities in the just-ended ODI series which ended in a draw against the touring Ireland side.

Instead, Chifo is looking forward with positivity ahead of the Twenty20 series which starts tomorrow at Country Club in Harare against the same opposition.

The third and final ODI was abandoned without a ball being bowled owing to a wet outfield at St George’s College much to the disappointment of the Zimbabwean camp who had hoped to maintain their hegemony over the visitors since beating them 2-1 in a quadrangular series in South Africa that also featured India and hosts South Africa.

Now focus is on the five-match T20 series which will see three of the matches taking place at Country Club (first, second — Saturday and final February 14) and two at St George’s College (third and fourth on Sunday and Tuesday respectively).

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“We are really looking forward to the T20s knowing Ireland have their main focus as they prepare for the World Qualifiers that’s why they have flown in Kimberly Garth from Australia to beef up their team. I’m confident we will give a good account of ourselves in the T20s,” Chifo told the Daily News yesterday.

“We have done well previously in the T20s but I guess it comes down to how we execute our plan on the day and also how much the ladies really want it.

“It’s a fast-passed game that requires quick decision making but we have a good team that can handle that kind of a situation. Of the last 9 T20 encounters we have won 8 and lost one (against Uganda) so that says a lot about our T20.”

Zimbabwe went ahead in the ODI series with a comfortable Duckworth Lewis seven-wicket win in the first match before going to sleep in the second where they failed to chase down 207 runs to lose by 12 runs.

It seems the side is switching off at crucial intervals a development which also cost them of a Global ICC World T20 Qualifiers place at last year’s Africa Qualifiers in Namibia where they lost to Uganda in the final having beaten them thoroughly in the round robin stage.

“Very disappointed, we were looking forward to this game (rained out final against Ireland) but the situation was out of our hands,” Chifo said.

“They just need more and more games so that they learn how to deal with these kinds of situations when they arise.”

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HARARE - For only the second time in their history, FC Platinum will this weekend take part in the Africa Champions League hoping to make a better impact than their last previous attempt.

Norman Mapeza’s side is set to take on Angolan side Premeiro Desportivo Agosto in the first leg of the preliminary round clash at the Stadia 11 November in Luanda.

The second leg is scheduled for Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane on February 20.

FC Platinum first took part in Africa’s premier inter-club competition in 2012 under their former coach Rahman Gumbo.

That year, the Zvishavane-based side began their journey in the preliminary round when they took on Swaziland side Green Mamba.

They won the first leg 2-4 in Swaziland with Donald Ngoma scoring a brace while Ali Sadiki and Allen Gahadzikwa were also on target for Gumbo’s side.

In the second leg, Pure Platinum Play put the Swazis to the sword running out 4-0 winners to take the tie 8-2 on aggregate.

The victory secured FC Platinum a first round date with Sudanese giants El Merreikh which proved to be a bridge too hard to cross.

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El Merreikh refused to have the tie played in Zvishavane as they did not approve of the accommodation facilities in the mining town.

Caf accepted the Sudanese’s complaint and FC Platinum were forced to host the first leg away from their beloved home ground to Rufaro Stadium.

Michelle Katsvairo and Ngodzo scored for Pure Platinum Play but the Zimbabwean side could not kill off the contest.

The home side allowed El Merreikh to force a 2-2 draw. After scoring two away goals, the Sudanese side were always going to be favourites going into the second leg which they duly won 3-0 to take the tie 5-2 on aggregate.

That was the last time FC Platinum took part in the Africa Champions League and have had to wait at least another five years to be back among the continent’s elite.

In 2015, they took part in the African Confederation Cup but the pedigree and quality of opposition cannot be compared to that of the Champions League.

Mapeza’s side won the right to get back into Africa’s elite competition following their title win last season.

The draw has, however, not been kind to Pure Platinum Play because Desportivo are no easy pushovers.

Desportivo are 11-time Angolan champions and have won the title in the last two years.

The club recently appointed Serbian coach Zoran Manoljovic Maki to take over from Bosnian Dragan Jovic.

The Angolan side have already signed Nigerian defender Kehind Yisa Anifowoshe from Oman side Alitihat as they prepare for the African safari.

Besides Anifowoshe, the club which is owned by the Angolan Defence Forces has also resigned their former goalkeeper Neblu from fellow Girabola side Interclube.

Desportivo, however, seem to be domestic bullies as they have failed to translate their domestic dominance in the Girabola to Caf competitions.

Last season, they were knocked out of the Champions League by Ugandan side Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in the preliminary round on away goals rule.

KCCA won the first leg 1-0 in Kampala before Desportivo took the second leg 2-1 in Luanda.

Mapeza has added some reinforcements to his championship-winning side as they bid to reach the group stages of the competition.

Headlining the new arrivals at Mandava is the foreign duo of Zambian forward Shadreck Mayembe and Cameroonian Albert Eonde.

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