HARARE - Harare City chairperson Alois Masepe says the Sunshine Boys will only consider the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) offer to fill the void left by How Mine if it does not involve any monetary transactions.

Masepe said as Harare City, they had already made peace with the idea of playing in less fashionable league of Division One and are not prepared to buy any franchise from the top flight league.

This comes after reports that the Sunshine Boys had entered into negotiations with the now-defunct How Mine to purchase their franchise.

Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, Masepe made it clear that, despite the enticing offer by the PSL, his executive will meet today and make further consultations before they can accept the deal.

“I think as Harare City we made it very clear from the start that we will not buy any franchise. We came to terms that we were relegated and for us we saw many advantages of playing in Division One,” Masepe said.

“We felt if we play in Division One it will enable us continue with our objective of developing players. But now an offer has been tabled to us which means we will have to sit down as an executive to make a decision.

“There is need for consultations internally as well as from our technical team. We had tasked our technical team to assemble a team capable of making an impact in Division One and now we will have to see if that same team can be able to compete at top level.

“So we will meet tomorrow (today) and evaluate our position then we can make a decision. But what we are not going to do is to buy a franchise that will not happen.”

The Premier Soccer League yesterday issued a statement confirming they had offered Harare City to take the place vacated by How Mine ahead of the 2018 Castle Lager Premiership season.

“The Premier Soccer League would like to advise its stakeholders that How Mine Football Club has withdrawn from the Premier Soccer League,” read the statement.

“How Mine has been a member of the PSL since 2013. The PSL Emergency Committee, at its meeting held on Saturday, February 25, 2018 resolved to replace How Mine with Harare City which finished in 15th place in the 2017 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.

“In the event that Harare City are unable to take up the slot left by How Mine, the team that finished on 16th place will considered. The League would like to thank How Mine for participating in the PSL for the past five years.”

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HARARE - The Sports and Recreation Comission (SRC) yesterday congratulated Kirsty Coventry on her appointment as the chairperson of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athletes’ Commission last month.

In a statement the SRC said : “The Sports and Recreation Commission Board Management and Staff would like to heartily congratulate Kirsty Coventry on her election into the IOC Executive Board.

“This is a demonstration of confidence in her leadership which she had demonstrated beyond the field of play which she has also excelled beyond doubt as the most decorated African Olympian.

“Her election into the IOC executive board is not only important to her as an individual but it has also set our beautiful nation on a higher footing than other nations. It is in this regard that as the SRC we would want to also implore other sport administrators to emulate Kirsty’s exploits by scaling to higher levels of sport administration.

“It is only through such election into influential sport bodies would we be able to influence decisions at a global level. We can only improve our situation if we are represented at the right level as our people will also be able to influence certain decisions.”

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and International Cricket Council (ICC) are embarking on a project which is targeting young aspiring Cricketers aged below 13 years of both sexes.

The project is being conducted by Zimbabwe Cricket Development Coaches and various social development partners such as Plan Zimbabwe, Child Line, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, Keepers Alert, Tambai Zimbabwe among others.

Apart from the players receiving coaching sessions from the ZC development coaches, they are also going to receive coaching from the participating countries in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

SRC said: “The programme will be sustained beyond the ICC World Cup Qualifiers and we hope the programme will be continued and expanded to other provinces.

“The future can only be brighter, because we will be having a solid and unshakeable foundation. It is also our hope that the schools that were selected in Bulawayo Harare and Midlands will continue playing cricket.”

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BULAWAYO - Highlanders coach Mandinda Ndlovu is convinced his youthful side can only get better as they continue with their preparations ahead of the new season.

Ndlovu, who was tasked to guide the club back to its glory days having last won the title over a decade ago, under the guidance of former player Methembe Ndlovu, has assembled a relatively youthful side.

The former Mochudi Centre Chiefs coach chose to do away with old horses such as Simon Munawa, Ralph Matema and Tendai Ngulube and promoted several juniors from the club’s division one side Bosso 90 and their Under-18.

Apart from retaining some bright young prospects like Adrian Silla, Brian Banda, Charlton Siamalonga, Godfrey Makaruse, Ray Lunga the Bulawayo giants have also acquired the services of former Hwange and Bulawayo City striker Newman Sianchali.

The coming of Sianchali will sure boost Bosso strike force which has struggled for potency since the departure of Prince Dube to South Africa last year.

They have also added Ben Musaka, Nigel Makumbe and Munyaradzi Chitambwe to their squad.

And as they prepare for Sunday’s invitational match against CAPS United at Barbourfields Stadium, Ndlovu said he is happy with the team’s progress.

“There has been some development within the team and in terms of playing and style. The boys are gaining confidence day by day. They are improving game by game which is a good sign to all stakeholders,” said Ndlovu.

The former Warriors international feels there need for his youngsters to remain focused on the task at hand after some decent performances lately which have raised high expectations among the team’s fans.

Ndlovu said: “We do not run away from the fact that we have embarked on a certain project which we want to see go step by step to a level in which we anticipating it to become. It is a long-term project that is looking into the future and culture of Highlanders as an institution.”

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HARARE - Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa is pleased with his team’s progress and has warned the club’s senior players they must prove they are good enough to help the team achieve success ahead of the 2018 Castle Lager Premiership.

This comes after some flawless performances by the Glamour Boys’ youngsters in this year’s ZNA Commander Charity Shield against giants CAPS United and Highlanders.

Mutasa was forced to field a host of youngsters in the two pre-season matches after DeMbare senior players boycotted training demanding their dues from the team’s leadership which dates back to last year.

However, the youngsters, who have since earned the nickname “kidznet” did not disappoint — putting up assured performances by beating a strong CAPS United side 1-0 in the semifinals before seeing off Bosso in the final with a 2-1 victory to be crowned champions.

DeMbare have not made secret their intentions to fight for the championship and revive their dominance of the Premiership.

Last year, the Glamour Boys narrowly missed the title right on the last day of the season to eventual winners FC Platinum. 

And Mutasa reiterated that there would be no special treatment based on age when the season finally kicks off next weekend.

Mutasa said they will not hesitate to give the youngsters game time as a way of challenging the senior players to step up their game.

“I have to say I was really impressed by the youngsters’ performance in the ZNA Commander Charity Shield.

“As the technical team it gives us more options. I think for us it’s a healthy situation in as far as competition in the team is concerned,” Mutasa said.

“I think anyone who is good enough to play for a great team, can play. At the end of the day it’s the performance that matters.

“Every coach wants to win and it does not matter whether you are fielding young players or older players.

“If an old player makes me happy and helps the team win, I pick him. The same goes with a younger player, if he helps us win; I’m ready to do the same.”

Mutasa was particularly impressed by several youngsters he gave a run in the two games but singled out the contributions of attacking midfielder Kudzanai Dhemera and left back Romario Matova as exceptional.

“I think most of the players who started in the two matches against CAPS and Highlanders showed that they are ready for the big stage,” Mutasa said.

“I was most impressed by Dhemera and also Matova.

“He was a menace for the opposition each time he was in possession and Matova was solid at the back and even made some interesting runs down the line.

“I am sure if they can maintain the same levels it’s going to be an interesting season for them and the team. They need to keep on working hard going forward and improve on their game.”

The Glamour Boys will round off their preparations with an international friendly match against visiting Zambian side Buildcon Football Club at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.

Buildcon is one of the fast growing Zambian teams and has a huge contingent of foreign players from across the continent including Zimbabwe’s Partson Jaure, midfielder Nqobizitha Masuku, Devon Chafa and goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva.

They recently appointed Italian coach Arena Gulgleimo to take over from Spaniard Hicham Jedrane, who led the ambitious side to a ninth place finish last season and the former has since set sights on winning the 2018 Zambian Super league.

Gulgleimo is a vastly experienced coach on the continent having spent 13 years in charge of clubs in Benin and Burkina Faso where he won several titles.

HARARE - An International Christian economic alliance movement, Marketplace Calling International (MCI), is planning to establish a financial services institution to fund development in Africa.

MCI founder Zienzile Dillion shared the vision with some key members of the clergy and business leaders at a business networking and empowerment forum hosted by the organisation in the capital last week.

Dennis Dillon, husband to Zienzile, told the Financial Gazette on the sidelines of the meeting said the organisation plans to mobilise resources for the capitalisation of the bank through a pooled fund.

“We have been talking around the idea of pooling resources and leveraging those resources,” he said.

“Most banks really begin with a group of people agreeing to pooling their monies together and putting them in one collective place that will eventually be known as a bank and then from that collective pool of money, monies are then extended as loans to individuals, particularly those with interest in starting and growing businesses,” Dennis said

He further indicated that the fund, which has been given the name Rise up Africa Fund, will encourage a break away from the tradition of overreliance on social service programmes.  

“The Rise up Africa Fund is designed to empower, but not through social service programmes.

“One of the problems that has greatly impacted our growth as a people is our over obsession with social agendas.

“We are simply saying that if we begin to focus on economic agendas, economic issues, if we focus on commerce, if we focus on business formation and business development, then through our own business endeavours, we can impact on our own social circumstances as opposed to sitting around waiting for people to give to us and accepting handouts,” Dennis added.

MCI was founded nine years ago by Zimbabwean-born Zienzile to create synergy among Christians in business.

The organisation, which has more than 10 chapters across Africa, Europe and North America, has seen great strides and progress in various communities where it has a presence.

“We are seeing businesses empowered, the whole concept is small business owners are able to get up,” Dennis said.  

Zienzile has more than 30 years of experience in banking including regional and international work attachments at institutions such as the World Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

She has held key positions in various financial institutions including The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe; Standard Bank Africa; Ubank and Absa.

Currently, she is the chief executive of Carmel Global Capital, an investment bank based in New York. — The Financial Gazette

HARARE - One of Zimbabwe’s largest lithium producer, Prospect Resources (Prospect), has established a laboratory complex in Kwekwe aimed at enhancing production of lithium carbonate. 

Hugh Warner, Prospect chairperson said the latest development is a significant achievement for both the company and Zimbabwe.

“Producing high grade battery quality lithium carbonate that exceeds industry norms bodes well for the ultimate company goal of a large scale lithium carbonate facility in-country.

“This entire process has been designed and built in-country using local skills and services further demonstrating the business friendly environment that Zimbabwe is rapidly becoming,” he said.

The latest development comes after the Australia Stock Exchange-listed firm ASX-listed Prospect Resources has raised

$10 million — before costs — in an oversubscribed placement of 166 million shares at an issue price of 6c per share.

The proceeds from the placement are expected to enable Prospect Resources to accelerate the development of the Arcadia lithium project in Zimbabwe and take advantage of the support offered by the new Zimbabwe government under its Rapid Response Initiative.

The proceeds of the placement will also be used to progress exploration at the Good Days lithium project and also investigate and possibly acquire additional lithium and cobalt projects, as well as supplement general working capital.

Hunter Capital Advisors acted as sole lead manager to the issue which is scheduled to be settled in full early this month.

The Arcadia lithium project is located approximately 38km east of Harare, Zimbabwe in the high veld close to the long established Arcturus gold mine.

Arcadia occupies an area of more than 14 square km and consists of some historical lithium and beryl workings within an existing agricultural area partially surrounded by a number of hills rising some 50m above the central basin floor.

The project’s elevation ranges between 1 300 and 1 420m above mean sea level straddling the Thorn Vlei, Grazely and Lonely Park Estate Farms.

The project is located close to major highways and railheads, with the Beira Port being less than 450km away by rail/road transport.

The proximity to Harare as a source of professional, skilled and semi-skilled labour, engineering skills and its location as a regional transport and services hub adds to the project’s economics. - The Financial Gazette

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EDITOR — Thokozani Khupe was conspicuous by her absence from MDC party business for some eight months but suddenly comes out guns blazing when our icon, Morgan Tsvangirai, died.

I would like to say “may his dear soul rest in peace” but with the squabbling in his party and family, I am quite sure he cannot.

Khupe was definitely not the acting VP at the time of Tsvangirai’s passing, so surely she cannot take over as the VP at the time of the vacancy.

The national and provincial council meetings were called before Tsvangirai’s death to resolve the leadership dispute between Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri.

Zimbabweans had all but given up on Khupe due to her snubbing of the party for so long.

Lest we forget, the meetings had been called before anyone knew MT was on his deathbed and when he died, it became imperative to appoint a leader rather than have a rudderless ship.

So the meetings resolved both issues in the same breath. This was surely in the best interests of the financially-strapped MDC and its membership.

Those calling for a special congress are jeopardising the scarce financial resources that may be available for electioneering

and so are sabotaging the party’s, and Alliance’s, chances of ousting Zanu PF once and for all.

The people have spoken through the meetings that have been held so far and any special congress would simply be rubber-stamping Chamisa as acting president.

I am sure the international community too, would like to see a special congress to sanction Chamisa’s elevation, but it is so easy to expect the right thing to be done, conveniently forgetting that any financial or moral support that was being provided has been pulled out from under the MDC’s feet.

In 2013, the MDC had to fight it out on a shoe-string budget of $5 million compared to the $500 million that Zanu PF had access to.

The local and international community felt let down by MDC over the last elections as the party did not have a grand campaign, but do they realise that Zanu PF candidates do not put hands in their pockets, bulging with mostly looted funds, for campaigning, whereas MDC candidates use their very limited to nonexistent personal resources to campaign with the aim of leading the country to freedom and a government whose standards are acceptable to the international community?

A Mbire

Highlands, Harare

HARARE - A colleague on a journalists’ social media group threw in this rather thought-provoking phrase — “looking back into the future” — as debate raged on former president Robert Mugabe’s statements on his 94th birthday party in Harare last week.

Unlike previous birthday celebrations for the ousted strongman — which were characterised by extravagance and flamboyance — this year’s edition was very private, and at his residence, the Blue Roof, in the capital’s leafy suburb of Borrowdale Brook.

Perhaps what is more interesting are the comments attributed to the former president, who resigned following a military intervention code-named Operation Restore Legacy in November last year.

Mugabe is clearly bitter about the way he was removed from office. However, his reign has been blamed for running down an otherwise promising economy inherited from the settler government of Ian Smith in 1980.

Contrary to Mugabe’s views that Zimbabweans miss him after voting him into office in July 2013, the same people flooded the streets of Harare on November 18 last year to reject his continued rule.

Besides, the former president is showing the selfishness that has always been the hallmark of his political career.

It appears at the back of his mind, he is imagining himself being thrust back at Munhumutapa Building — the citadel of State power.

If there is going to be change,  it will be found in the future which has already started with the new dispensation and never from Mugabe’s restoration.

This is simply not possible because Zimbabweans have already learnt something they may not be prepared to part with at any cost.

They are the owners of the power leaders enjoy and once they decide to withdraw it — like what happened to Mugabe — there is usually no going back.

Before Mugabe’s resignation on November 21, the people had already spoken out against his continued leadership, largely because of the suffering they had endured.

His own Zanu PF had also started an impeachment process whose embarrassment Mugabe was not prepared to face.

When Mugabe says his pension is not coming as had been promised by the new government, he is forgetting the thousands of Zimbabwean workers who went for years without salaries at State-owned companies while he was the country’s chief executive officer.

Employees of Air Zimbabwe, Ziscosteel, Grain Marketing Board, National Railways of Zimbabwe among others, have gone for years without being paid and during his reign, Mugabe never showed any concern for these struggling workers.

Pensioners had a hard time getting their monthly payouts — measly as most are — on time during Mugabe’s reign.

We know for a fact that there are people who hope to cash in on the old man’s hallucinations on bouncing back and these include people like Jonathan Moyo, ambitious and eccentric former first lady Grace Mugabe and Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao among others.

What Mugabe seems to be appealing for from the African Union and the rest of the world is similar to a restoration of his rule, something similar to the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France.

Following the French Revolution of 1789, a large number of people who felt disgruntled with the concessionist policies of Louis XVI and the violence of the republicans left France for other countries.

When the Bourbons were restored in 1814, these émigrés returned to France but, sadly, with the same mentality they had before leaving 25 years earlier. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord said of them: “They learned nothing and forgot nothing.”

Mugabe has nothing new to offer Zimbabweans. The state that Zimbabwe is in today is a result of policy failures of the government he superintended over for close to four decades.

The old man must relax at home with his family and wait for his monthly payout like all other pensioners in the country. In other polities, he would be probed for transgressions he may have committed during his 37-year rule.

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HARARE - Harare Polytechnic College plans to institute a BTech degree in Mass Communication so that students can be trained on digital multi-media technologies.

Harare Poly principal Tafadzwa Mudondo said the new programme has been given a green light from the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE).

“The BTech in Mass Communication’s thrust is premised on the application of digital multi-media technologies in the dissemination of news,” Mudondo said.

Unesco will be bankrolling skills development for the lecturers who shall be administering the B-Tech programme.

Secretary-general of the National Commission of Unesco Margaret Chirapa said the ongoing digital revolution is part of a global cultural transformation that has enhanced the de-institutionalisation of journalism.

“There cannot be a fully comprehensive free-flow of information and ideas in a society that does not adopt to the current changing technological trends where the world is witnessing a paradigm shift from analogue to digitalisation,” Chirapa said.

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BULAWAYO - Three of MDC vice president Thokozani Khupe’s backers in Matabeleland South have quit the opposition party citing failure to uphold the party’s constitution and general disorganisation.

This comes after the elevation of Nelson Chamisa, 40, as president in the wake of the death of veteran MDC leader and founder Morgan Tsvangirai on February 14, an enthronement that has been vigorously opposed by Khupe, who is also bidding to succeed the late former prime minister.

Nomalanga Khumalo, the former deputy Speaker of Parliament; Nephat Mdlongwa, the former Gwanda South legislator and Gabriel Ndebele, the former Matobo South legislator — who were in the provincial executive committee — said the party had lost its founding values and principles.

They also cited differences with provincial chairperson Solani Moyo —who is backing Chamisa.

“There is no more democracy in the party, there is no more freedom,” Ndebele said.

“There is clear dictatorship in the party, there is no more consultations or discussions. What we see now is our chairperson having aligned himself with a clique of a few others while ignoring the views of the majority in the executive,” he said.

They accused Moyo of unilaterally endorsing Chamisa as the party’s acting president without consulting fellow executive members.

Moyo yesterday said the trio has been boycotting provincial meetings, and only emerged now to complain after the provincial executive had unanimously endorsed Chamisa.

“They were not attending our party meetings, I think they are having their own problems, but anyway, if they have resigned, we don’t have any problem with that. As a party, we will continue to work with the people until we remove Zanu PF,” Moyo told the Daily News.

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HARARE - Nelson Chamisa was yesterday elected substantive leader of the MDC in a vote that will set the direction for the tension-plagued party looking to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa in mid-year elections.

The comes after the death of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai on February 14, after a long battle with cancer, with his demise widening divisions in his party only months before elections.

As MDC leader, Chamisa, a 40-year-old who was taking the role of acting president following Tsvangirai’s death, will also become the party’s presidential candidate.

This was the resolution of almost a full-strength of the National Executive and the National Council, the party’s supreme decision-making organ between Congresses, that met at the party headquarters Harvest House in central Harare yesterday.

Chamisa beat Thokozani Khupe, 54, a former deputy prime minister, who did not attend yesterday’s vote, marking a pivotal moment for the MDC, which nearly came to power in 2008 under the late Tsvangirai’s leadership.

The party resolved to give seven days for engagement processes to take place with senior leaders Khupe, national chairperson Lovemore Moyo and organising secretary Abednigo Bhebhe after which the party has mandated the leadership to take the necessary action by operation of law.

Chamisa smiled and hugged other party officials as the results were read out.

Luke Tamborinyoka, the presidential spokesperson and director of communications, told reporters that Chamisa had been appointed substantive party leader and presidential candidate.

“After six hour meetings of the national executive and the national council, the party’s supreme decision-making organ between Congresses, the following resolutions were passed unanimously: that in line with Article 18 as read together with Article 9.21.1 of the party Constitution, the party through the National Council, has resolved that... Chamisa is confirmed as the party’s substantive leader and the party’s presidential candidate for 2018,” Tamborinyoka said.

He said the party fully endorses the MDC Alliance, taking cognizance of the input from the party’s provincial leaderships.

“In the same vein, Council resolved that all party candidates in the 2018 election will participate under the MDC Alliance banner and that the party shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the name MDC-T is not abused,” he said.

“That the party be fully geared, prepared and ready for resoundingly winning the 2018 elections. In that regard, the party has mandated all structures to complete a popularity and merit based internal candidate selection process by 15 April 2018.”

The party also resolved that Harvest House be renamed Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House “in honour of our iconic leader for his service in entrenching democracy in the country.”

Tamborinyoka also said the party has resolved that party spokesperson Obert Gutu is suspended pending internal disciplinary processes and in the meantime deputy spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo becomes the acting party spokesperson.

“That the National Council notes with serious concern the violence that took place against senior officials in Buhera and applauded the immediate action taken by president ... Chamisa to order an investigation into what happened with the aim of ensuring that stern action is taken against the culprits.

“The party has emphasized its zero tolerance for violence and appreciated the swift action by the president to deal with the Buhera incident and ensure that no stone is left unturned in the investigation of what exactly happened,” Tamborinyoka said.

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HARARE - A Harare court gallery was yesterday cleared to allow a self-styled Binga “prophet” to present a “goblin” he claimed to have recovered from a CAG Travellers Coach and allegedly demanded money to prevent a potentially fatal accident.

After claiming there was a goblin in the bus on February 24, Isaac Nkalakata, 32, became the only passenger to travel on the bus from Gokwe to Harare after he scared off passengers.

He claimed to have prayed the whole journey to avert an accident.

When they arrived in Harare, CAG Travellers Coaches’ Afra Nhanhanga was forced to surrender $20 to Nkalakata to the removal of the “goblin” from the bus.  Nkalakata began walking towards the city centre with the “goblin”. He was then arrested by police.  Nkalakata is being charged with extortion and contravening the Wildlife Act. He appeared before Harare magistrate Eric Kadye.

Nkalakata unveiled the so-called goblin in court — a live tortoise draped in a hyena skin and beads.

In the black “tshangani” bag was also a container wrapped in wild animal skin and old $100 Zimbabwean notes.

He told court officials to be careful saying anything could happen because the goblin was “too strong.” The tortoise began moving around the court room and Nkalakata pulled it back using some beads. The tortoise was forfeited to wildlife authorities.

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HARARE - A war veterans group — Magamba Echimurenga Housing Trust (Magamba) — has dragged businessman James Makamba and nine other entities to the High Court demanding an order barring the tycoon from continuing to sale shares in a firm that owns a stake in Telecel Zimbabwe (Private) Limited (Telecel).

In summons filed on Tuesday, the Trust claims it owns a 24 percent stake in Empowerment Corporation (Private) Limited (EC) — an indigenous group that owns shares in Telecel.

Makamba, his company Kestrel Corporation (Private) Limited (Kestrel), EC, Jane Mutasa, Indigenous Business Women’s Organisation, Selpon Investments (Private) Limited, Carlton Consultancy (Private) Limited, Gerald Mlotshwa, Telecel Zimbabwe (Private) Limited and Information Communication Technology minister Supa Mandiwanzira are cited in the summons as respondents.

The Andrew Ndlovu-led Magamba argued that without any semblance of lawful authority by way of a board resolution, Makamba — through his investment vehicle — sold and transferred 20 percent of the defendant’s shareholding to Telecel International Limited purporting to represent them,  changing the shareholding from the original position of the ratio of 60-40 percent in favour to where Telecel International increased its shareholding from 40 percent to 60.

Magamba accused Makamba of “nefarious scheming and manipulation”.

Magamba wants the court to declare Makamba’s action illegal.

“It will be just and equitable that this honourable court declares the plaintiff as the lawful owner of 24 percent shareholding in the third defendant.

“The director, ...Ndlovu, was denied the benefits of a director of the third defendant by not being paid sitting board allowances and other benefits attendant with the office of a director of the third defendant,” the court heard.

He further seeks an order barring Makamba from continuously disposing shares in the company.

Makamba and the other respondents are yet to respond to the application.

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HARARE - Controversial businessman  Wicknell Chivayo has explained the lethargy in his multi-million-dollar power deals which are now under investigation by government.

This comes after members of the Mines and Energy parliamentary portfolio committee on Wednesday expressed shock at the lack of progress on the ground after a fact-finding visit or inspection in loco at the site of the Gwanda Solar Project which was awarded to Chivayo’s company Intratek Zimbabwe.

The committee, chaired by independent Norton legislator Temba Mliswa discovered that there were only two shacks that had been built on the site so far after Chivayo was paid an advance fee of $5 million by Zesa Holdings.

Chivayo appeared before the committee last month to answer questions on the $202 million Gwanda Solar Project which was awarded to Intratrek Zimbabwe in 2015.

The contract was among several power projects awarded to the firm between 2015 and 2016, including the $73 million refurbishment of Harare Power Station; a $163 million project to restore Munyati Power Station; a new $128 million hydropower station at Gairezi.

After the visit on Wednesday, the committee raised fears that public funds could have been embezzled.

But in a series of salvos posted on the micro-blogging site, Twitter, Chivayo said he was still in the process of implementing the project, adding that the committee was on a witch-hunting exercise after breaking bread with former first lady Grace Mugabe in Dubai in 2016.

“What were MPs expecting to find on a site for a potential solar power station????  A triple story 10 bedroomed mansion with a tennis court and a swimming pool????  Those are actually called temporary structures which means they are destroyed later...NOTHING UNUSUAL.....,” Chivhayo wrote.

He also accused the committee of jumping the gun by rushing to Gwanda without first looking at contractual documents in his office.

“A comprehensive feasibility report, designs, topographical survey report, geo-technical survey, EIA (environmantal impact assessment) report, web designs etc are all kept in the office unless you expect me to hang all these documents on trees at the site....Pane nyaya ndopa ziva LUNCH KU DUBAI hapana chimwe (It’s all about the lunch in Dubai, nothing else).

“An impartial group would look at the CONTRACT see what that five million dollars was for??? Break it down juxtapose and come up with a proper analysis not rush to post on whatsapp and make comments like CRY MY BELOVED ZIM. Mu ZIMBABWE if you excel UNOTO VENGWA and I’m used to it..,” he further wrote.

He then turned his guns on Mliswa, describing him as a trigger-happy chairperson who is keen on destroying him.

“When I went to Pretoria in December for the business interaction the president held, .. Mliswa twitted WICKNEL CHIVAYO mustn’t think he won’t get arrested because he attended this junction.. ARRESTED FOR WHAT?? Winning a tender??? Working hard??? Taurai chokwadi LUNCH KU DUBAI (Tell the truth, this is all about the lunch in Dubai).

He also said he was unstoppable as a businessman because he had blessings from God.

“I’ve said this before TIRI VANA VA ABRAHAM (We are children of Abraham) take everything I have now and leave me with NOTHING momira (and wait) just 6 months MUONE (and see) kuti imbiri huru yevaka tumwa haiparare rwepiri (that the great honour of the God-sent doesn’t fade)... Don’t waste your time and energy hating or fighting me MBIRI IYI HAISI YANGU MBIRI NDEYA BABA KUDENGA.. (The glory is not mine but it belongs to the Lord in heaven),” he added.

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HARARE - Unsanctioned primary poll campaigns by parliamentary hopefuls are becoming the order of the day in the ruling Zanu PF, prompting the leadership into issuing a stern warning against premature canvassing for votes.

Although dates for the upcoming elections are yet to be set, candidates aspiring for seats in the National Assembly are already on campaign trail, as they tussle out in various constituencies across the country.

Aspiring councillors are also on the ground, campaigning.

The campaigns are meant to decide who will represent Zanu PF in various constituencies and councils at the coming general elections.

The battles are more intense in what are perceived to as “winnable” seats in the rural areas.

Zanu PF national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo railed against those who are going against party procedures yesterday, insisting the ruling party is yet to sanction the campaigns.

“I am not aware of any pronouncement by the party officially sanctioning such campaigns. Those doing so are violating party principles,” he said.

Khaya Moyo also declined to disclose when Zanu PF was likely to hold its primary elections saying: “I will let you know when the time comes.”

In Masvingo Province, there is a race to replace cadres who were linked to the dismantled Generation 40 (G40) faction.

Former police chief Edmore Veterai — who quit the police force in 2010 to go into full time sugarcane farming — is campaigning to secure the Bikita South seat vacated by Jappy Jaboon who was expelled from the august House last month after he was caught on the wrong end of the Zanu PF factional fights.

Jaboon, a former provincial political commissar, was a member of the vanquished G40 faction.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Veterai, a former freedom fighter, simply said: “I am in Bikita South most of the time, networking.”

He might face quite some competition from the flamboyant businessman Energy Mutodi, who is widely linked to the vacant constituency.

Zanu PF national political commissar Engelbert Rugeje has also been linked to the Bikita West seat, currently occupied by G40 protégé Beauty Chabaya.

Musician Elias Musakwa is said to be interested in contesting for the seat, which he has not won on previous three occasions.

In Gutu South, Zanu PF politburo member Pupurai Togarepi is being challenged by the daughter of the late minister of State for Masvingo Province, Shuvai Mahofa.

Yesterday, Togarepi refused to comment on the issue saying the party is yet to give the greenlight to prospective candidates to start campaigns.

In Mt Darwin South, Mashonaland Central, it is a wild dog battle for the seat that was left vacant following the expulsion of the ruling party’s former political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.

As it is, there are at least five people who are vying for the seat including the Zanu PF youths league secretary for administration Godfrey Tsenengamu.

Business tycoon James Makamba along with two reporters Andrew Neshamba and Tendai Munengwa are also said to be going for the seat.

In Harare province, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (Znlwva) spokesperson Douglas Mahiya who is eying Harare South constituency told the Daily News yesterday that there were several people, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s nephew Tongai, who have jumped the gun and are already campaigning.

“They did not work for the party. If the party was applying its rules, some people would have been expelled. It is clear that the rules are not being applied equally; the party has not yet opened the race to campaign for elections yet some people are already campaigning. It is clear that they are some people who were ready to pounce and are in this just to make money yet they never worked,” said Mahiya.

Tongai said he was not yet campaigning but was merely helping the community in which he lives.

“He should first prove his allegation; I stay in Harare South and I cannot be stopped from moving around in my constituency. There is Tonganyika Trust which is carrying out programmes around the country and we are helping people not only in Harare South but across the country. I have hosted soccer tournaments and we get funding from donors to help the less privileged,” said Tongai.

There is pervasive fear that the G40 faction — whose kingpins were exiled following the smart coup of November 18 — could sponsor candidates in the forthcoming elections.

The unease has been worsened by growing tensions between the Team Lacoste faction and the military men who also want to represent.

HARARE - The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has been thrown into confusion over contradicting statistics on the youth vote and funding for the forthcoming harmonised elections, among other challenges.

Amid indications that the impending polls would be determined by the young men and women who are registered to vote, Zec commissioners are divided over the definition of youth, with their differences now playing out in the public domain.

The confusion over the youth vote has sent commissioners scrambling for the Constitution to clarify the definition of youth after Zec chairperson Priscilla Chigumba (pictured) averred that youths will be the game-changers in elections expected between July 21 and August 21.

“Sixty percent of the registered voters are aged between 18-40 years. This means that this is going to be an election for young people,” Chigumba said of the provisional disaggregated figures from the ongoing biometric voter registration (BVR) exercise, which has so far registered 5,3 million people.

She was speaking during a meeting with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on Monday.

Zec commissioner Qhubani Moyo has differed with Chigumba publicly, taking to social media to issue a contradicting interpretation of the statistics from the BVR.

“I saw some information insinuating that young people below the age of 35 constitute 60 percent of registered voters. While the electoral commission is still finalising its figures having decrypted about 96 percent of data received, the correct position is that youths constitute around 45 percent of registered voters,” Moyo said.

In terms of the country’s Constitution, citizens aged 18 and above are eligible to vote. The charter is, however, not definitive on the age range for a youth.

For statistical purposes, the United Nations defines those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 as youth without prejudice to other definitions by member States.

In practice, the ruling Zanu PF has been generous in its definition of youth, with even members old enough to qualify for retirement being considered members of its youth wing although the party’s constitution classifies a youth as one being between the ages of 18 and 35.

The current youth secretary for Zanu PF, Pupurai Togarepi is aged 52, and makes up the party’s youth membership along with his son, Gabriel.

Absalom Sikhosana was perhaps the oldest Zanu PF youth chair as he only vacated the seat in 2014 at the aged of 62.

Sikhosana had hung onto his post amid choruses for him to let go, arguing he was “young at heart”.

Efforts by the Daily News to get Chigumba also to respond to questions sent to her on how she arrived at the 60 percent of the registered voters aged between 18-40 years were fruitless.

However, while addressing political parties on Wednesday, Chigumba appeared to agree with Moyo.

“The 18-34 years age group constitutes 43,5 percent of the total recorded votes so far. The 60+ years age group constitutes 13,6 percent of the total recorded votes so far,” she said.

The confusion comes as the commission is seized with the processes of decrypting date from the BVR exercise and preliminary cleaning of data collected during the blitz phases as it awaits the delivery of the de-duplication software.

After data de-duplication, a provisional voters’ roll will be produced and opened for public inspection before the final roll is printed.

Social commentator Denford Ngadziore said the definition of youths in Zimbabwe has been adulterated by the ruling party, adding Chigumba can be forgiven for framing those between 36 and 40 as young people.

“Be that as it may, we appeal to Zec to give us disaggregated information in regards to the bracket between 18-40 years so that we will not go into the election guessing and this will also give political parties ample time to be able to target the right audience,” he said.

This also comes against a backdrop of inadequate funding for the national elections management body, which was allocated $132,2 million for the harmonised elections in the 2018 National Budget, a figure approximately half the $274 million the Commission had indicated it needed for the eagerly-awaited polls.

The issue of electoral reforms is also lurking in the shadows, with opposition parties pressing for the levelling of the political playing field before the polls.

Interim MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is said to have hinted this week that the party could pull out of the polls unless President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration takes concrete steps to create a level playing field.

Chamisa’s predecessor, the late Morgan Tsvangirai, reportedly requested— in a meeting with Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga in Harare — for the polls’ postponement ostensibly because of lack of electoral reforms which undermines the credibility of the 2018 polls.

Tsvangirai died in a South African hospital after a long battle with colon cancer and was buried at his rural home in Buhera two weeks ago.

Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba, told the Daily News after Mnangagwa’s meeting with the late former Prime Minister at his Highlands, Harare mansion that his boss was awaiting formal submissions from the opposition on the “legal issues” the MDC leader wanted addressed in relation to his proposal to delay the 2018 elections.

The opposition has been demanding wide-ranging electoral reforms, which they said should be enacted before going for the general elections, but according to Charamba, there has not been any formal submission to government in that regard.

Luke Tamborinyoka, who was Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, denied that his boss had tabled a proposal to postpone elections.

Political parties are also alarmed by the staff movements at Zec.

Zec this week cut ties with its chief elections officer, Constance Chigwamba, after she fell out of favour with commissioners at the electoral management body.

Chigwamba had been seconded to the post of Zec chief elections officer in June 2015 by former president Robert Mugabe and was handed a letter terminating her employment with the commission after Zec’s board meeting on Friday last week, advising her that she was being sent back to the Public Service Commission with effect from March 1.

Her departure comes as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) is in the process of investigating Zec senior management over what appears to be irregular purchase of tents, computers and stationery for election-related purposes back dating to the 2013 general elections.

Zacc had been furnished with documentation regarding senior Zec officials who allegedly flouted tender processes in exchange for kickbacks and bribes.

It has not yet been established how much government was prejudiced as a result although insiders believe the loss suffered by the State runs into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Chigwamba’s ouster comes less than two months after Rita Makarau resigned from the commission under unclear circumstances.

While the reasons behind Makarau’s exit from Zec are not known, speculation has it that her resignation was part of the domino effects arising from Mugabe’s ouster.

The opposition had on a number of occasions called on Makarau to retire from Zec, accusing her of being too close to Zanu PF and Mugabe, in particular.

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HARARE - Opposition parties and political activists have dragged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Constitutional Court (Con-Court), challenging his legitimacy after coming to power last November with the assistance of the military.

Mnangagwa was sworn in as the president on November 24, 2017 following former president Robert Mugabe’s resignation.
In an application to the Con-Court, a select group of political activists is seeking permission to have direct access to the superior court to make their application.

The applicants are Liberal Democrats, Revolutionary Freedom Fighters, Vusumuzi Sibanda, Linda Masarira, Bongani Nyathi, while the respondents are Mnangagwa, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda and Mugabe.
In an affidavit, Sibanda states that on November 13, 2017, Chiwenga — as the then commander of the ZDF held a press conference at the army headquarters in Harare where he lamented the purging of former liberation veterans in Zanu PF.

He goes on to state that Chiwenga threatened that the army would step in the political affairs of Zanu PF to curb the alleged purging of liberation veterans.
“This statement was circulated on social media (video) and the private-owned media,” Sibanda said in an affidavit.

He said on November 14, last year, tankers from the ZDF barricaded some roads leading to the president’s office at Munhumutapa, situated at corner Samora Machel Avenue and Sam Nujoma Street, Simon Vengesai Muzenda Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue.
“Such deployment was inconsistent with Section 213 (1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” Sibanda said, adding that the power to deploy the army rests with the president.

He said owing to the intervention by the army, several Cabinet ministers, including former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo and ex-Public Service minister Patrick Zhuwao fled to neighbouring countries.
“On the same date (November 14, 2017), the then lieutenant general Sibusiso Moyo, a subordinate of second respondent appeared live on Zimbabwe national television and made a statement to the effect that the political dimension of Zimbabwe had changed. This behaviour was in violation of Section 208 (a) and (b) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

“He continued to appear on national television assuring legislators, the judiciary and students from tertiary institutions to continue with their day-to-day duties and studies, a clear involvement in political affairs and civilian institutions contrary to Section (4) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” the court was told.
He said government had described army’s statements as treasonous at the time.

“I must mention that third respondent (ZDF) acting on instructions of second respondent (Chiwenga) had put the then president (5th respondent) under house arrest at his Borrowdale (home) (commonly known as Blue Roof house),” the court was told.
Sibanda further said that Chiwenga then organised a solidarity march against Mugabe by escorting and bussing war veterans and civilians to the State House, chanting anti-Mugabe songs.

“It is common cause that they are equally thousands of Zimbabweans that took to the streets to celebrate the demise of 5th respondent due to his failures but nonetheless this does not wash or erode the unlawfulness of the military takeover. I believe that unlawful military action in a democratic modern State cannot be laundered to remove the stench of its unlawfulness,” the court heard.
He further said legislators had started convening in the House of Assembly to deliberate on Mugabe’s impeachment when he eventually resigned.

“Soon after the resignation of 5th respondent, 1st respondent was air lifted from exile back to this country by a helicopter belonging to third respondent (ZDF), escorted by third respondent to his inauguration. Such escort at the height of political intervention was evidence to the 1st respondent being the architect of the coup d’ etat,” Sibanda said.
He further said Chiwenga and the ZDF had displayed allegiance to a Zanu PF faction known as Lacoste, which was allegedly led by Mnangagwa. Sibanda said Zimbabwe is a Republic country which has a unitary, democratic and sovereign base as its founding values.

“I do not seek the reversal of what took place leading to the resignations of 5th respondent and inauguration of 1st respondent. I am seeking the restoration of the rule law, the supremacy of the Constitution, the declaration and condemnation of Constitutional infringements and the separation of powers of the executive, the judiciary and the legislature.
“The current scenario in Zimbabwe poses a serious threat to democracy in that, he who led (second respondent) the Defence Forces of Zimbabwe on the 14th — 21st November 2017 was later seen at a Zanu PF extra-ordinary congress in December and was later elevated to the position of vice president and second secretary of Zanu PF. His appointment to vice president was only delayed to allow a smooth resignation from the Defence Forces as commander to assume a new political role. The Constitution frowns at that,” he said.

According to the court papers, after Mugabe’s resignation, some other army officials were appointed as ministers.
The activists now seek an order declaring the actions by the respondents to be declared unconstitutional.

Judge president George Chiweshe has since ruled that the takeover of government by the army, which culminated in Mugabe’s resignation was lawful following an application filed last November by two Zimbabweans who sought an order legitimising intervention by the army.
Chiweshe said the intervention by the army was justified considering that Mugabe was no longer able to execute his duties independently.

“Whereupon after reading documents filed of record and hearing counsel: it is declared that: the actions of the second respondent (Chiwenga) in intervening to stop the takeover of first respondent (Mugabe)’s constitutional functions by those around him are constitutionally permissible and lawful in terms of Section 212 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe in that:
“They arrest first respondent’s abdication of constitutional function, and they ensure that non-elected officials do not exercise executive functions which can only be exercised by elected constitutional functionaries.

“The actions of the second respondent being constitutionally valid, second respondent has the right to take all such measures and undertake all such acts as will bring the desired end to its intervention,” Chiweshe said.

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HARARE - The late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s estate is causing sparks to fly, with the family of the former prime minister accusing his wife, Elizabeth, of tinkering with his valuables and attempting to grab his plush $3 million mansion in Highlands, Harare.

Read full story in today's paper.

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HARARE - Harare will have to restart its search for a substantive town clerk after the Local Government Board (LGB) rejected the three short-listed candidates.

Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni said the LGB was not happy with the selection and requested that the position be re-advertised.

Suspended human capital director Cainos Chingombe, Hatfield legislator Tapiwa Mashakada and Gweru town clerk Elisabeth Gwatipedza had been selected by the local authority for final consideration.

“I have received communication from the LGB that they are not happy with the three candidates and they have requested fresh interviews for the position so it is back to square one. This was after more than 30 months without a town clerk,” Manyenyeni said.

The mayor further pointed out without giving much detail that the LGB gave different reasons of their opposition for each candidate.

He added that as Harare needs a speedy resolution to the impasse as it was not ideal for a capital city to not have someone who makes executive administrative decisions.

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Community Water Alliance coordinator Hardlife Mudzingwa said the position needed to be filled speedily as Harare could not function without a substantive chief executive.

“This position cannot have a person acting in it for so long. We thought that in the 100-day plan laid out by government something would have happened but that has not been the case. It should be filled by a professional person and not someone who is selected on partisan lines,” he said.    

The position has been lying vacant for three years after the former town clerk Tendai Mahachi was retrenched.

In 2016, council appointed former banker James Mushore to the position but he was suspended by former Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere for flouting procedures to his appointment.

Following his suspension Mushore approached the Labour Court recourse into the matter which is yet to be determined.

If Mushore wins the Labour Court case, Harare City Council will be compelled to pay him over $250 000 in backdated salaries.

When the three candidates were revealed residents rejected the candidates arguing that they are “uninspiring”.

They said Mashakada is an active MDC politician, Chingombe is yet to answer for the council’s salary scandal while Gwatipedza also had an issue of purchasing $40 000 curtains for her council home.

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NAIROBI - Staff from nurses to the CEO have been suspended at a Nairobi hospital after the wrong patient underwent brain surgery.

One patient needed surgery for a blood clot on the brain, the other only non-invasive treatment for swelling.

But a horrifying mix-up of identification tags saw the wrong man operated on, reports say.

The doctors did not realise their mistake until "hours into the surgery", the Daily Nation reported.

They then realised "there was no blood clot".

The patient who was operated on is recovering, the hospital says, and an investigation is under way. Regulators have demanded a report and plan to hold a hearing.

Social media users have expressed shock that such an incident could have been allowed to happen.

It comes only six weeks after the health minister ordered an investigation into claims new mothers were sexually assaulted at the same hospital.

After the incident which took place last weekend came to light, Kenyatta National Hospital's CEO Lily Koros said the hospital "deeply regrets this event and has done all it can to ensure the safety and well-being of the patient in question".

"We are happy to inform the public that the patient is in recovery and progressing well," Ms Koros added.

She said four staff - the neurosurgeon, ward nurse, theatre receiving nurse and anaesthetist - had been suspended.

"The management has suspended the admission rights of a neurosurgery registrar and issued him with a show-cause letter for apparently operating on the wrong patient," Ms Koros said. A show-cause letter requires a staff member to account for his or her actions.

But the doctor's colleagues have protested against the suspension, reports The Star, arguing the person who put on the identification tag is the one that should be punished.

And hours later Kenyan Health Minister Sicily Kariuki said Ms Koros herself and and a clinical affairs officer were being sent home on compulsory leave while the affair was investigated.

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