THE opposition MDC yesterday claimed its leader Nelson Chamisa (pictured) escaped death by a whisker after police in Marondera fired “live and rubber bullets” at him, forcing him to scurry for cover and abandon a tree-planting programme earmarked for Dombotombo Clinic in the farming town, 72km east of Harare.

BY MOSES MATENGA/JAIROS SAUNYAMA

Although police insisted that they only used tear smoke to disperse the crowd, top MDC officials said live ammunition had been fired into the crowd.

“Live shots fired at president Chamisa, I was beside him. We were missed by a whisker. We were only planting trees for National Tree Planting Day in Marondera today,” Marondera Central MP Caston Matewu tweeted.

Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda also claimed police had fired live ammunition in their direction, describing the incident as an attempt on the opposition leader’s life.

“Police were firing live ammunition in the direction of president Nelson Chamisa. This is unacceptable and the president remains resolute and fired up,” Sibanda said.

“The police attempted to shoot president Chamisa and we are now regrouping to try and assess the level of damage and the number of people injured in the process. I have seen four people at the moment.

“There are people hit by rubber bullets, (but) they targeted live ammunition at the president.”
“It is uncalled for. It’s irresponsible and damages our country. It is sabotage on the economy and is the real sanctions against the people of Zimbabwe,” Sibanda said.

But police denied reports that they used live ammunition, saying they only used tear smoke after Chamisa and his supporters had refused to disperse.

As early as 6am, armed police had mounted roadblocks and barricaded Cherutombo Primary School, the initial venue for the tree planting programme, arguing that the event was not sanctioned by the law enforcement agents.

Chamisa’s security team then shifted the venue to Dombotombo Clinic, where they were again followed by armed State security agents, resulting in a fierce stand-off.

Chamisa insisted on going ahead with his programme, before police violently dispersed them with tear gas.

Chamisa told NewsDay yesterday that the incident confirmed that police were on working on orders to crush his party’s events and close the country’s democratic space.

The latest incident comes as the MDC claims it has been unofficially banned by the Zanu PF government from participating in national politics after several of its functions have been blocked in the past.

Chamisa later conducted his tree-planting programme at the party’s Marondera provincial headquarters in Morningside.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said security agencies only used tear smoke to disperse the crowd.

“Facts on the ground indicate that there was a gathering which had no prior notification to the police. The conveners were advised to follow laid-down procedures and also what they were doing was not legally binding. So what the officers on the ground did was to advise the gathering not to do things that will make them clash with the authorities,” Nyathi
said.

“There were some people who came in kombis and chanting slogans and shouting and, in the process, not complying with police orders. So (the) police had to use tear smoke to disperse them.

“No live rounds were fired, no rubber bullets were used. Our officers were not armed with firearms as anyone would want to allege. No weapons were fired at anyone directly.”

In a statement last night, the Information ministry said: “Police in Marondera had to deploy tear smoke to disperse an aggressive crowd that was closing in on them. This was after leadership of a political party tried to hold a rally at Dombotombo Clinic without notifying police. For the avoidance of doubt, no firearm was discharged.”

A few weeks ago, Chamisa watched haplessly as police violently dispersed party supporters and attacked ordinary citizens gathered for his Hope of the Nation Address in Harare.

Several people were injured while others were arrested after the crackdown, which also saw a 10-month-old baby being detained together with its mother.

The MDC has, of late, seen its programmes being blocked, with heavy police presence seen also in most parts of the country, particularly in the capital, Harare.

Until late yesterday, police maintained a heavy presence in Marondera and along the Harare-Mutare Highway.

HIGHLANDERS are likely to forgo the opportunity to play in the Caf Confederation Cup next year due to financial constraints.

BY HENRY MHARA

The Bulawayo giants booked their ticket to represent the country in the continent’s second tier club competition after winning the Chibuku Super Cup at the weekend.

Star striker Prince Dube scored the all-important goal as Bosso beat Ngezi Platinum Stars 1-0 at a heaving Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday to lift the trophy, which comes with it a ticket to play in the African safari.

However, there are indications that Highlanders will not take up the opportunity, with sources yesterday telling NewsDaySport that the club is financially hamstrung to partake in the resource-draining excursion.

“Unless the club’s sponsors chip in and avail the resources, the club cannot afford, unfortunately,” a club source said.

“A lot of resources are required to play in Africa as you are well aware, resources that we don’t have. The club’s financial standing is well known, we just don’t have the resources.”

The club is bankrolled by cellular network operator NetOne, which provides the team with most resources to run its operations, including player’s salaries. Bosso, who command a huge following in terms of numbers that attend matches in the league, also rely on gate takings to cover their other costs.

But the source said the club might need to find other streams of revenue to be able to take part in the African competition.

Dynamos have in the past failed to participate in continental football, because of financial limitations.

The Harare giants failed to participate in the 2015 Caf Champions League due to a lack of sponsorship.

Highlanders have also in the past passed on the opportunity to represent the country in Africa, pulling out from the Caf Confederation Cup in 2011, due to lack of funds.

Asked by NewsDay soon after lifting the Chibuku Cup on Saturday, on whether the club will take part in the Confederations Cup this year or not, Highlanders chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube, could not give a straight answer.

“Let’s celebrate today, and let’s not put the cart before the horse. Let’s enjoy the victory that is today, and let then regroup and focus on what this means and what we need to do about it. So I think it’s a question for another day. Today’s question is ‘are we going to sleep?’ and the answer is absolutely not!”

If Highlanders decide to pull out, it’s highly likely that the opportunity would be passed on to Ngezi Platinum Stars.

The well-resourced Mhondoro Ngezi side participated in the Caf Confederation Cup two years ago after winning the Chibuku Super Cup in their debut season in the Premiership, but crashed out of the competition in the first round.

If Highlanders also decide to pull out, it would be a huge disappointment to their fans who are looking forward to seeing their club rub shoulders with the best of the continent.

It would hurt their players even more, who gave it their all hoping to play in Africa, an exercise that usually opens opportunities for players. Dube said he was proud of the team’s heroics in the Chibuku Super Cup, claiming that they had actually surpassed their target for the season.

Highlanders started the season slowly in the league and at some point fought relegation, but picked up form late into the campaign where they are now fighting to finish in the top four.
They were unplayable in the Chibuku Super Cup, accounting for some of the big teams in the country on their way to lifting the cup, including their most bitter rival Dynamos, and defending league champions FC Platinum.

“Winning this says we achieved slightly more than what we set ourselves to. According to our plan, we had wanted to, at least, get into a major final, and we did that, and we won it. So it means that we are maturing, the players are maturing maybe a little bit bigger than we thought. Maybe because we went through a difficult period at the beginning of the season, so it has matured all the players and everyone within the club. We have shown that patience, bravery, sticking together and doing things correctly will ultimately get you the prize,” Dube said.

“When we started this project, we wanted to do a few things; one, to get the fans to come back into the stadium by playing a certain type of football. And if you go to PSL and check the statistics for last season and this one, we are the most followed club in terms of stadium-going numbers. That means the club has been doing things that resonate with the fans.”

ZIMBABWE has restated its continued support and solidarity with Palestine as its struggle for freedom from Israeli occupation rages on.

BY VANESSA GONYE

Speaking during commemorations of the international day of solidarity with the Palestinian people in Harare on Friday, Foreign Affairs deputy minister David Musabayana lamented that the Palestinian issue remains unresolved more than half a century later since the adoption of the United Nations Security Council resolutions in 1967.

“We re-affirm our support for the United Nations Security Council resolutions that call for a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Palestine and Israel and the establishment of a free Palestinian State within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“Over the years, the Palestinian people have demonstrated a tremendous amount of patience, a level of patience that has surprised even their adversaries…Regrettably, ever since the signing of the Oslo agreements, we have witnessed a systematic and relentless increase in occupation of more and more of the Palestinian land,” he said.

Palestine has been under Israeli occupation for 71 years.

Musabayana noted with concern the continued limitations on the full enjoyment of human and political rights for the people of Palestine.

To date, there are more than four million Palestinians in refugee camps throughout the Middle East and many more exiles worldwide.

“Zimbabwe wishes to witness the return of Palestinians around the world to their country so that they also contribute towards national development,” he said.

Palestinian ambassador to Zimbabwe Taghrid Senouar expressed gratitude to all the countries that have stood by her country.

“I would like to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the government and the friendly people of the Republic of Zimbabwe for their continuous unwavering support and solidarity with our people to attain their inalienable rights, and the firm stands beside the international law and legitimacy regarding the Palestinian just plight,” she said.

LOW-COST airline fastjet Zimbabwe says it has been “overwhelmed” with positive responses from a wide spectrum of local and international customers after the announcement of the new route, Bulawayo to Johannesburg, recently.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

“Since the announcement of the new route, we have been overwhelmed with positive sentiment and backing from a wide spectrum of local and international supporters and business leaders, appreciating the economic and social benefits the new route will pave for everyone,” the airline’s chief executive officer Joao Sousa said in a statement last week.

Effective Thursday this week, the airline will fly the new route with 22 new scheduled flights per week, including double daily frequencies Monday through Friday with a single flight operation on a Sunday.

Sousa said Bulawayo, the country’s second-largest city, has the potential and capacity to be one of the fastest growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa, and as an airline they were honoured to be associated with the positive outlook adopted.

The company said preparations and final arrangements were underway at fastjet Zimbabwe in anticipation of the inaugural flight from Bulawayo to Johannesburg.

The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart Joshua Nkomo International Airport for Johannesburg at 1810hrs.

“The published flight schedule for this route is designed to offer convenience and value to travellers with the lowest fares available via the airline’s website. Bookings can also be made via any fastjet shop, the call centre or a travel agent of choice,” the company said.

“All fares include a free baggage allowance with a choice of offerings available for travellers looking for flexibility and a value-based flying and travel experience.”

The new route will complement the airline’s convenient daily return service from its hub in Harare to Johannesburg, OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, where travellers may connect to multiple global destinations.

TO partly address Zimbabwe’s growing energy crisis characterised by constant load-shedding and escalating gas prices, the Chinese Industrial International Group (CIIG) has introduced a new type of technology, dubbed the Seeci stove which uses coal as a source of energy.

BY LORRAINE MUROMO/PRECIOUS CHIDA

Speaking at a Press conference in Harare last week, CIIG chief executive officer Nie Hai Hang said this was a development that Zimbabweans should embrace to escape gas and electricity constraints.
“There is an energy crisis in Zimbabwe; there are serious power shortages and gas is completely imported which is too expensive.

“Under the dual pressure of the crisis, CIIG effectively utilises and develops coal resources to solve the current crisis,” he said

Hai Yang said deforestation was one of the many threats that faced the environment.

The Seeci stove came in as a solution to rampant deforestation, especially in the rural areas.

According to statistics, 60% of the rural population use firewood for cooking.

The combustion-cooking equipment uses less energy and is convenient since coal is a local natural resource and easy to access.

The Chinese investor said the stove had a two-year guarantee and cheaper having currently been priced at $300.

The concept has been widely used in Asia for over 20 years.

The technological development has created employment to many locals as the company is run by local people from shop floor up to management levels.

The group has vast investments in the country, owning the Borrowdale Trauma Hospital and citrus farming in Mazowe.

THE Joint Operations Command (JOC) in Manicaland last week raided artisanal miners operating in gold-rich Odzi district to restore sanity following the death of four panners in bloody clashes at Odzi 1 and 2 mines.

BY KENNETH NYANGANI

In recent weeks, JOC has also raided illegal miners along Mutare River where alluvial gold mining is rampant.

Manicaland provincial mines director Omen Dube yesterday confirmed JOC’s intervention.

“We raided illegal miners in Odzi, especially after a recent incident where a miner was killed.
Police and the army invaded illegal miners in Odzi. I will be in office on Monday (today) so that we can conduct a meeting on how effective the operation was,” he said

“We want this operation to be continuous because with the economic hardships, we are very aware that they (illegal miners) are going to come back again.

“We have done similar operations along Mutare River, where alluvial mining is rampant. You know that it’s easy to trap gold along Mutare River, so the miners need easy money.”

Acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luxon Chananda confirmed the operation, but could not provide details.

Chananda said the programme was implemented by the district operations office.

“I can confirm that we carried out a joint operation with the Ministry of Mines, but I cannot provide details because this was a district operation, so I will also need to be apprised on the operation,” he said. “However, it is the mandate of the police to respond to any distress calls and ensure that there is peace in the country.”

ZANU PF has secured 67 of the 150 beasts to be slaughtered during the annual conference to be held in Goromonzi next week, where it expects to spend over $5 million to feed at least
7 000 delegates.

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

The beasts sourced from party members — among them legislators, provincial members and supporting partners — will be kept at a paddock near the venue, Goromonzi High School.

Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial secretary for administration Kudzai Majuru said they had started collecting the cattle.

“After all the pledges, we have started collecting 67 beasts that we are assured of getting. Starting from today (yesterday), the truck is already moving around collecting the cattle to be kept at a paddock near the conference venue. We are happy with the progress so far and we are well on course as far as the preparations are concerned,” he said recently.

The Zanu PF provincial leadership recently said the party wanted to source 400 goats and
5 000 chickens to feed the 7 000 delegates expected to grace the event.

Zanu PF has a penchant for splashing huge amounts of money during its functions, with government departments such as Zesa Holdings, Zimbabwe National Water (Zinwa) and TelOne, among others, chipping in as well.

Currently, the District Development Fund and Zinwa have drilled four boreholes at the venue, while roads have been graded and resurfaced bringing a new look in the district that has poor infrastructure despite its proximity to the capital city.

Roads that link to schools providing accommodation like St Johns High have been worked on, while the one linking to Chinyika Clinic has been rehabilitated.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s close ally and Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena has vouched for Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, saying the former army general, who toppled former President Robert Mugabe in a coup in November 2017, had no plans to stage another military takeover.

BY MOSES MATENGA

Addressing members of his constituency at the weekend, Wadyajena dismissed speculative reports that a coup was looming following Chiwenga’s return from a four-month long medical trip in China.

The speculation was further fuelled by the absence of senior government officials to welcome Chiwenga at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on November 23 and at his home-coming prayer meeting in Wedza at the weekend.

“There were celebrations in the opposition that VP Chiwenga is back and ED is going. They said there is going to be a coup. Nothing like that will ever happen. The President and his deputy are brothers and it is President Mnangagwa who spoke to his Chinese counterpart (Xi Jinping) to have his deputy flown to China for treatment because they say he was poisoned,” Wadyajena said.

Chiwenga’s detractors claimed the ex-army general was angry over recent purges on his loyalists in the party and military.

Wadyajena said the narrative was being peddled by remnants of the G40 cabal to fan factionalism in the party.

“We hear you got calls from some ministers saying you must not bring the presidential inputs here. Whoever is calling you is working against the President. That’s why youths say they are people targeting ED and Nicodemously, saying he must go and leave for a younger person. Leave to go where? The Constitution says he must serve for two terms,” he said.

“Let us support the President and not work against him and sabotage him. Elections are in 2023, (so) let us not be in campaign mode.”

Cotton Producers and Marketers Association chairperson Steward Mubonderi said Mnangagwa had taken the Cuban and Rwandan strategy to bust sanctions through boosting local crop production.

“Today, Iraq and Libya are crying, they lacked vision and supported the killing of Sadam Hussein and Libyan leader Muammar Gadafi. They are now feeling the heat. It is disastrous to think of removing a leader now when we are under sanctions,” he said.

“What is killing us is lack of production. We don’t remove sanctions by marching, we need production. We do not forsake our father because of hunger,” Mubonderi said.