BY FORTUNE MBELE

AFTER 13 years on the local football scene, Soccer Star finalist and Highlanders goalkeeper, Ariel Sibanda, hopes for a Chibuku Cup triumph against Ngezi Platinum Stars at Barbourfields Stadium today for a ticket to participate in the Caf Confederations Cup, which could set him on the path to unlock the elusive move to a league outside the country.

The 30-year-old shot stopper was named among the 11 Castle Lager Soccer Stars of the Year for 2019 this week for the second year running and for the third time in his career.

Sibanda, who goes by the moniker “Mangoye” (The Cat), said he wished Highlanders won the Chibuku Super Cup and the Bulawayo giants represent Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederation Cup to provide him with a platform to showcase his ability on the continental stage.

“Remember, in 2013 when we won the Mbada Diamonds Cup and qualified to represent the country in the African Safari, we were still under a Caf ban. It is my hope that we win the Chibuku Super Cup and we play in the Caf Confederation Cup and I can make a move outside the country,” Sibanda said in interview with Newsday Weekender Sport.

“I am very confident that I can do it and I think I still have a chance to make it outside. I am not even thinking about retiring. As long as I can still play, it’s game on.”

Sibanda, prolific in taking penalties and saving them, was surprised to make it among the country’s best 11 footballers from the current season.

“I was not expecting to make it into the final 11 this year. As Highlanders, we started very badly this year and I am overwhelmed,” he said.

“This is just great. I feel very honoured because there are a number of talented and good goalkeepers in the country.”

This afternoon, Sibanda will be hoping that the door to his ambitions can be opened by winning the competition that would take Bosso to Africa.

But in Bosso’s way are a formidable Ngezi Platinum and a shrewd tactician in gaffer Rodwell Dhlakama.

Dhlakama has already said he would look to exploit the pressure that Bosso will be under as they play in front of their multitudes of supporters at their home ground.

Since the arrival of Dutchman Pieter de Jongh, Highlanders have gone unbeated and have soared on the league table while enjoying success in the cup competition and that has created an air of expectation.

The fans will demand that the team wins the cup.

“The fact that we are in the final means we have to win it. We prevailed in the early stages and we deserve it. Our objective is to win. We play entertaining football and we don’t want to disappoint the fans that will throng Barbourfields Stadium, the ceremonial home of football. We just don’t want to put our players under pressure and we hope the match official will also not disappoint and the fans will support without any uproar,” Dhlakama said.

“We know Highlanders will be under pressure and we are looking to use that to our favour. It is good that this match is being played at Barbourfields, it suits us very well.”

Bosso coach De Jongh knows that his side face an uphill task against a strong Ngezi side.

“A cup game is totally different from a league game because in a cup game, there will be an outright winner come Saturday (today) after 90 minutes or the penalties. Ngezi are a good team, there is no dispute about that. They have very good players with a lot of speed,” he said.

“This is their second time in the Chibuku final, so they have the experience. It’s our first time in the final, but we have players with good age and we are in high spirits. I believe we will come out with a good result. We have respect for the opponents (Ngezi) because they are a
good team. Hopefully, it comes to our side, but it’s going to be a tough game.”

Prince Dube, who has scored in each of the stages of the tournament with three goals to his name, will be the man to watch and he will be partnering Tinashe Makanda upfront.

The workaholic Ray Lunga should form a solid midfield with Adrian Silla and Nqobizitha Masuku, while Peter Muduhwa marshals the defence.

Devine Mhindirira has returned after a long lay-off due to injury.

Ngezi will be looking to the talent of forwards Donald Teguru and James Nguluve for penetration upfront.

They have good experience in Qadir Amin and Gerald Takwara in midfield so much that the midfield battle against Bosso’s lot could be key in this match.

INTERVIEW: Everson Mushava

Vice-President Costantino Chiwenga returned home last week from China where he was receiving treatment. He arrived aboard a Chinese plane and the Chinese deputy ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhao Baogang, led the delegates, who included Chiwenga’s brother and son, minus top government officials who welcomed him at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. NewsDay chief reporter Everson Mushava (ND) caught up with self-exiled former Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo (JM), who described Chiwenga’s return on Twitter as bizarre and a reflection of disunity in Zanu PF. Below are excerpts of the interview.

ND: Last week, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga returned home on board a Chinese plane and was welcomed by a Chinese envoy, minus government officials. In your view, what does that mean?

JM: What happened has no precedence, save perhaps in banana republics. And the fact that it happened the way it did, has certified Zimbabwe as a banana republic. You cannot have the senior vice-president, who had been away critically ill and was receiving treatment in China for some five months, returning on a special Chinese plane to be received by China’s deputy ambassador in Harare, who was head of the welcoming party with no government or ruling party officials. That’s unheard of. The inescapable impression, if not reality, is that China was demonstrating its muscles and exposing Zimbabwe as a Chinese puppet.

While it is tempting to conclude that the Chinese did not give the Zimbabwean government flight arrival details, which is not sustainable because Chiwenga’s Zimbabwean security was there in numbers, this clearly means that things have fallen apart. There’s now a shell of a government with no centre.

Zanu PF bigwigs did not expect Chiwenga to return, looking brand new, with the Chinese calling the shots and Zimbabweans playing second fiddle. Mnangagwa was offering Joice Mujuru the vice-presidency held by Chiwenga, while Zanu PF bigwigs were busy jostling for the same position and harassing Chiwenga’s allies in the military, government and in Zanu PF; and hoping that the party’s Goromonzi conference would consign Chiwenga to the dustbin of political history.

So, the return of a well-made up and well-groomed Chiwenga, with a presidential look, has turned things upside down in the corridors of power. A different power matrix is definitely loading, and the question is not whether it will materialise, but how it will do so and when.

ND: Now that Chiwenga is back, what do you think is happening in Zanu PF?

JM: I think Zanu PF is imploding. The writing is on the wall that Zanu PF has lost the army or that the army has lost interest in Zanu PF.

It is also clear that the post-2017 Zanu PF cannot survive without the army. You saw what happened when the army stayed away from Zanu PF’s so-called anti-sanctions march on October 25, 2019, it was an embarrassing disaster as Mnangagwa addressed an empty National Sports Stadium. Only the army can mobilise for Zanu PF.

Unlike Mugabe, Mnangagwa has no mobilisation capacity whatsoever. He’s not a leader. But of course, Mnangagwa wants to be a leader, apa haana vanhu (yet he has no support).

ND: Some people say there is no bad blood between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, claiming the rift is a creation by desperate people. Why are you so convinced that things are not well between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga?

JM: Well, I don’t know that the issue is about bad blood in politics because bad blood is the stuff of politics. But in real politics, a president does not entertain a vice-president who was his kingmaker. Conversely, a kingmaker, who is a vice-president, does not entertain an ungrateful president, who unleashes his allies against his vice-president.

The problem for Mnangagwa is that he has no base: He no longer has support in Parliament, no support in Zanu PF, save for his clansmen, no support in the army and no support in the business community.

On the other hand, Chiwenga has a base in the army and he campaigned for the Zanu PF Members of Parliament. But, like Mnangagwa, Chiwenga does not have the popular support of the people.

In fact, Chiwenga is seen as the mastermind of the electoral theft of the presidential election from which Mnangagwa benefited after losing to MDC leader Nelson Chamisa.

ND: You talked of Chiwenga masterminding the electoral theft of presidential polls that benefited Mnangagwa, how did he do that? Can you clarify?

JM: It is in my forthcoming book to be published in two weeks’ time.

ND: Mnangagwa recently started attacking the G40 grouping by threatening to deal with the remnants of the faction he accused of destabilising the ruling party, what is your comment on that?

JM: For Mnangagwa, G40 is a bogeyman he uses as a scarecrow. It has nothing to do with political reality at all. What is instructive though is that Zanu PF is now a divided house standing on quicksand. The majority in the leadership and membership of Zanu PF has lost confidence in Mnangagwa, who has failed to rise to the level of their 2017 coup expectations.

The fact that Mnangagwa followed Mugabe to the throne has been a nightmare for him. He is a terrible public speaker with shrill delivery style that irritates the ear; he’s given to clan politics and his content-free policies with no ideological grounding. He has failed to rally Zanu PF into a political force.

When the chips are down, all he sees is G40. Well, to the extent that the G40 is a shorthand for his internal opposition, then yes, he has good cause to be worried because his rampant failures have vindicated the generality of the G40 members of Zanu PF, who resisted his ascendancy because they knew or saw him as unfit for the presidency.

ND: Does G40 still exist and if it does, what is its mission?

JM: G40 exists only as a powerful idea about generational renewal, but not as a group. It is absurd that Zimbabwe’s young population is being held hostage by a clueless old guard whose politics are based on an entitlement revolution that is the enemy of human rights, diversity, inclusivity, merit and democracy.

ND: With Chiwenga back, what do you think will be the end game in Zanu PF?

JM: I don’t think Chiwenga is or should be the yardstick here. His return is being exaggerated beyond the realm of the possible. Those who think he will pull off another military coup are joking. History does not repeat itself, except as a farce.

But Mnangagwa and Chiwenga have a common fate: They are presiding over a political party with a history, but with no future.

Meanwhile, the people have an overdue date with Zanu PF. It won’t end well. The decibels on the “I” word are rising within Zanu PF circles. But the outcome of impeachment is not a straight line.

Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy arising from the stolen 2018 presidential election will not be cured by impeachment or even a resignation.

If Chiwenga succeeds Mnangagwa, he will inherit his illegitimacy. Legitimacy cannot be acquired from illegitimacy. A nullity from the beginning is a nullity throughout, up to the end. So, the end game for Zanu PF is a dead end.

ND: If another coup is likely, are you suggesting a revolution will be the endgame in Zanu PF politics?

JM: Yes, a very popular revolution.

ND: Do you have hope the revolution will succeed considering the use of police brutality to cripple the opposition and the people?

JM: Popular revolutions are by definition unstoppable. The ground in Zimbabwe has been shifting towards a popular revolution for more than two decades now.

ND: And lastly out of interest, your G40 colleague Saviour Kasukuwere is reported to be planning to lead a Zanu PF faction to challenge Mnangagwa in 2023, are you part of that scheme?

JM: I don’t comment to insinuations.

ND: It has been two years since you left Zimbabwe, are you at liberty to tell us what life has been for you during the period?

JNM: Liberty is the essence of human existence and I cherish my liberty. But even so, I don’t know about telling you what life has been in the two years you’re referring to. That’s material for a book. However, having taken your call, I’m obliged to answer your questions.

ND: Do you miss home?

JNM: I agree that home is best. But I also know that there is more to home than geography. In any event, right now home is on fire. So, rather than missing home, I am praying for it.

ND: But even when you are away, you seem to have a nose on what is happening in Zimbabwe, looking at your tweets about developments in government and Zanu PF. Does that mean you are still working with some people in government and Zanu PF? Does that not validate claims that you had literally taken over the intelligence unit before the 2017 coup?

JNM: I get my information from primary sources, not from the so-called intelligence sources that have proven to be anything but intelligent. Politics is evidence driven and theory follows practice.

So, as a political scientist, I can only tweet about what’s happening in my area of interest and inquiry. I have considerable experience in government and Zanu PF. But I also know people not only in government and Zanu PF, but also from across the political divide and in the media, academia, churches, businesses and society at large.

Geographical displacement cannot be a barrier to continued communication with my contacts in these sectors. Only fools think that information on what’s happening in Zimbabwe, especially in government and Zanu PF comes from intelligence sources. Many of the so-called intelligence sources are unintelligent and ignorant people. Do you think there is any serious person out there who thinks Owen Mudha Ncube is intelligent and well informed? No. I don’t think so.

ND: What is your assessment of Mnangagwa’s leadership so far?

JNM: There’s no leadership to assess. Mnangagwa has never been a leader and he will never be a leader. This is because leadership is about morality. You cannot be a leader when, like Mnangagwa, you have no moral compass, you never speak to the nation on moral issues because you know you are a disaster on that score; and when you have no regard for human life; and you take pride in shortening the lives of your opponents.

A leader with a moral compass empathises with the people and their everyday struggles; understands their suffering and is committed to fulfilling their aspirations through people-centred policies, which are not declared at Press conferences, boardrooms or in meetings, but are implemented on the ground.

So, my assessment of Mnangagwa is that he has proven that he has not risen above his historical role as the Gukurahundi chief instigator and enforcer. As a leader, he is clueless. If leadership were to smack him on his face, he would not recognise it. You cannot say you are a leader, apa hauna vanhu!

ND: Surely, the two years you have been out of government and Zanu PF have given you room for introspection. What things do you have regrets about that you would wish to correct if you have another chance in a government or Zanu PF?

JNM: The way you are asking me that question is as if I was the president of Zimbabwe and Zanu PF during the time in question. But anyhow in public policy, one looks back and sees things that could or should have been done differently or done better.

From 2013, I regret that I was reshuffled from the Information ministry in 2015 before I could implement the IMPI report and before I could complete the digitisation programme in broadcasting. In higher and tertiary education, science and technology development, I regret that the November 2017 military coup derailed the STEM initiative, which was meant to run from 2016 to 2026; the transformation of tertiary institutions and teachers colleges into degree offering institutions; the transformation of universities from conventional teaching programmes into research-based teaching designed to train high-end skills to produce technological solutions to community and societal problems; and the overhaul and modernisation of the Manpower Planning and Development Act to enable the industrialisation and modernisation of Zimbabwe.

I regret all this, but I know tomorrow is coming and these and related things will be done and done well. My biggest regret though is that I failed to convince President Mugabe to act to pre-empt the 2017 military coup which had been actively loading since December 2014, but whose roots were sunk in the 2008 presidential run-off election.

I believe I did everything one could do, including writing three confidential memos to President Mugabe, briefing him on several occasions and making a video presentation to the Zanu PF politburo. But President Mugabe was loyal to Mnangagwa and Chiwenga whom he gave the benefit of the doubt; never accepting or believing that either could seek to overthrow him in any way, let alone through a military coup. I really regret that I found myself with no means or way of convincing Mugabe to act. In the end, I engaged Rtd General Happyton Bonyongwe, in his capacity as the Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) around August 2017, but that too came to naught although I gave him compelling evidence, which has not been mentioned in the public domain.

When I look back, I regret that I came back to government, and I mean Cabinet, in 2013. If there’s anything I wish I could correct, that’s it.

The government and Cabinet I found in 2013 was very different from the one I served between 2000 and 2005.

In 2013, there was no longer a government. Things had fallen apart. Government business had become succession business. First, it was about Joice Mujuru, she just did not want to see me back in government. Saviour Kasukuwere took me to her office ahead of the 2013 elections and she did not want to hear about me. She was actually, palpably pissed off to see me in her office.

When I was appointed minister of Information in 2013, she could not believe it. She resisted our ministry’s efforts to reform ZBC and did not want to hear about salarygate. She attacked me in Chinhoyi, calling salarygate a CIA conspiracy to destroy Zanu PF from within. But the worst is when she got President Mugabe to call me “the devil incarnate” at Nathan Shamuyarira’s funeral in June 2014. That was hell on earth.

But my ordeal under Joice Mujuru pales into insignificance when compared to what I went through after Mnangagwa became vice-president. It was a dog eat dog affair. Like Joice Mujuru, Mnangagwa wanted me out of the Information ministry and later out of Cabinet. He used Goodson Nguni and Virginia Mabhiza to falsify corruption charges against me over ZimDef; yes, the same Mnangagwa who is behind the arrest and release fiasco of his clan boy, Jorum Gumbo, at Zacc.

Anyhow, I really regret that I went back into government in 2013. I wish I had stayed out to enjoy the life I had between 2005 and 2013 outside government. It was the best time for me and my family.

Janet Manyowa

BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

POUNDING on her computer in an office where she deals with figures as a finance manager, a few cannot understand the boss in Janet Manyowa and the humility she has as a preacher of the word through music.

In her admission to NewsDay Weekender, Manyowa can multitask and cannot afford to compromise on any of her responsibilities including being a mother who looks after her three children.

The Ernest & Young chartered accountant trained Manyowa has excelled in life. She bagged several awards in her blossoming musical career. She has continued to shine on the music scene, undoubtedly becoming the most trending female gospel musician.

“I have a day job and I work as a finance manager, I trained together with my husband-cum-manager Munyaradzi at Ernest & Young chartered accountants. Besides that, I am also a parent, a mother of three and I also take that role seriously,” she said.

The Nyasha Nengoni hitmaker said her day was usually filled with exciting events, which range from praying, piano lessons to sport.

“My day is filled up with a lot of things, but first thing, I wake up in the morning and pray then I read my bible and meditate before going to the gym. Then I have to go to work and in the evening I do music practice in which I play piano and perfect my skills with other instruments,” she said.

“On Monday evening, I usually do all my music practice, on Tuesday I do rehearsals with the band while on Thursday I attend praise and worship at church where I am the leader and on weekends I do sports such as tennis and swimming, I enjoy tennis more than any other sport.”

The musician said she loved travelling to different places, adding that Nyanga was her favourite place although she preferred visiting London and Dubai, which are her favourite shopping places.

“I find Nyanga very relaxing and I also like London and Dubai of which Dubai has my favourite shopping place and as for food, I like rice and chicken and steak also. My favourite drink is Crème Soda,” she said.

Although squabbles are found in marriages, however, she said they have found a way to deal with that and have learnt to separate business from marriage. She also noted that the Bible urged people not to spend the rest of the day angry at each other. Manyowa and husband are blessed with three children, Matipa, Waishe and Mufaro.

BY VANESSA GONYE / Garikai Tunhira

TOUTS are usually known for their confidence, foul language and naughtiness, but recently, they sobered up when one of their own died right on the streets with his hospital record card in hand, after failing to get medication at one of Harare’s hospitals.

It was on a Wednesday morning, shortly before 8am, when one tout at the illegal Machipisa route pick-up point at the corner of Robert Mugabe Road and Chinhoyi Street, only referred to as Moyo, after having started the day normally, decided to take a rest and unknown to his mates, he was to breathe his last.

He became another victim of the prolonged impasse between doctors and government that has impacted negatively on the ailing health system.

“We have been aware of Moyo’s failing health for days now. Just yesterday, he went to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, but could not get treatment and today, he came early in the morning, during the peak period to try and work so that he could finance his planned pursuit of health services at a private institution,” recalled one lady, who for fear of being identified (as she trades in forex at that spot), declined to be named.

She expressed concern over the demise of the country’s healthcare system, as many people have had their health seeking behaviour tampered with due to lack of confidence in the system, which has been described as committing a silent genocide on the citizenry.

As Moyo was resting, he is said to have shifted position from the shop entrance to a more open space, right at the corner where he decided to lie down — for good.

When NewsDay Weekender arrived at the place after an hour or so, his body was still there, covered by a blanket, his hospital card on top of his lifeless body.

A crowd stood around him, with two female police officers trying to disperse them as they waited for their colleagues to bring a coffin.

Many berated the government’s “heartlessness”, while others blamed the striking doctors and nurses, who are demanding better salaries and working conditions in the ailing economy.
‘Silent genocide’

In an interview, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) vice-president Masimba Ndoro said what is happening in the country’s health sector is a silent genocide, something they would never wish for their patients.

“It is sad this is going on and the relevant authorities are turning a blind eye,” he said.

Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike decried the current state of affairs in the health sector, where people are being deprived of their constitutional right to health, leading to situations where they die at home or in public spheres, including streets and buses.

“The advent of the new Constitution means that government, as the guarantor, must commit to uphold health as a human right and mobilise domestic resources to fund a health benefit fund that is accessible to all,” he said.

“It is unacceptable for residents to fail to access healthcare services and it is unfortunate that government has taken a lackadaisical approach in dealing with the situation at the health centres.

“One life lost is one too many; it is unacceptable to be in a State where people are collapsing and dying in the streets. This is a tragedy and it’s a shame and, unfortunately, the authorities are not taking this seriously.”

Rusike said what is happening in the health sector is an emergency which called for the intervention of the highest office to come and lead in the transformation of the division.

“My plea is, let us put patients at the centre of our dialogue. Just having the right to health in the Constitution is not enough, we need to see it practically,” he said.

‘No deal, no work’

While all this is happening, the striking personnel remain adamant, vowing not to return to work until they have reached a consensus with their employer.

In a recent letter, Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Nurses Workers’ Union president Simbarashe Tafirenyika urged responsible authorities to have mercy on the struggling council nurses and act on their pleas.

“Opening maternity areas won’t take long if you address our members’ concerns. They are willing to go to work, but they are severely incapacitated. Regard us as professionals. Remember, these nurses provide essential service to the city of Harare residents and general populace,” part of the letter from Tafirenyika read.

‘Too huge a crisis’

Zimbabwe has had strikes by health personnel, but this has been one of the worst and with downing of tools by the senior doctors bound to escalate the problem, it will be a crisis too difficult to contain.

Only time will tell the impact this has had on the people as a result of this strike, especially regarding death tolls and circumstances surrounding them.

Government recently responded by firing over 400 doctors for remaining on strike over incapacitation and poor working conditions and said they would re-advertise the posts.

Unsafe options

Health rights activists, Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) said this week ordinary citizens had been left with very limited options, including utilising unsafe and unregulated healthcare centres.

“For instance, the prolonged absence of healthcare professionals in the public sector (forces) pregnant women to deliver at home or outside the formal health delivery system. Such practices are harmful, and have immediate and long-term negative siquelae to both mothers and their babies,” ZADHR executive director Calvin Fambirai said.

The last Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey estimated maternal mortality of 651 deaths per 100 000 women.

Fambirai said failure to urgently resolve the health sector crisis is likely to further worsen this situation.

He called upon government to give priority to maternal health and other essential services through increased investment in the health sector.

“Staffing levels must be optimum, the morale and motivation of the professionals must be equally improved. ZADHR demands the reinstatement of all dismissed government doctors and the urgent attention to the incapacitated doctors’ demands,” Fambirai said.

Meanwhile, telecommunications mogul, Econet Wireless founder Strive Masiyiwa has thrown a lifeline to the doctors under a $100 million facility, which includes smartphones, diagnostic aides and transport for the doctors on top of a $5 000 salary.

Guest column: Tendai Ruben Mbofana

Every community and society’s norms and standards are usually set by those in authority. That is why, even at family level, the parents’ behaviour and teachings play a primary role in determining the direction and decisions the children take in their day-to-day lives. Furthermore, according to proven scientific studies, we all learn from what we see those in authority doing, rather than what they tell us.

The exact same basic principles apply to a nation.

The values of a country’s citizenry are predominantly shaped by the standards set by those in power. This fact can never be denied. As much as we may argue that, as individuals, we should be able to distinguish between right and wrong, it is, nonetheless, an undeniable fact that the government’s actions — as leaders of the nation — play a very influential role in how society is shaped.

As Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (between 25 November and 10 December),we can never dissociate the increase in cases of domestic and gender-based violence to our own government’s growing propensity for brutal repression against the citizenry. What are the people of Zimbabwe learning from these brazen acts of heinous repression — notably, last week’s unwarranted bashing of mostly bystanders outside the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party headquarters, and the upsurge of reported cases of arrests and intimidation of labour rights activists, not forgetting the heartless cold-blooded gunning down of scores of anti-government rioters on 1 August 2018 and January 2019 —characterised by numerous allegations of sexual abuse of innocent women shortly after the latter — and, the alleged abductions of both opposition and labour activists (with human rights organisations reporting over 50 cases).

The fact that all these savage acts were committed within a space of only one year, is enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine — no matter how hard-hearted they may be. In fact, they would most probably make Nazi leader Adolf Hitler appear like a mere amateur!

When a country has authorities – who are undeniably influential opinion leaders — who would not hesitate to mete out violence whenever confronted with dissent, what example is that supposed to convey to the community?

What are the ordinary people — especially, the more impressionable younger generations — meant to learn from the government on how to handle those who may not agree with them, or those who may have wronged them? What has the government taught the nation on how to react to those who may disobey instructions? What our nation’s ‘leaders’ are effectively teaching us – by way of their barbaric medieval atrocious tactics — is that when your spouse criticises you for your irresponsible and wayward ways, the best way to deal with the situation is to beat the daylights out of them!

Similarly, if our children do something we do not approve of, then as parents, we have the right to deliver untold suffering and pain upon them! Is it then any wonder that there has also been a reported upsurge of violence, especially murders, within our communities — characterised by spouses or partners killing their supposed loved ones, wild machete wielding hooligans who are butchering innocent people, children killing their parents over alleged bewitching claims, or fathers and mothers fatally assaulting their disobedient offspring, and so many more?

Of course, it would be gravely irresponsible and disingenuous to place the blame for all the incidences of violence — especially domestic and gender-based — squarely on government’s activities, but as previously mentioned, no one can seriously deny the immense role and influence played by our leaders in directing the moral, social, and cultural fibre of this nation.

As a matter of fact, Zimbabwean schools teach our children — from a very young age — that the country’s authorities are examples of good leadership to be emulated!

We even have child councillors, child Members of Parliament, and a child president — all of whom are inculcated to regard their seniors in our government as role models. Considering what our children witness on a daily basis — through unparalleled human rights abuses — what are they bound to emulate? What are our leaders showing our children, when most news items emanating from the country are images of the police beating up unarmed people who are not even posing a serious threat (but, in fact running away) — with elderly women having their legs broken, or skulls crushed? Why do we then get surprised when today’s youth have absolutely no respect for their elders?

We then rush to blame so-called Western culture, yet these problems emanate from right here in this country. When rape is used as a form of punishment on those who are considered voices of dissent — as widely reported earlier this year immediately after the January fuel increase riots — what signal is being sent to the nation? Why would we then be shocked with the ever-rising cases of sadistic incidents of sexual abuse?

More violence, more domestic violence, and more gender-based violence is what we can expect as a nation — as long is these bestial activities by those in authority are not stopped!
Surely, is that the direction that this government wants to take our country? Are these the principles those in authority want our children to follow and grown up with? Mantras and slogans do not amount to anything if those in power do not set the right example of where we want to go as a country.

It is pointless making all sorts of noises, even standing on hilltops, clamouring for an immediate end to violence especially, domestic and gender-based when the most influential people in the nation are busy signalling the very opposite. It is high time that all of us who claim to stand for social justice and human rights — especially, gender rights activists — not shy away from tackling all root causes of this scourge bedevilling our society. Central to this should be fearlessly holding our leaders accountable for their role in festering this menace.

As long as we are selective in our approach to this issue — while treating others as sacred cows who should not be touched — then we are all on a wild goose chase, and wasting our time in these efforts to tackle domestic and gender-based violence. The only sacred cows in this equation are the victims and survivors — who deserve all our support and protection — otherwise, all perpetrators and instigators have to be held accountable.

Then, and only then, can we ever dream of eradicating this vice.

 Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist, writer, author, and speaker. He can be contacted on mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com.

BY FORTUNE MBELE

HIGHLANDERS coach Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh is open to extending his contract with Highlanders beyond its December 31 expiry date after turning Bosso from a farce into a force to reckon with over the last three months.

The Dutchman has lifted Bosso from the doldrums, where the Bulawayo giants were flirting with the relegation dogfight, and they now sit fifth on the table, eyeing at least a top-four finish.

To spice up his success, this afternoon, he leads the team out to tussle for the Chibuku Super Cup with Ngezi Platinum Stars in a final that will be played at Barbourfields Stadium.

While he has not applied for the vacant Warriors post, De Jongh told NewsDay Weekender Sport that it would be an honour for him to coach the Zimbabwe senior national football team.

He is yet to lose a match since he came on board at the Bulawayo giants at the end of September, presiding over nine league matches in which he has won four times and drawn five games and bundled out giants Dynamos and FC Platinum of the Chibuku Super Cup, while beating ZPC Kariba in the semi-finals.

There are whispers that the travelled coach has been sounded out by other local clubs, but De Jongh said he was happy at Highlanders and would love to continue working for the giants.

“My focus is on the cup (Chibuku Super Cup) and finishing the league in a good position. I have produced very good results with Highlanders and that is not in dispute. I love the club,” he said.

“When I arrived, Highlanders were a sinking ship, but I have had a good working relationship and co-operation with the staff. I am open to discussions with Highlanders on contract extension, but for every coach, it is an honour to work for an FA.”

Armed with a Uefa A Licence, the Dutchman’s last job at national level was with Eswatini national team (Sihlangu), where he was sacked at the beginning of last year.

He also worked for Rwanda (technical director) and coached the Olympic team in Moldova, among other jobs.

He has also coached AFC Leopards in Kenya and FC Cape in South Africa.

De Jongh is excited about working in the local league, which he says is very competitive, and rates it above the top-flights of South Africa, Swaziland and Kenya.

“The Zimbabwean league is very competitive, of high level and maybe not well structured, but in terms of quality, it is better than South Africa, Kenya and Swaziland,” he said.

“There is a lot of quality players and competition, where you have at the start of the season at the least eight to 10 clubs, Caps United, FC Platinum, Chicken Inn, ZPC Kariba, Dynamos, Highlanders, Triangle, Manica Diamonds, Black Rhinos competing for the league title and that is good.”

BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE

ZIMBABWE United Passenger Company (Zupco) has failed to supply its fleet in Bulawayo with fuel for the past three days, leaving thousands of the commuting public stranded, Southern Eye has heard.

Most service stations in the city did not receive diesel supplies for close to a week, resulting in long winding queues resurfacing.

Some Zupco drivers said they had not received diesel in two days.

One of the drivers said they had not received any diesel amid revelations they were being allocated 100 litres every two days.

“We are given 100 litres of diesel every two days, but we have not received anything for the past two days. We had been promised diesel on Monday, but we did not receive anything,” the driver said.

The State-owned entity recently engaged local commuter omnibuses under its programme. Zupco kombis charge $2 per trip.

Zupco southern region manager, Tineyi Ruwasoka declined to comment on the fuel shortages.

‘“I do not comment on that,” he said.

Residents have, however, questioned if the recent commissioning of 76 buses by President Emmerson Mnangagwa was real or it was just politicking.

This week, commuters in Bulawayo struggled to get transport to and from work as only a few buses were seen plying the routes.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association chairperson, Ambrose Sibindi said the commuting public had not seen the commissioned buses on the roads.

“In fact, residents are questioning where those 76 buses are, because they have not made any impact or change and in future people may not trust the government,” Sibindi said.

MOTIVATION: Ashley Thaba

IT seems like these days, newspapers are full of two topics: Corruption and gender-based violence (GBV). We recently did a series on corruption. Hopefully, you can look those up on the NewsDay website.

I have been praying and asking God to help me understand GBV, so I could write this article as an encouragement to those who are contributing to the horrendous statistics.

Here is my humble assessment. GBV occurs when a person is afraid someone they love will leave them or will not be faithful to them.

A desire to dominate and threats give them a sense of security that they can control and force the person to stay with them.

Ultimately, they deeply desire to be loved, but they fear if their loved one is given the choice, they will choose not to love them.

Manipulation tactics abound as the insecure partner tries everything in their power to ensure loyalty and love.

The sad reality is that forcing or abusing someone into love never leads to true and fulfilling love. True love is a choice. Here is another sad reality. For the person, who is so insecure, to feel the need to commit acts of GBV, they desperately need to be loved because they don’t even love themselves. How can I make that bold assumption?

Someone who loves themselves do not draw self-worth from the approval or presence of others. Let me present a scenario of a healthy reaction from a person who is secure.

Let’s say Sally cheated on Joe. Sure! If Sally leaves or no longer likes Joe, it will hurt him!

Naturally, he will try and convince her with his words to stay with him. But Joe knows he is valuable and her decision to not be in his life doesn’t take away his intrinsic significance.

Therefore, hurting Sally is not his go-to reaction. Rather, after feeling the sadness of the disappointment, he realises that it is her loss.

Out of a deep love for Sally, he realises he ultimately wants her to be happy and, as devastating as it may be that Sally is not happy with him, his love leads him to say he wants the best for her.

Also, he realises if he wants to be happy, he needs to be with someone who freely wants to be with him. Forcing her to stay through violent tactics is not going to make Sally love him; it will just make her scared of him.

Joe realises he deserves better than that. Tears and possibly some hurtful words might ensue, but ultimately, they go their separate ways amicably and maturely.

This scenario takes a horrific turn for the worst if Joe needs Sally in his life to feel love and to be happy.

If the thought of Sally being in the arms of another man throws him into a jealous rage, where he wants to hurt her because he is hurting, then this is a sign of insecurity.

This is a sign of weakness — despite the strength he might use to abuse her.

I believe if we look at the root problem — insecurity — we can actually find a viable cure.

Do they fear that people will think they are insignificant, a failure, unlovable or inferior, among others? Do they fear being alone? Have they been rejected so many times that they can’t take it anymore? Why are they so threatened at the thought of losing that person?

Avoiding this self-reflection means they will never be free from the awful effects of their jealously violent outbursts and it also means they will never experience the true love they desperately crave.

There is hope! To the one who feels insignificant, there is a God, who says: I knew you in your mother’s womb; I know the hairs on your head and a word on your tongue before you speak it. I love you!

To the one who feels inferior, He says you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you! You are victorious by the power of My spirit! To the one who has been rejected, God says: I sent my son to be rejected, to bear your sin and your shame, so you do not have to! While you were still a sinner, I loved you. Turn from your angry self. Repent and ask Me to come in and change you from within.

Invite My spirit of love and self-control and gentleness to fill you up! Believe Me when I say you are not unlovable. You are so loved that nothing can separate you from My love — not death, not principalities, not powers, not angels … nothing!

I promise you no eye has seen nor mind has seen what I have in store for those who love Me. Internalise these words!

Think about these words over and over and over until you believe them. Because once you love yourself, then you can begin to love others.

And once your identity is secure in God, a source that will never leave you, then even if others go, you know you are valuable and you are loved.

To the person who instinctively feels the need to resort to violence and abuse, God can change you. By his regenerative Spirit, the old you can go and a new you can come!

Examine your heart. Figure out why you are so scared and mad when you can’t control the other person’s feelings. Ask God to heal you from within.

Ultimately, learn that you will never be able to control their feelings, but you can, by the grace and power of God experience control of your own feelings and emotions.

Ashley Thaba is a life-coach, team-building facilitator and motivational speaker. She is also the author of Conquering the Giants and Dive In. She can be contacted on askthaba@gmail.com

BY SPORTS REPORTER

THE Zimbabwe table tennis team has regrouped for the final preparation for the 2019 African Union Sport Council (AUSC) Region 5 Table Tennis Championship set for Lesotho next week.

The Region 5 Games will run from December 4 to 11 at Lehakoe Recreational Centre in Maseru and will be used as the World Championship qualifiers.

Zimbabwe has been in preparatory mode for the past couple of months beginning with the Chinese Ambassador Cup at Harare International School which was held at the end of September.

Last weekend, Zimbabwe competed at the Zambia edition of the Chinese Ambassador Cup that featured a number of countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia.

The team regrouped at Prince Edward on Thursday and is set to play the final preparatory match against the Chinese community living in Zimbabwe today.

“We regrouped for training at Prince Edward School on Thursday as we wind up preparations for the Region 5 Games. We are scheduled to play the Chinese team Golden Peacock in Harare on Saturday,” Nelson Madzokere, the Zimbabwe Table Tennis Union national technical director, said.

“We have been training for a while and I feel the team is almost ready for competition at the Region 5 Games. This event will be used as qualifiers for 2020 World Championship, so we need to finish in the medal positions for us to qualify.”

The country’s number one player, Brian Chamboko, who won the men’s event at the Chinese Ambassador Cup, will lead the men’s team, which also includes Tinotenda Fambira, Tatenda Mumvuma, Lydale Chafurama and Nick Jani.

Anesu Siringwani is Zimbabwe’s top player in the women’s team, alongside Ashley Dhlamini, Vimbai Makuvaza and Cindy Chinomona.

Madzokere feels that Zimbabwe’s relatively young side has a bright future.

“Table tennis has been growing in Zimbabwe and we are excited to be sending a young side which is hungry for success to Lesotho. Save for Chamboko, who is the oldest player in the team, our teams are made up of university and high school students which speaks to a bright future for our table tennis,” he said.

Teams

Men: Brian Chamboko, Tinotenda Fambira, Tatenda Mumvuma, Lydale Chafuruma, Janhi

Coach: Takudzwa Mudonhi

Women: Anesu Siringwani, Ashley Dhlamini, Cindy Chinomona, Vimbai Makuvaza

Coach: Blessings Mathe

Devotion Column: Erasmus Makarimayi

Eternal life was there before death. It’s eternal because it’s everlasting and exists forever and ever. This life is not a rushed stop-gap measure, but has been there before time. The Gospel of Christ, among others. the Grace of God preaches the life of Christ which is received by believers through faith. As we receive this life, we are ushered into the Christian Faith or Christianity. Receiving the grace of God awakens or quickens us by transferring us from death to life and from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Heaven. We are, therefore, citizens of heaven and we do not hold valid papers to exist in darkness. Please remember that that we receive the life of Christ not that we give our lives to Christ.

Throughout the pages of the Bible, we see the life of God that He is offering to humanity. This life is the basis for Christian hope. We, therefore, stand without shaking. Believers behold the future without trepidation and pursue their purposes with boldness and determination. Christians, therefore, live with a sense of security. Beyond the sense realm, we have full persuasion and conviction. Apostle Paul in Titus 1:2 settles: “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Because of the eternal life, we live in hope not fear and despondency. God cannot lie. It is not in His nature to reverse His promises. Here we are told that before the world began, eternal life was already there. So our life is not in the hands of our ancestors. Our ancestors came after eternal life and cannot be custodians of eternal life. We, therefore, do not worship ancestral spirits.
The book of Genesis in typology reveals to us this life. In the garden of Eden we see the tree of life which points to Christ.

Genesis 2:9 records: “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” The option to choose life has always been there. We are free moral agents. God is not a dictator and, therefore, allows us the liberty to choose our course. Deuteronomy 30:19 shows: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” We are persuaded and encouraged to choose life. Let us go for life.

We have noted that life was in the eternal realm. The Bible teaches us that this life was seen in our material world. 1 John 1:2 clarifies: “(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)” Eternal life came into our arena and was seen by human beings.
The life was seen. This life of God is the Man Christ Jesus. The Amplified Bible makes it clearer. It reads: “And the Life [an aspect of His being] was revealed (made manifest, demonstrated), and we saw [as eyewitnesses] and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the eternal Life [in Him] Who already existed with the Father and Who [actually] was made visible (was revealed) to us [His followers].” Jesus Christ of Nazareth came on earth to release this life to the physical world.

The Christian Faith, therefore, is the only path for eternal life. Jesus emphatically declares in John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” If Jesus Christ came with eternal life, therefore, there is life after death. What we call death in our physical realm is sleep. Eternal life was there before death and shall be there after death. It supersedes death. Therefore, this world is not the end of it. We accept that Jesus came in the flesh to avail to us His life after His death and resurrection. 1 John 4:2-3 lay the foundation: “[2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: [3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already it is in the world.” Jesus Christ is not a mysterious distant phenomenon.

He is there to connect God to His people and humanity to God. We believe He came and that He shall return. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.

All Bible quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated.

Feedback: pastor@newgatechapel.org Fellowship with Pastor Makarimayi on Facebook and on www.twitter.com/PEMAKARIMAYI.