BY FORTUNE MBELE

Highlanders says winning the Chibuku Super Cup final will be a big motivation for the young squad, with most of them appearing in a major cup final for the first time.

The Bulawayo giants face off with Ngezi Platinum Stars in the biggest domestic cup final on Saturday, and Highlanders will start the match as huge favourites, playing the match in front of home supporters at Barbourfields.

Winners of the match walk away with $225 000 and the runners-up get $150 000 prize money.

But more importantly, the winners will represent the country in the Caf Confederations Cup next year.

Saturday’s match will see Highlanders featuring in a major cup final in four years, having last played in the NetOne-sponsored Easycall Cup in 2015.

Club chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube yesterday said the match against Ngezi Platinum Stars is potentially a stimulus for the young players’ growth.

“We are glad that the players have continued to mature with many of them experiencing a knock-out final for the first time in their football careers,” Dube said. “Most of our players are young and this should be an impetus for their continued growth and the general setting of the culture of winning. We look forward to a carnival atmosphere and urge our fans to come in their numbers to enjoy themselves and celebrate their status of being the highest number of stadium-going football fans in the country.”

Veteran goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, Nqobizitha Masuku and Godfrey Makaruse are the only players left in the squad that played a cup final: A 1-0 win over Chicken Inn to lift the Easycall Cup.

Sibanda was on the bench when Highlanders beat How Mine 3-0 to lift the Mbada Diamonds Cup two years earlier. Both the two cup finals were played at Barbourfields.

Dube said participating in the cup final was a culmination of a project that they started two years ago when they appointed Madinda Ndlovu as coach on a three-year contract.

Ndlovu, who is a club legend quit his post at the end of June, but he is credited with laying the foundation of the team’s current successes.

New coach Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh has been reaping the fruits as Highlanders currently enjoy their best form in years.

“In 2018 the objective was to construct a competitive side using coaches that had a Highlanders background and we brought in Madinda Ndlovu. We wanted to create players who would play with zeal and patience. In the second phase which is this year we said we should achieve a position not lower than four on the log standings and that we should at least qualify for one trophy final and that has just happened,” Dube said.

He added: “It is a feeling of walking faithfully on the template set for the club in 2018 going forward. Obviously, as the executive, becoming successful is measured by what you set out to achieve. We are not in the final by accident, but by strategic focus and on faithful adherence to plans whose imperative is to make the club a competitive unit again.

We desired to get here and we are here. The fans deserve it and our sponsors (NetOne) have been faithful and they are part of the growth so far.”

To qualify for the finals, Highlanders accounted for Dynamos, FC Platinum and ZPC Kariba. Striker Prince Dube has been a revelation in the competition, scoring at every stage of the tournament this year.

BY HENRY MHARA

CAPS United midfield maestro Joel Ngodzo could finally land the Soccer Star of the Year award after he made it into the eleven finalists who were announced yesterday.

Ngodzo has been the Green Manchine’s fulcrum as they bid for the league title this year where they currently lead the log standings with two games remaining.

Together with teammate and flying winger Phineas Bamusi, they are the only two representatives from Caps on this year’s Soccer Star of the Year calendar.

The two are also the only survivors from last year’s calendar.

Highlanders also provided two players on the list in striker Prince Dube and goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.

Dynamos, who failed to contribute a player to the calendar last year, has Evans Katema this time around, while Black Rhinos also without a representative last year, provided midfielder Wellington Taderera.

Top goal scorer Clive Augusto who played for just half the season for Chicken Inn before moving to South Africa, was also rewarded for his 14 goals with an inclusion on the list.
Triangle’s Ralph Kawondera also made the cut, and so did FC Platinum’s Never Tigere.

ZPC Kariba’s Ian Nekati is the only defender on this year’s list.

King Nadolo was deservedly recognised for his remarkable contribution in rescuing TelOne from relegation.

The winger joined the club in mid-season when the club was down in the relegation zone, but managed to score 10 times, goals that have helped his team to move away from the murky waters. TelOne are 12th on the log, and might need just one more win from their remaining two matches to be sure of safety.

Nadolo is currently the fourth joint top goal scorer, with Augusto, Katema – who has netted 12 goals – and Kawondera with 11 goals. The selection was done by a panel of football writers, club coaches and team captains.

Two players Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe of ZPC Kariba and Ngezi Platinum’s Frank Makarati were disqualified from the selection on disciplinary grounds.

While the 11 finalists were announced yesterday soon after the voting process, the other categories including the Soccer Star of the Year and his runners-up, best coach, best goalkeeper and promising player awards, were kept under wraps and will only be announced at a special banquet in Harare on Friday next week.

It is the Soccer Star of the Year gong that will be of much interest, with Ngodzo the odds on favourite to win it this year.

The Caps attacking midfielder has been a revelation for the title-chasing Makepekepe this season, often single-handedly winning matches for them.

On top of his usual duties, as a midfielder, he has contributed 10 goals for the team in the league and is the club’s top goal scorer.

Ngodzo narrowly missed the gong in 2010 when he came second to Charles Sibanda, before his career took a dramatic nose dive.

While he has not really hit the heights he reached in 2010 when he was starring for Highlanders, he has managed to revive his career. And after making the list for the 11 finalists last year, he will believe this is his year to conquer.

His greatest threat to the throne is likely to come from Augusto, while Triangle midfielder Kawondera will also be fancying his chances.

Dube has done well of late, and his performances have generated a lot of excitement within the Highlanders community, with some even tipping him for the top award. But the striker has just six goals to his name.

Giving him the award would be doing injustice to players such as Augusto, Katema, Kawondera and other strikers who have scored more goals than him. Take for example, Nadolo, a midfielder who has probably featured in half of the games that Dube played, but managed to score four more goals.

For the Goalkeeper of the Year award, it’s Sibanda who is likely to retain his gong as he is the only goalie who made the list for the eleven finalists. But his inclusion is without controversy.
Sibanda has kept 15 clean sheets in 31 matches, with his club conceding 23 goals so far. He conceded 21 of those. Ngezi Platinum Stars goalkeeper Nelson Chadya has 13 clean sheets in 26 matches, conceding 16. FC Platinum’s goalkeepers Petros Mhari and Francis Tizayi only conceded 15 this far and their contribution should surely have been recognised.

Lloyd Chitembwe, who laid the foundation for Caps before crossing the floor to Harare City, and Darlington Dodo, who carried over the job, are natural contenders for the Coach of the Year Award. But there is Lizwe Sweswe of FC Platinum and Tonderai Ndiraya who helped revive Dynamos fortunes, who could also pose a real threat.

Bulawayo Chiefs’ Thulani Sibanda was controversially omitted from the voting process because, according to the Premier Soccer League, his club did not submit his paperwork confirming that he is the coach of the team.

Highlanders coach Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh and Thomas Chinyan’anya also missed out on the selection because they did not attain the 10 goals required to be eligible for selection.

For the Most Promising Player of the Year award, Highlanders young defender Andrew Mbeba looks the favourite to land it, although TelOne goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi also had a very good season and could challenge for the title.

2019 Soccer Star of the Year finalists
Joel Ngodzo, Phineas Bamusi (Caps United), Ariel Sibanda, Prince Dube (Highlanders), Ian Nekati (ZPC Kariba), Evans Katema (Dynamos), King Nadolo (TelOne), Never Tigere (FC Platinum), Ralph Kawondera (Triangle), Wellington Taderera (Black Rhinos), Clive Augusto (ex-Chicken Inn)

BY NUNURAI JENA/MOSES MATENGA

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said the family of his late predecessor, Robert Mugabe, stands to lose more than 10 of its farms in line with the government policy of one farm per family.

The development comes at a time Mugabe’s sprawling empire faces further shaking after the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe re-claimed its 23 hectares of prime land along Borrowdale Road in Helensvale meant for the relocation of the prestigious Eaglesvale High School.

Speaking at a Zanu PF youth league convention at Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma, Mnangagwa, without mentioning any names, but in an apparent reference to Mugabe, said he was in possession of the provincial preliminary land audit report that showed a certain family owning several farms.

He said government would take more than 10 farms from that family and leave them with one, in line with what Mugabe used to preach on the policy of one family, one farm.

“This family in this province has many farms, although they used to preach against people having many farms. We are going to take some of the more than 10 farms from them that they have and leave them with one farm since that is what they
preached,” Mnangagwa said.

The Zanu PF youth league has been pushing Mnangagwa to grab all farms belonging to former First Lady Grace Mugabe, amid speculation she owned at least 16 farms.

Meanwhile, the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe has reclaimed its Harare land allegedly grabbed by the former first family.

On Tuesday, a notice from the church showed they had taken effective control of their piece of land from the former first family.

“Notice of Eaglesvale Schools on instruction of the property owners. The Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk Sinode van midde Afrika registered under Deed of Transfer 4149/80. Under the custody of the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe Daisyfield Trust,” the notice erected inside property read.

“No one is allowed to enter or occupy this land without the owner’s authority.”

Eaglesvale Senior School has been in fights with the Mugabes over the piece of land donated to it by RCZ close to 40 years ago and registered under the Eaglesvale Daisyfield Trust.

Efforts to get a comment from lawyers from either parties were fruitless, while the Mugabe family spokesperson, Leo, said he would not comment on property issues.

Meanwhile, Youth deputy minister, Tinoda Machakaire pleaded with Mnangagwa during the Zanu PF youth convention to fire lazy and corrupt ministers.

“Mr President, I read of a certain President in Africa who is in the habit of firing non-performing ministers and MPs,” Machakaire said.

“I plead with you President to behave the same and fire such and those who involved in corruption as this is destroying the party.”

Mnangagwa said he would today olso order retailers who increased the price of mealie-meal to reverse the hikes.

BY LORRAINE MUROMO/VENERANDA LANGA/NUNURAI JENA/MOSES MATENGA

ECONET Wireless founder Strive Masiyiwa and his wife, Tsitsi, through their Higher Life Foundation, have set up a $100 million fund which will see up to
2 000 junior and senior doctors employed by government getting $5 000 each on top of what they are earning from their employer.

The move comes at a time the public health delivery system in the country has virtually shut down due to a standoff between government and doctors following the firing of more than 435 junior doctors and around 57 senior doctors were set to face disciplinary action.

Masiyiwa also promised to give a smartphone, diagnostic aides and transport to the doctors on top of the $5 000 in the $100 million facility.

“Building on a 23-year commitment to education, Higher Life Foundation (HLF) is pleased to announce the launch of a new training fellowship for junior and senior resident officers employed at public healthcare institutions in Zimbabwe,” HLF said in a statement.

“… with that in mind, HLF is launching, the medical training completion fellowship with immediate effect for those junior and senior resident officers who are in full time employment at public teaching hospitals within Zimbabwe. The scholarship covers those who are currently undergoing a junior or senior resident programme, with
special preference being given to beneficiaries of the Capernaum and Joshua Nkomo scholarships.”

The foundation said the $100 million fellowship comprises a non-negotiable monthly subsistence allowance of
$5 000 per doctor for a maximum of 2 000 doctors and was subject to unilateral review by HLF.

“The monthly subsistence will be disbursed to qualifying junior and senior resident officers on proof of being on duty at the specified institution for the duration of the month,” the charity group said.

The foundation said the facility was not from Econet Wireless Zimbabwe or Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe, but Higher Life Foundation, an initiative from the Masiyiwa Foundation with the support from its donor partners.

Meanwhile, striking senior doctors yesterday accused government of misleading the nation that it had secured huge quantities of drugs and essential equipment, saying public hospitals have become death traps with no equipment and or medicines.

“There was much fanfare and ribbon cutting, and images of warehouses full of drugs which turned out to be cartons of fluids. Out of an inventory of 2 000 items only 60 had been purchased. The Indian consignment was a great disappointment,” said the doctors in a statement. “The hospitals continue to be poorly stocked and remain a death trap even in the presence of hardworking, highly specialized workforce that Zimbabwe has.”

The Zimbabwe Senior Doctors Association said government should stop being vindictive and address the serious challenges facing the health sector where junior doctors have been on strike for 89 days demanding better wages.

“As we speak disciplinary letters are being handed to senior doctors including those who have been doing the best to save lives in the hostile public sectors. The authorities are so vindictive that they went to theatre to hand a letter to a doctor who was finishing up an emergency operation,” said the doctors.

But speaking at a Zanu PF youth convention in Kadoma yesterday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said government was not going back on firing doctors saying they were not a special breed. He accused the doctors of having a hidden agenda, claiming they were being paid money by enemies of the State to cause chaos.

“Let doctors get this very clear. They are not special to teachers, soldiers and other civil servants who are persevering in these economic hardships,” Mnangagwa said .

In a ministerial statement in Parliament last night, Health minister Obadiah Moyo blamed striking doctors and nurses for the massive deaths at hospitals.

Moyo did not give specific figures of how many deaths occurred during the strike as requested by Health Portfolio Committee chairperson Ruth Labode.

“They were not incapacitated in terms of transport and they were neglecting their duties and did not attend to patients. The number of patients that died at hospitals was as a result of doctors who stayed away and not government. Doctors took oath and those that stayed at work stations were supposed to attend to the patients,” he said.

Moyo said government has always had a policy to recruit doctors from outside under bilateral arrangements with countries like China, India and Cuba.

But MDC legislator Paurina Mpariwa said government must consider the cost of flying and accommodation for expatriate doctors compared to actually increasing salaries of the striking local medical practitioners.

Kuwadzana MP Miriam Mushayi blasted Moyo for concentrating on disciplining the doctors instead of negotiating with them. MDC legislator Lynette Karenyi-Kore also quizzed him over decline in maternity services to the extent that women were resorting to archaic birthing methods in Mbare. But Moyo said the maternity situation was addressed by the re-opening of Edith Opperman Maternity Clinic in Harare.

Moyo acknowledged the health crisis in the country saying only Chitungwiza Central Hospital was operating at 39%, while at other hospitals, the situation was dire because of shortages of drugs and equipment.

But he told Parliament that development partners like the Global Fund and World Bank had volunteered to assist government to incentivise the doctors.

By Brenna Matendere/Moses Matenga

THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC says it is tired of the political stand-off in the country and of government using the police to crush opposition activities and is, therefore, planning to roll out fresh protests, a top party official has revealed.

Police this year banned several MDC gatherings, saying they feared the events would turn violent, but the opposition party accuses President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration of using heavy-handed tactics to close the democratic space.

“Fellow Zimbabweans, brothers and sisters, my message to you all is that time for change is now. No one can free us, but ourselves. The debilitating crisis of Zimbabwe now demands action,” MDC organising secretary Amos Chibaya said in a statement.

“The rogue regime is taking us down the garden path by promises of a better Zimbabwe. On November 17, 2017, we jumped from a frying pan into the fire after the coup. It is now time to pour into the streets and send a clear message to the dictator that enough is enough.”

Chibaya’s statement came a day after he was cleared by the courts on charges of attempting to overthrow Mnangagwa’s government during protests in January that started when government increased fuel prices by 150%.

Mnangagwa, who took over as leader of the southern African country after his predecessor, the late Robert Mugabe — who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years — was ousted by his own generals in a coup two years ago.

Mugabe died at a Singapore hospital on September 6 and was privately buried 22 days later at his rural home in Zvimba following a nasty fallout with Mnangagwa.

Last week, police used batons, teargas and water cannons to beat up and disperse MDC supporters who had gathered outside their party headquarters in the capital to listen to a speech by Chamisa.

Two days later, Mnangagwa defended his record in an editorial opinion piece in international media, saying his administration was opening up political and media space.

Chibaya, however, said violence against members of his party by Mnangagwa’s government would not deter the opposition party from launching more protests to pressure the President to address the country’s political and economic challenges.

“The country is (now) rooted in entrenched dictatorship which does not require body massaging, but real action of sustained peaceful demonstrations,” he said.

“The streets should become our second homes. The recent infamous actions by police to crush our demonstrations should not deter us. Let them kill us all, but we die saving our future generations.”

The Mkoba legislator called upon State security members to sympathise with the protesters, instead of being used to crush them.

On Monday, MDC youths took to the Harare Magistrates’ Court to protest what they called State-assisted closure of democratic space, with the police denying them the right to hold public gatherings or demonstrations while the ruling Zanu PF enjoys unfettered freedom.

Nearly 20 youths led by Gift Ostallos Siziba, the youth assembly spokesperson, walked into the magistrates’ court with tape covering their mouths, accusing Mnangagwa’s government of using the police and courts to curtail political freedom for ordinary Zimbabweans.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said authority for MDC to hold fresh protests would be determined by regulating authorities in areas where the opposition party plans to roll out the demonstrations.

“Notifications of demonstrations are not directed to Police General Headquarters where I am. So I am unable to give additional information on the planned demonstrations by MDC. We are not privy to such reports of planned demonstrations. As it stands and whether or not the demonstrations will be allowed is an issue for the commanders at districts. I cannot comment on their behalf,” Nyathi said.

Chamisa on Tuesday ordered his party structures to be vigilant and change tact to regain ground in the wake of an unofficial ban of his party business by the State.

Chamisa met Harare provincial structures on Tuesday, where he said there was need for the province to work extra hard to occupy “zones of autonomy” and devise strategies meant to counter the ban by police of the party gatherings.

Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said the MDC leader’s move to engage provinces was a deliberate strategy to deal with attempts to silence him by the Mnangagwa administration.
“The activities he is bringing are meant to bring the party to the people and are a strategic move to make sure that the people are able to protect the organisation and are able to prevent this unofficial ban of the organisation by the State and the military. There is co-relation between that and the activities he is undertaking,” Sibanda said.

“He is aligning provinces with objectives of the congress and making sure the organs of the party are performing at their highest. All deployees in government and party should work and there is framework he is pursuing and that the party progresses and increases its strength.”

Harare province MDC chairman Wellington Chikombo said Chamisa, as the commander, was rallying his troops to work for change, which he said was nigh.

In the address, Chamisa is said to have told his councillors and MPs to be visible and take control of the streets, a statement viewed as pushing for more action on the ground.
“He who controls the streets will define the State,” Chamisa reportedly told the meeting.

BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA

Board of Airlines Representatives chairperson and Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe president Winnie Muchanyuka has bemoaned the turbulence being experienced in the transport sector following the grounding of all airlines on Tuesday.

As previously reported by NewsDay on Tuesday, Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare downed tools on Monday and Tuesday, citing incapacitation and fatigue, forcing flight delays and cancellations.

Further, according to a letter from the Air Traffic Controllers’ Association of Zimbabwe (ATCAZ) to Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza last month, ATCs noted the continued deterioration in air navigation communication performance.

“Any delays to departure of airlines inconvenience our customers and the airlines would want to avoid that. The delays also affect aircraft rotations as the aircraft would now arrive late at its destination causing subsequent delays on all the sectors the aircraft is rostered to operate on that day,” Muchanyuka said.

“However, we do not operate in a perfect environment and situations beyond anyone’s control can arise between the airlines and their service providers. We were in constant communication with the CAAZ (Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe) and minimal disruptions were caused to the operations and flights operated normally after 8am.”

Commenting on the letter sent by ATCAZ to Matiza, she said: “We can only deal with official communication and cannot go by what is on social media as we are unable to authenticate it. The said letter was not shared with the airlines”.

“I am unable to comment on the contents of the letter as operations have been normal except for yesterday (Tuesday),” Muchanyuka added. Matiza could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.

The continued deterioration in the air navigation communication performance comes despite Treasury having committed US$110 million towards infrastructure projects at all airports this year.

In the 2020 national budget, under the 2020 infrastructure priority plan, about $4,5 billion was set aside for transport.

But, most of the money will go to the dualisation and upgrading of the Harare-Beitbridge Highway, ongoing upgrading works on trunk roads, rehabilitation and maintenance of rural feeder roads through DDF and local authority roads.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

GOVERNMENT, which is accused of rights abuses, got a rare pat on the back on Tuesday for its efforts towards improving policy framework to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV) amid calls for a year-long campaign against violence.

In a joint statement to commemorate the start of the 16 days of activism against GVB, the Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD), National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe (Bulawayo), Victory Siyanqoba and Intwasa Arts Festival acknowledged government’s efforts towards eliminating GBV.

This year’s campaign runs under the theme: Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape.

“We acknowledge concerted efforts by the government in improving the policy and legal framework to incorporate laws that seek to eliminate gender-based violence,” their joint statement read. They cited the enactment of the Criminal Law Act (2006), Domestic Violence Act (2007), the setting up of the Anti-Domestic Violence Council to enforce this law and the 2013 National Gender Policy of 2013 that sets out strategies to eliminate GBV. The strategies include the formulation of policies to protect women from GBV, eradicating harmful social practices, instituting gender audits and evidence-based research and documentation on GBV, including increased financing towards awareness activities.

“State and non-State actor collaborations should be enhanced so as to promote greater success (to attain) provisions of the Convention of the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and other regional statutes to which the country is signatory to,” they added.

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe weighed in calling on the campaign against GBV to run not only for 16 days, but throughout the year.

”Violence stands against our values as Africans, therefore, let us take action against the abuse of women and children. I would like to conclude by alluding to the fact that the campaign against gender-based violence must not be for the period during the 16 days that is from November 25 to December 10, but it must go throughout the 365 days,” Khupe said.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), about one in three women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence and about one in three women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15 in Zimbabwe.

In June, the Spotlight Initiative — a four-year global UN programme supported by the European Union to fight GBV — was launched in Harare. Under the programme, Zimbabwe will receive US$34 million of the €500 million availed globally by the EU for GBV programmes at multiple levels. Zimbabwe is one of the eight countries in Africa to benefit from the fund.

BY CHARLES LAITON

The Supreme Court has given the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) a 30-day ultimatum to pay US$40 800 compensation plus costs to Rita Marque Mbatha, who was unceremoniously dismissed from employment after refusing to succumb to her former chief executive officer Farai Bwatikona Zizhou’s sexual advances.

Mbatha, who is now the director for Women’s Comfort Corner Foundation and a board member of the International Alliance of Women presented evidence in court, saying she endured sexual harassment by Zizhou, who later fired her from employment in June 2013, over a petty offence.

After being dismissed from employment, Mbatha reported CZI and Zizhou to the Labour Court, but lost the case, prompting her to appeal to the Supreme Court which then ruled in her favour on June 16, 2017.

When the apex court made a determination, it ordered CZI to pay compensation, but the amount was not quantified until November 25, 2019 when judges of appeal, Justices Ben Hlatshwayo, Tendai Uchena and Lavender Makoni unanimously agreed and issued an order in terms of the parties’ consent agreement.

“Whereupon after reading documents filed of record and hearing counsel, it is ordered by consent that: The appeal be and is hereby allowed with no order as to costs. The judgment of the Labour Court … be and is hereby set aside and substituted with the following, (1) the application for quantification of damages partially succeeds and accordingly the respondent (CZI) shall pay to the applicant (Rita Marque Mbatha) the following within 30 days of this order. (a) Damages for unfair dismissal at the salary rate of $1 157 037 from June 1, 2003 to May 31, 2005 = US$36 600. (b) Cash in lieu of notice = US$4 200, (c) cash in lieu of leave days = US$361, 30. (d) Interest on the total sum in a to c at the prescribed rate from the date of the court order to the date of payment in full,” the judges ruled.

The court, however, dismissed Mbatha’s claim for punitive damages. Mbatha has since filed another $500 000 lawsuit against CZI and Zizhou, saying the latter’s actions severely impacted on her marriage and her personal health.
The matter is pending.