Former Zimbabwe national cricket team batsman Forster Mutizwa has ended his playing career to venture into umpiring.
Mutizwa (34) played a single Test for Zimbabwe despite having good first class figures when he won 17 caps in the 50 over format of the game.
His coach at Mountaineers Shepherd Makunura confirmed that Mutizwa could not be part of his team this season.
“Foster has quit playing and is going into umpiring. He has been a long serving and loyal servant of Mountaineers and his departure is a big loss,” Makunura said.
“While he opens up a place for younger players to fill in, we will miss his experience and expertise. When we won three Logan Cup titles in a row, he was instrumental with the bat as well as his experience on the field. I am glad that he is not walking away from the game as he moves into umpiring and its good for the game. It’s something that we needed to have in Zimbabwe.
Players have not been keen on taking up umpiring after they finish playing. I think as an umpire he will be successful considering the level of cricket he has played over the years.”
The wicket-keeper batsman first class average is 39.9, but national team call ups for Test cricket always eluded him playing just one match against New Zealand in 2012.
He scored 13 centuries in first class cricket and 17 half tones with a total of 4 389 runs at that level.
For the national team he enjoyed more caps in one-day cricket after making his debut against Kenya in 2009.
His highest one-day score was 79 and he scored a total of 403 runs at an average of 31.
THE Zifa Central Region Soccer League race for promotion is set for a nervy conclusion as three teams – Sheasham, Whawha and ZPC Munyati – go into the last round of fixtures today fancying chances of winning the championship.
Leaders Sheasham go into this final lap riding on a two-point cushion with 72 points while WhaWha have 70 points on their tally.
Third-placed ZPC Munyati has 69 points.
The three sides face teams that have nothing left to play for except the mandatory completion of fixtures, but it is the Dulibadzimu versus Sheasham match that will be the centre of attraction due to the fact that the latter are favourites to be crowned 2019 champions.
The reverse fixture between the two sides ended with fits-fights, as Dulibadzimu players and supporters protested a penalty awarded to Sheasham.
Sheasham travel to Beitbridge with head coach John Nyikadzino pretty poised to lead another team into the top-flight having presided over the promotion of Chapungu in 2013 and the now-defunct Nichrut in 2017.
Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Luke Petros is also targeting to lead the WhaWha prison wardens into the fashionable league for the second time when they face Shabanie Mine at Maglas.
ZPC Munyati date ZRP Gweru, however, their chances of promotion are slim compared to their rivals, as they will only be promoted if they win by a 10-goal margin, with both Sheasham and WhaWha losing heavily. Nyikadzino is confident that they will be promoted.
“We are going to conclude this day on a high note and I am confident that we will achieve our ultimate objectives. The players are in high spirits, but we are not going to be over excited,” Nyikadzino said.
Petros is also confident of promotion.
“This one is a nervy ending but I hope we are going to pass this hurdle. It is everyone’s dream to be promoted, and despite that we are trailing we remain optimistic,” he said.
Dynamos are in no mood to do championship-chasing Caps United any favours ahead of the big Harare derby at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.
Caps played a big role in helping Dynamos win the league title in 2013 and 2014 by derailing the teams that were tussling with the Glamour Boys for the title.
In 2013, Caps held Harare City in the last game of the season when the local authority side sought victory in that match to clinch the title. Dynamos, who were second on the log, took full advantage to clinch the main prize.
The following year, Caps beat ZPC Kariba in the last game of the season, with the latter needing just a draw in the match to lift the title in their debut season. Dynamos, second on the standings prior to the last round of matches, again, exploited the chance and grabbed the title.
Now Caps are two points clear of nearest rivals FC Platinum and Chicken Inn at the top of the league table with three matches to go, and if they beat Dynamos, they will make a huge step towards claiming the main prize.
As the two rivals prepare to face off in the biggest match of the weekend, there is a general feeling among Caps fans that their city rivals owe them big.
But Ndiraya has bad news for them.
“They played ZPC Kariba and Harare City, and not Dynamos. If we were playing their rivals in the title race, maybe we might have considered that and do them a favour by beating those other teams. But this is a derby and the scenarios are different, so there are no favours which we will extend to them. They (Caps) want to achieve something, and we also have our season targets, so no favours,” Ndiraya said.
Dynamos are targeting to finish in the top four.
Ndiraya’s side started the season badly, but have since improved and are currently fifth on the log, just two points behind the team sitting on fourth. They could, however, fall to 10th position if they lose this match.
They are unbeaten in their last 19 matches although they drew most of those matches. DeMbare have vowed to continue with their undefeated run until the end of the season.
“We want to add this match to our unbeaten run. We want to remain undefeated in the remaining three matches, but most importantly, we want maximum points in those matches so that we can push to get into the top four.”
Caps have been huffing and puffing of late. Luckily, for them, their nearest rivals FC Platinum and Chicken Inn have also been dropping points regularly.
But the Green Machine cannot continue to ride on their luck. If they lose this one, then they will complicate the situation for themselves.
Caps coach Darlington Dodo, who watched in anguish as his team squandered a 2-0 lead to share the spoils with Yadah in their last match, is confident that the 2016 champions can recover from that setback in the Harare derby.
“Derbies are always difficult and it will not be easy facing Dynamos. But I am happy we are facing them at a time they are enjoying good form. It makes it interesting and it motivates us. Looking at the boys at training, there is great desire, hunger and enthusiasm. We really want to win this one and we are going for maximum points, nothing less,” he said.
Dodo will be without his top goalscorer John Zhuwawo, who is serving suspension, but Newman Sianchali returns after missing the last game.
Dynamos welcome back a number of senior players, including Archford Gutu, Simba Nhivi, Munyaradzi Mawadza, Godfrey Mukambi and Godknows Murwira, who missed the team’s last two matches due to varying reasons.
Ndiraya has, however, said the returning players will have to prove that they deserve to start in the match, ahead of the youngsters who have done well in the team’s last two matches.
The cheapest ticket for the match has been pegged at $20.
Fixtures
Today: Bulawayo Chiefs v Chicken Inn (Luveve), Harare City v Yadah (Rufaro)
Tomorrow: Black Rhinos v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Rufaro), Caps v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium), Mushowani v TelOne (Trojan Mine), Hwange v Herentals (Colliery), Triangle v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo), Highlanders v Manica Diamonds (Barbourfields), Chapungu v FC Platinum (Ascot)
The Caps United management has dangled the entire Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions prize money in a bid to coax the players to play their hearts out against Chicken Inn and FC Platinum who are both two points behind them on the log table.
Of the title-chasing trio, Caps have endured the worst run in their last five matches, managing just one win, two draws and two defeats.
In comparison, second-placed Chicken Inn have three wins, one draw and one defeat while FC Platinum have collected the second highest number of points after posting two wins, two draws and a single defeat.
And to try and psyche up the spirits of the players ahead of the Harare derby against Dynamos tomorrow in a must-win match for the Green Machine, the management has told the players and technical team that the club will not take anything from the prize money.
A group of about 40 individuals, including 23 players and 16 technical team members, will share all the loot if the Green Machine manage to hold on to the top spot at the end of the season.
“The boys have been told that the club will not take anything from the prize money if the team wins the league title. All the money will be shared by the players, technical staff as well as office personnel,” a club official, who requested anonymity, said yesterday.
“So while we do not know the prize money yet, everyone is motivated to do well and win the league title. The motivation has always been there, but this is a big incentive and we are sure the team will do their best to win the championship.”
The Premier Soccer League and sponsors Delta Beverages are yet to announce this season’s prize money after promising earlier in the year that the package would be reviewed upwards, but the players know that they are set for a big bonus if they can coast to the podium.
Last season’s champions FC Platinum were given $100 000 for their efforts, but the amount is set to more than double this time around, given the rate of inflation obtaining in the country.
Delta increased the Chibuku Super Cup prize money from last year’s $75 000 to $225 000 for this year’s winners.
The runners-up will get $150 000.
If the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League winners’ prize money is pegged above that of the Chibuku Super Cup as it has been over the years, then Caps players could be looking at figures around $8 000 each, if they are to clinch the title.
After meeting Dynamos, Caps will still have to play Ngezi Platinum Stars away before hosting FC Platinum on the last day of this year’s edition.
Chicken Inn play Bulawayo Chiefs today, Herentals in their penultimate match of the season before they clash with TelOne, who are fighting to stay above the water line.
It’s not easier for FC Platinum, who play Chapungu in Gweru before they play Black Rhinos, while the Caps match concludes their season.
MULTI-TALENTED songbird Thamsanqa “Tamy” Moyo says she has broken down a million times despite having a blossoming career.
The Kwandinobva hitmaker said she had a support mechanism to help her overcome low moments in the limelight.
In a wide-ranging interview with NewsDay Weekender Life & Style, the young and talented vocalist said being in the limelight had exerted a lot of pressure on her to attain perfection.
Dealing with fame
While many a musician has been content sticking to the music lane, Tamy’s creative scope has seen her broaden her horizon and branch into her other favourite hobbies.
She says there was more to her than met the eye.
“Fame is quite a task. It is tough to live in the limelight but I am grateful all the same. The pressure to deliver is hectic and sometimes it can cripple me in the hope of attaining perfection,” she said.
“I break down a million times but being surrounded by good people with good energy and good cheer helps a lot.”
Tamy says prayer has also been her weapon of strength as there are many challenges that artistes have to surmount, but they choose to keep the lid closed due to various reasons.
“There are so many challenges that artistes deal with that they can’t disclose on so many occasions in a bid to protect themselves from public opinion, but they are human too and sometimes people do not understand that prayer is key,” she said.
Good food and the outdoors
Apart from music, Tamy also enjoys the outdoors and the “awesome taste of good food”.
“Tamy enjoys swimming occasionally. I am a sucker for good food, so I enjoy some quiet time getting some food. I love Thai food, fried rice with chicken. Anything with rice goes down,” the singer said.
She also highlighted that she was a cartoon fanatic and enjoyed watching them from time to time.
Nagging sex pests
Asked how she dealt with unwanted male attention and sex pests, Tamy says she takes it one step at a time and that was the least of her worries.
“Such attention comes with the territory. I don’t really pay much attention to it though. I am always with my managers, who happen to be my parents, so many males keep the distance,” she said.
Tamy has, over the years, released a string of songs that have won her many fans across the country, setting the bar high for fellow female musicians her age.
DOES God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ work hand in glove with ancestral spirits? Can we appeal to both Jehovah God and the spirits of long dead people? After a milestone achievement we hear some people say that they want to thank God as well as their ancestors for making it possible. Some people think that God works in tandem with their ancestral spirits to bless them.
The assumption is that in case God is angry at them then their ancestors will plead their cause. To some people God’s power is limited in certain areas where ancestral spirits will be the solution. There are some who think that they will be doubly secure to worship both God and their ancestral spirits. They call it comprehensive cover.
People experience dreams where they assume they are hearing instructions from their departed relatives and are thus convinced that their ancestors are involved in taking care of them.
The situation is made worse in our cultural setting where people think that there are issues that don’t need God but the ancestors who are deemed to be more versed and capable.
You have heard the expression, “Izvi zvakuda chivanhu” loosely meaning the issue is now beyond the scope of God’s power but within the jurisdiction of spirit mediums. Satan takes the form, and in some instances, the voice of the long dead so that you believe. Devils or demons are disembodied spirits, they look for bodies to possess.
Does God work hand-in-hand with ancestral spirits? Are there certain issues of our life that God cannot solve but our ancestors?
God makes it very clear in His Word that there is only one God and no one else and we should worship that one alone.
His glory is not to be shared among any other gods or anything that is placed to take His stead. In Deuteronomy 4:24, He states, “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”
The jealousy spoken of here is that if you choose God then it should be God alone otherwise if you bring in other gods, He excuses Himself. Deuteronomy 6:14, states, “Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;”
In case you doubt His ability, He emphasises it in rhetoric in Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” There is nothing beyond the scope of His ability.
As the creator, nothing is impossible with Him. So you can put all your trust in Him, He is able. He commands us not to get answers from the dead. The dead cannot intercede on behalf of the living.
The Bible says of the dead in Ecclesiastes 9:5, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they anymore a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”
The dead have no knowledge at all of what happens in the realm of the living. The devil manipulates the dead by bringing their images to you in dreams or when you visit the witch doctor and out of fear you believe the tricks of Satan. Because you used to love and respect the departed while they were still alive, the devil pins you down on that.
The formula to reach out to God is spelt out clearly 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.”
The only medium to God is Jesus. John 1:18, Amplified, illustrates, “No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known].”
Any other medium, spiritual or physical connects you to Satan. If you are living an upright life, your success comes from God.
You cannot pray to God and to ancestral spirits at the same time. I know that when a thief, armed robber or professional prostitute goes out for business they trust their ancestors to lead them.
Do you suppose they pray to God and ask for success in their “business” venture? It is a waste of time to go to church to get a blessing to engage in evil deeds. If you brew beer to appease your ancestors and also go to an all-night prayer session to ask God to bless you, who would you give credit to if you get your desired answer?
God will not involve Himself where evil is practised. When you get a breakthrough from Satan, please be honest and tell us that you got it from the devil. Don’t give us a false testimony. I always hear cross border traders who smuggle goods and testify that God is good because He led them to go through customs undetected. Don’t play around with the name of God. We cannot attribute the coming of rains to God and the devil at the same time.
Leave your dear departed in the grave and worship the living God. If you want God then choose God and if you want Satan don’t drag the name of God into it.
I advise you to choose God and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” 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.
IT was never going to be easy, being in uncle Robert Mugabe’s shoes, for he was a man of intellect and charm in equal measure. He commanded respect without demanding it and his friends would always whisper advice to him, but things have taken a nasty turn and Zimbabwe can be berated from the rooftops.
President Emmerson Mnangagwas is in the spotlight, all for the wrong reasons and more importantly being big on rhetoric and short on delivery. Mnangagwa’s three closest allies when he took over power via a coup two years ago; China, South Africa and the United Kingdom, have all come out chiding him like a naughty kid in a week Zimbabwe would want to forget quickly.
The United Kingdom was the first to whisper and then loudly speak out about the political reforms that are taking place at a snail’s pace. They made it clear, Mnangagwa was being a disappointment after coming in with a lot of promise and zeal to change course for the country after taking over from Mugabe.
The UK had feted Mnangagwa, gave him acres of space in their influential mainstream Press to talk about reforms and fashioning his new path. They clapped for him, pleaded for him to be given a chance arguing Mugabe’s messy was endemic and, therefore, needed some time to sweep away.
However, on hindsight, it could be that ambassador Catriona Liang was massively handholding him, chaperoning him in the “right direction” until her reassignment to Nigeria leaving poor Mnangagwa high and dry.
Our South African neighbours were cordial and hoped that Zimbabwe, the regional problem child, was on the mend and needed all the support under the new regime. However, soon they realised they were backing a wrong horse; a regime that did not respect contracts and was pulling them down when Zimbabwe started renegading on Eskom debt.
For once, South Africa this week dumped former President Thabo Mbeki’s “quiet diplomacy” and went for the “megaphone diplomacy”. International Relations minister Naledi Pandor in a rare public lecture said: “By all accounts, there are serious and seemingly intractable political factors that might need attention if solutions are to be effective or implementable. The political formations in Zimbabwe remain at loggerheads and have apparent deep antipathy toward each other which makes joint decision making and planning extremely difficult.” Pandor said.
She more importantly added: “It seems clear that even as we support the call for an end to economic sanctions, the political dynamics are inextricably linked to the economic and thus should be confronted simultaneously. This can only be led from Zimbabwe and would certainly ease the development of Sadc contributions in response to the emergent compact.”
Mnangagwa was left in a corner with little room to manoeuvre, but engage his local nemesis Nelson Chamisa if he has to get the regional support. South Africa is not only big in size, but it also has the economic and military mighty to get Zimbabwe to heel. Mnangagwa may have to start thinking about where to sit at the next Sadc Summit.
The Chinese were last to speak and they were lethally brutal in their censure. They literally called Mnangagwa’s regime LIARS. They said Finance minister Mthuli Ncube had understated Chinese bilateral aid to Zimbabwe in the current financial year by a whoping US$133 million. In an unprecedented public statement the Chinese embassy said: “The embassy has noted that the statement, among development partner support received by the Zimbabwean government through bilateral channels, the figure of bilateral support provided by China to Zimbabwe is US$3 631 500. This is very different from the actual situation on the ground,” adding that, “According to our record, from January to September 2019, the actual bilateral support provided to Zimbabwe by China is US$136,8 million. Such a figure does not include the other bilateral supports such as the expert assistance, embassy’s donations to local vulnerable groups and so on.”
Mnangagwa’s regime had no coherent response, except to issue a feeble statement after some tea with Chinese embassy officials. “The two sides have reached an agreement on the facts and figures contained in the statement issued by the embassy on November 19, 2019 and the national 2020 budget statement,” Ncube said without elaborating what were the actual figures.
It needs no rocket science to tell that Mnangagwa is now on his own, a blacksheep among the flock and many would deal with him from a distance like a leper till he cleanses himself and his regime. This may be the reason he has chosen to break out of his cocoon and unleash his dark side on the opposition and civil society activists.
The short-sweet honeymoon is over and everyone demands action from Mnangagwa. This may be a tall order for a man who is fighting hard to consolidate his power with whispers of a palace coup getting louder each passing day. Mnangagwa has a stark choice to make; reform or perish.
Paidamoyo Muzulu is a journalist . He writes in his personal capacity
TWO days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa categorically stated that he was absolutely in no hurry whatsoever to institute any reforms — be they political, socio-economic, or otherwise, riot police, bashed defenceless Hararians on Wednesday leaving many injured.
The action put paid to the view that the President has opened the country’s democratic space.
From what we can believe, the source of the police anger was opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s insistence to go ahead with his Hope of the Nation Address.
This is the umpteenth time the police, in their very informed wisdom or lack of, have crushed anything the main opposition party has tried to organise. The police have curiously been averse to the MDC’s attempt to exercise their democratic right to free speech and assembly.
What is astoundingly disturbing about this whole debacle is that Mnangagwa’s government appears to have completely thrown all caution to the wind and has seemingly decided to play hardball at a time the community of nations is refusing to relax demands that the southern African nation observe human rights as part of conditions to readmit troubled Zimbabwe back into the club of nations.
The police action on Wednesday tells us that Mnangagwa has decided to play macho and stand his ground. This is quite unfortunate, indeed.
It is either the President directed the police to descend heavily on opposition supporters or this culture is a result of self-deployment by key figures in his government in an effort to endear themselves to the President.
Clearly, this has nothing to do with the welfare of the ordinary and long suffering Zimbabweans, but it has everything to do with warped individual egos. It is unfortunate that Zimbabwean politics is now so toxic that the nation is being held to ransom by self-serving elites.
Why is it that this regime is so impetuous that it would rather let an entire 16 million people perpetually agonise over issues that can be easily solved.
It boggles the mind why government would rather bash and butcher its hapless citizens just to prove that it is the one in charge. It would rather trample on the country’s rule book and rip it just to remain in power.
The government’s penchant to blunder at every turn is more than extraordinary. It is becoming evident that the government is growing paranoid.
Bashed, battered, abused and trodden on, the Zimbabweans may appear hapless at the moment; but every dog has its own day.
Recently, I had an extensive tour of a massive mango farm in South Africa. Before that trip, I had observed some differences in mangoes, but I thought it was like people – they just come in different shapes and sizes but the basic make-up is the same.
Little did I know, there are thousands of cultivars! Although there are undoubted similarities, each type has extremely distinct characteristics.
To my uneducated mind, I thought a mango was a mango. Once an experienced farmer took the time to show me how to identify different varieties, it became clear. By the end of our time there, I was easily recognising obvious differences which before receiving the information, I would have overlooked.
A question I am asked often is “Many people seem to say they are Christian. Is there a way to know if a person is sincerely born again? What does the Bible say about this?”
The simple answer is really we have no idea of the condition of a person’s heart, and it would be arrogant for any of us to make that kind of judgment call on another individual’s personal and spiritual relationship with their Creator. Only God can and will judge each person.
However, like the mangoes, there are some verses in the Bible which give us information that helps identify characteristics of a Christian. Ironically, not far off from my mango analogy, the Bible says you will know them by their fruit. (Matthew 12:33-37, Matthew 7:17-20)
This list of “fruit” to look for is not exhaustive but can serve as a beginner’s guide to answering this question. And again I can’t stress enough that people can project a pretended image. In fact, Matthew 7:21-23 states that not everyone who says Lord Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father. Bottom line — putting on a show doesn’t fool God who knows your heart and deepest thoughts, but us, mere mortals, can be deceived.
That is why the Bible lists some characteristics to look for in someone who is genuinely following Jesus, lest you are led astray by “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.
Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me…” When someone chooses to “die” to themselves and allow themselves to be put under “new management”, their language and lifestyle changes.
It becomes clear that the decisions they make are based on the direction of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of the Bible. For example, you might hear a person say this, “I am really tempted to xxx, but I know this isn’t what God would want me to do so I will submit and not do it.”
Or when faced with a difficult choice, they say, “I honestly don’t know what to do. Let me go pray about it and read the Bible and see what God says to me.”
John 13:35 says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” The Bible tells us God is love. He is synonymous with love! Therefore, it would make sense that if you have asked His Spirit to fill you that an overwhelming emotion you would feel towards others is love. Commands are even given to love your enemy, to be kind to those who persecute you, and to not harbour any bitterness.
This is not natural to our sinful nature. We don’t easily forgive nor love those who mistreat us! That kind of supernatural patient love is a clear fruit of God’s Spirit dwelling in a person!
The entire chapter of 1 John 1 gives light to the issue of evident fruit, but I will just quote one verse, 6, “If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practise the truth.” A person who becomes a Christian is one who says I am ready to walk in the light.
That by no means insinuates that a person becomes perfect and never does anything they are ashamed of. We will fight fleshly desires as long as we are on this earth. But for someone genuinely seeking fellowship with Jesus, they don’t want to keep walking in darkness — it is just that – a daily fight.
Therefore, when a person isn’t fighting the fact that they are living a double life intentionally deceiving others so that they can continue to walk in darkness so that no one finds out the actions they do — according to 1 John, the truth is not in them.
If the truth were in them, living a lie would eat at their souls and they would set themselves free by exposing the deeds of darkness and coming fully into the light.
They would do this even if there were consequences of confessing their sins – because they would desire a right relationship with God and inner peace more than they feared the punishment of man. Galatians 5 gives us a specific list of what to look for, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties…But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” This verse is explicitly clear of what type of fruit to look for so there is no need to add or explain.
I hope these verses will help answer the question at hand. A quote I like by DC Talk, “The greatest single cause of atheism today is Christians who profess Christ with their mouths and walk out the door of the church and deny Him with their lives. This is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable.” Always remember that our actions speak much louder than our words.
Ashley Thaba is a popular life-coach, team-building facilitator and motivational speaker. She is also the author of Conquering the Giants and Dive In. You can view some of her works on her YouTube channel: Ashley Thaba.
BULAWAYO residents and opposition political parties have criticised government’s move to rename several roads in the city, leaving out some of the city’s luminaries.
Government on Thursday announced a raft of new names being given to several roads and buildings in Bulawayo, Harare and other towns, with 10 roads named after President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Residents and political parties said the government usurped the role of local authorities to name roads and never consulted the responsible authorities before taking the action.
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association chairperson Ambrose Sibindi said the move taken by government was deplorable.
“I am not sure of what is happening anymore, the local authorities are responsible for the naming of the roads, not the government,” he said.
“We have our own people whom we think are befitting for those road names, not just anyone. We currently have issues of poverty, starvation, striking doctors and nurses, people are dying in hospitals, but in their (government) response they rename the roads.”
MDC Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza said instead of renaming the roads, the government should be fixing the roads as they are badly potholed.
“We have other heroes such a Dumiso Dabengwa, who belonged to the Zipra, who were sidelined in the renaming,” he said.
“This was not a popular move by the government. It is not addressing the current economic crisis at all and instead of naming the roads, they should be fixing the roads.”
Mayor Solomon Mguni said he was waiting for the official communication from the government so that they can give an official report as the city fathers.
Mthwakazi Republic Party member Mbonisi Gumbo said: “Some of us have bad memories of ED Mnangagwa.
Having a busy road named Mnangagwa is obviously traumatic. However, we expect the ordinary residents of Bulawayo to be consulted.
“We have our own heroes like Lookout Masuku, Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, Mqondisi Moyo and others, so we do not appreciate anything imposed on us.”
Cabinet on Thursday said it had approved the renaming of roads and government buildings in Harare, Bulawayo and other towns across the country, as a way of trying to foster unity, while reflecting on the country’s history and identity.
