CAPS United coach Darlington Dodo says he is happy to meet bitter rivals Dynamos at a time they are in good form after an unbeaten run stretching 19 games, setting up a potentially explosive derby on Sunday.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

The city rivals clash in the Harare derby at the National Sports Stadium in a match significant for both sides.

Caps are bidding for the championship and lead the league table with 55 points, two ahead of nearest challengers Chicken Inn and FC Platinum with only three rounds of matches left in the campaign, while Dynamos, on fifth place with 44 points are fighting for a top four finish.

“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, it even motivates us. But looking at the boys at training, there is great desire, there is hunger and enthusiasm. We really want to win this one and we are going for maximum points and nothing less,” Dodo said.

The Caps coach, whose side squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Yadah at the weekend, a major reversal to their championship bid, said he has had a frank discussion with his players after the drawn games which to them felt like defeats.

“After the match we had a frank discussion about the match as a team. Everyone accepted they had failed as a team and that there were some individuals who didn’t apply themselves. We have since corrected what we did wrong and are looking forward to the match against Dynamos.”

Caps, though will be without top forward John Zhuwawo who is suspended for accumulating three yellow cards in previous matches. Zhuwawo is the club’s top scorer with 10 goals, but Dodo will not run out of options as he has Newman Sianchali to look up to. Sianchali, who scored a double in the victory over ZPC Kariba, missed the drawn game against Yadah due to injury, but bounces back for the Harare derby. First choice goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga, who was substituted after 29 minutes, when he sustained an injury, has started training, but will have to pass a late fitness test.

They face a Dynamos side that last tasted defeat way back in June. The Glamour Boys are unbeaten in their last 19 matches, but 14 of those matches ended in draws while they won just five, the Glamour Boys have undergone a transformation since the arrival of Tonderai Ndiraya.

The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has come under the spotlight after it emerged the company’s acting chief executive (CEO) Saston Muzenda has disregarded its disciplinary committee and dismissed seven workers who were exonerated of any wrongdoing.

BY MOSES MATENGA

This came as panic has gripped the parastatal after it allegedly engaged a private human resources firm to recruit dozens of tollgate cashiers, an indication that a massive bloodbath was looming at the company.

The Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Workers Trade Union general-secretary Lovemore Ngwarati said the union has been left with no option, but to engage the Ministry of Labour to protect the workers from “clear abuse of office” by management.

“I realised that the workers have been found not guilty, even after appeal. I hear the CEO has instructed that they be dismissed, despite a recommendation to reinstate them by the disciplinary committee. We are left with no option but to go to the Labour ministry,” Ngwarati said.

A source said Muzenda had instructed that the workers be dismissed despite winning an appeal against dismissal.

“He has given instruction and tomorrow (today) or Monday they will get letters of dismissal and that is a ploy to maintain their plan and their numbers. They won their cases, there was an appeal and the workers won. What simply needs to be done is to have them reinstated,” the source said.
He said the Zinara boss’ action was clear abuse of office because he had no legal basis to fire the workers who won their cases. “Legally it is criminal, even if you use their own code. It is a criminal issue,” Gwarati added.

Muzenda was not immediately available for comment.

Zinara and its workers are embroiled in serious fights that have triggered mass resignations amid suspicion that Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza was pushing, through the Zinara board, recruitment of workers mainly from Mashonaland East province to solidify his control and secure his position in both the province and constituency.

It is also alleged that Matiza was working in cahoots with the Zinara board chairman Michael Madanha and his Zanu PF deputy in Mashonaland East in the execution of the plan.

Matiza and Madanha have denied the allegations, describing what is happening at Zinara as a “necessary” cleansing exercise.

Mobile Operator Telecel Zimbabwe will this week launch the Sizzling Summer Bundles Promotion. The promotion will run till end of January 2020.

The promotion aims to reward loyal Telecel subscribers who subscribe to the headline data and social media bundles that include MegaBoost, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.

To qualify, Telecel subscribers have to buy either Daily, Weekly or Monthly data bundles by dialling *470# or MegaBoost, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram bundles on *480#. Once the customer buys a bundle, they automatically earn points and stand a chance to win. The more points one accumulates, the more chances of them winning.

Weekly prizes include cash, Zesa Tokens, LTE devices and Wi-Fi routers, with the grand prize of $10 000 cash to be won at the end of the promotion.

Chief Executive Officer, Angeline Vere said the promotion is Telecel’s way of thanking and rewarding customers for their continued support throughout the year, especially with the current difficult economic conditions obtaining.

“We would like to reward our customers for being so loyal and true to us by giving them a chance to win whenever they purchase any of these selected bundles,” she added.

Mrs Vere also took the opportunity to encourage Telecel subscribers to continue recharging in order to get the very popular MegaBonus which gives a bonus on every dollar of airtime purchased. Following recent upgrades, Telecel subscribers are able to purchase their airtime via Telecash by simply dialling *888# and following easy and simple prompts.

Ten percent of Zimbabwe’s population are estimated to be gay or lesbian – they are simply born like this. However, only few dare to disclose their sexual orientation as homosexuality is largely rejected by the Zimbabwean society and considered a taboo.

The current Zimbabwe Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act makes specific sexual acts illegal. According to popular belief, however, homosexuality is a crime. The national media exacerbates this attitude in Zimbabwe with homophobic statements by government leaders contributing to a misinformed, highly discriminatory socio-political environment.

In 2013, Zimbabwe adopted a constitution prohibiting same-sex marriage. It leaves the sexual minorities in a quandary, however, because it is silent on whether or not gay or lesbian love affairs are legal.

The marriage bill that has brought up the concept of civil partnerships has been precise in defining it as a relationship between a man and a woman .The term on its own being interpreted internationally to mean people in same sex relationships has caused the community and cabinet to want to remove it noting that because it has a gay international interpretation thus it does not uphold the countries moral standards. The issue of inclusion of same sex marriages has been removed from conversation totally showing that we are far from realising these rights.

The Bill outlaws same-sex marriages in the definitional section of terms, by defining the term “marriage” as meaning a marriage solemnised, registered or recognised as such in terms of the Act, being a union between persons of the opposite sex.

This is in line with Section 78 subsection 3 of the Constitution, which clearly states that, “persons of the same sex are prohibited from marrying each other”.

Speaking to one of the victims who had to flee Zimbabwe for fear of her dear life, says she was harassed and attacked on a number of occasions whilst she was still in Zimbabwe and now even if she feels that home is best she still fears for her life that if dares returning she might get killed or jailed.

“I have been harassed and attacked on several occasions and that prompted me to flee the country to save my life. There’s this one day I will never forget, I was in the Harare Gardens Park with a woman I was dating, and three men approached us and urinated on us calling us Ngochani (a derogatory name given to gays/lesbians in Zimbabwe).

“Another unfortunate incident took place in 2018 when I was assaulted by six men who stayed in our neighbourhood, these men knew about my sexuality since they always saw me with my partner. I sustained head injuries during the assault, when I reported my case to the police telling them I have been attacked by some men questioning my sexuality. The police said they could not do anything mentioning that my story was a bit complicated to open up a docket for gays/lesbians here in Zimbabwe” she added

Homosexual persons often experience violence and marginalisation due to their sexual orientation. Aggression towards them ranges from verbal abuse and bullying to social discrimination, physical violence and psychological torture. This trend of abuse has been rampant mostly in the central parts of Harare, Gweru, Bindura and Bulawayo.

According to ZimRights, a human rights group, there were approximately 760 reports of attacks on homosexual university students in 2018. Chesterfield Samba leads the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), a civil-society organisation. He says that “suspected gay students are being tracked down by their anti-gay colleagues in clubs, bars and even in their homes. They are openly harassed, assaulted or even killed.”

Zimbabwe is one of the non-accepting countries in the world for gay, lesbian and transgender people. A 2006 revision to the country’s criminal code expanded the penalty for sodomy to include acts that “would be regarded by a reasonable person as an indecent act”. This could include two men/women holding hands or hugging, and it can be punished by an extended prison term.

According to a 2018 survey by the non-governmental organisation GALZ (Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe), 50 % of gay men in Zimbabwe had been physically assaulted, and 64 % had been disowned by their families. Twenty-seven percent of lesbians also reported harassment, assault and disownment. Often, they are accused of exposing their parents to “blame and shame”.

Some families in rural areas assume that their gay son or lesbian daughter is possessed by Satan or demons. Traditional leaders evict them from their villages. A young man from western Zimbabwe, who prefers to stay anonymous, recounts that people in his village, believed that “even with a handshake, I would transfer homosexuality”. The elders decided that he was unfit to stay in the community.

The late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is well known for his furious speeches against Zimbabwe’s LGBT community, calling them “worse than pigs and dogs” and must not be allowed in society.

At some point he was asked by an AP reporter if Zimbabwe had no gay rights this was his response: “They have no rights whatsoever! They are an abomination and against human nature and God,” he shouted as he grabbed him by the arm and jostled him, causing his head to knock against a video camera behind.

In an in-depth LGBT article done by Grace Badza early this year she spoke to several victims who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.

“They say I am the reason why the Biblical towns Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed,” an elderly gay man recounts. “They call me an abomination with no acceptance in the Christian religion.”

Another man says that he was harassed at work: “They fired me. I have no source of income anymore.” Many LGBTI people in Zimbabwe suffer from low self-esteem; they are isolated and often depressed. “I have no place in society,” a young Lesbian in Harare says. “Where do I run to?”

Zimbabwe is no exception. Homosexuality is outlawed in 35 African countries and punishable by death in two countries, Mauritania and Sudan, as well as in some areas of Somalia and Nigeria, according to Amnesty International.

BY CHARLES LAITON

Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri has described Oman-based businessman, Thamer Said Ahmed Al Shanfari as a “fugitive” and accused him of fraudulently attempting to claim properties that belongs to the Zimbabwean military.

Muchinguri said this in her founding affidavit in response to Shanfari’s High Court application, seeking an order for placement of a caveat over four immovable properties namely stand numbers, 98, 99, 100 and 101 Glen Lorne Township 8 of Lot 40A Glen Lorne, Harare.

The businessman approached the High Court after receiving information that his properties were being taken over by the Defence ministry.

But Muchinguri challenged Shanfari’s application saying, the court in Harare cannot, first of all, entertain his application given that he, being a fugitive and a prohibited immigrant, had not offered any security to institute proceedings against the government.

“The applicant (Shanfari) is a peregrinus and in that regard he has not offered any security to institute these proceedings. The applicant is a fugitive from justice. The applicant is a prohibited immigrant and there are disputes of facts which will not possibly be resolved on his founding affidavit. These disputes are clearly apparent from his own founding affidavit,” she said.

“The applicant has no assets in this country, both movable and immovable. The immovable property in dispute does not belong to him, it is a property owned by the second respondent (Defence ministry) through its commercial vehicle which was created for the purpose, among other things, to acquire this property.”

Muchinguri further said Shanfari cannot be trusted given that he has a criminal record culminating from his conviction on charges of forgery in Cairo, Egypt. “The applicant has also been found guilty of forgery for a British passport in Egypt. On the basis of the above points in limine, I submit with respect that the applicant’s application be dismissed with costs,” the minister said.

In his application, the businessman said he filed a court application after realising that chances were very high that he could lose his investments in Zimbabwe given the political power yielded by Muchinguri and her ministry. But, the minister disputed his assertions saying he owned nothing in Zimbabwe.
The matter is pending.

BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE

MPILO Central Hospital yesterday unveiled medical equipment, which include infant incubators, a mobile X-ray machine, radiant warmers, sourced from India by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The institution also received 25 patient monitors, one endoscope unit and two anaesthetic machines, among other equipment.

Chief hospital equipment technician Vulindlela Dube hailed the President for his kind gesture to the health institution.

“The equipment will assist the hospital in saving human life,” he said.

“We received infant incubators; these machines are used for pre-term babies. They stabilise the temperature and create conditions that mimic what was in the mother’s womb.”

Dube also said: “We have also received patient monitors that monitor vital signs in a patient, for example, the blood pressure, oxygen saturation which will ensure the patient is getting enough oxygen.

“We also have a mobile X-ray machine that actually can be transported to a critically-ill patient instead of moving the patient from the intensive care unit.”

Dube said one anaesthetic machine was ready for use, while the other was waiting for components from India.

Meanwhile, 71 general nurses and 58 midwives graduated with certificates and got awards for their achievements at the same institution.

Speaking on behalf of Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube, deputy director in the minister’s office, Agnes Makoni hailed
nurses for their perseverance despite facing challenges.

Makoni said health workers must be reminded that their role is to save lives.

“Midwives, as defenders of women’s rights, should support women to make informed health and life choices; empowering them with information and access to services,” Ncube said.

She added that currently the health system world-wide was experiencing a lot of challengers as the quality of healthcare was deteriorating.

Local health institutions are facing shortages of drugs and equipment.

They have also been crippled by the doctors’ strike, with nurses only working two days a
week.

BY CHELSEA MUSAFARE

SOUTH AFRICA-BASED Zimbabwean Afro-jazz musician Darlington “Mhofela” Tanganyika has expressed concern over the reluctance by local music promoters to support artistes who are based outside the country.

Tanganyika told NewsDay Life & Style that he and other musicians were facing challenges winning the confidence of local promoters to assist them in holding shows on the home turf.

“We are having difficulties when it comes to promoters. The challenge is that we do not have people who want to support us to have shows in Zimbabwe. They promote us here in South Africa, but when it comes to Zimbabwe, promoters are hard to come by,” he said.

The Chiweshe-born musician said he had managed to hold shows with some of his role models and great musicians that inspired his music.

“Business here in South Africa is very good and I am having countless shows. I have shared the stage with great musicians, including the late Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo, Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah, Soul Brothers, Freddy Gwala, Willom Tight, Dino Mudondo, Andy Muridzo and son of the late James Chimombe,” he said.

Tanganyika, who is currently working on two singles, Munamato and Mutei Weshiri — a song to comfort women who have lost their husbands — said he was grateful to God for guiding him in his music journey and was looking forward to doing more shows in Zimbabwe soon after sharing the stage with Jah Prayzah.

He said Tuku played an important role in his life by singing songs that uplifted him socially and spiritually.

With three albums — Rwendo, Nhiyo and Mhaiyo — under his belt, Tanganyika has also released a single titled Matitorera, a dedication to Mtukudzi.

The single Matitorera, which was recorded at Camel Studios and mixed by Isaac Sando, features Nicholas Sando Musonza on lead and acoustic, former Macheso drummer Obert Gomba, and Lucky Andries and Simon Meck on the keyboard.

Tanganyika said he was also working with Pamela Zulu, popularly known as Gonyeti, and has done collaborations with Zenzo Bhekimpilo (Zimbabwean), his producer Isaac Sande on one of his tracks Paruzevha.

He said his music calling emanated from some hardships in life, which became a source of strength.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

ZIMBABWEANS have this year been surviving on a measly health allocation of US$4,80 per capita (per person per year) against the US$36 stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

This was revealed by the Health secretary Agnes Mahomva when she appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health, which took her to task for failing to urgently resolve the doctors’ strike that has seen government firing 415 medical practitioners.

“In 2019, the per capita budget allocation for health has been US$4,80 per person and even the best scrapping by the WHO is at US$36 per capita and we are nowhere near that,” Mahomva told the committee, chaired by Ruth Labode.

“In 2020, we are moving out of austerity, but it simply means that we are also not making any significant progress. We are moving in a straight line and the per capita allocation is now US$27,29.”

For the 2020 national budget, the Health ministry was allocated $6,4 billion, but out of this, $4,5 billion is expected to come from development partners.

“About 80% of current health funding is from two sources; the Global Fund, providing 43% and Pepfar (President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief) 37%, making it more necessary for the government to find more innovative financing methods for health to decrease donor dependency,” Mahomva said.

“Most external funding is allocated towards drugs and medical supplies, leaving the country’s health service delivery vulnerable to donor reprioritisation. For example, the Global Fund allocation to drugs and medical supplies decreased by $30 million in 2019 and 2020.”

Mahomva said the industrial action by doctors had now gone beyond 77 days and disciplinary action was being taken by the Health Services Board under the guidance of the Attorney-General’s Office.

“A total of 578 doctors are to be charged, with 520 charge letters served. Of these, 459 disciplinary cases have so far been heard, of which 415 were given discharge penalties with 212 discharge letters served,” she said.

Labode slammed the Health ministry for using a hard hand on the doctors instead of negotiating with them to save the deteriorating health crisis in the country.

“How do you even plan to replace those 415 doctors? Are you getting doctors from Cuba? Why did government take a decision to ignore the doctors’ grievances? For me, it is like ignoring and then suing your child. A neighbour then negotiates with your child and takes them. This situation will bring shame on you,” she said.

But Mahomva said after the court ruling declaring the strike illegal, it was difficult for the government to reverse the decision to fire them.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa says the end is nigh for the ruling Zanu PF, accusing the party of trying to suppress “inevitable” democratic change.

In his speech dubbed Hope of the Nation Address (HONA) just hours after police assaulted supporters who had come to hear his speech, Chamisa said change would not be stopped by baton stick-wielding cops.

“You cannot stop an idea whose time has come. There is no doubt that the time of change has come. This time is evident and well written in the corridors of government,” he said.

“It is well written in the corridors of our communities and our streets, our villages even in our churches and gatherings. We need change and change must come. Change is coming. We are in a rogue regime. We are in a pariah State, a banana republic, and this is what is very clear. We have a big problem and that problem has to be dealt with in a big manner.

“This is the tell-tale sign of a regime that is collapsing. When you see a regime that is so scared of its own people, you must know that the end is nigh. When you see a regime that resorts to force, know that legitimacy has evaporated. When you see a regime that is so determined to keep our police officers on the streets, you must know that there is now a
vacancy in their scope of imagination on the future of the country.”

The opposition leader accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of leading Zimbabwe back into the dark ages of brutality and dictatorship synonymous with the late former leader Robert Mugabe’s era.

“Nothing has changed. We are back to the old days. If anything, Mr Mugabe is now looking like a small boy when it comes to the manual of dictatorship,” he said.

“Mnangagwa is scaling new levels of dictatorship, literally showing that he was, indeed, the man behind the dictatorship we have seen in this country. He is simply the dictator we must be able to confront.”

Chamisa warned that if there was no thawing of relations and a move towards progressive dialogue between Zanu PF and MDC, then his party would unleash a series of activities which would force Mnangagwa to the negotiating table.

In his HONA, Chamisa said Zimbabweans faced a bleak Christmas because of corruption, bad politics and abuse of human rights which has left hospitals and clinics closed, while hundreds die due to lack of medical access.

Mnangagwa has vowed to fight corruption, but many say his words have failed to match the action, a sentiment captured by Chamisa in his address.

He accused Mnangagwa of preaching the “open for business” message, yet his “conduct and actions were to the contrary”.

“We have just proved that we are not ready for business, reason being our toxic politics. Politics of vengeance, anarchy and chaos. Our politics of butchering citizens, our politics of hurting one another, that is the reason why our country cannot be a good candidate for the family of nations coming together to assist us,” he said.

Chamisa was forced to address journalists, senior members of his party, parliamentarians and a few supporters after police disrupted what was to be a public address on the balcony of the party headquarters.

BY CHARLES LAITON

Flamboyant businessman Philip Chiyangwa’s two sons have been taken to the High Court by Getbucks Microfinance Bank Ltd for failing to repay an $800 000 loan advanced to their company in February this year.

The financial institution recently filed summons against Edmund and Brian Chiyangwa alongside World Grain (Pvt) Ltd and Padley Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd.

The Chiyangwas are also set to lose their Harare property, stand number 712 the Grange Township of subdivision C of the Grange, measuring 2 4076 hectares held under title deed number 4212/2013, which they surrendered as surety for the bank loan.

In its declaration, Getbucks said it entered into an agreement with the two on February 26, 2019, whereupon it extended $600 000 to World Grain, a company in which the two sons stood as sureties and co-principal debtors.

“In terms of the credit agreement between the parties, the plaintiff (Getbucks) has a right to demand payment of the whole amount due under the loan facility in the event of the borrower failing to make payments on the due date or operating its account with the plaintiff in an unsatisfactory manner that exposes the plaintiff to possible loss or prejudice,” the micro-finance firm said.

“In breach of the loan agreement, the first defendant (World Grain), has failed to pay the principal and interest on the loan facility on due dates resulting in arrears of $846 041,52 accruing as at November 7, 2019,” Getbucks said.

The firm further said upon signing the agreement, Edmund and Brian undertook to pay legal practitioners’ collection commission and legal costs on the legal practitioner and client scale, adding that it was also part of the agreement that interest would accrue at the rate of 4% per month and a penalty rate of 15% per annum would be levied in the event of a default.

According to Getbucks, World Grain had made an undertaking to settle the balance by October 31, 2019, but failed to do so.

Getbucks is also seeking an order for The Grange property that was pledged as surety to be declared executable.

World Grain and Chiyangwa’s sons are yet to enter appearance to defend.