BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

TABLE-toppers Caps United, Chicken Inn and FC Platinum face a tough run-in as the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League race hurtles towards the end.

Three rounds of matches are left before the end of the season, but the three clubs are neck-to-neck in the battle for dominance of domestic football with Caps leading the pack with 55 points, two ahead of Chicken Inn and FC Platinum who are separated only by a goal difference.

Although Caps and FC Platinum have difficult assignments in their remaining three matches of the campaign, it is Chicken Inn who appear to be facing the biggest hurdle in their bid to win the championship again after lifting it four years ago.

The GameCocks, under the guidance of Joey Antipas, the coach who guided them to their last championship, has perhaps the toughest run-in as they face teams that are fighting for their life in their remaining three matches.

They have since awaken to the reality of playing against a team fighting for dear life after stuttering to a 1-1 draw against 16th-placed Hwange on Saturday.

Up next for them is 15th-placed Bulawayo Chiefs in a city derby. Before their 1-0 defeat to Manica Diamonds at the weekend, a result that reduced their chances of survival considerably, Bulawayo Chiefs had not lost a match in their last three games.

The Twitter Boys will be looking to secure maximum points against the title chasers as they fight to stay afloat.

Apart from Bulawayo Chiefs, Chicken Inn will also travel to Harare to face another relegation candidate, Herentals. The Students, as they are affectionately known, are still battling for survival on fifth position from the bottom with 35 points. They desperately need a victory to be sure of safety.

The Bulawayo side will wind off their league programme with a home clash against TelOne who are also fighting for dear life. TelOne under the guidance of former Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo have 36 points, and are just a point above Bulawayo Chiefs, a team sitting on the relegation cut-off point.

For Caps, they too have what appears to be another tough run-in.

The Green Machine, who allowed Yadah to come from two goals down to be held 2-2, face off city rivals Dynamos in their next assignment.

This big clash has a potential on deciding the destiny of the championship this term.

After the Harare derby, Caps travel to Baobab to face Ngezi Platinum, who have vastly improved since Rodwell Dhlakama took over and are in sixth place on the league table – just a rung below Dynamos although they have the same number of points at 44.

They will then round off the campaign with a home clash against defending champions FC Platinum.

The fixtures list appears to be kind to FC Platinum who are away to Chapungu next before hosting Black Rhinos, two teams that have really nothing to play for, besides bragging rights.

The champions will then wrap up their campaign with a clash against current league leaders. This match threatens to be the title decider.

BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

GLOBETROTTING Afro-fusion band, Mokoomba, could be Zimbabwe’s biggest cultural export through music.

The award-winning outfit, which perhaps is known better outside the country, has performed in nearly every part of the world where their music — which celebrates their Tonga culture, traditions and language — has found many takers.

The group said it was excited to be part of the line-up of musicians performing at this year’s edition of Music in Africa Conference for Collaborations, Exchange and Showcases (ACCES) slated for November 30 in Accra, Ghana.

The showcase, which is now in its third edition, is a leading pan-African music business event organised by the Music in Africa Foundation (MIAF) and held in a different African city every year.

Mokoomba manager Marcus Gora told NewsDay Life & Style that they revelled in the opportunity to perform before local and international bookers and audiences in Ghana on their debut in that country.

“We are excited to be performing in Ghana for the first time. Our performance at ACCES will be in front of an audience of local and international bookers and local audiences. The showcase programme has other artistes from various countries,” he said.

“Our second concert will be at a venue called the Jazz Bar and Grill in collaboration with local (Ghanaian) artiste KyeKyeku.”

The performers at the showcase, include Songhoy Blues (Mali), Gato Preto (Mozambique and Ghana), Arka’n (Togo), Sibusile Xaba (South Africa) and Ifrikya Spirit (Algeria), Lucia de Carvalho (Angolan based in France) and Bholoja (eSwatini), as well as locals Yaa Yaa, Kyekyeku and Ghanalogue Highlife, Cina Soul and FRA.

Global music superstar Akon is one of the leading speakers at this year’s event. The five-time Grammy nominee joins a star-studded line-up that includes top Ghanaian musicians and experts such as Sarkodie, Efya, Samini, Kyekyeku, John Collins, Ebo Taylor, Bibie Brew and Wanlov the Kubolor.

High-profile speakers and facilitators will include Chocolate City vice-president Aibee Abidoye, Ditto music founder and CEO Lee Parsons (UK), Airforce1 Records MD Joe Chialo (Germany), Gallo Music Group GM Rob Cowling (South Africa) Boulevard Festival co-director Hichman Bahou (Morocco) and TRUE Africa founder and editor-in-chief Claude Grunitzky.

Mokoomba, with their music rooted in the Tonga, Luvale and Nyanja rhythms and melodies have used their compositions to transcend borders and cultures as they continue to be recognised and celebrated across the world.
The group was inducted into the Hall of Fame when Afropop Worldwide celebrated its 30th anniversary last year at City Winery, New York City.

guest column:Tendai Ruben Mbofana

Never in my 46 years of existence have I been exposed to such an ignorant and arrogant government as that of Zimbabwe. Never in my life have I encountered a group of people who are divorced from reality, whose perception of the real world is skewed and distorted that they fail to comprehend, with any measure of seriousness, the gravity of the plight of the impoverished people of Zimbabwe in general, and civil servants in particular.

Why would a whole government — that purports to be a servant leadership and represents the best interests of the citizenry of Zimbabwe — fail to grasp the very basics of what its own workers are clamouring for — a living wage, that enables them to sustain a dignified livelihood worthy of their station in life. Yet, those in power choose to wantonly ignore this fact, preferring instead, to reduce civil servants to nothing more than slaves, who must survive on mere handouts.

How else can anyone explain the sick proposal by the government to sit down with its workers, to discuss offering them free transport in the form of ZUPCO (Zimbabwe United Passenger Company) buses to and from work, free food, and accommodation in residential flats in close proximity to their places of employment?

As much as this may sound generous to an uncaring and arrogant government, this is, nonetheless, extremely insulting to the generality of civil servants, largely comprising doctors, teachers and nurses, whose invaluable contribution and sacrifice to this country’s welfare and well-being is unparallelled — even far surpassing that of those in power, whose only contribution is siphoning the nation’s vast resources for their own individual aggrandisement.

There is nothing more demeaning to a grown-up human being than being treated as a child — since only children expect to be spoon-fed by being given free transport, food and boarding, as well as a bit of pocket money by their parents — something that the administration in this country is clearly trying to do to our esteemed civil servants. How else can anyone describe the provision of free ZUPCO transportation to and from work, free food, and accommodation, plus an equivalent of US$80 per month for doctors? Does that not remind you of those high school or university days!

Any dignified man or woman, especially of the stature of a doctor, teacher or nurse, deserves to receive his or her worthy salary that should enable him or her to freely choose and afford whatever they desire in their lives — including their mode of transportation, the food they eat, and where they want to stay. They deserve to be able to have sufficient monies in their pockets to comfortably determine what they want to use it for, such as paying for their own electricity, fuel, clothing, food, vacations, entertainment, chidren’s school fees and pocket money, and anything else to their hearts’ content.

Yesterday, at a post-budget breakfast meeting, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube openly and unapologetically revealed government’s brazen contemptuous and cold-hearted nature — as has become customary of those in this so-called ”Second Republic” — by claiming that the paltry ZW$6,5 billion (approx US$406 million) allocated to the Health ministry was too much, such that they would not even be able to finish it all!

By extension, I am quite sure that the administration is of the same opinion and convinced that the ZW$8,5 billion (approximately US$531million) allocated to the Education ministry is more than enough for a teachers’ paradise on earth!

Let me just remind the Cde minister that in his 2019 budget, he allocated the Health ministry US$694 million — making this US$288 million more than the 2020 fiscal year — yet, the government dismally failed to provide adequate medication, living wages to doctors and nurses, and other critical provisions in public health facilities, while moaning over the unavailability of funds.

Thus, if they could not provide decent salaries and acceptable services in 2019 with a budget allocation of US$288 million more than that of 2020, what is there for the minister to beat his chest about — as we are to expect an even worse environment in our health institutions? The same fate tragically awaits the Education ministry and our teachers.

Additionally, both the 2019 and 2020 budgetary allocations to the ministries of health and education were far less than those agreed upon.

Abuja Framework (15%) and 20% for Dakar Framework of total expenditure — so, what makes those in power gloat, when they are clearly falling far short of their obligations and commitments?

Does this callous attitude betray another vile and sinister characteristic of this administration — that of deliberately emasculating and impoverishing its own citizenry in order to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) — as Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi once alluded to?

Quite frankly, it defeats all logic for a government that utterly failed to comprehensibly and satisfactorily cater for its health and education departments in the 2019 fiscal year — citing unavailability of funds — to then actually reduce the budgetary allocation for the succeeding year. Yet, in the same breath, bragging that this severely compromised allocation was too much to even finish!

As much as no one in Zimbabwe is any longer shocked by such conceited and opinionated statements and attitude by this administration, the citizenry should, nonetheless, be thoroughly infuriated, and firmly stand their ground against this malevolence. The starting point would be for those in authority to cease forthwith their grotesque belief that they know what is best for the suffering people of this country, and that they can egotistically claim to have placed more than adequate and sufficient policies and funds to ”cushion” the over-burdened citizenry — when obviously they have not.

These so-called ‘chefs’ – who are living plushy and lavish lifestyle,at the expense and backs of those whom they are burdening and exploiting – have absolutely no right at all to be so brazenly adamant that what they are doing is pleasing to the impoverished populace – yet, the people themselves will be telling them otherwise.

To add insult to injury, these parasitical free-loading top officals are planning to purchase luxurious cars for themselves at a cost of US$16 million, a figure that could easily pay 1000 doctors a monthly US$1,300 salary for a year.

It is about time that the people stood up loudly and unequivocally clear, and demanded their right to a dignified livelihood, that only themselves can define. Civil servants, and Zimbabweans in general, can mnot live on ZUPCOs alone! A decent life for the citizenry of this country is not characterised by cheap or free transport, but a dignified livelihood, that enables us to walk and work with confidence, and our heads held high.

 Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist, writer, author, and speaker. Please feel free to contact him on — email: zimjustice@gmail.com

BY PRECIOUS CHIDA

ORGANISERS of the Miss Twins Zimbabwe beauty pageant yesterday said everything was in place for the show’s second edition and they had also incorporated men to compete for the coveted crown.

The pageant will see 10 sets of twins selected from across the country contesting at the Harare International Conference Centre on December 14.

Pageant founder and musician, Sarah Dhliwayo Nkala, popularly known as Sarah Dee in music circles, said they had the Mr Twins Zimbabwe slot in the competition in a bid to empower both sexes.

“As a pageant that seeks to empower the young, we believe teamwork is important and ideas have to be shared among all youths, both women and men, so that they go back to their communities to start projects which will then develop into bigger businesses and since some twins, including a boy and a girl we want them to compete as well,” she said.

The pageant, which struggled to find sponsors last year, will host a fund-raising dinner under the theme: If You Empower Women, You Have Fed the Nation, to raise funds for the pageant.
Nkala said this year they secured funding after roping in corporates to help the winning twins market their brands.

“So, this year we are not asking for free money but we are saying, buy your ticket, come to dinner and the change is ours, but you are given advertising space to market your brand or company through a double voice of twins,” she said.

The pageant, which saw two queens Michele and Micaella Chipoyera winning a university scholarship to study in China last year will this year see the winning pair walking away with a car and other prizes which are yet to be revealed.

Nkala said the male models were expected to showcase designer suits from local and international fashion designers.

guest column:Emmanuel Zvada

Is (human resources) HR going to be on the crossroads this coming year? HR is in danger of becoming a general function, but its fate is in its own hands. In order to respond to the changing employment landscape, HR needs to collaborate and upskill, embracing new technologies and disruptive innovations.

The function needs to evolve and develop. Elements of HR and the hiring function are already being replaced by technology, and disruptive innovations are rendering many HR roles obsolete.

We all recognise this: we live in an era of constant innovation and change, and this is no different for HR. Yet trying to keep up with HR innovations and future HR trends in 2020 while managing your day-to-day work can be exhausting. Business today is obviously all about people, meaning that processes, practices and HR trends in 2020 are vastly diverse — as they should be. Latest HR trends and developments within the field have had an impact on the use of the term HR itself. As HR is developing, the term should be in line with the work that is done: the term human resources could imply that people are a resource that can be used just like machinery.

Trends affecting human resources

The big generation gaps

The generation between 20 and 35 years of age, known as generation Y, or the “Millennials,” will represent half of the workforce by 2020 and three-quarters by 2025. An increasing life expectancy and an ageing population means that people are working beyond ‘normal’ retirement age. However, there is also an influx of smart young talent, pushing the boundaries of working culture. There are many preconceptions about Millennials, who are a heavily stereotyped demographic. Common assumptions include an absence of employee loyalty, a tendency to “job hop”, a sense of entitlement regarding earnings, progression and training, a high degree of technological competency and confidence, and an expectation of employer loyalty and attention.

The two generations will present HR with the following questions; on what points do the old and new generations agree, and on what points do they differ or even completely oppose one another and also a question on where new generations (Y and Z) represent radically different employee profiles, forcing HR to confront the immense challenge of reinventing its vision and strategies in dealing with them.

Shift in employment landscape

In addition to the changes in how we work and who we work with, many also believe that we could see a significant shift in how we are employed. 83% of executives employ temporary workers and 46% believe that over a fifth of their workforce will soon be contingent 23. This trend looks set to continue, ensuring that the 2020 workforce will be increasingly flexible. It has even been suggested that traditional employment could disappear, replaced entirely by self-branded individuals selling their skills.

While this may not come to fruition, there has certainly been a significant rise in contracting, with an increasing number viewing themselves as members of a discipline, as opposed to part of a company. From an organisational perspective this increase in flexibility appears positive, but it comes at a cost. Many non-permanent workers are not sufficiently integrated into a business, often experiencing mistreatment, exclusion and the inappropriate delegation of unfavourable tasks, reducing their productivity. Another issue is the “principle-agent problem”.

The move towards Agile organisations

Traditional organisations are built around a static, siloed, structural hierarchy, whereas agile organisations are characterised as a network of teams operating in rapid learning and decision-making cycles. Agile organisations must truly empower project leaders or “product owners” and give them real decision-making authority, develop them, and redefine their rapport with immediate superiors. This takes a very good calibre of “highly aligned, loosely coupled” managers who are able to make decisions and be driven in less formal settings. It also means that decisions must be made at the lower echelons.

Data analytics transforming HR

Data analytics will continue to be adopted rapidly in the year ahead. Using analytics, data driven decisions can be made by HR professionals to attract and retain top talent. The coming year will provide endless possibilities to use analytics in identifying trends and patterns on employee absenteeism, leave frequency, employee turnover rate, engagement level, among others. Data analytics will play a prominent role in increasing workforce productivity and engagement as well as improving workforce planning and talent development. HR analytics is the application of statistics, modelling, and analysis of employee-related factors to improve business outcomes. HR analytics is also often referred to as people analytics, talent analytics or workforce analytics.

Issue of HR titles to match the culture

You are most likely already familiar with redefining terms such as people operations, happiness officer or people and culture. These changes should be embraced, because they reflect on the new and coming nature of HR. However, be careful not to use trendy terms just for the sake of it! Whatever you choose to name HR in your company, make sure it reflects the work you are doing.

HR has been evolving a lot as a function in the last couple of years. A lot of the future of HR will be decided by the investment of top leaders in some of the most serious challenges HR is facing today. The changes happen slowly so most of them won’t be addressed and solved in the short run.

Integration of HR

It is very crucial to note that HR will become a set very diverse skill. HR will be composed of tech savvy people, data scientists, recruiter experts. Those that are technologically savvy will survive. People that are able to do copywriting, for job descriptions that correspond to the company culture. People that are able to read data and forecast trends. People that are on top of the latest technology and can solve problems or bring additional benefits to the company. People that are connectors, socially active and can attract more talents to the company. HR will be about diversity of skills.

HR becoming more social

Intranet, internal social platforms, internal “WhatsApp”, and many other ways of promoting online collaboration and communication across the company will be part of HR responsibilities, Workplace WhatsApp groups gaining more momentum than any other platform of communicating. HR can use social tools to drive behaviours in office performance by giving extra benefits to high performers of the month or give incentives to employees who are great brand ambassadors. The work experience will be taken live and will bring a stronger social component to organisation

Mental health and work life issues at workplace

Last but not least, a topic gaining attention is mental health. We have seen a disengaged workforce, the search for purpose, people breaking away from the more traditional career paths. Maintaining work-life balance helps reduce stress and helps prevent burnout in the workplace.

Chronic stress is one of the most common health issues in the workplace. Our desire to succeed professionally can leave us forgetting about our own well-being. However, creating a harmonious work-life balance is critical to improving not only our physical, emotional and mental health, but also our career health.

 Emmanuel Zvada is a human capital consultant and an international recruitment expert. He writes in his personal capacity.

guest column:Emmerson Mnangagwa

TWO years ago, on November the 18th, 2017, hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans took to the streets in the spirit of peace, unity and hope, calling for a new start. For a New Zimbabwe.

Coming into office a few days later, we committed to saying goodbye to the ways of the past, and to doing things differently.

Read: Op-Ed: Two years on since Mugabe was Zimbabwe’s president, what’s changed?

I immediately moved to give the people their voices back, opening new channels of communication between the people and their representatives
.
Criticism of the government and the presidency would no longer be taboo, but welcomed, even encouraged. I answered tough questions on my Facebook page, as I promised to be a listening President.

We immediately went into an election, in which opposition parties were free to campaign wherever, whenever and however they liked. Even when I narrowly survived the Bulawayo bombing attack weeks before the election, nothing changed. The campaign continued unimpeded.

On July 30 2018, eight months after coming to office, we held the freest and fairest elections in the country’s history. While no electoral process is perfect, all international monitors noted the new and free environment of the campaigns, and the vast improvement in the electoral process.

And we will continue to work closely with our partners in the international community to improve and refine our democracy. To build a resolute and open society, a free and fair country for all its citizens.

Part of this is reforming antiquated legislation and opening up the political space. We are repealing AIPPA, replacing it with three new laws, consistent with the ethos of the New Zimbabwe: The Freedom of Information Bill, the Protection of Personal Information Bill and the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill.

Developed in consultation with a diverse range of stakeholders, these laws meet international media freedom standards and ensure the Right to Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media.

Just last week we removed the much-maligned POSA, a remnant of the old Zimbabwe that limited the right to protest, and replaced it with a new Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill, devised with input from civil society and our friends around the world.

These have been key demands of the international community, and should be interpreted as a sign of our commitment to reform. Yet, the impetus for change and reform comes from within. We are not reforming to appease the nations of the world, but because reform is necessary to build the future our people desire. Of course, there is still much work to do, but we are heading in the right direction.

In November 2017, we also found ourselves mired in an economic mess. A dark and dangerous fiscal tunnel, with no apparent light at the end of it.

Today, we have a balanced budget for the first time in living memory, and we have restored our own currency, enabling us to take control of both our fiscal and monetary policy.

Of course, too many Zimbabweans still suffer, but austerity is a painful but necessary part of the recovery process. Led by our internationally recognised Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, we will continue to restructure, revamp and rebuild our economy. We cannot and will not hold up our hands. We must reform or perish.

The people of Zimbabwe know perseverance. Just because the process is tough, we will never take our eyes off the prize. We must never give up until we have achieved our goals: A middle income economy by 2030.

We are investing in this process like never before. A process of wholesale economic, political and social reforms.

I call on the nations of the world to help us speed up this process, to support the people of Zimbabwe as we undertake these painful but necessary reforms.

If the goal of sanctions is to stimulate the reform process, their effect is the opposite. They slow down our progress, inhibit our economic recovery and empower those who do not wish to see Zimbabwe change.

Their removal will therefore be an important step on the road to a better future for all the people of this country.

We, as leaders have a duty to set a new course for our people. A course where not only is our fate in our own hands, but where no one is left behind. A course with a balanced budget, an open political space, and a thriving economy providing the jobs and opportunities our people deserve.

I shall never stop working towards these goals and will never waver in my determination to realise the dreams of all those who took to the streets two years ago. I am confident that with patience, perseverance and our unbending commitment to reform, we will get there.

BY BRENNA MATENDERE

HEAVY rains which are currently pounding Gweru have overwhelmed the city’s cemeteries where de-watering of graves has become a nightmare.

The revelations came out at a full council meeting held at Town House yesterday. Ward 11 councillor, Albert Chirau implored city management to urgently address the problem saying council workers and bereaved families were facing serious challenges when burying their loved ones.

“The problem that we are facing is that council is still using manual means to dig graves. Due to the rains, graves are being submerged. We do not have equipment to deal with the crisis,” he said.

“We have some chemicals that will be in the water and grave diggers use bare hands to dewater the graves. That situation exposes our workers to diseases,” added Chirau.

Councillor Trust Chineni weighed in saying some families were de-watering the graves on their own due to manpower shortages at the cemeteries.

“I saw some families using buckets to de-water graves manually. It does not augur well. Council needs to get modern machinery to deal with the problem,” he said. Mayor Josiah Makombe promised that council would swiftly deal with the problem.

“We are in the process of formulating the 2020 budget. Such a critical item of expenditure will need to be included. I understand we only have one machine for de-watering graves, but our cemeteries are many. Council will take measures to address that situation,” he said. Last week council was found wanting after the rains also submerged the city’s drainage system, with motorists struggling to drive around town.

BY rex mphisa

ZIMBABWE may have lost millions of dollars in unpaid duty through a fine-tuned vehicle smuggling scheme operated at some of its ports, Southern Eye has learnt.

Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials, working hand in glove with some unscrupulous shipping agents or third parties, are believed to be behind the scheme whose epicentre was at Beitbridge, the country and region’s busiest port.

The scheme, run by various syndicates, was exposed after some vehicles were intercepted by the department and other government agencies.

Other ports might have been involved in the scam which exposes how porous the customs and excise systems could be.

On Sunday, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), of which customs and excise is part, issued a notice recalling vehicles suspected to have been smuggled.

Zimra spokesperson Francis Chimanda had not responded to questions at the time of going to print, despite making an undertaking to do so.

Zimra Commissioner-General Faith Mazani said she was out of the country. “Francis (Chimanda) will respond to you,” she said.

Panic gripped the border town of Beitbridge on Sunday and yesterday after the recall of about 400 vehicles believed to have been fraudulently imported since the beginning of the year.
A newspaper vendor said people fell over one another to buy a copy of a government — controlled weekly paper in which the Zimra list of recalled vehicles appeared.

“The Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority is hereby notifying the owners of vehicles listed below to visit Zimra loss control offices at ZB Centre corner First Street and Kwame Nkrumah in Harare for vehicle registration verification. The vehicle owners are instructed to bring the vehicle together with all customs clearance documents pertaining to their vehicles not later than 23 November 2019,” the Zimra notice read.

It was followed by a list of the vehicle registration numbers, chassis numbers, vehicle type and its owner’s name.

A well-placed source at customs and excise said authorised officials used fictitious clearing details to process customs clearing certificates (CCC) used to release and register vehicles as duly imported.

“After releasing these vehicles the official would share with the agent part of the duty they would have retained. Details of cars used on the CCC would be far inferior to the car to enable payment of lower duties and criminal retention of the balance,” said the source.