BY CHELSEA MUSAFARE

GOSPEL songbirds Mary Mhiribidi Zinyimo and Agatha Murudzwa have collaborated on a new song Nokuti Makanaka, off the former’s forthcoming album that is set for release next month.

Zinyimo, who is based in Botswana, told NewsDay Life & Style yesterday that she was happy to work with Murudzwa as she was one of the artistes who have always inspired her.

“She has been on this journey since 2003 when I started listening to her music. I love her voice and I thought it was going to blend with mine. I respect her character and love to help others,” she said.

Zinyimo, who will release her new song on a local radio station, said she opted for radio because of its wider reach.

The musician said themes on her new album, Ndoshandira Mweya Wangu, were centred on exalting the name of God and dealing with life struggles.

“It is about my spiritual journey, the struggles in our lives and the way we live now. I am comparing the situation we are living in now to the way people lived in the Bible,” she said.

“I am inspired by the word of God, the love that God has for us, no matter our differences and individualism.”

The new offering, which was produced by Simba Mukonyo at Simz Records, will be launched in Botswana and Zimbabwe.

The album carries the songs, Ndoshandira Mweya Wangu, Tambira Jehovha, Mwari Huyai Muone, Usadzvara Nyama, Ita Wega and Meso Nenzeve zveMweya (Zaoga theme).

BY FORTUNE MBELE

HIGHLANDERS coach Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh is furious with Zifa as he alleges that officials at the football mother body went behind his back to convince Prince Dube to join the Warriors camp before Bosso’s match against Ngezi Platinum Stars.

De Jongh said he had already made an agreement with Warriors coach Joey Antipas that Dube would fly to Harare tomorrow morning after the league match against Ngezi Platinum Stars today.

The Dutch national questioned the wisdom of playing league matches when the national team is involved in two important qualifying matches.

Zimbabwe take on Botswana in a Group H Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Friday before they travel to Zambia for a match against the hosts on Tuesday.

The Highlanders gaffer said Fifa rules about the international break must overrule those of the local league and must be enforced by the country’s football governing body (Zifa).

“Fifa rules are clear that when an official qualifying game is being played, there are no games to be played. This is not good for football. It is also very strange that I agree with the coach (Antipas) that after the Ngezi game Prince would travel and the manager or some people in the office go behind my back and call Prince. How is it possible that Zifa does not follow Fifa rules? Zifa can say that no games are supposed to be played?” De Jongh quipped.

The Highlanders mentor said he tried to get clarification from Zifa chief executive officer Joseph Mamutse but without joy.

“I called the Zifa CEO (Joseph Mamutse) yesterday (Monday). I know him very well and I told him and he said he would come back to me but I think his airtime got finished because he did not call back. Every country in the world is free and only Zimbabwe isn’t,” the Dutchman said.

He said he had been made to believe that the Warriors were not training today as Antipas would be with his club Chicken Inn at Trojan Mine for the league game against Mushowani Stars while his assistant at the national team Tonderai Ndiraya would be with his Dynamos at Ascot Stadium against Chapungu.

Another Warriors’ assistant coach Lloyd Chitembwe’s Harare City host TelOne at Rufaro Stadium.

De Jongh said he was hopeful of a positive result against Ngezi Platinum.

“So we play tomorrow and Prince is not available. He is with the national team now. We will try to come out with a good result. We have respect for the opponents; they are on position five on the log table and there is two points’ difference between us and them. It is not going to be easy because they are a good team with good players. We are in good spirits. We have other players that are available,” De Jongh said.

BY MOSES MATENGA

At least 12 top executives have resigned from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) in protest over alleged interference, endemic corruption, harassment and threats from some board members.

The officials, from different departments including finance and tolling, administration, information communication technology, audit, among others, have joined several others who have resigned from the organisation citing interference, among other problems.

Sources said those who resigned include Simpson Mandizha (administration), Tanyaradzwa Mandisodza (finance), Wilfred Chiroodza, Anyway Mudodo (finance manager), Hazel Tlou (finance tolling) and Daphne Charamba (finance tolling).

Others are Vikani Lulamani (finance tolling) Muthetheleli Mpofu (finance tolling, engineer G Kufa (management), Gift Kanotangudza an ICT manager, Shadreck Matengabadza (audit manager) and company secretary Mathlene Mujokoro.

“Morale is at its lowest. The environment is bad. People are resigning every day and you wonder what kind of a company is run like that. Hearings were done and the committees found the involved people not guilty. The CEO, claiming to be working under instruction from the board, overrides that. What is that?” the source privy to the details asked rhetorically.

“Quite a number have resigned and it is now an everyday thing. People are frustrated and there is a feeling that things can’t continue like this. They know that if they are accused of anything, processes are manipulated and they will not win so they are opting out. The situation is bad.”

Zinara board chairman Michael Madanha was not answering calls last night, but is on record accusing those making all sorts of allegations against his board of being “thieves” unhappy with the cleansing process.

The Zimbabwe Revenue and Allied Workers Trade Union yesterday said the situation at the roads authority was worrying and accused Zinara acting CEO Saston Muzenda of overriding decisions of a disciplinary committee comprising three managers and two workers representatives.

“Information at hand shows that Muzenda has a clear instruction from his board to dismiss employees regardless of disciplinary hearing outcomes. We are aware of the plot to dismiss long-serving workers and replace them with new employees. In this regard, ZIMRATU will not let Zinara cruise on the arbitrary path. We are going to defend our members and expose all the lies and misrepresentation,” ZIMRATU general secretary Lovemore Ngwarati alleged.

NewsDay has it on good authority that the committee found most of the workers not guilty and ruled that they should return to work.

But Muzenda allegedly refused to budge.

“One of the reasons why some of the workers were fired was based on reports from Univern, but it was established that, for example, some government vehicles have two number plates. This was confirmed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police after their vehicle was captured passing at a tollgate,” the source said.

“During the hearings, it was also established that one of the vehicles was part of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s motorcade and the committee found the accused person not guilty. The acting CEO, however, wrote that the workers should be found guilty regardless.”

Muzenda was not reachable yesterday.

BY ELINERA MANYONGA

GOVERNMENT has threatened to demolish houses which are being built on land that is encroaching onto the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare while a church constructed near a major water reservoir is set to be razed.

Speaking during a tour of several wetlands in Belvedere, Warren Park, Kambuzuma and Mabelreign, Harare Metropolitan Affairs minister Oliver Chidawu said it was illegal to construct houses on land belonging to the National Heroes’ Acre.

“This is insanity, how can one build a house overlapping into the national shrine? Properties like this might not even have clearance papers from the Environmental Management Agency or the council.
I will take proper action on this and if necessary demolish these houses,” he said.

Chidawu said the mushrooming of properties on wetlands was disastrous to the ecosystem and
threatened to destroy such developments.

He hinted that the responsible authorities might soon demolish a Methodist Church which was
“illegally” built next to the Warren Park water control station.

“The open space next to the Warren Park control station was never to be constructed on and having a church here is a ticking bomb,” Chidawu said.

“If a water pump bursts there will be floods here and we might end up losing lives. I will enquire if these people had clearance to build a church here and if they did then someone in office failed to do their job and will have questions to answer,” he said.

Chidawu said together with EMA, council and law enforcement agencies would make sure that the beneficiaries of early urban settlements are protected from environmental disasters and greedy land barons taking advantage of desperate residents.

He further said there were 30 wetlands under threat from illegal land barons and farmers.

Robson Mavondo, the provincial manager for EMA said the agency would work with Chidawu’s office to protect the ecosystem.

by Richard Muponde

THERE was drama at the Harare Magistrates Courts yesterday after tempers flared between the State counsel, Nelson Mutsonziwa, and former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s defence lawyer, Zibusiso Ncube over accusations of trial ambush.

The verbal exchange came after Mutsonziwa alleged Mphoko’s lawyer was involved in shenanigans meant to stall the start of trial.

The pair squared off in court before regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya after Ncube had filed an application of exception of the charges shortly after serving the State with the application two minutes before the start of the trial.

Initially, Ncube had indicated that he was going to apply for a postponement of the trial to which the State had advised that it would oppose and had prepared the arguments.

However, Mutsonziwa, who was being assisted by three other State counsels was caught unawares when Ncube served him with the application of exception of the charges.

After the court had adjourned, Mutsonziwa registered his displeasure with Ncube’s conduct while walking in the court gallery.

“What you have done is unethical. You are indirectly trying to postpone the matter after I told you we were going to oppose your application. I don’t do such shenanigans,” Mutsonziwa said.

However, Ncube was not amused and warned Mutsonziwa to take cognisance that besides him being Mphoko’s lawyer he was also an official of the court.

“Don’t talk to me like that. You should not tell me that I am involved in shenanigans. You should understand that I am also an officer of the court, you should not use such language talking to me,” Ncube said as they walked out of the courtroom.

Earlier in court Ncube filed an application of an exception to the charges and Mutsonziwa advised the court that although the State had been “ambushed” they were going to respond at 2pm.
The matter was postponed to today for hearing.

Mphoko faces abuse of office charges after he allegedly instructed junior officers at Avondale
Police Station in Harare to release former Zimbabwe National Road Administration acting chief executive Moses Juma and former board member Davison Norupiri from the cells.

However, both have since been jailed for the offence.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

CAPS United coach Darlington Dodo has demanded a response from his players ahead of the home clash against ZPC Kariba which comes after setbacks in their last three league matches.

The two teams face off at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow in a match that the Green Machine desperately need to win after picking a single point from their last three matches, which has opened up opportunities for FC Platinum and Chicken Inn who are in hot pursuit of the table toppers.

Should the Harare giants win this contest against a tough ZPC Kariba side, it will help boost their morale as the league programmes stagger towards the end.

“This is one of the biggest games we are going to play. We expect an instant reaction after that defeat to TelOne. We need to grind out a good result and we have been presented with the ZPC Kariba game and it is an opportunity for us. From what I have seen at training they (the players) are raring to go. We will definitely go all out in attack and it is only a matter of how many goals we would score in our objective to win the match,” Dodo said.

The Caps United coach said he had a full complement of the squad apart from defender Method Mwanjale, who is unlikely to play again this season and Kudzi Nyamupfukudza.

“Players that were injured have recovered and we are clean in terms of suspensions. One good thing about us is that we have a squad that is almost complete in as much as we don’t have the other two Method Mwanjale and Kudzi Nyamupfukudza,” said Dodo.

Caps United have four players that are facing disciplinary hearing over allegations of assaulting a referee and Dodo said he was doing everything to psyche up the players so that they are not distracted from their objective of winning the championship.

“I think the timing was wrong as we prepare to play against ZPC Kariba but we will do everything we can to psyche up the players.”

The Harare giants are at the top of the log standings with 59 points from 29 matches, two ahead of nearest challengers FC Platinum.

PSL fixtures

Today: Bulawayo Chiefs v Hwange (Luveve), Mushowani Stars v Chicken Inn (Trojan Mine), Harare City v TelOne (Rufaro), Chapungu v Dynamos (Ascot), Manica Diamonds v Fc Platinum (Vengere),
Triangle v Herentals (Gibbo), Black Rhinos v Yadah (NSS), Highlanders v Ngezi Platinum (Barbourfields)

Tomorrow; Caps United v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro)

By SIMBARASHE SITHOLE

ZIMDANCEHALL chanter Arrival 55’s much-awaited seven-track album, Chibharanzi Chinobhadhara, fetched US$300 after music promoter Monica Mabhena bought a copy during its official launch on Sunday.

The album, which was recorded at Mount Zion Records by DJ T Man, found many takers at Guruve Hotel who jostled to buy the disk by one of their own.

Mabhena was the highest bidder after forking out US$300 for the new album which she said was competitive in Zimdancehall.

“As a promoter, I felt I should give value to hard work by buying the disc at US$300, although ordinary discs were selling at ZWL$30. But hard workers should be rewarded. This album is very competitive and, I assure you, the track Chibharanzi will be a hit,” she said.

The artiste has since called on other upcoming musicians in Mashonaland Central to support each other and so far he has partnered with Mvurwi-based Ding who did not disappoint during the album launch.

“I am receiving overwhelming support from Mashonaland Central, Guruve mostly, hence I should also extend that generosity to other upcoming artistes and so far we are conducting shows with Ding from Mvurwi,” Arrival 55 said.

Arrival 55 and Ding said they were currently on a provincial tour in Mashonaland Central with Mvurwi and Bindura towns being their next targets.

“We have started with Guruve today as partners and we are on a provincial tour before year end, Mvurwi and Bindura are our next targets,” Ding said.

BY GARIKAI TUNHIRA/RUVIMBO MUCHENJE

A ZIMBABWEAN living in the diaspora has castigated government’s move to fire nearly 300 medical doctors from their jobs.

Netsai Makarichi, a Zimbabwean based in the United Kingdom, said the move vindicated their demonstration against Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo in July this year.

“When we demonstrated against SB Moyo, people thought otherwise,” she said.

“The firing of the doctors shows the regime is not for the people. Instead of talking with the life savers, the government is busy firing them from their jobs. The government is worsening the situation in hospitals. What is happening is a soft genocide.”

In July, Moyo, who was in the company of Information permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana and other officials, scurried for cover into their waiting vehicle as protesters, some carrying Zimbabwean flags, hurled insults and pelted them with various items while others, sprayed water.

The visibly-shaken delegation was coming out of Chatham House, where Moyo had just given a presentation.

Makarichi said President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration had committed murder against its citizens and, therefore, should be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

“They shot and killed innocent civilians last year and this year, they have done more. They should be tried at the Hague,” she said.

“We love our country, but when leaders turn against their own people, then there is a problem. I am a victim of Zanu PF, which claims to be democratic. I had to find a new home here in the UK after Zanu PF activists hounded me.”

Doctors have been on strike for more than 60 days citing incapacitation owing to poor salaries and working conditions.

Government last week fired over 200 doctors on allegations that they failed to report for duty.
Zimbabwe has about 1 600 doctors, and at least 516 of them face the axe in a country with a population of 15 million.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association has alleged that student doctors were forced to sit for examinations unprepared as their supervisors have not been reporting for duty for over 60 days after declaring incapacitation.

In a statement, the association accused government of trying to replace the fired and striking doctors with this batch of students.

“We believe this is a well-thought-out move by government to fast-track the release of our juniors into the field,” the striking doctors said.

The doctors argued that this would bring out half-baked graduates with inadequate training to deal with the lives of the people.

“This also affects the credibility of the degree programme, the quality of doctors produced and subsequently the quality of care provided to the patients,” the doctors added.

Student doctors have not had lectures since September when the senior doctors downed tools demanding an increase in salaries.

It is against this background that the association says the student doctors are not ready for the examinations.

“The juniors last week stressed that they had not received enough training due to the ongoing impasse which has resulted in them not having seniors to teach them and patients to learn from,” ZHDA said.

The association urged the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe and the University of Zimbabwe to guard against the “terrible” practice.

Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights board spokesperson Fortune Nyamande urged government to reconsider its decision to fire doctors.

“Both parties must be alive to the need for dialogue over escalation, and achieving a functional health delivery system in the shortest time framework possible. The right to health and sanctity of life must be the guiding principles in this dialogue,” he said.

Own Correspondent

EcoCash today announced a major upgrade of its platform scheduled for the weekend, which will result in a 24-hour downtime of all EcoCash services.

Announcing the upgrade – which is set to take place between 9pm on Saturday (November 16) and 9pm on Sunday (November 17) 2019 – the company said the upgrade is meant, among other things, to improve the mobile money platform’s performance by increasing capacity, enhancing security and offering more automated selfcare services for its clients.

“The EcoCash system upgrade, for which critical work has been going on over the past several months, will commence on Saturday evening, and is scheduled to be completed on Sunday evening,” a company spokesman said.

“The upgrade will result in improved platform performance, increased system capacity, enhanced transaction security and many other enhancements to the current system,” the spokesman said.

“We kindly urge our customers to make all their critical transactions before the upgrade, to avoid the inconvenience of falling to transact during the upgrade period on Saturday night and on Sunday. We sincerely regret any inconvenience the upgrade downtime will cause to our valued customers,” the spokesman said.

EcoCash handles millions of transactions per day and is the largest mobile transacting platform in the country.

It is a part of Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe, the fintech and digital smartech company listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.