By Miriam Mangwaya

TWO war veterans in Chivhu were recently suspended from their association on allegations of selling State land without following procedure, resulting in fights among land seekers.

Justice Munhapa, who was the secretary for lands in the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association’s Chikomba district, and John Chinakidzwa, who heads the association’s administration, were suspended following an executive meeting held on October 22, which they snubbed.

Chikomba district war veterans association chairperson Joachim Chivandire could not confirm the development as he repeatedly said he was attending meetings.

But according to documents seen by NewsDay, Munhapa and Chinakidzwa have since been served with suspension letters pending investigations.

“The executive committee has resolved to suspend you with immediate effect on allegations of corruptly issuing, signing recommendation letters and allocating land without the authority of the executive committee and not following correct procedures,” the letters read.

The allegations also include misconduct and bringing the war veterans association’s name into disrepute.

Munhapa confirmed that he was on suspension, but refuted the allegations saying he had the necessary documents to exonerate himself.

Chinakidzwa could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was not reachable.

Last year at the Chivhu Magistrates Courts, a local white farmer, Craig Kenneth Campbell, was granted a peace order against Munhapa, whom he accused of harassing him in an attempt to grab Constantia Estate Farm from him.

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

Two MDC activists in Mashonaland East died in a road accident on Sunday night when their vehicle collided head-on with another near Ruwa while on their way from Harare, where they had gone for a rally.

Paul Chikuni (34), a Marondera ward 1 branch chairman, died on the spot while Admire Takawira, who was driving the Honda Fit vehicle they were travelling in, was pronounced dead on arrival at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Another party supporter, who was in the vehicle, Moreblessing Maradza, escaped with minor injuries.

Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu (MDC) said the trio had gone to Harare to attend the rally which was banned by the police at the last minute.

Takawira, a former police officer, who was leading the opposition party’s security and intelligence portfolio in Marondera district, will be buried in Masvingo today while funeral arrangements for Chikuni are still in progress.

Chikuni had a pending case of obstructing course of justice before the courts after he and an MDC councillor, Charles Ngwena, allegedly barred three police officers from arresting a banana vendor.

The two allegedly told the police officers to arrest President Emmerson Mnangagwa for organising an anti-sanctions march on October 25.

MDC Marondera district secretary spokesperson, Farai Nyandoro, said the opposition party had lost dedicated cadres.

“We are saddened as a party because of the demise of our comrades who sacrificed their all for the attainment of a better Zimbabwe,” he said.

“The most worrying thing is that their vision had been cut short courtesy of our roads which are in bad state. We have also lost four members within a short space of time, but their death is going to make our resolve even stronger in our quest to see to it that the (Zanu PF) regime is removed.”

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)