BY BLESSED MHLANGA

NEWLY-APPOINTED minister of the new Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities, Daniel Garwe, said his ministry will push to fulfil the interests and manifestos set by Zanu PF ahead of the 2018 general elections.

Speaking soon after his swearing in at State House along with Information Communications and Technologies minister Janfen Muswere, Garwe said he was ready for his new role.

“We are here to further the interests of our party Zanu PF, if Zanu PF says we are going to build houses, we are here to therefore take it up to build those houses for the people of Zimbabwe,” Garwe said.

Ahead of the polls, Zanu PF promised to build five million houses by 2023, to date no significant milestones has been made.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a Cabinet reshuffle whittled the powers of Local Government and Public Works minister July Moyo, who was in charge of housing, to bring in Garwe.

He also trimmed Perrance Shiri’s Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlements ministry to expand Mangaliso Ndlovu’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry.

The new minister said while the construction industry was dormant owing to a declining economy, he was up for the challenge.

“The construction industry right now is dormant because of the economic hardships that the country is going through,” Garwe said.

“We all know that it is a service industry, people would want money to buy food to get in the stomach first before they think of building houses. The industry is waiting for me now, it is a collective responsibility, it is not the minister’s job alone, stakeholders must be involved. It’s a key result area for government, it is a key result area for me, it is a key result area for my party Zanu PF.”

He added: “Local Government is no longer constructing houses; that responsibility has been taken to National Housing. However, this is my first day; I have to sit down with my colleagues, and see how best we can work in harmony. It is about inter-connectedness of responsibilities.”

Muswere, who is the former ICT deputy, said his immediate task would be to strike a balance between affordability of data and sustainability of service providers.

“The basis of the entire mobile network operators and the fixed network operators is to ensure that their businesses are viable but also to ensure that we protect the consumers of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Muswere said he would ensure an acceleration of connectivity and prioritise access to modern technologies.

“Generally, what we are expecting is an acceleration of a knowledge-based society, through ubiquitous connectivity,” Muswere said.

“If you are looking at the pre-budget seminar, we are covering mainly the infrastructure sectors, which is in line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme … we are going to be more about results.”

By Staff Reporter

A CHIPINGE man has been arraigned before the courts for stealing $5 000 worth of stock from a shop he was running with his wife and threatening to hack her with a machete after she confronted him about the theft.

Edmore Masimba Masekesa (35), of Mahachi village under Chief Musikavanhu, pleaded guilty to domestic violence when he appeared before Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware. He was remanded to today for sentence.

In mitigation, Masekesa asked the court to exercise leniency on him and apologised to his wife.

“I am very sorry for my actions, your worship. I did it out of anger as the complainant was mad at me. I will not repeat it and I ask for forgiveness. May the court exercise leniency when arriving on its sentence. I am sorry,” Masekesa pleaded.

Prosecutor Sesedzai Mayera told the court that on November 16 last year at around 5pm, Masekesa and his wife Christine Makuyana, who is the complainant in this matter, closed their shop at Checheche Grown Point in Chipinge.

They then went home to retire for the day.

However, Masekesa disappeared from home and went back to the shop, where he stole stock including a bicycle and motor spare parts, which he sold and pocketed the money.

He returned home as if nothing was amiss and retired to bed.

The following morning, they woke up together and proceeded to the shop.

However, Makuyana discovered that some goods were missing from the shop.

She inquired from her husband, but Masekesa professed ignorance about the matter.

A misunderstanding arose between the two, with Makuyana accusing her husband of being the one responsible for the missing property.

He then armed himself with a machete and ran after her, threatening to harm her.

Makuyana made a police report, leading to his arrest. The stolen stock was not recovered.

By Ruvimbo Muchenje

WARREN Park Polyclinic has effectively shut down following the industrial action by City of Harare nurses on November 4, leaving mainly expecting women and infants in need of vaccination in dire straits, NewsDay can reveal.

NewsDay yesterday observed that the clinic, which is usually a hive of activity, was deserted, with expecting and nursing mothers being turned away by the security guard manning the closed gates.

Ethel Mugadzaweta told NewsDay that after being turned away from the clinic, where she had taken her 10-week-old infant for diphtheria, polio and tetanus vaccination, she was going to Chitungwiza Central Hospital where she heard services were being provided.

“My child will die if I sit around and wait for this clinic, I am going to Chitungwiza Hospital. I hear they have not joined the strike yet,” she said.

The security guard at the premises, who refused to be identified, said the doctors had left their business cards for private consultations.

“I have with me business cards left by doctors who work here so that those in need of medical attention can consult because no one is reporting for work,” the security guard said.

The nurses have declared that they would not go back until their employer gives them a living wage.

Speaking to NewsDay, ward 15 councillor Tichavaona Mhetu argued that the clinic was operating, but only attending to critical issues.

“I spent the better part of Thursday at the clinic and they said they are attending serious cases like women who are already experiencing labour pains,” he said.

Other polyclinics in high-density areas such as Kuwadzana and Glen View are reportedly taking serious cases only.

Ordinary citizens, who have been flocking to council clinics after doctors at major referral centres downed tools two months ago, have been left with no primary health care alternative.

BY FORTUNE MBELE

Highlanders and Chicken Inn yesterday agreed to release Prince Dube and Joey Antipas, respectively, to the Warriors after initially threatening to hold on to them until after their league games tomorrow.

This would have seen the Warriors coach, Antipas, only working with the team a day before their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Botswana on Friday.

Bosso wanted Dube to link up with the team on Thursday morning as the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League midweek programme threatened to hinder the Warriors preparations.

Both Antipas and Dube travelled to Harare yesterday, but the former will leave the Warriors camp to preside over his team’s match against Mushowani in Bindura tomorrow.

Chicken Inn are chasing the league title and sit two points behind log leaders Caps United.

They could climb to the summit of the table with a win tomorrow, as Caps United only play ZPC Kariba on Thursday.

It was not clear by yesterday whether Dynamos and Harare City would be releasing their coaches Tonderai Ndiraya and Lloyd Chitembwe, respectively, as their teams have important league assignments.

Bosso coach Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh on Sunday said he needed his top striker for the league tie against Ngezi Platinum Stars tomorrow.

Dube is the only locally-based in-field player who has been called up for the Botswana tie, along with goalkeepers Simbarashe Chinani (Dynamos) and Talbert Shumba (Chapungu).

“We had very excellent communication with the head coach (Joey Antipas) of the national team. Prince will fly to Harare after Wednesday. We agreed that after the game on Wednesday, we put Prince on the airplane on Thursday morning,” De Jongh had said on Sunday.

Dube is one of only three strikers that are in the squad for the two matches.

The other two are Knowledge Musona and Knox Mutizwa.

Musona has not played competitively since the Warriors played at the Afcon finals in June, as he has been involved for Anderlecht’s reserve team only.

Mutizwa has been enjoying a good run of form and he scored a double for his club Golden Arrows against champions Sundowns at the weekend.

Golden Arrows came from behind to beat Mamelodi Sundowns 3-2 at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban with the first goal coming from former Warriors’ skipper Danny “Deco” Phiri in the 61st minute before Mutizwa finished off the Brazilians with a goal in the 72nd minute and another from the penalty spot nine minutes before full-time.

He was instrumental in Phiri’s goal with a cross from the right.

The brace took Mutizwa to the top of the Absa Premiership scorers’ chart with seven goals, tied with AmaZulu’s Bonginkosi Ntuli, Highlands Park’s Peter Shalulile and Kermit Erasmus of Cape Town City.

With Tino Kadewere ruled out of Friday’s tie against Botswana after suffering a hamstring injury in his side Le Havre 2-0 defeat to Sochaux in the French Ligue 2, and Macauley Bonne unavailable, Mutizwa is a prospective start against the Zebras.

Mutizwa told our sister paper The Standard that he wanted to make good use of the opportunity if he got a starting berth against Botswana.

“If I get a chance to be in the starting line-up against Botswana, I will use that opportunity to the best of my ability,” he said.

In his last game for the Warriors in a 2022 World Cup preliminary round second leg at the National Sports Stadium in September, Mutizwa came from the bench in the second half and scored a gem of a goal from a free-kick with two minutes to the end of the game before he set up Khama Billiat to ensure a group stages qualification.

PSL fixtures

Tomorrow: 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)
Thursday: Caps United v ZPC Kariba (National Sports Stadium)

guest column:Emmanuel Zvada

Whenever you are asked whether or not you are ready to retire, you will laugh and say “Of course not”. I have met a lot people who are in their late 50s and still working and whenever l bring up the topic on retirement, they often shudder. In fact, just the mere mention of the word makes their mood shift to “down”. They have acquired many skills and knowledge, but still those nearing 60 years of age feel more than agitated about the mere thought of retirement. I think it’s an old belief that being 60 years of age means being “old and tired”, the reason is that people should retire to something, not just retire from something.

The word retirement essentially means a time when you leave the workforce, but that does not mean becoming inactive, nor does it mean you even stop working. One can retire, but still become active and join other jobs that have less pressure or less demanding or even decide to do their own business. Retirement planning is simply nothing, but spreading your earned money to provide a living after you retire.

What it then means is that when you begin retirement planning now and start saving or investing for the future, you will definitely enjoy the peace of mind when you stop working and the reason for peace of mind is financial independence and security.

Readiness to retire is willingness or a state of being prepared for retirement. It is very possible to be afraid of it. When people reach their 50s, it is not uncommon for them to realise that retirement or whatever they choose to call that phase of life which comes after fulltime work, is no longer such a distant concept. The only problem with them is that they have fear of the known “will it work and how will l survive after?” Once you are in your 50s and the end of fulltime work is no longer a distant concept, it’s a good time to get serious about planning for the next chapter of life. If you are in that age group and have not yet focused on that looming reality, it is a right time to get serious about planning for your retirement.

Most anticipate retirement negatively. If only they can postpone it, they would. However, as this is inevitable, the only thing to do is to plan. Retirement will only be pleasant if you are prepared emotionally and financially. Preparation of a retirement strategy and plans should commence as early as possible for one to enjoy the future. On the same note, being retired does not necessarily mean your life is simpler, it can change for the worse due to responsibilities that one has to meet.

It might be hard to imagine that retirement is just around the corner in your 50s. But by keeping these ideas in mind, you will put yourself in the best possible position to retire with the financial security you want. The transition to retirement is not easy, most people find it very hard to let go of their professional life.

Start saving

Retirement is all about saving enough to live the retirement you want. Some people never get started with retirement saving. Year after year, they spend their time and resources on their current needs. Then one day they realise that retirement age is approaching fast and they are totally unprepared. Do not let it happen to you! The earlier you start to save, the quicker you will get there. If you are almost ready to retire, but you have nothing saved, you are in a tough spot, but it is never too late. You need to save for the future and saving should start the moment you realise that you have a future.

Investment principles

When we talk of saving many think of depositing money in a savings account in banks, but we can also talk of savings by converting money into tangible assets. Learn about your plan’s investment options and ask questions. Put your savings in different types of investments. By diversifying this way, you are more likely to reduce risk and improve return.

In many cases, buying a home is just one part of a larger, overall retirement strategy. Your investments are likely a stream of income you plan to use in retirement. Besides your portfolio and retirement savings, you should think of other ways to increase your earnings, like getting a side hustle.

Get a side hustle now while at work.

You may consider being an entrepreneur; or starting a side hustle while you are at work, the reason being that you already have experience and it will act as an advantage in putting up your own company. Even a few hundred dollars a month in side hustle income can go a long way. Whether it is to earn a bit of extra cash, the fact is that it is necessary to have a “side hustle” to prepare your hustle into a big business. Whether it is to earn a bit of extra cash, or to keep up a hobby, it’s becoming more and more common for individuals in fulltime employment to take on a “side hustle” to complement their day job.

Get a health plan earlier

Medical treatment is expensive and you must have a plan to cope with its escalating costs, especially way before your retirement. Getting a health insurance will be an option so that you will be covered whenever you need treatment after retirement. The main reason for this is that medical emergencies are very expensive and they are common. If you have the misfortune of undergoing a medical emergency without insurance, it is easy to find yourself with a crippling amount of medical debt, and seemingly no way out of the mess, hence having a health plan will be beneficial even after retirement.

Volunteer for as long as possible

Discover a new purpose as a volunteer during your retirement. By volunteering, you can find meaning and purpose in your retirement. There are diverse organisations that need volunteers to help with their cause and programmes. You can help others. It may be mentoring disaffected young people, helping children to read, or improving the lives of isolated, older people.

Retirement is an opportunity for you to use and develop your skills and talents further than you thought possible. Retirement can be one of the most wonderful times of your life, but deciding what to do during retirement can be difficult. Many retirees choose to start a new hobby or take the time to help out with their loved ones.

Others give back to the community and get involved in local projects that offer voluntary work for pensioners. One of the biggest decisions you will make is when to retire and another is how much to spend in retirement. Your retirement is something that you should have been planning for your whole life. Once you have retired, your income will come solely from your life annuities and any other income producing investments or savings you may have. It’s wise to start your retirement preparation now.

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

BY KENNETH NYANGANI

UNITED Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Zimbabwe representative Shana Kaninda yesterday said they had issued almost 3 000 documents to Cyclone Idai survivors in Chimanimani. This was made possible with the government’s assistance.

Thousands of people lost national documents in the tropical storm-induced floods which hit Chipinge, Chimanimani and Masvingo early this year.

Kaninda made the remarks yesterday at the close of the UNHCR-organised workshop in Vumba where his organisation was dialoguing with parliamentarians on issues regarding Statelessness.

The documents include identity cards and birth certificates.

He said they had completed the exercise of issuing documents in Chimanimani and they were heading to Chipinge.

“With the support of the government of Zimbabwe we have issued more than 3 000 documents to Cyclone Idai victims in Chimanimani, we are all aware that some people lost their documents during the Cyclone Idai in March this year, I do not have the actual figure of last week because I am here in Vumba, but I believe the number has gone above 3 000,” he said.

“We have completed the exercise in Chimanimani and we are heading to Chipinge, and this is an opportunity to people who lost their documents to have proper documentation, no one should be left behind,” he said.

“We are committed to work with the government so that everyone in the country has proper documentation to address issues of Statelessness,” he said
The UNHCR representative said undocumented children were failing to attend school.

“This was a fruitful workshop and we are going to continue engaging MPs so that we address issues of Statelessness in the country. There are many people who do not have identity cards and there is nothing you can do without documentation. We have children who have failed to go to school because they have no documents,” Kaninda said.

BY MOSES MATENGA

NEWLY-APPOINTED Local Government deputy minister Marian Chombo says she has put all her political setbacks behind and will focus on the key mandate assigned to her to eradicate corruption in local authorities.

Chombo was in the political wilderness for long during the reign of the late former President Robert Mugabe, who once publicly chastised her over her protracted divorce process with former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo, who once held the Local Government portfolio.

Speaking after she was sworn in at State House yesterday, Chombo said she was forward-looking and ready for the challenge.

“Every politician has a journey and this was my journey and at least, there is light. I still have to prove to Zimbabweans that I can deliver. We were in a meeting with the President and he said we shouldn’t tolerate corruption and I will make sure I will do my best in that regard,” she said.

Ironically, Chombo’s ex-husband was at the centre of alleged corruption during his long tenure as Local Government minister.

During their divorce processes, Marian exposed Ignatius’ vast wealth, prompting critics to say the former Zanu PF secretary for administration was one of the most corrupt people in Mugabe’s government.

Ahead of the July 31, 2013 elections, Chombo was attacked by Mugabe after her decision to stand as an independent candidate.

She joined the former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s National People’s Party and later re-joined Zanu PF.

“If you lose, you lose, let us look forward. You are not the party. The party is still moving forward and so support the party. To those who lost, I do not know how many you are. There is Marian Chombo. Is she still a Chombo? She is refusing to be ditched, yet she was ditched by the party. She is saying she will stand against Chombo. Get away, you lost. We did not involve ourselves in your disputes (with Chombo), but this is our Zimbabwe,” Mugabe said then.

Ignatius was removed as minister and secretary for administration when Mugabe was deposed during the November 2017 military coup.

The new deputy minister said her new post was challenging, but she would be equal to the task.

“I am happy and also it is a challenge since there are lots of issues to deal with, including the issue of water,” she said.

BY MOSES MATENGA

A FRESH storm has hit the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) after the parastatal proposed to award a million-dollar deal to its perennial contractor Univern, a deal seen as a corrupt way to award political cronies, it has emerged.

This came as Zinara has fired 30 tollgate cashiers for alleged fraud and theft. Fourteen of them were stationed at Skyline tollgate along the Harare-Masvingo Highway, while the other 16 were from Dema, Shurugwi and Shamva tollgates.

This also followed the resignation of board vice-chairperson Runyararo Jambo recently over a reported “tenderpreneurship scam” at Zinara running into several millions of dollars.

Documents seen by NewsDay show that Zinara has again approached Univern, a firm whose other dealings with the parastatal have been under scrutiny, to take over key operations under the guise of a tollgate co-management action plan.

However, the move has reportedly caused discontent within Zinara and government with some viewing it as sinister and opening doors for graft by individuals
given the links between parties involved.

Univern chief executive officer Phillimon Mushosho confirmed the Zinara proposal, but could not give details on the matter.

“It hasn’t happened. It is still a proposal. The best will be for Zinara to comment because they approached us, but there is nothing concrete on the ground,” he said.

“I think it is to try and minimise leakages because we have in the past demonstrated that we are able to bring efficiency in the revenue collection process,” Mushosho said.

Zinara board chairperson Michael Madanha said fears of looting in the proposed deal were being raised by “thieves”.

“I don’t know who gave you that story because it is still a proposal. I think in Zinara there are people who leak information to the media. Some of those things will be rectified so just talk to the CEO because it is implementation but overally the strategic objective is to improve revenue collection. Right now we are facing a lot of leakages.”

On allegations that the move was meant to open serious looting, the former Transport deputy minister said: “Those people are the real thieves we are chasing away. It is logical that we are trying to close on leakages and somebody thinks otherwise. We have people who have been doing what they want and definitely they are the ones leaking this information.”

Ironically Madanha, who is also Zanu PF deputy provincial chairperson for Mashonaland East, was appointed by his party provincial chairman, Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Joel Biggie Matiza, a development critics were now using against them.

Under the arrangement, Zinara wants Univern to co-manage tollgates ostensibly to improve operational efficiencies and reduce revenue leakages.

“Objectives of the co-management arrangement will improve tollgate safety and security, strengthen the internal control environment at the tollgates,” the documents read in part.

Among the challenges outlined by the current system were under-banking of collected revenue, abuse of exemptions (residential and government exemptions), abuse of pass lanes and illegal detours.
Under the arrangement, Zinara will furnish Univern with all tollgate employees’ information for review while the same company will have to procure using Zinara funds.

Employees view the move as a way to push them out and recruit cronies to allow looting though it has been presented as a way to eliminate bank variances, reduce revenue leakages and improve the revenue collection process.

Eyebrows have also been raised on the proposed procurement protocol that will see Univern participating on the technical specifications of items to be purchased.

“There must be an agreed turnaround time to procure requested items. Failure of which, Univern will go ahead and procure using Zinara funds,” the document read.

Under the arrangement, overall responsibility of the tollgate operations will still be done by Zinara that will also continue to manage its staff while Univern will manage the processes and procedures with regards to revenue collection.

According to the plan, the process will require change management, retraining and operational realignment and will be done in phases.

The board chairperson is reportedly racing against time to fire at least 246 employees on fixed term contracts and replace them with his new people.

At least 17 workers have won their hearing cases, but were given dismissal letters amid fears of capture of the tollgates.

Concern has also been raised on the capacity of Univern that entered into an agreement with Zinara in October 2012 to computerise tollgate revenue collection operations on a public-private-partnership (PPP) agreement basis.

“Univern has never serviced their gadgets, not even changed their computers since 2013 to date. We have books and up to 20 000 recorded errors showing malfunctions of their system.

“Their system is defective and deficient such that we can spend the whole day denouncing it,” a source privy to events at the parastatal said.

The suspicions also come at a time eyebrows were raised after Madanha engaged a security company, Ex-Combatants Security Services, allegedly linked to cronies to man tollgates across the country ignoring an existing bidder that won the tender after being approved by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.

He, however, denied involvement with the said security company.

Sources said the manner in which Univern was always being picked to do work for Zinara and other companies in government was now raising suspicion of possible looting.

In 2012, the company won a tender to supply 40 motorised graders worth $8 million to Zinara before it won a deal with Zinara in 2013 to supply vehicle licensing software.

The deal was allegedly awarded without going through a tender process since it was a PPP agreement.

Impeccable sources said the strategy was to hand over tollgates to Univern for 10 years.

The source added that a draft memorandum of understanding was already in place and Zinara will only get deposits of what has been collected by Univern but without control.

“The Roads Act speaks to road user charges being collected by Zinara not Univern. It can’t be a board chairman issue without Matiza announcing it himself. Definitely it’s not a clean transaction.”

by sport reporter

Milan — Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly left the Allianz Stadium before the final whistle of Juventus’ 1-0 Serie A win over AC Milan on Sunday after being substituted for the second match in a week.

Paulo Dybala replaced Ronaldo on 55 minutes with the Argentina striker going on to score the winning goal 22 minutes later to keep Juventus top in Serie A ahead of Inter Milan. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo looked glum as he came off and directed some words at coach Maurizio Sarri before heading to the changing rooms and Sky Sport Italia reported that the 34-year-old had left the stadium three minutes before the match finished. However, Sarri said he did not know whether Ronaldo had left the stadium early.

Substitute Stefano Sturaro, who was sold by Juventus in January after a lengthy injury spell, scored two minutes after coming off the bench.

“Disrespectful to his team-mates? Like I said, I don’t know,” Sarri said. “If it’s true that he left before the end it is a problem to be resolved with his team-mates.”

“I have no problem with Cristiano, he should be thanked because he made himself available despite not being in the best condition,” Sarri said.

“In the last month he has had discomfort in his knee and this is a little problem for him.”

Ronaldo had reacted furiously after being substituted in his team’s 2-1 win against Lokomotiv Moscow midweek which saw Juventus advance to the Champions League last 16.

“The important thing is that he made himself available. If he gets angry when he comes out, this is part of the game,” continued the Juventus coach.

“It’s only natural a player is going to be irritated about leaving the pitch, especially when he worked so hard to be there.

“All players who are trying to give their best will have at least five minutes of being annoyed when they are substituted, but a coach would, in general, be much more worried if he didn’t seem upset.”
— AFP