BY tafadzwa kachiko

ROOFTOP Promotions and the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) have joined forces to produce a new drama series titled Chipo, which interrogates how institutions including churches perpetuate the abuse of the girl child.

The series, which premiered at the Women Wine Words Festival at Theatre in the Park last week, was directed by Marian Kunonga.

In the play, the lead character Chipo, played by Gamuchirai Mukwakwami, is a young woman from the rural areas who has high hopes of transforming her life and that of her family by furthering her education.

She is, however, raped by a well-respected man in her church, who she holds in high esteem.

Excellent camerawork led by director of photography Admire Kanhenga, production designing by Mercy Mubaiwa and presentation by actors colour the story in which religion finds itself on a collision course with the law.

Mukwakwami said playing Chipo was very challenging to the extent that she broke down on set.

“Playing this character wasn’t easy. Sometimes, I would cry on set. I want to thank the director for being patient with me. Above all, it was a learning curve,” she said.

The audience that packed the venue described the drama as an outstanding creative work that would complement efforts to fight the abuse of the girl child in Zimbabwean communities.

“This is a powerful drama. I have been at many platforms where child marriages was discussed but this hit me hard. It really touched me,” children’s rights advocate, Mantate Mlotshwa said.

Rooftop Promotions producer, Daves Guzha, said the film, written by renowned writer Virginia Jekanyika, would go on tour to affected communities after women’s rights advocate Tatenda Nyamhunga indicated the need to reach out to such areas.

“There is a lot of community engagement needed. There is need to reach out to the most affected communities,” said Nyamhunga.

ZWLA director Abigal Matsvai Pasipanodya told NewsDay Life & Style that her organisation partnered Rooftop Promotions after realising that film and theatre would be instrumental in disseminating information necessary to end or minimise the abuse of women, especially the girl child.

editorial comment

IF there is any institution in the land requiring everyone’s unwavering support at this critical point in the life of our troubled nation, it is the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), as it painstakingly tries to navigate the economy through the treacherous financial rapids. The monetary authorities need unbridled goodwill in order for their interventions to work.
While we remain totally committed to see Zimbabwe successfully ride past these turbulent times, the seemingly half-hearted effort by the RBZ to re-establish a sound and normal monetary environment sometimes dampens the eager spirits as far as the issue of the country’s currency is concerned.

Despite it having been established ever since currency was invented that a currency is the heartbeat of any people, the RBZ has perennially and dismally failed to position Zimbabwe among the world’s nations who proudly flaunt their own currencies, no matter how weak they may be against other currencies. Many up to this very day may not even be aware that their country is the only nation on planet earth which does not have a real and credible currency that is recognised by other nations. And in a fortnight, the situation will even get worse after the central bank said it would introduce new currency notes to transact alongside the bond notes and coins. In this woolly move herein lies RBZ’s indecisiveness. If the central bank says it has finally come up with a new currency, what is stopping it from withdrawing all the bond notes and coins in one swoop and decree that within, say a month, the bond notes will no longer be legal tender? Why are we being asked to trade in so many different notes? Does the RBZ not realise that this move will merely complicate the transacting public’s life? While we are not prophets of doom, we may as well inform the RBZ that the very day that currency hits the streets Zimbabwe’s already complex pricing regime will be murkier with goods and services having more than half a dozen price tags for the new currency notes, the new currency coins, the bond notes, the bond coins, EcoCash, RTGS and the US dollar. At the moment it is an open secret that the existing payment forms have different price tags.

It would not be too crass for anyone to also conclude that the RBZ must still be haunted by its past escapades with this currency issue and would rather embark on half-baked measures to test the waters. At one point in Zimbabwe’s tortured history, the RBZ was complicit in the destruction of the country’s once very strong currency through wild printing of bank notes, which led to a yet to be broken global hyperinflation record of 500 billion percent in December 2008. Tonnes of gold bullion that anchored the country’s once powerful currency disappeared under the RBZ’s very nose. Hapless, Zimbabwe was left with zero option, but to join a number of nations that included Ecuador, East Timor, El Salvador, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands in using the United States dollar. The move effectively saved the southern African nation from being annexed into neighbouring nations, but it rendered the RBZ a toothless bulldog, without even a voice to bark. Between February 2009 and February 2019, there was bliss under the US dollar. Then the RBZ suddenly remembered, or was reminded by someone, that at one point it controlled one of the world’s strongest currencies and manoeuvres were instituted for the country to have its own currency, leading to the US dollar-led multi-currency system being banned in local transactions in June this year.

But that decision, albeit having been very bold under the circumstances, has not made things any better. Some may also be forgiven to conclude that the RBZ is, after all, no longer its own master, but merely dancing to the tune of the powers-that-be. We just hope and pray that the RBZ finds the guts to get its act together and convince the powers-that-be that politics and money matters don’t mix.

style reporter

JOHANNESBURG — Matrics across the country are cramming and sweating over exams, but Idols SA 2018 winner Yanga Sobetwa (pictured) is not one of them.

The star has been hard at work on new music and her hectic schedule has made it difficult for her to write matric this year.

She recently took to social media to wish matriculants good luck and revealed that she had tried to do grade 12 fulltime for the first part of the year, but found juggling work and school difficult.

“I tried doing matric full time the first six months this year. My fellow Rhodians are my witnesses. I missed a lot of classes because I was working on my album. I was travelling a lot.

Therefore, I could only manage preparing for exams. Assignments and class tests played a huge role, but I couldn’t do them,” she said.

The star will now write matric next year. She said the decision to put her studies on ice was difficult and initially made her feel like a failure.

“It was a very difficult decision … I felt like I failed, whereas I did not. I just needed more time than normal full-time students, so that’s why I’ll be writing four subjects in June next year, then the other three in December,” she said.

The star hit back at claims that she regretted not doing matric this year and was depressed.

“They have started with the lies. I do not regret taking a break from doing my matric for this year. I never said I did,” she said this week.
—SowetanLIVE

BY winstone antonio

TOP gospel musician Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave yesterday said she had beefed up her academic background to enhance her music career.

The gospel sensation on Tuesday added another cap of knowledge after she graduated with a Master’s degree in Child Sensitive Social Policy at the Women’s University in Africa.

“Education sharpens brains and influences the way we develop and make decisions. I have borrowed heavily from my marketing management qualifications, Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology to make music, market decisions, with one of the most famous and rocky one being the Zimdancehall music transformation,” she said.

“I have often been misunderstood for applying simple marketing management principles and sociological theories in my music career, but it was that accumulated knowledge which carried me through harsh times and placed me where I am today. With the masters in the bag, I believe I can transform industries, corporates and even governments, given the chance.”

Zvakavapano-Mashavave said although education might not earn one a formal job in Zimbabwe, the wealth of knowledge accumulated was a lifetime investment that could impact positively on one’s life.

When the musician graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology degree from Women’s University in Africa in 2012, she said the knowledge she acquired would go a long way in developing her music career.

In her current compositions, she utilises her education as she sings on different critical aspects in people’s lives, all premised on her belief in God.

Meanwhile, renowned sculpture Dominic Benhura was honoured with an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree in Culture and Heritage for his role in women empowerment through arts and culture.

style reporter

JOHANNESBURG — Uyajola 9/9 host Jub Jub Maarohanye has defended the controversial “cheating” show saying people of Mzansi are “lining up” for the content.

Jub Jub said he was a fan of TV content like Uyajola before he was the host of the highly disputed show.

“I believe, especially in the country that we are in, South Africans love trash TV. South Africans do not love anything that’s good, they love drama,” he said.

“No no, trash TV is good. I mean, look at the numbers. Understand that we have been pulling in a million viewers just from an hour. I think we are doing really, really good.”

Jub Jub said the show was important because it exposed cheaters. He added that he knew the pain and suffering cheating caused, having cheated on a partner before.

“There’s kids that are growing up in broken families, cheating is not cool and I think I would not have wanted to be a part of the show if I’ve never cheated. So, I’m not coming across as if I am a saint, I’ve cheated, I’ve hurt people and I’ve seen the kind of hurt it brings them,” he said.

“I didn’t cheat on every relationship, but those I cheated on, I saw that it affected them very badly. To do this some feel that I’m breaking up homes, I’m not breaking up homes.”

The Ndikhokhele hitmaker said he cheated because growing up he thought he could have every girl that he wanted.

Just two weeks ago, Jub Jub spoke about the show taking a break from screens, telling followers it had “saved a couple of homes”.

“We saved a couple of homes, we saved a couple of families. We entertained people. It is what it is. Moja Love with the strong content, with the SA content.”

The show made headlines earlier this month when TshisaLIVE revealed that the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA had received objections to an episode featuring alleged violence and strong language.

In it, a woman assaulted her husband for allegedly cheating, and the woman he was allegedly cheating with joined in. The man did not receive help until later in the altercation.
— TshisaLIVE

BY precious chida

MBIRA songbird Hope Masike has been cast as the lead actress in a local musical drama alongside fellow musicians Gemma Griffiths and Tahle Wedzinza (pictured).

The musical drama will be staged at Reps Theatre from November 6 to 9.

The musicians will play the role of Bongile in the drama of the same title, but at different stages of the character’s life.

The theatrical production is an adaptation of the highly-acclaimed book, Bongile, written by Zimbabwean author Chiedza Makwara.

The book is based on a true story of a woman whose journey was intertwined with misfortune and tumultous events, which could be attributed to poor choices and wrong decisions.

In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style yesterday, Masike said she was thrilled to be part of a show which is relevant to her life as a Zimbabwean.

“There is nothing as fulfilling as telling stories of hope. This is one of those kinds of stories and the fact that it’s a true and Zimbabwean story gives it so much relevance to me,” she said.

“It’s a sad, yet beautiful story told very artistically by a star-studded cast, therefore, giving it great entertainment value. Over and above that, I hope the story positively touches many people’s lives and adds value to humanity.”

Masike said the story was a passionate play about a girl who was born out of adultery.

“The lead character, Bongile, in her teens is a very beautiful dark-skinned girl and a happy child, who the entire village envied. Even though she was born out of adultery, her father’s family loved her very much, but life had a different kind of pill in store for her,” she said.

The drama, which is sponsored by Old Mutual, will be a blend of music, dance and spoken word and will feature an entourage of local dancers and poets.

by VENERANDA LANGA

PARLIAMENT will today begin its 2020 pre-budget consultations involving MPs, the Executive and different stakeholders in Victoria Falls where they will deliberate on the budget policy strategies that can turn around Zimbabwe’s economy.

In his 2020 budget strategy paper, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube indicated that the budget, which is expected to be announced on November 14, will transition from the austerity policy, to policies that will support productivity, as well as enhance the ease of doing business reforms and promotion of private sector-led growth.

Ncube’s strategy for the 2020 budget also includes youth empowerment so that they can also contribute to economic development and productive sectors.

The Finance ministry’s 2020 budget strategy paper recognises that there is need to modernise the country’s dilapidated infrastructure in order to reduce the costs of doing business.

“Quality social delivery hinges on the availability of appropriate and modern social infrastructure, and in this regard the country’s social infrastructure has become dilapidated due to limited investments over the years,” Ncube said.

“The 2020 national budget should, therefore, prioritise the upgrading, expand and modernise social infrastructure including information communication technology infrastructure as the country moves towards a digital economy.

“Sound road infrastructure is important for reducing the local cost of doing business, hence the need to continue with the current momentum to rehabilitate our road network across the country including feeder roads critical (in linking) the rural community to markets and essential services.”

However, Ncube faces a mammoth task to promote ease of doing business as the country is facing power outages, apart from dilapidated road and other infrastructure.

“The country is resorting to load shedding of up to 18 hours in worst cases. This translates to immense losses in terms of production, exports and revenues. Where companies have resorted to (using) alternative power sources, such as fuel-powered generators, this has escalated production costs,” his strategy paper said.

He said gestation of new power projects is expected in the medium term and, therefore, in the short term the country can only rely on imports of electricity, an issue which also requires foreign currency.

In his statement after the meeting of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe monetary policy committee (MPC) on Tuesday, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya also emphasised on productivity, saying strong currencies throughout the world were supported by production and confidence.

During the Victoria Falls pre-budget meeting, chairpersons of different parliamentary portfolio and thematic committees are expected to present reports on budget expectations for the different line ministries. Thereafter, ministers will give responses to the proposals.

BY HARRIET CHIKANDIWA

A 35-YEAR-OLD man, who went on a raping spree in parts of Harare, yesterday appeared in court charged with robbing and raping three women after allegedly luring them into nearby maize fields.

The suspect, Farai Denga, who is of no fixed abode was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Bianca Makwande who remanded him in custody to November 4, 2019 for possible trial.

It is the State’s contention that sometime in February this year, Denga came across his first victim, a 21-year-old woman, who was selling bananas along Willowvale Road and pretended that he wanted to buy the fruit for his colleagues.

Denga asked the woman to accompany him to where his “colleagues” were doing some plumbing on the pretext that he wanted to buy the bananas for them and the woman agreed. However, Denga allegedly led the woman into a maize field where he robbed her of some cash and raped her once.

On March 20, 2019, Denga is alleged to have approached another woman who was selling doughnuts at Munhenzva complex along Willowvale Road and pretended that he wanted to buy the snack.

Denga allegedly asked his victim to accompany him to his “workplace” near Rugare railway line and the woman agreed. However, Denga is then said to have led the woman through a maize field and raped her once.

He also allegedly robbed her of two cellphones and cash.

Later that month, Denga allegedly pounced on yet another woman who was selling fish in Crowborough suburb.

The State alleges Denga led his victim to a nearby maize field where he pulled out a knife and raped her once.

All his victims reported their abuses to police and when an identification parade was conducted, Denga was fished out as the assailant.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

THE MDC Bulawayo province has begun a process of dismantling its ward and district executive committees to replace them with polling-based structures as part of a restructuring exercise.

Provincial chairperson James Sithole said the restructuring exercise was in line with resolutions adopted at the party’s elective Gweru congress held in June this year. In Bulawayo, the restructuring exercise comes at a time the province is fraught with divisions emanating from the pre-congress days. To date, the province is still trying to douse the factional flames.

“In pursuant to our congress resolution, we are doing away with district and ward committees and replacing the structures with constituency coordinating committees or put simply polling-based committees,” Sithole said.

“Incumbent district and ward executives are being redeployed to the branches … branches will now have more powers and more superior than other structures with the provincial executive now playing more of an oversight role.”

Sithole said the restructuring exercise will also assist the provincial executive co-opt some members who lost the provincial congress into some structures in the hope of uniting the warring factions in the city.

“These changes are meant to strengthen the party. As a party, we have realised that it is an advantage to craft polling station-based party programmes (that target) where the voters are,” Sithole said, adding this will benefit the party “to reach all registered voters per polling station in every constituency”.

MDC Magwegwe district executive committee member Nicholas Moyo Godlwayo recently petitioned the party leadership to address simmering tensions in the city to avert electoral drubbing in 2023 or in by-elections. Infighting in the MDC in the city has been blamed for the party’s loss of the Cowdray Park local government seats to Zanu PF in a recent by-election.