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.

BY ELINERA MANYONGA

AN attempt to impersonate a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) official has earned a 34-year-old Harare man 10 months imprisonment.

Harare magistrate, Rumbidzai Mugwagwa suspended two months of the sentence on condition that the convict, Paddington Kadzungura does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
It was the State case that Kadzungura was employed by an unregistered company called National Anti-Corruption Association of Zimbabwe.

The complainant, a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, was in February last year allocated a case of fraud which was reported by Athurnatious Shonayi against one Tichaona Chari.

While the complainant was investigating the matter, Kadzungura called him on March 19 using an Africom number.

The convict introduced himself as an official from Zacc investigating the complaint made by Shonayi.

Kadzungura ordered the complainant to immediately arrest and detain Chari over the alleged fraud charge.

But the complainant referred Kadzungura to his senior Detective Assistant Inspector Grace Kanokunda.

Kanokunda spoke with Kadzungura who repeated that he was from Zacc and investigating a complaint made by Shonayi.

Kanokunda became suspicious and called a Zacc official who discovered that Kadzungura was bogus, resulting in his arrest.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa have shifted their rivalry to the constitutional front after the Zanu PF leader moved to remove a clause on presidential running mates set to kick-in in 2023.

The MDC said the move by Mnangagwa’s Cabinet to amend the Constitution to scrap the running mates clause was a step backwards, and would be resisted by the country’s opposition.

Former Constitution Select Committee of Parliament (Copac) co-chair and now MDC deputy secretary for international relations, Douglas Mwonzora (pictured), said the resolution made by Cabinet last week should be resisted.

“The resolution by the Zimbabwean Cabinet to initiate key amendments to the Constitution represents a long march backwards. The current Constitution represents an incremental gain in Zimbabwe’s democratisation agenda. We have to resist these selfish amendments,” Mwonzora said.

Mwonzora said the clause Zanu PF wanted to scrap off the Constitution was meant to deal with succession and bring stability to the country in the event of death or incapacitation of a sitting President.

“Under the running mate clause a presidential candidate chooses a Vice-President before elections. In the event of the President failing to complete his term for any reason that Vice-President automatically becomes President, this ensures smooth succession and stability of the country,” he said.

Mwonzora, who co-chaired Copac alongside Zanu PF’s Paul Mangwana and David Coltart (of the MDC-M) said government’s move was only meant to handle volatile and poisonous succession politics in the ruling party.

“By removing the running mate clause, Zanu PF is trying to deal with its succession conundrum due to its complex internal dynamics. It is wrong to manipulate a national Constitution to suit partisan agendas. Zimbabweans must defend their Constitution,” Mwonzora said.

But Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the clause which was a centre of contestation during the Constitution-making process, created two centres of power in the Executive. He added that the idea was foreign and would not work in Zimbabwe.

“You all recall that it was one of the contentious issues in the Constitution and it was deferred for 10 years, because it’s a borrowed concept from America,” Ziyambi said.

“It’s not even international best practice. Where we have a President who is given Executive authority, you would not want ordinarily to create a parallel centre of power. So we believe that it’s not desirable in our constitutional dispensation to create several centres of power. We would rather have a President elected by the people and then he appoints his team, the Vice-President and the Cabinet. It is what is practiced in southern Africa and in several other countries.”

Currently, the President has powers to appoint and fire his deputies. But if the deputy comes in through the running mate clause, he or she can only be removed from office through Parliament.