BY LIFE & STYLE REPORTER

HIP HOP gospel artiste Mudiwa Mtandwa yesterday said his decision to officially change his name to Mudiwa Hood —as he has become known in music circles — was necessitated by the need to use his real surname after discovering that “Mtandwa” was not his family name.

Mudiwa, who is popularly known for such hit songs as Ndaita Mari and Anhu Acho Tisu, was forced to issue a statement explaining the name change after a notice on his name change application appeared in a local daily.

The artiste said Mudiwa Hood, which is now officially his legal name, was not just a stage moniker and it would be an “insult” for anyone to claim that because his great grandfather, a Mr Hood, married an African woman.

“Mr Hood who resided in Chivhu, married a black woman (my great grand ma), got her pregnant and because of racism and family pressure, he chased away the black woman who is in this case my great grand ma. My great grand ma, who was pregnant then, went on to give birth to a mixed race baby and named him “Mtandwa” (we were chased away, meaning Mudzingwa). Instead of giving him the surname Hood, as a bitter woman, she adopted a surname from where she got re-married,” he explained.

“So my grand dad, used his step father’s surname and his name was Mtandwa … When my dad was born, he automatically inherited a surname that wasn’t his.”

The musician said he was an intellectual who would not just start calling himself Mudiwa Hood on the flimsy ground that “it feels good.”

“No, that is who I am. And I have the blessing of my dad, who said, ‘well done for being bold son, you did this while I am alive…’ My own dad is happy that I am now called by my real surname; who else should go against who I am,” he quipped.

Mudiwa said the only Mtandwas he was related to were his siblings as that was not their family name too.

“It was indeed a sad story to later find out the surname ‘Mtandwa’ I have been using on all my legal documents all my life was just my grandpa’s name, and I have no relatives at all who use Mtandwa except my siblings,” he said.

He said his father encouraged him to ensure that their true family history was told.

“As a proud dad, I want my children to be who they really are. I am grateful that my dad is proud and happy for me, this was the most important thing… Hood was never a stage name, but my real surname from the beginning,” he said.

BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) chairman Tavengwa Mukhuhlani has declared that the recent reinstatement of the country as an International Cricket Council (ICC) full member opens a “new and exciting” chapter for cricket in the country.

Mukhuhlani was speaking at a Press conference held in the capital yesterday.

The country had its ICC membership suspended in July following government interference.

The suspension, which lasted three months, cost Zimbabwe participation at the T20 World Cup qualifiers for the men and the women’s teams as well as ICC funding which was stopped with immediate effect.

“As I address you today this afternoon I do so with delight. I am elated that the ICC has reinstated us with all our rights as a full member of the ICC,” Mukhuhlani said.

“The players and staff had to go for months without salaries and match fees because funding had been stopped by the ICC. And any further sanction would have been disastrous for cricket in the country.

“It’s a huge relief for us and it marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for our cricket, with ZC’s focus now back on ensuring that our game is striving, sustainable and financially stable.”

Mukhuhlani paid tribute to Sports minister Kirtsy Coventry for playing a leading role to have Zimbabwe reinstated by mediating between ZC and the Sports and Recreation Commission.

“This is an outcome of a series of meetings led by the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, (Kirsty) Coventry, between Zimbabwe Cricket and SRC,” he said.

“It’s important that I extend my gratitude to the minister for the role that she has played for SRC and Zimbabwe Cricket to find each other and to ultimately make sure that Zimbabwe’s membership was reinstated.”

The announcement on the lifting was made on Monday at the conclusion of an ICC board meeting in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

The ZC chairman revealed that Zimbabwe’s suspension did not cost the association financially, especially with the country’s team not participating at the ICC T20 women and men’s world Cups.

“Participating in ICC events, in particular the World Cups, does not have a bearing on our financial distributions. The ICC funding is an eight-year cycle and the current cycle is running from 2014-2023, so the income from ICC is spread across the eight years. It has no bearing on our financial well-being,” Mukhuhlani said.

“The ICC will continue to drip feed funds to ZC as per the agreement reached in July 2018 and this means we will be able to settle outstanding salaries and match fees.”

Following the lifting of the suspension, Zimbabwe teams are now able to compete in ICC events, with the immediate focus turning to the Under-19 ICC World Cup set for January in South Africa.

The senior men one-day international team is also set to play in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, which will serve as part of the qualification process for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

Zimbabwe is also scheduled to host Sri Lanka for a home series scheduled for mid-January 2020.

BY TERRY MADYAUTA

TELONE assistant coach Lloyd Mutasa has predicted a feisty derby when his charges take on their city rivals Chapungu at Ascot Stadium in Gweru tomorrow.

Mutasa’s side has failed to meet the high expectations that greeted their grand arrival into the top-flight league.

For a team that is well resourced, for them to be fighting relegation at this stage of the season is poor by any standards.

Compare their financial situation to Chapungu, then TelOne should be doing better.

The airmen, though not the poorest of the teams locally because of the financial backing from the security services sector and NetOne, have done exceedingly well this far, and will start tomorrow’s match as favourites.

Six points separate the two sides, with the airmen seated on position 11 with 34 points, while the WiFi Boys are 12th with 28 points.

The first instalment of the derby, which was played at Mandava Stadium, ended in a one all draw.

However, in this one, TelOne will be fighting for dear life in the top-flight, while for Chapungu, it will be more of consolidating their position in mid-table.

Addressing a Press conference in Gweru yesterday, Mutasa said he was happy with the mental strength that has been shown by his charges and is hoping it would spur his side to victory.

“Derbies are unpredictable and full of emotion as well. We expect nothing, but a tough match. I am confident we will get a positive result,” he said.

“We still have a good chance of surviving relegation. If we win all our remaining matches, we can survive. So I can say it’s in our hands. Our goals since coming here is to make sure we protect this brand and play Premiership football next season. We have to make sure we beat teams, especially those that are below us, for us to have a chance of surviving relegation.”

TelOne have not lost at Ascot Stadium since the appointment of coach Rahman Gumbo and will be hoping to pick up their pieces after losing their previous match 2-0 away to Highlanders.

Chapungu drew 1-1 with Herentals in their last assignment.

Chapungu interim coach Weddington Chinyan’anya is wary of the threat posed by their cross-town rivals.

“TelOne had been doing very well before they lost to Highlanders, so we are aware of the challenge they pose and we are preparing to give a worthy fight,” he said.

“We need to collect maximum points, especially after dropping points in the last match we played against Herentals. Looking at the standings, we are not yet fully safe from relegation, so we must pick as many points as we can in the remaining matches.”

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixtures matchday 27

Tomorrow: Yadah v Manica Diamonds (Rufaro), Mushowani Stars v Triangle (Trojan), TelOne v Chapungu (Asot), Herentals v Black Rhinos (NSS)

Sunday: Hwange v Harare City (Colliery)

Wednesday: ZPC Kariba v Highlanders (Nyamhunga), Chicken Inn v Caps United (Barbourfields), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Bulawayo Chiefs (Baobab), Dynamos v FC Platinum (Rufaro)

BY PRECIOUS CHIDA

SUNGURA musician Tendai Dembo yesterday said he was satisfied that he has managed to keep his father’s legacy alive despite battling financial constraints in the music industry.

Son to the late great Leonard Dembo, Tendai said his latest album, Dzinde, has enabled him to maintain his father’s legacy.

“I believe my recent album that I dedicated to my father has done very well as it has managed to put me among the top giants in the music industry and I have managed to sell my music across borders,” he told NewsDay Life & Style yesterday.

“However, considering that my father left us when I was very young at the age of eight, I think I have done very well in protecting his legacy. I don’t have any members from my dad’s band, but I have managed to produce music exactly as he did. It’s amazing because a lot of people have tried to reach my father’s standards, but they have failed.”

Dembo said although his music reflected his father’s touch, he was a different musician and fans appreciated his individuality.

He, however, admitted that the industry had not been profitable and that has made it difficult for him to upgrade his band.

“The money that I am making from my music is enough for food, but there is a lot that we need as a band. We need to grow and invest and upgrade ourselves, but the shows that we do are not enough to sustain us,” he said. Ever since he parted ways with his brother Morgan after the latter had earned a “bad boy” tag, Tendai has wooed a lot of people including promoters charmed by how he has been able to revive his father’s music. Tendai began his music career with Barura Express in 2014 where he launched his first album Kupa Kwashe as a solo artiste.

By Freeman Makopa

THE country’s premier national championship motorsport race, which is the country’s main circuit motor racing event, returns to Donnybrook this Sunday and is expected to feature top drivers and motorcycle riders battling for honours.

More than 25 cars and 12 motorcycles have so far confirmed participation.

Sables Motor club chairman Jim Perry told NewsDay Sport that all was in place for the race sponsored by Turbo Solutions Africa.

“It promises to be a great day of racing and with entrance at only $10 per head, we hope to have a full house of spectators. We have everything in place for the hosting of the main circuit car and bike racing at Donnybrook this Sunday. This is the last national race for 2019 and promises fast racing as many of the classes are very close on points,” he said.

In Saloon A cars, there will be Bond’s Mazda RX8, Robinson’s Toyota Supra, Whyte’s Subaru and the two Perry BMWs battling it out.

Turbo Solutions owner Mano Zevgolis will also participate in his 2L Honda in the Saloon B against Bulawayo’s 2L VW Polos.

Saloon C 1600 class will see the top Toyota Corollas of Murton Green Exton and Berkau all going for wins, while Saloon class D is a battle between Harare’s Kerwin Datsun and Bulawayo’s Beavers Mini.

The Sports car class will witness Gary Kirk back in action after an engine rebuild, and will be going head-to-head with Exton’s Yamaha powered car.

The Cameron father/son duo will be mixing it up with the Van Reenan brothers, all driving Toyota-powered cars.

Gary Blueit and Dez Morris will also be up the front and Steenkamp will be out in his fast Formula Ford.

In addition, the bikes race will have superbikes and the 250cc class all at once.

Thorne on his Kawasaki Z1R hopes to win, but Mellor and Olsen on their Yamaha 600s are ready to challenge him.

Young Ricky Whyte hopes to win the 250cc, but expects competition from his father Shaun.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

HARARE football giants Caps United have vowed to fight all the way and win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League for their injured inspirational defender Method “Yellow” Mwanjale.

The Green Machine are at the summit of the league table with 50 points, five ahead of closest challengers, FC Platinum, while third-placed Chicken Inn have amassed 43 points with eight matches remaining.

With the championship race inching towards the end, Caps United, now under the guidance of Darlington Dodo, believe they can maintain the momentum and reach the Promised Land.

However, their title dream was thrown into uncertainty on Sunday after Mwanjale sustained a career-threatening ankle injury during their league match against Hwange, who they defeated 3-1. The injury has ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

But for Makepekepe, they believe that the injury to one of their senior players gives them a burst of new energy in this championship race, which is likely to be decided at the close of the season.

Striker John Zhuwawo, who was also injured during the weekend match, is expected to start light training today and hopes to play a part in their next match against title challengers Chicken Inn on Wednesday.

“It’s sad that we won’t be without Mwanjale for the remainder of the season. He is a great player and a big influence in the team, but the good thing about us is that we play as a team, we fight for each other and his injury has given us steel,” Zhuwawo said.

“We are more determined now to win the championship. We want to win it for him (Mwanjale). So we are very optimistic, but we know it will not be easy and we have to try hard and ensure we win it for him and for the fans.”

Mwanjale was operated on this week and the club said the procedure went on well.

Makepekepe’s principal sponsors NetOne visited Mwanjale in hospital yesterday and handed him a hamper full of goodies and flowers to cheer up his spirits.
The 36-year-old former Warriors captain has been in sparkling form for the Harare giants in this campaign despite his advanced age.

BY WINSTONE ANTONIO

MULTI-AWARD-winning musician Jah Prayzah and television personality-cum news anchor Rumbidzai “News Bae” Takawira have been roped into a collaborative campaign to advocate for the conservation of Zimbabwe’s wildlife heritage.

The initiative is being spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, a San Francisco-based non-governmental organisation WildAid and another local organisation, Zambezi Society.

Jah Prayzah and Takawira join songbird Selmor Mtukudzi, who is also the Big Five Animals ambassador under the Environment ministry.

WildAid assistant consultant for Zimbabwe, Farai Chapoterera, yesterday said they have already finished the first phase of the local campaign featuring Jah Prayzah, Selmor and Takawira and were ready for launch today in Harare.

“The campaign will see the trio featuring on various platforms including television, radio and print media advocating for the conservation of Zimbabwe’s wildlife heritage and they will showcase Zimbabwe’s various national parks,” she said.

“To kick off the Zimbabwe campaign, there will be the unveiling of the first billboard featuring Jah Prayzah tomorrow (today). The billboard will be situated along Borrowdale Road near Borrowdale Primary School.”

Chapoterera said WildAid works with over 100 well-known personalities around the world, who have all donated their time in order to further the cause of wildlife conservation and tourism in their own countries.

“WildAid specialises in producing television adverts, radio spots, billboards and social media campaigns featuring celebrities from the countries they work in. Their work in East Asia with actor Jackie Chan has made a significant difference to the illegal purchase of rhino horn over the past years,” she said.

Chapoterera said in recent years, WildAid have been working in Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, using the slogan “Poaching Steals From Us All”.

She said this was designed to encourage national pride in the country’s wildlife and a sense of heritage as well as the need to realise how much money can flow in from wildlife tourism.

Among the famous celebrities who have added their voices to the WildAid initiatives around the world are Leonardo DiCaprio, David Beckham, Prince William, Lupita Nyong’o, Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira and Yao Ming.

BY CHELSEA MUSAFARE

UNITED KINGDOM-BASED former Bhundu Boys drummer Kenny Chitsvatsva is expected to release a new album titled Hupenyu in London later this year, NewsDay Life & Style has heard.

The artiste’s manager, Liversy Matamba, told NewsDay Life & Style recently that Chitsvatsva has decided to release his own music years after leaving the popular jiti outfit that was once led by the late music maestro Biggie Tembo.

The musician produced the album alongside Mbokoliya Kasango from the Democratic Republic of Congo at Red Wines studios.

Chitsvatsva said he was inspired by life experiences after realising that people dealt with almost similar challenges regardless of their location.

“One might go abroad but the problems one will face are just the same. Things will flow according to what you get,” he said.

“One of my tracks talks about marriage. There are various things required for one to know when they are ready to marry or get married.”

The singer indicated that his forthcoming production is predominantly Afro beat.

Songs on the new release include Ngoma Ndiyo Ndiyo, Bhagu Bhagu, Rooro, Chikoro and Makwikwi.

Chitsvatsa said he decided to try his hand at singing after having been inspired by several drummers who traded the drums for the microphone.

“I grew up being inspired by various people and groups who include Acid Band’s Charles Makokoba, the legendary James Chimombe and also my favourite drummers who included Albert and Jethro Shasha. I also learnt a lot from these guys,” he said.

Two of the tracks recorded in London — Ngoma Ndiyo Ndiyo and Chikoro — were released two weeks ago.

Canisio Mudzimu

The pace at which Zimbabwe’s socio-economic situation is deteriorating is quite terrifying and a long-lasting panacea is urgently needed. I am afraid that we might be heading towards the precipice of doom or, if you may allow me to use the word, “Armageddon”.

The insane at which prices are escalating that is not matched with commensurate increases in salaries for workers, has resulted in the rapid erosion of disposable incomes, leaving most Zimbabweans pauperised and living from hand to mouth.

Prices of fuel, food, transport, accommodation and most basic necessities are now beyond the reach of many and what is saddening and frightening is that there seems to be no indication from the powers-that-be whether there are any strategies being crafted to extricate the country from the tentacles of debilitating poverty that is indelibly inscribed on the faces of the majority of desperate Zimbabweans.

Shortages of electricity, fuel, foreign currency and even ideas to resolve the crisis have become the order of the day.

Load-shedding is the new norm and the tradition of nocturnally waiting for electricity reconnections has made life in this country hellish such that the pathetic scenario cries to the heavens for reparations.

The majority of people in all spheres of life are suffering in one way or the other, with students at tertiary institutions shouldering the burden of the economic meltdown through starvation, pensioners have been reduced to destitutes, and most workers are living on a shoe-string budget, thanks to the moribund economy.

The euphoria and excitement that characterised the November 2017 debacle has now died down and in its place is utter exasperation and anguish. For the umpteenth time in the history of this country, everyone is singing the same dreary anthem on the worsening situation. It is a pity that the country once epitomised as the “New Canaan” is fast-tracking towards annihilation and the million dollar question that begs for an answer is: Will there be any immediate solution to this socio-economic and political morass?

At the rate at which prices are galloping while incomes are dwindling, coupled with shortage of electricity and foreign currency, amid world record unemployment and inflation levels, one is left to wonder what Father Christmas has in store for Zimbabwe. Bread, mealie-meal, beverages (yes, beer included), rice, sugar and other essential commodities that normally make the Festive Season memorable seem to be beyond the reach of many and expectations are that if nothing is done immediately, by December the situation will even be worse.

As days draw closer for the second anniversary of the New Dispensation, it makes sad reading that the difference between the “new” and the “old” dispensations has become so obfuscated that one wonders what kind of curse Zimbabwe is under. What makes the misery worse is that those in the echelons of power have not shown any seriousness to address the lacuna, and in case they have shown it and I missed the demonstration, they have a funny way of showing it.

The state of affairs in the country is so deplorable that Zimbabweans in the diaspora are not even dreaming of returning to their motherland, while those stuck in the country are looking with prying eyes for the slimmest of opportunities to jump from the sinking Titanic. It has become a cocktail of confusion and the game of poly-tricks is inflicting unbearable harm on the ordinary Zimbabwean, who just wants three modest meals a day, as the late iconic orator Dr Martin Luther King Junior put it thus: “I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture of their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.”

What is critical at the moment is to make sure that people are fed and as the full belly doctrine stipulates, no amount of sloganeering and political grandstanding will do this country any good as long as there is no food on the national table.

The time to tame the crisis is now because perpetuation of the status quo will not only make Zimbabweans suffer more, but has the unintended consequence of creating a generation of people who have nothing more to lose.

When people reach a stage where, in the words of Abraham Maslow, they think nothing else, but food, emote only food and yearn for food, then you know that you have reached the zenith of monumental failure as a nation.

The way forward lies in selflessness where national leadership puts partisan politics aside and focuses on what is good and just for the country.

An end to the appalling paucity of ideas to curb Zimbabwe’s economic turmoil and comatose is long overdue.

There comes a time in life when you have to realise that you cannot solve problems by using the same mentality that was responsible for giving birth to the challenges. Time is now to put political and factional differences aside.

Now is the time to dump pride and vie for patriotic manoeuvres that will truly emancipate the people of this nation from acute poverty, biting starvation, incessant shortages, skyrocketing unemployment, political uncertainty and national shame.

It is unequivocally clear that the Zimbabwean ship is heading towards the cliff-edge of doom and if no action is taken promptly, the ship will plunge headlong into quagmires of oblivion.

It is my fervent belief, and the prayer of many Zimbabweans alike, that action — short of a miracle — should be taken now to save our beautiful country and reclaim the nation’s glory that is fading fast with the passage of each minute.

The Herculean task that each and every Zimbabwean has is to appreciate that, to use the words of the late former President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe (may his soul rest in peace): “Iwe neni tine basa”. Asante sana! I rest my case.

editorial

GIVEN the dire state of Zimbabwe’s economy which is currently desperate for everything, from its very own currency to fuel, one would have imagined that the country’s leadership would jealously guard and nurture every source of livelihood that is helping keep the troubled nation’s head above the water.

But this is just one big fat chance when one looks at the case of the premier resort town of Victoria Falls which is currently experiencing one of its worst water shortages in ages. Victoria Falls’ water shortages are not only humiliating, but a major indictment to all the country’s purported efforts to achieve middle income status by 2030.

That the major resort town, made famous by one of the world’s seven natural wonders, the Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-tunya — the Smoke that thunders, lies on the banks of Africa’s fourth longest river, the Zambezi, is more than perplexing that it can be said to be experiencing such serious water challenges to the point of being threatened with a cholera outbreak.

Reasons being given that the resort town is failing to supply enough water to its 30 000 odd population and the hordes of tourists because of power outages and a rising population are flimsy if the country’s authorities really appreciated that this tourism gem is one of the country’s top foreign currency earners. It is said, the town requires $15,7 million to sort out its water crisis. And we are not convinced that government is failing to find that money to alleviate the crisis. If government is not prioritising the upkeep of places such as Victoria Falls, then we wonder what exactly is on its to do list? And, by the way, what happened to government’s promise that the town would be exempted from load-shedding?

It’s high time our government matured and weaned itself from prioritising petty and kindergarten machinations of always laying the blame on the MDC for poorly running councils. It is for its own good that places such as Victoria Falls are kept pristine because they shore up its currently battered image. Besides, these places are gooses that are laying the golden eggs. So it is quite confounding that government appears disinterested in the state of a prime place such as Victoria Falls, which has over the years kept tourists coming despite the country having been declared a pariah State following serious human rights violations.

It is quite sad and disheartening that millions, if not billions, of dollars have vanished and continue to disappear from government coffers without anything to show for it, while places like Victoria Falls that are propping government’s foreign currency reserves are being left to rot.