By Sindiso Dube

HIGHLANDERS…….(0)2
TELONE…………………..0

Highlanders scrapped through to win over visiting TelOne following a late surge in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.

Bosso, who were dominated by the WiFi Boys in the second phase of the match, got their goals from Brian Banda and Prince Dube.

The home side controlled the possession in the first half and created clear scoring chances, only to be hard done by their forwards.

After early second half changes that saw the introduction of Tafadzwa Sibanda and Blessing Sibanda, the Rahman Gumbo-coached TelOne controlled the match in the second half and were unlucky to concede the two goals late in the match.

Midfielder Brian Banda scored on the 85th minute, from just outside the box to send Bosso faithful into a frenzy. Banda last scored against Chicken Inn in similar fashion, hitting the roof of the net.

Three minutes after Banda’s beauty, Bosso were awarded a penalty following a hand ball in the penalty box. Prince Dube converted from the spot kick to double Bosso’s lead.
Highlanders coach Hendrik Pieter de Jongh heaped praise on his lads for their perseverance.

“From the first minute we played well and did everything that needed to be done and the opponents also played well. I told my players to be patient during the break. Prince Dube showed his quality in the second half. Peter Muduhwa also exhibited his quality as well as everyone in the team. The team played collectively. I am happy with the win and I hope we carry the same form and mentality into the next game” he said.

TelOne assistant coach Lloyd Mutasa believes his team will survive relegation despite yesterday’s setback.

“We are still in the fight against relegation, but I would like to believe that we will be playing top-flight football next season. We will work on our mistakes today and hope to improve in the next matches,” he said.

BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

Soul artiste Gemma Griffiths, who hogged the limelight after she collaborated with Winky D on his MuGarden track earlier this year, has disclosed that she is finalising the release of her debut album, Pamwe.

Gemma told NewsDay Life & Style yesterday that the offering was a dedication to Zimbabwe.The songbird, who shot to fame after doing cover versions of Winky D’s Musarova Bigman and Jah Prayzah’s Mdhara Vachauya, said she spent the greater part of this year working on the album.

“I have been on the road travelling through Africa for the whole of 2019, making music, writing, recording and creating this album. I’ve found such amazing inspiration on the journey,” she said.

“One of the songs is Gara Pano… Love inspired me to write Gara Pano, (but) I’m motivated daily by the simple things, like when news channels blare out bad news, but you can still find a reason to smile, or my favourite uncle who takes time to ask about my day, or love stories blossoming in unexpected places. This song is for Zimbabwe, my home and my teacher, I owe my all to her.”

Gemma said working with Winky D gave her experience and the collaboration made an impact on her career.“Working with Winky D was amazing. He is wonderful, such a talented artiste with so much experience in his career, and he is great to work with. Doing MuGarden together has made such an incredible impact on my career,” she said.

Gemma said iconic musicians like the late Oliver Mtukudzi and Miriam Makeba also had a profound effect on her. Apart from music Gemma, said she was currently driving around Africa with a filmmaker Gara Pano director Marc Neilson for an Instagram project titled Driving Pamwe in which they shared stories of Africa as they travelled. Gemma said there were a lot of challenges in the music industry including coming up with themes and capturing messages in song.

BY TAFADZWA KACHIKO

A ZIMABWEAN-OWNED African car brand Mureza Auto Company, headquartered in South Africa is set to start assembling its vehicle, Prim8 (pronounced Primate) re-badged from Iran’s SAIPA Quick at Willowvale Motor Industries (WMI) assembly plant next year.

Mureza-Zimbabwe events co-ordinator and public relations officer Chidochemoyo Nemhara told NewsDay that the vehicle’s selling price will be US$13 500 and the auto company would aim to manufacture 100 cars per month.

“We are undoubtedly going to start assembling our vehicles named Prim8 (pictured) at W MI assembly next year. Our components are manufactured in Iran and South Africa, but Mureza’s ultimate objective is to design and manufacture vehicles for Africans. We are targeting to produce 100 units per month and the vehicles’ selling price will be US$13 500 each. Arrangements for Zimbabwe dollar purchases will be made,” she said.

The Prim8 features a 1,5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine, producing 87 kW. As one would expect from a hatchback of its size, the vehicle is front-wheel drive. Best trim option for the local range will include keyless entry, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, SatNav, rear-view camera, parking sensors and air-conditioning.

Motorists will also get electronic stability control, tyre-pressure monitoring, a powered driver’s seat and two airbags.

Nemhara said although the current economic situation was unfavourable, Mureza’s efforts would help to create employment and promote investment.

“Of course, economic conditions are not favourable for some businesses to thrive, but establishing a plant here would in a way promote job creation for the locals and it’s a form of the much-needed investment. It means value creation within the market and it gives us ground to establish and train local labourforce as well as to promote regional trade,” she said.

Nemhara was also confident that their brand would rise to the limelight despite that the market is currently dominated by well-established international brands.

“We are not worried much about how our brand will perform on the market, but we aim to solve transport challenges in Africa by creating highly competitive and affordable vehicles that suit the continent’s conditions. That means reduction of grey imports and endorsement of local value chain. Just as the flag rises, eventually Mureza will rise,” she said.

The current vehicle assemblers in Zimbabwe are WMI, Quest Motors, Deven Engineering and AVM Africa.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

The Zanu PF internal elections to select members of the district co-ordinating committees (DCCs) held in Harare at the weekend were marred by violence, intimidation and allegations of vote-rigging.

There were chaotic scenes as ballot papers were captured on videos being thrown away from party-branded vehicles by angry supporters after their preferred candidates’ names did not appear on ballot papers.

Zanu PF political commissar Victor Matemadanda tried to underplay the violence, but admitted that the violent conduct had a potential of militating against the party’s mobilisation drive ahead of the 2023 polls.

“We lost Glen View constituency in the by-elections because of favouritism. We are not going to have a party of thugs; we will not accommodate you if you are a thug. We stayed with guns for a long time during the war of liberation as Zipra and Zanla forces, but we did not use them to intimidate party cadres,” Matemadanda fumed.

“People do not want to join the party because of thuggish behaviour in the party. If you are not disciplined, we will close the door on you. Harare province was dissolved before and we will not hesitate to dissolve it again if party members became undisciplined. We can even go to the elections without Harare DCC if you continue to be like that.”

Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Ziyambi Ziyambi, who was overseeing elections in zone 2, which includes Glen View and Budiriro only said: “I did not witness any violence, but in any election, people differ on several issues and there were some party members who wanted to vote, but did not have party membership cards. But some of the areas that I visited we completed the process well.”

The Harare district elections saw the re-election of Godwin Gomwe, Godwills Masimirembwa and new faces such as George Chimhini, Kudakwashe Damson, Goodwell Mafuratidze and Ephraim Fundira as the chairpersons of Harare’s six districts.

Matemadanda said the structures were made up of war veterans, youths and other Zanu PF affiliates, but exclude land barons and those who think Zanu PF is a labour market.
“This party belongs to cardholders. We do not want party members who are thugs and will use violence to win a position.”

Matemadanda warned those he accused of plotting to destroy the party, saying Zanu PF had serious people who suffered for it and would not tolerate divisive elements.
The Zanu PF commissar also castigated Britain and the United States for trying to teach them democracy.

by VENERANDA LANGA

ZIMBABWE’S number of serving female ambassadors now stands at 32%, an issue which Parliament says should be rectified in order to satisfy the constitutional requirements of 50/50 gender representation.

The issue was raised when Foreign Affairs secretary James Manzou appeared before the Kindness Paradza- led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs to give oral evidence on the 2020 national budget.

“In compliance with provisions of section 17 of the constitution, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade will adopt gender responsive budgeting as one of the measures to scale up efforts towards achieving gender equality in the foreign sector,” Manzou said.

“The number of serving female ambassadors currently stands at 32% of the total, affirming the ministry’s call towards gender sensitivity,” he said.
But MPs lambasted the ministry for failing to deploy ambassadors on a 50/50 gender basis.

Paradza then asked Manzou to explain to the committee if amongst the female ambassadors deployed there were female ex combatants appointed as diplomats.
“We heard that since independence we do not have any female ambassadors who were ex combatants,” Paradza said.

“It is a good observation, but may you allow me to verify the issue because I need time to go back and study the lists of female ambassadors since independence,” Manzou replied.

MDC-T legislator Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga then asked him to explain if the 32% of female ambassadors deployed were also given highly-graded foreign missions?
He was also asked to explain if his ministry was experiencing any problems to identify capable females that can be deployed as ambassadors.

Manzou said the criterion of appointing ambassadors is the prerogative of the President.“What happens on appointment of ambassadors is that in terms of the professional service you find that those that rise to the level of ambassador will have started at a lower level in terms of our recruitment policy.

Some ambassadors are Presidential appointees and special representatives. The President knows what needs to be achieved in a particular station and he can appoint a non-career ambassador,” he said.

On vehicles of diplomats which were being said to be in a deplorable state, Manzou said there was a significant improvement after 53 new vehicles were purchased.
“We have to avoid getting into a situation where we were grinding to a halt. Purchases of ambassadors’ vehicles should be a matter of routine, and when a vehicle is three to five years old it should be replaced.”

He said each embassy needs a vehicle for the ambassador plus a utility minibus to ferry visitors.

The Zimbabwean embassies that he said were very busy and needed a good fleet of vehicles include those in New York, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and Botswana.

BY SHARON SIBINDI

FIRST LADY Auxillia Mnangagwa last week said she was worried over the low numbers of women politicians in the country.

Addressing female war veterans in Bulawayo on Thursday, Mnangagwa said politics is the only way through which women can find themselves in Parliament and be able to push for issues affecting them.

“In Parliament, women are very few to be influential. Women are very hardworking, they are not a burden, especially you that came from war, nothing is hard for you,” she said.

Section 124 of the Constitution provides for the equal representation of women in Parliament through the appointment of 60 non-constituency legislators.

“My wish is, if it is possible, like all other nations in the world, they (female combatants) have their day of celebrating their freedom fighters, sounding their drums and celebrating to thank them for bringing freedom to the country, so that we show our children that we were there during the war. It is through you female war veterans that we have this freedom. It was through your courage that we see women today in influential positions.

“They are many problems you are facing; there are ministries which will help you to survive. I know they are many things you wish, yes it will happen and very soon you will see the reason why you went to war,” she said.

She said ministries, such as that of Women Affairs, help women in their endeavours while the Ministry of Defence is the war veterans parent ministry to which they can send all their grievances.

Recently, the Midlands chapter of the Women Coalition of Zimbabwe resolved to lobby key stakeholders and government to extend the parliamentary quota system beyond 2023.

BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

CELEBRATED gospel musician Diva Mafunga — popularly known for his monster track Endai Naizvozvo — has bounced back onto the mainstream music scene after years of a sabbatical with a new album titled Handinete Kumutenda.

The musician, whose rich and melodious music sung in a sonorous drawl, told NewsDay Life & Style yesterday that although he had been quiet to the public, a lot of activity was taking place behind the scenes.

Mafunga said he was not a hurried musician, but took his time to deliver new material as he wanted to package it as he would have received it from the divine realm.

“Yes, I might have been quiet for a long time now, but not to God. I’m always releasing songs to him and for him. My fans will only hear what God has approved first. If you listen to this coming album, that’s when you will realise I wasn’t silent and resting,” he said.

A member of the United Families International Church, Mafunga said he has drawn a lot of inspiration from church leader Emmanuel Makandiwa, whose lifestyle and teachings.
Mafunga said his new offering was themed around the need for people to be grateful for the grace that God gives to them.

“Handinete Kumutenda contains strong messages. The album encourages us to be grateful for the abundant grace that the Lord gives us. His mercy endures forever. God is the place to which we run for protection and covering when we are in trouble,” he said.

Songs on the album include Beteri, Handinete Kumutenda, Varume Tinodarirei, Muri Mwari, Huyai Muone and Ndipeiwo Nzeve.Mafunga, who is also inspired by gospel veteran Mechanic Manyeruke, said the guitar was his most important instrument which has birthed all his music.

“I usually create a line first with my acoustic guitar. Hence, I deduce the mood of the line from the progression of the guitar melody. Then I begin to develop it from this stage. I sing about encouragement and teach others spiritually as well as the worship of the true God,” he said.

The musician said he hoped to join forces with other upcoming or renowned local and international artistes, promising fans non-stop releases, “the kind of stuff that will leave people in God’s presence”.

However, like any other artiste, Mafunga bemoaned lack of funds to produce quality music.“Music production comes with challenges as far as funding is concerned. Recording quality music with skilful artistes calls for a great financial sacrifice. You need to be financially deep-rooted to see your productions successfully marketed,” he said.

Editorial

In our NewsDay Weekender edition on Saturday we carried a depressing story of how the country’s major public hospitals have turned into dens of death as helpless patients succumb to their sicknesses in the absence of medical personnel who have been on strike demanding better pay and working conditions.

It is a difficult situation. It is unfortunate that ordinary people have become collateral damage in the standoff between government and the medical personnel. In the meantime, it would be unfair to demand that the doctors and nurses go back to work when their earnings and working conditions have become untenable.

In fact, the problem is even more far-reaching, going beyond the health sector as almost every working person’s earnings have been significantly eroded since the government’s misguided decision to introduce a local currency, whose value has continued to plummet against major currencies.

What is probably sad is that when the government first decided to introduce the bond note, they were warned against the move, but insisted there was sufficient support to hedge the surrogate currency. Sadly, we are back to the horrors of 2008. It would appear our leaders never learnt anything from the mistakes of yesteryear.

Prices of basic commodities and fuel have been sky-rocketing over the past few months. Government has tried to tinker with the economy, and some of their schoolboy interventions — like attempts to ban mobile money transactions and the use of foreign currency — has shown that this government has no solutions to the problem bedevilling the country. If they deal with the economic fundamentals and the political conundrum, there will be no need for “command economics”.

If government deals with the fundamentals, it would be unnecessary to take doctors and nurses to the Labour Court to coax them to return to work. That is not a solution. Their concerns and grievances are genuine and should be addressed. A court order is not going to deliver medication and equipment into dysfunctional public health facilities.

If truth be told, government literally robbed every person who earns money in this country when they introduced the surrogate currency on the fallacy that it was equal in value to the United States dollar, which had brought some stability to the economy since 2009. Now that the market has spat out the bond note, or RTGS, or Zimdollar — or whatever its real name is — justice demands that whatever people are earning should be multiplied at the same rate that the US dollar is fetching on the interbank market. This is because people’s earnings were denominated in US dollars.

Zimbabwe is on the edge of the cliff. There is frustration and desperation all-round, with a lot of uncertainty as citizens offer their labour for a pittance as the local currency continues to lose value. This is simply government failure at its worst.

JOHANNESBURG — Thespian Sello Maake ka Ncube believes he is the perfect candidate to host a new show that connects fathers with their children

Maake ka Ncube hosts Abobaba, which started on Saturday last week on Mzansi Wethu channel at 7.30pm.

The show aims to help find solutions for fathers who may have lost contact with their children due to divorce or being separated from their spouses, among other reasons.

The award-winning performer explains that the show is expected to open dialogue about the importance of fathers being present in their children’s lives.

“There are many families across South Africa who seek to connect or reconnect with their fathers. The show aims to re-establish these bonds and attempt to mend tense family dynamics through mediation,” he said.

Ncube describes it as “the beginning of a healing process, beginning of reconciliation, and the breaking of a cycle”.He says he is a perfect candidate for the show because he has lived the experience the show touches on.

The actor, writer and director grew up with an identity crisis having been raised by his stepfather and only adopted his biological father’s surname later.
Ncube, who has a number of children with different women, has first-hand experience of “baby mama” drama.

“Issues of not having your father around, eats you alone as a child. You can’t even discuss with others,” he said.He says his own experiences made him decide to be present in his children’s lives.

“You look at your friends, they look like their fathers. You look at your siblings, they look like your stepfather. And no, you don’t have anyone looking like you. This is the (reason) which made me decide that I will be present in my children’s lives,” he said.

Ncube explained that hosting the show has taught him a lot.“We became parents because you made a baby, no-one teaches you to be a parent. That is the biggest mistake that we have made socially,” he said.

“I am happy that the show opens the debates and dialogues. I have also noticed that single parenting is glorified, while it has a bad effect on kids. Men need to guard their precious sperms and women must do the same with their eggs.”

— SowetanLIVE