BY Staff Reporter

A NEW investor, who has taken up the majority shareholding of David Whitehead Textiles (DWL), says he has access to finance facilities which can resuscitate the ailing company and give it a new lease of life.

Praduman Ganediwal, through his investment vehicle AGRI Value Chain Zimbabwe (AVCZ), recently acquired 51% shareholding for $5,4 million in the company.
DWL has been under judicial management since 2006 and numerous attempts to secure fresh investment, including a government backed bailout package, have been
futile. But Ganediwal is confident that his support will see the company through.

He told a creditors meeting on Monday that he was aware of the challenging operating environment in the country, but saw an opportunity for the textile giant to be revived.

“As an investor, I am not short of opportunities to invest, but I decided to take a bold step and put in money, acquiring majority shareholding in this company. Nobody else has made that bold decision. All there has been is vague interest here and there and yet creditors wait on the sidelines with nothing coming their way,” Ganediwal said.

“I have access to the best technical support that I can get. I have access to funding that will ensure that DWL produces sufficiently; a business model that I will only be able to go forward with once the scheme of arrangement is put in place and all legalities have been taken care of.”

The Chegutu-based firm was one of the largest players in the country’s textile industry, providing an anchor for the cotton value-chain before it fell on hard times.

“I intend to bring to close all the legacy issues,” he said.

“I am willing to do this so that I walk in on a clean slate and work on the developmental agenda.”

“My vision is to ensure that Zimbabweans wear garments made from textiles produced in Zimbabwe.”

Soundtrack Freeman Makopa

AFRO-FUSION vocalist Willis Wataffi first hogged the limelight as part of Afrika Revenge – an exciting young group also made up of Mehluli Moyo – with the release of hits such as Wanga and Anochengeta.

The band, however, did not last long as a unit following Moyo’s departure. Left to himself, Wataffi continued with his music and eventually launched a solo
career under difficult circumstances in 2007.

With Afrika Revenge having won 10 awards within 18 months at the height of their prominence with Wataffi as the songwriter and lead vocalist, setting up a solo
career proved to be a tough call for Moyo as there was little acceptance, which forced the musician to go to Mozambique where he believed the grass to be
greener.

Wataffi and Moyo briefly came together and dropped the gem, Wanga, stoking hopes of an imminent reunion among fans, which, however, never came. The spirit of
Wanga, that classic tune about a young Zimbabwean man with nothing on his name, provided an irresistibly catchy chorus that was about to be reawakened.

However, the reunion did not last, forcing Wataffi to pursue a solo career once more, in the process releasing a single titled Ngaavongwe, which also topped
the charts.

Things are now turning in Wataffi’s favour. He recently disclosed that everyone was doing their own things.

Wataffi said he never left Afrika Revenge, but everyone just started their own brands and projects. He now has five award-winning albums under his belt —
Zhizha (2007) Qaya Roots (2009), Harare EP (2012), Songs of David (2016), Nhema EP (2018) and the latest offering, Uhuru/Independence (2019).

Wataffi’s new album was inspired by the passion to focus on what true independence Africa should imply.

“My previous album, Qaya Roots, does the same. So, let’s fix the spiritual side of the country. The repatriation of all stolen artefacts and our ancestors’
skulls and implements (in European museums) is the beginning of freedom for Zimbabwe,” he said.

In his new album, Wataffi ventured into a collaboration with Mbuya Stella Chiweshe on the song Mashayamombe, an introspection on the need to restore all lost
legacies of Africa and repatriation of the country’s lost heritage, holed up in the museums of Britain. It is a call for the repatriation of the skeletal
remains of some of the country’s ancient spiritual leaders as well as stolen artefacts, including Mashayamombe’s staff and the Zimbabwe bird.

“The troubles of Africa are spiritual and I feel the leaders aren’t taking this seriously. Once there is a proper burial of all these, then we will begin our
transition to total independence. Let’s fix things in the spiritual realm first,” he said passionately.

In the song Humambo, Wataffi talks about ego-centric leadership and explores the irony of having 54 national leaders in Africa, a continent with less than 1,5
billion people. He proposes a political paradigm shift, in which countries can be led by governors, with just one President for the continent as part of
efforts to establish the United States of Africa. This is a concept former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi tried to push, but it found few takers.

In the title track, Wataffi explores the truth about “independent” people that are, however, not “free”. He is disturbed by the irony that Africa is
potentially the richest continent, but does not have full control over its natural resources and wealth. The musician urges the new generation to start taking
responsibility so that their children inherit a debt-free and functional Africa.

In his new, Afro-centric offering, Wataffi calls the people of Africa back to the sourcem adding that away from the roots, there could be no progress.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

Businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who is accused of bribing former Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) chairperson Stanley Kazhanje, yesterday challenged the State to prove that he was favoured to win the multi-million dollar Gwanda solar project.

Chivayo, represented by Advocate Lewis Uriri, appeared before magistrate Trynos Utawashe.

“What specific decision … (was) made by the ZPC board in favour of the accused? When is it alleged that such decision was made? How is it alleged such
decisions were made? And minutes and resolutions of all relevant ZPC board meetings are requested,” Uriri said.

“The State is refusing to furnish us with further particulars. The State must say this is a board resolution that Kazhanje made as the chairman to favour the
accused person. Section 71(b) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that the accused must be informed of the offence he is being charged on before answering
to those charges.”

Uriri added that a confirmation is required that the tender was awarded by the then State Procurement Board and that the tender process was adjudicated upon by
the then State Procurement Board.

Chivayo’s lawyer further told the court that the State is alleging that ZPC cancelled or intended to cancel the contract and if so, he requested copies of all
relevant minutes, resolutions and correspondences.

Kazhanje’s lawyer Advocate Silvester Hashiti also requested the same documents, saying they need them early so as to prepare for the trial.

But for the State, Brian Vito responded that the furnishing of further particulars was not their obligations and the accused must source the documents of their
choice to defend themselves in the trial.

Magistrate Utawashe postponed the matter to July 18 for the ruling.

By Simbarashe Sithole

A 21-YEAR-OLD Mvurwi woman was on Monday slapped with a one-year jail term by a Guruve magistrate for dumping her new-born child a fortnight ago.

Brenda Charles of Suwoguru township, Mvurwi, pleaded guilty before magistrate Shingirai Mutiro, who jailed her for a year.

Prosecutor Carson Kundiona told the court that two weeks ago, Charles wrapped her baby, with the umbilical cord still attached, in a sack and dumped him.

The new-born boy was picked up by a passer-by before being surrendered to the police.

Charles’ mother was not available when the crime was committed, but when she came back last Friday she suspected that her daughter had dumped her new-born child and filed a police report, leading to the convict’s arrest.

In another case, a Guruve woman, Auxillia Dzukamanja was arrested last week for allegedly murdering her new-born child before throwing it down a blair toilet.

One of the residents believes the accused killed the baby due to economic hardships after she failed to locate the baby’s father.

“Dzukamanja killed her baby due to poverty. She failed to locate the father of the child and decided to kill the baby,” the witness, who declined to be named, said.

BY RICHARD MUPONDE

A PSYCHIATRIC patient yesterday heaved a sigh of relief after escaping a jail term for hitting his mother with a stone and a log while in a drunken stupor.

Taurai Masedha (36) of Vhumisani village under Chief Ngorima in Chimanimani pleaded not guilty to assault charges, but was convicted by Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison of which six months were conditionally suspended for five years.

The remainder of the sentence was suspended on condition he completes 210 hours of community service at Hlabiso Primary School starting today.

In his defence, Masedha said he did not know what transpired, but was only advised of the crime by relatives who visited him at Chikurubi Psychiatric Unit
where he was committed after the magistrate suspected he had a metal problem.

“I was ill and I don’t know what was happening,” Masedha said.

His trial commenced after the Prosecutor-General’s Office directed the prosecution to go ahead after his release from the mental institution.

Prosecutor Sesekedzai Mayera told the court that on August 17 last year, Masedha, who was drunk, left his homestead and visited his mother Constance Masedha at
her home.

On arrival, he turned violent, ordering her to vacate the homestead before picking a log which he used to hit her once on the right shoulder. He also picked a
stone and hit her on the head.

A police report was made, leading to his arrest.

BY STEPHEN CHADENGA

A CHIRUMANZU man last week appeared before the courts on allegations of torching huts and destroying property worth thousands of dollars belonging to his seven neighbours in a dispute over payment for goats he sold to them.

Benjamin Chihuri Mhunguri of Rudhuma village under Chief Chirumanzu appeared before Mvuma magistrate Tafadzwa Mhlanga, facing arson charges.

Allegations are that Mhunguri set fire to the huts belonging to his neighbours, to whom he had sold goats, destroying property in the process.

Mhlanga ordered that accused go for psychological examination before trial commences.

The State’s case is that on April 21, at Rudhuma village, accused went to Krefas Geja’s homestead demanding money for goats he had sold to the complainant.

Following a misunderstanding, accused set Geja’s huts on fire, allegedly destroying property, including a bed, blankets, clothes, chairs, a wooden table and
plough.

On the same day, Mhunguri is said to have approached Craig Muroiwa, where he is reported to have set two huts on fire, destroying an assortment of property.

The court further heard that using the same modus operandi, Mhunguri set fire on huts belonging to Melinda Pedzisai, Matilda Madhawu, Engelbert Ruduhuma, Maria
Chenzera and Piason Chabwenya, destroying property in the process.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

HARARE town clerk Hosiah Chisango yesterday said the interbank rate has drastically affected council operations because this year’s budget was based on a 1:1 ratio to the United States dollar.

Chisango told members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government that this has resulted in a US$36 million budget for water chemicals being depleted fast in order to provide clean water.

He also told the committee that the 2013 debt write off which was ordered by government prejudiced the city of US$230 million and council struggling with
indebtedness to statutory bodies such as the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).

He said the Harare City Council (HCC) was currently servicing around four million people, with the demand for water at 1 200 mega litres. But the design
capacity of the water plant can only provide 704 million litres of water with the City of Harare only able to supply 300 million litres of water per day.

“We cover just 50% of the demand for water and shortages are due to population increase, dilapidated water infrastructure over the years, resulting in water
rationing for high-density areas being 48 hours during the weekend and some suburbs like Mabvuku get water once per week,” Chisango said.

“Our budget was based on a 1:1 exchange rate and our rates are still charged at the 1:1 exchange rate, yet all our expenses are now on the interbank exchange
rate and there is a big gap which now needs a supplementary budget,” he said.

Chisango said the monthly requirements for water treatment chemicals was US$2,8 million to produce 550 to 600 million litres per day.

He noted that water rationing might continue up to 2020 due to siltation unless the country is blessed with enough rains.

Chisango was grilled on how the US$144 million loan from China Eximbank for rehabilitation of water infrastructure was used, with MPs charging that it was used
to purchase luxury vehicles.

He said the council received only US$72 million which was used to complete phase one of Morton Jaffray, computerisation of city district offices. He added
that the other US$72 million was yet to come and the Finance ministry was following it up.

But, MPs demanded to see proof of how it was used, saying some luxury vehicles were also purchased resulting in China withholding the other US$72 million.
Chisango claimed the vehicles purchased were part of the project.

He said workers were owed US$27,4 million dating back to 2015 and the outstanding salaries were being paid in stages every month.

Chisango said the salary expenditure was $194 million out of $829 million with 23% going towards salaries and 77% towards service delivery.

The City of Harare owes Zimra $171 million of which the principal debt is $32 million.

Another $83,5 million is owed to the pension fund with $60 000 is forked out to pensioners every month.

Some $17 million is owed to the Harare Municipal Medical Aid Society and $2 million to the National Social Security Authority.

BY RICHARD MUPONDE

KUSILE Rural District Council (KRDC) in Matabeleland North is demanding cash up-front from timber concessions in order to increase its revenue base, with the local authority having previously incurred an increase in the number of defaulters.

In the past, the local authority would allow timber loggers into their concessions without having to pay first, but many defaulted on royalties, leaving the council in financial doldrums.

Last year, the council expanded its timber logging industry and resolved that loggers must pay first before going into logging as a way to increase its revenue
base.

KRDC chief executive Christopher Chuma has confirmed the new development.

“We no longer allow loggers to log timber without paying money upfront. Previously, it was $30 per cubic metre. However, it’s now eight-fold that due to the
inflationary environment. We are now charging $240 per cubic metre,” Chuma said.

He said the local authority was avoiding a situation where they would have to go after the defaulting loggers.

“We have managed to recover what we were owed. After that, we chased away the problematic companies from our concessions. We are no longer running after any
defaulting company,” Chuma said.

The local authority expects to finance its projects from the revenue generated from sale of timber, which is the main economic activity in Lupane.

KRDC has also embarked on a further research of its timber reserves in order to ensure the forests’ sustainability and usefulness to the district.

Timber has proven to be a good source of revenue for the council. It is believed that timber has the capacity to financially sustain the RDC for the next 15
years.

A few months ago, the local authority engaged a Chinese firm, Fazhao Investments, to harvest and process timber in the area.

Fazhao Investments is in the process of setting up a sawmill plant in Jotsholo, near Tshongogwe concession.

KRDC has a monthly quota that entitles it to harvest 400 cubic metres from the Forestry Commission.

In November, KRDC terminated a contract with Rise GateTimber, which was operating at its Shabu-Manase concession.

BY SILAS NKALA

Three police officers based at Fort Rixon Police Station have been implicated in a 160kg gold ore theft at Sheep Skin A mine, a police report shows.

According to a leaked police document dated July 12, the owner of Sheep Skin A mine, Elijah Sithole (38), reported the matter of gold ore theft at Fort Rixon Police, implicating the three police officers.

Sithole alleged that one Assistant Inspector Mandipaza, a sergeant Shumba and one constable Ruwanika stole his gold ore.

“Circumstances are that on July 9, at around 2pm, accused booked out OB reference 3638/19 to a mine owned by Wilson Vimirayi Nyamiwa of Willowash stamp mill,
Mount Royal Zulu 8 mine, Fort Rixon, to attend a scene of theft of gold ore travelling in a private vehicle, registration number unknown,” the police report
read.

“They passed through Sheep Skin A mine, Fort Rixon, where upon arrival they asked Witness Luphahla, an employee at Sheep Skin A mine, who operates the hammer
mill, to produce the documents for the hammer mill.”

The police document stated that Luphahla advised them to enquire from Sithole, as he did not know where the papers were kept. It is alleged they took with them
a hammer mill crank, shovel, sample dish and the blankets used while milling.

“On July 10, at around 12 noon, the accused persons booked out OB ref 3648 using ZRP 230T and arrived at Sheep Skin A mine. When the employees, who were
crushing the gold ore and preparing it for milling saw the police officers, they fled leaving the ore behind,” the report read.

“The accused persons loaded the ore into empty bags that were on the ground and afterwards loaded the gold ore into the police vehicle. They went away with the
ore to an unknown destination. On July 12, at around 8am, the complainant came to Fort Rixon Police Station, making a follow up on his gold ore and could not
find it at the police station.”

Sithole made a report to the police and investigations are said to be in progress under ZRP Fort Rixon, RRB number 3860778.

About 160kg of gold ore were stolen, whose value is unknown and nothing was recovered.

Contacted for comment, Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele referred Southern Eye to national police spokesperson Assistant
Commissioner Paul Nyathi.

THE mining, engineering and transport (Mine Entra) 2019 expo begins today in Bulawayo, with more than 200 exhibitors occupying 5 670 square metres of the available space.

NewsDay (ND) business reporter Mthandazo Nyoni speaks to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair company’s acting general manager, Nicholas Ndebele (NN), who reveals that this year’s fair is big and better. Below are excerpts from the interview:

ND: How are the preparations for the Mine Entra going?

NN: There is palpable excitement as exhibitors are arriving and putting final touches on their exhibition stands, getting ready for the show that begins from
July 17-19, 2019. The ZITF Company once again welcomes local and international mining, engineering, transport, building and construction industries’
stakeholders to the 24th edition of the exhibition.

ND: How much exhibition space has been sold compared to last year?

NN: We have 202 local and foreign exhibitors occupying 5 670 square metres of space. This represents 80% of the space made available for sale, compared with
last year’s closing total of 225 direct exhibitors occupying 7 750 square metres of space. Enquiries are still coming through, so we hope that we will close at par with last year.

In terms of local participation, 64% of the confirmed exhibitors are coming from Harare, while 29% will come from Bulawayo and the remainder from other cities.
We have six foreign exhibitors coming from China, Kenya, South Africa, South Korea and Zambia, compared with five countries last year.

ND: What is the main focus of this year’s show?

NN: Mine Entra 2019 runs under the theme Resourcing the future: Exploring and leveraging mining potential. The primary objective of this business, only specialised in mining expo, is to provide a forum for the interchange of ideas among high-level decision-making delegates as well as for firms to spotlight relevant products, including latest technologies to this fast-growing industry.

In addition to a very rich profile of exhibits, the show will feature several knowledge-sharing and networking platforms designed to inspire a diverse set of exhibitors, visitors – especially women and young professionals – to tap into the latent opportunities within the mining industry.

We have women attending the mining conference on July 17, 2019. Over 200 delegates are expected to take part as new industry players and seasoned veterans present studies and stories about how they opened doors, overcame challenges and created opportunities for themselves and others in the mining industry. On July 17, we have a young professionals forum.

Approximately 150 youths in mining also have an opportunity to be inspired, self-reflect and goal-set at the YPF. The forum will seek to highlight how others have progressed through their careers and/or business paths; the challenges, lessons learnt and highlights along the way.

Then Mine Entra conference will be held on July 18. The highlight of this year’s conferences in the inter-ministerial round table is aimed at prompting discussions on harnessing the country’s mining potential, identifying and kick-starting the catalytic actions necessary to open investment flows, and spur sector production. About 300 high-level delegates are expected to take part.

ND: What are some of the products that will be on display?

NN: The exhibiting companies have a varied product mix which includes engineering, equipment, fittings and accessories, building and construction, chemicals, education and training, hydraulic and lifting equipment, mining seismology, transport, signage and labelling equipment, insurance and banking services as well as protective wear, among others.

ND: What are your major expectations from this show?

NN: The show will offer a rich gamut of networking and engagement opportunities as well as face-to-face engagement with stakeholders in the entire value chain
as, including learning opportunities provided by the high-level industry-driven conferences. Being a focused, business-only and sector specific expo, the show
undoubtedly offers numerous benefits and opportunities to participants to identify and exploit their potential.

ND: Last year, many exhibitors were complaining about the high cost of exhibiting space. What have you done to address their concerns?

NN: I am not quite aware of last year’s complaints. Nonetheless, the issue of cost is an issue that has become quite topical, particularly during this time
when the economy is going through a transition from a multi-currency regime to a mono-currency one.

Corporates are seized with the question: How do we price our products or services in the mono-currency regime? That having been said, our pricing really is
benchmarked against the pricing in the region and is commensurate with our desire to maintain high international exhibition quality standards.

We find ourselves in an unenviable position of balancing those competing needs with our customers’ ability to pay. We, nevertheless, stay engaged with our
customers on such matters.

ND: There were complaints about marathon conferences that were taking away their potential clients. As organisers of this event, what have you done to address
this?

NN: As an ISO certified service provider that is a stickler for customer focus and quality service, we always seek to provide valuable networking platforms for
our different segments of our exhibitors and business visitors.

Other than the Mine Entra conference on Thursday, the other two – Women in Mining and The Young Professional Forum — are specific to certain groups and we
really target relevant groups to attend to those.

We, nevertheless, value the feedback from our customers to inform us on how we can better design our programmes in the future.

ND: What growth prospects do you see for Mine Entra in the short to medium term?

NN: Going into the future, we will always strive to uphold and leverage the solid reputation that the show has garnered over the last two decades. This
confirms that the brand is still relevant and is serving its purpose to drive the mining industry.

Equally, we are aware that the mining sector continues to retain its space as one of the pillars of economic revival and growth towards Vision 2030. Thus, we
will continue to position Mine Entra in a manner that it consistently serves the evolving marketing needs of its participants.

Consistent with the government’s re-engagement policy, Mine Entra will complement these efforts by striving to grow the show through attracting exhibitors and

business visitors from the region and beyond. We envisage a Mine Entra expo that is as big as the annual multi-sectoral ZITF exhibition.

Remember, mining has been identified as one of the lead sectors, alongside agriculture and tourism, that will spur economic growth towards Vision 2030.

However, a lot of the sector’s potential is still largely untapped, hence the need, as our theme for this year suggests, to explore and leverage mining
potential. It is interesting to note that the mining industry contributes around 13% of the gross domestic product and 68% of Zimbabwe’s total export receipts
and has set to achieve the objective of a US$12 billion industry by 2022.

That speaks to immense potential. Where then do we locate Mine Entra in tapping into that potential? A specialised exhibition like Mine Entra showcases and discusses topical issues in the sector and as these issues are interrogated, measurable steps can then be taken to accelerate exploitation of the mineral wealth to contribute to economic growth. Hence, we are undoubtedly excited about the future and our part in contributing to these conversations as an exhibitions organiser.

ND: There were plans to construct a 300-bed hotel and conventional centre in Bulawayo, in a bid to ease accommodation problems for exhibitors. How far have you
gone in implementing this project?

NN: The cost of accommodation for our exhibitors and business visitors is a perennial challenge. This increases the cost of participating in our shows for both
big and small potential exhibitors.

To that end, the issue of enhancing our capacity to effectively compete in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions space is a vital strategic
objective.

We also want to play hard in the business tourism space. We are, therefore, seized with the matter relating to the project and we are working with the
Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe to ensure that our processes are consistent with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.

Once that is settled, we will seek advice from experts on the best model that we can adopt to realise that objective.