BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

TRENDING gospel artiste, who came into the limelight through his melodious song, Mebo, which attracted national anthem status, says he has a surprise for his fans.

Chari told NewsDay Weekender Life & Style that he was working on a new project, which he believes was better than Mebo.

“Yes, I am working on my next album titled Batai Mashoko, which will be released in December and at the same time doing rehearsals with my band in preparation for big shows to come. I am preparing an album which is above standard and all the six tracks it carries will be hit songs. I am convinced that the album is
also going to be an instant hit,” he said.

“I know for sure that I will be able to maintain my level since the Mebo album gave me a chance to meet a lot of people who gave me ideas. I have learnt not to
rush things, so I am perfecting my new project.”

Chari said the name of the album was indicative that God had given him the wisdom to produce meaningful and educative songs for both Christians and non-
Christians alike.

The musician said he was looking for opportunities to collaborate with other highly-rated artistes, including Alick Macheso, Sulu Chimbetu and Lucky Chikuwa in
some of the songs that will make up his forthcoming package.

“Yes, on this album, I wish to collaborate with Lucky Chikuwa, Alick Macheso, Sulu Chimbetu. Just by collaborating with Alick Macheso, that will increase our
fan-base as we will both benefit from the goodwill of each other’s fans,” said Chari.

Chari is a member of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) and is backed by the Hakireni Band, which consists of his three siblings. The unmistakable dances that ZCC
members are known for can also be glimpsed in his videos.

The musician started releasing music about seven years ago, but his breakthrough came when the Mebo video was released. The song had first appeared in one of
his previous albums, Mariyambutsa, released in 2017.

Centred on the epic story of an uptown young woman whose heart is stolen by a man with nothing much to his name, the song has found many takers among
listeners, as they likely identify with the song’s theme.

The soft-spoken Chari, who holds a degree in African Languages and Culture from the Midlands State University, did his schooling in Bikita, Masvingo province,
before moving to Chegutu in 2010.

BY Kevin Mapasure

Suspended Zifa executive committee member Chamu Chiwanza has promised to spill the beans on the “theft” that is taking place at the association, following his suspension on allegations of electoral fraud as well as his alleged role in distabilising the Warriors at the Africa Cup of Nations finals (Afcon).

As Zifa carries out its inquest in the Afcon debacle where the Warriors bowed out at the first hurdle following two defeats and a draw in Group A, Chiwanza is alleged to have played a role, together with former president Philip Chiyangwa and his deputy Omega Sibanda, in influencing players to make withdrawal threats.

On Thursday, Zifa announced Chiwanza’s suspension with Zifa president Felton Kamambo alleging that he was part of a group that was working to cause confusion
among the players.

Yesterday Chiwanza told NewsDaySport that he would react at an appropriate time, but said he will make damning revelations about the way Zifa funds have been
handled.

Acting vice-president Philemon Machana is responsible for the finance portfolio, with some of his operations having raised eyebrows, particularly when he moved
money from the association’s bank accounts to his company account.

“I am going to respond at the right time, but what I can promise now is that when I respond (to the Zifa allegations), I will bring the temple down on their
heads,” he said.

“It’s coming very soon. Thieves will be exposed. People will see who the real thieves are. It’s going to be big; it’s going to be biblical.”

The group that has been identified by Zifa is alleged to have caused confusion by telling the players that Zifa councillors that travelled to the Afcon finals
had been paid US$4 000 each while journalists got $5 000 each.

With this information the players started to make huge demands while threatening not to fulfil matches as they pressed for payment.

“I want to bear with the players,” Kamambo told journalists on Thursday. “I feel for them as well because you are in camp and someone is phoning you and giving
you information that supporters coming to Egypt are being paid $400 per day when you have been paid US$1 500 to participate in the whole tournament. Yes, US$1
500. That is what we had agreed, then the other amount was going to be paid as and when, but because of the third forces coming into camp, the likes of Hope
Chizuzu, the former president Philip Chiyangwa, board member Chamu Chiwanza, that acted as catalysts to cause confusion in the camp.”

Chiyangwa had promised to respond at a Press conference yesterday, but had not done so by the time of going to print.

devotion column Erasmus Makarimayi

THE revelation of God is Christ. God came in Jesus Christ. Christianity is the manifestation of the presence of Christ in the believer.

It’s God’s desire to show forth Himself in Christ and express His being in this earthly realm through those He purchased by the precious blood of Jesus.

Christianity isn’t a religious system, but the life of God in humanity. The Bible story climaxes in God adopting a family as the Father and born again
believers as sons and daughters who are to show forth His glory. As His principles take root in us, we exude His abiding presence as fruit and not works. It’s
an outward expression of the inner being.

For us to understand our subject for today more clearly, we need to appreciate that salvation translates us from existence to life. Before being born again,
we’re simply present in the earthly realm. It’s only salvation that brings us from death to life.

We have extensively covered this subject in this column.

However, suffice to say are the words of Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1,4-5. He says (New King James): “1 and you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved.” By His love and mercy we’re alive. Sin nature kills and killed us before Christ.

Romans 6:23 nails it: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” We, therefore, choose grace and not works because Galatians 2:16 clears the air:

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” It’s not our effort, it’s His effort. Don’t choose works, but the free gift of God.

The knowledge of the truth helps us tune in and subscribe to the manifestation and expression of divine life.

When we know the truth, we voluntarily give God the space to outflow from us.

God has made us alive and it takes our freewill to accept the life. If I were your guest and you give me an ensuite with a bed, I can choose to sleep on the floor and bath in the common quarters. It takes knowledge and choice. The whole essence of God is freedom.

He offers us the correct platform, from which we can choose to participate. Salvation is open to all and it’s a personal decision to accept. Remember, Jesus says in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Please, note that He says whosoever. What an open invitation!

Apostle Paul reveals to us in Philippians 1:21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

MacLaren’s Exposition explains: “Life is to be as Christ, for Christ, by, in, and from Christ. So, shall there be strength, peace, and freedom in our days.”

When this principle settles in us, we will give room to all that Christ wants to do for us, in us, through us and by us. His glory, splendour, majesty, excellence and virtue will pour out of us.

The dominion and authority of His Kingdom will take over in our families, professional life, business and every facet of our being. We shape and influence the world because the Creator is in us.

Jesus says in Luke 17:21: “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Dear believer, you carry the power. Jesus assures us in Matthew 28:18: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

We’re not afraid. He concluded in Matthew 28:20b: “And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Please, be comforted; be at peace.

The finished or accomplished work of Jesus gives us what God has done in Christ Jesus. We discover and partake.

It’s within our power to receive and deny the grace. We were healed and we can opt not to enforce it. By the time we’re born again, we would have gathered knowledge from many sources that may not necessarily agree with divine wisdom. We, therefore, surrender our hearts and minds to God’s knowledge.

Romans 12:2 teaches us: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Whatever we have learnt at school or by tradition should not override divine knowledge.

We accept transformation and the renewing of the mind in order to experience the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.

BY CHARLES LAITON

FORMER Labour and Social Welfare minister Petronella Kagonye, who was slapped with a $500 000 lawsuit for allegedly dumping a corpse at a war veteran, Oswell Gwanzura’s premises in Goromonzi, has now been absolved from the claim after the High Court upheld her exception to the defamation claim.

Gwanzura approached the High Court last year seeking compensation from Kagonye for defaming him by allegedly dumping the corpse of one Taurai Jera at his residence after accusing him of murdering the deceased in a politically-related incident.

But in response to Gwanzura’s claim, Kagonye, who is also former Goromonzi South MP, requested for further particulars, inviting the war veteran to prove his
freedom-fighting status as well as provide proof of where, when and how he was so defamed.

Kagonye also filed an exception to the claim, saying Gwanzura’s summons lacked the necessary averments to sustain the cause of action so as to enable her to
plead.

“It is an axiomatic legal principle that the delict of defamation must be based on statements or words uttered, be they oral or written … What the plaintiff
(Gwanzura) pleads as cause of action are ‘accusations of murder’ and ‘the abandoning of a dead body at the plaintiff’s place of residence’. It is pertinent and
it must be accepted that a wrongful conduct cannot give rise to a defamation lawsuit. Plaintiff is offside in that regard and has no defamation cause of action
against defendant (Kagonye),” the former minister said, urging the court to rule in her favour.

After hearing the matter, High Court judge Justice Felistus Chatukuta granted the order sought by Kagonye.

“Whereupon after reading documents filed of record and hearing counsel, it is ordered that the exception be and is hereby granted,” Justice Chatukuta said.

Prior to filing the exception, the ex-Zanu PF minister said before she could respond to the lawsuit, she wanted Gwanzura to clarify how she had fabricated the
allegations of murder against him and how he came to know of such fabrications.

Kagonye further said she wanted Gwanzura to clarify whether he was present as well as state the date and day on which Jera’s corpse was brought to his
residence by her father, Stanely, as claimed in his summons.

By Stephen Chadenga

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday capped a record 6 977 graduates at the Midlands State University, the biggest gathering in the history of the higher learning institution.

Addressing the 19th graduation ceremony, MSU vice-chancellor Victor Muzvidziwa said the graduates included 100 international students from predominantly southern African countries.

“Your Excellency and chancellor, we have 6 977 graduands,” he said.

“Of these, 3 348 are female and 3 629 are male. Nine hundred and ninety-eight are graduating with masters degrees and three are being awarded doctor of philosophy degrees. This is by far the largest graduation gathering in the history of the MSU.

“Among those graduating today are 100 international students drawn from Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, South Sudan and Mozambique, and this is evidence we have
gradually spread wings in our international effort.”

Muzvidziwa said MSU’s strategic objective was to generate a problem-solving learner.

He said to achieve this, researchers had secured competitive domestic and international research grants.

“One of our key strategic objectives is to be a technologically driven research university and to generate problem solving innovations for commercialisation
and industrialisation,” he said.

Muzvidziwa said MSU had 15 active international grant-funded research projects

BY Phyllis Mbanje

Economic growth can be enhanced when more effort is channelled towards ensuring gender equality and elimination of gender-based violence (GBV), the first secretary at the Swedish embassy, Angelica Broman, has said.

GBV cases have been on the rise in the country, with stakeholders raising concern over the situation.

Statistics indicate that almost seven in every 10 women experience some form of violence in their lifetime, while one in six pregnant women (17%) is
physically-abused during pregnancy. In most cases, perpetrators are intimate partners.

“The financial cost to the nation of gender-based violence is immense and should not be underestimated,” Broman said.

Speaking to journalists during an engagement workshop, which was meant to enhance media understanding of government and United Nations engagement in Zimbabwe
on development and humanitarian issues, Broman said GBV impacts on people’s health, the economy and wider society.

There are many forms of GBV which include — but not limited to — physical violence, sexual violence, modern slavery and child marriage.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), more than 40 million people, mostly women, worldwide are victims of modern slavery.

Modern slavery is used as an umbrella term covering practices such as forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage and human trafficking.

Recently, the European Union (EU) and the UN in Zimbabwe, together with the government, launched a spotlight initiative, a US$34 million four-year programme
aimed at eliminating GBV against women and girls.

The spotlight initiative brings focused attention to these issues, making it central to efforts towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in
line with the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Africa will receive €250 million, half of the global amount for eight countries, including Zimbabwe.

The initiative is implemented by six UN agencies in partnership with the Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development ministry and civil
society organisations, and is wholly funded by the EU.

It builds on what the UN agencies are working on in the country. The UN agencies participating are ILO, the United Nations Development Programme, the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, United Nations Populations Fund, United Nations Children’s Fund and UN Women.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday spoke out strongly against GBV while commissioning a clinic and a youth centre in Hopley.

The media have been challenged to report more on cases of GBV.

“The media are in the forefront of sharing, breaking news and are the voice of the voiceless,” Broman said.

Meanwhile, and while also addressing the media, UN resident co-ordinator Bishow Parajuli weighed in on the need for concerted efforts in advancing the inherent
goodness of human values as Zimbabwe strives to turn around the socioe-conomic challenges, climate action, drought and achievement of the sustainable
development goals.

“Engaging with the media is fundamental and partnership with the media is crucial to achieve development. The UN remains open to dialogue with the media and to
feedback on the UN’s delivery and performance,” he said.

BY Phyllis Mbanje

Economic growth can be enhanced when more effort is channelled towards ensuring gender equality and elimination of gender-based violence (GBV), the first secretary at the Swedish embassy, Angelica Broman, has said.

GBV cases have been on the rise in the country, with stakeholders raising concern over the situation.

Statistics indicate that almost seven in every 10 women experience some form of violence in their lifetime, while one in six pregnant women (17%) is
physically-abused during pregnancy. In most cases, perpetrators are intimate partners.

“The financial cost to the nation of gender-based violence is immense and should not be underestimated,” Broman said.

Speaking to journalists during an engagement workshop, which was meant to enhance media understanding of government and United Nations engagement in Zimbabwe
on development and humanitarian issues, Broman said GBV impacts on people’s health, the economy and wider society.

There are many forms of GBV which include — but not limited to — physical violence, sexual violence, modern slavery and child marriage.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), more than 40 million people, mostly women, worldwide are victims of modern slavery.

Modern slavery is used as an umbrella term covering practices such as forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage and human trafficking.

Recently, the European Union (EU) and the UN in Zimbabwe, together with the government, launched a spotlight initiative, a US$34 million four-year programme
aimed at eliminating GBV against women and girls.

The spotlight initiative brings focused attention to these issues, making it central to efforts towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in
line with the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Africa will receive €250 million, half of the global amount for eight countries, including Zimbabwe.

The initiative is implemented by six UN agencies in partnership with the Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development ministry and civil
society organisations, and is wholly funded by the EU.

It builds on what the UN agencies are working on in the country. The UN agencies participating are ILO, the United Nations Development Programme, the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, United Nations Populations Fund, United Nations Children’s Fund and UN Women.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday spoke out strongly against GBV while commissioning a clinic and a youth centre in Hopley.

The media have been challenged to report more on cases of GBV.

“The media are in the forefront of sharing, breaking news and are the voice of the voiceless,” Broman said.

Meanwhile, and while also addressing the media, UN resident co-ordinator Bishow Parajuli weighed in on the need for concerted efforts in advancing the inherent
goodness of human values as Zimbabwe strives to turn around the socioe-conomic challenges, climate action, drought and achievement of the sustainable
development goals.

“Engaging with the media is fundamental and partnership with the media is crucial to achieve development. The UN remains open to dialogue with the media and to
feedback on the UN’s delivery and performance,” he said.

BY Phyllis Mbanje

Economic growth can be enhanced when more effort is channelled towards ensuring gender equality and elimination of gender-based violence (GBV), the first secretary at the Swedish embassy, Angelica Broman, has said.

GBV cases have been on the rise in the country, with stakeholders raising concern over the situation.

Statistics indicate that almost seven in every 10 women experience some form of violence in their lifetime, while one in six pregnant women (17%) is
physically-abused during pregnancy. In most cases, perpetrators are intimate partners.

“The financial cost to the nation of gender-based violence is immense and should not be underestimated,” Broman said.

Speaking to journalists during an engagement workshop, which was meant to enhance media understanding of government and United Nations engagement in Zimbabwe
on development and humanitarian issues, Broman said GBV impacts on people’s health, the economy and wider society.

There are many forms of GBV which include — but not limited to — physical violence, sexual violence, modern slavery and child marriage.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), more than 40 million people, mostly women, worldwide are victims of modern slavery.

Modern slavery is used as an umbrella term covering practices such as forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage and human trafficking.

Recently, the European Union (EU) and the UN in Zimbabwe, together with the government, launched a spotlight initiative, a US$34 million four-year programme
aimed at eliminating GBV against women and girls.

The spotlight initiative brings focused attention to these issues, making it central to efforts towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in
line with the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Africa will receive €250 million, half of the global amount for eight countries, including Zimbabwe.

The initiative is implemented by six UN agencies in partnership with the Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development ministry and civil
society organisations, and is wholly funded by the EU.

It builds on what the UN agencies are working on in the country. The UN agencies participating are ILO, the United Nations Development Programme, the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, United Nations Populations Fund, United Nations Children’s Fund and UN Women.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday spoke out strongly against GBV while commissioning a clinic and a youth centre in Hopley.

The media have been challenged to report more on cases of GBV.

“The media are in the forefront of sharing, breaking news and are the voice of the voiceless,” Broman said.

Meanwhile, and while also addressing the media, UN resident co-ordinator Bishow Parajuli weighed in on the need for concerted efforts in advancing the inherent
goodness of human values as Zimbabwe strives to turn around the socioe-conomic challenges, climate action, drought and achievement of the sustainable
development goals.

“Engaging with the media is fundamental and partnership with the media is crucial to achieve development. The UN remains open to dialogue with the media and to
feedback on the UN’s delivery and performance,” he said.

COSTS are rising, investment is falling and customers are using less money on their cellphones, according to the latest quarterly report on Zimbabwe’s telecoms just released by the industry regulator.

The latest report, for the first quarter of 2019, shows the impact of disposable incomes on mobile phone usage, the effects of inflation on costs across the industry and how forex shortages are limiting investment in capital expenditure.

Active mobile subscriptions were down 6% in the first quarter of 2019 from the last quarter of 2018, while the mobile penetration rate — a measure of the total
number of active lines relative to the population — fell 9,8 percentage points to 83,3%, according to a report by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz).

“The decline in active mobile subscriptions is reflective of the general depressed demand in the economy. A number of promotions were also modified in the
quarter under review; the reduction in benefits could also have led to a decline in multi-SIM usage, thus negatively affecting the total active subscriber
base,” Potraz says.

The volume of mobile voice traffic fell by a further 4% from 1,467 billion to 1,404 billion minutes.

This saw mobile telephone revenue falling 13% from $287 million to $249,9 million over the first quarter.

The impact was so marked because voice traffic still accounts for 59,3% of total mobile operator revenues.

Customers visiting Zimbabwe are also using roaming less. Over the quarter, outbound roaming traffic recorded the biggest decline of the voice traffic
categories, down 27%.

This shows the impact of the roaming tariffs by mobile companies as they reacted to currency reforms in February that ended the 1:1 exchange rate.

There was a 19,2% rise in mobile internet data usage from 8,559TB to 10,202TB, but the impact did not run through to the bottom line due to rising costs.

Over the quarter, mobile networks’ operating costs increased by 6,4% to $185,9 million from $174,8 million, reflecting the increasing cost of business as
inflation soared.

Costs are likely to rise, going forward, due to the power crisis, which has forced many operators to use diesel to power-up some base-stations.

There are also less active internet subscriptions; they declined by 3,3% to reach 8,4 million from 8,7 million, which saw the internet penetration rate
dropping by 5 percentage points to 57,9%.

Says Potraz: “The decline in active data and internet subscriptions is reflective of the general depressed demand in the economy.

Fibre subscriptions recorded marginal growth. This could be attributable to the review of fixed internet and data tariffs in the quarter under review.”

Mobile money numbers for the period are also showing the dynamics in transactions across the economy.

There was growth in cash-in transactions as well as in airtime, bill and merchant payments in the quarter.

However, there was a fall in the value of cash-outs, cross network transactions and in the total number of transactions.

Operators are also investing less, showing the effects of the forex crisis.

Capital expenditure in the quarter declined by 22,1% to $23 million from $29,5 million in the final quarter of last year.

With less spending on capex — which includes software and equipment — the quality of service across the industry is likely to keep falling.

newZWire

By NQOBANI NDLOVU

BULAWAYO mayor Solomon Mguni has reversed a decision by his deputy Tinashe Kambarami to suspend town clerk Christopher Dube, as the battle for control of the City of Kings intensifies.

Kambarami on Thursday suspended Dube, accusing him of misconduct, abuse of office, misappropriation of ward retention funds and failure to solve the water crisis.

“In order not to destabilise council business, I, hereby, lift the said suspension with immediate effect. I further direct the town clerk to furnish me with a
comprehensive report on the allegations you have raised in your (Kambarami) letter,” Mguni said in a letter addressed to Kambarami yesterday.

The letter is copied to Dube, Local Government minister July Moyo, town secretary Sikhangele Zhou, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube, MDC vice-
president Welshman Ncube and Elias Mudzuri, the MDC secretary for local government.

Mguni also called off a special council meeting set for yesterday, which had been called by Kambarami to also suspend other council directors, among them
Siwela Dube.

Kambarami had suspended the town clerk without pay and other benefits.

“By copy of this letter and upon receipt thereof, the town clerk must report for duty on full salary and benefits. The chamber secretary shall cause council to
be advised accordingly. The special meeting that was scheduled to take place today (Friday) is, hereby, deferred,” Mguni added.

MDC Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza, however, said the party had endorsed the suspension of the town clerk, citing corruption.

“The MDC endorses the decision to recommend a suspension on the Bulawayo town clerk in so far as corruption, incompetence and self-gain at the expense of
ratepayers are alleged,” Chirowodza said.