By NQOBANI NDLOVU/SINDISO DUBE/SIBONGINKOSI MAPHOSA

OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa (pictured) has said he would patiently wait for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to come to the negotiating table, adding that any other options available to him came with dire consequences.

Chamisa has disputed Mnangagwa’s legitimacy since the release of the heavily contested July 2018 presidential election results. While the two have said they are willing to talk, they differ on the nature of the dialogue to solve Zimbabwe’s never-ending socio-economic and political crises.

Mnangagwa is currently having talks with fringe opposition parties under the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) forum, a platform Chamisa dismisses as a “Zanu PF choir”.

In December, former South African President Thabo Mbeki was in Zimbabwe to ostensibly break the ice, but Chamisa told journalists at the Bulawayo Press Club on Tuesday
evening that Mnangagwa was the one delaying the dialogue process.

“I have tried to help but I have hit a brickwall, all I have to do is be patient. I could have taken the hard and tougher route in dealing with this matter, but I know the consequences that come with being hard, so I will wait,” Chamisa, who claimed Mnangagwa was “not answering Mbeki’s calls”, said.

Turning to the performance of party councillors and legislators, Chamisa admitted corruption was rife in MDC-run councils before warning that he would wield the axe on councillors and legislators accused of corruption and other improper conduct.

Last month, the party suspended Bulawayo’s ward nine councillor, Donaldson Mabutho over suspected links to the Central Intelligence Organisation.

Chamisa said MDC councillors and legislators would be compelled to sign a lifestyle code of conduct as a deterrent against engaging in graft while in office.

“We can’t be the same with Zanu PF which we are trying to bring down,” Chamisa said.

“We are actually enforcing a new rule within. All councillors and MPs must sign what is called the real change code of ethics and values which says one is not allowed to benefit from where they are stationed.

“I know in Africa we say a goat eats where it is tethered. A goat is also slaughtered where it is eating from. Those who are abusing power should be dealt with accordingly and we won’t hesitate showing them the exit. We can’t have people abusing power at council and parliamentary levels; this is unlike us as a party which is an agent of change.”

He said all local authorities under his party’s leadership would also be subjected to integrity and accountability tests.

“If people have information where they feel our councillors and mayors have crossed the line, they must not hesitate to phone our hotlines and we throw them out because we are not Zanu PF where corruption is celebrated and is a religion,” Chamisa said.

“We are MDC but you also understand the tendency of councillors is to mimic and copy Zanu PF because they have set the standard of leadership and I have told our councillors that our duty is to make sure that we become centres of excellence and also become sources of a difference in our politics.

“Going forward, I have said within the party, certain elements have to be subjected to interrogation and inquires so that we maintain standards. So there will be no sacred cows.”

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

THE Local Government ministry has emphasised the need to capacitate the State’s disaster management division, the Civil Protection Unit (CPU), and other agencies to prevent continued flood-induced loss of life and property.

This comes after flash floods hit Binga, Matabeleland North province, destroying homesteads and killing one person despite the Meteorological Services Department (MSD)’s earlier warning of violent storms.

Last year, the CPU, was blamed for poor disaster management after it allegedly failed to take measures to prepare for and reduce the effects of Cyclone Idai, which killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands in the country.

Acting secretary for the Local Government and Public Works ministry Christopher Shumba in a statement yesterday said the CPU which has dispatched tents to Binga flood victims, needed to be capacitated to timeously respond to such disasters.

“Long-term measures include capacitation of all civic protection organisations such as the Airforce of Zimbabwe, sub-aqua unit and department of civil protection with all-weather equipment in order to timeously respond to the vagaries of climate change,” Shumba said.

Zimbabwe is not spared the effects of climate change disasters such as drought and flash floods, which have become commonplace, taking lives and destroying property and infrastructure.

In April 2019, human rights’ activist Khumbulani Maphosa petitioned the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to investigate the CPU after accusing the disaster management agency of incompetence; omission and failure after Cyclone Idai hit the country.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Matabeleland North province Richard Moyo and the Binga District Residents Association (BIDRA) have appealed for assistance to meet the emergency needs of flood victims in the underdeveloped district.

“We have organised tents to shelter the families, but what is also needed is food, clothing and blankets. Our immediate task is to save lives and ensure they have some form of decent shelter and other amenities,” Moyo said.

BIDRA secretary-general Moffat Mutale added: “We have also joined hands with other independent groups to assist government in the mobilisation of the required basic needs of the victims, in particular clothing and food.”

By SIMBARASHE SITHOLE

THREE Zanu PF legislators in Mashonaland Central province have been accused of stifling the police’s crackdown on illegal gold miners and machete gangs.

The countrywide police blitz, dubbed Operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere, has seen over 1 000 illegal miners and machete gangs arrested.

Police sources in Mashonaland Central said efforts to arrest illegal miners were being frustrated by legislators Patrick Dutiro (Guruve South), Campion Mugweni (Mazowe North) and Remigious Matangira (Bindura South).

They accused Dutiro of mobilising illegal miners to cause havoc and illegally mine at Eureka Mine. Contacted for comment, the MP said he only tried to intercede in a dispute between the police and illegal miners.

“I conducted a meeting with villagers because there is bad blood between the local police and villagers. So my meeting was for them to engage the police and mine owners so that they reach a consensus,” Dutiro said.

It is further alleged that Dutiro was capitalising on the incident to gain political ground ahead of the forthcoming Zanu PF district co-ordinating council (DCC) elections in Guruve, where he is reportedly eying the chairperson’s position.

“My meeting was genuine. I am not campaigning as alleged because my ground is already even,” he said.

Mugweni is accused of previously working with the management of Mazowe Mine to extract gold ore while using his constituency-branded vehicle.

Contacted for comment, Mugweni said: “Wherever that car is seen, it has nothing to do with you. It will be doing party business.”

He, however, declined to respond to reports of his alleged links with Mazowe Mine management.

The MP is also reportedly canvassing for support ahead of DCC elections.

In Bindura, Matangira is accused of funding machete gangs who were allegedly robbing illegal miners of their gold ore at Kitsiyatota.

Matangira refuted the claims, saying he was also a victim of machete gangs.

“That is very nonsensical. How can I fund MaShurugwi when I have been victimised by the MaShurugwi as a small-scale miner myself. I lost my mines at Mukaradzi in Mt Darwin, so labelling me in such a manner will be unfair,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zanu PF youths in the province said they were not happy with the on-going police blitz against illegal panners and machete gangs, which has seen thousands of them arrested, particularly at Mazowe Mine, where people from all walks of life were earning a living.

BY FIDELITY MHLANGA

SAINT-Gobain Construction Products Zimbabwe yesterday launched a US$1 million plant in the capital set to produce 15 000 tonnes of tile adhesive per annum while operating entirely on solar power.

The company is part of a €42-billion-turnover French multinational that develops, manufactures and distributes materials and building solutions for construction, transportation, infrastructure and industrial applications.

“Let me say, as the Saint-Gobain family, we are very excited to launch the weber plant which, at its maximum capacity, will be producing 15 000 tonnes of tile adhesive per year. As a company, we pride ourselves in providing high quality solutions that deliver comfort and convenience in homes and industry at large,” the company manager David Zimano said yesterday.

Zimano highlighted that the company envisages to export within the region so as to generate the much-needed forex.

“We are particularly proud that the weber plant is environmentally friendly as it is solar powered. This plant is 100% off grid and is able to fully function 365 days a year on solar energy. As we thrust towards sustainable industrial production and taking heed to government’s call to preserve the much-needed foreign currency, we look forward to exporting to Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, which are our traditional markets,” he said.

The company is a leader in the manufacture of lightweight building materials and manufactures energy-conserving rhino board for all lining applications. The Zimbabwean operations were founded in 1959 as Gypsum Industries. The business changed its name to BPB Gypsum in 2003, then to Saint-Gobain Construction Products Zimbabwe in 2018.

He said the company has taken an active role in the community through participating in various corporate social responsibility projects.

“We also have trained a number of people mainly our young people from the built environment departments in technical colleges namely Belvedere Teachers College, Msasa Vocational and Kushinga Phikhelela to mention, but a few in the correct application of Saint-Gobain materials. These skills have empowered a lot of youths and most of them are running self-sustainable projects as well as employing other people,” he said.

Industry and Commerce permanent secretary Mavis Sibanda applauded the company for using local raw materials which is in line with government policy.

“I am informed that Saint-Gobain acquires almost three quarters of its raw materials locally which resonates well with the implementation of the Zimbabwe national industrial development policy and local content
strategy.

Utilisation of local resources will grow our value chains and presents growth opportunities which government hopes companies such as Gobain will take advantage of,” she said

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

FORMER War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube has slammed the suspension and silencing of Zanu PF youth leaders who spoke out against graft, adding that the named cartels should prove their innocence and source of wealth.

Zanu PF suspended youth secretary Pupurai Togarepi, his deputy Lewis Matutu and national political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu after they accused businessmen Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Billy Rautenbach and Tafadzwa Musarara of running cartels that were bleeding the economy.

Speaking to journalists after delivering a public lecture at the Solusi University campus in Bulawayo on Sunday, Dube said he was of the opinion that suspending the youth leaders was not the answer without the named cartel leaders proving their innocence.

“Personally, I was a bit disappointed that there is still some restriction on what people can say. I always have respect for young people who do something about what they think is not right. We should not hinder them from free thought,” Dube said.

“These people, who have been said to be cartels, are there. Let them defend themselves. Let them say we are not cartels. Let them say we have not caused any hardships on the Zimbabwean economy.

“Let them explain that they acquired their wealth the right way. Then those young men, who have accused them, should also come forward and prove their allegations. I think that will be the right way.”

The naming of the cartel leaders by the youth leaders came as no surprise as a number of Zanu PF officials and businesspersons with links to the ruling party have been accused of graft before but there has been little appetite for arrest and prosecution — even during the days of the late former President Robert Mugabe.

Where there have been arrests, issues of factionalism — not new in the ruling party — have come up.

“I am expressing my personal opinion not that of the party which I belong to. The so-called cartels should be given a chance to cleanse themselves and prove they are not as bad as the youths alleged. They must explain the source of their wealth,” Dube said.

BY DANIEL NHAKANISO

WELL-RESPECTED Zimbabwean rugby match official Mudiwa Mundawarara is expected to spearhead Rugby Africa’s aggressive push to improve the standard of officiating in Africa after being appointed the continental governing body referees manager yesterday.

Rugby Africa confirmed Mundawarara’s appointment together with that of Tunisian Maha Zaoui as women’s rugby manager before expressing confidence that the duo would help “evolve rugby on the continent”.

Mundawarara will lead the implementation of Rugby Africa’s new “Match Official Pathway” within Rugby Africa, which aims at elevating the standard of refereeing on the continent in line with international standards.

The vastly experienced Zimbabwean match official boasts over 30 years of rugby refereeing experience on the pitch and 28 years on the administrative side during which he served as president of the Zimbabwe Rugby Referees’ Society.

Over the last decade, Mundawarara has also served as World Rugby’s educator for match officiators as well as being a World Rugby accredited citing commissioner.

Mundawarara said he was delighted to have been given the new role before paying tribute to the South African Rugby Union and French Rugby Federation for their support in his career.

“I am greatly honoured to have been offered this important role. I have worked with every one of the team members before, and I am really looking forward to working more closely with them all,” he said.

“Over the years, the support of the South African Rugby Union and French Rugby Federation has been tremendous and I am pleased that it will continue with greater emphasis on talent identification, training and coaching of referees from the rest of the continent.

“This will eventually lead to greater opportunities for them through a selection process drawn from the strengthened development cohorts.”

Rugby Africa president Khaled Babbou welcomed Mundawarara and Zaoui’s appointments to the new roles and believes they will make a significant contribution to the game’s development on the continent.

“We are very happy to strengthen our team of staff with two experienced and dedicated members. I have no doubt that the newly-appointed managers will make a significant difference, given their background of expertise and strong potential of the roles. We are at a tipping point where African Rugby is becoming more visible and a serious player on the global stage as well,” Babbou said.

“Women’s Rugby is a game changer and one of our strategic priorities as Rugby Africa, where we can take leadership. Fair play is at the heart of our sport and consistent decision-making and refereeing at all levels of the game are necessary to provide a professional framework for our member unions.”

BY SILAS NKALA

TWO detectives, who are part of a group of eight police officers accused of fatally assaulting two armed robbery suspects before shooting their bodies and claiming that they were shot while fleeing from custody during indications at the crime scene, absconded trial at the Bulawayo High Court on Tuesday.

Philip Tada, Daniel Nimrod Kwaramba, George Zuze, Onias Mbano, Peter Muchada, Mailos Mairos Ncube, President Masukume and Albert Zhou who were all attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Bulawayo, allegedly tortured to death Andrew Sibanda and Temai Bvumbunu in March 2009 while in police custody.

The detectives, among them senior officers, are being charged with two counts of murder and obstruction of justice.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese postponed the case sine die (indefinitely) after the State represented by Sifiso Sibanda indicated that there were two missing accused persons — Zuze and Mbano.

The court advised that the witnesses will be subpoenaed after the two detectives have been located.

This is not the first time the case has been postponed indefinitely for similar reasons. On November 20, 2018, Makonese also removed the matter from the roll after the State indicated that it was not ready to proceed as Mbano did not appear in court.

The State also removed accused Mgcini Sibanda, to leave eight accused persons and it submitted its intention to place him on the witness box.

It is the State’s case that the eight detectives allegedly killed the two suspected armed robbers on March 8, 2009 and tried to cover up.

Eight witnesses, among them relatives and residents who heard the sound of gunshot are expected to give evidence during trial.

The deceased were arrested after a raid at their Njube home. They were interrogated and allegedly assaulted by the accused persons using batons, sjamboks and open hands.

The suspects succumbed to injuries sustained during the assault.

The detectives reportedly loaded the bodies into a motor vehicle and drove from Bulawayo Central Police Station to a bushy area in Queens Park at night.

They allegedly offloaded the bodies and laid them on the ground facing downwards and shot them in the back to appear as if the deceased had tried to flee during indications.

The officers took the bodies to United Bulawayo Hospitals where post-mortems were conducted by a Doctor Garcia.

The doctor concluded that the cause of death in relation to Andrew was hypovolemic shock, bleeding, ruptured left kidney and left iliac artery and gunshot wounds.

On Bvumbunu, Garcia concluded that the cause of death was acute anaemia, ruptured lungs and left femoral artery and gunshot wounds.

A sudden death docket was then compiled before an inquest was held by the now late Bulawayo provincial magistrate John Masimba.

During the inquest Detective Sergeant Farai Bazil Nyapokoto, revealed that the deceased were assaulted and died while in police custody.

The inquest into the death of the two robbery suspects started on October 23, 2009 and ended on September 10, 2010.

BY BRENNA MATENDERE

A ZIMBABWE Urban Passengers Company (Zupco) commuter omnibus yesterday overturned in Silobela and killed two people on the spot, while over a dozen were seriously injured.
The injured and deceased were ferried to Silobela District Hospital at Loreto Mission.

Silobela legislator Mtokozisi Manoki Mpofu confirmed the accident.

“I can confirm that two people were left dead yesterday when a Zupco kombi overturned just after Khoza Shopping Centre along the Silobela-Nkayi Road. The kombi was coming from Kwekwe going to Donsa Business Centre. I am told the Zupco kombi was overloaded and it also had excess luggage — groceries,” Mpofu said.

“It is a sad day for Silobela and I pass my condolences to the families of the deceased and wish speedy recovery to those injured,” he said.

According to a witness, the Zupco commuter omnibus was racing with another one which was behind so as to arrive at Crossroads Business Centre first.

“The Zupco commuter omnibus and another one which also belongs to Zupco were in a kind of a race and were speeding. When they passed the Khoza Centre, the one which overturned burst its rear tyre and rolled. It was a sad scene because most people lied lifeless on the ground after the accident and were later attended to by police,” Nonhlanhla Ndebele said.

The incident happened barely two days after another Zupco bus killed seven people on the spot in Kwekwe while another passenger died the following day to bring the death toll to eight.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi referred Southern Eye to Midlands provincial spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko.

Goko said he was yet to get a full briefing on the accident by law enforcement agents in Silobela.

“Currently I am in Bulawayo where we are preparing for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. I have, therefore, not got hold of the full details of the accident for me to give a conclusive comment,” he said, referring further questions to his deputy Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende.

Mukwende said she was in a lecture at Midlands State University.