BY FORTUNE MBELE

HARARE City coach Mark Harrison says his boys are geared up for the fight against Castle Lager Premier Soccer League pacesetters Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium this afternoon.

Chicken Inn are also on cloud nine after hammering Caps United 3-1 away from home last week to claim top-spot and will be out to consolidate that position against the Sunshine City Boys.

Harrison acknowledges it will not be easy for his boys, but said they will put up a fight, riding on the good performance displayed against Hwange.

“They (Chicken Inn) are at the top of the log-standings and are in good form. It is going to be a difficult match for us. But we played well last week. We just have to pick up on consistency. We are up for the fight. We have no injuries in camp and we are in good mood and form after playing well last week. I am sure it will be an exciting game against Chicken
Inn,” Harrison said.

Ismael Wadi scored a hat-trick against Hwange for Harare City, who also have Kuda Musharu and Tatenda Tumba as some of their attackers. Defender Marshal Machazane will be looking to contain the red-hot Chicken Inn forward Clive Augusto, who is leading on the scorers’ chart with 11 goals from 10 games.

Augusto notched a hat-trick against Caps United.

Harare City troop to Bulawayo on the backdrop of an indifferent stride in their first 10 games, in which they won four times, drew once and lost five times, while their counterparts
this afternoon have only lost two games against seven wins, a draw and two defeats.

Despite leading the race in the early stages of the competition and are among the favourites to lift the title, Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas has tipped champions FC Platinum to retain the title, with Caps United and Black Rhinos as the top challengers.

devotion column Erasmus Makarimayi

ONE very basic and elementary teaching of the Bible is love. From as early as Sunday school, we are taught to love others as we love ourselves. This includes loving and praying for our enemies.

Love becomes key to Christian identity. However, certain teachings and prayers going on in some settings are what I may call witchcraft in the church. There are prayers commonly called “back to sender”. These are premised on vengeance, a desire by a so called Christian for evil to befall perceived opponents. It is quite interesting to find out what goes on when one
Christian sends fire to another Christian. If ever that prayer is answered, it is not the doing of the Lord, but witchcraft.

Many Christians agree with and confess Ephesians 6:12. It reads: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” They agree that their uncles and aunties can be used by the devil but their battle is not against their relatives, but the devil. No sooner that they have confessed that, do they invoke the wrath of God to befall anyone who wishes them bad. Scriptures commonly used are Psalms 35 and 109, which I ask
you to read.

Before we proceed, let’s recap. We have covered extensively that Jesus came in His earthly physical life during the subsistence of the old covenant or Mosaic law to fulfil it and redeem us from its demands. Galatians 4:4-5 records: “[4] But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Having done this we’re no longer under its demands. We’re free to serve God in Christ who gave us the law of life. Romans 8:2 asserts, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

We have also studied in this column the need to rightly divide the Word.

Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Care, therefore, has to be taken in applying the Word especially on issues before the cross. There are issues that fall out after the cross, such as those the Psalms mentioned earlier. An example and simple case study is the Scripture quoted by Jesus when He declared His mission.

It comes from Isaiah 61:1-2. It reads: “[1] The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; [2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;”

Let’s see how Jesus refers to this issue. His words in Luke 4:18-19 read: “[18] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, [19] To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Please note that, He doesn’t quote Isaiah 61:9 in total to include the day of vengeance.

So using vengeance of Psalms 35 and 109 is error. He came to redeem us. If you’re praying for the demise of your enemies, remember that God sent His Son to die for you and them. He would want everyone to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 declares, “[3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” God wants the witch and murderer saved.

Going through Samaria where Jesus was unwelcome, His disciples asked Him to wipe out the village. Here’s the story. Luke 9:54-56 records: “[54] And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? [55] But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. [56] For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” In the Old Testament, Elijah called fire to destroy, under Christ, souls are saved lest what He came for and died for would be brought to nought. Jesus says in Matthew 5:43-44: “[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.

BY Kevin Mapasure

Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Erol Akbay believes that when his side is in its full stride of their one-touch football, no team can beat them in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

The Mhondoro-Ngezi-based miners tackle FC Platinum at Baobab Stadium this afternoon and Akbay said as long as his team can play the way he demands, they will have a fruitful outing this afternoon.

While Ngezi come against a side that also thrives on the passing game, they believe their best weapon is the one-touch football and they can outdo anyone in that regard.

The hosts go into this encounter at the back of a 3-2 away win over Bulawayo Chiefs, while Norman Mapeza’s side are smarting from a home defeat to Dynamos.

The stage is well set for an enthralling tie between the proponents of pure football.

“I always say when we play football, nobody can beat us. That is our weapon; we have to play football. We have to play one-touch football. Last weekend, we did very well. We played football and we scored three goals. We could have scored five, but it’s ok. We have to do it again this weekend. If we play one-touch football, Platinum will have a very difficult day,” Akbay said.

Ngezi Platinum only recorded their first away win of the season when they managed to score three goals, which gave them confidence going into this match.

Akbay is pleased with the way Donald Teguru has adapted after he turned him to be a central striker from a winger.

The Dutch coach has been having problems with his strike force due to injuries and the unexpected departure of Simba Nhivi.

“I had to change right winger Donald to a striker and he offers good movement. He can play well in the position. We have had no strikers, they have been injured and Donald is doing very good. I hope that he gives us three goals this weekend,” Akbay said.

FC Platinum have one of the strongest defence in the top division, and scoring goals against them is always a daunting task.

The Zvishavane-based side will be looking to re-align their season with a victory at the Baobab, but so far they have not been as good as they were last season.

They have already dropped five points on the road.

By Freeman Makopa

Triathlon Zimbabwe was impressed with the good show put up by the national junior team at the African Triathlon Championship held in Shandrani, Mauritius last weekend, where the team brought back three medals.

The team, which comprised of Matt Denslow, Luke Hacker, Luke Steffens, Andie Kuipers and Mikayla Colegrave competed in the U-19 category, while George Ascott battled it out in the 13/14-year category.

Ascott proved to be stronger than his opponents, striking gold in the ATU Youth event on Saturday. On the other hand, the mixed relay team won silver.

Triathlon Zimbabwe team coach Pamela Fulton expressed satisfaction over the youngsters’ performance.

“We took a Zimbabwe Triathlon team of juniors down to compete and they did exceedingly well in a very challenging tournament. We hope that this is a sign of good future for team Zimbabwe.

“They are good sports ambassadors of our country and have won the hearts and support of the locals back home through the way they carry themselves,” she said.

Local triathletes continue to shine at international arena, flying the country’s flag high.

HOME to some of the most majestic granite scenery in the world, the Matobo National Park is one of the unsung highlights of Zimbabwe. This Unesco World Heritage Site is a stunning and worldly landscape of balancing rocks, kopjes — giant boulders unfeasibly teetering on top of one another.

When you visit this place, it is easy to understand why Matobo is considered the spiritual home of Zimbabwe. The national park is separated into two sections — the recreational park and the game park.

The recreational park includes World’s View (a scenic viewpoint and burial site of Rhodesia’s founder Cecil John Rhodes) and ancient San rock art caves.

One of Zimbabwe’s most breath-taking sites, the aptly named World’s View takes in epic 360-degree views of the park. The peacefulness up here is immense, taking on a spiritual quality that makes it clear why it is so sacred to the Ndebele people.

It is also the burial spot of Rhodes, whose grave sits, somewhat controversially, atop between two boulders.

Downhill from Rhodes’ grave is the Shangani River Memorial. Erected in 1904, it pays tribute to Allan Wilson and his soldiers who were wiped out by General Mtjaan and his 30 000 Ndebele warriors when attempting to take over the territory.

The landscape up here is surreal with giant boulders covered in multi-coloured lichen, clumps of hair-like grass and rainbow-striped lizards flitting between the rocks, all of which make it feel like another planet.

The entry fee also gains you access to the Pomongwe and Nswatugi rock art caves.

Dotted around the 425km Matobo National Park are 3 000 officially registered rock-art sites, including one of the best collections in the world of San paintings (estimated to be anywhere from 6 000 to 10 000 years old). White Rhino Shelter, Bambata Cave, Pomongwe Cave and Nswatugi Cave have some fine examples.

The game park may not have the most prolific wildlife in Zimbabwe — it has been hard hit by poaching — but it remains one of the best places to see both black and white rhinos (although the black rhinos are difficult to spot).

It also has the highest density of leopards in Zimbabwe, but you will be extremely lucky to spot one. Matobo is home to one-third of the world’s species of eagle, so you may see black eagles, African hawk eagles or rare Cape eagle owls.

— Lonely Planet

BY KENNETH NYANGANI

SLAIN Chiadzwa diamond panner Terrence Masendeke’s family has revealed that a post-mortem report released by government pathologists on Thursday contained shocking details, including three bullets which were plucked out of deceased’s body.

Terrence was reportedly shot dead by State security agents on May 15 on accusations of panning in a protected diamond field in Chiadzwa.

“When the post-mortem results were read to us on Thursday, we cried. It was a horrific experience for us the family. He had three bullets, which were removed from the body. They just read the results to us, but the High Court ruled that we should be given copies of the post–mortem report,” deceased’s uncle, Richard Masendeke told NewsDay Weekender yesterday.

“Another post-mortem is going to be carried out today (yesterday). This one is being facilitated by our lawyers. It’s an independent post-mortem. From there, we are hoping that the body will be carried to Mutare General Hospital as we organise for his burial in Buhera.”

The report came after the family last week took Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema and Commissioner-General of police Godwin Matanga to the High Court, demanding an urgent autopsy and release of the body for burial. Police had earlier indicated that the post-mortem would only be conducted on June 25 due to the shortage of pathologists at public hospitals.

The family expressed fears that further delays in carrying out the post-mortem would compromise evidence.

According to the court papers, Masendeke was fatally shot on May 15 by ex-policeman Dulula Chinamano, in full view of his colleagues.

BY CHARLES LAITON

SOUTH AFRICA-BASED Zimbabwean businessman Frank Buyanga has been taken to court by Harare man, Patison Sithole, who is seeking his civil imprisonment over a 2014 US$172 000 debt which has remained unserviced since three years ago.

According to the court papers, Sithole instituted civil proceedings against Zimcortrust Limited, Buyanga and one Fiona Machekeche sometime in August 2015. The legal suit culminates from a dispute over a residential stand in Glen Lorne, Harare.

When the matter was determined by High Court judge Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo on November 18, 2015, Buyanga and his co-defendants were ordered to pay Sithole over US$100 000, but the pair has defied the order.

This has prompted Sithole to approach the High Court for a civil imprisonment order.

“You (Frank Buyanga) are called upon to pay the plaintiff (Patison Sithole) the sum of US$172 204,30, with interest thereon at the prescribed rate of 5% per annum from November 18,
2015 to the date of payment. You are required to pay this sum by virtue of a judgment obtained against you in the High Court at Harare on November 18, 2015, under which you were also ordered to pay the cost of that case, which amount is to be taxed,” Sithole said in the summons for civil imprisonment.

Sithole further said in the event that Buyanga failed to pay the said cash, he would have to appear before a High Court judge and explain his position.

“If you fail to pay the sum specified above, you must appear before the High Court at Harare on June 12, 2019, at 10am, to explain why you have not paid it and to show cause why an order for your imprisonment should not be made on account of your failure to pay. You should bring with you evidence of your financial position, and it will be in your own interest to give the court the evidence of your income from wages, salary or other earnings, and any other income you may receive from any other source, your expenses for yourself and any dependents and any other liabilities you may be subject.”

According to the summons, Buyanga would not be committed to prison if his position on how he intended to extinguish the debt is be accepted by the court. The matter is pending.

BY SILAS NKALA

THE Zanu PF Matabeleland North provincial co-ordinating committee is meeting in Lupane to discuss prospective candidate for Lupane East constituency, amid reports that Finance minister Mthuli Ncube is interested in the seat.

The seat fell vacant after the incumbent legislator, Sithembile Gumbo (Zanu PF), died recently.

Zanu PF Matabeleland North chairman and Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo confirmed today’s meeting.

“Yes, it is true we are holding a meeting tomorrow (today), starting at 11am to discuss the candidature for the Lupane East constituency,” Moyo said.

According to reports, Ncube is tipped to be one of the candidates vying for the constituency.

But Moyo professed ignorance about Ncube’s possible candidature.

“I do not know anything about that. He has not yet told me, and I have not asked him about that. I am just hearing this from you, newspapers,” he said.

Ncube, who was appointed Finance minister by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a technocrat, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Currently, Ncube has not been directly linked to any political party in the country.

BY VENERANDA LANGA

HARARE residents yesterday dismissed the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill (MOPA), describing it as repressive and an attempt to protect government and law enforcement agents who are being given more powers in the proposed law.

They said this during public hearings on MOPA, which were jointly hosted by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and the Parliamentary Thematic Committee on Peace and Security at the Harare City Sports Centre.

Manicaland senator Douglas Mwonzora (MDC Alliance) told participants that the Bill, which was brought before Parliament by Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema, sought to make provisions regarding public peace, security and order, as well as to replace the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

A member of the public, Bernard Ncube, said MOPA was worse than POSA.

“This law has nothing to do with protecting citizens at all and in most clauses, it is aimed at protecting the leaders against disgruntled citizens,” he said.

“It fails to take into account that if people protest, it is because something is wrong pertaining to their rights. If possible, the whole Bill must be returned to the Home Affairs minister – and we are not saying amend it, we are saying we do not want the whole Bill because why should we continue applying to be allowed to demonstrate, which is enshrined in the constitution?”

Zimbabwe Centre for Equal Opportunities president Paddington Japajapa said the Bill should actually ban police heavy-handedness during demonstrations and prescribe the use of minimum force to disperse rowdy crowds.

“The Bill should not allow the army near any demonstrations. Only the police must be deployed because the army is trained to kill and for war. The army should be sent only when we are dealing with dissidents or armed gangs and not demonstrations,” Japajapa said.

“You should train, equip and empower the police, and you can purchase millions of water canisters or teargas, but we are saying no to the provision that the President can deploy the army on demonstrators.”

Macdonald Moyo, a researcher with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, said clause 13 of MOPA, which permits the use of firearms, would cause more people to be killed during demonstrations.

He said police had other means of dispersing people in the event of a violent protest.

A public interest lawyer, Veronica Zano, was concerned about the classification of a public meeting in the Bill, which stipulates that it is a gathering of 15 or more people, who must apply to the police for permission to hold a public meeting.

BY RICHARD MUPONDE

SILIKWE Clinic in the Matshetsheni area of Gwanda has been closed after goblins reportedly sexually assaulted nurses and other female support staff, forcing them to flee the health institution last week.

Happenings at the clinic, which is under Chief Mbiko Masuku, have been blamed on suspected goblins linked to a local businessman.

The issue has forced the traditional leader to summon his subjects to a meeting today (Saturday) so that a solution is found.

Reports from Matshetsheni suggest that the suspected goblins strike during the night after the nurses have retired to bed, giving them sleepless nights.

After the nurses fled, the clinic was shut down, leaving villagers stranded.

Chief Masuku confirmed the problem and promised to give a comprehensive statement next week.

“Phone me on Monday. I would have done something and will comment fully,” he said.

Gwanda district administrator Judge Dube said he only saw the issue on social media platforms and directed questions to the chief and Ministry of Health officials.

“I have only read about this on WhatsApp. I do not have the details. I think the district nursing officer can give you a true picture or the chief,” Dube said.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the clinic closed last week.

“The nurses complained about their sexual torment, which they said happened for a week. The matter was brought to the local leadership’s attention after the nurses had fled.”