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.”

BY JAMES MUONWA

POLICE in Kadoma yesterday arrested NewsDay correspondent Nunurai Jena for allegedly shooting pictures at a roadblock.

Jena said the police officers confiscated his phone, which he was using to take the images, before hauling him to Rimuka Police Station.

He identified the arresting officers as one Mukumba and Assistant Inspector Samboka.

Jena was in the city to cover the Kadoma ward 2 by-election as well as the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services public hearings.

The roadblock where Jena was arrested is situated in ward 2, where there is a by-election to choose a new councillor today .

The seat fell vacant following MDC-Alliance councillor Michael Gore’s imprisonment four months ago for inciting public violence during the January violent protests against fuel price
hikes.

Jena said the police initially indicated they would prefer charging him for “disorderly conduct”.

“At first, the police officers said they were going to charge me for disorderly conduct. While I was in detention, I sent distress calls to all relevant media partners so that they could facilitate my release from the unlawful arrest,” he said

“However, after spending three hours being held at Rimuka Police Station, I was finally released without charge.”

Jena, an accredited journalist with the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), is a Mashonaland West-based correspondent for NewsDay and The Standard, both publications under the Alpha Media Holdings stable.

BY Ruvimbo Muchenje

ZESA’S audit and risk management committee chairperson, Tichaona Timire, has said the ongoing power cuts are a threat to investment in the country and bemoaned the shortage of foreign currency, which he said is hampering efforts to procure critical equipment to keep the country powered.

Addressing a Zesa risk management competition awards ceremony in Harare yesterday, Timire said electricity, being the key driver of economic growth should be consistently available to attract investors.

“Sustained energy provision is key in economic growth as investors want to invest in an economy where there is adequate and reliable energy. This is because electricity is the one that drives all economic activities of a nation,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Energy and Power Development deputy minister Magna Mudyiwa echoed similar sentiments, saying power cuts were a major threat to economic growth.

“It is no secret that electricity is a critical economic enabler,” she said

Mudyiwa also said the ongoing load-shedding compromise government’s “Zimbabwe is open for business” drive.

“It threatens to derail our attainment of vision 2030 of an upper-middle income economy. Furthermore, where there is no adequate power, the mantra ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ is made hollow,” she said.

Mudyiwa urged Zimbabweans at large to desist from vandalising Zesa property, adding that last year alone, the power utility lost property worth US$4 million to vandalism.

EDITORIAL

THE alleged abduction and torture of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe leader, Obert Masaraure, by suspected State security agents on Wednesday, is a glaring indictment on the government and a demonstration of how it is not keen on departing from its old political culture established by former President Robert Mugabe.

Quite clearly, the so-called “Second Republic” has failed to live up to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hype regarding a new political culture, proving the government’s unwillingness to re-join the family of nations by upholding democratic tenets such as respect for human rights and allowing workers their right to demonstrate.

The government should simply sort out its political mess if it ever wants to deliver the economic salvation the majority of citizens are desperate for. Abducting, threatening or arresting outspoken people is not going to help its cause, both at home and abroad. It is really strange, but not surprising, that such horrendous acts on Masaraure would be carried out right at a time the government is engaging the European Union (EU) to try and curry favour with the powerful bloc after many years in the cold.

Since coming to power in November 2017, the Harare administration has wasted many opportunities it could have used to clean up its act and ensure it is fully embraced by the community of nations. Rather, it has continued to act like a rogue regime, dashing any hopes of real re-engagement. Several people have been killed by security forces under Mnangagwa’s two-year-old administration.

Ironically, the just-ended three-day nationwide strike by rural teachers over low salaries and high cost of living was constitutional after a 14-day notice had been served to the State, which is probably why the powers-that-be resorted to unorthodox means to clip the teachers’ wings through abductions and torture.

Persecuting poorly-paid teachers, or any other worker for that matter, is not going to help the government’s cause, but will simply show its unwillingness to change despite all the rhetoric, most of which has proven to be just that – rhetoric. It’s time for the government to do some serious soul searching and do the right thing for the benefit of ordinary Zimbabweans, most of who are now regretting ever being part of the march that endorsed the military coup that ushered Mnangagwa to the helm in November 2017.

Opinion Ashley Thaba

I LOVE when people ask me questions about life and wonder what the Bible says about it. It gives me a reason to seek God and study my Bible. As I will be writing these weekly motivational columns, I encourage you to feel free to write to me. I am not saying I have all the answers, but I do serve a God who has all the answers and promises “we have not, because we ask not”.

So, let’s search the scriptures together and see if God is giving us answers to the common questions many of us are asking. This week, I want to tackle a question I get asked often: “Is it wrong to be a mega rich pastor?”

The answer is not as simple as yes or no.

I would like to answer this as objectively as possible, so let’s first define who the pastor is from a biblical perspective.

In the Bible, a pastor is an elder in the church. As such, there are clear guidelines laid out as to what type of character he should have. This list, outlined mainly in 1 Timothy 3:1-7
and Titus 1:6-9, is a practical guide to help church members choose as their leader a man worthy of that position.

Among others, these qualities include not being quick tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain, hospitable, self-controlled, disciplined, able to teach, not lovers of money, faithful to their wife, and to have a good reputation with outsiders.

Let’s define what the pastor is supposed to do. In a column like this, I will need to summarise. In summary, a pastor is to prepare God’s people for works of service (Ephesians 4:12),
to lead them to a knowledge of the truth, and to encourage them to stay faithful to the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15) and to walk in the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:22).

The word, “pastor”, comes from the Latin word which means shepherd. When the word began to be used, it described a church leader treating his people like a shepherd would treat his
flock – leading them to a place where they would be well fed and safe. Following this analogy, according to the Bible, the only way to be “well fed” is found in John 6:35, which states: “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’.”

The only way to be safe is to surrender to God’s sovereign protection over us. Literally, thousands of verses promise us refuge and shelter in God, so I won’t attempt to list them all.
Instead, I will choose one. Psalms 46:1 tells us: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

We can deduce, therefore, that the main goal of a pastor is to lead people to Jesus, for in worshipping and focusing on Him, all the needs of those in his congregation will be met.
Furthermore, it can also be deduced that if a man is leading people to worship him, then that would be wrong. And it wouldn’t be the first time.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 is derived from a letter, where the Apostle Paul is writing to a pastor named Timothy, who is dealing with other area pastors. This is what Paul tells him: “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4] they are conceited and understand nothing… and who think that godliness
is a means to financial gain.”

Coming back to the original question: Is it wrong to be a mega rich pastor? To answer that, we would need to examine how he is becoming wealthy. The Bible teaches over and over that we
are to trust God with our financial needs and simply seek Him first, trusting Him to be our provider. Therefore, it is neither the absence nor the presence of wealth that is the
problem. It is the pursuit of money and the willingness to manipulate people to accumulate it. It is greed, selfishness and the desire to store up treasures on earth instead of in
heaven as scripture advises that becomes the sin.

It is amassing great wealth through exploiting those who are far less privileged that you are called to “shepherd” and take care of that is bad.
We see that the pastors of the Bible gave sacrificially to take care of their “flocks” in Acts 4:32-35, 1 Corinthians 9:13-18, Hebrews 13:16, Acts 20:33-35 to name a few references.

1 Corinthians 9:11 assures us that a pastor who sows spiritual seed is able to reap a material harvest, so there is nothing wrong with a pastor earning an income. The problem becomes
when he earns that income by dishonest and self-centred practices.

I would encourage you to study the scriptures and observe the character of the men/women of God who you are allowing to “shepherd” you. Do they possess the biblical characteristics laid
out above? Are they leading you to put your focus on Christ or themselves? That is not a question I can answer. Only you can and you would be wise to do so, lest you be led astray and
find yourself swindled out of your hard-earned money.

If you would like to hear more of my thoughts on this topic, I did a TV interview, where I was asked many questions on this topic in depth. Go to YouTube and search for Ashley Thaba.
Look for the interview done by Dichi, or some of you might know him better by the character he plays, Seretse, on the TV soapie, Muvhango!