BY FORTUNE MBELE

HWANGE seek to recover from the slump in form that has seen the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League returnees lose all of their last four matches.

They will attempt to arrest the rot when they host Triangle at the Colliery on Sunday.

Hwange made a blistering start to their campaign this term, but have since lost their mojo and became a punch-bag in their last five matches.

During the five-match run, Hwange have managed to score just a single goal, and have lost to Caps United, Chapungu, Black Rhinos and Harare City.

Their win against Manica Diamonds back in April handed them their last set of maximum points, with the draw against Highlanders the best they have achieved since then.

That decline in form has seen Chipangano drastically drop to position 11 with 13 points and a defeat to Triangle, who have also been struggling of late, could see them further slide
to the relegation zone as TelOne and Highlanders, both on 11 points, are steadily picking up points.

Hwange coach Nation Dube dismissed their poor run as just a bad patch which they will soon
overcome.

“This happens in football. You can go for 11 games winning and start losing like Manchester United. We are trying to motivate the boys, so we can get where we were when the season started,” he said.

“The Triangle match is just like any other. It has been long since we won a game and we have to win to get back our confidence.”

After Triangle, Hwange will be away to Mushowani Stars before hosting basement side Bulawayo Chiefs.

By Sports Reporter

The Manyuchi Boxing Academy, owned by Zimbabwe’s boxing super star Charles Manyuchi, is set to celebrate success in the recently staged Restoration Fight on Africa Day.

Manyuchi triumphed over Rodolfo Pablo Ezequiel Acosta, of Argentina, in the main bout at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on Africa Day.

He was making a return to the boxing ring after a long lay-off and he has his next fight on August 3 against Ayoub Nefzi in Tunisia, as he takes steps to get back to the main stage of world boxing.

With that win over Acosta, he became the unification GBU/UBC middleweight inter-continental title champion. Before taking to the ring, he watched boxers that he is grooming at his academy also shining bright.

Hassam Milanzi was crowned the UBC champion after defeating his Zambian counterpart, Philimon Hara, by unanimous decision following 12 rounds.

On the ladies front, Kudakwashe Chivandire took away the WIBA bantamweight title from Zambia’s Joyce Chileshe.

Brendon Denese and Evans Usavihwevhu were also successful against their Zambian opponents.

As a way of motivating the youngsters in his academy, Manyuchi will hold victory celebrations in the small town of Chivhu.

BY XOLISANI NCUBE

Struggling teachers have petitioned Parliament to deal with their low wages, saying most of them were now unable to report for duty as the economic situation continues to erode their earnings.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) and its sister association Progressive Teachers Union (PTUZ), yesterday handed in their petition to Parliament so that lawmakers could force the Executive to pay them better salaries.

The teachers want government to pay a cushioning allowance in United States dollars to every teacher over and above their soon-to-be reviewed RTGS salaries.

“The petition presented by the teachers’ unions, is seeking for the intervention of legislators in facilitating that teachers’ low salaries and allowances that are paid in RTGS$ should also be reviewed and paid in full, considering of the inter-bank rate because the same salaries were computed on contracts which were consummated before the announcement of the Reserve

Bank (of Zimbabwe) monetary policy which sought to review, the exchange rate,” said a statement issued by the educators.

“Ongoing talks between civil servants who are represented at APEX Council level and the government have been consistently failing to yield results for a period spanning over seven years.

The present scenario in salary negotiations does not provide for sectoral labour bargaining processes, as a result, civil servants negotiate for salary reviews as a collective, and in the process, the unique needs of specialised fields such as teaching are not given prominence at the National Joint Negotiating Forum,” the statement read.

Outlined in the petition was also the fact that the teachers want Parliament in line with its oversight and legislative role of protecting the provisions of the Constitution and national interests, to undertake, insist and ensure that the State promptly reviews, calculates and pay teachers’ salaries in line with the current rate of inflation.

Teachers in Zimbabwe make the largest percentage of the restive civil servants, whose wages and salaries have been wiped by the rising inflation that has hit Zimbabwe for the past several months.

The teachers want Parliament to establish a legislation that allows for sectoral collective bargaining systems, a process that they anticipate to bring relief to ineffective labour bargaining processes.

BY BRENNA MATENDERE

MASHONALAND West province is facing a critical shortage of second line anti-retroviral drugs and antibiotics, putting to risk the lives of HIV-positive people at risk, a health official has confirmed.

Chinhoyi and Kadoma are the worst-hit districts.

A survey conducted by NewsDay revealed that the Integrated TB and HIV Centre in Kadoma, which is the biggest referral centre for people living with HIV in the gold-mining district is only left with three weeks’ supply of Aba-lam, a critical second line ARV.

On the other hand, the centre has completely run out of cotrimoxazole, an antibiotic taken by HIV patients on both first and second line treatment. Patients are sourcing antibiotics from local pharmacies, which are demanding foreign currency.

It is government policy to distribute these drugs for free.

Chinhoyi faces a similar situation, with health centres left with less than a month’s supply of the life-prolonging drugs.

Stella Manyere, head of the Kadoma Integrated TB and HIV Centre said it was the first time that the institution had faced problems.

“When a person living with HIV comes here, we normally give them drugs that can last them up to three months, because most of them are very mobile as they are artisanal miners and cannot afford to keep coming back in a short spaces of time due to the nature of their work. However, our Aba-lam stock can no longer last a month and it is an essential second line drug.

On the other hand, we no longer have Cotri in stock,” she said.

Manyere said the institution had alerted the provincial health office in Chinhoyi and were told that the drugs were unavailable.

“The person whom we phoned is now at Natpharm in Harare, where the drugs come from, revealed that the centre does not have the drugs and is waiting for the next shipment of the medicines. We are not aware as to when that will be. We are now anxious because there will be a serious problem if we run dry on the second line drug,” she said.

A total of 5 102 people living with HIV are on anti-retroviral treatment at the Kadoma Integrated TB and HIV Centre. Out of these, 199 are now on the second line stage.

National Aids Council (NAC) is mandated with purchasing ARVs, using the Aids Levy Fund and hands them over to Natpharm for distribution.

NAC spokesperson Madeline Dube, said her organisation was faced with an acute challenge of foreign currency to acquire the drugs, hence the shortages. She indicated that efforts to jettison relevant authorities to act on the problem including First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is the health ambassador had hit a brick wall as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe continues to fail to provide forex.

Dube also highlighted that the introduction of the interbank market had also created another challenge as it eroded the US$23 million meant for the acquisition of the drugs.

BY SIMBARASHE SITHOLE

A 37-YEAR-OLD jealous Bindura man is in serious trouble after he assaulted a man who gave his wife a lift.

The enraged man then proceeded to set their rented house on fire, destroying property worth over US$23 000, including that of his landlord.

Brian John (37), of section 6 at Trojan Mine, Bindura, pleaded not guilty before Bindura magistrate Christopher Maturure yesterday, who remanded him in custody to Monday next
week.

The State, led by Tariro Janhi, alleges that on February 27, John saw his wife, Memory Gondiwa, being dropped off by Boyd Ngulo (44), a Bindura council worker, at around 2pm at Tendai Hall in Chipadze, Bindura.

John charged towards the car and accused Ngulo of having an adulterous affair with his wife before assaulting him with a stone.

Ngulo sustained a swollen face and bruises all over the body.

John then went to Bindura showground, where Gondiwa plies her trade as a vendor and told her that he wanted to fix her by burning down the house and dumping her and the children.

In a fit of rage, John went to their rented property and set the house ablaze.

Everything was reduced to ashes, including his landlord Elias Kimu’s property.

John sent Gondiwa text messages informing her about what he had done. She filed a police report, leading to his arrest.

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

A HOME Affairs ministry official allegedly fondled a 29-year-old Marondera woman who had visited the offices to inquire on her passport on Monday appeared before magistrate Rumbidzai Munemo facing indecent assault charges.

Wilbert Mugoni (41), who is attached at the Passport Offices in Marondera pleaded not guilty to the charges after he was dragged to court by Netsai Chigodora.

The accused, who is represented by Emmanuel Dera was remanded out of custody on free bail and is expected in court today.

According to court papers, on July 10 last year, Chigodora applied for a passport at the RG’s Office in Marondera.

On May 22 this year, the complainant was referred to the registrar of passports’ office to inquire about the delay in the processing of her travel document. Mugoni, who was in the office at the time, took Chigodora’s mobile number and dismissed her claiming he was busy and promised to call her over the passport issue.

Mugoni allegedly later phoned the complainant and summoned her to Mbuya Nehanda Street near Cherutombo Shopping Centre to discuss the issue. It is alleged that the two started walking towards Paradise Park, where along the way the accused fondled Chigodora’s breasts and backside before kissing her on the neck. Complainant then filed a police report, leading to

Mugoni’s arrest.Phyllis Mudekwa represented the State.

By Sindiso Dube

TelOne FC coach Joel Luphahla has said his youthful side is desperate for a win in order to lift their spirits following a three-match winless run.

Despite their attractive football, TelOne have managed only one win in their last five matches and more worryingly, they have won just twice in the first 10 matches of the season, even though their record is not the worst in the premier league.

On Sunday, they face an uphill task against an inform Black Rhinos side at home.

Black Rhinos are coming from a confidence-boosting 2-1 win over Herentals, which was their third win in their last five matches.

Luphahla said his team now needed a win to keep them going as well as boost their confidence.

“The boys have been playing well, but not getting positive results from the few last games. We are displaying good and exciting football, but we are failing to get that set of maximum points. It has been a string of draws and losses,” he said this week.

“We need a win now to boost the boys’ confidence and morale. The poor results have dampened the boys’ confidence and we need to turn the tables. We do not have as much experience, but I don’t regret having the young, inexperienced lads,” he said.

The former Warriors winger expects a tough encounter against Black Rhinos, who have only lost twice so far this term.

“It will be a difficult game, playing a physical and more experienced Black Rhinos team because looking at our team, it’s mainly composed of youths who are fresh from Division One. We will approach this match with caution and discipline, because we know it’s never easy playing against these experienced teams.”

TelOne will miss the services of Frank Bushiri, who was shown a red card against Highlanders for a foul on Prince Dube as well as James Jam, who accumulated three yellow cards.

BY STEPHEN CHADENGA

THE Land Commission, chaired by Justice Tendai Uchena, will on Monday start making inquiries into the sale of State land in and around the Midlands province dating back to 2005, a senior government official has said.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs permanent secretary Virginia Mabiza, who is secretary to the commission, said they would be in the province from June 10 to June 28, to gather public views on double or multiple allocations, allocation of stands on spaces meant for schools, clinics, roads, recreational sites, wetlands and open spaces, among others.

“The commission shall commence its inquiries in Midlands province by conducting site visits to farms, locations or urban State land units,” she said in a statement.

“After site visits, the commission will hear government officials, local authorities, land developers and homeseekers who purchased stands and beneficiaries of urban State land from June 14 to 28, 2019.”

She said the sites that would be visited include Lot 73 of Umsungwe Block, Hertfordshire (Phase 1 and 2), Lot 1 of 5A West Gwelo Block and Belton of Clysdale (Tatenda Park), Subdivision 4 of Gwelo Small Holdings (Woodlands), Adelaide Park in Senga, Mkoba 12 Infill, portion of Central Estates in Mvuma, Mabula in Zvishavane and Makgakooshla in Shurugwi.

In March, at a devolution workshop in Gweru, Local Government minister July Moyo warned land developers in the Midlands province that the long arm of the law would soon catch up with those allocating residential stands on unsuitable sites such as wetlands.

BY TATENDA CHITAGU

ZIMBABWE’S hectarage under timber declined sharply from 120 000 to 70 000, about 41%, last year due to the harsh business environment, illegal settlers, miners, veld fires and the chaotic land reform programme, a situation that will lead to timber shortages in the near future, the Timber Producers Federation has said.

Speaking at an agriculture and forestry sector workshop in Harare, Timber Producers Federation chief executive, Darlington Duwa, said there is need for recapitalisation of the sector to avert domestic timber supply shortages.

The workshop was organised by the Climate Change Management Department in the Ministry of Lands and supported by the United Nations Development Programme.

“Plantations hectarage has declined from 120 000 hectares of commercial timber plantations to 70 000 last year. The general picture is that the area is declining. We do have a temporary unplanted area of 40 000 hectares,” he said.

“This is because of numerous challenges which have to do with the economy, shortages of diesel and working capital, among others, including the ease of doing business and veld fires that left large ripe trees burnt. A lot of areas have been damaged and this affected operations. As a result, companies downsized. There are also illegal settlers in our plantations.”

Zimbabwe Forestry Commission researcher Tatenda Gotore weighed in, saying there was also a shortage of improved tree species that could withstand changing climate.

“There is a steady decline in the supply of appropriate tree species. Shortage of suitable pine seed species is also hampering planting. The industry needs Pinus patula or Pinus maximinnoi/ tercunuminii, which are in short supply. The need for improved seed (varieties) is growing and we should look for other varieties because the timber industry is under 50% capacity utilisation, and they also cannot access low interest loans,” he said.

“Commercial plantation owners meet their own financing requirements. In recent years, it has become difficult to borrow due to high interest rates and perceived country risk. Thus, some companies have financed their operations through arrangements where payment is done in kind.”

Gotore said there are other policy barriers to the development of the timber industry, like lack of a national forest policy to guide forestry development, weak implementation of the
Forest Act as it relates to forest fires, prohibitive levies on the timber industry, lack of incentives on the “limping” industry as well as the unavailability of land for new commercial timber plantations.

He said if there are no interventions, the country would face timber shortages starting from 2025.