New York (CNN Business)

The music industry has changed dramatically since Apple disrupted the way people buy songs and albums nearly two decades ago. So Apple is phasing out iTunes in favor of three more modern apps.

Apple announced Monday that iTunes will be replaced by a trio of desktop apps called Music, TV and Podcasts — similar to how these services are already divided on iPhones and iPads. It will still exist as a standalone iOS app and on Windows PCs.

Previous purchases and libraries will be maintained in each new app on Mac computers, a spokesperson told CNN Business.

At its Worldwide Developer Conference in San Jose, Apple (AAPL) showed off its next-generation mobile software iOS 13, which got a dark mode, improved Siri capabilites and an undo gesture, as well as a new Mac Pro that looks like a cheese grater.

But the move to phase out iTunes didn’t come as a total surprise as the company has been pushing users toward its Apple Music subscription service. After all, Apple can charge a monthly fee to boost revenue rather than wait for a customer to buy a few songs.

The Apple Music app is focused on music and personalized recommendations, the Podcasts app lets you search with the help of machine learning and the TV app will blend content from networks such as HBO and Showtime, along with original programming from Apple.

The company said users will still be able to purchase and download songs through iTunes’ Music store within the Music app, and can buy movies and TV shows in the Apple TV app. iTunes gift cards will stay active, a spokesperson told CNN Business.

For people who used iTunes to sync up their devices, Apple said a tool will now be located via the sidebar in Finder on their Macs.

MacOS features unveiled at WWDC typically launch in the fall.

ITunes formally launched in 2001 but its music store, launched two years later, changed the way we buy songs and albums. The format came at a time the music business struggled with online piracy and file-sharing sites. With a relatively intuitive user interface, a simple billing tool and an on-demand catalogue, iTunes far better experience than any other platform at the time.

ITunes’ strategy has been closely aligned with Apple’s devices business, but the rise of subscription content and services is a clear shift away from the iTunes model, said Jack Kent, analyst of IHS Markit.

“For Apple’s own business, it marks the strategic shift away from a central hardware focus to a business in which subscription content and services are increasingly important for margin and revenues,” said Kent, referencing the iPhone’s sluggish sales.
IHS Markit’s research found subscription services accounted for more than 80% of online music and video revenues in 2018, compared with less than 10% in 2008, in North America and Western Europe.

Over the years, critics argued standalone apps — like the ones already on iPhones and iPads — could offer a smarter approach. Now that Apple has now acquired 56 million paying customers, perhaps the time is ripe for such a change.

“Apple had to put the pieces in place to make it all happen,” said Ramon Llamas of IDC Research. “If you look at consumer behavior in which users are willing to pay a regular fee for unlimited content — and that’s what they can get from other services such as Spotify, Pandora and Netflix — Apple is smartly aligning itself against those competitors with its own approach.”

But the news doesn’t mean CEO Tim Cook will remotely deleting years of downloaded and purchased songs and movies. It will likely roll out next steps to manage and access downloaded content in other ways, such as via Apple Music.

“Building a bridge is always important in order to not alienate its current user base, but I’d argue that it has already taken that step considering the Apple Music numbers,” Llamas said. “Clearly, it needs to direct people in that direction and show a clear cut-off date so that users are prepared.”

MOTIVATION Ashley Thaba

Victor Frankl lived in the time of Nazi Germany. He was a psychiatrist by profession and had been taught that we are a product of our environments, meaning the nature around us shapes who we become.

However, he had an “aha” moment. One day, naked and alone in the middle of the concentration camp, he realised everything he had been taught was a lie and that he did not have to be a product of his environment.

He realised that though the guards could torture him, kill his family (and they did), starve him, do despicable experiments on him and everything else that should literally make a man pray for death to come, he could still choose his response.

He realised that no one had the capacity to take away his character and ability to love others and respond with kindness. Just because everyone did evil around him did not mean he had to do evil. He had a choice to choose how he would respond and react to evil. As he began to love his enemies, he began to find purpose in his life. Amid the horrors that we can hardly even speak of or conceive, he began to change his mind in order to seek the power to love his torturers. He began to seek happiness amid the most depressing scenes the modern world has ever experienced.

And here is the coolest thing that has relevance for us today. As he began to choose happiness, as he began to choose to give his life a purpose to love the unlovable and to be a good man living in a pit of evil — he began to feel free. He began to become physically healthier! As his mind and attitude changed, his actual emotional and physical state also changed!

Eventually, even the guards came and said though you are in captivity and we are “free”, it seems you are freer than us. They realised that the mental freedom to love, to do right, and to be happy is more valuable than the kind of freedom that comes when you don’t live in chains. They were not in literal captivity, but they lived in immense guilt because of the way they treated their fellow man, but their fear of punishment kept them living like animals, torturing innocent people for no good reason.

Many of us are free in that we do not live in jail, but our minds hold us captive to thoughts that lead us to feel enslaved to bitterness, anger, corruption and hate. It destroys our freedom to feel at peace.

The Bible is full of verses telling us to love our neighbour and enemies. The Bible tells us to get rid of all bitterness and anger and to walk in light. The Bible tells us to trust in the Lord and do good. The Bible even talks about the slaves of ancient times being free once they chose to follow Christ. It seems like an oxymoron. How can someone be a slave and yet still be free? The story of Victor Frankl puts a modern example to that verse and that concept.

“Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:18-25

In a world where many of us have done things we are ashamed of — things that lead us to live in darkness for fear that our sins will find, God says don’t be so afraid of the metal bars of jail or the repercussions of confessing your sins. Real freedom is found in repenting of our sins and turning away from our evil ways.

Real joy and happiness are found in coming clean and gaining mental clarity and not living in guilt and shame. Real joy can be found God is telling us to choose obedience to the path of righteousness rather than the path to self-gain, which leads us to making decisions which end up leading to shame. God is telling us how that we can be happy.

It is a choice we make when we choose who and what we will love in this world. It is a choice we make when we cease to claim we are victims of the evil that surrounds us. We can rise above it and choose to live righteous lives, do good deeds, and love people even when they don’t deserve it.

Write me with any questions you would like me to answer at askthaba@gmail.com or through my Facebook page — Mom to Mom: Parenting Consultations.

BY WINSTONE ANTONIO

AFROJOY, in partnership with ZLG, has stepped up efforts to bring back the breakdance culture, at a time when many arts promoters appear to be concentrating only on music.

This comes in the wake of Afrojoy’s launch on Saturday of the breakdance competition at the Zimbabwe College of Music in Harare last Saturday.

One of the competition organisers, Brian Chiparawasha, yesterday told NewsDay Life &Style that introducing a breakdance competition was a way of breathing a new lease of life into the arts sector.

“There is very little attention given to breakdance, so as Afrojoy, we saw it fit to tap into that by organising this competition that is open to both established and upcoming breakdancers on the local scene,” he said.

“Although music is known to be the most popular genre, there is also a need to develop other smaller disciplines like dance to make them bigger, such that dancers can also use their own potential to improve their standards of living.”

Chiparawasha said the turnout at the event proved that there was a lot of untapped talent that only required exposure.

“We were overwhelmed by the level of turnout from those who are interested in urban culture in general, and breakdance in particular, as more than 100 contestants showed up for the first round of the competition. The judges selected 20 contestants to go through to the finals, where more than ZWL$20 000 will be shared among the winners,” he said.

“Through this competition, we seek to provide breakdancers with an opportunity to showcase and expose their talents. If well done, they can even clinch endorsements with potential brands.”

Chiparawasha said if they got more partners on board, who support the course, they would spread their wings to other provinces so as to accommodate as many participants.

“Breakdance is considered as an important social activity that draws out all of the youth’s positive energy, creating a strong support network that helps and encourages them to overcome challenges using art,” he said.

At least US$700 000 disbursed by the world’s soccer governing body Fifa disappeared from a Zifa account and found its way into private bank accounts of some of the association’s executive members, court documents have revealed.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE/XOLISANI NCUBE

Zifa board member responsible for finance Philemon Machana received US$740 000 from the association’s Ecobank nostro account through a company called Conduit Holdings where he was a director at the time the sheriff of the High Court had attached the association’s bank accounts.

Zifa accounts had been garnished over the association’s debt to Daisy Lodge amounting to US$196 000.
It was revealed that some of Zifa’s funds were moved from the association’s bank account into Conduit Holdings while some of it was withdrawn by the association’s general secretary Joseph Mamutse.

Machana claims that he deposited the money back into the Zifa account and the court has demanded to see bank statements confirming the reverse transaction.

Ecobank was dragged to court by Daisy Lodge with the financial institution charged with obstructing the course of justice for allegedly ignoring a court order that had barred Zifa from accessing its funds held by the bank.
According to documents at the Harare Magistrates’ Court in the case against Ecobank, Mamutse admits to have withdrawn US$10 000 from the association’s Ecobank account, but claims that when he made the withdrawal, the funds had not yet been judicially attached.

He said the funds were withdrawn for use by the association. He also claimed that only the association’s funds in their Steward Bank account had been attached.

According to the State outline, on January 24, 2019, the High Court ordered the seizure of Zifa funds held at Ecobank, but this was disregarded.

“On January 24, 2019 and at the High Court of Zimbabwe, Ecobank Borrowdale Sam Levy branch — being represented by Webster Mehlo — and Webster Mehlo or one or both of them unlawfully disregarded a notice of seizure and attachment made on January 22, requiring the accused to transfer the sum of US$196 049,49 held in the Zifa foreign currency accounts with the accused and transferred US$740 270 and a further US$10 000 to Conduit Investments and Mr Mamutse respectively knowing that such accounts held in the name of Zifa by the accused were under judicial attachment,” the State’s case read in part.

The first accused in the matter is Ecobank Sam Levy Borrowdale, represented by Mehlo, the head of corporate security and investigation services.

Mehlo is also the second accused in his official capacity.

Daisy is represented by Yvonne Agatha Mapika.

The matter implicates the bank and Zifa officials of connivance to move the money, which had been garnished and was supposed to be moved into the sheriff’s account for onward transmission to creditors.

This is not the first time Zifa have been accused of engaging in questionable transactions aimed at avoiding paying creditors even when instructed to do so by the courts.

It is also not the first time that Conduit Holdings has been used in dubious transactions — with indications that it was meant to “protect” the funds from creditors who had been raiding the association demanding their dues.
In 2017, Machana admitted that he had received the association’s funds, but would not state how and why his private entity was being used although he went on to say that the amount could be $100 000.

Under former Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa, who lost his post to Felton Kamambo in December last year, the football association engaged in questionable activities that included moving its assets to private individuals linked to him as well as moving the federation’s headquarters to his private property where he was charging about US$72 000 rentals annually.

Chiyangwa forced the secretariat to abandon Zifa headquarters in 2015 after his election, claiming that the premises were haunted due to persistent raids by creditors and moved them to his private offices, where last year he pocketed $72 000 in rentals while the association’s offices in town lay idle.

Furniture used at the offices was hired from Hansporte Investment — a private entity whose directors are Marshal Jonga and one Beatrice Musavengana, all employed by Chiyangwa at his own business.

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa faces a delicate balancing act of making critical appointments to serve in his top party decision-making body, the national standing committee, amid jostling and lobbying by mainly those who lost at the elective congress held in Gweru last month.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

Critical posts that need to be filled include party spokesperson, organising secretary, secretary for elections, international relations and secretary for health.

Jostling has already started in the opposition party, with Chamisa’s top allies, who include former youth assembly leader Happymore Chidziva, current spokesperson Jacob Mafume, ex-organiser Amos Chibaya, former vice-president Morgen Komichi and losing vice-presidental candidate Lilian Timveous waiting in the wings for appointments.

Insiders say Chamisa faces a daunting task driven by the desire to promote unity in the party after a divisive congress,
which left some of his faithful smarting from the bitter wounds of defeat.

“There are those in the party bitter after losing to members who once left the party. They think the party rewarded sellouts and these can be pacified by being appointed into the standing committee, but if they miss the bus, they could work against Chamisa,” a source said.

Chamisa also has to balance the equation by making appointments that add value to the party ahead of the 2023 general elections, which could make or break him, another source said.
But the youthful opposition leader said he was not under any pressure because the MDC was not a party of positions, but proposition.

“This is a party of the people and it will make appointments and deployments through the national council. This is going to happen soon after a number of issues have been looked into to ensure we build the best team going forward,” he said.

Insiders said Mafume is likely to be retained as party spokesmen, although there is some discontent that former members of Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party could have taken a lion’s share in the just-ended congress.

“Mafume remains the best candidate so far. His history with the media and the fact that he has handled the portfolio with skill will favour him. Politics aside, he is our best candidate,” another source said.

Tapiwa Mashakada is likely to be appointed deputy treasurer-general, while there is a major push to elevate Happymore Chidziva to the position of organising secretary.

Chamisa has the challenge of dealing with former secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, who many are not keen of him being part of the standing committee.

Komichi, who had also been elevated to vice-president, is another difficult call, because any appointment would be a demotion to his political life, which appeared to be on the rise.

Having lost to Biti and Welshman Ncube in the race to vice-presidency, Komichi has said he was hurt and needed healing.

“I will not leave the party. I will stand by my young man (Chamisa) and serve in whatever capacity I will have been appointed. I am hurt, yes, but I need your help so that I can heal,” Komichi said.

Chidziva said he would be appointed to a suitable position by the man he helped raise.

As youth leader, he was instrumental in defending the appointment of Chamisa to party VP and his eventual appointment as party president.

Also waiting in line for appointments are former treasurer-general Theresa Makone, Mbizo legislator Settlement Chikwinya, Murisi Zwizwai, backbencher Jameson Timba and former presidential spokesperson Luke Tambarinyoka.
Congress expanded the standing committee to include deputy secretaries and all secretaries appointed after congress.

Zimbabwe continues to groan under the crushing weight of an economic disaster rapidly manifesting through hyper-inflation, capital flight and a crippling energy crisis, among other symptoms of economic haemorrhaging.

This medley range of catastrophes comes barely two years after the ouster from power of nonagenarian and former President Robert Mugabe in a military-assisted power take-over and further, after sitting President Emmerson Mnangagwa won a disputed election in June last year.

It is inexplicable – immensely unfathomable – how, within such a short space of time of assuming power, the present government has economically crumbled like the proverbial deck of cards.

For any who had previously doubted the pedigree of the sitting administration to shift the country’s fortunes, it has become increasingly apparent that the disaster is not relenting and worse, there appears to be no plausible answer to the economic paralysis from the powers-that-be of the present government.

Beyond the woes manifesting daily, a number of mysteries exist; things beyond the comprehension of the ordinary Zimbabwean; things beyond our scope to decipher and overwhelmingly searching governance questions for the current government.

The first mystery is buried in the question of who exactly determines the United States dollar exchange rate against the electronic money and the local bond notes in this country.

This pressing question does not depart the tongues of Zimbabweans daily.

And no one seems to have the answer. This conundrum just got worse when last week a whole minister also posed the same question.
A minister professing ignorance on who runs the black market rates stokes the fires of confusion.

The United States dollar practically firms against the local currency (RTGS dollars) daily. The mystery surrounding these parallel market rates hovers around the issue of who determines the rises and falls.

Is it accurate to say that ministers in Zimbabwe are in the dark concerning the nocturnal hand that drives the parallel market?

It is even more puzzling that the government has, on several occasions, proffered conflicting statements on this issue.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa reportedly told journalists at a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday that authorities were aware of who the real buyers of foreign currency on the parallel market were and how they were pushing rates high.

By Friday, the US dollar was selling for ZWL$7,5 on the electronic money transfer platform and ZWL$5,8 for the bond notes.

The threat to name and shame economic saboteurs has remained just that; a threat in the air. Consequently, a plethora of theories have been birthed.

The naming and shaming speculation scarcely brings results.

Upon taking over power, the Mnangagwa government set a deadline for politicians and businesspeople that allegedly externalised over $1,3 billion during Mugabe’s reign. After the naming, no one was prosecuted for the alleged acts.

Perhaps no mystery befuddles the mind and brings anguish upon Zimbabweans than the fuel crisis that has viciously exerted vengeance on Zimbabweans.

Virtually, all the hardships currently being experienced by Zimbabweans can be squarely traced to the non-stop rises in fuel prices.

Life has become unbearable for Zimbabweans owing to the high commuter fares required to travel to and from and work.

The Zupco buses availed by government at subsidised fares have all but stripped Zimbabweans of their dignity.
The question that stands to be answered relates to what exactly is responsible for the astronomic increases in fuel almost monthly.
Why did the nation experience stability during Mugabe’s rule.

Could Mnangagwa be a spectacular failure in presiding over the nation’s affairs? Could it be that some people are deliberating sabotaging his regime?

In January, when the first tremor of the fuel crisis hit, the President himself made an announcement of the fuel price hike of 150%, sparking outrage and protests.
Then, Zimbabweans thought they had seen the worst, but the worst came last week when fuel prices were hiked for a record two times within three months.

The ordinary Zimbabwean may not understand much of the economic jargon pertaining to liberalisation, but all they cry for is a dignified existence.

It seems apparent that there are no logical explanations to this fuel mystery and the crisis marches on.

The third mystery is why a landlocked country with just 16 million people needs multiple currencies and particularly why it maintains the bond notes seeing clearly the suffering it has brought upon Zimbabweans?
It goes without saying that just the scrapping of the bond notes will go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of Zimbabweans.

In essence, when Mnangagwa took over power, many palpably envisaged a situation where the bond notes would be automatically scrapped, but they were wrong.

It, therefore, is a puzzle why the bond notes have remained in use almost two years on.

Who is benefiting from this arrangement? The bond note is a constant source of troubles as, just a few weeks back, it was reported that fake bond notes had been intercepted. Why their continued use? This confusion cannot be explained.

The final mystery in this whole crisis is the deafening silence and inaction of the government amid a deepening crisis.

 Learnmore Zuze is a legal officer and writes in his personal capacity

WHILE for six months, prices of commodities and services have been relentlessly surging upwards, wages and salaries have virtually remained stagnant as they have since dollarisation in 2009. And it is quite interesting to note how both government and private sector employers have been mum about the issue after a half-hearted attempt at a salary raise via a measly cost of living adjustment.

NewsDay Comment

While it is logical that any significant movement in the cost of goods and services should also translate into some kind of adjustment in the wage bill, this has not been the case in Zimbabwe; a situation we are afraid to say is becoming increasingly untenable.

All things being equal, we should never get to a situation whereby the country’s entire workforce resorts to petitioning the Head of State to press for better wages and working conditions. This merely points to a serious disconnect in the functioning of the whole State.

That it has been ages since the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF), which brings together government, employers and employees, met to sort out these issues, clearly points to the root cause of the problem. The TNF is a critical part of any economy because it helps cultivate a culture of understanding among the key sectors of the economy.

As it stands, the situation is fast degenerating into chaos as both government and private sector employers keep avoiding meeting workers to listen to their grievances over their increasing inability, to not only continue reporting for work, but to afford to also provide for their families.

It seems government and the employers are now largely interested more on their own survival at the expense of the workers. But this kind of attitude is not only unsustainable, but is a serious indictment on any efforts to revive this troubled economy. We have said before, and repeat it again here, that a disgruntled workforce is the last thing this economy needs.

Once the country’s entire workforce decides to down tools, as they already indicated as their last resort, it means that nothing will function and the country will just grind to a halt. And when things reach that stage, anything can happen.

Government should not let things deteriorate to that because history informs us that once the ruling elite are cornered by crippling workers’ strikes they resort to evoking emergency powers, which only result in aggravating the situation. The country still has a window of opportunity to solve the wage issue through dialogue. We beseech the powers-that-be not to miss this chance to steady the dangerously rocking boat.

SOUTH African packaging firm Nampak Limited’s chief executive Andre De Ruyter says the operating environment in Zimbabwe has remained unstable ever since the country introduced the RTGS dollar.

BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA

Nampak Limited operates in Zimbabwe through its subsidiary, Nampak Zimbabwe Limited, which manufactures and markets packaging products such as paper, plastic and metal packaging.

The company noted that the rand value-cash balances in Zimbabwe more than halved to R466 million compared to R1,2 billion at the end of September 2018, due to the introduction of the RTGS dollar which had an exchange rate of 2,5 to the US dollar, leading to a 60% devaluation in the currency against the US dollar.

“Zimbabwe is very difficult to read at this point in time. Following the introduction of the RTGS dollar as the formal official currency as opposed to the US dollar, there has been a devaluation in the currency…We have taken a very conservative approach to our cash, which we have got in Zimbabwe and we have written it down from R723 million (US$49 712 197) to R466 million,” De Ruyter said in an interview with CNBC Africa last week.

At the end of the six months ending March 31, 2018, Nampak recorded cash on hand of R816 million (US$56 162 454).
“We have, however, got a hedge in place with a sovereign entity in Zimbabwe, which protects us on a 1:1 basis for the cash we have got. But as I have said, we have taken the conservative view, so there could be an upside to our cash in Zimbabwe,” De Ruyter said.

He said the US$57 million owed by Nampak Zimbabwe to Nampak International (“NIL”, a direct subsidiary of Nampak Limited) would be settled in quarterly payments over a three-year period from a US dollar denominated non-resident account established for the benefit of NIL.

“This represents approximately two thirds of the amount owing by NZL to NIL. Despite the aforementioned the group has made the election under IAS21: The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates to include all its US dollar loans to its Zimbabwe operations as part of its net foreign investment,” Nampak continued.

IAS21 sets out how to account for transactions in foreign currencies and foreign operations in foreign exchange rates.

“We also supply packaging for the tobacco industry and that is a major foreign currency earner for Zimbabwe, which earns us forex to buy raw materials, so we are able to keep on operating in that country,” he said.

Nampak reported that liquidity from Zimbabwe remained very constrained, and raw materials were being funded by dollars provided by customers, as well as proceeds raised from export sales.

BY FIDELITY MHLANGA

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Zimbabwe must step up efforts to increase foreign currency supply and allow exporters to sell their earnings directly on the interbank market to improve liquidity.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) introduced the market back in February as part of monetary measures to facilitate the availability of foreign currency and tame a thriving parallel market, but the platform has failed to excite the market with few trades taking place.

Business has on several occasions complained about unavailability of hard currency on the interbank market.

“Deepening the interbank foreign currency market is essential for it to function as the basis for a market-determined exchange rate and to close the parallel market spread. Staff encouraged the authorities to take steps to increase the supply of foreign currency in the market, including by allowing exporters to sell directly into the interbank foreign currency market the amount they are required to surrender to the RBZ, which would allow for an effective price formation,” the fund said in a recent statement.

The IMF has approved a Staff Monitored Programme for Zimbabwe which will run to the end-December 2019.

“Existing exchange controls, which limit foreign currency purchases in the official interbank market for current account transactions, would continue to control demand for foreign currency, but the sanctioning and enforcement framework would be applied transparently and uniformly,” the statement added.

The IMF added that to move towards a unified exchange rate, any subsidies for specific goods or sectors such as fuel and medicine should be channelled through the budget, not through administered exchange rates. Authorities have since removed fuel subsidies.

RBZ deputy governor, Kupukile Mlambo, told a recent business meeting that around US$120 million had been traded on the platform since February.

Economist Persistence Gwanyanya, however, said the market was still not well developed to encourage trade.

A GOLD panner from Zvishavane, who has been on the run after allegedly killing a man in Shurugwi in January, appeared in court on Friday facing murder allegations.

By Stephen Chadenga

Prosper Zindiro, whose age was not given in State papers, appeared before Shurugwi magistrate Sithabile Zungula facing one count of murder after he allegedly killed Terrence Mhere and went on the run.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody.

The court heard that on a date unknown, but sometime in January this year, Zindiro and his three accomplices, Breadwinner Mudzingwa, Lloyd Jinja and Darlington Mangoma, who are all still at large, went to Chimona Mine in Shurugwi armed with machetes, okapi knives and a whip made of barbed wire.

The four met Mhere and demanded gold from him and when deceased told them he did not have the mineral, a misunderstanding arose.

The gang, the court heard, assaulted Mhere with machetes before stabbing him several times all over the body and left him lying lifeless.

Zindiro was arrested last week.

Bertha Bore prosecuted.