JOHANNESBURG — It’s anxious times at Naturena as Kaizer Chiefs prepare for next season by releasing players deemed surplus to requirements‚ but long-time hard-tackling midfield stalwart Willard Katsande is not shaken with the player exodus.

Pule Ekstein‚ Gustavo Paez‚ Kgotso Malepe and Namibian goalkeeper Virgil Vries have all been released in the past fortnight, with more expected to be shown the exit door.

Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung said the player clearout is the beginning of the club’s clean-up process as head coach Ernst Middendorp starts to prepare for next season.

Motaung has promised more player movements in the coming weeks.

At 33‚ Katsande will be first to admit that he only has a few seasons left in him to play at his optimum at the highest level.

He signed a three-year contract extension in March 2017 that kicked in from July 1‚ 2017 and will see him remain at Naturena until June 30‚ 2020.

In his eighth season with Amakhosi‚ Katsande has seen players come in and out of the exit door at Naturena.
So influential and senior has the Zimbabwean midfield strongman been for Chiefs that his name has never been mentioned anywhere near the transfer list at Amakhosi.

Katsande has managed to nail down a regular place at the Chiefs under different coaches since joining from Ajax Cape Town in August 2011.

So why has Katsande been so successful and lasted this long? The soft-spoken, but tough as nails player attributes his longevity with the Soweto giants and his workaholic nature to his
difficult upbringing.

“I think my background was not good and the way I grew up was a bit challenging. So when I get a job, I always try and give my best and also provide for my family‚” Katsande said at the
club’s training base this week.

The midfielder‚ who hardly ever pulls out of a tackle‚ said that hard work comes as his second nature.

“I used to work as a herd boy. I used to wake up at 2am to work in the fields.

“I say my upbringing was really tough for me. Whenever I get an opportunity, I need to play my heart out‚” the star, who was born in Mutoko in Mashonaland East province of Zimbabwe,
says.

Foreign players the world over generally need to work twice as much to be successful and that is exactly what Katsande has done since making his debut for Ajax in December 2010 after
joining from Zimbabwe’s Gunners FC.

“I am a limited player in terms of talent, but when I do the hard work, I always give my all. Whenever I get a chance, I always perform and you will never doubt my commitment‚” the
Chiefs midfield workhorse said.
Orphaned as a young boy and struggling to make ends meet with his sisters‚ Katsande saw football as a way of escaping hardships.

He understood from a young age that only hard work would see him realise his dreams of playing professional football.

“My upbringing was bad. I grew up an orphan. I’m the only boy in my family and all I need to do is to give them life through football. So I wouldn’t jeopardise my job, I wouldn’t take
my job for granted.

“I don’t only provide for my own family‚ I also provide for my extended family and friends back home. They always tell me that this is your job, so you need to always work hard and
always keep your job safe.

“I don’t need them to hear that I was that player who didn’t win anything at Chiefs. Personally, for me, I have my own pressure. I demand a lot from myself that I need to deliver.”

Chiefs‚ South Africa’s most successful club in cup competitions‚ are in their fourth season without winning silverware and that does not sit well with Katsande‚ one of their longest-
serving players.

“Kaizer Chiefs is known for winning trophies, so we need to deliver for us‚ the fans and the chairman.

“The pressure will always be there even if you win trophies, so you need to deliver season in and season out. We are paid to deliver week-in and week-out to fill up our trophy cabinet‚” Katsande added.

Chiefs will get an opportunity to lift some silverware to put some gloss on yet another disappointing season when they clash with first division rookies, TS Galaxy, in the final of the
R7 million Nedbank Cup on May 18 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

“We once tasted success and we know how it feels to win a trophy. I mean it is always in our minds that we need to contribute to this club and we need to win trophies,” he said.
“It is always giving us sleepless nights that we need to win a trophy for the club. I’m a winner and I am a competitor. All I want is to see the team winning.

“All I want is to achieve in football because I need to be remembered as a guy who won trophies for Kaizer Chiefs — not a guy who was part and parcel of a group that failed to win
silverware for the club.”

TimesLive

BY VENERANDA LANGA

CONTROVERSIAL businessman Shepherd Tundiya signed a contract between Hwange Colliery Company (HCC) and his brother’s company called Philcool to ferry coal despite not being a director of the company.

This was revealed by Tendai Muza, a forensic auditor and investigator with Ralph Bomment Greenacre and Reynolds, who said that it was suspicious that Tundiya signed a contract for a company in which he was not a director.

Philcool Investments (Private) Limited’s directors were Wilfred Tundiya, Talent Munyoro and Thethelesa Musarurwa. The company is based at 3623/17 Extension at Mbizo in Kwekwe and was reportedly contracted by Hwange to load coal into trucks using front-end loaders.

Muza said it was shocking that at Hwange Colliery, several companies performed incompatible functions of loading coal instead of the company repairing conveyor belts at a cost of $2
million and save money.

“Philcool entered into a contract, whereby, it took responsibility for functions at the metallurgical operations department for clearing and loading coal at Chaba Mine plants and to do
open cast mining and any other works as assigned by the mine,” Muza said.

“The charge per hour was fixed at US$103,65 and the payment was at the agreed terms set out in the contract, on a monthly basis and calculated using time sheets as compiled and agreed to by the contractor and HCC representatives.

“However, not any one of the directors of the company signed this contract between Philcool and HCC. A person, Shepherd Tundiya, who is not a director of Philcool, signed this contract on June 26, 2017.”

Muza said, in his attempts to link Tundiya (Shepherd) with Philcool, it was established that there was something strange goings on because the actual contract was signed by Tundiya, who is a director of another company, Avim.

When Muza gave oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines last year, he said: “This means that Philcool and Avim are linked and were doing the lifting of the coal into trucks and delivering it to other places without using weighbridges, which are not consistently used and it creates room that while Hwange is mining, someone else is
eating their produce because the ICT (information communication technology) systems at Hwange are not functioning properly, and there is no completeness of records.”

He said Philcool took control of the loading of coal when it was raw.

Muza said one C Munyamane, who is a sectional engineer (electrical services), signed for HCC, but there was also no documentation that gave Munyamane the authority to bind the mine.

“Given that Tundiya (Shepherd) is not a director of Philcool Investments, we did not find documentation at the mine which would authorise a person from another company where he is not an official to come and enter into a contract with HCC.

“Accordingly, two possibly unauthorised persons entered into an agreement that bound HCC to a contract of works. Philcool owes HCC $170 852, 67 in prepayments for works contrary to the agreement. There are payments to Philcool that are not supported by invoices,” the forensic audit said.

By Tatenda Chitagu in Midrand, South Africa

AFRICAN countries should show solidarity and help each other during crises before reaching out to help other non-African States, a top diplomat has said.

Dean of the diplomatic corps in South Africa, Ambassador Bene M’Phoko said before getting help from outside, African countries should help each other.

M’Phoko made the remarks yesterday at a meeting between the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and ambassadors ahead of the second ordinary session of the Fifth Parliament of PAP.

“As African countries, we should help each other,” he said, referring to the support rendered by the ambassadors’ resident in South Africa and the South African captains of industry to
Cyclone Idai victims in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.

The support, worth millions of dollars, was mobilised under the banner of the Food Security Initiative in South Africa.

“Other African States do help other non-African countries, which is fine, but charity begins at home. We are Africans; if one of us gets into problems, we should be willing to help.

But, yes, each country is free and you cannot oblige a sovereign country or dictate to it to help. Those willing to help will help, that is the way it is,” he added.

M’Phoko urged Africa to be pro-active by having a strategy in place for disasters, including an emergency fund for natural disasters other than be responsive during crises.

Cyclone Idai hit Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi last month, killing thousands, displacing millions and rendering hordes homeless, food insecure and desperate.

BY OBEY MANAYITI

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is bankrolling the memorial service of the late former Zimbabwe Prime Minister and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, which is being held at his Buhera home today, NewsDay Weekender has gathered.

Tsvangirai’s family yesterday paid tribute to Mnangagwa, saying his government had stood with the family even from the days when he was ill.

The former trade unionist, who died last year after battling with cancer of the colon for two years and was accorded a State-assisted funeral, rose to international prominence, first as
the secretary-general of a militant Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and later as leader of the MDC, which has provided the sternest challenge to Zanu PF hegemony in local politics
since independence.

He was arrested and tortured countless times under the regime of former President Robert Mugabe, who was overthrown in a November 2017 coup, paving way for Mnangagwa.

In an interview yesterday, Tsvangirai’s brother and family spokesperson, Manase, said they were grateful for the gesture by the government.

“As a family, we want to thank the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the support. Had it not been for them, we don’t know how we were going to manage,” he said.

“They helped us since the time when Tsvangirai was ill by paying hospital bills. When he died, they assisted us with repatriating the body and getting air tickets for the family members
who were outside the country, and food at the funeral.

“Now, government is saying it is committed to feed the 5 000 people that are expected to attend the memorial. They are providing food, water, mobile toilets and other things. Otherwise,
as a family, it was going to be very difficult to manage.”

Yesterday, Manase said government had also provided equipment to repair roads leading to the homestead.

He also paid tribute to some individual MDC party members who contributed towards Tsvangirai’s tombstone.

He said they approached the MDC and were told that there were limited resources, but there were individual party members who decided to pool their resources together for the
tombstone.

Manase said it was all systems go for the memorial and all logistical arrangements were in place.

“This is a very big day. We expect people to be disciplined and peaceful. If they say Tsvangirai was an icon, then we don’t expect them to be indisciplined,” he said.

Manase also thanked MDC leader Nelson Chamisa for his assistance and desire to see a successful memorial for the late Prime Minister.

Chaos reigned during the burial of Tsvangirai last year after rival MDC factions turned on each other because of fights over who would succeed the late founding leader of the party.

“We would like to thank Chamisa for actually cautioning renegades that he would not tolerate rogue behaviour by those who may want to cause problems. He assured us that security would
be guaranteed. He has pre-warned some party members over behaviour unbefitting of the icon Tsvangirai,” Manase said.

A few weeks before the death of Tsvangirai, Mnangagwa made a surprise visit to the former Premier’s Highlands home, where he also pledged assistance.

By Farai Matiashe

MEDIA Institute of Southern Africa (Misa)-Zimbabwe Chapter has made repeated calls to government to comply with regional and continental instruments by fast-tracking media reform processes.

The call by Misa comes at a time the country joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Press Freedom Day yesterday.

The celebrations ran under the theme Regional and Continental Instruments Key to Democratic Media Reforms.

Addressing a breakfast meeting in Harare yesterday, Misa Zimbabwe vice-chairperson Rutendo Mawere said complying with the regional and continental instruments was essential in guaranteeing the fundamental human rights, including access to information and free expression.

“Compliance with these instruments, as derived and underpinned by the Africa Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), and in sync with the country’s Constitution, is critical to
the enactment and domestication of a democratic media, free expression and access to information laws,” she said.

“Zimbabwe is a State party to the ACHPR and should, therefore, adhere and be guided by Article 1 of the Charter. Article 1 mandates member states to recognise the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined therein by implementing legislative measures to give effect to them.”

Some of the regional and continental instruments to which President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government should comply include the Windhoek Declaration, Declaration on the principles of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Africa Charter on Broadcasting, African Platform on Access to Information, and African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights Model Law on Access to Information in Africa.

Mawere said these instruments should be read and applied in line with Zimbabwe’s Bill of Rights and fundamentally, with sections 57, 61 and 62 of the Constitution and other relevant sections that have a bearing on the exercise and enjoyment of free speech, right to privacy and access to information.

Section 62 of the Constitution guarantees access to information, but some Acts, such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, have some provisions which contradict with the Constitution, and they are yet to be aligned.

Mawere said compliance and adherence with regional and international instruments and the country’s own Constitution was, therefore, imperative.

Acting director in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Paul Manhire, said government was aware of the debate between advocates for self-regulation and State regulation in the industry.

“It is our respectful opinion that we shall continue to work with critical stakeholders in the media industry for the betterment of this industry, and the enactment of media freedom in line with the Constitution,” he said.

By NQOBANI NDLOVU

Morgen Komichi claims tha Zanu PF splashed $100 million to rig the July 31 elections. Picture: Cynthia R Matonhodze

ELECTION watchdog, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn), has called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to allow the public and other stakeholders to participate in the delimitation exercise ahead of the 2023 elections, which it says would promote transparency.

The amendments must also allow for the handling of boundary disputes, Zesn noted in its report titled Citizen Perceptions on Delimitation of Electoral Constituencies and Wards in Zimbabwe, following a research on the issue between January to March 2019.

The report notes gaps in the provisions on the handling boundary disputes and involvement of the public and other stakeholders in the delimitation exercise.

Zesn argued that public participation was necessary to enhance transparency, public trust, confidence and credibility of the process after the last delimitation exercise was described
by the opposition and other stakeholders as flawed in favour of the ruling Zanu PF party.

“The Zec (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) should ensure that the public participates in the delimitation of electoral boundaries. This can be done by putting in place mechanisms, for
example, public hearings that promote public participation provide for mechanisms to allow for the submission of a memorandum, both print and electronic, use of social and mainstream
media,” the Zesn said in its report.

“This will go a long way in building public confidence and trust. The Electoral Act should be amended to incorporate provisions that promote the public participation of citizens. The
legal review will entail enacting provisions that facilitate the participation of citizens and key electoral stakeholders in the process.”

The last delimitation exercise was held in 2008. Opposition parties queried the outcome, arguing it exposed glaring gerrymandering in favour of the ruling Zanu PF.

According to section 161 of the country’s Constitution adopted in 2013, electoral boundaries must be delimitated once every 10 years after a population census.

“A comprehensive roadmap on delimitation should be publicised well on time. This will allow other stakeholders, for example, civil society organisations to have oversight on the
delimitation. The roadmap will enhance the transparency of the process.

“Experiences from the past have shown that aggrieved political parties perceive that their concerns on boundary demarcations were not addressed due to lack of effective dispute
resolution mechanisms, either in the law or by the electoral commission,” Zesn noted.

Zec has since indicated plans to approach Parliament, seeking amendment of the laws so that the electoral body does not to wait for the 2022 population census to undertake a delimitation exercise.

BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

JEST mistress Tyra “Madam Boss” Chikocho has made her name through cracking people’s ribs with her skits, but very few people know she is a woman of many talents, which stretch to music.

Having first ventured into music several years ago, she is back to refresh her fans memories about her music with the release of her second album, a nine-track effort, Ndinovimba Nemi, in August this year.

The comedienne told NewsDay Weekender Life & Style yesterday that she was putting final touches on the album.

“I am making final touch-ups to my new album, Ndinovimba Nemi, which will be out soon, and I am confident that the album will touch many souls,” she said.

Madam Boss said although she had initially scheduled the album release for June, she has had to move it to August to make way for an international tour to the United Kingdom, also scheduled around that time.

“We could have released the album in June, but there are slight changes because we have a United Kingdom tour in June,” she said.

The comedienne-cum-musician said she was not a novice in the music industry as she dropped her debut album, Sunungura Mweya, on the market in 2012 under the auspices of trending producer Mcdonald “McDee” Chidavaenzi’s Eternity Productions.

“I am not new to the industry as some might think, but recorded my first album in 2012,” she said.

Madam Boss, however, said making inroads into mainstream music back then was tough as the industry was unkind to new kids on the block, which is why her debut album never made significant impact.

“I tried so hard to market the album and music, but to no avail as there was little support and appreciation for new artistes during that time,” she said.

Fortune has, however, smiled on her, with the stars lined up in her favour after she ventured into comedy, which has made people take notice of her and appreciate her talent in music.
“People are beginning to appreciate my music talent now and are encouraging me to continue singing.

“My first album was not marketed well and people didn’t know me then, but now it’s easier because they now know Tyra Chikocho, the musician and actress. So I think it was just a matter of exposure, something which I didn’t have in 2012,” she said.

The comedian-cum musician hailed radio stations for giving equal opportunity to all musicians so that they market their talents.

“In the previous years, radio stations did not really promote upcoming artistes (but would focus) only on those already popular,” she said.

“But this year, things have changed, with the radio stations giving everyone an equal opportunity to market their talents.”

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

THE trial of former Harare magistrate Memory Chigwaza and her two alleged accomplices who are accused of defrauding home seekers of $155 000 after selling them non-existent residential stands failed to kick off on Tuesday as the presiding magistrate is awaiting transfer to Rusape.

Chigwaza (48), Everson Luni (38) and Davison Zvomarima (65) appeared before magistrate Lucy Mungwari, who remanded the matter to June 10 for a possible trial under another magistrate.

The matter had been postponed for the second time after another magistrate recused herself, saying she once worked with Chagwaza at the same court.

Chagwaza is represented by Charles Chikore, while the others are represented by Tungamirai Muganhiri.

Allegations are that the trio and one Michael Kawanzururwa, who is still at large, put an advertisement in a local newspaper offering residential stands under Maizview Projects at
Strathaven, said to be selling at $25 a square metre.

Zvomarima allegedly obtained a fake identity card document in the name of Gabriel Kabanda and purported to be a director of Topmark Stationers (Pvt) Ltd, using a fake CR14 document.

Luni and Kawanzururwa allegedly hired agents and showed them stands for sale in Strathaven and were armed with fake title deeds.

It is the State’s case that on September 27 this year, Sonboy Mapanzure responded to the advertisement and proceeded to Maizview offices in Eastlea, and transferred $25 000 into the
company’s CBZ Bank account.

Thereafter, he was referred to Chigwaza’s offices at Chikore and Chigwaza Law Chambers, where an agreement of sale was prepared by the accused, who never bothered to take any due
diligence as to the authenticity of the title deeds.

It is alleged Zvomarima presented himself as Kabanda.

The State alleges that another complainant, Benjamin Manungo, responded to the same advertisement in the newspaper and paid $40 000. The complainant, on October 3, paid another $5 000
and an agreement of sale was again prepared by Chigwaza.

It is further alleged that on October 4 last year, Peter Manyoni responded to the advert and paid $55 000 into Maizview Projects’ bank account. Chigwaza again allegedly prepared an
agreement of sale.

On October 5, Jacob Kasumba paid $25 000 and nothing was recovered.

CAPE TOWN — Hosts South Africa will tackle Botswana in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Cosafa Cup after the draw was made for the prestigious regional tournament to be staged in Durban from May 25 to June 8.

It will be a repeat of the 2016 cup final and the 2018 plate decider as the familiar foes clash again for a place in the semi-finals, with South Africa coming out on top in both those matches.

East African guest nation Uganda will have to get past Lesotho to advance to the last 4, but will be wary of a Likuena side that has finished in third place in the last two Cosafa Cup instalments.

Defending champions, Zimbabwe will meet the winner of the first round Group A, which will be one of Angola, eSwatini, Comoros and Mauritius.

Angola, like Zimbabwe, will be heading to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt shortly after the tournament and that would be a massive quarter-final line-up were it to materialise.

Comoros, meanwhile, are appearing in their first Cosafa Cup since 2009, a welcome return for the islanders after a decade on the sidelines.

Zambia, always a powerhouse in the regional showpiece competition, will clash with the winner of Group B, which includes Mozambique, 2015 winners Namibia, Malawi and Seychelles.

Namibia are another side that are plotting their trip to the Cup of Nations finals, but Mozambique and Malawi in particular will present a mighty challenge.

The four winning quarter-finals advance to the cup semi-finals, while the losing teams will move in to the plate competition.

2019 Cosafa Cup draw

Group A

Angola

eSwatini

Comoros

Mauritius

Group B

Mozambique

Namibia

Malawi

Seychelles

Quarter-finals

Zambia vs Winner Group B

Lesotho vs Uganda

Zimbabwe vs Winner Group A

South Africa vs Botswana.

Cosafa

By Staff Reporter

THE World Bank yesterday announced that it had mobilised over half a billion dollars in new resources to help people in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe affected by Cyclone Idai.

In a statement, the World Bank said it was activating the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Response Window (CRW) to provide up to $545 million in total for the three affected countries.

This is in addition to nearly $150 million in resources that have recently been made available from existing projects. The total World Bank support to the three countries has reached around $700 million.

The World Bank is also working with Mozambique and Comoros to assess and respond to the damage caused by Cyclone Kenneth.

“Cyclone Idai caused catastrophic damage earlier this year that affected millions of people, and this tragedy has been compounded by Cyclone Kenneth,” said World Bank Group president David Malpass, following a tour of Beira’s affected areas.

“The World Bank Group is working closely with our partners to help the population recover from these terrible storms, build back stronger than before, and improve the countries’
resilience to natural disasters.”

Mozambique, which was the hardest hit, will receive $350 million in CRW financing to re-establish water supply, rebuild damaged public infrastructure and crops, and support disease prevention, food security, social protection, and early warning systems in the impacted communities.

For neighbouring Malawi, the CRW would provide $120 million in financing to restore agricultural livelihoods, reconstruct priority infrastructure, and support disease surveillance.

In addition, the World Bank intends to provide an exceptional allocation of up to $75 million to selected United Nations agencies to support the people of Zimbabwe also affected by
Cyclone Idai.

“Funds will go towards a harmonised multi-sector livelihood support and recovery operations that are focused on social welfare and community interventions,” the bank said.