CONSTITUTIONAL Lawyer and National Constitutional Assembly leader Lovemore Madhuku’s claims that opposition parties, alongside the government, were responsible for the country’s debilitating problems are most unfortunate as they deliberately seek to protect the actual culprits while apportioning the blame elsewhere.

NewsDay Comment

The Zanu PF government is responsible for crafting national policy which directs its operations and can therefore not seek to have blame for its own failures laid elsewhere. It is not the responsibility of opposition political parties to provide government with solutions as these are competitors for the same political space.

What is true, however, is that the Zanu PF government has dismally failed to provide solutions to the crisis bedevilling the nation. Quite clearly, the Mnangagwa administration is bereft of workable ideas, and this explains the ruinous path the economy has taken since it came to power.

It is quite laughable that Madhuku would have us believe that Polad — itself a loose grouping of failed politicians that fared terribly in the last elections and therefore have no mandate from the public or anyone — could provide ideas that will take this country forward. Polad is a useless gathering of failed politicians and does not inspire confidence or hope at all.

The late former President Robert Mugabe used to chastise the “Madhuku Syndrome” of making money — and clearly the man is trying hard to get the most out of Mnangagwa’s desperation.

What the Mnangagwa administration should do, upon realisation that all they have is power but not ideas, is to embrace the opposition and find viable ways of working together within a formal and legally recognised arrangement rather than seek to milk ideas in the dark and present them as their own during the day. This is only done by those seeking to gain cheap political points.

The toxic nature of our politics has bred suspicion and mistrust between the ruling party and the opposition.
When Zanu PF decided to contest the elections, it was because it believed in its ability to deliver, and deliver it must, without mortgaging its failure to the opposition which is not in government. What is quite obvious is that it is presiding over a deepening socio-economic crisis and it has demonstrated that it has no solutions.

Zimbabweans, however, would recall that officially bringing in the MDC-T and MDC-M in the government of national unity in 2009 through a recognised formal system and sharing power helped stabilise the economy. This is unlikely to happen with this joke called Polad, set up just to sooth some politicians’ ego and present a fake image that there is some inter-party dialogue going on to help Zimbabwe out of its mess. We do not buy that ruse and only the deluded believe it is anything, but a gathering of the dumb.

WARRIORS defender Alec Mudimu is confident that the team can navigate their way through a very difficult 2022 Fifa World Cup qualification phase and qualify to the world’s most prestigious football tournament to be held in Qatar.

BY HENRY MHARA

Zimbabwe are in Group G together with Ghana, neighbours South Africa and Ethiopia. The top team in the group will progress to the final knockout round and will be pitted against one of the nine other group winners for a contest played over two legs.

Five winners from those ties will represent Africa at the 2022 Qatar Fifa World Cup finals.

Ghana are being widely tipped to top the group, while South Africa have been doing well of late and are capable of anything. Zimbabwe will start as the dark horse, and Ethiopia are widely regarded as the weakling of the grouping.

Mudimu, who moved to Moldovan club Sheriff Tiraspol in December last year from Cefn Druids of Wales, admitted it is a hard task ahead of them in their quest to make history, but is confident that the Warriors are capable of producing a miracle.

“It’s a difficult draw for us, but this is football,” Mudimu told NewsDay Sport.

“Nothing comes easily. I’ve said it a number of times and I will continue to let everyone know that we have a quality team physically and technically in depth. We play tough draws in the hunt for World Cup qualification, but all is well. It will take serious concentration and hard work to succeed, which I’m very confident we can do also,” he added.

Mudimu is one of the Warriors players who currently play in one of the top leagues in the world, and their experience would be of immense beneficial to the team.

There are a lot other Warriors stars who have sprouted in top leagues around the world of late, and they would be expected to form the backbone of the team.

Marvelous Nakamba, who plays for Aston Villa, in the English Premier League — widely regarded as the best league in the world — leads that cast, while Marshal Munetsi plays in the French Ligue 1 for Stade de Reims, which is one of the top national leagues, currently ranked fifth in Europe.

Le Havre star striker Tino Kadewere will soon join Munetsi in the French top league after making a big move from the Ligue 2 side to join giants Lyon last month.

Defender Teenage Hadebe plays for Süper Lig club Yeni Malatyaspor in Turkey, while the team’s skipper Knowledge Musona has resurrected his career at CAS Eupen in Belgium’s top division.

Other players who play at the high level include right-back Tendayi Darikwa, who turns out for Nottingham Forest in England’s second division, and there are indications that England born striker Macauley Bonne, who also plays in that division for Charlton Athletic, would have been naturalised to feature for Zimbabwe by the time the qualifiers begin later this year.

Khama Billiat remains the team’s superstar and poster boy despite playing for Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa.
Warriors’ new coach Zdravko Logarušić would be expected to assemble his team around these stars and form a very formidable side capable of facing any team in the continent.

“I can’t tell our chances (of qualifying) since we haven’t played any games yet, but I’m very confident in the players, technical staff and everyone else involved in the national team. It’s a great time to be a part of this special team because we have very special players among the squad, if not everyone in the squad,” Mudimu said.

But before they can think of the World Cup qualifiers, the Warriors have a little matter of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying campaign to deal with.

Zimbabwe are in Group H of the Afcon qualifiers, where they currently lie second behind African champions Algeria after two rounds of games.

Zambia and Botswana complete the group, with the top two teams qualifying to the finals, set for Cameroon next year.

The Warriors will resume this campaign with a back-to-back clash against Algeria in March, which would be Logarušić’s first assignment as Warriors coach.

The Croat was appointed Warriors coach last week and he will be assisted by Joseph Antipas, Lloyd Chitembwe and Tonderai Ndiraya.

POWERSPEED Electrical Limited (PEL) will seek to adopt a share option scheme involving 10% of the company’s shares for the purpose of employees and directors at its annual general meeting next month.

BY BUSINESS REPORTER

In a notice issued yesterday announcing the AGM slated for March 5, 2020, the company said that 38 million shares would be put up for the share option scheme.

“That 10% of the issued share capital, amounting to 38 000 000 shares of the company be placed under the control of the directors, who shall have the authority to issue them to employees and directors for the purpose of a staff share option scheme,” PEL said.

“The ZSE [Zimbabwe Stock Exchange] approved share option scheme rules will be made available for inspection at least 14 days prior to the date of AGM.”

Typically, under a share option scheme, an employer grants to an employee an option to buy a specified number of shares at some future time at a price fixed on the date on which the option is granted.

PEL will seek to approve with or without amendments, the authorisation in advance, in terms of section 79 of the Companies Act (Chapter 24:03) and Article 52 of the company’s Articles of Association, the purchase of the company’s own ordinary shares, which: “In aggregate in any one financial year, shall not exceed 10% (ten percent) of the company’s issued ordinary share capital, for the company cancelling them, subject to the availability of sufficient revenue reserves to undertake the transfer to a capital Redemption Reserve Fund as required by the Companies Act (Chapter 24:03); value of such purchased ordinary shares shall not exceed the net asset value of the company.”

And: “The maximum price at which such ordinary shares may be acquired will be not more than 5% above the weighted average of the market price at which such ordinary shares are traded on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, as determined over the five business days immediately preceding the date of purchase of such ordinary shares by the company.”
A Press announcement will also be published as soon as the company has acquired ordinary shares constituting, on cumulative basis in the period between annual general meetings, 3% of the ordinary shares prior to acquisition.
PEL will also seek authority to pay the transaction costs for shareholders who, in terms of the share buyback scheme, hold less than 1 000 shares.

“It will be recorded that in terms of the Companies Act and the regulations of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, it is the intention of the directors of the company to utilise this authority at a future date provided the cash resources of the company are in excess of its requirements and the transaction is considered to be in the best interest of shareholders generally,” PEL said.

“In considering cash availability, the directors will take account of inter alia, the long-term cash needs of the company, and will ensure the company will remain solvent after the re-purchase.”

THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has for the second time extended the duration of fuel licences by one month, saying it is consulting with its stakeholders on the new framework, sparking anxiety among players.

BY FIDELITY MHLANGA

Fuel dealer’s licences, whose lifespan is one year, expired on December 31, 2019.

The fuel regulator communicated the move to fuel players through a circular dated January 31, gleaned by NewsDay Business.

“Please be advised that the validity of the petroleum sector licences has been further extended to February 29, 2020. Zera will advise of any changes before the new expiry date,” Zera said.

Fuel dealers fear that the energy regulator will increase the fees to obscene levels and elbow out up-and-coming indigenous operators.

The delay in issuing fuel import licences has created anxiety among indigenous fuel players, who feel that a stage has been set to hike fees, a move that will weed out small fuel dealers and create a monopoly in the sector.

Zera acting chief executive Eddington Mazambani said the extension was influenced by the need to continue with consultations with players.

“We are still to finalise the 2020 licensing framework consultations with relevant stakeholders,” Mazambani said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Indigenous Petroleum Association of Zimbabwe (Ipaz), a grouping of local fuel companies, were fruitless yesterday.

Zimbabwe has six major oil-importing companies which include Ipaz, Zuva Petroleum, Puma Energy, Total Zimbabwe, PetroTrade (Pvt) Ltd and Engen Petroleum Zimbabwe.

Sakunda and Redan were some of the key members of Ipaz until they were taken over by Singaporean-based Trafigura group, one of the world’s leading commodity trading companies, and Puma Energy — which are related companies — respectively.

Zera increased fuel prices last month for the first time in two months to $19,55 for diesel and $18,28 petrol.
The vital liquid has remained short on the market, with desperate motorists spending hours in long winding queues countrywide.

Mushrooming unregistered fuel dealers have taken advantage of the fuel crisis to sell fuel on the parallel market predominantly in hard currency.

On a daily basis, the oil companies and Ipaz would need to collectively import 4 254 285 litres of diesel and 3 231 428 litres of petrol.

According to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya, fuel gobbles 45% of total foreign currency receipts annually.

Mangudya blamed the spike in demand for fuel to the growing vehicle population in the country, which has jumped 50% to 1,8 million as of 2018.

To benefit from huge volumes of fuel shipped in the country, Treasury in the 2020 budget resolved to ring-fence 5% of fuel excise duty revenue collected on fuel towards the construction and rehabilitation of the dangerous Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Highway.

A HARARE court yesterday heard that the police were reluctant to bring to court a detailed report on MDC activist Hilton Tafadzwa Tamangani, who was allegedly assaulted to death by law enforcement agents while in custody.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

Tamangani was one of the 11 vendors who were arrested near the opposition MDC headquarters in central Harare in October last year during a police crackdown that followed the discovery of old police helmets at a nearby building.

The State, represented by Lancelot Mutsokoti, said they were still to receive a report from the police of the account of his death so that they could open a sudden death docket for an inquest to be carried out.

Meanwhile, MDC activists, who were arrested for criminal nuisance after they gathered to hear party leader Nelson Chamisa State of the Nation Address at the party’s Harare headquarters, have filed a notice to apply for removal of remand.

The activists — Godfrey Karembera (42), Shoko Zindoga (42), Victor Maramba (20), Honzeri Zondai (37), Gift Ben (30), Rose Chitsungo 30) and Maria Tinago (36) — through their lawyer Marufu Mandevere, said the State failed to provide them with a trial date.

According to the State, the seven connived with accomplices, who are still at large, and gathered outside the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House along Nelson Mandela in the central business district waiting for an address by Chamisa.
The State alleges that the police had not cleared the gathering.

It also alleged that they blocked the free movement of traffic, which resulted in the police dispersing them and they allegedly started throwing missiles at the police singing: “Hatidi zvekupihwa order nemasascam.”
It is alleged several people were injured when police fired teargas at the group and used sjamboks as they charged at the crowd.

Socialite and businessman Genius Kadungure, popularly known as Ginimbi, was yesterday detained over the importation of his US$200 000 Bentley vehicle after handing himself over to the police Anti-Corruption Unit.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

Kadungure, who was accompanied by his lawyer Jonathan Samukange, is expected to appear in court today.

Samkange confirmed to NewsDay that he had accompanied his client to the CID Anti-Corruption Unit.

“Yes, my client has been arrested and detained by the police CID Anti-Corruption Unit for fraud after they suspected that his Bentley vehicle was undervalued to misrepresent on the payment of duty,” he said.

Samkange said the allegations are that on December 22 last year, Kadungure connived with a clearing agent and manufactured a purchase invoice which they tendered to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).

Kadungure allegedly undervalued the cost of the vehicle so that he pays less duty.

The businessman was last year ordered to pay an additional US$58 655,09 duty on top of another US$81 469 already paid to Zimra for his recently imported Bentley Continental GT vehicle.

According to the court papers, filed before the High Court, the vehicle in question is valued at R1,9 million.
Last week, Kadungure shared on his Instagram account a video of himself buying a two-seater Ferrari 488 Spider sports car for US$350 000.

He already has a large collection of supercars at his mansion in Domboshava and his fleet includes two Rolls-Royce, three Bentleys, two Range Rovers and one Mercedes-Benz 2018 G63, among many others.
Kadungure also has a pending case on money-laundering which is yet to go for trial.

INTWASA Arts Festival koBulawayo and its partners will on Saturday host Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu at a dialogue on issues affecting arts industry in Bulawayo.

BY SHARON SIBINDI

The dialogue, dubbed Masiyephambili Series, will be moderated by Patience Phiri under the theme Creative Interface with the Ministry Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Intwasa director Raisedon Baya confirmed the developments to NewsDay Life & Style yesterday.

“We are introducing a new dialogue series and Patience Phiri is leading it. She is the face and brains of the project. We are providing technical and moral support,” he said.

“Mostly the dialogue is about interfacing with policy makers and influencers and seeing where the arts can plug in and utilise opportunities.”

Baya said they were interested in seeking opportunities within that ministry that the creative sector could plug in for profitability.

“It’s strictly by invite and we invited people and organisation we think add value to the dialogue,” he said.

Intwasa organisers recently held a consultative meeting in preparation for this year’s festival slated to run from September 20 to 27.

BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
TOP comedian Victor “Doc Vikela” Mpofu (pictured) yesterday said Simuka Comedy would be on the road this year, starting in Harare on February 13 before heading for Masvingo the following day as part of a campaign to take comedy across the country.

The award-winning comedian yesterday told NewsDay Life & Style that stand-up comedy was steadily growing in the country.

“We have set the precedence that comedy will never be the same again as there will be something different this year on the comedy front. We have created a comedy circuit which has become a weekly programme from Tuesday to Saturday were comedians both seasoned and up-and-coming will be showcasing their talents,” he said.

“The comedy circuit encompasses performances across the country connecting with new audiences as well as servicing our existing audiences in a different environment, instead of using just one venue now and again. As we will be moving around spreading the gospel of comedy, on February 13 we will be in Harare and on Valentine’s Day we will be in Masvingo.”

Doc Vikela said this year they will be hosting a comedy festival as part of Simuka’s vision to grow comedy in the country.

“I have moved from the past were I used to do the Doc Vikela tours, but my drive now with Simuka Comedy is to grow the industry. The more we grow the comedy industry the more relevance of comedy and the more people begin to appreciate it,” he said.

“We have different MoUs in most major towns of the country to do shows. We also have MoUs with Night of Laughter, Zambia and Botswana guys to make sure that we create a comedy circuit were comedians go on the road, which is not mainly inspired by money, but for comedians to get experience and establish their brands.”

Doc Vikela said gone were the days when they had to wait for someone to come and promote comedy for the locals. He said he was working with up-and-coming comedians including Ian, Patrick, Upepe and Psycho Crisis.

He said 2019 was a good year as they branded Simuka Comedy and set up four departments — the comedy club, talent agency, consultancy and academy.

“With the academy we do free lessons to anyone who wants to do comedy every Friday and will later take the people to the stage,” he said.

Doc Vikela said they had started doing skits as a way of utilising and growing their talents and the skits would be available on the Simuka Comedy YouTube channel.

“From that talent agency we also provide comedians for corporate events who will be suitable for the function,” he said.

He founded Simuka Comedy alongside fellow jester Simba “The Comic King” Kakora in 2011.