BY CHELSEA MUSAFARE

TALENTED Zimdancehall artiste, Qounfuzed, said his forthcoming video was designed to be a soundtrack for couples in love and a dedication to women he was involved with.

Born McDonald Sheldon, the artiste who is one of the first Zimdancehall chanters to shoot to the limelight, said the new track, Sasa, would drop later this month.

Qounfuzed told NewsDay Life & Style that the video was done with a high level of creativity.

“I am currently learning to improve my video filming and editing skills as well as taking music engineering lessons, something that I never thought I would need. I am at a stage where I am just enjoying, exploring and learning the music industry in all aspects,” he said.

Inspired by reggae and hip-hop music, the artiste, who has been on a mission to re-invent himself both personally and musically, said Sasa had a mature feel with the theme of love.

“It is a story based on a couple having problems, arguments which are mainly caused by friends, social media and lifestyle. I really want to thank every woman that I have been involved with both socially and affectionately as most of the experiences I have shared with them have played a part in my music compositions,” he said.

The artiste, who has appeared at most Zimdancehall shows in Harare and the United Kingdom, said music education was essential.

“I had pulled back a bit as I was trying to find new inspiration but I am back now with a whole different vision, thanks to growth. I am growing everyday, learning new strategies and skills in order to improve my sound,” he said.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company has sold 78% of its exhibition space, as preparations for this year’s edition of the trade showcase gather pace, an official has said.

The multi-sectorial trade showcase, set to run from April 21 to 25, will be held under the theme Augmenting Trade and Investment towards a Shared Economic Vision.

The theme, according to organisers, builds on the engagement and re-engagement thrust that the country is pursuing, which is developing relationships with everyone.

“The marketing and promotion campaign, which was officially launched in November last year, has gained traction, with a total of 231 direct exhibitors having heeded the call to book exhibition space,” ZITF Company marketing and public relations manager Stella Nkomo said recently.

In terms of space taken, 38 882 square metres of the available
49 631 square metres of exhibition space has been taken up.

Last year, about 816 direct and indirect exhibitors participated at the show.

In relation to local participation, 46% of exhibitors were from Harare down from 47% in 2018, while Bulawayo-based companies recorded significant increase, from 29% in 2018 to 34%.

Representation from other cities around the country shrunk to 15% from 19%.

Nkomo said trade shows were a particularly useful place for small and medium-sized businesses to develop leads and generate sales.

“We, therefore, urge all current and potential customers to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the premier engagement platform between and among trading and co-operating partners, potential investors, international and local businesspeople,” she said.

Notable events that will take place at the show include the ZITF International Business Conference, which is organised in conjunction with the National Economic Consultative forum on April 22 and the official opening ceremony on April 24.

The ZITF Company is collaborating with the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries to host the manufacturers’ conference on April 23, while the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce will host their annual business luncheon on the same day.

The third ZITF Innovators Forum will be taking place from April 21 to 23 under the theme Industrialisation, Modernisation through Innovation.

The event, whose highlights are an Innovations Pitch Day and a Hackathon, aims to encourage innovators to demonstrate creative use of information communication technologies to solve real-life business challenges.

ZITF will this year host its inaugural Diplomats Forum, which aims to promote Zimbabwe’s bilateral relationships with the international community as part of Vision 2030.

Nkomo said the event would see a high-level government representation hosting foreign diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe as well as delegations from their host countries to showcase the breadth and quality of investment opportunities available in Zimbabwe.

BY TAFADZWA MHLANGA

ONE of Zimbabwe’s leading energy companies, Zuva Petroleum, has donated classroom furniture to five schools affected by Cyclone Idai to help normalise education for the victims of the natural disaster.

Cyclone Idai struck eastern Zimbabwe in March last year, killing 340 people in the country, with hundreds of people missing and leaving thousands others affected, mainly in the Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.

Schools in the district were the hardest hit and one year on, many are yet to recover.

officer, Zwelithini Mlotshwa, said: “Young people are at a disadvantage as they plan their families and participate in commerce. They may find themselves overwhelmed when attempting to meet the challenges life presents. To be sure, good education makes good citizens. It is the pathway towards the prosperous, productive life and good citizenship we wish for all young Zimbabweans.

“Our donation of classroom furniture to the following schools: Tonhorai, Hot springs, Ndima, Charleswood and Gwindingwe Primary schools is in recognition of the power of education to restore hope in the face of adversity.”

Charleswood Primary School head Godfrey Mandega expressed gratitude and excitement, saying the donation would help boost the children’s eagerness to learn.

“Before this donation, some children were sitting on the ground, with books on their laps. We are really happy and I know the children will be very happy to receive the furniture. I hear each school will receive 30 desks and 30 chairs,” Mandega said.

BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA

The Mugodhi Apostolic Church leadership wrangle has been put to rest following the coronation of the late Tadeu Mugodhi’s son, Washington, as the new sect leader on Sunday despite disapprovals from rival factions.

The enthronement of Washington was at the church’s headquarters popularly known as PaChitope in Wedza, with the event attracting Zanu PF party youths, top sect leaders and other churches.

There was also heavy police presence during the event to maintain peace and order following threats of violence from a group that was against the appointment of Washington as the new
bishop.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Zimbabwe Amalgamated Churches Council (ACC) patron Jimayi Muduvuri, who presided over the coronation, said Washington’s elevation had extinguished a leadership wrangle within one of the biggest apostolic sects in the country.

“The elevation of Washington is a dream come true for his late father. All the bishops who attended the event, including those from top religious associations, endorsed the new leader. This is the time for the Mugodhi apostolic sect to move on and support their new Bishop,” he said.

ACC donated a tombstone for the late Tadeu as well as food for guests.

The glamorous event was also attended by members of the newly-formed Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches led by Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi.

Washington’s ascension follows a leadership wrangle that has since spilled in the courts, with a rival faction accusing the late Tadeu of “monopolising” the sect.

During the funeral of the late Tadeu last year, tempers flared as the other faction tried to block his burial at the church’s headquarters.

BY KENNETH NYANGANI

THE Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG) has trained 80 members of the Marange community on ways to curb transnational organised crime that has seen diamonds being smuggled out of Chiadzwa.

CNRG, led by Farai Maguwu, last week held a training workshop for the villagers in the affected communities, who were taught on how to investigate and report on diamond smuggling.

In an interview with NewsDay on the sidelines of the workshop, CNRG projects co-ordinator O’bren Nhachi said the aim was to curb diamond smuggling, which hss seen the country losing millions of dollars in potential revenue.

Nhachi said villagers realised that they were losing not only revenue, which can benefit them, but the scourge of diamond smuggling had negative cultural and social implications.

“As you witnessed today, we are embarking on training the Marange community to tackle transnational organised crime in the diamond industry,” he said.

“We are targeting Marange community members who reside in the diamond-rich areas so that they can curb smuggling. The community members have confessed that they are not passive watchers in the process of diamond smuggling. This is a critical issue because curbing smuggling will also ensure curbing illicit loss of potential revenue that could be channelled to the development agenda. So far, we have done three meetings.

“We are working with 80 people and our wish is that they cascade down the message and teach others.”

Nhachi encouraged the community to work in harmony with law enforcement agents in the fight against smuggling.

Bocha Diamond Development community board chair Lovemore Mukwada said the smugglers were well connected and the communities had no power of stopping them.

“We have witnessed some people who we believe are here just to smuggle diamonds, but we don’t have power to stop them. We have well-known diamond buyers and they are well connected and we don’t know how to stop them. This is organised crime at its best,” he said.

William Nyamasoka, who attended the training, said: “We are going to use this information and knowledge to help in curbing the rampant diamond leakages.”

BY NHAU MANGIRAZI

THE Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) has come under attack for licensing tobacco firms that are fuelling deforestation in Hurungwe as they subcontract farmers who cannot afford buying coal and end up chopping down trees to cure the golden leaf.

Many tobacco firms are flooding Hurungwe district, which normally receives good rainfall for tobacco and other crops.

Traditional leaders and councillors from Hurungwe rural and Karoi town, who were part of the people who provided information to the Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Parliamentary Portfolio Committee at the Forestry Amendment Bill hearings last week, said they were not happy that TIMB and Hurungwe Rural District Council were benefitting financially while forests were diminishing fast, affecting rainfall patterns.

Headman Hands Chundu, under Chief Chundu, said: “Traditional leaders are left counting loses of forests when the tobacco firms are licensed in Harare and through the local council.

However, the forests left bare are under headmen and chiefs’ jurisdiction. We want tobacco firms to be accountable for their actions as our forests are being wasted and trees cut, leaving the areas semi-deserts. As traditional leaders, we want tough laws that bind the tobacco firms to revive these forests.”

Karoi councillor Kenston Kumuponda said the tobacco firms should give back to communities they operate in.

“Part of these tobacco companies’ mandate is corporate social responsibility, but nothing has been done to plough back into the communities. We want the bill to have teeth so that they act on our behalf and develop the district,” he said.

Another Hurungwe councillor, Agnes Nxele, suggested that the contract farmers should use solar-powered systems to cure the golden leaf.

“We must be proactive on climate change and we must go green through use of solar powered system to cure tobacco so that we preserve our forests. Use of coal is better to protect the forests,” she said.

Chief Adam Katsvere Chanetsa called for stiffer mandatory sentences for those who cause veld fires.

“We have mandatory sentence for livestock theft and so for veld fires, we must also have a mandatory sentence so that we curb it once and for all,’ Chief Chanetsa said.

Headman Florence Mocho, from Chundu, called for advocacy and awareness campaigns to be held by traditional leaders so that subjects are well informed on the dangers of veld fires and forest destruction.

“We must all be part of the solution to avert deforestation through awareness and advocacy as traditional leaders,” she said.

The Parliament Portfolio Committee chairperson Consilia Chinanzvavana said the Forestry Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Forest Act [Chapter 19:05] of 1947.

“The minister seeks to align it with current reality. As the Parliament Portfolio Committee, we are here to get your inputs as part of the law-making process to enhance the protection of forests from veld fires through the introduction of mandatory and deterrent sentences as well as recognise aggravating consequences of veld fires, such as death and damage to property and make provision for their prosecution in terms of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act,” she said.

She also highlighted that the Bill seeks to introduce a multi-sectorial, decentralised and gendered approach to fire management that includes local authorities, Arex officials, the transport sector and traditional leaders, among others.

The committees will travel to Muzarabani, Uzumba, Maramba, Pfungwe, Chipinge, Chimanimani and other areas.