BY PRECIOUS CHIDA

A LOCAL company, Treeco has launched an ambitious project to plant about one million trees, including indigenous fruit species that can survive in different climatic conditions, across the country and monitor their progress and impact through mobile technology.

The first batch of 1 000 trees, sponsored by leading tour operator Bushtracks Africa as part of their Bushtracks Footprint Programme, and provided by Treeco and Forestry Commission were distributed to communities in Victoria Falls.

The tree-planting project also marked the launch of a mobile application, Treeco App, produced by Treeco and Green Fingers Mobile, to gather and manage data from reforestation activities.

Olia Danckwerts of Treeco said in a statement the mobile application will help to monitor and enforce accountability in the reforestation sector.

“This app aims to ultimately start a revolution whereby people are empowered, no matter how big or small, to make a tangible difference that benefits both the planet and people,” she said.

Danckwerts said the initiative to plant the trees was meant to curb deforestation and habitat loss and its associated impact.

“The project brings together established players in the conservation and tourism sector including Forestry Commission, Wild is Life and Bushtracks Africa. The trees were grown at the nearby Fuller Forest Nursery by Forestry Commission and Treeco,” she said.

Treeco founder Jos Danckwerts described trees as the source of all life, providing air, food and water.

“We are in a second year of drought and it is more vital than ever that we unite at grassroots level to plant trees and protect forests, given that trees are directly linked to rain, which we all rely on for everything,” he said.

Bushtracks general manager Simon Teede said they were proud to play a leading role in environmental protection and mitigating the efforts of climate change.

BY KEVIN MAPASURE

Zimbabwe failed in their pursuit of a series levelling win in the second cricket Test match which ended in a draw at Harare Sports Club yesterday with touring Sri Lanka claiming a 1-0 win, having won the first match last week.

The hosts declared in the morning after Sean Williams had reached his half century to finish their second innings on 247 for 7 to set Sri Lanka a victory target of 361, but with ten overs remaining, the two captains agreed that a draw was inevitable and shook hands.

Zimbabwe needed to bowl out Sri Lanka in yesterday’s 98 overs, but they only managed to take three wickets with visiting batsmen proving resolute and solid, giving very little away.

Kusal Mendis scored an unconquered ton finishing on 116 with the tourists ending their innings on 204 for 3 in the second innings.

Oshada Fernando fell three runs short of his half century as he became Sikandar Raza’s only victim after he was trapped leg before.

Carl Mumba took the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne, while Victor Nyauchi got rid of Fernando Mathews who scored 13 runs.

Raza, who took seven wickets and scored a half century in the first innings of the match, was named man of the match, while Mathews scooped the man of the series award.

Zimbabwe will reflect on day four where luck eluded them after their plans were scuppered by the rains that fell late in the afternoon, forcing a lengthy stoppage and subsequently bad light which also induced early stumps with 34 overs getting lost.

The hosts would have wanted to put a bigger score on the board and get a shot at bowling at Sri Lanka for at least an hour which on the day would have given them more time out in the field.

But even with that in mind, their bowling yesterday lacked penetration and they struggled to put the tourists under real pressure.

The first wicket (Karunaratne) fell in the 14th over while that of Fernando arrived 24 overs later with the last dropping after 60 overs. That was not enough to get Sri Lanka worried.

Donald Tiripano was at his frugal best with an economy of 0.93 after bowling 10 maidens of his 16 overs, conceding just 15 runs.

Fellow seamers Mumba and Nyauchi retained figures of 1 for 13 and 1 for 43 respectively, but the former only bowled four overs.

Spin was just as ineffective as seam with Raza finishing with 1 for 63 while Williams had 0 for 49 with Mutombodzi also finishing without a scalp conceding 19 runs in the seven overs that he was given.

While they will be disappointed with the drawn second Test, they will be pleased with some performances in the match, particularly their effort with both bat and ball in the first innings where they scored 406 all out before they bowled out Sri Lanka for 293.

They will look forward to their next challenge which is a tour to Bangladesh with optimism.
Williams was pleased with the way they played spin.

“Unfortunately, I got sick, but Brendan did a really good job there and well done to Raza. We played spin really well this series and I am looking forward to the Bangladesh series.”

Raza was disappointed with the draw, but is already looking ahead.

“I think I wanted to channel all my emotions in the right way. I just made a commitment to work hard everyday after missing out on a couple of series. I try and complement bowling with batting. When I was training for this Test, I had about 200 overs under my belt. I am certainly looking forward to the franchise cricket, we have back-to-back games,” he said.

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne praised Zimbabwe for their positive approach.

“I think if you take this Test, Zimbabwe competed well for the first four days. They were really positive and played really good cricket. We had to bat the whole day, I think Kusal and Oshada were really good. As a team, we have done some really good things over the last two years,” he said.

BY SINDISO DUBE

AFTER securing a point and an away goal against Malawi in a 2020 Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup preliminary round first leg match, coach Rosemary Mugadza is confident that her side will finish the job at home today.

The Young Mighty Warriors were seven minutes away from securing a crucial away win when the two teams met at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre a fortnight ago, but Malawi scored a late equaliser to leave the tie evenly balanced.

Shyline Dambamuromo scored the all-important away goal for Zimbabwe, before substitute Yamikani Mhango handed Malawi a lifeline with a 83rd minute equaliser.

Today’s match will be played at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo, with the hosts looking to make full use of the away goal.

Speaking at a Press conference after the team’s morning training session yesterday, Mugadza said she was hoping that her team would carry the momentum from the previous match.

“It’s not going to be an easy game as all the countries are improving on their game, but we are hoping that our ladies will do us good service tomorrow,” Mugadza said.

“We have been in camp since we left Malawi. We have prepared well and we hope that the players will apply themselves very well and do well like they did in Malawi,” the former Mighty Warriors coach said.

“They are very good, especially in the middle of the park. Their striker, who came in the second half and managed to equalise, is also good. Their defence has lanky players, so we are planning to bypass their midfield and use our strikers very well. But we need to remain compact in the middle of the park.”

The overall winner of this contest will book a first round place against either Burundi or Ethiopia. Ethiopia lead the contest 5-0 from the first leg.

Besides qualification to the next stage, the Young Mighty Warriors are desperate to win this match to atone for the disappointment by their young sisters, the Under-17 who were clobbered 7-0 on aggregate by Botswana in a Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup first round qualifier last month.
The Under-17 team lost 5-0 in Gaborone and were finished off at Barbourfields last week.

However, Mugadza picked some positives from the disappointing result.

“I don’t think the Under-17s performed very bad considering that it was their first time taking part in the qualifiers and also that Botswana participated in last year’s Cosafa tournament. Our girls just grouped for two weeks facing a team which had been in camp for two months,” she said.

“It is good that we now have an Under-17 team participating in such a major competition and we ask for support so that we keep all our age group teams taking part in such competitions. These teams feed in into other teams and eventually the senior team.”

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

Gokwe Town Secretary Melania Mandeya yesterday appeared at the Gokwe Magistrates Court facing four counts of corruption and violation of tender procedures.

Mandeya who is represented by Solomon Kangembeu appeared before magistrate Musaiona Shotgame.

Allegations are that on November 4, 2015, Mandeya gave a tender to sew council curtains to her relative Zvichapera Zunzanyika whom she was staying with without following proper procedures.

The State alleges Mandeya further hired Zunzanyika’s sewing machinery at a rate of US$36 without following proper procurement procedures.

It is alleged Gokwe Town Council subsequently paid Zunzanyika US$590 and a tool allowance of US$36.

It is further alleged that sometime during the same year, Mandeya made an application for residential stand in Gokwe town and her letter was referred to the works and services committee which recommended it before forwarding it to the full council for a resolution.

The State alleges that the full council resolved to award Mandeya stand number 156 kambasha, Gokwe. She was allegedly made to sign a lease agreement to that effect.

On September 28, 2017 Mandeya approached the council housing department and requested to be offered stand number 155 Kambasha, Gokwe which is adjacent to her stand number 156.

She allegedly erected a precast wall without formalising the paper work and the council was prejudiced of US$4000.

The State alleges that sometime in March last year, Mandeya invited tenders for catering and a companies Kiki’s Kitchen, Faith Mashava’s kitchen and Irene’s catering services responded by issuing quotations.

Mandeya allegedly deliberately did not involve the procurement unit and went on to award the tender to Irene’s catering services belonging to her daughter in law Irene Maheva.

She allegedly then forged Kiki’s Kitchen and Mashava Faith kitchen quotations and pegged both their bidding amounts at $9 590 so that they appear to be highest bidders compared to Irene’s Catering service which was pegged at $8040.

Mandeya then caused the payment of $4000 for the services to Irene’s catering and the balance was set off the payment of stand number 187 Kambasha, Gokwe.

It is further alleged that Mandeya invited the services of Nerenchia Power Rite Company to supply and install solar system at Gokwe Town Council without following due processes.

The State alleges despite the fact that Gokwe Town Council had been quoted $325 435 for the power systems consisting of 24 by 330 watts solar panels, Nerenchia allegedly installed 20 by 400 watts solar panels to the council while four by 400 watts solar panels were installed to Mandeya’s private place of residence.

It is alleged the council paid a total of $325 435 towards the installation of the said system and it was likely to pay less had it been the competitive bidding method had been used to procure the said system.

BY WINSTONE ANTONIO

POPULAR stand-up comedian and motivational speaker Carl Joshua Ncube will on February 1 release his fourth self-published book titled Motivational Lectures by Carl Joshua Ncube, which will be given to the public for free.

The jest master said the book was a compilation of 10 years of lectures and articles on solving problems people encountered as they sought to achieve big dreams.

“The book also speaks to a person struggling through life who needs a refreshing perspective on how to do better. The articles and lectures are curated to fit a narrative to primarily help Zimbabweans navigate a challenging set of circumstances and to not let our externals determine our destiny,” Ncube said.

“I feel God has inspired me to help others with ideas. I have always been a person who looks at a situation and be able to find a way around, over or through it. The book will cover how to manage time, creating multiple revenue streams, living off the grid, knowing your purpose, how to set up a business plan, among a range of other topics that Zimbabweans may find useful.”

Other books that Ncube has self-published are 40 Days that Changed Me (Unedited diary entries written while Carl was homeless in Botswana), Social Media Manual (Tools for the modern marketer) and I’m Dreaming of a braai Christmas (Compilation of Recipes for your next Braai).

Ncube said he would use the first part of his year to do a lot of business consultancy, strategic planning, design and motivational lectures.

The entertainer has continuously broken barriers and excelled in his career. Last year, he performed via Skype to a BBC live audience, recorded a comedy performance on Showmax and staged a one-man show in South Africa.

BY ADMIRE JAMU-MLAMBO

Former Denmark-based midfielder Tanaka Chinyahara has found a new home after penning a one-and-half-year deal with Zambian Premier Soccer League side, Red Arrows.
Chinyahara, who has also played for South African football clubs Bidvest Wits and Witbank Spurs, signed the deal on Wednesday which will see him play for the club until 2021.

The midfielder expressed his delight for eventually bouncing back into the game after a long time on the sidelines.

“It’s a great feeling. I signed a one-year six-month contract with Red Arrows. It has an option of extension for another year. Red Arrows is highly-professional and I hope to perform to my best ability. I can’t wait to play for one of the biggest teams in Zambia,” Chinyahara told NewsDay Sport from his Lusaka base yesterday.

Red Arrows, sponsored by the Zambian Airforce, are under the guidance of Chisi Mbewe.

The 24-year-old Chinyahara has been clubless since last year after his former club Witbank Spurs, which was competing in the South African National League, was relegated, leading to the termination of his contract with the club.

The midfielder, like Warriors team captain Knowledge Musona, has never featured in the domestic topflight league as he went straight to South Africa where he turned out for Kaizer Chiefs junior squad before joining Bidvest Wits in 2014.

It was at Bidvest Wits where he was spotted by Hobro IK scouts, while playing in a junior tournament. In 2015, Chinyahara made a big break into the European leagues when he signed for the Danish club.

He, however, struggled for game time at Hobro IK, making only five appearances in 2016 and spent the remainder of 2017 soccer season on loan at Danish second division side Jammerbugt FC.

The diminutive midfielder then tried his luck at Dynamos in 2018 when he trained with them at a time they were under the guidance of Lloyd Mutasa, fuelling speculation that he was eyeing a possible move to the Harare giants.

He was however, not signed amid reports of sticking contractual issues.

After a largely frustrating period of training with the Glamour Boys, Chinyahara decided to return to South Africa where he joined Witbank Spurs which was then coached by former Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba.

He becomes the latest local player to join the great trek to the Zambian league in recent times after reigning Soccer Star of the Year Joel Ngodzo, Takudzwa Chimwemwe, Dominic Chungwa, Tafadzwa Rusike, Dennis Dauda, Jimmy Dzingai and Thabani Kamusoko decided to move north.

BY PRAISEMORE SITHOLE

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has said couples intending to sell their jointly-owned matrimonial houses are obliged to pay double Capital Gains Tax, with each of the parties taxed separately.

Zimra spokesperson Francis Chimanda confirmed the taxation regime after some couples in Bulawayo had queried the move.

He said married people were taxed separately if both have their names showing on the title deeds.

“If the house was jointly owned and registered as such at the Registrar of Deeds, which is if both names appear on the title deed, these are taxed separately,” Chimanda said.

Chimanda, however, said divorcing couples could choose to elect for deferment of tax.

“If one partner is transferring his or her half share or even full share of a property which used to be their principal private residence (PPR), the transferor partner can choose to elect for deferment of tax in terms of section 16 of the Capital Gains Tax Act,” Chimanda said.

“The transferee partner would be responsible for the payment of Capital Gains Tax if she or he decides to dispose of it at a later date, that is if she or he owned it from the time they owned the property before their divorce.”

Chimanda said for the rest of the properties, if they own more than one property, the transferor partner would pay Capital Gains Tax in the normal way.

He, however, said elderly couples above 55 years were exempted from paying the Capital Gains Tax when selling their property to a third party.

“If they are selling a PPR to a third party and they are above the age 55 years, they are eligible for old age exemption and hence do not pay tax,” Chimanda said.

“If their property is a PPR and they want to sell in order to purchase or construct another PPR, even if they are below the age of 55 years, they can elect the provisions of section 21 to rollover Capital Gains Tax.”

Chimanda also said couples transferring properties between themselves, and elect provisions of section 16, Capital Gains Tax can be deferred on all transactions.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

CALEDONIA Mining Corporation (Caledonia) says adjusted earnings per share for 2019 are expected to be up in the range of US$1,55 to US$1,75 due to the continued strengthening of the gold price, among other factors.

“Caledonia is pleased to announce that earnings for 2019 will be substantially higher than market expectations due to the combined effects of the continued strength of the gold price; higher than expected production for 2019; and lower than expected operating costs,” the company said in a statement yesterday.

As a result of these factors, the company said adjusted earnings per share (before net realised and unrealised foreign exchange gains) for 2019 are expected to be in the range of US$1,55 to US$1,75 per share compared to US$0,86 to US$1,17 per share recorded in early 2019.

Caledonia chief executive officer Steve Curtis said he was delighted by the excellent performance of Blanket Mine, particularly in the later stages of 2019, which, combined with the strength of the gold price, has resulted in “us comfortably exceeding expectations for the year ended December 31, 2019”.

“This is down to the hard work and dedication of our exceptional team operating at the Blanket Mine not least in how they have successfully addressed challenges in the year such as the variable power supply and grade fluctuations,” he said.

With these challenges addressed, Curtis said an excellent start to 2020 and with the development of the Central Shaft continuing on time and a record quarterly production in the fourth quarter, they look forward to an exciting year ahead.

The company recently increased its shareholding in the Gwanda-based mining concern to 64% after finalising the deal it had with Fremiro Investments Private Limited.

The Alternative Investment Market-quoted miner, recently increased its stake in Blanket Mine from 49% to 64% after the completion the acquisition of an additional 15% shareholding from Fremiro Private Limited.