Lungile Tshuma and Rumbidzai Mbewe Sunday News Correspondents
A FACTION aligned to MDC-T vice-president Ms Thokozani Khupe allegedly plotted to oust party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai by trying to “steal” his medical files and present them to the opposition’s financiers mostly European envoys to prove that he was now “so sick and likely to be killed by cancer by 2017” hence the need to give him a retirement package.

However, Ms Khupe, the alleged mastermind, discovered that even if Mr Tsvangirai was to be pushed out as party leader, she did not have the right credentials to take over the party and allegedly told the envoys that she would forge an alliance with Zimbabwe People First leader Dr Joice Mujuru where she will be vice-president of the country if they win elections in 2018.

Sources said Ms Khupe allegedly met Mr Jesse Louis Jackson, a once Democratic presidential nomination candidate and an American civil rights activist in Morocco where she told him that Tsvangirai was sick and could not lead the party.

Insiders within the MDC-T national executive further revealed that Ms Khupe held a secret meeting in South Africa with Dr Mujuru and representatives of the Swedish government where they allegedly agreed to make Dr Mujuru a coalition presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2018 elections.

“Khupe held a meeting in Morocco with Rev Jessie Jackson where she told him about Tsvangirai’s weaknesses which include being fond of women and that he was ill. The Rev went on to report the issue to the state department and the president (Tsvangirai) was told by someone working in the state department,” said the source.

“They held a secret meeting in South Africa without the president’s knowledge with Mujuru together with the Swedish government officials and they agreed on a plan to make Mujuru the presidential candidate and the Swedish government was persuaded to give money for Tsvangirai’s retirement,” said a top official in the party.

The official added that Ms Khupe was to become a vice-president in the coalition government while party’s secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora was also to be given a senior position.

The Khupe faction is said to have used Mr Mwonzora to allegedly try to smuggle a doctor into the hospital in South Africa where Mr Tsvangirai was admitted to get his medical records which were to be given to the Swedish government to prove that Tsvangirai was seriously ill.

“They (Khupe faction) were planning to sideline the president ahead of the 2018 elections by making Mujuru the candidate in return Khupe was promised to be the country’s vice-president after the 2018 elections. Mwonzora was also promised a senior position in the new government,” said the official.

“To bolt their claim that the president was sick, Mwonzora tried to smuggle a doctor into the hospital where the president was admitted to but he was stopped by the Tsvangirai family members and hospital authorities. After the incident the president’s wife (Elizabeth Macheka) and his daughter Vimbai then banned them from visiting Tsvangirai in South Africa together with Chief Ndlovu (party’s chairman in South Africa) and Phungeni who were also banned from visiting the president or offering any money for his treatment.” Contacted for comment, Mr Mwonzora initially was jumpy but when quizzed further confirmed that he tried to get a doctor, only to help Mr Tsvangirai.

“I have no comment. I don’t think it’s true,” he said before saying “this is an issue which can be handled by the presidential spokesperson.”
Quizzed further on whether he took a doctor see Mr Tsvangirai in hospital he said: “I can confirm that I was concerned about the president’s health. I had just lost my brother and I tried my best to help.”

Presented with the story, Ms Khupe declined to comment on the matter.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Tsvangirai’s spokesman Mr Luke Tamborinyoka were fruitless as he was not picking his cellphone.

However, ZimPF party spokesman Mr Jealousy Mawarire confirmed meeting many parties including officials from MDC-T although he said their party leader Dr Mujuru “holds meetings with different envoys and government representative across the globe to explain her party policies.”
He said his party was ready to form a coalition with MDC-T when the “time comes” but denounced the claim that Dr Mujuru once met Ms Khupe with a possibility of forming a coalition.

He said: “We have since from the onset indicated that we want to form a coalition with any democratic parties and MDC-T is included but there are no formal talks with them at the moment. A serious political leader in the country will have to engage other countries around the country and whoever does not do that will be doing a disservice for his/her party. For the meeting which you mentioned, it’s not true.”

The recent move by Tsvangirai to appoint Mr Nelson Chamisa and Mr Elias Mudzuri as vice-presidents was allegedly meant to clip Ms Khupe’s wings whom he no longer trusted because of her presidential ambitions.

Recently, the party has been rocked by factional fights where Ms Khupe faction which is reportedly composed of Mr Mwonzora have been working hard try to thwart the ascendance of the two new vice-presidents.

In last week’s national council meeting, insiders said Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and South African provinces were quite vocal after they refused to endorse Tsvangirai’s appointment of Mr Chamisa and Mr Mudzuri as vice-presidents. The three provinces were clear that the appointments were meant to weaken Ms Khupe whom in their view has been loyal to Mr Tsvangirai.

Analysts said the party which has been rocked by splits before, might be headed for another divorce.

Mabasa Sasa and Tinashe Farawo Harare Bureau
COMMANDER of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantino Chiwenga has warned opposition elements bent on fomenting turmoil, and Zanu-PF infiltrators seeking to destroy the party from within, that the country’s security services will not sit and watch as they plot chaos. In an interview yesterday with our Harare Bureau ahead of the 2016 Heroes and Defence Forces holidays, Gen Chiwenga said the military had a constitutional role to preserve the integrity of the Republic and revolution.

He said, “We were reading mapepa paakatanga kuti ‘when you want to destroy Zanu-PF you need to do it from within’.
“Vaitiudza kuti kuchazoita vamwe vechidiki vanofanirwa kutonga. Hazvina kunyorwa here? Munoti tanga tisingazvioni? Hazvisizvo here zvirikuitika? Ngatidye sadza zvakanaka.”

The general also said: “Kana wada kutonga enda kuvanhu. We are a democratic country.
“We are commemorating Heroes Day; that is blood that was shed and it’s time to reflect. Ropa iroro harina kurasikira mahara. Those people died for you and me.

“Some of us survived the war not because we were the best kana kuti tanga takangwara. No. We survived so that we can bear witness to how this country was liberated . . .

“Many of those who did not make it to Zimbabwe were the real fighters and some of the celebrated cowards who only saw the border when going into Mozambique and coming back at Independence and never during combat, ndivo vakuzviisa pamberi manje.

“This nonsense of someone who was at a refugee camp or was a cleaner moving around telling people that he or she fought in the struggle is just that — nonsense. Wakarwa hondo kupi?

“Vanhu ngavapute mbanje dzavo zvakanaka, hazvirambidzwi. Kana ririshave rekumusha kwenyu it’s ok, putayi ikoko — don’t disturb us because we have lost thousands of innocent sons and daughters.”

On a “communique” attributed to war veterans which claimed liberation fighters had withdrawn their support for President Mugabe, Gen Chiwenga said a few rogue elements could not tarnish the broader collective.

“When a clique or infiltrators comes in, do you move around saying everyone has rebelled? War veterans start from the President himself down to the last cadre . . .”

He said a simple look at the leadership of the war veterans association showed none of them were members of the General Staff or High Command during the liberation struggle.

The General Staff were like the middle management, overseeing matters on the ground, and reported to the High Command.
“If we have one rogue war veteran it doesn’t mean everyone is a rogue,” he said.

On those sowing seeds of instability via social media, the ZDF Commander said it was strange that activists and church leaders now thought they were now “more revolutionary than Zanla and Zipra at the height of the liberation war”.
He said the nation should concentrate on development issues instead of brewing unnecessary chaos.

“The issue of shutting the country’s borders is nonsense, it is absolute nonsense. Vanhu ngavaende kudzimba vanodya sadza ravo vakazvigarira. Shutting the borders to please who?” he asked.

He brushed off claims that the ZDF was politically biased, saying: “We went to the struggle and brought Independence and today you cannot say I must shut my mind and completely forget where I came from.

“That’s what our Constitution says. Everyone contributed to writing the Constitution and it says we (the ZDF) shall uphold the Constitution.
“We are apolitical to the extent that we leave you to do what you like but the moment you threaten the sovereignty of the country, then you threaten that very Constitution.

“Please don’t expect us to sit and watch. We are there to protect the people and that’s what we are saying and will do.
Gen Chiwenga said an appreciation of the country’s history would aid the development agenda.

“We have our friends, the Chinese. They are where they are because of their Founding Father, Chairman Mao. Look at the Russians, even if the current leadership is not communist, they respect their Founding Father, Lenin.
“Isu muno tina VaMugabe vedu, ndoovatakabva nawo. He is the Founding Father of this country and it shall remain so.”

Sukulwenkosi Dube Matutu, Online Reporter

A 67-YEAR-OLD Bulilima man unlawfully entered into the house of a 19-year-old married neighbour and offered her a chewing gum and $5 in exchange for her love.

Peter Mguni of Fairview Resettlement area in Figtree was convicted on his own plea of guilty to unlawful entry by Plumtree magistrate, Mr Livard Philemon.

He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. Three months were however suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit an offence of the same nature.

The remaining nine months were suspended on condition that he performs 315 hours of community service at Figtree Police Station.

Mguni told the court that he invaded the homestead in a bid to propose love to Mrs Nkazimulo Mvundla who is his neighbour’s wife.

“I am married but I was tempted to propose love to her as I found her attractive. I had tried several times to share my feelings with her whenever I met her but she always refused to entertain me.

“I then decided to go to her homestead when I knew that she was alone. I had just gone there to propose love to her but I had no intention to harm her,” said Mguni.

Prosecuting Mrs Rose Sibanda told the court that Mguni proceeded to Mvundla’s homestead on July 14 while her husband and relatives were away.

She said Mguni arrived at Mvundla’s homestead and entered into her kitchen hut without her permission.

“Mguni told Mvundla that he had come for her response to his love proposal. She ordered him to leave her homestead and threatened to report her but Mguni refused to leave until she had agreed to his love proposal.

“Mguni produced a chewing gum and a $5 note and promised to give it to Mvundla if she agreed to become his girlfriend,” said the prosecutor.

She said Mguni started advancing towards Mvundla while begging her to accept her her love proposal.

It was the State case that Mvundla pushed Mguni to the ground and fled from her homestead to a neighbour’s where she reported what had transpired.

The matter was reported to the police resulting in Mguni’s arrest and his subsequent appearance in court.

Harare Bureau
WORKERS could soon have shorter periods to inform employers of planned strikes, get softer penalties for illegal job actions, and go on maternity leave without restrictions. Labour dispute settlements could also be streamlined and registered with the Labour Court, with collective job actions decriminalised. These proposals will be incorporated into the Labour Act if Cabinet and Parliament approve them in coming weeks.

Cabinet will also consider a question on whether or not some employers should be exempted from paying retrenchment packages for workers dismissed on notice, as business and labour representatives continue to bicker over the highly contentious matter.

In July 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that the common law position placing employees and employers at par was operational when deciding on a case in which two former Zuva Petroleum managers were challenging termination of their contracts on notice.

Many private and State-linked firms proceeded to dismiss thousands of employees on the strength of that judgment, prompting Government to step in with amendments to the Labour Act.

Talks between the three social partners brought up further amendments, culminating in the Tripartite Negotiating Forum technical committee meeting in Harare last Thursday agreeing on changes to 13 areas, among them, maternity leave, the Labour Court’s powers and collective bargaining rights.

The Act presently requires workers to give two weeks strike notice and makes illegal job actions a dismissable offence. It presently allows women only three maternity leave periods under a single employer.

A team of human resources experts is fine-tuning the draft principles, with Public Service, Labour and Social

Lungile Tshuma Sunday News Correspondent
THE Government should develop “bold and stern” measures of reducing expenditure with special focus on the salary bill while increasing industrial production as a possible way of dealing with the cash crisis, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya has said. Long queues at banking institutions which were only prevalent at month ends havebecome common while most financial institutions have continued to review their maximum withdrawal limits to as low as $100 per day. In a wide ranging interview yesterday, Dr Mangudya said the long queues at banks were a symptom of high Government expenditure which needs to be cut and the money invested in production to boost exports. He said it was unsustainable that 85 percent of the revenue that the Government was generating was now catering for civil servants salaries. He said the ideal percent of salaries ratio to revenue should be 40 percent.

“During pay days, there are bound to be long queues. The Government is the largest employer and people will want to be paid in cash. The problem is that our expenditure is too high because there is no Government or a company which can spend the bulk of its revenue on paying salaries. The Government is spending more than 85 percent on civil servants’ salaries and that is disastrous,” said Dr Mangudya.

The Government is already carrying out a staff rationalisation exercise to reduce and realign its work force as a way of dealing with the huge wage bill. He said cash problems were also to do with the mentality of people who want to use cash adding that “people want cash but Government does not receive payments in cash.”

He said: “People should note that when companies pay their tax to Zimra they use RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) not cash but civil servants will want their money in cash. Cash comes from exports and that is

the money that will be used to pay civil servants. Civil servants don’t import cash but we only get cash through exports which include exporting tobacco, minerals and other products.”

Dr Mangudya said the Government has the potential to turn around the economy because the country is endowed with many resources that can be harnessed for production.

“We have plenty of gold and diamond which God gave us and those should be harnessed to generate more exports. The introduction of bond notes is meant to incentivise businesses so that they can export and increase foreign currency and that is healthy for our multi-currency system,” he said.

“As a country we need bold and stern sustainable solutions which will be hinged on production, production and production. Production is important in that it increases exports, reduces dependency on revenue imports, increases fiscal space and Government expenditure will also be low.”

Dr Mangudya said the adoption of the multi-currency system was under threat, as it was yet to be widely adopted by people who are addicted to the US dollar and rand only.

“People are addicted to the US dollar and rand. Unfortunately we don’t print that money instead we import it. What we are going through is not complicated because the situation can be reversed. As I said, we should reduce expenditure and increase production. Without production we are not going to solve this problem,” said Dr Mangudya.

He also advised people to embrace plastic money which is the modern and best practice in doing business.

“There is no need for people to be in long queues because they should just use plastic money. Through their cards, they can buy anything they want so that they cannot stand in queues.”

The country has been experiencing cash shortages which has seen queues at the banks resurfacing. The Government accuses some businesses of hoarding the money starving the banking institutions. Because of the strengthening of the dollar against major regional currencies, there has been suspicions that the countries are fishing the dollar from Zimbabwe to boost their foreign currency reserves.

Peter Matika Senior Reporter
PROMINENT prophet, founder and leader of Eagle Life Assembly Church, Blessing Chiza (pictured right) has been nominated for an honorary doctorate award by the African Institute of Theology. Prophet Chiza has become probably the first Zimbabwean prophet from his era to gain such recognition. Prophet Chiza told Sunday News that he was deeply humbled and honoured to have been recognised in such a fora.

“I feel honoured to have such a powerful recognition from people observing me from outside. I accept the honour of the biblical interpretation and revelation level of my teachings. I am so much excited to be recognised as one of the best prophets in Africa. It is not by power nor by might, I give it all to Jesus Christ who called me,” he said.

He will be awarded with the honourary doctorate in Zambia on 3 September. According to a statement addressed to Prophet Chiza, from AIT, he was nominated for the award after the institute went through his profile.

“This has come through our Pan African Association (PAMA) office in Zambia; this office is also co-coordinating our Great Awakening Conference this year. Your CV attests to the great work you have done and will continue to do unto God and humanity. This award is coming through the organisation we are partnering with, ours is to recommend and send names and they confirm. Whence your name is among those sent for this great honour in the coming few weeks,” read a statement issued to Prophet Chiza.

The awards ceremony will take place on the last day of the Great Awakening Conference, which begins on 30 August at the Bethel Church International in Ndola, Zambia. The conference will also be attended by other churches from across the globe, namely USA, France, Italy, Mexico, Malaysia and Brazil.

Twitter:@peterkmatika

Nokukhanya Moyo Sunday News Reporter
INDIGENOUS churches have been urged to work with the Government to achieve targets under the Zim Asset clusters to help economic growth and bust illegal sanctions imposed on the country by Western countries. Speaking during the ordination of 37 Apostolic bishops in the city yesterday, Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo said although the country was experiencing economic and social challenges since 2000, the church could play an important role in giving hope and solutions to the problems that people were facing.

“As indigenous churches, I am strongly convinced that working with your Government to achieve targets under the Zim Asset clusters at grassroots level will at the end of the day bust the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries,” she said.

“Zimbabwe has experienced deteriorating economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries. The impacts being hyperinflationary environment and a low industrial capacity utilisation.”

She said she was well aware of some of the programmes that the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) was doing in the region.

“I am aware of the programmes that ACCZ does in the region due to the good working relations between my office and that of the regional coordinator, projects such as the low income housing stands availed at Lot 27 B Lower Rangemore.

“This project comes in support of Government’s efforts to provide basic housing to the population and supports the Zim Asset pillar on infrastructure and utilities. The partnership between ACCZ and Conartta Developments which has seen the general public in the province afford to own homes, has also seen the housing backlog in the local authority list decrease,’’ said Minister Moyo.

The ACCZ is made up of Apostolic and Zion churches in Zimbabwe. Addressing the gathering, Archbishop Johannes Ndanga said, “Word of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fool.”

He said the church, particularly his organisation were pushing for development programmes that were going to benefit the congregants and the nation as a whole especially those that were in line with the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.

The chief executive officer of Falakhe Funeral Parlour Mr Pilate Mabhena said they were happy to witness a marriage between ACCZ and his company and was looking forward for other church organisations to partner them.

Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
FORMER Vice-President and Zimbabwe People First interim president Dr Joice Mujuru yesterday confirmed the long-time assertions that she has been working with the West-sponsored MDC-T when she joined party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and other senior party members for a joint demonstration and rally in Gweru. Dr Mujuru and some of her followers including Messrs Rugare Gumbo, Didymus Mutasa, Dzikamai Mavhaire and Retired Major Kudzai Mbudzi all chanted MDC-T slogans during the rally. The two parties also forged a loose alliance and expressed the desire to work together. They, however, did not confirm that they had officially merged preferring to be evasive.

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday conceded that he had failed to defeat Zanu-PF in an election and said they needed to complement efforts with other political parties to try and dismantle a robust revolutionary party. Mr Tsvangirai said MDC-T had no intensions of forcibly removing a Government which was constitutionally in place.

“I know this will raise a lot of eyebrows especially from the ruling party. We now need a collective consensus to make sure that President Mugabe listens to the voice of the people. We are not going to remove the Government using force. We decided to have joint rallies because we are the same people who were going into the same town and I do not see anything wrong. Seeing us here is not by accident. We respect Mai Mujuru ava,” he said.

Mr Tsvangirai, however, did not proffer any solutions to the country’s economic challenges but expressed his desire to rule and hurled insults at President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.

Dr Mujuru, however, acknowledged the role of the revolutionary party and the war veterans in liberating the country saying they were an important part of the Zimbabwean history.

Nozibelo Maphosa Sunday News Reporter
MATOBO villagers yesterday received free medical treatment from an outreach held by the Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) and the Islamic Medical Association in Zimbabwe (IMA) at Matopo Rural Hospital. The outreach included dentists, surgeons, physicisans, cardiologists for children and the Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe which has been supplying the outreaches with medicine. Cervical Cancer Screening (VIAC) was also offered.

Dr Henry Kuzanga, the secretary-general of ZIMA in the Matabeleland regions said the aim of the medical outreach was to bring hospital facilities nearer to the people. “We are targeting mainly the remote areas around Matabeleland, those areas whose people cannot afford medical assistance. Our aim is to give back to the society, we are bringing medical services nearer to the people,” said Dr Kuzanga.

Dr Kuzanga said the outreache programmes were done free of charge. He said they identify problems that were affecting people and transfer the patients to general hospitals.

“We are treating patients free of charge. In a situation where we carry out an outreach at a hospital with all the required equipment we perform a surgery. That is what we did in Binga where a number of people were operated on. However, if the hospital has no theatre we identify challenges and refer the patients to Mpilo or United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) to be treated free of charge,”said Dr Kuzanga.

Dr Matthew Mthunzi the acting district medical officer for Matobo District said the outreach gave people the opportunity of consulting doctors.

“This outreach has really benefited people because they have had the opportunity of consulting doctors regardless of the emergency of their condition and the outreach also cut the distance people travel to Maphisa District Hospital for treatment,” said Dr Mthunzi.

Dr Mthunzi, however, said that the district needed more specialist doctors in pediatrics, gynaecology and medicine. He said the district also faces a challenge of a sound ultra scan and it has insufficient medicine to cater for people, for that reason people travel long distances for medical attention.

A villager who had travelled from Silozwi to seek medical attention at the outreach said she was happy about the programme. “This is a once in a life time programme. We are very happy to have such doctors in our midst, we just hope this will happen again,” said Mrs Dube.

Dr Cherifa Sururu the chairperson of the Islamic Medical Association of Zimbabwe (IMA) said the outreach was made possible by different organisations working together to help the society.

Vusumuzi Dube Sunday News Reporter
HIGHER and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo on Thursday opened a STEM camp at Tsholotsho High School, a move which is aimed at improving Ordinary Level science results in the district. The camp will end on 26 August and the event also saw the Minister handing over a “green” book, Mathematical set and scientific calculator to the 483 schoolchildren who are attending the camp. Hillside Teachers’ College lecturers will take the students on an intense maths and science training aimed at preparing them for their examinations.

Speaking during the opening of the camp, Professor Moyo said the programme was an essential one as it would give children in the district an opportunity to master the “mother” subject of the STEM initiative; Mathematics.

“The reason we are having this camp here is because we are told the usual programme used to take the top four from Tsholotsho South and none from Tsholotsho North. We thought we did not want to mess up the programme but we thought of including everyone in Tsholotsho North who is doing Mathematics, expose them to this intense training then we see what happens come November.

“I must point out that earlier in the year we did a tour of schools in Tsholotsho North to find out the reasons why they were performing badly especially in Mathematics. When we asked the school heads they said these kids don’t have past exam papers in the form of green books, they also said they don’t have calculators. We then undertook to purchase these green books and calculators and also have this special programme for them,” said Prof Moyo.

The Minister also expressed concern at some schools in the district, which he said were not utilising science kits that were provided by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

“We were aware that because of capacity issues the schools don’t have laboratories, hence most of them were doing intergrated science, so we thought because the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry had come up with a science kit, things were made easier but still in most cases schools were just locking away the kits, which is not good at all.

“However, the reason which these schools put forward was the lack of Science teachers but from our point of view after they put this reason, we decided to concentrate on Mathematics, so as far as STEM goes we thought the mother Science be Mathematics. Still when we said this, we were not impressed with the situation on the ground because we found that in most cases schools did not have Mathematics teachers but instead they were volunteer teachers,” said Prof Moyo.

He noted that it was all about inspiring, motivating and making the students understand the importance of excelling in the core STEM subjects.

“This programme will now be a continuous one, where every year we will be bringing all this students here with the support of lecturers,” he said.

In a telephone interview with Sunday News Matabeleland North provincial education director, Mrs Boithatelo Mnguni commended the initiative saying it was going to go a long way in improving the pass rate of learners in the district.

“This programme has been there for some time but this time Prof Moyo has helped expand the project as they are taking more students. We really appreciate such support as this goes a long way in assisting us improve the pass rate not only in the district but the entire province.

“As a province, we will continue coming up with such initiatives as they have been noted to be beneficiary to us. For example I know that in Nkayi there are some community members who have come in to launch the Nkayi Community Education project, which also runs in the same line with the Tsholotsho programme,” said Mrs Mnguni.

Robin Muchetu Senor Reporter
THE Government will protect and support farmers who are productive and have good relations with people in communities they are operating in as a way of ensuring that they continue contributing to the growth of the agriculture sector, Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko has said. VP Mphoko said this on the sidelines of a tour of Merry Ellen Farm, run by Mr Peter Evans in Bubi District, Matabeleland North yesterday.

“It is important to have security when you are in this business, if you do not have any then it becomes difficult to operate, you cannot have any sound plans as you will not be sure of yourself. It is also vital to know the relations between the community and the farmer and I am happy here they said the relations are good, the community is benefiting greatly which is what we want. We appreciate that this farm is producing seed maize as this is what we need at this time, Panaar and other companies that were producing seed maize were now becoming expensive,” he said.

He said people should draw lessons from Mr Evans and Kezi farmer Mr Peter Cunningham who is also serving the community around him.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Mechanisation Davis Marapira who was part of the touring team said Merry Ellen Farm was one of the best farms he has visited in the country.

“This is one of the best in the nation, they have advanced technology in irrigation development which many farms do not have. Last year I encouraged the farmer to upgrade his irrigation technology and he was hesitant as there was no security of tenure but he agreed and he is doing well indeed,” he said.

The Deputy Minister said farmers like Mr Evans need to be assisted in getting the much needed security of tenure as they were contributing to the country’s food security.

Merry Ellen farm which is run by the Halsted family has a total of 1300 hectares of land of which 330 hectares are under irrigation. The farm produces maize seed from 100 hectares of land and the remaining 200 hectares is maize for commercial purposes.

MP and Minister of State in the office of VP Emmerson Mnangagwa Cde Clifford Sibanda said the community has benefited immensely from the farm.

Cde Sibanda also told VP Mphoko that the local drought relief committee benefited from 200 tonnes of maize that was set aside by Mr Evans for drought relief and the rest was taken to the Grain Marketing Board.

Mr Evans said he was constantly trying to improve his yields by advancing in technology. “We grow maize, potatoes, paprika, soya beans and maize seed. We are constantly trying to increase our yields by advancing in irrigation technology. We also employ 260 local workers and it is working out well,” he said.

He said the farm has for the past years been accommodating interns from Esigodini Agricultural College, Lupane State University and other colleges.

Vusumuzi Dube, Online Reporter

 PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance Ministries on Wednesday commissioned a site in Douglasdale, Bulawayo, where 5 000 medium to low density houses will be constructed as part of the multi-million housing project spearheaded by the church.

The project is part of an ambitious scheme which will see the church construct houses in the entire Sadc region.

In Zimbabwe PHD will construct 48 000 houses in four cities- Bulawayo (5 000), Harare (20 000), Mutare (20 000) and Midlands (3 000).

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, Minister in Vice President Mphoko’s office, Cde Tabeth Kanengoni-Malinga- who was representing VP Mphoko- said the project was going to go a long way in establishing Bulawayo as the true city of kings.

She said it was a true testimony that the Government and the church could work together to bring wholesome development to the country.

“PHD ministries have set a perfect example for all of us. This is a pioneer of development. With the church we can work very positively together to bring development. When we sit in parliament as Members of Parliament, we pass policies; we pass laws to create a conducive environment for anybody and anyone who wants to invest freely. As long as you are Zimbabwean, this is your land and no one can take it away from you.

“A peaceful nation comes from its people working together. If we shout negative things about each other and fight among each other, we are teaching other countries to shun working with us therefore let’s be peaceful and positive minded,” said Minister Kanengoni-Malinga.

She said other church organisations must also follow suit, of which she assured Government support in all their endeavours.

“Some might think we as Government have an ulterior motive in all this but I must tell you that we did not put a single cent in all this, all that we did is create the policies, wherever there is development we will be there, if there is any church pushing this development agenda we will also be there,” she said.

Prophet Walter Magaya, the founder of PHD Ministries revealed that while they had initially acquired 3 000 stands in Bulawayo they had managed to get a further 2 000 bringing the total number of stands to be developed to 5 000.

He said workers will soon be moving onsite to commence work at developing the suburb, revealing that he expects housing construction to begin in September.

“The stands will measure between 400 to 1 000 square metres, the whole area will be walled and gated and will be self-contained. There will be shops and schools among other services. Our aim is that this suburb be a tourist attraction. What I must emphasise is that this project will most definitely happen, my aim is that I secure your life both on earth and in heaven,” said Prophet Magaya.

He said the stands will be priced lower than those sold by the Bulawayo City Council saying he was following a pro-poor policy.

Sandra Tekere Sunday News Reporter
NKULUMANE representative in the National Assembly Cde Killian Sibanda has initiated projects in the constituency aimed at uplifting the standards of life for women, children and vulnerable groups. In an interview after touring some of the projects last week, Cde Sibanda said he first facilitated the training of the beneficiaries to ensure that they grasp the business concepts.

Among the projects was a training facility which saw 300 women graduating after completing short courses in jam and sauce making, vegetable drying, soap making and how to manage small businesses. Cde Sibanda said he has also facilitated markets for the beneficiaries which will see the women supplying retail shops such as Choppies.

“We need to take advantage of the Government directive to restrict importation of some of the goods and we need to start producing these products here,” he said. In an interview, some of the beneficiaries said they were ready to produce after gaining the request skills.

“I never knew that I could make jam out of ijodo (melon), after preparing my umxhanxa I used to throw away the ijodo remains and some even rotted as I had no idea what to do with them. From last week onwards I will never throw away ijodo as I have learnt to cook jam using it. We want to thank Cde Sibanda for availing such any opportunity to us,” said Mrs Nonhlanha Ntini.

Apart from women, Cde Sibanda has also facilitated that 500 youths from the constituency enroll at a local vocational centre to acquire skills in hair dressing, till operation and cooking. “Our kids have stopped roaming the streets and these initiatives have seen a marked decrease in youth delinquency,” said another beneficiary Mrs Ellen Moyo.

“Cde Sibanda has opened gates for almost everyone in Nkulumane as he has managed to involve even some of us who are disabled. I can now make tomatoes jam, and I know how to dry vegetables in a way that nutrients are not lost.”

The women said they were ready to increase production and break into the export market.

Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
POLICE in Gwanda last week ordered the return of the body of a miner from Mberengwa before it was buried for further investigations and a post-mortem, Sunday News has learnt. The miner, Mugovewashe Kwashira (27), died on Monday last week after he plunged 160 metres from a ladder that he was using to go down a mine shaft at Vumbachikwe Mine.

Matabeleland South Province police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident saying there was a communication breakdown between the hospital and the deceased’s family.

“When the person died the body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary awaiting transfer to United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post-mortem but before this happened there was communication breakdown as the family of the deceased claimed the body in Gwanda and they went to Mberengwa without our knowledge and a post-mortem had not yet been done yet,” he said.

Insp Ndebele said they were then notified of the incident and they ordered the family to return the body to Gwanda where it was eventually taken to UBH for a post-mortem.

“The body came to Bulawayo where the post-mortem showed that there was nothing suspicious with the corpse. It is, however, standard procedure that when a person dies a post-mortem is carried out to ascertain the cause of death and also for the police to carry out any investigations. We blame human error in this incident,” he said.

A post-mortem can only be waivered if the resident magistrate of the area sees it fit. Sources at the gold mine said the body had been ferried to Mberengwa for burial when the police ordered it back. The source said there were news circulating at the mine compound that Kwashira had died in unclear circumstances.

The source added that mine workers are up in arms with the company’s management as they allegedly failed to follow standard procedure after the death of the miner.

“What usually happens is that if someone dies in a shaft the shaft is closed for two to three days as it will need to be inspected. The police and mine inspectors do their investigations while no work is taking place but here we were surprised when management said we must ignore the incident and continue working. People resumed work the same Monday after the incident,” said a worker at the mine who declined to be named fearing victimisation.

Some of the workers claimed that management said they must ignore the blood of the late which is still at the place where the incident happened after being told that “his relatives will come and do some rituals first”.

According to reports from the mine, the conveyor cage that the miners usually use to go down the shaft was down on the day and the workers were told to use a ladder instead.

They said the rule is that operations should be suspended when the cage is malfunctioning until it is fully repaired but management is said to have insisted that they use a ladder. The workers said the deceased while using the ladder, slipped and fell into the shaft leading to his death. Efforts to get a comment from Vumbachikwe Mine management in Gwanda were fruitless yesterday.

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
LOWVELD sugarcane grower and processor giant, Tongaat Hullet in Chiredzi has injected $300 000 into Masvingo’s Community Share Ownership Trust (CSOT) to be shared among the seven districts in the province, an official has confirmed. In an interview, the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Masvingo provincial head Mr June Mbizvo praised the sugarcane firm’s gesture and said the contribution will go a long way in promoting development in the province.

“We are happy as a ministry that Tongaat Hullet in Chiredzi has contributed $300 000 to the CSOT which will add value to the province’s development strides. This is plausible considering that the gesture is over and above the corporate social responsibility the company is already doing in communities.

“Two districts will receive 20 percent each and 12 percent will go to the five remaining districts. Chiredzi and Mwenezi will get $60 000 each while Bikita, Chivi, Zaka, Gutu and Masvingo districts will receive $36 000 each,” said Mr Mbizvo.

He said the trust has also received money from Murowa Diamonds ($290 000) while Bikita Minerals has so far deposited $50 000 into the Bikita CSOT account. Mr Mbizvo said most companies operating in the province have contributed to the CSOT save for Rio Zim’s Renco and Lenox Mine in Mashava.

“The companies are responding well and it shows that we are moving together on development. However, we have some companies that have not yet contributed to the CSOT . Lenox Mine in Mashava is now defunct while Renco Mine is reluctant to contribute as they claim that they are a subsidiary of RioZim which is already contributing to the trust. We still have problems with the company and have taken the issue to the higher office,” he said.

The Government launched community share ownership trusts in 2012 as part of the empowerment and indigenisation policy. The CSOT money is meant for development initiatives within the community which include construction of schools, clinics, dip tanks, among others.-Twitter: @walterbmswazie2

Sunday News Reporter
FORMER Vice-President’s Dr Joice Mujuru political party ZimPF has been dogged by persistent infighting in Matabeleland South as officials try to outwit each other to occupy strategic positions, it has emerged. Party insiders told Sunday News that two camps have emerged, one led by former MDC provincial secretary for information and publicity, Mr Bekezela Fuzwayo Maduma and the other by Mr Leonard Mathuthu who is the party’s provincial co-ordinator.

“Bekezela Fuzwayo Maduma, a ZimPF activist in Gwanda, who was previously the MDC provincial secretary for information and publicity is seeking to remove Leonard Mathuthu from his post as the party’s provincial co-ordinator. Maduma is accusing Mathuthu of being a Zanu-PF member who is docile and cannot drive the party programmes forward.

“Maduma, through his posters, which he distributed in Gwanda on 10 August, is also accusing Dzikamai Mavhaire of trying to impose Mathuthu to the people of Matabeleland South,” said an official privy to the ongoings in the party.

The official said Mr Mathuthu had vowed to fight tooth and nail with Mr Maduma whom he says has been a thorn in the provincial party structures since its formative stages.

“Mathuthu has also accused Maduma of being a political nuisance in the party since its inception in February 2016 where he was involved in leadership wrangle. He (Maduma) convened a ZimPF meeting at Red Cross centre in Gwanda recently, where he intended to pass a vote of no confidence on Mathuthu. The meeting was attended by Nkululeko Tshuma, the side kick of Maduma who is also eying the Insiza South constituency in 2018 harmonised elections,” said the official.

Another party official, Mr Steven Moyo said Mr Maduma will find himself between a hard place and a rock as he is set to appear in court for posting ZimPF posters at Zanu-PF offices.

“It’s unfortunate that Maduma is set to appear in court facing charges of provoking other political parties after he allegedly put ZimPF posters at Zanu-PF offices in Gwanda, yet he is involved in internal fighting with Mathuthu at the same time. It’s abundantly clear that these guys are power hungry and they joined the party because they wanted leadership positions, that is why Mathuthu left Zanu-PF as he thought it was greener at ZimPF,” said.

Contacted for comment Mr Maduma said he is not eying any post as he was committed to humanitarian duties.

“I am not interested in any position in the party. I am actually committed in civic duties where I represent the interests of the residents of Gwanda. Those are the same people who distributed posters that carried my name just to tarnish my image, for the record I did not attend the provincial interim committee meeting yesterday (Friday) and I even told the national coordinator Mr Mavhaire that I am not contesting for any position in the party although I sympathise with it,” said Mr Maduma laughing.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Mathuthu were fruitless.

Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
THE Agricultural and Rural Development Authority is targeting 75 000 tonnes of maize in the summer cropping season as Government intensifies efforts to ensure self-food suffiency in the wake of changing rainfall patterns and climate change. In an interview soon after touring Arda Mangwe estates in Matabeleland South on Friday, Arda chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza said the parastatal was in the process of expanding land and sourcing capital from regional investors to maximise maize production in the 2016/17 summer cropping season.

Mr Nyabadza said Arda was also targeting to put about 1 000 hectares under maize production in Matabeleland South in an endeavour to ease perennial drought that has been bedeviling the province.

“I am pleased to inform you that we have regional investors who are coming to partner us. As Arda, we aare targeting about 75 000 tonnes of maize for the harvesting period of the 2016/17 summer cropping season. We are opening up land and at the moment at it all depends on the amount of additional capital we can access ahead of the summer cropping season so that we can plant a bigger hectarage,” he said.

Mr Nyabadza said Arda was setting up a milling plant at Mangwe Estates as well as grain drying facility for value addition of the farming produce as espoused in the 10-Point Plan and Zim-Asset. He said Arda was looking forward to open up more land after harvesting wheat which is under 500 hectares at Mangwe.

Mr Nyabadza said the parastatal which has partnered a number of private players was looking forward to harvest 11 000 tonnes of wheat in the next four weeks to pave way for the land preparation for the next summer cropping season.

“We have wheat production. We have about 500 hectares of wheat that we will be harvesting soon. We have also drying facilities for our produce. We are also going to install a milling facility so that we value add our produce. Arda is going to contribute 11 000 tonnes of wheat in the next three four weeks when we harvest. These are results of the 10-Point Plan. What is important is that we have demonstrated in Agriculture that the private public partnership or doable and is practical,” he said.

Harare Bureau
ZIMABWE is going ahead with a plan to settle its US$1,8 billion arrears with international financial institutions by October 2016 despite a spirited domestic and overseas campaign to sabotage that effort, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya has said. In 2015, global financiers meeting in Lima, Peru accepted Government’s debt clearance plan which sees Harare using various mechanisms to settle its dues to the IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank.

Zimbabwe will be eligible for fresh capital once the plan is implemented. The US$100 million arrears with the IMF will be settled through Special Drawing Rights, while the World Bank and AfDB will get their dues via money from bridge loans and global finance markets.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Dr Mangudya have been working on that, culminating in the African Export-Import Bank and Lazard — a New York Stock Exchange-listed financier — agreeing to mobilise US$1,1 billion for the World Bank arrears.

But British parliamentarian Ms Kate Hoey has been trying to get UK foreign minister Boris Johnson to block Zimbabwe’s plans. And back home, opposition Progressive Democratic Party leader Mr Tendai Biti has been advocating the same in pretty much the same way his former boss at MDC-T, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, campaigned for Western economic sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Joining Mr Biti in that bandwagon of saboteurs are Western embassies in Harare, NGOs and other characters. In an interview with our Harare Bureau last week, Dr Mangudya said, “The Lima Plan is a work in progress. This is all I can say for now. We are aware of the lobby against what we are doing, but this will not stop us from doing our work.”

United Kingdom-based political analyst Mr Nick Mangwana said the anti-Lima lobby undermined Zimbabwe’s right to engage the IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank. Zimbabwe is a member of all three institutions.

“We have to note that Zimbabwe is one of the biggest shareholders of the African Development Bank South of the Sahara, and is entitled to these facilities. It is not only accessing them because of sanctions and arrears. So, whoever is pushing for that to happen is also pushing for Zimbabwe to remain under sanctions.

“The whole purpose of the Lima arrangements is to help alleviate the suffering of the ordinary Zimbabwean. Kate Hoey and her sympathisers are cruel and heartless pseudo democrats who are pursuing an agenda of using Zimbabweans as cannon fodder for a racist and unconstitutional agenda.”

On Ms Hoey, Mr Mangwana, said: “She has always been a known Rhodesian sympathiser working in cahoots with that lobby. What is very painful to accept is the other Zimbabweans who help that cause.

“On one hand, they deny that Zimbabwe is under sanctions, but the fact that they are pushing hard for Zimbabwe not to access the Special Drawing Rights which it is entitled to shows how hypocritical they are.”

Harare-based political analyst Mr Godwine Mureriwa added: “It is appalling that there are people who are able to show so much hostility and deliberately plan to sabotage their own country.”

Harare Bureau
SEVENTY opposition political activists arrested on suspicion of masterminding an orgy of violence that rocked Harare last week have been remanded in custody to Monday. A Harare magistrate yesterday dismissed an attempt by the accused to challenge their placement on remand.At least 68 people were arrested on Friday for their role in that day’s chaotic National Electoral Reform Agenda demonstration, while two were nabbed for allegedly burning a ZBC vehicle on Wednesday.

All were remanded in custody to tomorrow for their bail hearing after appearing before magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe on charges that border on arson, property destruction, assault and theft.

Among the accused were MDC-T youth leaders Promise Mkwananzi and Bruce Usvisvo, accused of torching the ZBC vehicle.
The duo’s lawyer, Mr Tonderayi Bhatasara, challenged their placement on remand.

But Mr Chikwekwe said: “The application for refusal of placement on remand is dismissed because there is reasonable suspicion linking the accused with the crime.”

After the ruling there was drama in the court as Mr Bhatasara refused to accept the ruling forcing the magistrate to adjourn proceedings.
In his application Mr Bhatasara argued Mkwananzi was attending a workshop at the time the vehicle was burnt.

However, the State led by Mr Michael Reza – said allegations against Mkwananzi were based on tangible evidence.
Representing the 68 arrested on Friday, Mr Jeremiah Bhamu told the court that his clients were arbitrarily arrested and some were senior citizens caught “in the cross fire”.

In his submissions Mr Reza said the arrests were not arbitrary as most of the accused were caught in the act.
“Every one of them has committed an offence that warrants a trial. What law stops senior citizens or pregnant women from committing crimes?” asked Mr Reza.

Some of the suspects complained of having been injured in last week’s melee. Mr Chikwekwe ordered they be given access to medical treatment.

Lynnia Ndlovu Sunday News Reporter
THE Gwanda Gospel Show yesterday roared into life with various popular artistes from different corners of Zimbabwe and South Africa performing. Well-known artistes such as South African Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Betusile Mcinga, Lusanda Spiritual Group as well as Dumi Mkokstad took to the stage complemented by local musicians such as Mai NaBaba Charamba and Judith Moyo.

Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri opened the festival with a touching sermon on Friday night

Soon after the first round of performances, Rural Development, Preservation and Promotion of Local Culture Minister Cde Abednigo Ncube in his speech said he was grateful that the gospel show organisers managed to pull such a wonderful gathering.

“The show doesn’t only offer entertainment to the people of Gwanda but also eco-socio sectors in which the people of Gwanda benefited and will continue to benefit from. Let’s pray for our leaders in the country in these economic difficulties because even the Bible says that we should respect and pray for leaders,” said Cde Ncube.

Minister Ncube’s speech was corroborated by Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Minister Walter Mzembi who also graced the show. “We are thankful that Gwanda welcomed us with open hands and that the economy of our country will be revived,” said Minister Mzembi.

The organiser of the gospel festival, South African based Mr Justice Maphosa said in his speech that being poor was not a hindrance to be a millionaire. “This is a show meant for the Gwanda people to enjoy and change their lives positively forever. I myself grew up poor and that is what made me prosperous in life, I urge all black people to rise up, work hard so that they can testify of their prosperity in life. Above all, everything comes from God so we should keep on praying very hard as black African people. Let us depart from the tendency of receiving always, but be eager to be givers to some,” he said.

South African popular gospel musicians Rebecca Malope and ZimPraise were expected to perform last night.

The Gwanda Gospel Show was marking the second edition of performance in the town.