Alick Macheso

Arts Reporter

The stage has been set for Alick Macheso’s “Welcome Gig” at Dandaro Inn tonight. The show comes after the musician staged two massive gigs in South Africa and it will feature upcoming musician Andy Muridzo. Yesterday the musician’s publicist Tich Makahamadze said they have done their groundwork to give fans the best performance and celebrate their SA tour success.“Everything is now in place for the gig as we unleash yet another dance called ‘Zebra’ that mesmerised fans in South Africa,” he said.

Macheso has brought back bright days for the sungura community at a time the genre faces serious competition from emerging music styles.

His album has done enough to reclaim his glory as the sungura king.

Songs “Gungwa”, “Mude Mude” and “Kurarama Inyasha” have become instant hits.

“We are trying to bring new things on stage so that our fans get satisfaction from the group,” said Makahamadze.

He said their new “Zebra” dance has gained popularity and it will spice up their choreography in an exciting way.

It seems Macheso is determined not to starve his fans anymore because he is already playing unrecorded songs at his shows. Before the release of the current album, the musician had come under fire for taking too long to record a new project.

After tonight’s show, Macheso will go on a tour to other parts of the country to reconnect with his fans in remote areas and takes the Dandaro Inn show as a platform to launch his outreach programme.

On the other hand Andy Muridzo promised a well-polished act at tonight’s affair. The young musician is doing well on the local market with his album “Ngarizhambe” though he is still to convince the market that he is not Jah Prayzah’s copycat.

“We have done our best to make sure fans will be happy and we are grateful to Macheso and his team for giving us a chance on such a big platform to perform,” he said.

Oscar Nembire who is the event coordinator said they have done their homework for the massive show.

“The show promises to be big and fans have been inquiring about the gig for the past week. We have done so much in making sure we assist the performing artists to give their best to fans. We want to welcome Macheso with a colourful event,” he said.

l IMF approval paves way for full re-engagement

Happiness Zengeni and Conrad Mwanawashe

The International Monetary Fund has approved Zimbabwe’s Staff Monitored Programme and Article IV consultations laying a solid foundation for full re-engagement with international financiers under a process which includes the clearance of arrears to multilateral creditors, a fund-financial arrangement and debt treatment under the Paris Club.The approval was done by the IMF’s Executive Board, which met on Monday, May 2.

In a statement, the IMF said all the quantitative targets for end-December 2015 had been met. These included the floor on the primary cash balance and the net international reserves target which were met with comfortable margins.

During the 15-month period of the SMP, the country also made remarkable progress in a number of areas which include the recapitalisation of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe through the Debt Assumption Act, amendment of the Reserve Bank and Banking Acts and the establishment of the Zimbabwe Asset Management Corporation.

In the same period, the country amended the Labour Act, instituted reforms to the fiscal regime for the mining sector and developed a strategy to reduce the public service wage bill by 2019.

The successful conclusion of the third SMP paves way for Zimbabwe to work on and present a financing strategy for the country. Government expects to complete drafting a debt clearance strategy by September when the board meets again.

Zimbabwe’s total debt stood at$10.68 billion in December while it has to settle almost $2 billion in arrears. As soon as the arrears are settled, the process to consider removal of the remaining remedial measures which would include the restoration to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT).

The IMF said Zimbabwe requires implementing deep economic policy adjustment agenda to address the country’s daunting economic challenges.

While commending Zimbabwe for the successful implementation of economic policies under the staff-monitored program despite difficult domestic and external circumstances, the IMF board of directors at its meeting on Monday noted that a step-up to a comprehensive economic policy adjustment agenda will be critical for the country.

In this context, the IMF said that achieving a sustainable fiscal position requires a significant reduction in the wage bill, while rebalancing the budget toward much-needed infrastructure investment and social outlays to stimulate growth, among other measures.

Other measures that the IMF recommended include the need to accelerate the reform of state-owned enterprises, strengthening public financial management, and enhancing transparency in the mining sector.

The Bretton Woods institution stressed the importance of stepping up structural reforms to raise potential growth and living standards, and to secure support from Zimbabwe’s development partners and highlighted the need to implement the indigenisation policy in a business-friendly and transparent manner, and to resolve outstanding land issues swiftly.

Other priorities include improving the investment climate, tackling corruption, and promoting economic diversification.

Government is in the process of improving the doing business environment and reviewing the cost of doing business to encourage investment into productive sectors of the economy.

Furthermore, the IMF called on Zimbabwe to pursue a strong debt management strategy, including by limiting non-concessional borrowing to critical growth-enhancing and poverty-reducing projects that would ultimately improve the country’s repayment capacity given the continued debt distress.

On the country’s comprehensive strategy for normalisation of relations with international financial institutions (IFIs), the board said should clear all arrears to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) and other IFIs.

Evangelista Mwatse

Sophia Chese-Msowa : Arts Correspondent

Zimbabwean television and stage actress, Evangelista Mwatse, is making a mark on the South African film industry where she has featured in a number of productions. Mwatse has so far featured in three SABC series and will be taking part in second season of sitcom, “Ithuba Lokugcina”, which will be screened on SABC 1 beginning this month.The talented actress says she is enjoying her roles in SA productions and looking forward to getting contracts in bigger productions.

Back home, her last big role was in “Gringo Troublemaker” after having featured in “Colours of Dreams”, “City of Dreams”, “Estate Blues” and “The Gentlemen”.

In an interview, the former ZiFM Stereo presenter said her relocation to SA could open opportunities for international breakthrough.

“I just finished working on some series and got another role for a SABC production. I must say it’s not easy to penetrate at all, but I am surely headed in the right direction.

“In eight months, I have managed to feature in exciting series and it’s a big deal for me in this industry,” she said.

Mwatse said she is looking forward to strike a new deal soon

“After finishing with the sitcom, I am hoping to get another deal for a bigger production.

“I have featured in ‘Mutual Friends’, a drama series for SABC1 and the role opened opportunities for me in a big way.”

She attributed her success to her passion for acting, saying she will not stop at anything when it comes to getting what she wants.

“I know what I want. I take risks and am not afraid to fail. You can never get what you want if you don’t try. I can’t say I have made it yet, but I am still chasing my dream.

“Eventually and in God’s time, I will be singing Cassper Nyovest’s ‘Mama I Made It’.”

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya and Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa at a recent business meeting

Tichaona Zindoga Political Editor

Action must be taken against corruption and other vices that have bled this country and has now given us dubious characters that are flush with cash and spend thousands of dollars outside the country shopping and having $10 000 breakfasts.

The Biblical story of the Tower of Babel is as poignant as ever when you think of this little country called Zimbabwe and how polarised it has become since the turn of the millennium.

To the uninitiated, the story of the Tower of Babel is related in Genesis 11 and one version of the Bible tells us that: “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar[b] and settled there. They said to each other, ‘Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’

“They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’

“But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.’”

That was the end of the lofty project and the Tower of Babel remains today a metaphor for confusion and a project gone awry.

The polarisation that Zimbabwe faces has an eerie redolence to the confusion at that failed tower.

Two things that have happened this week alone demonstrate Zimbabwe’s susceptibility to confusion, which hangs onto us like a foul smell.

The first is the introduction of the National Schools Pledge and the other is the announcement by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe that it will soon introduce bond notes.

While both issues are simple enough and should have ordinarily been subject to a mature national debate, if not normal everyday discourse, they have peaked fierce, polarised eclectics.

First, the National Schools Pledge.

This is an idea that came up as part of the new schools curriculum and, as those in the better know, actually derives from the much-vaunted Nziramasanga Commission — not to mention that it is not a rarity or absolute novelty in the world.

The pledge is a simple derivation from the preamble of the national Constitution and recognises the primacy and superiority of God and urges respect for the national flag, heroes who fought for the liberation of the country and invokes values such as freedom, justice and equality.

The pledge also recognises Zimbabweans’ diversity, traditions and culture.

Lastly, it seeks to instil in Zimbabweans — beginning from when they are young — virtues of honesty and hard work.

The values and virtues contained in this pledge are universal: who would not want honesty, hard work and respect for diversity?

The pledge captures Zimbabwe’s historical uniqueness and nationhood.

The people of Zimbabwe must have been united in commending Government for this long overdue intervention, at best or at worst know that it is a continuous national symbolism on top of the national anthem and flag.

But not so fast!

Certain quarters have been vocally opposed to the pledge and they somehow feel offended to high heavens and want to mislead the nation that the pledge is a form of pagan or idol worship when it is clear as day that the only deity that is called upon in the pledge is Almighty God, who is universal.

He is the same God whose name is invoked when other oaths are taken in this country.

Somehow, something has to be wrong.

That is, according to confusionists among us.

And it also does not take a lot to realise that those who are opposed to these national initiatives happen to be supporters of the political opposition in this country.

The same opposition happens to be foreign-sponsored, too — so does it not add up?

It does, and it’s the tragedy of our lives when we cannot agree on fundamental things such as national symbols, nationhood and nation-building.

This idea of opposition for the sake of it, and worse for foreign interests or due to mental colonisation is a veritable curse.

Let us examine the second case — the mooted increase in the use of bond notes.

As we are writing it is the talk of town and confusionists are having a fine, high noon.

While the statement that came from the RBZ is clear enough and indeed we have been blessed with the benefit of hindsight, there are people who are hell-bent on telling us that Zimbabwe has had its Armageddon set.

Granted, things are not as they should be, and one would not be foolish not to acknowledge that fact.

In fact, for this writer, there are many wrong things in this country – things that should be done better.

And the Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa could do better and harder too to inspire the confidence of the nation.

Not least, it has to be acknowledged that many people are traumatised by the thought of the hyperinflation era that made the local currency a symbol of suffering.

However, it does not help anyone or the country to be set in perpetual negativity and worst of all distort issues to manipulate and mislead.

The issue of the forthcoming bond notes is clear enough.

First, they are backed by a $200 Afreximbank nostro-support facility, just like the coins currently in circulation that were backed by a similar, $50m bond.

Secondly, this is not a precipitous, “overnight process”, as RBZ has said.

Third, RBZ has assured, for the umpteenth time, that this is not the return of the Zimdollar as “the fundamentals are not yet right for its comeback”.

Fourth, and connected to this, the RBZ chief himself appears to be a decent and sober guy who is not keen on wanton printing and minting bond money. If he has not done so in two years and the coins have retained value, why would he suddenly wake up a mint-maniac?

Fifth, the bond facility is set to ease the liquidity challenges — just as they did in the rand coin era — and they are not mere tokens but backed by some hefty $200 million somewhere.

These are the fundamental facts about the bond coins and notes that any rational person who is as literate as 90 percent Zimbabweans are should comprehend.

There should be nothing to panic about — and we are not saying we should celebrate either.

It is just an ordinary day in the office for Dr Mangundya.

It should be an ordinary day in Zimbabwe.

Again it has to be acknowledged that things ought to be better and real measures to turn around the economy must be implemented as a matter of course so that Zimbabwe becomes a viable economy with real money and surplus too.

Measures must be taken to stop the massive leakages and outflows that are taking place and haemorrhaging the country.

Action must be taken against corruption and other vices that have bled this country and has now given us dubious characters that are flush with cash and spend thousands of dollars outside the country shopping and having $10 000 breakfasts.

It will also do well if seriousness is committed to reviving local industry and leaders show the way by buying local, including cars at Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries in Harare or Quest in Mutare.

So many things have to be done right in Zimbabwe.

But then, it won’t profit us when we are a bundle of negative energy.

As for confusionists whose real quarrel is with the ruling party, the country should simply ignore and move forward.

They shouldn’t be allowed to play God and derail this country that has so suffered from such evil as sanctions that were called for by their ilk.

Mr Kurotwi

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
Core Mining and Mineral Resources director Mr Lovemore Kurotwi and former Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation chief executive Dominic Mubaiwa were on Wednesday cleared of defrauding Government of $2 billion in a diamond mining deal.

The judgment questioned the competence of Government lawyers who scrutinised the papers and blindly advised the nation into forming a joint venture mining firm Canadile Miners with a company that did not have the capacity to raise the required $2 billion to fund the diamond mining project in Marange.

The lawyers, the judge ruled, could have picked up that Government was only dealing with Core Mining, which did not have the capacity to raise the $2 billion required for the diamond mining operations.

Mr Kurotwi and Mr Mubaiwa, for the past six years, were being accused of conniving to mislead the Government into signing a joint venture diamond mining agreement with an undeserving Core Mining, which later failed to raise the required $2 billion to bankroll the project.

It was the prosecution’s case that Mr Kurotwi and Mr Mubaiwa made former Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu, believe that Core Mining was a special purpose vehicle for an internationally recognised mining giant Benny Steinmeitz Group Resources (BSGR) and that it had the capacity to inject $2 billion into the joint venture company Canadile Miners.

The duo was then charged with fraud and the criminal case dragged for six years before defence lawyers Mrs Beatrice Mtetwa and Advocate Lewis Uriri, successfully applied for the discharge of the pair at the end of the prosecution’s case.

Acquitting the duo in the High Court yesterday, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu (now Supreme Court judge) blasted Government lawyers who were involved in scrutinising the agreement papers, saying they could have picked up that BSGR was never part of the agreement.

The judge said the papers clearly showed that BSGR communicated to Government stating its conditions in order for it to fund the deal, but Government did not meet them.

Failure by Government to meet the set conditions and the non-involvement of BSGR in the signing of the agreement, clearly proved that the mining giant had already moved out of the picture.

If the lawyers had properly applied their minds to the documents, the judge said, they could have picked up that they were dealing with Core Mining and not BSGR.

“Considering that the contractual document was subjected to scrutiny by Government lawyers before execution, it is highly unlikely and not in the least probable that they too could have been mistaken that BSGR were the guarantors for Core Mining when the written contract stipulated in clear and unambiguous terms that Sibithry Naidoo and Litch Yehuda were the guarantors.

“It is wholly unbelievable that Government, ZMDC and Marange Resources could have genuinely believed that BSGR was standing as guarantor for Core Mining with the full knowledge that they had not accepted its counter offer.

“It therefore boggles the mind how all these three eminent entities backed up by proficient lawyers could have entertained the idea of contracting with BSGR without the contractual basics of offer and acceptance,” ruled Justice Bhunu.

The judge found that Mr Kurotwi never misrepresented to Minister Mpofu in any way because BSGR later confirmed its willingness to fund the operations, but set some conditions first before the agreement was signed.

The court also found that Mr Mubaiwa had not done anything criminal in the process leading to the signing of the joint venture agreement.

Justice Bhunu said most of the evidence led from State witness was not credible and not helpful at all in coming up with the judgment.

“As already pointed out at the beginning of this judgment, I have elected to base my judgment mainly on irrefutable documentary evidence and matters, which are common cause.

“This is because I consider the bulk of viva voce evidence in this case to be coloured and tainted by self-interest as most of such evidence is from suspect co-conspirators.

“I have also disregarded character evidence as intrusive and unhelpful in the determination of this case,” he said.

The court also found that former ZMDC chairman and lawyer Mr Goodwills Masimirembwa also failed to interpret the law during court proceedings.

“Confronted by Mrs Mtetwa, counsel for the first accused (Kurotwi), with the difficult question how there could have been a valid contract when BSGR’s conditions were never met, Mr Masimirembwa the erstwhile ZMDC chairman, a lawyer by training, retorted that the counter-offer merely amounted to a suspensive condition.

“That response is misplaced and erroneous at law. A suspensive condition can only come into play where the parties are in agreement and they agree to suspend the operation of the contract until the happening of a particular event,” said Justice Bhunu.

Peter Moyo

Tawanda Marwizi : Arts Correspondent

For the past weeks Peter “Young Igwe” Moyo has been in the media for the wrong reasons with latest being his failure to perform at Spillway Pub and Restaurant at Lake Chivero. Despite going on an international offensive with such a bad trail, Young Igwe said his recent Botswana tour did not only yield financial gains, but lessons from other established artistes from that country.“Sometimes these issues can just go beyond our control, but on our Botswana tour we met some music expects who gave us some tips that we think will help us,” he said.

“We are making serious changes on how we operate and we will seriously consider the accessibility of the venues as well as booking shows a month before performance dates,” he said.

Signs of a shaking ship began when members Willard “Willo” Loti, Evidence “Baba Gari” Tarabuka, Savious Karikodzi, Mathew Perego, drummers Guyson Sixpence and Prince Kapatsa formed their own band called The Bullets.

“We are a flexible band and we gave them conditions we will not disclose to the public. As of now they are still with us,” he said.

The Young Igwe has turned his life to God and is now a member of Prophet Walter Magaya’s PHD ministiries.

“Being at church does not mean things are hard for me and for the group, but that is a decision you make as an individual to have your heart follow God,” he said.

Tomorrow the Young Igwe will be staging a welcome back show after the Botswana tour at Club Werras in Glenview 1.

“To those who love Utakataka Express they should come for that show and see that the band is still intact. We are improving our stage acts and we will have everything for every Utakataka Express fan.”

Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE international forward Khama Billiat has set a new benchmark of excellence in the South African Premiership — which he has illuminated this season with his blinding range of skills and goals — by becoming the first player to provide 20 goals for his teammates in a single campaign.

The high-flying winger was again the conductor of the orchestra as his wing wizardry helped Mamelodi Sundowns clear the final hurdle, in their quest for their second ABSA Premiership title in three years, as the Brazilians hammered University of Pretoria 3-0 on Wednesday night to win the marathon which their quality richly deserved.

Billiat provided two of the goals scored by Liberian international forward, Anthony Laffor who grabbed a hattrick, as the Zimbabwean’s trickery, sudden burst of pace and pin-point accuracy when it came to his defining passes, destroyed the opposition defence.

The first assist came when he received the ball wide on the left, on a poor pitch and turned to face his marker, a step-over fooling him — as it has done many before him who have tried to stop this magician when he is in the mood — and as Billiat sped clear, the poor AmaTuks defender, confused by what had beaten him, staggered as he just barely avoided crashing to the ground in humiliation.

Once he had found his pocket of space, which his magic had created for him, Billiat released a devilish ball across goal, too far for the ‘keeper to pick up, too deep for the defence to keep out and Laffor — lurking on the back post — had the easiest of tasks to turn it home for the second goal.

Then, in the second half, Billiat was picked wide on the left channel, faced his Warriors teammate Partson Jaure and beat him as he cut inside, before — for the second time that night — finding Laffor who scored his third goal for the victory that gave Sundowns the league championship.

It was also the 20th assist for Billiat, in all competitions, in the South African Premiership this season and a landmark pass given that no other player has ever managed such a feat in that country’s top flight league.

Billiat’s 20 assists were, as of Wednesday, five more than Bidvest’s Diane Klate, who has 15 and that the two teams were the last sides standing in the championship race, until Wits stumbled in that 2-2 draw against Mpumalanga Black Aces which opened the doors for Sundowns to win at AmaTuks and be crowned champions, the Zimbabwean’s contribution might have been the defining factor in separating the two leading sides.

Kaizer Chiefs’ Siphiwe Tshabalala also has 15 assists, in a poor season for the Amakhosi, while the second best player, in terms of assists at Sundowns, was Bafana Bafana midfielder Hlompo Kekana with six.

Billiat’s strike partners, Leonardo Castro and Keegan Dolly, have five assists each. The Zimbabwean winger has also scored crucial goals, 10 in the league for the Brazilians and everything right now appears to point out to a season where he will be richly rewarded with a number of awards of excellence.

He has 14 assists in the league championship campaign this season alone.

Billiat already leads the race for the Kick-Off Footballer of the Season, whose votes close today having won more than half of the over 6 000 votes cast by yesterday, with his closest challengers being teammates Kekana (15 percent) and Dolly (9 percent).

Belgium-based Bafana Bafana midfielder Andile Jali (7,9 percent), Klate (5,9 percent), Collins Mbesuma (5 percent), Prince Nxumalo (3,2 percent) and Moeneeb Josephs (3 percent) are way behind.

Billiat is also the odds-on favourite to win the PSL Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Awards which could see him pocketing huge earnings at the end of the season.

Shortly after helping Sundowns win the league championship, Billiat was also crowned the ABSA Premiership Player of the Year for March and April as he beat his fellow Zimbabwean, Tendai Ndoro of Orlando Pirates, for the gongs.

“Billiat has been a marvel to watch, he’s smart player and has remarkably led Sundowns from the front,” the judges for the monthly awards noted.

“He seems to have mastered the false number 9 position, which has seen Sundowns profit from his clever runs and skill during this period.”

Like every big match player, who rises to the occasion when needed, Billiat was impressive in the last two months, when Sundowns needed to hold their nerve, as he laid out five assists for his teammates and scored two goals in the league.

“We have shown a lot of character throughout the season. Credit to our coaches whom are vastly experienced,” he told Kick-Off.

His coach Pitso Mosimane also praised Billiat.

“We can’t ignore the CBD (Castro, Billiat and Dolly), they’ve done very well,” Mosimane said. “They have been very brilliant, they won big games for us.

“I told the CBD if you wanna (win) the league, don’t tell me about scoring against Free State Stars . . . score against Chiefs and Pirates and they scored against Chiefs and Pirates which is quality and that is where the league is delivered.

“It’s not only about the CBD, Kekana, Onyango (Dennis) and the rest of the guys are underrated.”

Sundowns’ triumph in the league championship, their seventh in the era of the South African Premiership, appear to support the theory that, for a team to now win the biggest trophy in Africa’s richest top-flight league, it has to be driven by either the skill, or the solidity, of a Zimbabwean footballer.

Four Zimbabwean stars have been the rock on which the last three league championships in South Africa have been won with Sundowns also winning the title two years ago, thanks to the contribution of Billiat and Cuthbert Malajila, when he was harassing defenders with his pace, scoring crucial goals and providing assists.

Last year, Kaizer Chiefs’ success story was largely built around the contribution of Warriors’ skipper Willard Katsande who was outstanding for the Amakhosi before he was overshadowed this season by Billiat’s brilliance.

measures introduced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on Wednesday must be given a chance as they have the potential to address challenges that the country has been facing on the financial services sector and production fronts.

These challenges include cash shortages, liquidity challenges, illicit financial flows and a general phobia for technology in paying for goods and services.

To deal with these challenges, the RBZ will introduce bond notes through a 5 percent export incentive, set daily withdrawal limits and for money that can be taken out of the country.

The central bank is also promoting the use of plastic money, urging those offering goods and services to set up Point Of Sale machines.

Announcing the measures on Wednesday, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya stressed that the introduction of the bond notes was by no means a clandestine way of reintroducing the Zimbabwe dollar.

He said the move sought to plug loopholes that were being used to moving money outside the country. The greenback was sought after by people in the region whose currencies depreciated last year.

Because of the strength of the USD, citizens of other countries in the region have been flocking here to mop up the currency, leaving us struggling for cash. Now we have just plugged the hole.

Last year alone, about $2 billion was illegally shipped out of the country. Of that, individuals externalised $684 million as donations, investments and account transfers while firms externalised $1,2 billion in the form of export sales proceeds and highly inflated management fees, technical fees, professional fees.

In simple terms, this means that half of Zimbabwe’s annual budget of $4 billion was externalised. Now this is not a small amount. Neither is this a simple matter. It is in this context that the monetary authorities have introduced these measures.

The key to a favourable balance of payments and improvement in the country’s export earnings is production. Economic transformation will only come when firms competitively produce goods and earn funds for the country. In this light, the RBZ arranged a $200 million Afreximbank facility which will provide a 5 percent incentive for exporters.

What this means is that exporters will get 5 percent of their proceeds which should stimulate production. This is a much better return than what is obtaining in developed countries.

The measures are noble inasmuch as they at least ensure that the incentive is paid in bond notes which cannot be externalised, hence cash shortages should not be a major issue once the notes are introduced.

Again, promoting the use of point of sale machines eases demand for hard cash. Sometimes we are our worst enemies.

You find someone queuing to withdraw cash to buy groceries in a leading retail shop with functional point of sale machines.

We must change our behaviour as a nation. This technological phobia will not take us anywhere. We need to move with the times, carry less cash and do transactions online.

Service providers, schools and others must join the bandwagon. Gone are the days when we thought having truckloads of cash signified wealth. The world has moved. Let’s promote the use of plastic money. Mobile money is also another way to discourage the use of hard cash. For these measures to work, we need to support them as Zimbabweans.

Retailers, schools, service stations and even churches should have point of sale machines. These sectors must support the central bank initiatives as they are also beneficial to them.

We are aware that some people have memories of the hyper-inflationary environment where the Zimdollar lost value as people queued to pay for goods and services.

That era is long gone behind us. The fundamentals are totally different now.

The bond notes to be introduced by the central bank are backed by an international facility and therefore have a strong foundation.

There will not be issues with the bond notes losing value as they will be at par with the USD during their lifespan.

Arts Reporter

Top musicians Jah Prayzah and Winky D will headline the Castle Tankard entertainment galore set for Borrowdale Racecourse tomorrow. The exciting entertainers will be supported by Ex Q-and DJ Stavo among other artistes. A lot is expected at the event where merrymakers annually have a good time during the popular horse race that is spiced by various activities. A fashion show will also take place at the event.Jah Prayzah’s manager Keen Mushapaidze said it was unfortunate they missed last year’s edition of the show and they will compensate their fans in a big way when they sample new songs from their upcoming offering “Mudhara Vachauya”.

Jah Prayzah

“This is one of the events that will see Jah Prayzah sampling songs from his coming album ‘Mudhara Vachauya’ and we are hopeful that fun-loving people will have a good time.

“We were not at the event last year and this year makes it special for us,” he said.

He said it was yet another exciting encounter with fans after their successful Bulawayo show.

“We have been enjoying a cordial relationship with Winky D and our recent Bulawayo show made a huge statement about our combination. It was a massive event,” he said.

Winky D

In March, the two celebrated musicians took their acts to the United Kingdom where they headlined annual Southern African Music and Arts Festival.

Winky D who has been enjoying the support of the youth since the release of his single collection is expected to give his best.

Through his manager Jonathan Banda the musician said they get slots to perform at big events because enjoy relations with big organisations due to their professional conduct.

“We have never disappointed anyone, that is the long and short of it. It is not like we have signed a long term contract with any organisation but we are loved simply because we deliver. It only make sense for organisations such as Delta Corporation to partner artistes who do not pull surprises. We are very punctual and up to the task,” said Banda.

There will also be a draw for Cash Booster Promotion that was meant to promote four of the company’s brands, Castle, Castle Lite, Bohlingers and Zambezi.

Delta is renowned for supporting artistes by engaging them at their various big annual events.

Dominic Benhura with one of his pieces

Godwin Muzari : Memory Lane

His mother’s daily toil at a vegetable market pushed renowned sculptor Dominic Benhura to a decision that severed his relations with family members. After passing his Ordinary Level with flying colours, Benhura enrolled for Advanced Level to study mathematics, chemistry and biology. At the end of his first term in Lower Six, the artist announced that he was quitting school to pursue sculpture as a full-time stone carver.He was staying with his uncle in Tafara and everyone at home was disappointed. Even his mother, who was running a vegetable stall in Chitungwiza, was pained by the young man’s decision.

She had hope in her son’s future after raising him as a single mother. Benhura never saw his father who died five months before his birth in 1968.

So, after such success in his academic studies, there was hope that the young man was geared for a lucrative office job. The family was optimistic. Benhura’s future was more promising on the academic path because he had made imperative links with some well-wishing professionals.

Through his fascinating works as a part-time sculptor, he had attracted the attention of renowned architects in the city that had promised to avail a scholarship for him to further his studies at a foreign college regardless of the combination of subjects he would take at A-Level.

They had taken him for tutorials in architecture and the prospect of having a young professional with such an attractive job in the family made his relatives happy. In the midst of such hope and enthusiasm, Benhura dropped his bombshell.

“I was literally hated in the family. I had well-educated relatives and the society believed that academic pursuit was the only way to success in life. I had a passion for art and I could not suppress it. Even my teachers were surprised to hear that I was quitting school. Everyone close to me tried to advise me against my consideration, but I had made a final decision. I wanted to be a sculptor for the rest of my life,” Benhura recalled as he went down the memory lane of his career.

He had confidence because his part-time sculpting adventures since he was in Form One had been successful.

After relocating from his rural home in Murewa to stay with his uncle in Tafara, Benhura had learnt the basics of sculpture from his cousin Tapfuma Gutsa who was a popular visual artist.

His aunt had suggested that Benhura attends a school in Harare (then Salisbury) because he was bright. Through working with Tapfuma, Benhura discovered his talent in sculpture and developed serious passion for stone-carving.

He started earning good income from selling his pieces to the extent of paying school fees on his own since he was in Form Two. He emphasises that he paid the fees out of choice, not lack, since his uncle could afford the obligation.

By the time he quit school, he had made contacts in the industry and approached then director of Chapungu Sculpture Park, Roy Gathrie, for working space at the establishment. Gathrie was also surprised by the young man’s decision to quit school and advised him to reconsider his options.

“After numerous visits to Chapungu, I managed to convince Guthrie to take me aboard. I had to move out of my uncle’s house in Tafara because there was serious tension over my decision. I relocated to Kuwadzana, but I was still to convince my mother that I had made the right choice.

“She did not know that one of the reasons I had chosen to be my own man was to look after her. I was not happy with how she lived in squalid conditions and how she toiled at the vegetable market. I wanted her to live a better life and the rate of my part-time income proved I could make it if I became a full-time sculptor.”

Benhura then approached his mother with his brothers and showed her savings he had made before quitting school. He wanted her to quit her market work and live on the savings.

“At first it was not easy to convince her. We took time and did so much explaining. When she finally agreed, she said she wanted to relocate to our rural home. I was against the idea. I wanted to find decent accommodation for her in Harare and I had a vision to buy her a house.

“However, she insisted and I built a hut for her in the rural area. We agreed that she would only go there periodically and we assigned someone to look after the hut. That year she decided to plant some crops in our rural field and I insisted that she did not have to stay there for good. I had bigger plans for her.”

Sadly, when Benhura’s mother returned to Chitungwiza after planting her crops, she fell ill and died.

“It is the saddest moment of my career and life. I was preparing to go and see her in Chitungwiza after her return from the rural area and I got a call that she had been hospitalised. I informed my uncle and we went to Chitungwiza Hospital. She could not talk anymore, she could not move. We were told she had just collapsed. The doctors tried everything, but could not resuscitate her. She painfully left us before I could fulfil my wish of making her life better. All this happened so fast after I had left school.”

Despite the misfortune, Benhura remained focused and continued with his work. He had many people to convince that dropping out of school was not a bad decision.

His works began attracting serious attention from visitors to Chapungu. He invested more time in his work and his sales went up. Within a few months, he bought a house in Dzivaresekwa and moved to his new place.

He bought stones and stocked them at his house. He would sculpt at Chapungu in the afternoon and sculpt at home at night.

Gathrie admired his work and arranged Benhura’s first solo exhibition at Chapungu. He also wrote a book about Benhura’s talent and renowned sculptor Nicholas Mukomberanwa endorsed the young man’s works.

Mukomberanwa wrote the foreword in the book and also officially opened the solo exhibition. The exhibition opened floodgates for Benhura and he started attracting international attention.

He began globe-trotting and lifting the country’s flag in international exhibitions. His pieces stand in renowned international galleries and his name is revered in most parts of the world.

He has been to countries like England, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Korea and Germany among others.

In fact, Benhura has toured all the continents in his 36-year journey as a professional sculptor. When he left Chapungu in 1994, he opened Dominic Studios, a gallery that houses sculptors, painters and fashion designers.

He established the gallery after buying a house in Greendale and he has since acquired many properties from the proceeds of sculpture. He has assisted sculptors at Tengenenge Arts Centre that he has worked with since the departure of former director Tom Blomefield. Benhura still tours extensively and has colourful memories about his international visits and exhibition.

He laughs when he recalls one tour of Botswana in the early days of his career.

“I was still young and had been called for a workshop. Unfortunately, there were no stones for carving at the site and I did not know what to do. The workshop was taking place at a remote place in Mahalape.

“I had no option but to consider wood carving. I had not done it before and it was not easy. I bought a wood chisel and asked a man from the area to take me to a nearby bush. We found a tree that I thought would work the trick. I worked on the wood using my stone-sculpture experience and it came out well. That piece became the cover of the workshop and I realised God planted something big in me.”

Feedback: godwin.muzari@zimpapers.co.zw

VP Mnangagwa

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged African countries to intensify capacity building programmes to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the continent’s Agenda 2063.

In a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Policy Coordination and Promotion of Socio Economic Ventures in the Office of the President Simon Khaya Moyo at the close of the 25th anniversary of the African Capacity Building Foundation in Harare yesterday, VP Mnangagwa said the continent, together with its development partners and the civil society should explore ways to build capacity for the good of the continent.

“The time to accelerate capacity building initiatives is now or never,” he said.

“If we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the continent’s Agenda 2063, we should build capacity. There is need to redefine capacity in the wake of new challenges.

“We have had the deadly Ebola virus that has cost us many lives. Our countries are fighting subdued commodity prices.

“The El Nino weather effect has wreaked havoc in the southern region (and) there are various political conflicts on the continent.”

Such kind of challenges, VP Mnangagwa said, required Africa to explore new ways of addressing them.

He said Africa was endowed with abundant resources but without capacity building, its population would remain in poverty.

“Yes, we have resources in Africa,” he said.

“However, without the requisite capacity, our populations will remain in abject poverty and we continue to miss development milestones.”

VP Mnangagwa said although significant progress had been made in the area of capacity building, a lot still needed to be done.

He said it was important for countries to share information and ideas as a way of improving methods and approaches to capacity building.

“It is my fervent hope that one day we will cease to focus more on how to build capacity, and instead discuss what Africa needs to do with its excess capacity,” said VP Mnangagwa.

He said it was important to build capacity as it worked as a base for economic off take by future generations.

“Only through this commitment can we have the capacity we need, designed to address the challenges and realities we face in our respective countries.”

The 25th ACBF anniversary was held under the theme: “Developing capacity for Africa’s Economic and Social Transformation” and was attended by several senior Government officials including Cabinet Ministers.

Herald Reporters
A programme similar to the recently introduced national pledge in schools should be developed for civil servants so that they become patriotic and service oriented, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Cde Obedingwa Mguni said yesterday.

He said the mindset of some civil servants had been poisoned by the 2008 economic hardships and needed to be socially re-engineered.

“After that 2008 saga we see that some people within the Government sector — their mindset — is no longer on serving, but on how much they get from a transaction. Patriotism is gone,” he said.

“It must be revived. Maybe something like what the children are reciting needs to be designed. The national pledge should not only be a song, but should infuse a sense of patriotism among our people.”

He said national pledge was also a corruption fighting tool as it would start moulding people from the grassroots.

“The national pledge like the national youth service, is a corruption fighting tool that also builds patriotism. There are some people who perpetuate corruption to render the country ungovernable,” he said.

He said developed countries anchored their success on a patriotic citizenry that appreciated the value of service to one’s country.

Cde Mguni said some civil servants were creating red tape to coerce people into paying for a service that should offered for free.

“National pledge is done to show that you pledge loyalty to your country and that you are committed to offer quality service to the citizenry,” he said.

A teacher at Chemagamba High School in Chinhoyi, said the national pledge was good as it infused discipline and focus on children.

“Some people oppose an idea for the sake of it but in my view there is nothing wrong at all with the national pledge because it will give us people who are prepared to work for their country in future,” said the teacher who preferred anonymity for professional reasons.

However, others said sections of the national pledge violated their religious beliefs and opposed the idea of saluting the flag.

Government introduced national pledge in schools this term and was launched in learning institutions nationwide.

Teachers in Beitbridge also expressed mixed feeling feelings over the introductions of the national pledge in schools.

A teacher at Vhembe High School in the border town said the national pledge would help enlighten children who were future leaders on the ethos and values of being a true and patriotic Zimbabwean.

“We started implementing the pledge in the first term this year and I don’t see anything wrong with encouraging children about the founding values of Zimbabwe and to be proud of their identity. Actually its (national pledge) introduction was long overdue,” said the teacher.

Another teacher at St Mary’s Secondary said the pledge would instil a sense of pride in the children.

A teacher at a school in Masvingo who declined to be named said some teachers, parents and guardians who made noise on the national pledge needed counselling.

“Why are they complaining about this pledge, children memorise and recite poems, songs, prayers as part of learning. They will make better choices when they grow up.”

Some teachers in Mutare said the current noise being raised against the recently launched national pledge was a direct result of the failure by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to consult all stakeholders.

The Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union president, Mr Martin Chaburumunda, said although they were in full support of the pledge, they differed and opposed the way it was introduced.

“Right now most teachers are not well versed with the pledge and you appear a fool in front of the pupils you are supposed to lead in the recitation. If they had consulted other stakeholders, there will be no noise.

“As a union, we feel that it was not proper to introduce the national pledge to the people via a Press conference. When we changed our National Anthem from Ishe Komborerai Africa to the current one every Zimbabwean was given an opportunity to compose his or her own and it was so exciting and up to now everyone is proud of that anthem.”

A cop who was suspended for demanding bribes at a roadblock has appeared in court facing charges of drugs possession. Roe Junior MacDonald’s latest troubles came after he tried to take a sweet worth three cents from a vendor. The dispute ended at a police station where, upon being searched, officers recovered a stash of

Boxer Charles Manyuchi drapped in Zimbabwe’s national flag before the fight

Robson Sharuko and Gilbert Munetsi
ZIMBABWE’S boxing superstar Charles Manyuchi served yet another notice that he is ready to challenge the globe’s best when he powered to his 15th straight win by beating Russia’s Dmitry Mikhaylenko last night and become the World Boxing Council welterweight silver champion on a landmark day for the country.

Just a day before Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and British challenger, Amir “King” Khan battle in their multi-million dollar Las Vegas showdown for the WBC middleweight crown, Manyuchi showed that he now belongs to the elite of boxing with a superb victory that will make him one of the big names in the sport.

The 27-year-old Zimbabwean, who won his second straight fight on European soil, could have boxed his way to a multi-million dollar fight, in the near future, after defying the odds to beat Mikhaylenko before a capacity 27 000 home crowd for the Russian at the DIVS Hockey Arena in Ekaterinburg.

There had been fears that Manyuchi could suffer from ring rust, having last fought competitively in July last year, while his opponent — who was unbeaten until he met the Zimbabwean superstar — has been fighting on the circuit.

That Manyuchi won the fight on a unanimous points decision show his dominance of his opponent, given that usually it’s difficult in boxing for a visiting athlete to be adjudged the winner on points, and demonstrated the pedigree of this brilliant Zimbabwean boxer.

For a man who plunged into training for just a few months, and who has endured the nightmare of having to deal with a relationship with his Zambian promoters that had broken down until Sports and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane intervened to bring the two parties back together, Manyuchi’s victory last night was very impressive.

He now relinquishes his WBC international welterweight title and is now the holder of the silver belt whose other former holders include British boxer Khan who will be paid a cool US$13 million for his showdown with Alvarez in Las Vegas tonight.

It was the Russian boxer’s first defeat in 22 professional fights and that it was delivered at home, before his boisterous fans, should have been hard to take.

But who cares?

Manyuchi was simply too good, too tactical and, at times even magical, as he set about winning another big battle and clearing another hurdle in search for greatness in the world.

The judges scored 116-114; 118-110 and 115-113 all in favour of the Zimbabwean superstar who captured the crown by a unanimous points decision, delivering a landmark victory that will cheer the spirits of millions of Zimbabweans around the world.

Last night scores of Zimbabweans were calling The Herald wanting o know the outcome of the fight and, today, they will wake up to the good news that their man delivered.

Naturally, a big welcome bash awaits the Sportsman of the Year when he touches down at Harare International Airport with his local sponsors, Mr T35, promising “yet another surprise present for the champion.”

Minister Hlongwane was thrilled by the victory last night.

“I am so humbled by Manyuchi’s determination to raise the flag of our country and boxing so high against all the odds, the very cold weather conditions in Russia, massive and obviously intimidating crowd and a career path that almost got off the rails.

“Manyuchi has continued to win for country and for himself.

“A big congratulations to him and to the boxing fraternity in Zimbabwe for this important feat.

“His ‘never say die’ attitude, a durable spirit to make Zimbabwe a winning nation and to give joy and happiness to all sport loving people is a cause for celebration. Well done son of the soil.

Manyuchi and his management’s five-year plan to see him enter the five-digit purse category remain on course.

Sadly, an opportunity for Zimbabweans to watch the match live on ZTV was lost after the national broadcaster could not raise the US$10 600 that had been charged for the live feed after UK-based Zimbabwe sports administrator, Marshall Gore, secured the television rights.

Gore, who travelled to Russia to cheer Manyuchi, is also the Zanu-PF UK chairman.

He had acquired the rights from the promoter, German Titov of TITOV Boxing Promotions LLC.

“It was my wish to make the nation feel inspired, so they could appreciate and emulate the ambassadorial role played by Manyuchi,” said Gore who was also in Italy for Manyuchi’s last fight.

The sold out bill, which had a capacity 27 000 spectators filling the ice hockey venue, was described by promoter German Titov as the biggest crowd to for such a sporting discipline in Yekatarinburg.

Paidamoyo Chipunza in BULAWAYO
Government could be churning out half-backed midwives following the expansion of their training curriculum to incorporate new trends, but has failed to extend the training period in line with international guidelines, the Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives president Dr Lillian Dodzo has said.

Speaking at the International Day of Midwives commemorations held at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo yesterday, Dr Dodzo said the curriculum now requires students to be well-versed in new drugs on the market such as antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), infections, prevention and control new guidelines, treatment, prevention and management of HIV, among others.

She said these additional requirements plus the previous curriculum require more time of up to 18 months on both theory and practice compared to the current 12 months spent in training to ensure that those trained are fully conversant with what they are expected to do upon graduation.

“What is happening now is that tutors are just rushing the training to complete the curriculum in 12 months, risking the quality of the midwife. We therefore recommend extension of the training period to 18 months so that our midwives are at tandem with other midwives from elsewhere,” she said.

Dr Dodzo also lamented the lack of establishment for midwives in the public health sector, which she said could be another contributory factor to the country’s high maternal mortality ratio. Latest statistics show that at least six mothers die during child birth in Zimbabwe.

Dr Dodzo said there was also need to ensure that midwives are well remunerated to retain them in the country.

According to the National Health Strategy (2009-2015), the country has an 80 percent vacancy for midwives and a 62 percent vacancy for nursing tutors.

Responding to the midwives’ grievances, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko who was guest of honour at the event said there was need to invest in midwifery education, remuneration and their retention for the country to reduce the high numbers of maternal mortality.

VP Mphoko said it was high time Government comes up with a retention strategy for midwives to ensure that the country does not continue to train for other countries, when there is a shortage.

“To ensure that there are enough qualified midwives to care for women and newborns, our country continues to increase investments in the education of midwives and growing the midwifery workforce. It is high time, the Government strives to put a retention strategy in place in order to retain the midwives who are crucial to the health of women and newborns,” said VP Mphoko.

Heath and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa who was also at the same function said although Government was confident on the quality of its midwives and welcomed the incorporation of new trends into their curriculum.

“I am convinced that I have competent midwives who can go anywhere in the world. If there are new skills, they should be incorporated into the curriculum,” he said.

UNFPA country representative Mr Cheikh Cisse Tidiane said investing in midwives averts deaths.

Mr Tidiane said two in every three maternal deaths can be avoidable if mothers deliver under supervision of a skilled midwife.

The International Day of Midwives is commemorated on May 4.

VP Mnangagwa

Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
GOVERNMENT supports the production of quail birds (zvihuta), as this improves nutrition and livelihoods of people, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

He said Government had never banned the production of the quails, but was against poaching of wild birds and eggs.

Responding to questions in Parliament on the alleged ban on production of quail birds on Wednesday, VP Mnangagwa said people had misunderstood Environment, Water and Cimate Minister, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri.

“When Government has put in place legislation on something which is or is not permissible, there is a procedure that is followed. When Government bans something it is gazetted. There is no policy that is publicised only through the media, Government policy is in written form.

“What some people do not understand is that there are two types of quail birds.

“There are those that are allowed in this country and those who domesticate them and sell the eggs are doing it legally. There were others who were moving around the wild taking away quail bird eggs, we are not happy about that.

“There is a way of rearing quail birds commercially, carrying out your quail birds project and selling to hotels, but we do not allow people to poach quail birds in the national parks,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa said there was no policy that had been put in place to ban projects on quail birds.

“The birds are very delicious, we enjoy the quail birds,” he said.

Officiating at a livestock field day at Mountain Home Farm in Mazowe on Wednesday, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for livestock, Paddy Zhanda said domestication of quail birds was under the Livestock Production Department.

He said Government supported production of the birds and this was in line with the national economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.

“We encourage production of the quail birds as this boosts nutrition and also improves the livelihoods.

“Zimbabwe has been lagging behind other countries that are producing the birds.

“The birds are good in terms of nutrition,” he said.

There had been an outcry in the country when rumours spread that Government had banned the breeding of the quail birds.

The birds became popular with some people claiming that they had medicinal properties.

The supposed ban made the birds popular especially on social media where the bulk of the jokes that have been circulating this week concerned the quail birds.

Cde Paradza

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
Sixteen more Zimbabwean women who were lured to Kuwait to work as housemaids, but ended up being abused as sex slaves, have escaped from captivity and are now under the care of the country’s Ambassador to Kuwait Mark Marongwe.

Several other women have since returned home after a Parliamentary delegation that went to Kuwait a fortnight ago after a bilateral engagement secured the release of 32 other women who came back home at the weekend.

MPs now want President Mugabe to ban visas for domestic workers in Kuwait.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cde Kindness Paradza, who was part of the delegation to Kuwait headed by National Assembly Speaker Advocate Jacob Mudenda, said he was going to present a report in Parliament on human trafficking to Kuwait.

“As I speak, I have just been informed by our Ambassador to Kuwait Cde Mark Marongwe that 16 more girls have escaped from their abusive employers and are now camped at the embassy seeking assistance to be brought home,” said Cde Paradza.

“I was also told that the figure of those run-away girls is swelling and is expected to rise by the weekend.

“Our wish as Parliament is to have a complete ban on all visa applications to Kuwait under Section 20, which commits into slavery anyone who enters that country under that section.

“President Mugabe as the father of the nation must use his Presidential powers and direct the Minister of Foreign Affairs to effect the ban.

“Other African countries like Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana have since banned their citizens from traveling to Kuwait under that section.”

Cde Paradza said there was a possibility that the total number of Zimbabwean women who were lured to Kuwait under the same circumstances could be around 500 amid indications that some of them left via Kenya, South Africa and Botswana.

He appealed to Government, women organisations and human rights activists to embark on awareness campaigns to conscientise Zimbabwean women about the problems in Kuwait.

“As Parliament, we also want our security agencies to hunt down all those locals who are working in cahoots with Kuwaiti syndicates on this issue and bring them to book.

“Last week, the Philippines also managed to evacuate 143 of their girls from Kuwait who had fallen victims to similar acts of modern day slavery.

“Our worry as a committee is that Government has not availed funds to have our girls flown back home, which could end up being difficult to account for all the girls as some of them have been transported to other countries like Saudi Arabia or Qatar on arrival in Kuwait,” said Cde Paradza.

Businessman, Mr Wicknell Chivayo had to intervene last week by paying air tickets for the 32 women.

There were indications that Treasury was constrained to pay for their return.

But Cde Paradza implored Government to set up a special fund for repatriation of all Zimbabwean women stuck in Kuwait.

Minister Mupfumira

Abigail Mawonde Herald Correspondent
At least 14 people died while 1 357 were injured at the workplace between January and March this year, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira, has said.

Minister Mupfumira expressed concern at the workplace deaths during commemorations to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in Harare yesterday.

“In our local context, the records being maintained by NSSA indicate that for the period January and March 2016; 1 357 lost time workplace injuries have already been recorded, with 14 being fatal,” she said.

Minister Mupfumira said this translated to four or more people dying every month at the workplace.

“An overview of the past three years shows that in the year 2013 there were 5 666 serious injuries with 76 fatalities.

“The year 2014 experienced 5 736 serious injuries and 106 fatalities. In 2015 there were 5 380 serious injuries of which 54 were fatalities,” she said.

National Social Security Authority (NSSA) acting general manager Mr Hashmon Matemera said the statistics were unacceptable.

“Over the past few years the nation has seen unacceptably high incidences of occupational injuries, diseases and fatalities.

“At our Workers Compensation Rehabilitation Centre we continue to see every year heads of households, breadwinners for their families losing their livelihood as they get confined to wheelchairs and lose their limbs.

“In 2015 and 2016, we added to our register of grossly disabled pensioners eight paraplegics and quadriplegics. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Matemera blamed the situation to workplace stress.

“It is sad that the carnage in the workplace is increasing everyday and yet we know that most, if not all occupational accidents and diseases are preventable.”

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), over 313 million workers suffer non-fatal occupational injuries each year, translating to 860 000 people injured daily at the workplace.

Manyuchi – Dmitry Mikhaylenko 116-114, 118-110, 115-113 Zimbabwe’s Charles Manyuchi on Friday night beat Russia’s dreaded Dmitry Mikhaylenko via Unanimous Decision. The fight was held in Ekateringburg. Manyuchi, who is also the current WBC international champion, bashed Mikhaylenko at the DIVS arena for the WBC Silver title left vacant by Britain’s Amir Khan. Khan takes

From George Maponga at NUANETSI RANCH, Mwenezi
The National Aids Council has been commended for spending nearly $150 000 to construct a modern clinic at Chingwizi in the Nuanetsi Ranch, Mwenezi, to cater for over 3 000 families displaced by the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam in Chivi two years ago.

NAC constructed the clinic following a request from the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims at Nuanetsi were relying on a makeshift clinic built by an Italian non-governmental organisation, Cesvi, as an emergency measure while funds to build permanent structures were being sourced.

Speaking during a tour of the new clinic on Thursday, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health Dr Ruth Labode said the move would improve health delivery at Nuanetsi.

Dr Labode said her committee visited Nuanetsi to appreciate the work being done by NAC using public funds mobilised through the AIDS levy introduced by Government to help combat the HIV and AIDS scourge.

“We are here to see the work that is being done by NAC which is directly related to the fight against the HIV and AIDS scourge. We saw it fit to come down on the ground to see how public funds collected through the AIDS levy are being used because most of the time we spend time in workshops without going to the ground,” she said.

NAC operations director Mr Raymond Yekeye said the clinic was part of efforts to fight HIV and AIDS by building a permanent health facility.