VP Mnangagwa

Bulawayo Bureau

ACTING President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for the promotion of the Constitution in fighting rampant corruption and nepotism in both public and private organisations. The Acting President, who is also oversees the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, was in Bulawayo recently for a constitution advocacy meeting.He said the country’s Constitution only becomes a useful document when it’s promoted to ensure that all people adhered to it.

“Principles of public administration and leadership are vital in the wake of ugly vices manifesting themselves through nepotism, rampant corruption in local authorities, rent seeking tendencies in the allocation of vital amenities such as housing and industrial stands.

“We may have a good constitution, but it only becomes a living and helpful document when we promote it amongst ourselves. The promotion of the constitution will subsequently ensure that we adhere to it, hence promoting peace and stability in the nation,” he said.

He said the principles of public administration were important in guiding local authorities in their provision of services.

“In order that City Fathers of metropolitan cities such as Bulawayo adhere to dictates of Chapter 9 of the Constitution, central Government has put in place policy measures such as salary caps.

“Moreover, the Government is working on a public sector corporate governance framework which is based in law to ensure that good corporate governance is practised in our local authorities,” said Acting President Mnangagwa.

He added that the Government had also scaled up efforts to fight corruption of any kind by streamlining the role of the anti-corruption watchdog under the oversight of the Office of the President and Cabinet.

The Acting President explained the provisions of the Constitution, saying his ministry’s mandate was to provide vital information, which will improve people’s knowledge on the Constitution.

He said, unlike the Lancaster House Constitution, the current Constitution provides for an expanded Bill of Rights incorporating socio-economic, cultural and environmental rights as well as protecting vulnerable groups.

“The rights are binding on all persons, including juristic persons, all branches, agencies and institutions of the State.

“The judiciary is obliged to consider virtually every issue in order to purposefully and liberally give effect to the rights and freedoms set out,” he said.

Yesterday’s outreach meeting in Bulawayo coincided with Acting President Mnangagwa’s birthday. The Zimbabwe National Army Band played a surprise birthday song for the Acting President who turned 70 yesterday, creating excitement among the participants, who included senior Government officials, members of different religious groupings, civic and non-governmental organisations, the provincial Joint Operation Command and youths.

The Acting President said the country will not revert to pre-colonial boundaries, but will uphold the spirit of a unitary state cherished by Zimbabweans.

He said those pushing for the disintegration of the country were working against the constitution.

He was responding to sentiments raised by a member of the Mthwakazi Liberation Front Mr John Gazi who in a plenary session, complained over labels against the party’s calls for secession as being enemies of the Government.

“We are not up to dividing the country, but uniting it in a certain way. I’m one of the defenders of this Government, more than some in the Government, but we are labelled anti-government when we express sentiments,” said Mr Gazi who said the basis of their calls was the sidelining of Matabeleland region.

In his response, the Acting President said the post-colonial generation of Zimbabweans cherish the unitary state

“Someone mentioned that before colonisation there was no unity, but as the current generation, we are committed to unity and that is why the concept of a unitary state is enshrined in our constitution,” he said.

Jah Prayzah and his band got permission to wear military regalia on stage

Fungai Lupande:Lifestyle Writer

Despite several warnings from authorities against wearing camouflage, some members of the public seem unfazed and many have made military colours their favourite outfits.Trendy camouflage outfits have been a hit in the country for sometime and people are finding the military print irresistible, seemingly oblivious of the fact that it is a criminal offence for members of the public to wear soldiers’ colours.

Many boutiques sell fancy camouflage clothes ranging from men’s pants, ladies jeggings, jackets, ladies tops and caps, to name just a few.

Most of these items are imported and look undeniably irresistible while mostly affordable.

Camouflage may be an interesting choice of outfit but in Zimbabwe the law prohibits anyone who is not a member of the army from wearing camouflage or anything that resemble it.

The Zimbabwe National Army protects military regalia.Although the law was passed years ago, not many people have knowledge of it or take heed.

Director Army Public Relations Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore took his time to explain the laws that prohibits wearing camouflage.

“Through the country’s laws, in particular the Criminal Law and Codification Act, Chapter 9:23, Section 179 impersonating a police officer, peace officer or public official is illegal,” he said. “Furthermore, the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02) states that it is not allowed for members of the public to wear camouflage.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police, as the law enforcement agents, are the arresting authorities, whenever such kinds of offences are detected.

Some fans at Jah Prayzah’s recent UK show. In Zimbabwe it is illegal for members of the public to wear military regalia

“Soldiers can effect a citizen’s arrest, report and/or escort offenders to the nearest police station.”

Lt Col Makotore added that Section 99(2)(c) of the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02) prohibits members of the public from wearing any kind of military regalia.

“The section provides that; ‘Any person who without authority wears or uses any decoration supplied to or authorised for use by any member of the Defence Forces or other military forces or any decoration so nearly resembling such decoration as to be likely to deceive shall be guilty of an offence,’” said Ltd Colonel Makotore.

However, the legislation does provide for exceptions, no wonder why artistes like Mukudzei Mukombe, known as Jah Prayzah, wears camouflage as his brand clothes on stage.

Such artistes are required to seek authority from army headquarters first and Lt Col Makotore explains what the exception provides for.

“Section 99(2)(c) of the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02) specifies the exception, ‘Provided that this subsection shall not apply in relation to any uniform or decoration for the purposes of any bona fide stage, film or television production or military representation.’

“Further to this, Section 99(4) states that, ‘in any prosecution for any offence in terms of this Section relating to any act done without due or lawful authority, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved that accused had no such authority’.”

Bethan Pasinawako, another artiste who was authorised to wear camouflage as her brand clothes on stage said she feels in control when wearing the army gear.

She said when she is wearing camouflage she feels in authority and ready to do great things.

“When I am on stage it is a serious moment for me and it’s not a time for me to play. Camouflage represents seriousness and power,” she said.

“Wearing camouflage makes me feel that I am representing the army of God.”

Other artistes like Sniper Storm and Commander Lee amongst others are fond of camouflage. Section 32 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act states the consequences of the camouflage offence.

“Camouflage uniforms mean any article of wearing apparel made of material carrying military-style camouflage markings,” reads the Act.

“Any person who unlawfully possesses or wears any camouflage uniform shall be guilty and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both in the case of unlawful possession of camouflage uniform.

“For wearing camouflage uniform a convicted person is liable to a fine not exceeding level six or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.”

However, the above conviction and sentence shall not apply to an authorised person.

In an interview, a Harare name Mr Mandlaenkosi Sibanda said he had no idea that camouflage clothes are illegal.

“I heard it from other people that camouflage is not allowed but I didn’t know for certain that it is a criminal offence,” he said.

“I see my favourite celebrity Jah Prayzah wearing camouflage and as a fan I end up buying some camouflage items not knowing it is an offence.

“We don’t often hear of people who are arrested for wearing camouflage but I heard that years ago members of the Zimbabwe National Army used to confront people they saw wearing it.

“I also remember a few months ago a member of the army was arrested after stripping a civilian of his camouflage T-shirt. It is not clear how the law is implemented”

A fashionista who refused to be named said camouflage clothes are a charm especially mixed with other accessories and colours.

“It might have been said before that it is an offence to wear camouflage but I guess people easily forget because in other countries camouflage is simply just like any other print,” she said.

“Camouflage is a print that is undeniable, appealing, makes one feel outstanding and connected to the army. With the new stylish ranges one can go beyond a classic military inspired look.”

However, according to the law members of the Zimbabwe National Army, ex-soldiers and those who masquerade as soldiers are not allowed to attack civilians they see wearing camouflage

The law says the correct procedure, when a soldier sees a civilian wearing camouflage, is to effect citizen arrest and escort that person to the nearest police station.

In June this year a Harare man, Simbarashe Sithole (29) who claimed to be a member of ZNA appeared in court for stripping a civilian Lloyd Kuzondishaya of his camouflage T-shirt.

ZNA disowned Sithole saying he was discharged in 2008 on disciplinary grounds.

Sithole was sentenced to an effective two years for harassing the civilian, ordering him to do press-ups and robbing him of his mobile phone and $1.

Last year, Norest Muranda of Chikanga in Mutare was fined $120 after he was caught wearing his uncle’s army regalia.

The presiding magistrate Ms Sekai Chiundura advised Muranda to “join the army if he wanted to enjoy their colours legally”.

Eddie Chikamhi and Takudzwa Chitsiga
VETERAN coach Luke Masomere received a baptism of fire on his return into the trenches of coaching in the domestic Premiership after his Border Strikers side slumped to a 0-4 defeat at the hands of Chibuku Super Cup holders Harare City at Rufaro yesterday as the country’s premier knockout football tournament got underway.

Masomere, a league championship winner with Amazulu, who also won the BancABC Sup8r Cup, was back on the bench yesterday after a lengthy sabbatical and was powerless to prevent his men from crashing to a big defeat as Chunga’s side made it clear they intend to defend their silverware.

The coach even had to pull out his goalkeeper as he tried to limit the damage, and he returned to Beitbridge fully aware he faces Mission Impossible in his bid to save Border Strikers from sinking into Division One, which was the mandate he was given when he was hired this week.

“The team did not play well, I just had training with them on Wednesday and by yesterday (Thursday) we were on the road, so it was a second practice session,” said Masomere.

“We had a very bad game in the second half as the boys showed signs of tiredness and the fitness levels are not encouraging at all. We will work hard in preparation for the remaining seven games.”

Chunga’s team got their goals from Jerry Chipangura in the 24th minute, Ronald Chitiyo 54th minute, Edwin Madhanhanga on the hour mark and the consistent William Manondo in the 71st minute.

“We played well and it was a good game which we dominated,” said Chunga.

“We had the opportunity to try some young players after we took a comfortable lead, although they could not get on the score sheet. We now look forward to the next draw.”

While Chunga was all smiles yesterday, the focus now shifts to another Dynamos son, with all eyes on Lloyd Mutasa after a tough week in which his Glamour Boys nursed the wounds of a demoralising defeat in Bulawayo, where Highlanders struck twice in quick succession to beat their biggest rivals 2-1.

Warriors’ goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva has, somehow, escaped criticism all week after a shocker gifted Bosso the equaliser with the diminutive goalminder failing to deal with a ball swung in from a corner while veteran marksman Ralph Matema was given the freedom of Mbare to head home, unmarked, the killer goal.

The Glamour Boys are now under pressure to atone for the poor outing by going all the way and win the $500 000 tournament.

DeMbare are virtually out of the running for the Castle Lager Premiership title and the Chibuku Cup represents their only hope for silverware this year.

But the dream could be spoiled when they host How Mine at Rufaro tomorrow.

Dynamos could not have forgotten how they were bundled out of the 2013 Mbada Diamonds Cup by Chikurupati, who went on to reach the finals after eliminating CAPS United in the semi-finals. Skipper Tapiwa Khumbuyani yesterday said they will not leave anything to chance.

“Of course we played draws in the league this year but this is a different game. It’s a cup game and there has to be a winner at the end of the day even if we don’t score in regulation time.

“Yeah, Dynamos may not be playing well but remember Dynamos are Dynamos. You can’t really afford to sit back and relax when you have a game against them no matter what they are going through.

“Dynamos can do anything on any day, they have to be taken seriously no matter what they are going through.

“They are a dangerous team. Every team wants to win the tournament but for us we have to concentrate on the first game first. At the moment we are looking at this game. We will then see what happens afterwards.

“If you want to be the best you will have to beat the best. So we don’t have any problem being drawn against Dynamos in the first round. It actually spurs us on and the important thing is to concentrate throughout. We will need to focus, even if the game goes to the penalties,” said Khumbuyani.

Dynamos team manager Richard Chihoro yesterday said they have a clean bill of health.

“As far as I know, there are no injuries in our team. We trained well this week and everyone is ready to go.

“In fact we are really looking forward to winning this match because our goal is to win this tournament and play in Africa.

“So we will put in everything. There is usually so much at stake in cup games.

“I am sure we will bounce back, goals will come this time around,” said Chihoro.

Speculation has been rife in Harare that, should coach Lloyd Mutasa fail to win this game, he could be fired from his job although some of those who have been linked with the post have been wayward bets.

To his credit, Mutasa remains focused on his job and some even feel for him given that his defence was at fault in the City of Kings although others feel that his reading of the game, which saw his substitutes fail to fire, left a lot to be desired.

Others have also chosen to be superstitious saying that whenever Masimba Mambare scores, no one in the DeMbare shirt scores, even when they get very good chances although that theory looks way off the mark.

Justice Chigumba

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter—
Police gazetted a ban on protests, stretching from yesterday to October 15 in compliance with High Court Judge Justice Priscilla Chigumba’s ruling that they must first notify all stakeholders if they intend to ban demonstrations and processions in Harare. Officer Commanding Harare Central District Chief Superintendent Newbert Saunyama, who is the regulating authority in the district, announced the ban in an extraordinary Government gazette

yesterday where he also issued a notice of the ban effective from yesterday.

Also read:

• Churches slam violence
• Business speaks on violent demos
• Police ban axes, demonstrations
• Police vow to crush demos
• MDC-T, ZimPF up terror campaign
• Opposition thugs unleash terror, loot shops
• MDC-T unleashes reign of terror

Chief Supt Saunyama cited the inadequacies in Section (26) of the Public Order and Security Act (Chapter 11:17) to prevent disorder being caused by such processions. Chief Supt Saunyama yesterday said the proposed prohibition order was provided for by the law.

“The regulating authority, believing on reasonable grounds that the powers conferred by Section 26 of the Public Order and Security Act (Chapter 11: 17) will not be sufficient to prevent public disorder being occasioned by the holding of processions or public demonstrations or any class thereof in the Harare Central Police District, hereby issues this order prohibiting, for a period of one month from Friday, the 16th September, 2016, to Saturday, the 15th October, 2016, the holding of all processions or public demonstrations or any class thereof in the Harare Central Police District,” reads the notice.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared that, in terms of Section 27 (5) of the Public Order and Security Act (Chapter 11:17), any person who organises or assists in organising or takes part in or attends any procession or public demonstration held in contravention of an order under Section 27 (1) of the Act shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or both such fine and such imprisonment.”

This comes after police two weeks ago banned demonstrations up to September 16 in Harare, again citing inadequacies in Section (26) of the Public Order and Security Act (Chapter 11:17) to prevent disorder being caused by such processions.

To effect the ban, police issued Statutory Instrument 101A, which temporarily prohibited demonstrations in the Central Business District of Harare. They also banned the carrying of catapults and axes among other weapons likely to be used to instigate violence.

However, Justice Chigumba suspended the ban following a legal challenge to the instrument mounted by Democratic Restoration Assembly (Dare), National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera), Vendors Association and Combined Harare Residents Association (Chra).

The order of invalidity was, however, suspended for seven working days by Justice Priscilla Chigumba to allow the State to rectify the invalidity of the defective instrument used to ban the protests. The move by the police was necessitated by violent demonstrations by shadowy groupings linked to MDC-T and Zimbabwe People First that resulted in the destruction of property in the Central Business District.

Political parties meeting under the banner of National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) also followed with another demonstration where activists wantonly destroyed property while others were engaged in a looting spree.

Innocent people and police officers on duty were not spared. President Mugabe last Friday warned violent protestors that they were “playing a dangerous game” and Government would descend heavily on anyone causing mayhem.

His Excellency President R. G Mugabe

Address by His Excellency, President R. G Mugabe, on the occasion of the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants at the UN Headquarters in New York on September 19, 2016

YOUR Excellency Mr Peter Thomson, President of the 71st Session of the General Assembly, Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Your Excellency Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, distinguished delegates, comrades and friends.Over the past year we have witnessed harrowing images of refugees risking their lives to flee the dire realities in their countries of origin.We have been equally shocked at the hostile reception refugees have often been subjected to.

Against this background, we are pleased at the convening of this important meeting that allows us to explore a collective blueprint for dealing with large movements of refugees and migrants.

We are also pleased that the New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants highlights the importance of addressing the root cause of the large movements.

Mr President,

The movement of people from one place to another is not a new phenomenon at all.

Migration has been a fact of life from time immemorial.

However, it is the magnitude and the highly interconnected nature of our world today that makes this an unprecedented phenomenon.

While this very interconnectedness has been viewed with some apprehension in some quarters, we are convinced that it gives us an opportunity to come together and forge sustainable strategies in a much more effective manner than could have been done in our previously unconnected world.

Indeed, how we choose to address the issue of large movements of refugees will have a significant bearing on the realisation of our collective goals as enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This is why today’s meeting and the outcomes it has adopted are so critical.

Mr President,

We have noted that a large portion of refugees that have landed on European shores originated from countries in armed conflict such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria.

We therefore are convinced that a return to the UN Charter ideals of saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war and refraining from using armed force is critical in addressing the root cause of large movements of refugees.

Apart from natural disasters, large scale movements are in great measure a result of direct acts of commission and omission by humankind.

Consequently, therefore, more effort must be exerted towards peaceful settlement of disputes under Chapter VI of the UN Charter.

More often than not, member states have been too keen to resort to force without exhausting peaceful means. This hegemonic military doctrine and adventurism, fuelled by a desire to achieve the narrow national interests of a powerful few, is the root of the proliferation of armed conflicts which have spawned so many refugees today.

Mr President,

Some recent efforts to combat terrorism have tended to trample down upon the rights of migrant communities and refugees.

While states have a legitimate right to take appropriate measures to protect their citizens from terrorism, there is great risk of mimicking the very same terrorist scourge, should we in the process disregard and wantonly violate their fundamental rights.

Agenda 2030 recognises the positive contribution of migrants to inclusive growth and sustainable development. As we gain traction in the implementation of that Agenda, we should, therefore, be wary of a rising tendency by unscrupulous individuals to stoke the fires of xenophobia and promote a negative narrative of migrants for political expediency.

We have a collective responsibility to change the narrative on migrants and migration in our countries.

Many countries owe their success in business and scientific prowess to the invaluable contributions of migrants and refugees.

We commend those states that have, despite their own limitations, opened their borders to migrant communities. We in Zimbabwe have hosted many refugees from conflict-affected countries.

We call for a balanced focus on the humanitarian plight of migrants and refugees world over.

It is our sincere hope that the implementation of the declaration we have adopted today will culminate in a comprehensive and sustainable collective response to this shared challenge and promote burden-sharing.

We are also encouraged by the adoption of two annexes that seek to take us towards a comprehensive refugee response framework and a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.

As we move towards operationalising these frameworks, we call for continued adherence to the principles of national ownership and leadership above all else.

I thank you.

A handful of ThisFlag followers stand outside Zimbabwe’s Mission to the UN in New York after an abortive demonstration.

Obi Egbuna Jnr : Correspondent
FROM the moment Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi organised everyday Zimbabweans to courageously take up arms against Rhodesian settlers and invaders way back in 1896, the colonialist and imperialist world have learnt the hard way, that the element of surprise has always been the best weapon of genuine African resistance at home and abroad.

When Zanu began the Second Chimurenga against the second most powerful colonial army ever assembled on our beloved mother continent 50 years ago, which cleared the way for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF to launch the historic and ground-breaking land reclamation programme 16 years ago that boldly declared the beginning of the Third Chimurenga, one would think US-EU imperialism finally realised that imposing their will on Zimbabweans politically, economically or militarily is no walk in the park.

Hundreds of December 12 Movement members turned up for a solidarity march through the streets of New York.

Since Pastor Evan Mawarire used social media and hijacked a revolutionary idea to use Zimbabwe’s flag to rally Africans worldwide to join the movement to end the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001, each and every one of President Mugabe and Zanu-PF’s most hateful detractors in Washington and London have not only been tickled pink, but are guilty of openly behaving like their illegal and racist regime change agenda aimed at toppling Zimbabwe’s democratically elected Government had officially prevailed.

What Pastor Mawarire and #ThisFlag members learnt on Saturday September 17 2016 at the Zimbabwe Mission to the United Nations in New York City, was to never under any circumstances disregard the power of true and authentic revolutionary solidarity, something that biblical verses from a colonialist and imperialist paradigm simply cannot prepare an opportunist leader or movement to properly deal with.

Because Pastor Mawarire and his gullible followers had made a routine of taking photo-ops in front of the Zimbabwean embassy in Washington DC, which led to someone mysteriously desecrating the embassy with graffiti, the pastor and his brain trust arrived at the conclusion that targeting the mission before converging on the UN would help generate momentum.

To the surprise of Pastor Mawarire who had boldly predicted that over 5 000 Zimbabweans would be by his side, only 19 misled but undeniably faithful followers arrived to participate in a pre-protest in front of the mission, that was advertised as lasting from 10am to 12 noon. Due to the extremely low and embarrassing turnout this only lasted about 29 minutes to be exact.

Another shock to the system of Pastor Mawarire and his followers is they were not allowed to plaster the mission with their neo-colonialist regalia, this was brought to their attention by none other than the racist and fascist NYPD, who according to history and pedigree were not thrilled but had no choice but to enforce this law. This reduced #ThisFlag members’ efforts to talking to primarily individuals of a Caucasian persuasion who were on their Saturday morning strolls therefore had no interest in what they represented.

Since Pastor Mawarire’s main platforms thus far have been primarily confined to the dog and pony shows courtesy of the US-EU imperialist think tank apparatus and any bonus events arranged by the US State Department, the good pastor’s handlers probably never shared with him that it is virtually impossible to come to New York City and attack President Mugabe and Zanu-PF, without being confronted directly by the December 12 Move- ment.

It is only fitting that Pastor Mawarire had the opportunity to see D12 up close and personal in the middle of a protest, especially since it is abundantly clear that the misguided pastor more than likely has been advised by his handlers to avoid at all costs so-called African Americans, who accurately fit the characteristic of what President Mugabe commonly refers to when speaking publicly as Comrades and Friends.

Even if Pastor Mawarire and his followers had previously been warned by the Who’s Who of the US Military Industrial Intelligence Police Complex, that D12 was planning a counter and unapologetically pro-President Mugabe and Zanu-PF demonstration, the parachutes on their shoulders and over the top exposure from US imperialist media outlets like CNN and NPR had them feeling untouchable.

This was confirmed by the presence of a Voice of America reporter who witnessed the entire spectacle. However, due to the outcome will have a serious challenge, explaining to the Zimbabweans in the Diaspora who according to Pastor Mawarire and his followers ended up resembling a meteorologist who gave viewers and listeners the wrong weather forecast.

Only 19 faithful followers participated in Pastor Mawarire’s (pictured right) flopped protest in front of Zimbnabwe’s UN Mission in New York, that was advertised as lasting from 10am to 12 noon. Due to the extremely low and embarrassing turnout this only lasted about 29 minutes, to be exact

Let us remember that according to Pastor Mawarire’s Facebook page, Zimbabwean students in the Diaspora are 58 percent in favour of the US imperialist agenda, the burning question is why these toy soldiers who demonise their President and Government all over social media decided not to come to the Big Apple and stand with their pastor who boldly proclaims “We are the leaders we have been waiting for”.

The explanation given by Mawarire and his followers whose mood and body language resembled women and men, when they get stood up on a date, was that the main demonstration near the UN Headquarters would reflect the numbers they had anticipated and boldly predicted.

What occurred instead was that the D12 march from the Zimbabwe UN Mission completely stole the show, President Mugabe’s Comrades and Friends started from 53rd and Lexington Avenue with banners of all sizes brandishing their patterned and trademark slogan “MUGABE IS RIGHT”.

Unlike the 19 followers of Pastor Mawarire who looked as though they were loitering in front of the mission, this strong showing of unity and patriotism aroused the interest of spectators and onlookers, who were apparently wondering what African head of state could garner this qualitative level of support inside US borders.

This development meant that the Voice of America reporter had to resort to damage control and interview Pastor Mawarire from angles aimed at diverting attention from such a low turnout, by the end of the day #This Flag drew 50 people to their UN demonstration where on the other hand D12 drew over 100 who to their credit assembled with an agenda and purpose of their own, meaning showing support for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF took precedence over clashing with political novices like Pastor Mawarire and #This Flag.

Another lesson Pastor Mawarire and his followers can take from Saturday is that they do not have a monopoly on social media, a few weeks ago D12 brilliantly juxtaposed a picture of the good pastor with US and British flags wrapped around his neck, which raised the issue that #This Flag should use the symbols of the nations whose interests they faithfully serve and represent on a daily basis. President Mugabe’s Comrades and Friends followed this up with a US passport with the good pastor’s name and face.

What was billed and promoted as an event that would be the defining moment for the #This Flag movement, with thousands of Zimbabweans calling for President Mugabe to step down, numerically matched Pastor Mawarire’s Sunday congregation of his storefront church back home in Zimbabwe.

Only 19 faithful followers participated in Pastor Mawarire’s (pictured right) flopped protest in front of Zimbnabwe’s UN Mission in New York, that was advertised as lasting from 10am to 12 noon. Due to the extremely low and embarrassing turnout this only lasted about 29 minutes, to be exact

When Pastor Mawarire and his followers step out of their comfort zone which means engaging so-called African Americans in an atmosphere, where the helping hand of Douglas Coltart and Chloe McGrath cannot serve as a security blanket, they don’t appear to be politically or intellectually equipped to answer some very fundamental questions.

During the march when D12 members who decided to show at the mission to strategically observe #ThisFlag, told the VOA reporter was how embarrassing it looked for young Zimbabweans who have benefited more than they realise from countless drops of blood shed heroically from 1896 to present, to come to the country who has illegally targeted their Government and stage a protest.

What Pastor Mawarire and his followers will eventually realise is that the history they reject like children who cry when told by their parents to eat their vegetables, is what makes not only D12 but Africans all over the world stand firmly behind President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.

Obi Egbuna Jnr is the US Correspondent to the Herald and External Relations Officer of Zicufa (Zimbabwe Cuba Friendship Association) his email is obiegbuna15@gmail.com

Robson Sharuko : Senior Sports Editor

FIVE years ago, FC Platinum’s audacious bid to become the first club in 45 years from outside Harare and Bulawayo to become champions of Zimbabwe football was destroyed by what has come to be known as the “Curse of Game 29.” Needing just a victory or a draw at home to match the grand achievements of the St Paul’s team which took the crown to their base in Musami, Murehwa in 1966, the Zvishavane miners collapsed under the weight of expectations from a community that had already broken into celebrations and nosedived to a 0-1 defeat.

Dynamos staged a spectacular smash-and-grab raid at Mandava with that win giving the Glamour Boys the advantage and they duly completed their mission to become champions the following week by beating Kiglon 2-0 at Rufaro.

FC Platinum were left to feed on crumbs as they nursed the wounds inflicted by that shattering home defeat that changed everything.

And for the next three years, while FC Platinum struggled to find a way back into the light in the darkness cast by the events of that afternoon, they watched from a distance as Dynamos dominated the domestic landscape with coach Callisto Pasuwa winning four straight league titles with the Glamour Boys.

But, in football as in life, things do change.

And, this year, with seven matches left in the race for the league championship, FC Platinum find themselves with their fate in their hands, holding a one-point lead over CAPS United, with the two rivals set to continue their quest for honours tomorrow when the miners travel to Beitbridge while Makepekepe have a date against ZPC Kariba in the resort town.

Highlanders, who last won the league title in 2006 are waiting for an opportunity to strike and praying that the leading two stumble along the way, starting with tomorrow’s tricky assignments, with Bosso buoyed by a recent revival which saw them demonstrate the kind of character which wins titles when they came from behind to beat Dynamos 2-1 at Barbourfields.

But there is still so much at stake and the people of Zvishavane will be hoping that the “Curse of Game 29” does not strike again to destroy the p. They have a date against Bosso in the penultimate match of their campaign, which could prove decisive.

Norman Mapeza’s men will take on Highlanders in Week 29 of the marathon at Mandava in a game that could either destroy or fuel their quest for a league title which the people of Zvishavane believe their team badly deserve this year.

Interestingly, FC Platinum usually struggle against Bosso when Highlanders come to Mandava and the miners have only won once in Week 29 when they beat Hwange 1-0 two years ago at the Colliery. In that season, FC Platinum also lost 0-1 at home to Highlanders and ended six points adrift of eventual champions Dynamos.

Last year, FC Platinum were firmly in the race for the league championship which featured eventual champions Chicken Inn and after holding the Gamecocks in Bulawayo many seasoned commentators began saying this was the season the miners were going to break the duck to be crowned champions. But their campaign ended when the “Curse of Week 29” struck at Mandava as they dropped two crucial points in a 1-1 draw against a battling CAPS United while Chicken Inn beat Harare City 3-1, in the same weekend to open a two-point lead with just a game to go in the championship race.

FC Platinum never recovered from that draw against Makepekepe and were held by Dongo Sawmill in their final game while Chicken Inn beat Flame Lily to win the championship by four points. Mapeza’s men also failed to beat Bosso in their Mandava backyard last year with the Bulawayo side battling their way to a 2-2 draw in Zvishavane.

Two years ago, Bosso also came to Zvishavane and escaped with a 1-0 victory at Mandava as FC Platinum eventually finished half-a-dozen points adrift of the eventual champions. In 2013, the “Curse of Week 29” also hit FC Platinum who were held to a 1-1 draw by How Mine and with those dropped points they crashed out of the championship race which they eventually finished four points behind eventual winners Dynamos.

That season, the Zvishavane miners also failed to beat Bosso at home after the Bulawayo giants battled on to secure a point in a goalless draw at Mandava.

A year earlier, Bosso had beaten FC Platinum 1-0 of course in Week 29 of the championship, although the Zvishavane miners were not in the race for the championship as they struggled in the darkness of the spell cast by the events of the previous year when they had virtually handed the title to Dynamos by failing to hold on to a draw in their backyard.

FC Platinum have won six times in their backyard in 11 games so far this season drawing four and losing one and they have won six times on the road, drawing five and losing just one match. CAPS United have won eight times at home, drawing four and are unbeaten in their backyard while they have won five matches, away from home, drawn three and lost three.

All their three losses have come in Bulawayo against Highlanders, How Mine and Bulawayo City and those who are backing the Green Machine to win this race will be happy to realise that they won’t be returning to the City of Kings for another league assignment this season.

Highlanders have won six matches at home, drawn three and lost two, with the losses being inflicted by FC Platinum and Mutare City Rovers, while they have won six matches on the road, drawn two and lost four.

REMAINING FIXTURES

Round 24

Dynamos v Tsholotsho; ZPC Kariba v Kariba; Border Strikers v FC Platinum; Ngezi Platinum v Chapungu; Harare City v Highlanders; How Mine v Hwange; Bulawayo City v Triangle; Chicken Inn v Mutare City

Round 25

Triangle v Chicken Inn; Tsholotsho v Harare City; CAPS United v How Mine; Highlanders v Ngezi Platinum; Mutare City v ZPC Kariba; Hwange v Border Strikers; Chapungu v Bulawayo City; FC Platinum v Dynamos

Round 26

Harare City v FC Platinum; Bulawayo City v Chicken Inn; Ngezi Platinum v Tsholotsho; How Mine v Mutare City; Border Strikers v CAPS United; Dynamos v Hwange; ZPC Kariba v Triangle; Chapungu v Highlanders

Round 27

Hwange v Harare City; Tsholotsho v Chapungu; Triangle v How Mine; Chicken Inn v ZRP Kariba; CAPS United v Dynamos; Highlanders v Bulawayo City; Mutare City v Border Strikers; FC Platinum v Ngezi Platinum

Round 28

How Mine v Chicken Inn; Bulawayo City v ZRP Kariba

Chapungu v FC Platinum; Dynamos v Mutare City; Highlanders v Tsholotsho; Harare City v CAPS United; Border Strikers v Triangle; Ngezi Platinum v Hwange

Round 29

Mutare City v Harare City; Tsholotsho v Bulawayo City; Hwange v Chapungu; Triangle v Dynamos; ZPC Kariba v How Mine; CAPS United v Ngezi Platinum; Chicken Inn v Border Strikers; FC Platinum v Highlanders

Round 30

Bulawayo City v How Mine; Dynamos v Chicken Inn; Tsholotsho v FC Platinum; Border Strikers v ZPC Kariba; Highlanders v Hwange; Chapungu v CAPS United; Harare City v Triangle; Ngezi Platinum v Mutare City.

THE decision by the Harare City Council legalising hand and animal-drawn carts on the city’s streets at a time the council is failing to restore order and cleanliness in the capital is ill-informed and makes us begin to doubt if we have the right people in office at Town House. Already the city is burdened with the problem of street vendors who have made the streets and pavements their workstations, creating havoc and disorder. Conductingbusiness in the capital has become a nightmare for many because of the enormous human traffic, coupled with huge vehicular volume. These have caused some people to move their business offices outside the Central Business District.

As if the problem at hand is not huge enough, the Harare City Council, in its wisdom, but obviously lack of it, decided to allow operators of handcarts and animal drawn carts to operate freely in the capital upon payment of one year renewable licence fees.

It is difficult to walk and drive in the streets of Harare because of the vendors and illegal taxi operators, popularly known as “mushikashika.” Street vendors and mushikashikas have turned the capital into a jungle and made life very difficult for council to restore it to its Sunshine City status.

We would have thought that council would first deal with the problem at hand — street vendors and the “mushikashikas” — before passing a decision on animal drawn carts. The city is dirty because the MDC-T council has failed to take action against the street vendors and the “mushikashikas” who have been allowed to do as they wish in the process making the capital an eyesore.These are matters the council should be seized with at the moment to ensure street vendors are removed from the streets and pavements and that the “mushikashikas” are brought to book. We do not need to remind the city fathers that the city we are talking about is the capital city. It is not just any other city, but the face of Zimbabwe.

We do not need street vendors and illegal taxi operators in the capital. We do not need by-laws that allow the free movement of handcarts and animal-drawn carts in the capital for whatever reason.

We do not need animals pulling carts in the city centre.

The council has massive problems owing to illegal taxis and street vendors and we fail to reconcile the fact that it now needs to add more woes for itself by making ill-informed decisions.

We strongly think that executives at council need to be serious. On one hand they tell us they want Harare to become a world class city by 2025 and on the other hand they make the movement of animal-drawn carts in the city legal. There is no way we can attain the world class city status when people at Town House who make such uninformed decisions.

Instead of moving the city to the future, the MDC-T council want to move backwards.

You can imagine the confusion that Harare would become with street vendors, illegal taxi operators, handcarts and animal-drawn carts. We cannot allow council to make the city free-for-all. It cannot be a “bambazonke” city, but we should all strive to make it a city that, on its own, can help Government in its efforts to attract investors.

Council must desist from playing to the gallery, trying to be populist yet doing more harm than good to the city. It appears the attraction for extra money to replenish the coffers stood in the way of rational thinking. We cannot sacrifice the city just for the extra money that would be paid in fees for the free movement of handcarts and animal-drawn carts. We must be much more serious than that.

Walter Nyamukondiwa : Chinhoyi Bureau

A fourteen-year-old HIV positive schoolboy from Makonde District, sexually abused at least seven girls aged between four and seven years while on their way from school, raising fears that the girls could have contracted HIV. The cheeky boy would afterwards order other boys to repeat his actions on the same girls and threatened to beat them up if they refused.The boy who cannot be named because of his age and HIV status, had never been to school when he was adopted by a local non-governmental organisation and enrolled at a local primary school.

His two other siblings were also enrolled at the same school, where they are in Grade 1, after also suffering the same fate of not going to school.

The teenager was enrolled into Grade 2 together with children who were way younger than him, so that he could start at an elementary stage.

However, it later emerged that the teenager would abuse the girls who were between Early Childhood Development and Grade 3 stages, while on their way home from school.

The matter came to light during a routine Family Club meeting organised by Pamuhacha HIV and Aids Prevention Project where parenting, family health, culture and traditions are discussed.

“During the discussions, minute details of the abuse started coming out from some parents in the community before full investigations and tests on the girls were conducted,” said a Pamuhacha social worker who declined to be named for professional reasons.

“We sent the boy to school this year after realising that he had never been to school. He was enrolled in Grade 2 where he joined young boys and girls that are younger than him.”

School children are encouraged to walk in groups on their way to and from school owing to the overgrown grass in the area.

It is during routine walks from school that he allegedly took the group of girls into a bushy area and abused them before instructing other boys to follow suit.

Investigations have shown that the boy’s father and stepmother are mentally challenged and that he had at one time been taken to a relative where he was herding cattle.

The juvenile has since appeared before Chinhoyi regional magistrate Mr Felix Mawadze, who found him guilty on five counts of rape and sentenced him to three years probation at Kadoma Training Institute.

In passing sentence, the magistrate said the juvenile was a danger to the community if he was allowed to return to the farm.

The father pleaded for the child to be released into his custody, but the Court was adamant that he had demonstrated his inability to look after his children.

It has also emerged that the children have no birth certificates.

Pamuhacha economic strengthening officer Mrs Jubilee Mwanza, said the abused girls had undergone counselling sessions to cope with the abuse.

“It depends on what the children’s parents want because some of them are not forthcoming in terms of getting pycho-social support,” she said.

A probation officer said cases of children abusing other children were on the increase with some observers saying children were now more exposed to sexually suggestive material at an early age.

Justice for Children Trust, which handles child-related issues could not be reached for comment as officials were said to have travelled yesterday.

President Putin

MOSCOW/BERLIN. — Russia’s ruling United Russia party cruised to an easy victory in parliamentary polls, but a low turnout suggested a softening of enthusiasm for the ruling elite 18 months before the next presidential election.President Vladimir Putin’s party had 54,2 percent of the vote after 90 percent of ballots were counted yesterday, data from the election commission showed.The Communist party was in second place with 13,5 percent of the vote, followed by the Liberal Democrats party on 13,3 percent and the Just Russia party on 6,2 percent, according to an incomplete vote count.

The election for the 450-seat State Duma went smoothly for a government desperate to avoid a repeat of mass protests last time round and eager to increase their dominance as the country faces the longest economic crisis of Putin’s rule.

“We can announce already with certainty that the party secured a good result, that it won,” Putin said after the vote.

“The situation is tough and difficult, but the people still voted for United Russia,” he said on state television.

Putin’s aides are likely to use the result as a springboard for his campaign for re-election in 2018, though he has not yet confirmed that he will seek another term.

Alluding to the spluttering economy, which is forecast to shrink this year by at least 0,3 percent, Putin said: “We know that life is hard for people, there are lots of problems, lots of unresolved problems. Nevertheless, we have this result.”

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party has suffered an electoral blow in Berlin state elections, two weeks after her Christian Democrats (CDU) party came third in an eastern state amid a growing backlash against her immigration policy.

The anti-immigrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained support, capitalising on anger over Merkel’s open-door refugee policy that has allowed one million asylum seekers into Germany, with 70 000 of them coming to Berlin. AfD, which has campaigned heavily on the refugee issue, managed to garner 12,2 percent of the vote and will enter its tenth regional assembly of the country’s 16 states.

CDU’s coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD), also lost support, falling to 23,1 percent from 28,3 percent, but remained the biggest party and is likely to ditch Merkel’s party from their current coalition.

The Social Democrats, Merkel’s junior coalition partner at the federal level, may strike deals with Greens and the Left party, each of them getting 16,5 percent of the vote. A backlash against the Chancellor’s immigrant policy has raised questions about whether Merkel, Europe’s most powerful leader, will stand for a fourth term next year.

“There is no question, we didn’t get a good result in Berlin today,” said Michael Grosse-Broemer, a senior CDU politician.

However, he blamed his party’s historic losses in Berlin primarily on local issues.

“I think it is dangerous to transfer the Berlin result to the federal level,” he told broadcaster ZDF.

The election in the chronically indebted city-state of 3.5 million people was dominated by many local issues including poor public services, crumbling schools, late trains and a housing shortage, as well as how to cope with the migrant influx. — Agencies.

Prof Moyo

Bianca Leboho and Praise Bvumbamera
Government proposes to allocate $3 million from Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF) to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in selected high schools countrywide.

Addressing graduates and Government officials during a graduation ceremony at Seke Teachers College recently, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, said the money would be used to develop laboratories in identified well equipped A Level high schools in the country.

“Each of the well situated and reasonably equipped high schools in each of the 60 rural administrative districts across the country, will be allocated $50 000, which will enable the schools to deepen and upgrade their capacity to become state of the art STEM hubs for our colleges and universities.

“Each STEM hub in each of the districts will serve as a center of excellence for the learning and teaching of STEM subjects as schools in the district will learn the best STEM practices during school days and holidays,” said Prof Moyo.

He said it was important for national colleges and universities in the country to set aside full scholarships, which would support the STEM initiatives and lessen the brain drain that was facilitated by foreign universities that attracted best stu0srsities reap where they do not sow yearly by issuing out scholarships to most of our best students every academic year.

Most of these students do not come back upon completion of their studies, which is causing severe brain drain in the country,” he said.

Prof Moyo said it was vital for colleges and universities in the country to support STEM initiative to ensure that the academics produced would contribute to the economic growth of the country.

He said that teachers were key to achieving STEM goals and urged Seke Teachers’ College to strengthen the STEM initiative in teacher education in order to enhance the socio-economic education of the nation.

Prof Moyo congratulated Seke Teachers College for having the highest enrolment of early childhood development teachers, with the institution producing 19 percent of the 4390 students enrolled in the country’s 10 primary teachers colleges.

University of Zimbabwe Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Pedzisai Mashiri, said it was vital for teachers’ colleges to strengthen their science and technology curriculum as this would empower teachers with adequate skills required to advance STEM goals.

“It is important to appreciate that for school learners to get the best of education, teachers must be well educated, appropriately skilled and properly equipped.

“Teachers must demonstrate skills in teaching practical, technical and vocational subjects, otherwise the nation might not be able to attain its STEM goals,” said Professor Mashiri.

Seke has churned out 12197 primary school teachers to date and this year alone had 602 students graduating.

Mabasa Sasa in New York
President Mugabe arrived here on Sunday for the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, which is expected to add impetus to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted at last year’s Summit.

The SDGs are 17 successor international development targets to the Millennium Development Goals and the theme for this year’s General Assembly Session , which will be chaired by president-elect Peter Thomson of Fiji, is “Sustainable development goals: a universal push to sustain our world”.

President Mugabe is accompanied by First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbabarashe Mumbengegwi and his Tourism and Hospitality Industry counterpart Dr Walter Mzembi and other senior Government officials.

Zimbabwe’s Head of State and Government flew in from Margarita, Venezuela where he addressed the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement on Saturday.

He was received at John F Kennedy International Airport late Sunday afternoon by Zimbabwe’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Frederick Shava, and mission staff.

This year’s session is a keenly awaited affair as it will grapple with two succession issues: that of a new UN Secretary General to replace Mr Ban Ki-moon, as well as a General Assembly President to take over from Mr Mogens Lykketoft.

Vusumuzi Dube, Chronicle Social Media Editor

Five Bulawayo City councillors including deputy mayor Councillor Gift Banda have been suspended by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere for corruption.

Cde Kasukuwere, who was in the city to present findings of a Government stipulated investigation on the local authority, said more suspensions should be expected if other councillors that have been spared for now fail to defend their cases.

The suspended councillors are Clrs Banda (ward five), Charles Moyo (ward nine), Mzama Dube (ward 25), Reuben Matengu (ward 21) and James Sithole (ward seven).

“In the interest of allowing council to operate as an autonomous body, in line with devolution, I have been watching Bulawayo but when a council does not operate within the parameters of our laws then it is my constitutional duty to intervene and that is why I am here today.

“I will be leaving my officials to deal with the specific issues. They will facilitate the council to come up with a recovery matrix and based on the cooperation and the actual matrix I will make my final decision regarding the Bulawayo City Council,” said Cde Kasukuwere.

The Minister revealed that just five out of the 29 councillors were found not to be corrupt; a situation he said was worrying.

The suspended councillors were immediately given their suspension letters, with the Minister revealing that they will be setting up an independent tribunal in the next two weeks for them to defend their cases.

Details to follow…

From Mabasa Sasa in NEW YORK, USA
The 71st Session of the General Assembly has opened at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

President Mugabe and other world leaders are in attendance and will contribute their views to this year’s General Debate, which comes exactly a year after the launch of Sustainable Development Goals.

With President Mugabe at the General Assembly are Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and other senior officials.

The 71st session of the General Assembly, apart from debating matters of global concern related to the SDGs as well as the usual peace and security matters that tend to dominate debate, will also be Mr Ban Ki-moon’s last at the helm of the organisation.

Members of the UN are in the process of finding a successor to the South Korean diplomat, and indications are that the next Secretary-General will hail from Eastern Europe, and this could be the first time the organisation is headed by a woman.

High-level deliberations started on Monday with President Mugabe and other world leaders adopting the New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants, and they will run through to September 26.

Thandeka Moyo Bulawayo Bureau
SIGNIFICANT rains are expected to start from next Monday as winter is now over, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) said on Monday.

In a statement, the MSD said last Saturday, moisture entered the country from Botswana and South Africa resulting in cloudy and relatively cool weather in Matabeleland as well as the southern half of the Midlands and Masvingo provinces resulting in thunderstorms and drizzle in areas such as in Victoria Falls and Kezi the following day.

“This incursion of moisture is a significant and positive omen for what to expect as per the 2016-17 seasonal rainfall forecast,” said the MSD.

It said from tomorrow until Sunday, the whole country should return to the hot to very hot and dry weather.

“This should be in preparation for the second incursion of more moist air into country that should bring more, but significant rains from September 26,” reads the statement.

The MSD advised members of the public against directly exposing themselves to the sun.

“Winter is now over.

“Until the end of October, the weather over the country should be mostly hot to very hot.

“Nights should be uncomfortable also, with an increase in mosquitoes. As such, the public is strongly discouraged from direct exposure to sunlight as this causes heat stress and discomfort on people and livestock,” said the MSD.

“Outdoor activities such as sport should be avoided between 12:00 (noon) and 3PM.

“Chances for runway fires remain very high so the public is urged to refrain from unnecessary burning of pastures.”

The MSD recently said inputs, including small grains, should be distributed to all regions by the end of September in Matabeleland South, Masvingo, Midlands and southern districts of Manicaland and by the end of October for the rest of the country in anticipation of the rains.

The news comes as a relief to farmers, most of whom suffered losses in the last agricultural season due to the drought.

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
Government has warned members of the public that they risk being prosecuted for abusing the national flag.

The national flag is a symbolic representation of nationalism, strength and unity of any given country, which should be treated with so much respect.

However, this has not been the case in the country of late as members of the public have been treating the national flag with contempt.

Political activists led by Evan Mawarire, are using the flag to whip up political emotions against the constitutionally elected Government.

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs permanent secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza, said people who participated in any action or activity involving the national flag or to bring the national flag into disrepute were warned that they were liable to prosecution.

“The penalty for the offence is a fine not exceeding $200 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both such fine and imprisonment,” said Mrs Mabhiza.

“Members of the public who engage in any action or activity, which involves the manufacture, sale or use of the national flag in contravention of the law are therefore warned that they are liable to prosecution and are liable to imprisonment if they are found guilty by a court of law.”

Mrs Mabhiza said in terms of the flag of Zimbabwe (Use and Application of Flag) Regulations, it was a criminal offence for any person who did not have prior permission of the secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs-

to import or manufacture the flag for purposes of sale;

apply the flag to or use the flag on any matter or thing for purposes of sale; and

sell the flag or anything to which the flag has been applied or on which the flag has been used, or use it on any matter or thing for purposes of sale or sell the flag or anything to which the flag has been applied or on which it has been used.

The warning comes against the backdrop of increasing incidences where people are using the national flag in a manner prohibited by the Constitution and the relevant Act of Parliament regulations.

Mrs Mabhiza said the manufacture, sale and use of the national flag was governed by the Flag of Zimbabwe Act(Chapter10:10) and regulations made in terms of the Act, namely, the Flag of Zimbabwe (Use and Application of Flag) Regulations, 1987, Statutory Instrument 194 of 1987.

The Act, she said, made it a criminal offence for any person to burn, mutilate, or otherwise insult the national flag or any reproduction thereof, in circumstances, which were calculated or likely to show disrespect for the national flag or to bring it into disrepute.

“These provisions cover any form of abuse to which the national flag may be subjected,” said Mrs Mabhiza.

Mabasa Sasa at the UNITED NATIONS
The Security Council is in danger of becoming increasingly inefficient and illegitimate if it is not urgently reformed, United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-Moon, has said.

Mr Ban said this as he officially opened the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly here yesterday.

President Mugabe and other world leaders were in New York as Mr Ban opened the global organisation’s Grand Debate for the last time, with world leaders expected to select his successor after 10 years at the helm of the world body.

President Mugabe — who has consistently led calls for the reform of the Security Council and democratisation of the UN system — was accompanied to New York by First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, Ministers Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs) and Dr Walter Mzembi (Tourism and Hospitality Industry) and senior Government officials.

The Zimbabwean leader is expected to address the General Assembly and make his contribution to the Grand Debate today.

Yesterday, Mr Ban echoed Zimbabwe and Africa’s calls for changes to the main organs of the UN, namely the Security Council and the General Assembly.

“Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Member states have still not agreed on a formula for reform of the Security Council — a continuing risk to its effectiveness and legitimacy.

“In the same spirit, I want to put on the table today a major and much needed reform for fairness and effectiveness in the United Nations. Far too often, I have seen widely-supported proposals blocked in the name of consensus by a few, or sometimes even just one country. We see this being done by large and small countries alike. Time and again, I have seen essential action and good ideas blocked in the Security Council. Blocked in the General Assembly. Blocked in the budget process. Blocked in the Conference on Disarmament and other bodies.

“Is it fair in this complicated 21st century for any one country, or a few countries, to yield such disproportionate power and hold the world hostage on so many important issues? Consensus should not be confused with unanimity. The global public is right to ask whether this is how an organisation in which we have invested so much hope and aspirations should function,” he said.

Mr Ban also slammed attempts to undermine the independence of the UN Secretariat.

Since formation in 1945, the Security Council’s permanent members with the power to veto just about any international decision have been Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

Africa’s core position — as carried in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration — is for the continent to have at least two permanent representatives on the Security Council, and that should veto power be retained in the restructured organ, that same power must be given to Africa’s two members as well.

At yesterday’s General Assembly session, Mr Ban also said that the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement on Climate Change provided the roadmap to betterment of the human condition, and all countries should fully subscribe to the ideals contained in the two key documents.

President Mugabe’s Government is a solid backer of both the SDGs and Paris Agreement.

Mr Ban said, “. . . after ten years in office, I am more convinced than ever that we have the power to end war, poverty and persecution. We have the means to prevent conflict. We have the potential to close the gap between rich and poor, and to make rights real in people’s lives.

“With the Sustainable Development Goals, we have a manifesto for a better future. With the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we are tackling the defining challenge of our time. We have no time to lose. I urge you, leaders, to bring the Paris Agreement into force before the end of this year.”

Members of the UN are in the process of finding a successor to the South Korean diplomat, and indications are that the next Secretary-General will hail from Eastern Europe, and this could be the first time the organisation is headed by a woman.

Petros Kausiyo and Grace Chingoma

MURAPE Murape became the latest victim of Dynamos’ poor season with the assistant coach being the first to be fired as the Glamour Boys management began to make technical changes which could see Lloyd Mutasa also following suit by the weekend. Sources, however, revealed last night that club board chairman Bernard Marriot Lusengo had not sanctioned Murape’s axing and he could still sit on the technical bench when the Glamour Boys face Tsholotsho.

“Yes (Dynamos president, Kenny) Mubaiwa told Murape that he has been fired but when they got out of the meeting, Marriot indicated to him that he should still report for duty tomorrow (today),” said the sources.

“So it will be interesting to see whether he will be allowed to sit on the bench or not.”

Mubaiwa last night said Murape had been fired. The Dynamos boss claimed Murape’s sentiments in a newspaper article, in which he felt the club did not have quality players, was “not in sync with the vision of the club”.

Mubaiwa felt Murape was not qualified to comment about Dynamos pre-season preparations as he had only rejoined the club in June.

“As for Murape, we have fired him with immediate effect. We are not happy with what he said in the newspapers,” said Mubaiwa.

“How can he say we had a poor pre-season and we did not get quality players when he only arrived in June? He certainly doesn’t understand the vision that we have and the hard work that has been put to try and win titles this year.”

Repeated efforts to get a comment from Murape were fruitless as his phone went unanswered. Mubaiwa said the decision to fire Murape was announced at a review meeting his management held with the technical crew yesterday, which the former skipper also attended.

It was at that meeting that Mutasa was also advised of the axe that is looming over his head, with the Dynamos coach now set to preside over his last league match this afternoon when the ailing giants host Tsholotsho at Rufaro.

“We had a meeting with the technical crew this afternoon and we told them we are not happy at all and I really think we need to make some changes to revive the team,” said Mubaiwa.

“We told Lloyd that we think the task has proved to be too much for him. As coaches, they acknowledged the results are unacceptable and they said the difficulties were part of football but we said that is the failure. So, at the end of it all, we told them that we are now looking for people who can take over and take the team to another level and as soon as we get the replacements, we will make the changes.

“We have a game tomorrow against Tsholotsho and we will see how it goes after that. If we get a replacement by the weekend so be it, he will start immediately.”

Lloyd Gumbo : Senior Reporter

Fidelity Printers and Refiners has sued its former chief executive officer and finance director Allen Marimbe and Godknows Hofisi respectively, after they allegedly clandestinely withdrew about $2,7 million from the firm’s bank account. Marimbe was last year arrested on charges of fraud and money laundering involving about $2,7 million, but refused to give a statement to the police on the grounds that most of his testimony was wrapped under the veil of the Official Secrets Act.

That was after he had been indicted to the High Court facing criminal charges but the matter was postponed indefinitely.

Concurrently, Fidelity Printers and Refiners board has also taken the civil side of the matter by way of summons that were served to the respondents recently.

The duo has entered an appearance to defend the matter before the High Court. Advocate Thabani Mpofu instructed by Coghlan, Welsh and Guest legal practitioner, Mr Wellington Magaya represent Fidelity Printers and Refiners. A copy of the summons seen by The Herald, indicated that Marimbe and Hofisi unilaterally terminated their employment contracts in February this year.

The duo terminated their employment contracts after the new Fidelity Printers and Refiners board summoned them for disciplinary hearings. The summons indicated that the two former employees were obliged to manage and control plaintiff’s assets and business, place their employer’s business and its interests above their own personal interests and those of any other people among others.

“In breach of these duties, defendants conducted themselves dishonestly, fraudulently, recklessly and in certain instances criminally during the course of their discharge of function in that; They caused, participated in or suborned the illicit withdrawal of various amounts totalling the sum of $2 669 146-00 from plaintiff’s Bank Account held with Stanbic Bank.

“The amounts were withdrawn non-procedurally and for the benefit of no known recipient and or beneficiaries. The sums withdrawn were not put to the business of or used for the benefit of plaintiff or the people of Zimbabwe on whose behalf those funds were effectively held in trust.

“In conducting themselves in the manner afore stated, defendants caused pecuniary loss to plaintiff in the sum of $2 669 146 being the actual sum lost by plaintiff as a result of the breach by them of their obligations,” read the summons.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe subsidiary said when Marimbe and Hofisi were summoned to account for their illicit activities under the threat of disciplinary sanction, they terminated their contracts of employment and went on to claim exit packages.

The Fidelity Printers and Refiners said in the circumstances, defendants were obliged to make good the loss caused to the former as a result of their breach of contractual and general law obligations.

The firm said despite demand, defendants refused, failed and or neglected to make good the loss it suffered.

“Wherefore plaintiff prays for; payment of the sum of $2 669 146 against defendants jointly and severally the one paying the other to be absolved.

“Interest on the sum of $2 669 146 calculated at the prescribed rate and reckoned from the date of service of summons upon them to the date of final payment and cost of suit,” reads the summons.

The story of a 14-year-old HIV positive boy from Makonde District, who sexually abused seven young girls between the ages of four and seven, is spine chilling and it calls for parents and guardians to be on the lookout for all possible forms of abuse children are likely to face. The issue of disclosure of HIV status still remains a confidential matter, but we implore all stakeholders in HIV and AIDS intervention mechanisms and strategies to spring to action and assist these hapless minors highly exposed to the scourge.

Keeping this issue of the girls who were abused by the 14-year-old boy whether intentionally or unintentionally under wraps, exposes the children to the virus and is as good as committing genocide.

In the story we carried on our page one yesterday, there is also an element of undisclosed number of small boys who were also forced by this cheeky boy to repeat his actions on the abused girls.

This means the seven girls and the boys who were forced to take turns to abuse the minor girls all need special psychological support.

From information gathered, the issue is still under wraps as parents and guardians of the affected and infected children do not want the matter to be made public.

Yes, it’s within their rights not to be forced to disclose the new HIV status of their children, but it’s also the rights of these minors to be accorded the best medical and psychological support following the unfortunate incident.

The issues of sexual abuse are traumatising and they leave permanent marks that need professional cancelling since the victims live with the condition for the rest of their lives.

Although some people might think that the incident does not affect them because they live in urban centres, we implore parents and guardians in both urban and rural areas to be on the look of situations that leave children vulnerable to abuse.

Parents should ensure that they drop their children in school premises every morning, if possible, leave the minors in the custody of their teachers. We know that parents are busy with work and other businesses that makes it impossible for them to collect the children from schools.

When that happens, there is a need to have an arrangement where their maids are tasked with such responsibilities. Some parents from a particular suburb are encouraged to take turns to drop or pick up their children if they attend the same school.

Child abusers come in different forms that include relatives, schoolmates and neighbours among others. It is the responsibility of all parents and guardians to create environments that ensure that their children are protected from abuse.

Those without family cars should make sure that their children prefer public passengers transport rather private motorists.

In rural areas given that the children travel long distances, makes it difficult for parents and guardians to accompany their children to and from schools daily.

However, it is prudent that they encourage those in junior grades to wait for their brothers and sisters who dismiss late so that they travel home in larger groups. It should also be the responsibility of teachers and parents to always hammer the message of abuse to children so that they report all suggestive behaviour by their schoolmates, relatives and neighbours.

It is the responsibility of everyone to protect innocent children from any form of abuse.